Little Town Sound

There’s no denying the abundance of great live music in Birmingham. Stages across town are graced with amazing talent week after week. The music doesn’t end when the show’s over, though. Record label Little Town Sound captures the Magic City’s talent on record and provides a number of valuable services to support deserving artists.

 “We’re musicians and we know what it’s like to be musicians.” Says Milyn Little, co-founder and creative director. Along with co-founder and managing director Ricky Little and a team of dedicated music professionals, Milyn has seen Little Town Sound help Birmingham musicians achieve possibilities that were previously out of reach.

What began in 1995 as a label with studio quickly grew into a vital asset available to working musicians. “If it’s anything a band or musician needs, we do it or know someone who does,” says Milyn. Their services now include recording, label/management, graphic design, and merchandise. Each year, they also host the Little Town Sound Party, an event that showcases local/regional talent lined with vendors and artists.

Albums released on the Little Town Sound label have a cohesive, live band quality as the team chooses to record their artists together as much as possible. “We prefer to never ‘punch in,’” says Milyn. “You get tons more energy live, but some things have to be done track by track.”

LTS also favors hands-off production, allowing their artists creative freedom in the studio. “We don’t want to be too restrictive about the sound,” says chief engineer Alex Troughton. “Performance is better when everybody is in close contact.”

The studio has moved a number of times before settling in the Magic City, and LTS has had the opportunity to work with a host of talented artists. “We’ve recorded anything from 15 year old punk bands to 80+ year old blues musicians from Mississippi along with some Nashville players,” says Milyn.

The psychedelic Future Primitives are among the artists privileged to work with Little Town Sound. There are currents of airy pop running throughout their set, but this electric five-piece is a natural garage rock act. While several decades of rock are condensed into their sound, a few groovy riffs point to a ‘60s influence. Far out effects provide of a glimpse of the future (as imagined by the 1980s).  

Jazz guitarist Carlos Pino is a well-rooted fixture of the Birmingham scene and sought-after addition to many other acts. At home at regular venues like Iron City, jazz clubs like Ona’s Music Room, or the grand showcase of Secret Stages, Pino has a smooth and versatile style that is both easy on the ears for casual listening, and creative enough to grab any musician’s attention.

Influenced by delta blues musicians and their country counterparts, Thomas Trussell has collected a book of road songs, lonesome thoughts, and love letters, all communicated through an acoustic guitar. This singer/songwriter plays the blues with accents of the folk scene that pervades Birmingham, occasionally supplementing the standard riffs with listening room progressions.    

An offshoot from the hip hop act Jive Mob, The Deep End infuse their previous efforts with healthy doses of funk and reggae. The addition of extra members adds an ocean of depth and detail to the rhythmic assembly. Carlito Jackson’s vocals are held high by a foundation of solid percussion, thumping bass, and plenty of crowd and backing voices.

Comprised of seasoned musicians and LTS personnel, Royal & Toulouse draws their energy from the electrified South. Their albums are rich with blues and Southern rock. Experienced collaborators, the group is a jam band at the core and really shines in their slower numbers, letting each measure steep. Fronted by Milyn herself, R&T have received widespread airplay and the attention of very enthusiastic critics such as Relix Magazine.  

The studio also has a working relationship with Emanual Ellinas, recording expert and mastermind behind the Sitori Sonics effects pedals. LTS shares their overflow recording and musicians looking for true analogue recording.

The label is currently directing their focus upon boosting their musicians’ exposure and making a lasting impression through take-home merch. “For 2014, we’re going to restructure the company a bit,” says Milyn. “We’ve had a lot of success with helping bands with merchandise. That’s stickers, vinyl, graphic design, and more. When you play a show, it’s important to have something for fans to take home with them.” LTS has committed to giving each artist the custom touch, tailoring their services as needed. “We’re starting small to hand-mold each band that comes in,” she continues. “We’re there to help with whatever they need.”

Their services don’t go unnoticed, and Birmingham musicians are quick to sing the praises of the hard-working label. “They’ve done booking for me and soon should be doing recording. I am extremely pleased with their work,” says Thomas Trussell. “Milyn and Ricky are both really cool people. They have been super supportive. They also have made it possible for me to play venues and gigs that I’ve always wanted to play. I look forward to continuing to work with them in the future.”

Look out for releases by Thomas Trussell, Royal and Toulouse, The Future Primitives, and The Secret Midnight Band in 2014.

You can contact Little Town Sound at littletownsoundllc@gmail.com.

You can also like LTS  on Facebook and follow ’em on Twitter.