Joyful Noise Recordings is an independent record label with headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana. The label was founded in 2003 in Bloomington, Indiana by Karl Hofstetter, who also played drums on several of the label's first releases. Joyful Noise maintains an active roster of over 30 bands playing various musical styles, though according to the label, each artist "in one way or another bridges the gap between pop and noise."
History In 2010 Joyful Noise began focusing largely on limited-edition specialty releases which are generally released on analog formats packaged with music downloads. In addition to releases on vinyl records, the label has gained notoriety for being at the forefront of the resurgence of cassette tapes and flexi discs, as reported by The Washington Post, Pitchfork Media, Under The Radar, and others.
Joyful Noise has released single-album cassettes from Akron/Family, Dinosaur Jr., Deerhoof, of Montreal, Here We Go Magic, and others, and has released multi-album cassette box sets from Dinosaur Jr., of Montreal, and Joan Of Arc.
In 2012 Joyful Noise released their first album to chart on Billboard: Kishi Bashi's 151a (debuting at #6 on the Heatseekers chart). Since that time, new music on Joyful Noise from artists such as Sebadoh, Dumb Numbers, David Yow, Son Lux, Swamp Dogg, Tropical Fuck Storm, Deerhoof, Why? and others have all charted.
From 2012 to 2016, in the spirit of continuing to explore musical community-building through the release of cult artists in obsolete audio-reproduction formats, Joyful Noise offered its monthly flexi-disc singles series. Each disc in the series is of peculiar and notable value as a rarity but some particularly memorable entries include Son Lux's cover of Jean Ritchie's "Black Waters", several Melvins and Joan of Arc–related tracks, a duet by Sufjan Stevens and Stranger Cat, Tortoise, Don Caballero and Daniel Johnston.
The flexi disc's brief renaissance was the second wave of obsolete-format-driven record sales originally conceived of and innovated by Joyful Noise (after cassette-tapes), later to be duplicated by other labels in the independent music world. JNR is also known for producing lathe-cut records, twelve-sided records, records-that-are-also-musical-instruments and a number of other more bizarre and bespoke musical artifacts.
In 2013, JNR released the first 7" in their Cause & Effect series—an ongoing project pairing JNR artists (appearing on the A-side) with artists who have influenced them (appearing on the B-side).
In 2014, Joyful Noise started their annual Artist-In-Residence program: working with seasoned cult artists to release the "pure-gold material they've got in the cans that's never found a venue for release" and to continue to support their ongoing work. JNR Artists-In-Residence have included: Tim Kinsella (Joan of Arc, Cap'n Jazz et al.), Rob Crow (Pinback, Goblin Cock, Optiganally Yours, et al.), Jad Fair (Half-Japanese), Thor Harris (Swans), Kramer (Shimmy-Disc), Deerhoof, Yonatan Gat + Stone Tapes, Lou Barlow (The Folk Implosion, Sebadoh, Dinosaur Jr.), Yoni Wolf of WHY?, and Danielson of the Danielson Famile.
In 2017, Joyful Noise began releasing their White Label series: undiscovered records selected by renowned musicians either represented or friendly with the label. Yoni Wolf of Why? selected Creature Native by The Ophelias as the first entry in the White Label Series and the band was ultimately drafted to become part of the label's roster. Other curators of the White Label series include Devendra Banhart, Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney), Kelley Deal (The Breeders), Mirah, Aesop Rock, Alex Somers, Blanck Mass, Kid Millions, Meredith Graves, Mike Watt, Serengeti, tUNE-yARDs, Astronautilus, Cate Le Bon, Circuit des Yeux, Julianna Barwick, Sondre Lerche, St. Vincent, and Thurston Moore.
Radical projects & experiments The label is known for candid identification with and support of radical and revolutionary politics. They released collaborations between Bernie Sanders and Thurston Moore, did fundraising to oppose the first Trump Administration through the release of Anal Trump records and stood in solidarity with Black Lives Matter during the George Floyd protests.
