OUR STory

SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020

In the late nineties, I spent many hours brooding in my bedroom, as teenagers often do. Your adolescence may have also been plagued by feelings that you don’t belong, that no one understands you. So where do you turn? Like many others, the only ride out of alienation to be found was on sound waves. It wasn’t just the words: ancient rhythms made me feel connected to a tribe that transcended physical space; wistful melodies transported me to a place where my sorrows were transmuted into a thing of beauty. They still do today. The best music has the power to transport and transcend--to ‘see’ new vistas through sound. One of my greatest joys has always been to create and share music that invites us to connect with something larger, to see the world in a new way. I dreamt of starting a record label that would bring people together through music--allowing not only artists, but everyone to see through the walls that divide us, distract us and limit our freedom. In this way, the company practically named itself.

It hasn’t been an easy road, but over the two decades since those brooding days, I’ve learned a lot about love, art, business and what makes great music. I’ve always taken a DIY approach to things and that’s given me a deeper understanding of what skills are needed for a successful label. It has also taught me what kind of team it would take to become a unifying force in a divisive world. So with the support of cofounders Kelly Samuels and Patrick McGarry, the time has come to make this dream a reality. Our mission is simple, but in the age of social distancing, we must bring people together not only physically, but through the existential power of the music itself. Our means must be innovative, meaningful and most of all transparent. Whether you are a listener, an artist or a contributor, I am delighted by the opportunity to share this journey with you.

-Nathan L. Samuels (Founder/CEO of See Through Records)