A few years ago I found a band on Spotify called The Cleaners from Venus. I gave some of their more popular tracks a listen and kinda fell in love. They scratch a jangly British itch when The Smiths’ limited discography comes to an end.
A quick google search of the band – which remains shrouded in obscurity – reveals that the band’s founder, Martin Newell, is considered by some to be one of the godfathers of “do it yourself” music making. Artists like R. Stevie Moore, Ariel Pink and even Clairo can in large part give thanks to Newell for pioneering some of the tropes popular to the genre. I do not think The Cleaners recorded on an 8-track machine like the later musicians, but the lo-fi sound is no doubt iconic.
From their humble origins in Essex, The Cleaners would put their records on cassette tapes and mail them to listeners, wherever they were. This subscription to unconventional, underground distribution is largely why the group never reached any serious popularity.
You have to admire the commitment to independence.
If you believe in something, it’s important to follow through. Who cares about how it’s going to be received. If you need to mail your fans the first copy of your book, go for it. Print it yourself. It’s never been easier to self publish, and if your following is strong enough, you never know.
Check out The Cleaners from Venus – linked here, Only A Shadow, one of my favorites.
Shades of the Beatles