After more than 40 years in music, Perry Farrell is finally launching a label of his own.
The Jane’s Addiction frontman and Lollapalooza founder’s new venture, Imprint Label, is inspired by “the progression and innovation of the electronic dance music scene in all its shades and flavors,” a statement from the label notes. Farrell has a longstanding affection for the genre, with the 2021 incarnation of Lolla’s Perry Stage hosting scene stars like Illenium, Steve Aoki, Kaytranada and Tchami. Farrell has himself collaborated with electronic heavyweights including Solomun, Maceo Plex, Victor Ruiz, Francois K, Kaskade and Sama’ Abdulhadi. (Many of these collaborations appeared on the remix album of Farrell’s 2021 album, The Glitz; The Glamour.)
The debut release from Imprint Label is a remix from U.K. duo Pink Panda, who take on a cover of The Crystals classic “He’s a Rebel” by Farrell’s wife, Etty Lau Farrell. Hear the track below. On July 29 and Aug. 12, respectively, the label will release the Victor Ruiz and Tim Green remixes of Farrell’s “Mend,” which was co-written by late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins.
The label is also a tangent of the Farrells’ emerging artist-focused Heaven After Dark event series, which held its debut concert in Los Angeles earlier this month with a lineup including The Paranoyds, NIIS, Kind Heaven Orchestra and the reunion of Parrell’s band Porno For Pyros.
“The feeling of finally having my own label is similar to receiving a pilot’s license, and being able to fly your own plane to anywhere in the world,” Farrell says. “We all can sense that the music industry is heading in the wrong direction. We know that the labels take most of the money, now with music streaming services. Artists are left struggling and forced in desperation to focus on numbers instead of their cherished art form. We wanted to found a culture which allows for maximum creativity. A sort of heaven for listeners. I am able to release song and sound unbridled. Collaborate with and support artists that I respect as well. There are many similarities in attitude with Heaven After Dark, to what we did in 1991 when we launched Lollapalooza.”
To wit, Farrell’s legendary Lollapalooza festival launches in its native city of Chicago this weekend, July 28-31, with headliners including Metallica, Zhu, Dua Lipa, Machine Gun Kelly, Glass Animals, REZZ, Kygo, J. Cole, The Kid Laroi, J-Hope, Green Day, Charli XCX and Porno For Pyros. Beyond that, Farrell will be on a U.S. tour with Jane’s Addiction and Smashing Pumpkins this October and November.