To Cut A Long Story Short

Growing up in Manchester in the 70s, music wasn’t just background noise—it was a lifeline. For a child like me, who was mad on pop and The Beatles, every note was a discovery, every song a spark. My love for music started with the vinyl collection my parents bought, worn-out records that carried all these melodies and feelings. The Beatles were the gateway, the band that rewired how I saw everything. Pop wasn’t just catchy tunes; it was revolution in 3-minute bursts. For a kid obsessed with them, it was an escape from the grey skies and the daily grind, showing that something bigger, something better, more colourful and brilliant was possible.

Then the 80s came around, and with it came more pop and indie. Manchester, with its cracked pavements and defiant spirit, became the breeding ground for a new sound. Bands like New Order, The Fall and The Smiths didn’t just make music, they held a mirror to the city’s soul: dark, real, unapologetic. This wasn’t pop for the masses; this was music that demanded something from you. It woke you up, made you see things differently. It wasn’t about fame and stardom; it was about saying something that mattered.

That’s why running Violette Records isn’t a business—it’s a responsibility. This isn’t about topping charts or signing the next commercial hit. It’s about honouring the music that shaped us. The privilege? That comes from giving artists a platform to be themselves, not polished within an inch of their lives to fit some label’s mould. This label exists because music, real music, is precious, coveted and truly life-affirming.

We don’t sign bands looking for a fast track to fame. We sign bands that remind us why we fell in love with music in the first place—raw, imperfect, but honest and beautiful. Running Violette is about creating space for these talented voices that want to create and touch people's mind and soul.

Violette Records isn’t really here to play a game. It’s here to capture a feeling. Because music is supposed to mean something, and it’s our mission to make sure that, for our small corner of the universe, it always does.