Yesterday Voodoo Doughnut Recordings announced that they will release a new compilation of local music overseen by local tastemaker and Old Town Music manager Hank Failing.
From 2004 to 2010, Failing curated a number of comps released on his own imprint, Failing Records, which exhaustively documented Portland indie’s “golden era” and brought attention to artists like Starfucker, Boy Eats Drum Machine, and Michael the Blind. The comps were also defined by their wildly eclectic nature, something Failing hopes will carry over to his new venture—weirder acts are strongly encouraged to submit. “I’m most interested in stuff that’s a little different,” says Failing. “I’m going to be more interested in someone who’s really going for it, or somebody who’s singing from their heart versus someone who has the best formula for how a song is designed.”
Failing also wants to ensure that the comp showcases young, new artists, although he speculates that at least a few more established acts will also be included. “I definitely want this to be representative of what’s happening in Portland as opposed to what’s getting all the media attention,” he says. “There will be stuff that has people asking ‘what is this?’—and hopefully they love it.”
Voodoo Doughnuts will accept submissions from April 1-May 1. Submissions must be original compositions that are less than a year old and in the form of a CD, which can be deposited in a drop box at Voodoo Doughnut Too or mailed to Voodoo Comp, PO Box 86038 Portland, OR 97286. They also can’t be about doughnuts.