Integrity Records

Integrity Records is an independent English record label headquartered in Bedford. Established in the early 1990s, it operates primarily as an artist-development imprint rather than as a large catalog-driven major label. Its stated focus has been the discovery and release of emerging artists working across rock, indie, punk and adjacent alternative styles. The label's first documented release was The Traceys' single "Ghost Island" in 1996. During the following decade it became associated with a broad, guitar-oriented roster that included Miss Black America, Million Dead, Antihero, Plutonik, Reuben, Katastrophy Wife and Meow Meow. Million Dead is particularly notable in retrospect because its vocalist, Frank Turner, later built a substantial solo career. Integrity also provided a United Kingdom home for several American artists, including Katastrophy Wife and Meow Meow, demonstrating a willingness to work beyond its local scene. Radio support was an important part of the label's visibility. BBC Radio 1 presenter John Peel reportedly played most of the label's releases, and five Integrity releases, counting relevant B-sides, appeared in the 2002 edition of Peel's annual Festive Fifty. This association helped position the imprint within the independent and alternative-music ecosystem of the period. After releasing October All Over's "2005BC" in December 2005, the label entered a hiatus. It announced a return in March 2011 through social-media channels and a redesigned website, adding Nashville act Travis + Julie and Birmingham duo Pet Dog Storm. The renewed operation expanded steadily, signing artists from Britain, the United States, Australia, Denmark and Greenland. Releases during the 2011–2019 period covered dream indie, art rock, indie-electronica, grunge-influenced rock, folk, Americana and singer-songwriter music. The revived roster included Miniature Dinosaurs, TheLights, Futur Primitif, Valentiine, Horse Party, Silhouettes, Ghosts of Social Networks, Mannequin Death Squad, MALMØ, Simon Lynge and Ida Wenøe. The label also issued collaborative work, including releases by Tribes of Europe and Barbara Stretch. Its output moved increasingly toward digital singles and downloads while retaining CD, vinyl and EP formats for selected projects. Integrity's profile was recognized through independent-music awards. It was named Best Independent Record Label in Love Music Magazine's 2014 annual awards and Label of the Year in the 2018 LWM Music Blog awards. In 2015, the related company Integrity Publishing Ltd was established to focus on music publishing rather than recorded-music releases. Publicly documented activity extends through releases announced for 2020, but the supplied reference material does not establish the label's current operating status.

Integrity Records emerged in England during the early 1990s as an independent imprint dedicated to finding new artists in rock, indie and punk. Its first documented release was The Traceys' "Ghost Island," issued in 1996. The label subsequently built a roster that included both British acts and artists from overseas, combining physical releases on CD and vinyl with a growing number of singles and albums. The imprint's early-2000s period included releases from Miss Black America, Million Dead, Antihero, Plutonik, Reuben, Katastrophy Wife and Meow Meow. Its association with BBC Radio 1 presenter John Peel was a significant source of exposure: Peel supported the label's catalog on his program, and five Integrity releases or associated B-sides appeared in his 2002 Festive Fifty. Million Dead became one of the label's most historically prominent signings, with vocalist Frank Turner later pursuing a successful solo career. Integrity also acted as a British outlet for American artists such as Katastrophy Wife and Meow Meow. The label's documented early catalog includes albums, singles and EPs spanning alternative rock, punk, indie and experimental pop. After October All Over's December 2005 release, however, the label entered a hiatus. The company announced a renewed phase in March 2011. Its first new signings of that phase were Nashville's Travis + Julie and Birmingham's Pet Dog Storm. Travis + Julie released "Osmosis" before the album "Moon Girl," while Pet Dog Storm issued "Time to Fly" and the album "Beautiful Is Down." In 2012 the roster expanded with Scottish art-rock group Miniature Dinosaurs and Birmingham alternative-pop band TheLights. Miniature Dinosaurs released the "Turn It On EP," while TheLights released "Days Don't Get Me Far Enough Away" according to the supplied reference material. In late 2012 Integrity announced an agreement with Futur Primitif, the project of Daniel Lefkowitz, formerly associated with The Low Anthem. The label issued the singles "Nuclear Shockwave" and "Digital Space" and the album "Machineteeth." In 2013 it signed Melbourne trio Valentiine, releasing the singles "Love Like" and "Chucky" and the album "Valentiine." Later that year Horse Party and Silhouettes joined the roster. Horse Party released "Cover Your Eyes" and was selected by BBC Introducing for the 2014 Latitude Festival; Silhouettes released "Gold Tag" and later the album "Ever Moving Happiness Machines." The label continued adding artists in 2016 and 2017. Ghosts of Social Networks released "Love Potion/Mockingbirds" and further singles that received airplay on BBC 6 Music and Amazing Radio. Melbourne's Mannequin Death Squad released "Sick," the mini-album "Eat Hate Regurgitate" and additional material while touring the United Kingdom. In 2018 Integrity broadened its Nordic focus through releases by Danish dream-folk artist MALMØ and Greenlandic singer-songwriter Simon Lynge. The 2019 catalog included Ida Wenøe's album "The Things We Don't Know Yet" and collaborative singles by Tribes of Europe and Barbara Stretch. A further Ida Wenøe single was documented in January 2020. The label received independent-music recognition in 2014 and 2018. Its related publishing business, Integrity Publishing Ltd, was created in 2015. The available reference material does not identify a founder, owner, executive team, corporate parent or confirmed current status.

