Feelee Records

Feelee Records is a Russian independent music company founded by Igor Tonkikh and historically based in Moscow. Its activities have included record production, music licensing, concert promotion, touring, artist management, news distribution, and the retail or wholesale distribution of recorded music. The business is closely associated with the independent and alternative-music scene that developed in Russia during the late Soviet and post-Soviet periods. Tonkikh began operating privately in 1986, after the end of the Soviet state monopoly in recorded music represented by Melodiya. The company's name became associated with Fili, a historic district of Moscow, and with the expression "Council at Fili," which was used humorously to describe meetings held by the organization. Feelee began organizing concerts by foreign performers in 1988, at a time when performances by international alternative acts were still relatively unusual in the Soviet cultural environment. Early events included appearances by World Domination Enterprises in 1988 and Sonic Youth in 1989, followed by concerts involving artists such as The Shamen, Fred Frith, Henry Kaiser, Chris Cutler, and Millions of Dead Cops. The transition from promotion into recorded music took place around the 1991 Rock Against Terror charity festival. Feelee and VID supported the event, which brought together prominent Russian rock performers including Garik Sukachev, Alisa, DDT, Nautilus Pompilius, Chaif, Auktyon, and other acts. Recordings of the festival helped motivate the creation of Feelee's record label. The label's first release appeared in 1992 and featured the band Voskresenie; a subsequent release documented Rock Against Terror. Feelee also began issuing music on compact disc during the same period. The label became especially important to Russian alternative rock in the 1990s. In 1994 it signed the Saint Petersburg band Tequilajazzz, which later became one of the leading groups in the country's alternative scene and one of Feelee's most recognizable artist associations. Feelee simultaneously developed a major role as a Russian distributor of licensed releases from Western independent labels. Its catalogue and licensing relationships included music associated with 4AD, Mute, Beggars Banquet, XL Recordings, Ninja Tune, and Warp. Early examples included Dead Can Dance's Into the Labyrinth and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' Let Love In. This strategy gave Russian listeners access to internationally important independent repertoire while allowing Feelee to maintain a distinct alternative-music identity rather than compete directly through mainstream major-label pop. The wider Feelee organization also included Feelee Promotion, which organized concerts and tours, and Territory, described as a news agency and distributor for Feelee products. The company organized the Learn to Swim extreme-music festival from 1995; the event later expanded into an international, two-city festival held in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Five editions and five related compilations were produced. Feelee received industry recognition in 1994 when InterMedia named it the best show-business company, and in 1998 it won a Record award in the Foreign Album category for Depeche Mode's Ultra. Activity declined during the recording industry's crisis beginning in 2006. After a long period of reduced activity, the label returned around 2012, marking its anniversary with vinyl reissues of classic catalogue titles distributed through Mirumir. In 2013 it released MaximumHappy I by the punk-rock group Tarakany!. The label's history was revisited in the 2020 documentary Feelee. A Story of One Label, premiered at the Beat Film Festival. Public sources do not clearly establish the company's present operating status, ownership structure, or current executive team.

