that’s a wrap on 2024

Dec 21

Hi all, it’s been a minute and I feel compelled to get right to it: I have started a record label, Teleférico Records. What on earth was I thinking, you ask?

If you’ve been here since at least February, you know that earlier this year, I made a record. It is finished! All of the EPs and LPs I have released so far I have released on my own. This has been both tiring and empowering, as it means over the course of three releases I have been able to hire and build relationships directly with other people in the music industry (producers, engineers, vinyl pressing plants, radio promoters, booking agents, graphic designers, photographers, music licensing firms, filmmakers, etc) and have total control over the creation and release of the music I make. The margins this industry runs on are so insanely thin, and getting thinner, and I figured the more I can do on my own, the more I am able to keep the ecosystem I have healthy and at a manageable(ish) size. So! I decided to formalize my releases under my own record label, where I am the sole employee and artist… but maybe one day I’ll have the ability to do some other fun satellite projects for it as well.

HG 2024 highlights

Making the third HG LP at Narwhal Studios. That was a big one.
Playing some dates with one of my favorite artists, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers
Occasionally joining Sidepieces, a monthly country covers night at Hungry Brain
Opening for Juliana Hatfield, who made me immediately want to run home and practice guitar
Playing at Metro for the first time!
Joining the Prater Day booking roster
Debuting the songs for the new record at Schubas before hitting the studio

my favorite records of 2024

1. Rosie Tucker - Utopia Now! Sharp punk bangers about community.

2. Mannequin Pussy - I Got Heaven “Loud Bark” is my song of the year and on a playlist I have called “*screams externally*.”

3. Hannah Frances - Keeper of the Shepherd Expertly crafted songs about healing that reverberate in my bone marrow.

4. The Marías - Submarine When I need to dance it out, I’m dancing it out to this.

5. Waxahatchee - Tiger’s Blood Unfussy production presents Katie Crutchfield’s songwriting at its best.

6. Sarah Shook & the Disarmers - Revelations River Shook is one of the most genuine songwriters I know and these songs benefit greatly from having them in the producer’s seat as well.

7. Bnny - One Million Love Songs How do you continue to love after immense loss? This record is both the question and the answer.

8. Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us An excellent band continues its god-tier five record run.

9. Charli XCX - BRAT Need I say more? To me, the best parts of this record are BRAT as character and remixes as fun family trees to explore.

10. Hermanos Gutiérrez - Sonido Cósmico In my brain, this record is always on.

11. Nilüfer Yanya - My Method Actor The production on this is perfect to me. The rhythm section! Bless them.

12. Mandy - Lawn Girl I love that some of the cuts from Xobeci, What Grows Here got souped up for this, and every melody is truly unforgettable.

13. St. Vincent - All Born Screaming/Todos Nacen Gritando Long live guitar music!!!

14. Advance Base - Horrible Occurrences This is Owen Ashworth at his absolute best. The narrative of this record is so good and was crafted with such care and compassion for its characters.

15. hemlock - 444 Carolina Chauffe is such a prolific songwriter and the way they approach their craft on a literal daily basis is deeply inspiring to me.

16. Gillian Welch & David Rawlings - Woodland Oh man. This record is extremely beautiful and deeply sad, an accurate portrayal of life if I ever heard one. True legends of songcraft.

favorite shows

Minor Moon’s The Light Up Waltz release show at Lincoln Hall

PJ Harvey at Salt Shed

Wombo at Baby’s All Right

Reyna Tropical at Empty Bottle

Fruit Bats/Kevin Morby/Hurray for the Riff Raff at Salt Shed

hemlock and Tenci at Constellation

favorite book

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

and now, a little treat

Wow! You made it to the end of this meandering email, and that deserves a treat.

The treat is my new single, “Glacier Walker.” It’ll be out in a more official capacity and on streaming on January 14th, but since I’m my own boss, I can do what I like! I hope you enjoy it.

More very soon,

Isabel Olive