Subroutine Records

Subroutine Records is an independent Dutch record label based in Groningen, founded in 2005 by Koen ter Heegde, Niek Hofstetter and Tsjalling Venema, who were volunteers at the pop venue VERA. The label's stated goal is to introduce alternative indie bands to a larger audience, releasing CDs and vinyl records on a regular basis while supporting the creative freedom of its artists. It works primarily with Dutch bands and sees itself as an independent organisation serving a broader indie scene. Subroutine's first release was an EP by Awkward I, presented at VERA. The label also compiled a sampler titled 'Little Next Best Things', featuring bands from the Netherlands and Belgium, which signalled its musical interests ranging from post-rock and indie rock to singer-songwriter. Over the years Subroutine has released music by artists such as Awkward I, De Nieuwe Vrolijkheid, Rats on Rafts, The Homesick, Tramhaus and Zea. Beyond releasing records, Subroutine organises live concerts and acts as a booker for associated bands. Its catalogue includes LPs, CDs, cassettes, 7-inch and 12-inch EPs, with recent releases including Tramhaus's 'Blister' (SR136), Dishes' 'Drama' (SR135), Glice's 'ENVOI' (GC015), Bawrence of Aralia's 'Nine Pieces of Insecurity Pie' (SR133), Zea's 'In lichen fol beloften' (SR134), a fungus's 'Field Relief' (SR129), Alienbaby Collective's 'Breakage' (SR132), SØWT's 'Is this the hard part?' (SR131), Free Dust's 'Dust Free' (SR130), Schau Schau's 'Waypoint' (SR128), HOWRAH's 'Ends and Means' (SR127), Neighbours Burning Neighbours' 'Burning Neighbours' (SR123), Tramhaus's 'The First Exit' (SR126), Autorijdend Nederland's 'Group Theory' (SR124), Texoprint's 'Mumble' (SR122), Melle Kromhout's 'Most of the Light Passes Through' (GC014), Schau Schau's 'Wants/Social Skills' (SR114), Tramhaus's 'Minus 20' (SR121), 'Switch' (SR120) and 'The Goat' (SR118), Space Siren's 'DGD ABE' (SR112), The Kidbug Combi's '[SR111] + [SR116]', Kidbug's 'Listen, the snow is falling' (SR116) and Tramhaus's 'Rotterdam' (SR...). The label also sells merchandise such as T-shirts and cassettes. Subroutine Records remains an active independent label, with its online store offering pre-orders and direct sales. It communicates with press, stores, distributors and booking contacts via its website, and maintains a demo policy for aspiring artists. The label's address for demos is listed as G.J.M. Sarlemijnstraat 42, 1064 DK Amsterdam, while its operations are described as running from Groningen.

Subroutine Records was founded in 2005 at the pop venue VERA in Groningen by three VERA volunteers: Koen ter Heegde, Niek Hofstetter and Tsjalling Venema. The label's first release was an EP by Awkward I, which was presented at VERA. Around the same time, the founders worked together on a sampler titled 'Little Next Best Things', for which bands from the Netherlands and Belgium contributed music. This sampler signalled the label's musical interests, spanning post-rock, indie rock and singer-songwriter. From the outset, Subroutine Records focused on beginning bands, aiming to introduce alternative indie acts to a larger audience. The label committed to releasing CDs and vinyl records on a regular basis and to supporting the creative freedom of its artists. It also organised live concerts and acted as a booker for bands it associated with, positioning itself as an independent organisation working in service of a broader indie scene. Over the years, Subroutine Records has released music by a range of Dutch and Belgian artists, including Awkward I, De Nieuwe Vrolijkheid, Rats on Rafts, The Homesick, Tramhaus and Zea. Its catalogue encompasses albums, EPs, singles and cassettes, with releases often carrying catalogue numbers prefixed 'SR' (and occasionally 'GC'). The label has maintained an active online store, offering pre-orders and direct sales of physical formats such as LPs, CDs, cassettes, 7-inch and 12-inch records, as well as merchandise like T-shirts. As of the 2020s, Subroutine Records continues to operate from Groningen, with contact addresses for press, store sales and distribution, and booking listed on its website. It also maintains a demo policy for artists wishing to submit music. The label's releases include recent titles such as Tramhaus's 'Blister' (SR136), Dishes' 'Drama' (SR135), Glice's 'ENVOI' (GC015), Bawrence of Aralia's 'Nine Pieces of Insecurity Pie' (SR133), Zea's 'In lichen fol beloften' (SR134), a fungus's 'Field Relief' (SR129), Alienbaby Collective's 'Breakage' (SR132), SØWT's 'Is this the hard part?' (SR131), Free Dust's 'Dust Free' (SR130), Schau Schau's 'Waypoint' (SR128), HOWRAH's 'Ends and Means' (SR127), Neighbours Burning Neighbours' 'Burning Neighbours' (SR123), Tramhaus's 'The First Exit' (SR126), Autorijdend Nederland's 'Group Theory' (SR124), Texoprint's 'Mumble' (SR122), Melle Kromhout's 'Most of the Light Passes Through' (GC014), Schau Schau's 'Wants/Social Skills' (SR114), Tramhaus's 'Minus 20' (SR121), 'Switch' (SR120) and 'The Goat' (SR118), Space Siren's 'DGD ABE' (SR112), The Kidbug Combi's '[SR111] + [SR116]', Kidbug's 'Listen, the snow is falling' (SR116) and Tramhaus's 'Rotterdam' (SR...).

• 2005

  Subroutine Records founded at pop venue VERA in Groningen by Koen ter Heegde, Niek Hofstetter and Tsjalling Venema.

• 2005

  First release: an EP by Awkward I, presented at VERA.

• 2005

  Sampler 'Little Next Best Things' released, featuring bands from the Netherlands and Belgium.

Independent label supporting alternative indie bands, primarily Dutch, with a focus on creative freedom and serving the wider indie scene.

• Tramhaus – Blister [SR136]

• Dishes – Drama [SR135]

• Glice – ENVOI [GC015]

• Bawrence of Aralia – Nine Pieces of Insecurity Pie [SR133]

• Zea – In lichen fol beloften [SR134]

• a fungus – Field Relief [SR129]

• Alienbaby Collective – Breakage [SR132]

• The Gluemen – T-Shirt

• The Gluemen – The Gluemen [SR106/GC001]

• SØWT – Is this the hard part? [SR131]

• Free Dust – Dust Free [SR130]

• Schau Schau – Waypoint [SR128]

• HOWRAH – Ends and Means [SR127]

• Neighbours Burning Neighbours – Burning Neighbours [SR123]

• Tramhaus – The First Exit [SR126]

• Autorijdend Nederland – Group Theory [SR124]

• Texoprint – Mumble [SR122]

• Melle Kromhout – Most of the Light Passes Through [GC014]

• Schau Schau – Wants/Social Skills [SR114]

• Tramhaus – Minus 20 [SR121]

• Tramhaus – Switch [SR120]

• Tramhaus – The Goat [SR118]

• Space Siren – DGD ABE [SR112]

• The Kidbug Combi – [SR111] + [SR116]

1. 1Subroutine - Subroutine Recordssubroutine.nl
2. 2About - Subroutine Recordssubroutine.nl
3. 3Subroutine Recordswikidata.org
4. 4Subroutine Recordsnl.wikipedia.org