The Militia Group morphed from agency to label over a short time and continues to grow. From Copeland to Denison Witmer their line-up is quite strong and they seem to be getting things right. I spoke with Rory Felton of Militia over Instant Messenger and he agreed to answer a few questions via email. Here are those questions and their answers.

Wesley: I know you worked with Jason Irvine of Arise Records out of Louisville , Kentucky. What was your involvement in that and was this your first attempt to run/work at a label?

Rory: Jason and I funded and ran Arise Records together. It was a fun hobby label and my first experience in calling distributors to pick up records, advertising, production, etc. I lived in Kansas City at the time and Jason lived in Louisville. Jason now makes a living playing poker full time and is an all-round bad ass as well as still a very good friend of mine.

Wesley: How long where you with Arise and what all where you able to accomplish there?

Rory: 1998 – 2000. We put out releases from The Juliana Theory, The National Acrobat, Recess Theory (then Legends of Rodeo), Reflector, Tijuana Crime Scene, etc. I learnt how to manufacture an album. We sold a few thousand records, but I ended up losing most of the money I invested in it.

Wesley: Give a brief history of its evolution of Militia from Management Company into a label.

Rory: Chad booked bands like Slick Shoes, 238, Acceptance, Dogwood, Craig’s Brother, etc. Then when we turned it into a record company in Dec 2000, the agency arm became defunct.

Wesley: How much did your experience with Arise help when starting out the Militia Group

Rory: It helped in the basics for sure.

Wesley: Did you’re college education help you know how to work the boards to get your label up to the level it is today?

Rory: I moved to California in 2000 to major in Music Industry at the University of Southern California. I learnt a lot from the professors who were all entertainment industry professionals who taught classes at night time. It gave me a great foundation to build upon. They forced me to read through multiple 100-page major label record contracts and break it all down. I finished two years before dropping out to co-run the label full-time.

Wesley: At what point did you know the Militia Group was taking off and you’d be able to do this full time

Rory: Is it taking off? Success is all relative. We may never grow larger than we are today or we may grow to 100 times larger, either way I’m very blessed and I’m very thankful to be able to do what I do for a living. It’s incredible! I get to work with the coolest fucking bands and make an income off of that! It’s a wonderful thing really.

Wesley: What type of process do you guys use when looking at new bands? I know you’ve signed quite a few new ones as of late.

Rory: Oh lots. Usually we start hearing about a band from multiple resources. Obviously music speaks the loudest. Then do they tour? Are they already selling records? Do they have a known manager or agent? Do they have rich parents who’ll fund them while they go broke touring for the next few years? I’m only half-serious on the last one.

Wesley: What music are you digging as of late?

Rory: Les Miserables – the 1985 London, new Ryan Adams, new Idlewild, Holly Williams, Tom Waits (always), Joseph Arthur, the last Casket Lottery EP –Smoke And Mirros (has the best song they ever wrote – On The Air), all our new bands – The Panic Division, The Class of 98, Man Alive, Let Go, and the new Cartel and Denison Witmer just released.

Wesley: Any advice for those wishing to start there on label to help out bands in their area or beyond

Rory: Read books. Play fair. Be kind. Take a break once in a while to smell the California air, stretch your arms out wide and realize we are so blessed and insignificant at the same time.

Wesley: And, lastly… when can we expect a xxxfingerpointxxx release?

Rory: You have truly done your research. You spend too much time on the internet. xXx Fingerpoint xXx broke up due to artist differences. Jon now plays in The Life. Noah plays in Please Mr. Gravedigger, and Brandon plays in The Life too.

4 Responses to “Buzzgrinder Interviews Rory Felton of The Militia Group”

1. On 08/22/05 1:27 PM, KY.BUZZGRINDER said:

   

   [...] Has a Kentucky connection. He formerly ran Arise Records with Jason Irvine (now of Paper Jack Films). I recently interviewed Rory and it can be read on the main site. By Wes (email) | 12:27 pm [...]

2. On 08/22/05 3:29 PM, Thomas said:

   

   The Militia Group Rules!

3. On 08/22/05 3:44 PM, Erik said:

   

   Arise never sent me my mail order…its been 4 years…think its still coming?

4. On 08/23/05 5:18 PM, Wesley Johnson said:

   

   what i’ve heard of the new denison cd is great