Too many outsiders think the borders of South Florida mark the outer edge of a cultural dead zone that no touring band should ever enter, lest it drop off the continent into the black depths of the Atlantic Ocean. We natives know this fear-mongering line of logic is nothing more than bullshit superstition. Changing minds, however, is dirty business that requires an ugly face and an iron fist. Or, if you're Roofless Records label boss Matt Preira, you could do it with a touch of boyish charm, endless optimism, and a rampaging mania for musical minutiae.
New Times: What is Roofless Records?
Matt Preira: To give a complete answer, Roofless Records is a record label specializing in vinyl and cassette releases featuring artists from Florida, though we're open to releasing anything we think is congruent with the label. Roofless also books and promotes shows for local and touring artists alike. We deal in the business of objects and moments.
And we're also about to launch a poster imprint, Time Blade. The idea with Time Blade is to screen-print limited-edition posters for some of the bigger shows. And then maybe one day move on to making posters for events other than those curated by Roofless.
Why do you think it's important to keep things somewhat Florida-centric?
Florida has an edge on the rest of the country because we're not as plugged in to national trends and tendencies. Music and art can exist in their own continuity here. Even when a band is going for what's popular on the national main stage, it's always a little off.
Musically, though, what kind of stuff is Roofless pushing?
We lean towards experimental and avant-garde but have endless love for pop and more classic genres. So far, the catalogue is a little bit of a mess. The Skeleton Warrior/Pharaoh Faucett seven-inch is pretty noisy and weird, but they're definitely songs. The Warrior song in particular is a psych-prog masterpiece.
The Over/Bored compilation LP is all over the place. I will be so bold to say every genre is represented. All of them.
A lot of the artists I work with have been moving towards a goth-sleaze-darkwave kind of dance music, and that's represented on the Skeleton Warrior/Pro Bro Gold split seven-inch as well as that new Flux Forces tape. The Curious Hair tape coming up is going to be a pair of fuzzed-out rock anthems in the style of '90s Siltbreeze and Elephant Six. I would describe Roofless as "pan-musical."
Where should people send their fan mail?
The current corporate headquarters is my parents' house. Whoo! It's right off 71st on Miami Beach. I theoretically use my parents' address for mail order, but everyone orders online anyway. I've yet to have someone mail money to the house.
Read the full Q&A with Matt Preira on Crossfade, New Times' music blog, at blogs.miaminewtimes.com/crossfade.
