Terradakdoor Records spreads wings

Masterton musicians, from left, Raymon Butler, Jarrod Rowlands, Lakota Mancer and Holly McGeorge are part of a record label and music management group called Terradakdoor Records.

A trail-blazing music collective, Terradakdoor Records, is spreading its wings in Wairarapa.
Collective co-founder Raymon Butler said about a decade ago he formulated the name and nature of the Terradakdoor Records "unity ... family", which drew together players from a handful of Masterton bands and so far involved about 35 musicians, performers, recording, sound, photographic, video and lighting personnel in the region.
Butler, who owns Masterton MusicWorks and also founded band Masterhuna, said the management team included himself, keyboardist and vocalist Holly McGeorge, who also co-founded the Masterton band Circa, Koia vocalist Tirau Te Tau, and Koia bassist Jarrod Rowlands.
The gumbo of musical genres brought to the boil by the quartet _ rhythm and blues, soul, ska rock reggae, and tech-death metal _ epitomised the eclectic character of Terradakdoor Records, he said. It sought to help bands and soloists in the region with full service recording show and tour management, video, still image, and media mind melds, and CD and digital product distribution and marketing.
He said the collective aimed to "help ourselves and other bands and musicians", while also managing shows for signed bands in Wairarapa and nationwide, and annually releasing compilation albums spotlighting acts in the Terradakdoor stable.
McGeorge said the collective aimed "to be a springboard for the artists who are putting in the work and say, hey, we'll give you a hand, give you the extra nudge you need, help you work on your strengths
"We don't want to hold on to those bands forever, though, we'd really like for bigger labels to see them and banding together a whole lot of genres, styles and talents will win that recognition." The collective so far represents Wairarapa bands Circa, Masterhuna, Koia, Masterton reggae soloist Lakota, and Wellington band Broke. Each of the acts shared a Terradakdoor Records bill on Saturday at King Street Live to round out NZ Music Month. The collective was joined by Masterton band Inhale and soloist Tama.
Bands and acts which sign with Terradakdoor need to have a vision and mission in mind before the collective can work its magic.
"It doesn't work unless the band knows where they want to go. We just work with them. Terradakdoor's job is to help get them where they want to go. We offer our years of combined experience and our contacts to help make it happen," Rowlands said.
Terradakdoor had been involved in staging several shows and producing three CDs: the Choice Bro EP and Yeah Na Yeah album for Masterhuna and A Little Story EP for Koia.
"Our idea is to help bands and acts to create their albums that we'll also help to promote and make videos for, set up shows, and do the media," Butler said.
"The Terradakdoor group is more like a family, a united family, than a record label as such. We can call on a lighting guy or sound engineer or whatever's needed to make what we're doing better."
For more information on Terradakdoor Records call Raymon Butler at Masterton MusicWorks on 378 8576.