Feelee's origins lie in the private music enterprise established by Igor Tonkikh in 1986, shortly after the Soviet recorded-music system began moving away from the state monopoly held by Melodiya. The company operated from Moscow and adopted a name connected with the Fili district. Its early work concentrated on promotion and live performance rather than conventional record publishing. In 1988 Feelee began arranging concerts by international performers. World Domination Enterprises played in Moscow on March 8 and 9 of that year, while Sonic Youth appeared on April 12, 1989. Other promoted visitors included The Shamen, Fred Frith, Henry Kaiser, Chris Cutler, and Millions of Dead Cops. These events placed Feelee at the intersection of Russian underground culture and the international alternative scene. Feelee entered the recording business in the aftermath of the 1991 Rock Against Terror charity festival. The event was supported by Feelee and VID and featured many of the leading Russian rock acts of the period, including Garik Sukachev, Alisa, DDT, Nautilus Pompilius, Chaif, Auktyon, and others. A recording and film of the festival provided the practical impetus for establishing a dedicated label. Feelee's first record, released in 1992, was an album by the reunited Voskresenie rather than the festival document itself. The Rock Against Terror recording followed, and the company began issuing compact discs during the same year. During the 1990s Feelee developed a recognizable artist roster and a broader commercial role. Its 1994 agreement with Tequilajazzz helped establish the Saint Petersburg group as a major force in Russian alternative rock; the band became one of the label's signature associations. Feelee also became a leading Russian distributor of Western independent music. Through licensing and distribution agreements involving labels such as 4AD, Mute, Beggars Banquet, XL Recordings, Ninja Tune, and Warp, it released internationally known alternative catalogue titles in Russia. Dead Can Dance's Into the Labyrinth and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' Let Love In were among the early licensed releases. The Feelee organization was not limited to recorded music. Feelee Promotion organized concerts and tours, while Territory functioned as a news agency and distributor of Feelee products. In 1995 the company organized the first Learn to Swim extreme-music festival, with financial support connected to Alexander F. Sklyar's Radio Maximum program. By 1996 the festival had become international and was held in both Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Five festivals were held and commemorated through five Feelee compilations. The company received recognition from InterMedia in 1994 as the best show-business company. In 1998 it won a Record award for the foreign-album release of Depeche Mode's Ultra. Feelee's activities declined from 2006 amid a wider crisis in the recording industry. After several years of limited activity, the label returned around 2012, using anniversary programming and vinyl reissues to reconnect with its catalogue. Mirumir distributed several of the reissued albums. In 2013 Feelee released MaximumHappy I by Tarakany!, demonstrating renewed involvement with new Russian releases. The label's history was later documented in Andrey Airapetov's film Feelee. A Story of One Label, which premiered at the Beat Film Festival on August 3, 2020. Available references do not provide reliable information about Feelee's current ownership, corporate structure, active roster, or present-day operations.

• 2020

  Feelee documentary premieres

  [1]Feelee Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Feelee. A Story of One Label premieres at the Beat Film Festival, covering the label's first 30 years.

• 2013

  MaximumHappy I is released

  [1]Feelee Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Feelee releases MaximumHappy I by Tarakany!.

• 2012

  Anniversary return and vinyl reissues

  [1]Feelee Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  After an extended period of reduced activity, Feelee returns with anniversary-related reissues of classic albums on vinyl.

• 2006

  Activity declines during the recording-industry crisis

  [1]Feelee Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Feelee's visible activity decreases amid a broader crisis in the recorded-music business.

• 1998

  Record award for Depeche Mode's Ultra

  [1]Feelee Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Feelee receives a Russian music-industry Record award in the Foreign Album category for its release of Ultra.

• 1996

  Learn to Swim becomes an international two-city festival

  [1]Feelee Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The festival gains international status and expands to Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

• 1995

  First Learn to Swim festival

  [1]Feelee Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Feelee organizes the first edition of the extreme-music festival Learn to Swim.

• 1994

  Tequilajazzz joins Feelee and international distribution expands

  [1]Feelee Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Feelee signs Tequilajazzz and begins distributing licensed releases from Western independent labels, including 4AD and Mute.

• 1992

  First Feelee record is released

  [1]Feelee Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The label issues its first release, an album by Voskresenie, and begins releasing music on compact disc.

• 1991

  Rock Against Terror leads to label formation

  [1]Feelee Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Feelee supports the Rock Against Terror charity festival, whose recorded documentation helps establish the record-label operation.

• 1989

  Sonic Youth performs at a Feelee-promoted concert

  [1]Feelee Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Sonic Youth plays in Moscow as part of Feelee's early international concert activity.

• 1988

  Feelee begins promoting international concerts

  [1]Feelee Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The company organizes concerts by foreign alternative performers, beginning with World Domination Enterprises.

