Label feature: Kawaii Records

Okay… I was 16 years old when I first got in touch with xDAVIDx (yes, we used to write sXe for Straight Edge and X-up for our screen names) through Myspace (yes, Myspace).

At the time he was releasing his first batch of records on his DIY label Kawaii Records. We soon became pen pals through email and snail mail. We would talk about hardcore punk, radical hip-hop or obscure grindcore from the most obscure places in the world.

Back then, I was discovering both French screamo and classic punk like Métal Urbain or Bérurier Noir, while David was interested in the current state of affairs in Bulgaria and other former Eastern Bloc countries.

Our punk geek relationship was going well, and he asked me to write a Bulgarian scene report for his Mononoke Zine (yes, Ghibli), a French-language zine that featured reports on underground scenes in places like Pakistan, Uruguay, the Philippines, China, Peru, etc. alongside anime / manga reviews.

It was also the time when my still teenage mind led me to an idea: to start my own DIY label! I went to the post office and sent a CD-r with live rehearsal recordings of my friends band Old Joe’s Anger to France and asked Kawaii Records to co-produce the release of their first CD. David said yes, and later I received a package containing most of Kawaii’s releases to date: Straight edge bands from Japan and South Korea, fastcore from France, anarcho-punk from Peru and much more.

In 2008, I was already experienced in the whole DIY hardcore punk thing and co-produced another release with Kawaii Records. This time it was the complete 2001-2007 discography of Macedonian band FxPxOx. I was really excited to be part of this project and everything went really smoothly, the record came out with a huge booklet of lyrics/translations and I was really happy to be involved in such a project.

To this day in April 2016 Kawaii Records have released 72 records of hardcore, punk and hip-hop artists from all over the world!

And besides his label and the already mentioned Mononoke zine, David is also publishing a journal for cinema reviews of movies in all genre called Délivrance, a hardcore punk photography page called Purikura Hardcore Party, and an online store for his anime / manga inspired paintings and photography called Mokuso Art. He is also running a blog for free downloads and info on obscure underground bands called This is Kawaii Not Hawaii, go check them out!

Here are some of my favorite releases of Kawaii Records in a chronological order, starting with the most recent releases:

KW071: My Man Mike – Will You Marry Me? 10″

Fastcore trio from Seoul, South Korea, inspired by the likes of Spazz and What Happens Next? The three members hail from three different countries: France, USA and South Korea. The band has toured extensively in Asia, Europe and America.

KW067: PILOOPHAZ – Self-Titled CD

Underground hip hop artist from St. Etienne in France, great old school beats and intelligent lyrics: personal and political. The CD contains 22 tracks recorded between 2006 and 2011.

KW066: Demokhratia / Mondo Gecko – No Religions-No States LP

Political punk from Algeria meets fastcore from Israel! A big fuck you to both fascislamists and nazis.

KW065: Fanzui Xiangfa – Self-Titled 7″

Six tracks of fast and furious hardcore punk from Beijing, China. This band is really good. Beijing Hardcore.

KW062: Tropiezo / Vivisick – Split 7″

Tropiezo raw hardcore punk thrash from Puerto Rico meets Japanese fastcore veterans Vivisick. Full-speed thrashcore violence and no-frills hardcore from both bands.

KW061: Second Combat – Count On To Survive

Pioneers of melodic hardcore from Malaysia. They have been around for quite some time now and have managed to build a solid foundation for the Malaysian hardcore and straight edge scene. The CD kicks off with 10 songs with a positive message and a nice Bane, Have Heart inspired sound.

KW059: L’oiseau mort – Soubresauts Acte 1 LP

L’oiseau Mort is a hip hop duo from Grenoble, I have to say they are just amazing, one of my favourite French hip hop artists and I listen to a lot of underground hip hop. Gotta love them!

KW027: FxPxOx – 2003-2007 Recordings

Absolutely stunning political thrashcore from Skopje, Macedonia. As I mentioned earlier, I also co-produced this release with Kawaii Records and many other labels around the world. The members of FxPxOx are no longer straight edge, but still play in other bands, including Bernays Propaganda, probably the most famous band to come out of Macedonia in the last decade.

KW017: Golem of Flesh – Les Charpentiers

Dark and apocalyptic hip hop from France, check this out if you like French hip hop with harsh lyrics against all organized religion.

KW02: Making Sense – S/T

Kawaii’s second release comes with probably the most pixelated and uninviting cover artwork ever, but behind this unrecognizable band image is some great youth crew inspired hardcore from Chiba City, Japan! Pure old school hardcore and straight edge energy, great release.

KW01: Make Mention of Sight – The Beginning

The first Kawaii Records release from 2004. Make Mention of Sight was a youth crew band from Japan, probably the first Japanese straight edge band I ever heard. 7 songs including a Unit Pride cover.

David Carville is one of those passionate people I’ve met early in my life thanks to the international DIY hardcore punk network. And as long as there are labels like Kawaii Records, I’ll be sure that DIY punk exists in the farthest corners of the world, and in all these places there are individual and collective efforts to make it much more than just a musical and subcultural scene.