Welcome to the Projekt / Projekt: darkwave website. Thanks for your interest in the label I began way back in 1983! This site is an information service as well as a web-store stocking Projekt releases and non-Projekt Darkwave artists. Every week, hundreds of our fans take advantage of our secure credit card ordering, prompt service, and free label sampler with each purchase over $40! As a special offer to our web customers, we have the $6.98 sale page too. For the most current info as well as a chance to win prizes, please sign up for our email list . Join the Projekt Family, we'd love to have you!
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from Sam Rosenthal | January 28 2010
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Featuring new music from Doc Hammer of The Venture Bros.
email sam@projekt.com for your copy or more information.
PRO240 $6.98 retail list - in stores Tuesday February 2
See the piece on line here
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The Under the weight of light compilation follows in the tradition of Projekt’s successful budget-priced CDs. Not just a label sampler, this disc opens the pandora’s box of Projekt founder Sam Rosenthal’s current eclectic music obsessions diving into neo-folk, dark-pop & shoegazer territory.
Under the weight also includes an exclusive remix from WEEP, the return to music by Doc Hammer, co-writer of the Adult Swim show The Venture Bros. Many will remember Doc as the musical force behind two darkwave legends, Requiem in White and Mors Syphilitica. In WEEP’s shoegazer approach, you can sense snippets of influence from My Bloody Valentine, The Sisters of Mercy, Cocteau Twins, and late 80s era The Cure.
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from Sam Rosenthal | january 26 2010.
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Shea has been a blur, moving around the office like a hummingbird, packaging up orders on the limited edition lovesliescrushing girl. echo. suns. veils. box set. We sold half of our supply in the first week! All domestic orders placed through this morning have shipped, foreign orders are almost all out the door, as well. We appreciate the wonderful emails from fans who have received their copy. It was really fun having Scott in the office last week; Shea & I are pleased to be part of making this release available for you.
If you are thinking about getting a copy of this wonderful box set, place your order soon so you don't miss out.
Here are shots of Shea filling the boxes
and preparing your order for the mailman.
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from Sam Rosenthal | December 31 2009
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Hello. In a moment, I am going to write a bit about the end of the 2000s. First I want to share some of your responses to my Xmas email list, where I asked Projekt artists' to give their thoughts on the question "HOW DO YOU
MEASURE SUCCESS?" If you haven't had a chance to read it, it is archived on the site.
Sam, I've been buying Projekt releases for over 20 years, since the label was an ad in the back of a magazine and a one-page catalog in the mail. Here I am 20+ years later still buying heartfelt Projekt releases. That's quite an accomplishment for any label. That must count as one definition of success. Thanks for the music, and happy new year - Bruce
Sam, this email was the single coolest Xmas gift I've received. As a 40-something and musician I found the artists' comments to be very thought-provoking, possessing both stark realism about the industry as well as ardent optimism! I stopped everything to read this; thanks for the inspirational infusion! - Caith
I was reading this email and it made me think about all of the little successes I have had these past
years and that I'm still here, standing on my own two feet. Thank you. - Debbie
Hello Sam, I've read this email several times over the last few days. Thank you so much for sharing
these thoughts and for having your artists do the same! Their insight is so helpful for fans to hear.
Have a wonderful 2010! - Z
Here are some of the ads that Bruce mentioned - do you remember these?

A lot has changed since I ran those ads in the mid-to-late-90s in Spin, Sassy & Alternative Press.
Politically (here in the US and on the world stage) the 2000s were pretty messed up. I think we are going to look back on the first decade of this century, scratch our heads, and ask ourselves "What the fuck was THAT all about?!?!" Well, at least we survived and the decade is closing with some promising political choices, and some hopeful changes for the future.
At Projekt: Many good things accomplished, and yet, there was pain! In 2000, I was closing down the Chicago office and bringing the budget under control. Like many businesses, I had to downsize to get things back in order. For half of this decade, Projekt was run out of my house; yet all the while, great music kept coming out. We moved back into a warehouse space in 2007, and started noticing the contraction at retail, stores closing and less places for music to be purchased. A big bright spot has been iTunes, followed by other legitimate download sources. I always ask, "Why did it take a computer company to figure out the concept of selling digital files, rather than a record label!?!" -- but hey, we know the major labels have always had their heads up their butts (laughs). These days, a BIG percentage of our income comes from legal downloads. Definitely a life-saver in the hard retail environment.
