Try Harder

Try Harder Records was a British independent record label founded in late 2005 by Alan English, Sim O'Farrell, and Simon Cope. English was a guitarist with the band Youthmovies, while the label's other founders were involved in the same independent music environment. The label operated on a small scale and focused on releasing work by emerging or independently oriented artists rather than building a broad commercial catalog. Its roster included Tired Irie, Blood Red Shoes, Foals, Jonquil, Redjetson, Blanket, The Joy Formidable, Larsen B, Playdoe, and Pioneers Press author and musician Adam Gnade. The catalog combined singles, extended plays, albums, limited physical editions, tour-oriented releases, and at least one digital-only release. This format reflected the flexible release practices common among small independent labels in the mid-to-late 2000s, when artists often used short-run vinyl, compact discs, digital distribution, and direct touring activity alongside larger label arrangements. Try Harder released several early or otherwise notable recordings connected with artists who later became better known in the alternative, indie rock, and experimental music scenes. Its releases included Foals' 7-inch single "Try This on Your Piano," Blood Red Shoes singles, Jonquil albums, and multiple Tired Irie releases. The label also issued work by Adam Gnade, including a limited tour-only version of "Trailerparks" and a collaboration with Youthmovies titled "Honey Slides." The label's catalog was eclectic rather than organized around one narrowly defined genre. Its output primarily occupied independent rock and alternative music, but the inclusion of digital and spoken-word-oriented material broadened its identity beyond a conventional guitar-band imprint. The label's small size and limited public documentation make it difficult to establish a detailed organizational structure, financial history, or continuing corporate presence. Try Harder Records' final documented release appeared in 2009. No evidence in the supplied reference material indicates that the label continued operating after that year, and it is therefore treated as defunct. The label remains chiefly identifiable through its compact release catalog and its association with a network of British and internationally touring independent artists.

Try Harder Records emerged in late 2005 as a small independent label founded by Alan English, Sim O'Farrell, and Simon Cope. English was a guitarist with Youthmovies, and the label was connected to the British independent music circuit surrounding that band and related artists. Rather than functioning as a large, genre-specialist company, Try Harder operated as a compact imprint with a varied roster and a release program built around singles, EPs, albums, and special editions. The label's catalog included releases by Tired Irie, Blood Red Shoes, Foals, Jonquil, Redjetson, Blanket, The Joy Formidable, Larsen B, Playdoe, and Adam Gnade. The output demonstrates a mixed release strategy. Some records appeared as 7-inch singles, while others were issued on compact disc as albums or EPs. Playdoe's release was digital-only, and Adam Gnade's "Trailerparks" appeared in a limited CD version intended for touring. These formats suggest a label adapting its production to the needs of individual projects, audience scale, and live activity. Several releases connected Try Harder with artists active in alternative and independent rock. It issued Foals' "Try This on Your Piano" as a 7-inch single and released two Blood Red Shoes singles, "ADHD" and "Stitch Me Back." Jonquil appeared with the albums "Lions" and "Sunny Casinos," while Tired Irie received several releases, including a CD single, a CD EP, and the 7-inch single "Like. Gentle. Men." The label also released Blanket's "Blankit," Redjetson's "The Unravelling," and a double 7-inch release by The Joy Formidable. The roster was not limited to conventional band recordings. Adam Gnade, described in the reference material as a Pioneers Press author and a musician associated with spoken or talking-song performance, contributed both solo material and a collaboration with Youthmovies. This broadened the label's cultural profile and showed an interest in unconventional formats and artist-led projects. Try Harder's documented activity culminated in a final release in 2009. The available material does not identify a formal closure announcement, acquisition, successor company, or later period of operation. On the basis of the final documented release, the imprint is treated as defunct after 2009. Its historical significance lies in the focused role it played within the independent music ecosystem of the period and in the early or specialist releases it provided for a range of developing artists.

• 2009

  Final documented release

  [1]Try Harder Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The label's final release was issued in 2009, marking the end of its documented operating period.

• 2005

  Label founded

  [1]Try Harder Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Try Harder Records was established in late 2005 by Alan English, Sim O'Farrell, and Simon Cope.

A small, artist-focused British independent label issuing alternative and experimental music through compact physical runs, digital releases, and touring-related editions.

• Recorded music

  Singles and 7-inch releases

  Try Harder Records issued a number of short-form singles, especially on 7-inch vinyl. The catalog included releases by The Joy Formidable, Larsen B, Redjetson, Blood Red Shoes, Foals, and Tired Irie. These releases formed a substantial part of the label's independent and collector-oriented output.

• Recorded music

  Albums and EPs

  The label released album and extended-play projects by artists including Blanket, Jonquil, and Tired Irie. These longer releases demonstrate that Try Harder supported complete artist projects as well as individual tracks and short promotional formats.

• Special-format releases

  Tour and digital editions

  Try Harder's catalog also included formats tailored to alternative distribution channels. Adam Gnade's "Trailerparks" was represented by a limited tour-only CD version, while Playdoe's "Sibot & Spoek are Playdoe" was released digitally. These editions illustrate the imprint's flexible approach to small-scale music distribution.

1. 1Try Harder Recordsen.wikipedia.org