• 1986

  Igor Tonkikh begins private music activities

  [1]Feelee Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Tonkikh starts operating a private music enterprise during the transition away from the Soviet state recording monopoly.

An independent Russian music platform focused on alternative culture, artist development, live promotion, and access to international independent repertoire.

• Album release · 1992

  Voskresenie album

  Feelee's first record-label release, issued in 1992 after the company moved from concert promotion into recorded music. It documented the re-formed Voskresenie lineup and helped establish the label's initial catalogue.

• Festival compilation · 1992

  Rock Against Terror recording

  A recording of the 1991 charity festival organized with Feelee and VID. The project brought together leading Russian rock performers and became an important early release associated with Feelee's transition into label operations.

• Artist catalogue · 1994

  Tequilajazzz catalogue

  Feelee's relationship with the Saint Petersburg alternative-rock band Tequilajazzz began in 1994. The group later became one of the leading acts in Russia's alternative scene and one of the label's defining artist associations.

• Licensed music distribution · 1994

  Licensed Western independent releases

  Feelee distributed licensed recordings from independent labels including 4AD, Mute, Beggars Banquet, XL Recordings, Ninja Tune, and Warp. Noted releases included Dead Can Dance's Into the Labyrinth and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' Let Love In.

• Festival compilation · 1995

  Learn to Swim compilations

  Five compilations were issued in connection with the Learn to Swim extreme-music festivals, documenting the event's Russian and international programming.

• Licensed album · 1998

  Ultra

  Feelee's Russian release of Depeche Mode's Ultra received a Record award in the Foreign Album category in 1998.

• Studio album · 2013

  MaximumHappy I

  A 2013 album by the Russian punk-rock band Tarakany!, released during Feelee's renewed period of activity after its long hiatus.

• 2012Feelee anniversary vinyl reissue program

  Russia

  Feelee marked its return to visible activity by reissuing selected classic catalogue albums on gramophone records.

  Outcome. The reissues were distributed through Mirumir and reintroduced parts of the historical catalogue in a collector-oriented format.

  Source
• 1995Learn to Swim

  Moscow · Saint Petersburg · Russia · International

  An extreme-music festival launched by Feelee with financial support connected to Alexander F. Sklyar's Radio Maximum program. It was later expanded into an international festival held in both Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

  Outcome. Five festivals were held and commemorated through five Feelee Records compilations.

  Source
• 1991Rock Against Terror

  Russia

  Feelee and VID supported a charity rock festival initiated by Garik Sukachev. The event assembled prominent Russian rock acts and generated recordings that helped Feelee establish its record-label business.

  Outcome. The festival recording became one of the label's foundational projects and was subsequently released.

  Source

• 2012

  Return through vinyl catalogue reissuesGeneration change

  Background

  After years of limited activity, Feelee sought to reactivate its brand and catalogue.

  Action taken

  The label issued selected classic albums on vinyl as part of its anniversary return.

  Aftermath

  The reissue program preceded a new release by Tarakany! in 2013.

  Source

• 2006

  Reduction of label activity during the recording-industry crisisStrategy

  Background

  Feelee faced the wider structural crisis affecting the recorded-music industry.

  Action taken

  The company reduced its visible recording activity for an extended period.

  Aftermath

  Feelee later returned with anniversary programming, catalogue reissues, and a new album release.

  Source

• 1994

  Feelee adopts an independent-music licensing and distribution strategyStrategy

  Background

  The company sought to expand beyond Russian artist releases and connect local listeners with international alternative music.

  Action taken

  Feelee entered licensing and distribution arrangements involving Western independent labels such as 4AD, Mute, Beggars Banquet, XL Recordings, Ninja Tune, and Warp.

  Aftermath

  The move established Feelee as a major Russian distributor of Western independent repertoire and reinforced its alternative-music positioning.

  Source

1. 1Feelee Recordsen.wikipedia.org