In 2020, JNR founded the Church of Noise to build and perpetuate musically empowered community during the COVID-19 pandemic and through the long tail of its fallout. In 2021, the label was featured in the New York Times as the only independent label interviewed in pursuit of a solution to the vinyl manufacturing slowdown (by doing lathe cut previews of vinyl albums that might take six months to a year to make it through the manufacturing queue). The Church of Noise has continued to evolve, building a sonic plant altar in their sanctuary, hosting art shows and other events.
As the major focus of 2022 artist in residence Joyful Noise Recordings devoted resources to launching the sub-label Stone Tapes, an "End of World Music" imprint. Joyful Noise also participated in the resurrection of Shimmy-Disc, run by Kramer, a crucial underground record label responsible for the discovery of a bewildering diversity of now canonical acts such as Low, Gwar, Daniel Johnston, Moldy Peaches and many others.
Bands
Current roster
Asher White Big Business Busman's Holiday CJ Boyd Cedric Noel CocoRosie Dale Crover David Yow Deerhoof Divorcee Dumb Numbers Eerie Wanda El Ten Eleven Goblin Cock Half Japanese Helvetia
Hew Time J Fernandez Jad Fair Jason Loewenstein jess joy Joan of Arc Kidbug Kishi Bashi KO Kramer Lil Bub Little Moon Lou Barlow The Low Anthem Magic Sword Memory Map
Mike Adams At His Honest Weight Mythless New Orthodox No Joy OHMME Oneida The Ophelias Psychic Temple Rafter Reptar Rob Crow Richard Edwards Sedcairn Archives Serengeti Sisyphus
Sleep Party People Sound of Ceres Suuns Stranger Cat Swamp Dogg Tall Tall Trees Tim Kinsella Thor Harris Toshi Kasai Tropical Fuck Storm Victor Villarreal WHY? Wendy Eisenberg Yesness Yonatan Gat Yoni & Geti
"Open Relationships"
Akron/Family Anal Trump Ativin Ava Luna Birthmark Born Ruffians Brian Marella Built to Spill Child Bite Chris Cohen Cloud Nothings Daniel Johnston Danielson David Lynch Dead Rider Dinosaur Jr.
Divorcée DM Stith Don Caballero Eric Gaffney Fang Island Father Murphy Godspeed You! Black Emperor Good Fuck Hella Here We Go Magic Jad Fair & Norman Blake Japandroids The Jesus Lizard Jorma Whittaker Julianna Barwick King Buzzo
KO Le Butcherettes Lee Ranaldo Make Believe Marmoset Marnie Stern Melvins Monotonix Mount Eerie Natural Dreamers of Montreal Ought Owls Pattern is Movement Prince Rama
Protomartyr Qui Racebannon Richard Swift The Sea and Cake S.M. Wolf Son Lux Sonny & The Sunsets Sondre Lerche Sufjan Stevens Swaps Swirlies Talk Normal Tera Melos Thee Oh Sees
Thom Fekete Thurston Moore Tortoise The Unspeakable Practices Wye Oak Yip Deceiver
Past roster
Abner Trio Berry Big Bear Bizzart Crosss The Delicious Hermit Thrushes Hi Red Center I Love You (Yah Tibyah La Blu) Jookabox Lafcadio Man at Arms
Manners for Husbands Melk the g6-49 Prizzy Prizzy Please Push-Pull Receptor Sight Richard Edwards Sebadoh Solos Stationary Odyssey Surfer Blood Valina
Subscriptions and series
Artist in Residence Starting in 2014, Joyful Noise began hosting artists for year-long residencies in which they release new music exclusively on the label. Yonatan Gat & Stone Tapes 2022 Kramer 2020 Thor Harris 2019 Rob Crow 2018 Deerhoof 2017 Tim Kinsella 2015 Jad Fair 2014
Flexi-disc series
In late 2011 Joyful Noise announced their 2012 Flexi Disc Series, which featured singles from Deerhoof, Jad Fair, Lou Barlow, of Montreal, and others. Each artist contributed a single song which is not available anywhere else. Each flexi disc was limited to 500 copies, and were sold as a monthly subscription. Now in its fourth year, the flexi-disc series has upped its distribution to 1000 copies of each single and grown to include acts such as Cloud Nothings, Sonny & the Sunsets, Lee Ranaldo, Thurston Moore and Sufjan Stevens.
