Almost exactly 12 months ago, Miami music scene veteran and Dreaming in Stereo frontman Fernando Perdomo founded his very own label, giving it the most appropriate moniker — Forward Motion Records — he could conjure up. "The label is very aptly named," Perdomo says. "It's all about small victories and slowly gathering steam.
"We have a different set of goals than most labels," he adds. "We're not focused on being a moneymaking enterprise. It's all about exposure for this scene and a label that's mostly dealing with artists from South Florida."
Forward Motion's rate of production has been extremely intense, releasing 30 full-length albums, EPs, and singles by local and national acts including Alih Jey, Andy Pratt, Arboles Libres, Jim Camacho, Dreaming in Stereo, and Vic Kingsley. "So far it's been a really great year, from having multiple artists at South by Southwest to having Jorge Moreno win the International Songwriting Competition," the label boss enthuses. "Things are looking good, man."
Still, after all of those freshman successes, Perdomo isn't even thinking about taking a break. Forward Motion is set to full speed ahead. And the CEO is looking toward 2012 with all kinds of ambition. "Our goal is to take everything we did in the first year and multiply that by ten for the second year," he insists. "And the most important thing we can do is set the bar really high."
That second year officially begins this Thursday, when Perdomo, dozens of his label mates, and a thousand close friends pack Revolution Live for Forward Motion Records' four-hour, 15-act anniversary concert. "The sets will be about ten minutes long," he says. "We're going to have a house band with different frontmen and instrumentalists switching out. It's gonna be a pretty rapid-fire night."
But it won't be just a big, boozy anniversary bash. It will also be a full-on charity benefit. "All proceeds from the door will go to Kristi House, a support system for sexually abused youths," Perdomo explains. "And it's also a promotional awareness benefit for Musicians on Call, which organizes musicians to come play for sick people."
Like music, charitable work is one of Perdomo's personal missions. "Forward Motion has played a lot of hospitals," he says before confiding, "It's been kind of a private battle, but my mother had battled cancer for five years."
Sadly, his mother, Araceli, lost her struggle last week. So this Thursday's anniversary concert has now become part memorial for her. As he says, "Not even death can stop Forward Motion."
