Velvet Music International from France are one of the emerging Black Metal labels. It is a very honest label with a good reputation. In the last two years, they have released some good, original Black Metal releases. We contacted the label for an update.



1. First of all; please clear up the relationship between Impure Creations Records and Velvet Music International. I am very confused.....

- ICR is the ancient label name of our activities, we just change our name to become Velvet music, for us it's perfect because the name of ICR is ridiculous I think, I think that Velvet music is the perfect name for us and our bands, I like very much the name "velvet", because we want to put a message into the music that we present... it's our goal, a person that don't like our bands can't understand this message...

2. Please tell us when and where Velvet Music International was started up. What did you do before you started Velvet Music International ?

- Our label started 5 years ago, we begun to produce demo, zine etc... during 1 years. Then we start to sign our first bands and to become a respectable Underground label. Before that, SCHOOL !

3. Why did you start Velvet Music International ?

- We start Velvet music, for several reasons, and the more important reason, is to crush the head of all this shitty big labels which produce shit on shit so as to make profit ! Music is art, and now to make this art you have to become a business man, we don't like this system, it's why we created this label, we present masterpiece and only in an underground way. We work out both on VMI, it's not a job for us...

4. How many records has Impure Creations Records and Velvet Music International released so far ? Could you please give us a presentation of these releases ?

- Around 10 CDs, Our bands are ZEPHYROUS (Gre), BLUT AUS NORD (Fra), Wallachia (Nor), Winter tales (Nor), Mightiest (Ger), Helgrindr (Fra), Yyrkoon (Fra).
On our Death/Grind metal label (Noise Solution records), you can find Necrophagist (Ger) and Admortem (Fra).

5. Please tell us more about one of the few good samplers released in the last years; the "Encyclopedia Pestilencia" sampler.

- It's a really enormous project of compilation, Encyclopedia... is a triple Black metal compil CD with 50 bands, and only an underground compilation aimed for underground people. We work now on a double sampler of Death/Grind (Music for the dead masses), with 30 Death metal bands, still a tribute for the underground guys (I can’t wait to hear it !! -ed)

6. So far; is it any releases/bands you wish you never became involved with/in ?

- Yes of course, but you have 2 sort of bands, those which want to win money and success, and those which only want to make music. Unfortunately, some bands of Velvet music prefer money so we stopped to work with. But musically speaking, I like all the releases of VMI.

7. On the positive side; is it any signings you are especially satisfied with or you would love to be included in your obituary in 70-80 years time ?

- Certainly, all the CDs... Wallachia, Blut Aus Nord, Yyrkoon, Mundanus I. in priority....

8. You are mainly doing Black Metal. Is it any special reason for that ?

- Black metal for the feeling I think.

9. How many people are now involved in Velvet Music International ?

- 2 guys Laurent and me (Bruno), soon my girlfriend (Alice).

10. When you approach a band; what are the most important reasons for you to sign the band ?

- The music and the attitude of course.

11. Is it difficult to run a record label from rural France ? What is the main problems and advantages being based in France ?

- Of course it's difficult, because in our town we don't know other guys which listen this music.

12. What is your view on the Black Metal scene ?

- The true Black metal, is now underground, the rest is a pure masquerade with a lot of money. It's shit !

13. Without getting involved in this discussion: A lot of people says that bands like Dimmu Borgir and Cradle Of Filth has "sold out". What is your view ?

- I don't know, but we can see that these bands are really different that their debut.

14. What is your release plan ? Could you please present these releases for us ?

- Our new Bands are Winter Tales (Nor), their album will be certainly the best release of VMI, also The new Wallachia, the new Blut Aus Nord, and our new bands like Helgrindr and Mightiest are a great hope.

15. Besides of the release plan; what is your future plans for Velvet Music International ?

- To stop to grow the label, we are a little label and we don't want to become more important, because we don't want to enter a system that disgust us a lot.

16. Finally; when you have closed the door to the office and desperate need a rest. What is your favorite music, except the kind of music you work with ?? What is your favorite past- time activities ?

- I like all music styles, of course all music are full of shit, but I need to discover different things, but it's very personal, I can't write more. My favorite past-time activities it's my girl friend (Alice), and also Football... I am a really fanatic of Real Madrid Cf since 8 years, with VMI, it's my 3 hobbies.

Impure Creations Records, Velvet Music International and Noise Solution Records has released these releases:



Zephyrous (Gre) "Entrance & Wandering on the seven zone" CD 1995
Blut Aus Nord (Fra) "Ultima thulee" CD 1995
Necromicon (Swe) "Realm of Silence" CD 1995
Wallachia (Nor) "Wallachia" CD 1996-97
Blut Aus Nord (Fra) "Memoria vetusta I - Fathers of the Icy age" CD 1996-97
The Eye (Fra) "Supremacy" CD 1997
Mundanus Imperium (Nor) "Ode to the nightsky" MCD 1997
ENCYCLOPEDIA PESTILENTIA (Int) triple compilation CD 1997
Zephyrous (Gre) "A caress of war & wisdom" MCD 1998
Children of Maani (Fra) "The veil of Osiris" MCD 1998
Yyrkoon (Fra) "Oniric transition" CD 1998


Blut Aus Nord (Fra) "Memoria vetusta II-dialogue with the stars" CD 1999
Wallachia (Nor) "T.B.A." CD 1999
Winter tales (Nor) "T.B.A." CD 1999
Mightiest (Ger) "T.B.A." CD 1999
Helgrindr (Fra) "T.B.A." CD 1999
Osgiliath (Fra) "T.B.A." CD 1999

Noise Solution Records:

available: Admortem (Fra) "Ad extremum supplicium" MCD 1998

Upcoming CDs:

Necrophagist (Ger) "T.B.A." CD 1999
Admortem (Fra) "T.B.A." CD 1999


We would like to say many thanx to Velvet Music International's many great contributions to the metal scene.
Their addresses are:
Velvet Music International
BP 902
26009 Valence Cedex
FRANCE
Fax/Phone: + 4 75 55 11 43
E- mail: Velvet.Music@wanadoo.fr