“Fake (Fake) Records (Records) … ” Now that we’ve got your attention we hope you’ll take that aural echo from “Hip Hop” by Dead Prez as your forever cue to think of Sweat Records Records, the label named very unmistakably after Lauren Reskin’s companion store. “Thank you, I will be singing that in my head for forever,” an amused Reskin tells PureHoney. “We are happy being part of the repetitive tradition of Duran Duran, Talk Talk, etc.”
Sweat Records Records Lauren Reskin
Owner and co-founder of retail Sweat Records in Miami, longtime champion of all things musical in the 305, “Lolo” is stepping into production with Sweat Records Records — SRR for short — and there’s nothing fake about it: The label’s first single, a cover of Selena’s “Como la Flor” by local acoustic duo Dracula, was named one of 2018’s best songs by NPR.
“We were 100% surprised about that nod,” says Reskin. “That their performance rose through such incredibly tough competition to get there, especially with us as a brand new independent label, shows how much it’s resonating with people.”
In the early aughts Reskin promoted beloved Miami dance punks Awesome New Republic through an earlier imprint, Sutro Records. That project provided a blueprint, with lessons learned and an SRR team consisting of managing store partner Emile Milgrim and creative industries lawyer Vivek Jayaram.
Dracula by Eli Dorys
Imbuing SRR with her boundless energy and belief in homegrown music, Reskin has an ambitious slate of releases teed up including a Dracula LP, a record by all-girl, power-pop-fuzz band Las Nubes (formerly Smvt), a full-length by sonic evolver Richie Hell and a never-before released 12-inch of Miami freestyle legend Debbie Deb.
In “Hip Hop,” Dead Prez argue for artists to control their work and be wary of labels. But if SRR embodies Reskin’s independence and love of the scene, it should be a happy home for talent. “We want to build a solid, musically excellent roster of artists and releases that defy expectations about South Florida,” she says, “and launch careers in the music industry for our artists.”
Visit and Like Sweat Records Records on Facebook. Dracula performs on Feb. 15 at the III Points festival in Miami ($72 – $205) and opens for Andy Shauf at The Ground at Club Space in Miami 8 pm Feb. 21 ($17 – $25). miamidracula.bandcamp.com ~ Abel Folgar
