The Crier

Ghostly International

The ingenuity of one Ann Arbor-based label

Lisa Hiatt · The Exchange · Apr 02, 2007

When Sam Valenti IV met Matthew Dear at a house party in 1999, it was love at first listen. Both were students at the University of Michigan; Valenti had dreams of starting his own record label and Dear was an aspiring DJ. They bonded over their mutual affection for Detroit techno, and soon a beautiful baby called “Ghostly” was born.

Residing in the realm of dance and electronica, the Ann Arbor-based label Ghostly International and its sister label, Spectral Sound, have paved the way for minimal techno and ambient music since the late ’90s, creating its own progressive genre. Matthew Dear was the first artist signed to the label, releasing a 12-inch single titled “Hands up for Detroit.” (The track was produced by the late Disco D, a fellow University grad.) Dear’s minimalist approach is beautiful as it is simple. As Audion, Dear has been able to step outside of the ambient threshold and expand into the sphere of harder-hitting techno-pop.

As for other core artists, Tadd Mullinix (also known as James T. Cotton, Dabrye) has succeeded in both the electronic and hip-hop genres. Winking Makes A Face was his first full-length release for Ghostly International. Driven by his patently abstract beats, it garnered him both critics’ acclaim and a large fan base. His hip-hop alias, Dabrye, was unveiled at the Detroit Electronic Music Festival in 2001, where he blended both electronic elements with raw, body-shaking bass lines.

Ann Arbor-based label Ghostly International and its sister label, Spectral Sound, have paved the way for minimal techno and ambient music since the late ’90s.

Ghostly International’s current and upcoming releases include dance-friendly remixes of Lusine’s Podgelism and Audion’s Mouth to Mouth Remixes. Ghostly’s “rock band,” Skeletons and the Kings of all Cities, is due to release its sophomore album, Lucas, on May 8. Matthew Dear’s single, “Deserter,” will also be released May 8, featuring an exclusive Four Tet instrumental remix of “Deserter” on the digital version and an exclusive dance-floor version of “You Know What I would Do” on the 10-inch hard copy. The single is the prelude to Dear’s much-anticipated full-length album, Asa Breed, which is scheduled for release on June 5.

In the coming months, Ghostly and Spectral artists will tour the US and Europe. Spectral Sound’s installment of its bi-monthly residency, DEATH IS NOTHING TO FEAR, features some of their established and up-and-coming producers. Its second U.S. installment stops in Detroit on May 18 at the Esko Lounge with Bodycode live. Matthew Dear will play at the Magic Stick in Detroit May 20 as a preview of the Asa Breed album.

When Valenti created Ghostly International, he set out to “create a culture.”

Ghostly International and Spectral Sound have created an identity expanding beyond music. They produce soft goods such as T-shirts, sweatshirts and hats. The clothing lines showcase their label logo as well as artist-specific designs. Their Boy Cat Bird brand also includes a hilarious-yet-cute weekly comic strip. Ghostly has even signed an exclusive deal with Moss to produce a 128 MB flash USB drive that contains a Ghostly/Spectral playlist, doubling as media storage and digital album.

When Valenti created Ghostly International, he set out to “create a culture” — a culture that would be distinct musically, aesthetically and artistically. Over the past eight years, he has created a consistently progressive and unique sound, and Ghostly has thrived.

As for the future of Ghostly International and Spectral Sound?

“It will still be a music label, but expanding into other facets as the music industry changes,” said label manager Jeff Owens. “In the future, Sam has an idea of opening up an actual store — a clothing/culture store.”

Let’s hope that future is near.