Lil' Chief Records


Lil' Chief Records is a New Zealand based indie pop record label formed in 2002. Operating from the Auckland suburb of Mt. Eden, it was founded on releases by The Tokey Tones and The Brunettes. The label's roster now includes a collective of pop artists such as Jonathan Bree, Princess Chelsea, The Ruby Suns, and Edmund Cake.

History

Founding

Lil' Chief Records was founded in New Zealand by indie pop musicians Scott Mannion and Jonathan Bree in 2002. The two men had met that year in Marbecks Record Store in Auckland, where Bree was working at the time. They discovered they were both bedroom recording artists who shared a number of influences. Likewise, both were having difficulty finishing their respective albums and finding a label, particularly since the trend in New Zealand at the time was towards guitar-based rock bands.
They decided to form their own label to focus on "100% orchestrated pop music from the New Zealand music scene," citing Factory Records, Flying Nun, and Creation Records as inspiration. Lawrence Mikkelsen, a friend of Mannion's and an early supporter of the label, volunteered as the label's "post master general" and archivist.

Initial releases

The label's first release was the debut LP of Bree's band The Brunettes. Released October 2002, Holding Hands, Feeding Ducks was a joint release with EMI New Zealand. The album received a glowing review from Allmusic, as did the label's second release, The Brunette's 2003 The Boyracer EP. Bree produced both albums.
The label soon set up its headquarters in the Auckland flat of Gareth Shute, a local writer and musician who had befriended Scott Mannion. Dubbed 'The Ghetto,' the large flat's rooms and graffiti-lined garage became a regular rehearsal space, as well as a recording studio for many of the label's future releases. As of 2013, it continues to be the location of operations.
The next two albums on the label were released simultaneously in 2003. Caterpillar and Butterfly by The Tokey Tones both featured and were produced by label founder Scott Mannion. Members of The Brunettes guested on some of the tracks, and when playing live The Tokey Tones have since relied on a revolving cast of musicians from other Lil' Chief Records bands, such as The Brunettes and The Ruby Suns. The New Zealand Herald stated "There has been nothing quite so tasteful, fully realized or confident in Kiwi pop," about the releases.
Later that year indie pop band The Nudie Suits released their album Songbook on the label. Frontman Mark Lyons was both Bree's cousin and had been a mentor in Bree's formative years.

Development

In 2004, the band The Ruby Suns was formed when Ryan McPhun moved to Auckland from California and started playing in The Brunettes and The Tokey Tones.
In 2005 Edmund Cake released his solo album Downtown Puff on the label, which was followed by Shaft's debut LP Open Sesame and releases by Alec Bathgate and The Ruby Suns. The label's community of musicians also formed a cover band called Disciples of Macca, which focused on solo Paul McCartney and Wings material.
's first release on the label was his sophomore album L.S.T. Also in 2005 the label released Now We Are Three!!!, its first compilation, which featured tracks pulled from its previous catalogue. The compilation was positively received with a review stating "Lil Chief Records is a label to keep on eye on." A second compilation, Greetings From New Zealand, followed in 2007.
By 2006 the roster had expanded to include artists such as Lawrence Arabia and his band The Reduction Agents, Shugo Tokumaru, and the band Voom. Radio New Zealand did a feature on the label in August 2006, when Andrew Clifford visited their Auckland headquarters.
In 2008 the label was written up in the UK's Sunday Times in the article ”New Zealand, pop Mecca? A new wave of bands is set to expand your horizons”. Also that year The Ruby Suns were named among the "best new music" in Pitchfork, while Lawrence Arabia toured with Feist.
In May 2012 the label released the compilation These Shaky Isles, with tracks going back ten years in its catalogue. As of 2013 label continues to release indie pop bands, such as the all-girl project The Gladeyes and Princess Chelsea.

Artists

The following artists have released albums through Lil' Chief Records as of March 2019.
The following list is organized by catalog number, which is a roughly chronological number system established by the label.
No.ArtistTitleYear
LCR001The Brunettes Holding Hands, Feeding Ducks2002
LCR002The BrunettesThe Boyracer e.p. 2003
LCR003The Tokey Tones Caterpillar2003
LCR004The Tokey TonesButterfly 2003
LCR005The Nudie SuitsSongbook 2003
LCR006Edmund Cake Downtown Puff2004
LCR007The BrunettesMars Loves Venus 2004
LCR008ShaftOpen Sesame 2004
LCR009Alec BathgateThe Indifferent Velvet Void 2004
LCR010The Brunettes When Ice Met Cream2005
LCR011The Ruby SunsThe Ruby Suns 2005
LCR012Various artists Now We Are Three!!!2005
LCR013The Nudie SuitsSweetacres 2006
LCR014The Reduction AgentsThe Dance Reduction Agents 2006
LCR015Lawrence ArabiaLawrence Arabia 2006
LCR016VoomHello, Are You There? 2006
LCR017Shugo TokumaruL.S.T. 2006
LCR018ShaftDown At Your Life 2006
LCR019The BrunettesStructure & Cosmetics 2007
LCR020The Ruby SunsLichen Ears EP 2008
LCR021The Ruby SunsSea Lion 2008
LCR022Little PicturesOwl + Owl 2008
LCR023Pie Warmer The Fearsome Feeling2009
LCR024The Brunettes The Red Rollerskates E.P.2009
LCR025The BrunettesPaper Dolls2009
LCR026The Gladeyes Psychosis of Love2009
LCR027The Ruby SunsFight Softly 2010
LCR028PikachunesPikachunes 2010
LCR029The EversonsThe Eversons E.P. 2011
LCR030Princess Chelsea Lil' Golden Book2011
LCR031The Gladeyes Shadows Explode2011
LCR032Wet WingsGlory Glory 2011
LCR033Cool RainbowsWhale Rocket 2012
LCR034The EversonsSummer Feeling 2012
LCR035The Eversons With A Little Help From Our Friends2012
LCR036PikachunesMiles 2013
LCR037The Ruby SunsChristopher 2013
LCR038Jonathan BreeThe Primrose Path2013
LCR039Sheep, Dog & WolfEgospect2013
LCR040The IcypolesMy World Was Made For You2014
LCR041Wet WingsWillow Peak2014
LCR043Princess ChelseaThe Great Cybernetic Depression2015
LCR044Jonathan BreeA Little Night Music2015
LCR045The EversonsThe Eversons present The Emilys: Super Awesome Cartoon Band2015
LCR046Various artistsWaiting For Your Love: A Tribute To The Reduction Agents2016
LCR047Princess ChelseaAftertouch2016
LCR048The Ruby SunsSprite Fountain2017
LCR049Jonathan BreeSleepwalking2018
LCR050Princess ChelseaThe Loneliest Girl2018
LCR051Scott MannionLoving Echoes2019
LCR PROMO
001		Various artistsGreetings From New Zealand 2007
LCR PROMO
002		Various artistsThese Shaky Isles2012