Ex Libris Records was founded by direktor and producer, Andrew Gardiner (AG) in the summer of 2006 as a medium to release various live records, demos and compilations amassed from various types of musical activity he had been involved in over the previous 3 or 4 years.
The links that produced the network of musicians, artists and computer scientists that would become Ex Libris were the result of two different social experiments. Firstly, the wtss music collective which was organised and operated in AGs hometown of Portrush, Northern Ireland. This small collective produced several credible gigs (and less than credible fanzines) during the summer of 2002.
Due to shifts in audience demographic (i.e. everyone had to go back to school) the collective folded, but a few band members with similar musical tastes and too much time on their hands continued to collaborate under various guises. This period of musical activity led directly to Exlibris forerunners Nes Advantage, My Attorney and Steve: From Fragment.
The other social experiment that led to the formation of the record label was the weird and wonderful world of tertiary education. At Durham University, Andrew met several musicians and like-minded individuals, as well as his business partner at Ex Libris, Luke Page (LP). Luke is in charge of administration and IT in addition to his role as A&R for the label. As a result of all this alcohol and textbooks, musical collaborations abounded, and eventually resulted in various artists later to be connected to the label, including Grilly, DUDEWERSMECÅ and Death of a Salesman.
Activity began in earnest during the summer of 2006, as Ex Libris Records pressed printed copies of My Attorney’s Silver Bullet. At this time, the record label signed two new artists. Firstly, Aaron McMullan from Ballymoney in Northern Ireland, whose first album Yonder! Calliope? is due for release and distribution in the summer of 2007. Aaron is a hauntingly melodic poet in the key of C, and also an award-winning filmmaker. He is also working on his first novel.
The second signing was Rebecca Jones, a breathtaking singer-songwriter from Dublin via Belgium, who currently resides in Washington near Newcastle upon Tyne and tends to small birds in the marshland when not plotting to break your heart with her mesmerising melodies. Recording sessions for her debut album began in the spring of 2007.
The label is based in Newcastle upon Tyne, with a temporary base in Portrush from time to time. The label has staged several live showcases for artists connected with the label since it was set up. Exlibris Records will move its permanent base to London in September 2007 and plans to host a live club night in addition to ongoing activities.
Ex Libris Records became a Limited Company in January 2007 and aims to provide quality music free from commercial restrictions at near cost prices and a creative recording environment for up and coming bands and musicians.