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Rui Carvalheira: Let's start from the beginning - which was the initial proposal of Cold Spring? Is it just a personal project?
Justin Mitchell: I was working for Thee Temple Ov Psychick Youth (a radical occult group that flourished in the 1980s) as one of the nine heads of Access Point coordination in the UK, and in 1988 started doing a few cassette releases to help raise funds for printing and leaflet distribution for the Temple. The first vinyl was issued in1990, and sold out straight away...a bumpy ride to begin with; it eventually manifested itself as a label with a vision by itself. Now, it is many years later and we are stronger than ever!

Rui Carvalheira: And the Temple is still effective? We've heard a lot about it until the middle of 90's but not anymore.
Justin Mitchell: The Temple is no longer active in the UK and Europe, but American factions (most of which stood outside the main centre of organization in London anyway) went and did there own things, and are still active today. The ones I have been in touch with at the US Temple Stations are always nice people, intelligent and friendly, so I hope its working in the way they want it to. There is nothing of old TOPY in Europe now, and unfortunately maybe, nothing replaced it.

Rui Carvalheira: In the beginning the project that you have released was basically connected with "Electronics". Now you are releasing a band like VON THRONSTAHL. What changed in your policy?
Justin Mitchell: I haven't lost the love for noise and power electronics, indeed the next few releases will see albums by UK power electronics gods THE GREY WOLVES - `Blood & Sand` and Australian political noise legend STREICHER - `War Without End`, focusing on the now world government anti-terrorist actions. VON THRONSTAHL are simply one of the best bands I've heard in years, so I was privileged to work with them and have them on the label. We worked hard at promotion, and they are the biggest selling band on COLD SPRING. Maybe the label reflects what I personally really like, but everything sells well, so I guess I have always made good choices. So, there's no change in policy, as there wasn't a steadfast policy to begin with.

Rui Carvalheira: What are your feelings concerning new projects? Do you have already new projects to launch?
Justin Mitchell: Yes, always. I think this is what keeps the scene alive and fresh is new talent, new names. I remember my label manager at a big distributors saying that stores and people were buying COLD SPRING titles simply because they were on COLD SPRING, as it guaranteed quality and something you know you'd like! This is very pleasing for me, as it means we can release unknown names and the financial risk is greatly diminished.

Rui Carvalheira: But do you have something now in your mind? Or this will be a year of the same "old" bands?
Justin Mitchell: There will be new albums from older acts, that have never worked with COLD SPRING before, and new albums from bands that have just signed to the label, but we're always looking for new acts…I'm currently talking to about four new bands, but I can't give more details because the deals might not come to fruition.

Rui Carvalheira: As far I understand, your relation with Genesis P. Orridge is quite old - two themes appear on your first cassette. Now you are again releasing CDs from Psychic TV, but from the old days. What is your relation with him?
Justin Mitchell: I've known Genesis for years, and we kept in touch after the Temple UK folded, and indeed after his exile to the USA. Working together has always been natural and enjoyable; we keep in touch regularly and invent releases. I created the GENESIS P-ORRIDGE / MERZBOW - `A Perfect Pain` project which was hailed as an enormous success, still being one of our most requested titles. Genesis is one of the most influential and genius individuals I've ever encountered and so to continue to work with him is an ongoing pleasure.

Rui Carvalheira: Do you have any idea to release new stuff from GENESiS P-ORRIDGE?
Justin Mitchell: Genesis is working constantly on his writing, novels and magickal texts, his main musical project is mostly THEE MAJESTY these days, on the Suffering Clown label, but he's always open to new and exciting ideas and concepts, so only the future knows what we will create between us….

Rui Carvalheira: Almost all the labels are making some releases in Vinyl again. Do you think that is a growing market or those editions are just collection items?
Justin Mitchell: Essentially, I think they are collectors' pieces, as fewer people have the turntables to play them on. I hope the trend reverses, but it looks like CD and digital media will now dominate audio. But, many labels are releasing some incredible packages that are a must - TESCO, ATHANOR, LOKI FOUNDATION, etc, great labels - beautiful boxed sets and wild packaging, a collectors dream.

Rui Carvalheira: Do you intend to release vinyl items in the near times?
Justin Mitchell: I'll never say never, but nothing suitable has risen recently. The last we did was ARCHON SATANI picture disc 10", a collector's piece indeed!

Rui Carvalheira: When did you start as well as a distributor? Is this an automatic solution to grow in the market?
Justin Mitchell: It was a natural progression as there were so many people buying COLD SPRING titles in the UK, and writing direct to me asking if they could get other labels material, but there just wasn't any representation at all. So, it seemed the next logical step to bring in a few labels, and that's grown to literally 100+ labels now, with hundreds of titles, and growing all the time. I scour to world, searching for obscure labels and the weirdest recordings!

Rui Carvalheira: How is the market now? Is it growing or not?
Justin Mitchell: That's a good question, but I'm not sure I can answer it. It doesn't appear to get any bigger or smaller, I think certain labels have made a mark that they won't go away, and they've kept the scene together...there are a hundred new CDR labels appearing every day, it seems, but most last for a handful of releases, before they fold, and are usually replaced days later when another appear! But it is nice to see the professional labels standing firm, it indicates the scene is healthy at least!

Rui Carvalheira: Do you have any intention to release the old stuff of the cassettes in CD? Or do you think that those tapes are too much dated to be released again?
Justin Mitchell: Not really...much of the quality isn't great, and I wouldn't know where to start in looking for some for the artists. I think I'll let them rest in history!

Rui Carvalheira: For those who don't know Cold Spring, what record do you recommend they buy in order to understand the concept of the label?
Justin Mitchell: Good question, and a timely one - next month we release a low-priced (£7/$10) CD `CHAMBER` - a label sampler with tracks from all the latest releases and forthcoming albums, plus exclusive tracks - featuring: LAIBACH, MARK SNOW (composer of X FILES, etc), VON THRONSTAHL, FOLKSTORM, KARJALAN SISSIT, NOVATRON, PSYCHIC TV, THE DAYS OF THE TRUMPET CALL, IGNIS FATUUS, BAND OF PAIN, ENDURA, SCHLOSS TEGAL, SLEEP RESEARCH FACILITY, A CHALLENGE OF HONOUR and many more. Also, if you buy 2 COLD SPRING CDs - its FREE!

Rui Carvalheira: On the your new catalogue there are announce a few records that seem to be very interesting; 'COLD SPRING LIVE at THE SLIMELIGHT', 'ENDVRA', 'FOLKSTORM', 'TOROIDH', 'THE DAYS OF THE TRUMPET CALL'. Do have already dates for those releases?
Justin Mitchell: Not yet, these recordings will be beautifully packaged and each CD has to be carefully mastered by each artist and oked before we can release it. It's a slow process but well worth it. The artists on the 4 CDs will be: VON THRONSTAHL, DEATH IN JUNE, THE DAYS OF THE TRUMPET CALL, MZ.412 Vs FOLKSTORM

Rui Carvalheira: What is happening with your own band SATORI?
Justin Mitchell: I've had 3 album offers and a 10" EP offered, and I'm slowing recording a load of new stuff, haven't chosen which label will get it yet, but I'll keep you posted! The line-up has expanded with new members Neil Chaney (ex Pessary) and Ceriddwen Cushen…new members, new blood, fantastic ideas….I`m really confident that these recordings will just blow everyone away….!

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