In 2001, I picked up a great assistant, Shea, who you know from your web-order experience with Projekt. In fact, over and over in the comments area on the invoices I see things like 'love your label." "I love buying CDs from you." And "Say Hi to Shea, and thank her for doing such and such for me on my last order." Thanks so much to Shea for being here for this decade, to make my life easier, and your ordering experience smooth and fluid.
We are just a couple of people at Projekt, making all this happen to you. Shea, Sarah & I get to "not have a real job" because you love music and Projekt enough to keep us employed. That is something I am always thankful for. It is great to be part of the conduit between you and the good music we release.
Even though I have been griping lately about illegal downloads, I do think postively about the decade we are entering. I think fans like you will keep supporting us, and more people will turn to legit downloads. I think something will get done to squelch those illegal sales. If even 5% more people buy downloads, it's going to really benefit all of the artists you love. When they get compensated for making art, they have the money to make more art. Everyone wins.
In the next month or so, I am going to introduce a method that will allow you all
to help your favorite artist fight the illegal download problem.That's for another day, though.
I think the '10s are going to be a good decade. Things are going to be looking up.
Here's to a great new decade, everyone. Take care of yourself and those you love....
Sam
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Audioglobe, Projekt's Italian distributor, sends out a Top-10 wrap-up every year. It's aways enjoyable to see what is a hit for them! I am going to start the same tradition for Projekt. This list is for sales via our webstore, only:
THE PROJEKT.COM TOP-10 FOR 2009
#7 This Ascension: Sever *
A few comments. (1) Weep and Black Tape For A Blue Grl did amazingly well this year!
Each disc sold roughly 25% of the total units on the top-10 chart. (2) The titles with asterics are on our $6.98 sale. $6.98 is a perfect way to expose you to the great back-catalog on Projekt.
(3) New signee The Twilight Garden made it into the top-10 with only two and a
half months of sales. Looks promising!!!! |
Projekt's first new signee for 2010
THE TWILIGHT GARDEN
#4 in the webstore for December.
If you are familiar with Projekt Records, you know that one of the things I love doing is finding new bands and releasing their debut album on Projekt. There's something really satisfying about introducing you to exciting new music that I enjoy. And with that (drum roll please)... I am pleased to annouce A World We Pretend by The Twilight Garden. To my ears, Todd's music mixes elements of the sensitive etherealish of Soulwhirlingsomewhere, with the driving electronics of Android Lust; then throw in just a bit of 80s electronic cold-wave. It's really great and I am pleased to be working with The Twilight Garden, and pleased to have their debut available for you now, a month ahead of the retail street date.
Summary: European synth-pop, cold wave and post-punk. The Twilight Garden blends catchy synth melodies, hypnotic?drum beats, lush guitar work and elegantly powerful vocals from sole band-member Todd Loomis (who co-wrote?and performed on Velvet Acid Christ 2006's Lust for Blood).
For fans of: Disintegration-era Cure.
MP3s now added:
A World We Pretend is also available digitally from Amazon, eMusic, iTunes, etc.
BLACK TAPE FOR A BLUE GIRL
Two All Ages shows in Pennsylvania next month:
Friday, January 15, 2010 ~ Istanbul Cafe in Pittsburgh, PA
4130 Butler St. 412-683-1623. All Ages. Doors at 8pm. Showtime: 9:30. $10, Day of Show $12.
With: The Burning Path, Adam's Family. Venue website | Facebook page.
Saturday, January 16, 2010 ~ Dracula's Ball in Philadelphia, PA
Shampoo Nightclub, 7th & Willow. With I:Scintilla & Black Tape For A Blue Girl. All ages. Tickets: $15.
Show flyer | Facebook page.
Wednesday February 3rd ~ The Studio @ Webster Hall in New York, NY
We are co-headlining with WEEP!
125 East 11th Street; New York, NY 10003. Advance $10 / Day of Show $12. 19+.
Brian Viglione joins Athan, Nicki & Sam on the full set.
Doors @ 8. 9:30: Ego Likeness. 10:30 Blacktape. 11:30 Weep. Facebook page.
WNRN Subculture Shock: Goth Radio:
The Listener's Choice Best of 2009
#2 Black Tape For A Blue Girl - Tell Me You've Taken Another from 10 Neurotics.
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from Sam Rosenthal | October 12 2009
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The youTubes are the place to check out the fabulous video for "Tonacayotica" from the Projekt Records release Atlan by SoRIAH with AshkelonSain. You can listen to MP3s and buy the CD for $13.98 at Projekt. You can purchase digital copies at iTunes or Amazon.
If you like SoRIAH then you will probably also like:
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