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Mark Garza is something of a celebrity amongst an ocean of DIY bands and basement dwellers; The now 16-year-old has been putting out a vast number of underground releases on tape through her own label, Funeral Sounds, for about 3 years now. She recently began to include vinyl for her most popular releases. Based out of Garza's Houston, TX home, Funeral Sounds has gained a loyal following due to Garza's amazing work ethic and commitment to underground music as well as the staff's zero tolerance policy for homophobic, transphobic, sexists, racist, and overall assholish behavior. I talked with Mark about her coming out, the future of Funeral Sounds, and the contemporary state of the scene.
When and how did Funeral Sounds get started? What was your first release?
We started in September of 2012. The 17th, I think. I had a partner back then named Chase, he left in late 2014. It’s been me alone since then. Our first release, technically, was a band called Alaurabyrd, an album called Brief History of the Dead. It was their last release. Really breathy, emotional hardcore punk kind of stuff. Largely unappreciated, if I do say so myself.
We started in September of 2012. The 17th, I think. I had a partner back then named Chase, he left in late 2014. It’s been me alone since then. Our first release, technically, was a band called Alaurabyrd, an album called Brief History of the Dead. It was their last release. Really breathy, emotional hardcore punk kind of stuff. Largely unappreciated, if I do say so myself.
How many releases have you done so far?
About 25ish? On my own, I’ve done about 13 or so.
About 25ish? On my own, I’ve done about 13 or so.
Funeral Sounds prides themselves in the fact that is a non-discrimatory tape label; you have taken an excellently strong stance against racism, homophobia, transphobia, transmisogyny, sexism, and rape culture. As a transgirl, why do you think most labels – independent or not – are very wishy washy about doing this as well?
I think it’s a fear of alienating some people that don’t “get it,” per say. Which, you know, isn’t a bad thing really; the people you’re alienating are people whom you probably wouldn’t want to be friends with, and I personally wouldn’t want to conduct business with anyone whom I wouldn’t want to be friends with so alienating people that don’t align with my moral code isn’t a huge problem. But many labels do business differently than we do and are much more concerned with the bottom line, profit margins, etc., so alienating racists, homophobes, transphobes, sexists, etc. means a higher risk factor involved, less chance of turning a profit, losing what, sadly, happens to be a large part of any businesses’ audience. At least in my experience.
I think it’s a fear of alienating some people that don’t “get it,” per say. Which, you know, isn’t a bad thing really; the people you’re alienating are people whom you probably wouldn’t want to be friends with, and I personally wouldn’t want to conduct business with anyone whom I wouldn’t want to be friends with so alienating people that don’t align with my moral code isn’t a huge problem. But many labels do business differently than we do and are much more concerned with the bottom line, profit margins, etc., so alienating racists, homophobes, transphobes, sexists, etc. means a higher risk factor involved, less chance of turning a profit, losing what, sadly, happens to be a large part of any businesses’ audience. At least in my experience.