2012 artists Lou Barlow Make Believe Jad Fair Danielson Deerhoof Dead Rider Rafter of Montreal Tortoise Racebannon Akron/Family Richard Swift
2013 artists Birthmark Built to Spill & Helvetia Hella Here We Go Magic Melvins Mike Adams At His Honest Weight Monotonix Rob Crow Son Lux Sufjan Stevens and Cat Martino The Sea and Cake WHY?
2014 artists Big Business Born Ruffians Daniel Johnston DM Stith Fang Island Half Japanese Margot & the Nuclear So and So's Mount Eerie Owls Serengeti Yip Deceiver
2015 artists Arousal Cloud Nothings Deerhoof and Celestial Shore Goblin Cock King Buzzo Lee Ranaldo Oneida Pattern is Movement Protomartyr Sonny & the Sunsets Tera Melos Wye Oak
Holiday series Every year Joyful Noise invites commissions some of its bands to contribute to a Holiday album. Contributors to the album submit a video, all of which are compiled into a movie that is shown at the annual Holiday party when the bands are flown in to celebrate. Lathe-cuts of snowflake or spiderweb-shaped records are a frequent artifact of these gatherings, distributed to members and supporters of Joyful Noise projects who have supported the label throughout the year.
Discography 2020s
YearBandAlbumFormatCatalog No.2024CocoRosieLittle Death WishesDigital, Vinly, cdJNR4802024YesnessSee You At The Solipsist ConventionJNR4912024Greg SaunierWe Sang, Therefore We WereJNR 4572024FinomNot GodJNR 4682024DeerhoofReveilleJNR 4322023jess joySOURCEHEIRESSJNR 4652023Kishi BashiMusic for a Song Film: OmoiyariJNR 4612023Tall Tall TreesStick to the Mystical IJNR 4482023Gareth LiddiardStrange Tourist JNR 4512023Mike Adams at His Honest WeightGuess for ThrillsJNR 4472023Marnie SternThe Comeback KidJNR 4412023DeerhoofThe Runners FourJNR 4362023AtivinAustereJNR 4282022Sleep Party PeopleHeap of AshesJNR 4132022Tropical Fuck StormSatanic Slumber Party EPJNR 4122022OneidaSuccessJNR 4082021DeerhoofDevil KidsJNR 4062022Yonatan GatAmerican QuartetJNR 4022022Medicine SingersS/TJNR 4012022MythlessWe EP7"/MP3JNR 3982021SpringtimeSelf-TitledJNR 3862022Sound of CeresEmerald SeaJNR 3972021DeerhoofActually, You CanJNR 3772021HelvetiaEssential AliensJNR 3722021Tropical Fuck StormDeep StatesJNR 3712021The OpheliasCrocusJNR 3682021Lou BarlowReason to LiveJNR 3672021jess joyPATREEARCHYJNR 3612021SuunsThe WitnessJNR 3602021Dale CroverRat-Tat-TatJNR 3442021Electric JesusMotion Picture SoundtrackJNR 3332020SerengetiWith Greg From DeerhoofJNR 3632020HimmelrumVan, Dod & EnsomhedJNR 3582020Joan of ArcTim, Melina, Bobby, TheoJNR 3532020DeerhoofLove LoreJNR 3472020HelvetiaThis Devastating MapJNR 3432020VariousSafe In Sound: Home Recordings From QuarantineJNR 3422020No JoyMotherhoodJNR 3402020El Ten ElevenTautologyJNR 3322020DeerhoofFuture Teenage Cave ArtistsJNR 3312020OhmmeFantasize Your GhostJNR 3302020Let It Come DownSelf-TitledJNR 3292020Magic SwordEndlessJNR 3282020Swamp DoggSorry You Couldn't Make ItJNR 3272020Jad Fair + Daniel JohnstonIt's SpookyJNR 3212020Toshi KasaiPlan DJNR 3092020Thor & Friends4JNR 3072020Psychic TempleHouses of the HolyJNR 278
2010s