'Madchester' inspired record label launches on Gateshead's quayside

A new independent record label formed by two local musicians has launched on the Tyne.

Ginger Syrup Records, the brainchild of music producer, Dee Dowling and singer-songwriter Gary Wight, has opened its doors at its recording HQ on Bill Quay, Gateshead.

The pair are said to be working with and developing the ‘best emerging artists’ from the region’s music scene.

Inspired by the legacy of ‘Madchester’ figurehead, Tony Wilson and his infamous Factory Records label, the new partnership forged between the pair will see the label actively hunt for musicians to sign up to the label from the region and throughout the UK.

The label has said it will work with its artists to produce, develop and release singles and albums on an international scale.

Dee Dowling said: “Working in collaboration with our in-house engineers, producers, photographers and filmmakers, Ginger Syrup Records is here for the long haul and we’re very excited about the future.

“As the live music scene changes with the death of the club culture, venues will change and so will the clientele. All of that talent will have to be channelled somewhere and we want to help plug that gap.

“We intend to place songwriting at the forefront of everything. We want to create a songwriting academy, where writers can work together to write for others as well as themselves.”

Dee, a professional musician and recording engineer by trade, believes the new label will boost the North East’s independent music scene.

He continued: “We genuinely hope to create a community, where people feel ownership and their art is not treated as a product.

“We feel our starting point is the legacy of past great independent labels like Factory or Stiff. We want to make music we want to listen to and believe others will as well.

“There are so many people writing, the music colleges are full, acoustic nights and songwriting communities are popping up everywhere. We have the resources to bring that music to the public. If we weren’t confident of that, we wouldn’t be bothering.”

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