Analogue Records Empowers LGBTQ Creatives to Share Their Authentic Selves

Jordan Quin initially entered Boston’s Berklee College of Music for performance, though she quickly fell in love with music business and songwriting. Her focus shifted as she observed the “messed up” relationship between artists and their labels and the powerlessness artists—especially queer artists—often face in elevating their own voices. Fast-forward to present day, and Quin is the founder of student-run label Analogue Records, with 10 folks on staff and four artists under its belt. The label launched in May 2021.

“Our main goal, and the foundation that was built around, was just making sure that artists’ relationships with their label are good, trustworthy, and honest and making sure that we can produce something that we all truly love,” Quin says.

She also points to the trend of labels prioritizing commercial success over all else, which often results in monotonous music that isn’t true to the artist’s vision, for the sake of generating profit.

“The artists don’t really have a say in what they’re writing anymore,” Quin says. “So, we make sure to give our artists liberty in what they’re writing and what they’re creating and make sure that they’re involved in every step of the process.”

As a lesbian who grew up in Texas, Quin references that she didn’t even know what the word “lesbian” meant until she was 14. 

“I think (Analogue’s LGBTQ focus) just started as me wanting to give little kids something to look up to and see themselves in,” Quin says.

In addition, the Analogue Records staff is representative of a broad range of genders and LGBTQ identities. Quin says elevating queer folks behind the scenes and in the artists the label represents shows all of society just how capable queer folks are. 

Their queer and trans identities are still important to affirm and uplift as crucial elements of their personhood, but working at Analogue exemplifies how much more they, and other LGBTQ folks, have to offer in the beautiful creations and art they are able to share, she says.

Ultimately, building a staff that shares a community and common goal allows the Analogue crew to not only share and collaborate with differing perspectives but foster a trust in one another in their collaboration, without judgment.

“Everyone knows that, no matter how they identify or who they love, they’re going to be listened to and heard as an equal at Analogue,” Quin says. “And I think that just causes us to have such creative and interesting conversations because you’re not coming at it from a defensive lens, like you have to deal with in so many other aspects of society and so many other workplaces Unfortunately, in so many queer people’s paths, that’s just what we’re used to.”

She admits that LGBTQ musicians have come a long way, and it’s beautiful that there are so many artists who are celebrated for their queerness. Though, Quin argues that there is still a lot of censorship around queer artists, especially by bigger labels who are mostly concerned with how palatable the music is for the general population over legitimately letting artists control their narratives.

“I feel like it’s so important to be explicit and to not tone down your music or your queerness or anything, for anyone,” Quin says. “I mean, if a (straight) woman or a man can go and sing about literally having sex with someone else, I don’t know why a queer person can’t do the same thing, or talk about someone they love, or use the right pronouns in a song or an interview.”

She recognizes that, even though LGBTQ rights are under threat in the U.S., we’re still globally in a privileged position where queer people aren’t penalized for being explicit in their identities through art.

“If that’s not what some people want to hear, then they can listen to something else, but I think that we just really need to focus on building each other up, amplifying the voices, and people who are being honest with themselves and with their audience.”

The supportive environment of Analogue surely helps to support that aim, though Quin admits that it’s also pushed her to grow in her role as the label founder. Initially, she started Analogue with “no confidence, honestly, like, no friends,” just going for it, hoping that other people agreed with the mission and believed the label would be successful. 

Slowly but surely, her own community became part of the project. Quin initially signed her two best friends, Kelly Flatley and Levi Cooper, as the first artists on the Analogue label; Tristan and Taylor O’Connell are also signed to Analogue Records.

“I believed in their music, and they believed in my work, and we just decided to work together,” she says. “It’s become this really beautiful thing where we can uplift queer people. I think the love is what shines through in everything we do, and how much care we have for each other and our work.”

Quin also nods to the environment in which Analogue was fostered: “I’m lucky enough to go to Berklee—I’m surrounded by musicians all the time,” as beneficial while the label continues to grow. In building Analogue Records, it’s often as simple as approaching talented folks she already knows about and letting them know she can help them to find a producer, seek out distribution, and elevate their music to more listeners.

“It’s been the most beautiful example of trust because they trust me with their creative vision. And we sit down and we meet and we text all the time. I’m so close with my artists.”

She sees the label today, with Analogue’s artists benefiting from the platform and the passion project continuing to blossom, in stark contrast to the early days, when it was just an idea. Quin says she’s often in awe, witnessing the growth and reflecting on the trust her staff and artists have instilled in her.

“It’s so rewarding because not only do I care about the music and the work, obviously, but it’s the relationships that I’m building with my staff and my artists, seeing how much they trust in me and how much they believe in what we’re doing—That’s been so amazing. I wake up every day, and I can’t even believe that it’s my life.”

Looking ahead, Quin is eager for the label’s upcoming releases and to establish Analogue Records as an independent label, something artists can come to and that folks recognize within the industry. She’s also eager to one day open a storefront, even though that may take some time. For now, it’s all about nourishing the project and promoting its potential.

“Just the way that you can create something from nothing—It’s been beautiful.”

For more front Analogue Records, find them on Facebook @anloguerecordsco, Instagram @analoguerecords, and check out their official website, analoguerecords.co. 

Photos Courtesy of Analogue Records