Label of Love: Canary Records

Based in Baltimore, Maryland, Canary Records focuses on an eclectic range of “early 20th century masterpieces, (mostly) in languages other than English.” For label owner Ian Nagoski, it’s a passion which dates back to his childhood. “I spent a lot of time in flea markets, thrift stores and charity shops,” he explains. “My dad went every day, and I wound up tagging along.” It was on these trips that Nagoski became captivated by the many unfamiliar LPs he came across. “I was such a grumpy kid,” he recalls, “and so anti-authoritarian that it seemed really fun and interesting to buy all these foreign records that nobody knew anything about. It became a way for me to explore the world on my own terms.”

“With the old 78s,” continues Nagoski, “the foreign stuff, it turned out, was made by and for generations of immigrants. This is music by a group of people about whom nothing is written or talked about.” From his small record store in Baltimore, Nagoski began promoting the music via handmade mix CDs. “Lance Ledbetter of Dust to Digital Records came to visit,” Nagoski recalls. “I did for him this party trick where I’d pull out a box of 78s in foreign languages, play them one after the other, and tell their stories, whatever I knew about the record.”

Ledbetter invited Nagoski to work on a release for his label. “That meant I had to write notes for each track,” says Nagoski, “which meant that I had to start doing real research.” The resulting album, Black Mirror: Reflections in Global Musics, proved so popular that Nagoski determined to start a label of his own. Initially, he relied on locals, quizzing employees at Thai restaurants, or in Vietnamese, Indian and Afghan grocery stores. “I’d just ask politely,” he recalls, “‘hi, I have this record in Thai – could you please tell me what it says?’ Ultimately, though, you have to look to old books and academia to really learn.”

With nearly 200 releases, Canary Records is a treasure trove of historical recordings, from Palestinian vocal artists, Malian field recordings and molam to Oriental dances and Greek folk. Nagoski is scrupulous about rights. “I’m constantly doing research into whoever it is that owns the stuff. People appreciate it when you’re straight with them, and I try to be as ethical as humanly possible. “It’s about a sense of tradition,” he continues, “of handing down ideas, feelings and flavours, over time. My favourite thing is learning about old music, listening to the records, having experiences, sharing the experiences and trying to add layers of meaning to whatever it is that I can discover and, potentially, you know, to change people’s hearts.” 

Essential Records

Various Artists

Fish & Poi: Hawaiian Independent 78rpm Discs ca. 1945-56

(2023)

This collection of authentic island music is as utterly charming as it is surprising, with beautiful lap steel guitar and wonderful harmonies.

Various Artists

Anastenaria:

Thracian Firewalking Ritual Music

(2021)

Ritual music from north-eastern Greece which utilises voice, hand percussion and fiddle to create beautifully hypnotic soundscapes.

Hafouz Achir Effendi

Beautiful Howling Journey: Popular Songs in Constantinople 1905-07

(2021)

These recordings more than live up to their evocative title – a beguiling, occasionally poignant, set of circular, swaying performances.