• 2015

  Publishing sister company launched

  [1]Integrity Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Integrity Publishing Ltd was established as a music-publishing sister company.

• 2011

  Label reactivated

  [1]Integrity Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Integrity announced its return and signed Travis + Julie and Pet Dog Storm.

• 2005

  Hiatus begins

  [1]Integrity Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The label entered a hiatus after releasing October All Over's "2005BC."

• 2002

  John Peel Festive Fifty presence

  [1]Integrity Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Five Integrity releases, including B-sides, appeared in John Peel's annual Festive Fifty.

• 1996

  First documented release

  [1]Integrity Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The Traceys' single "Ghost Island" became the label's first documented release.

• 1990

  Label founded in the early 1990s

  [1]Integrity Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Integrity Records was established as an English independent label focused on emerging rock, indie and punk artists; an exact founding year is not documented.

A boutique independent label focused on discovering, developing and releasing emerging alternative artists across rock, indie, punk, folk and related genres.

• Alternative rock recordings · 2002

  Miss Black America releases

  Integrity issued several Miss Black America recordings, including the album "God Bless Miss Black America" and singles such as "Talk Hard," "Infinite Chinese Box" and an edited version of "Miss Black America." These releases represent the label's early-2000s emphasis on guitar-driven independent rock.

• Post-hardcore and alternative rock recordings · 2003

  Million Dead releases

  The label released Million Dead singles including "Smiling at Strangers on Trains," "Breaking the Back" and "I Am The Party," as well as the album "A Song To Ruin." The band's later significance was enhanced by the subsequent solo career of vocalist Frank Turner.

• Alternative rock recordings · 2003

  Katastrophy Wife releases

  Integrity served as a UK label for American artist Katastrophy Wife, releasing singles such as "Liberty Belle" and "Blue Valient / Emit Time" and the album "All Kneel."

• Indie rock recordings · 2013

  Horse Party releases

  Horse Party's Integrity catalog included the singles "What Do You Need" and "Clarion Call" and the album "Cover Your Eyes." The Bury St Edmunds band also received BBC Introducing exposure and a selection for the 2014 Latitude Festival.

• Dream folk recordings · 2017

  MALMØ releases

  Integrity released MALMØ singles including "You," "We Come From The Stars," "The Way" featuring Eivør, "Frostbite" and "Bleed Me Dry," together with the album "We Come From The Stars."

• Folk and Americana recordings · 2019

  Ida Wenøe releases

  The label's Ida Wenøe catalog included the singles "Another Kind of Love," "Change Me A Little" and "Värmeland," alongside the album "The Things We Don't Know Yet."

• 2015

  Create a music-publishing sister companyStrategy

  Background

  The label broadened its activities beyond recorded-music releases.

  Action taken

  Integrity Publishing Ltd was established to focus on music publishing.

  Aftermath

  The supplied sources do not provide further operational or financial details.

  Source

• 2011

  Reactivate the labelStrategy

  Background

  Integrity used social-media channels and a redesigned website to announce that it had resumed activity.

  Action taken

  The label signed Travis + Julie and Pet Dog Storm and returned to releasing music.

  Aftermath

  The roster expanded through international signings and releases during the following decade.

  Source

• 2005

  Enter a release hiatusStrategy

  Background

  After the December 2005 release by October All Over, the label stopped its documented release activity for a period.

  Action taken

  Integrity Records entered a hiatus.

  Aftermath

  The label later announced a return in March 2011.

  Source

1. 1Integrity Recordsen.wikipedia.org