ScenePointBlank: What's your initial reaction to a record going OOP?
Mike Haley: I would like to keep everything in print, but it's kind of hard. I just can't afford to. I never thought any of my shit would actually go out of print anyway. Freaks me out.
ScenePointBlank: What's it like seeing vinyl that I'm sure at one point you had trouble selling go for tons of money on eBay?
Mike Haley: I think it's kind of lame when people sell records for so much either way. I don't know why. No rational reason I guess... I guess i shouldn't really judge, cause maybe they need the money or whatever. I still see some of my earlier releases like the JFFB split or the Usurp/Hassan split going for way to much money. It took me forever to sell those for $3 when they came out. I fucking gave most of them away, probably to the people selling them on eBay. Hahaha.
ScenePointBlank: How do you go about doing joint releases with Robotic Empire or other labels?
Mike Haley: Well, with the records I did with Andy [of Robotic Empire] I was either planning on doing just a vinyl version of a record or he was just going to do a CD version of a record. We just asked each other and the bands about hooking up. We've been friends for a while, so it wasn't like hooking up with some other weird label or anything. Sometimes bands bring up the idea of having another label on board. It's always different. I am not a huge fan of split releases though. There are only a few labels I think I would do another one with, Robotic Empire being one.
ScenePointBlank: So you and Andy are just friends, or more...?
Mike Haley: Hehe. He's cute, but we're just friends. He was supposed to come on the Welcome The Plague Year tour with us, but he can't now. Fucking sucks. I haven't seen him in forever.
ScenePointBlank: What do you think about the term screamo?
Mike Haley: Personally, I think it's dumb. It's like a joke that won't go away. But whatever, people identify with it I guess.
ScenePointBlank: Do you see it as a pigeonhole term?
Mike Haley: I don't know. Maybe? Probably not though. It's just one of those terms like "emoviolence" or whatever. Just a joke that people take out of context and use as a vague definition.
ScenePointBlank: How do you explain your label to people who don't know anything about this type of sound?
Mike Haley: Yeah, I know what you mean. To be honest, I just avoid the topic. I think the only relatives I have that know about the label are my parents and brother, and that's just because I have tons of boxes in their house. Co-workers ask about it sometimes, but I never know what to say. I just tell people at the post office that I eBay records. I guess I'm non-confrontational or whatever.
ScenePointBlank: What does Electric Human Project mean?
Mike Haley: It doesn't really mean anything. I just sort of came up with it one night. I could've thought of something for a long time, but I would just end up hating it anyway.
ScenePointBlank: If you had to make up something for what it means, what would it mean?
Mike Haley: My dad was a scientist, and he made a robot when I was 10. It killed everyone in my family except for me. It's name is sparky.
ScenePointBlank: That's sexy.
Mike Haley: It is sexy, yes. A sexy, killer robot. Named Sparlu. Sparky.
ScenePointBlank: I think Sparlu is cooler, but whatever. What's the funniest mistaken name someone has called Electric Human Project?
Mike Haley: I get Electronic Human Project a lot. That's not really funny though. My friend Sal has insisted on calling it "The EPH" since the begining. No clue why. Thats kinda funny, cause the Black Cat #13 7" has "EPH 0.04" etched into the wax. I think Stickfigure listed a record as the eclectic human project before.
ScenePointBlank: Well there's an idea for my label
Mike Haley: Go for it dude.
ScenePointBlank: Thanks. How do you decide which bands to release?
Mike Haley: Just any band that I am into and will let me put out a record.
ScenePointBlank: How do you contact them, e-mail or do you walk up to them late at night with records in hand?
Mike Haley: Some bands I get in touch with through e-mail after I hear a record by them. Sometimes at shows. I like to do records with friends' bands the most. No doubt about that.
ScenePointBlank: What's the most meaningful release you've done so far?
Mike Haley: Man, that's a tough question. I mean, they all mean a lot to me one way or another. What record I have put out means the most to you?
ScenePointBlank: Probably the hot cross split because those two songs by them on it rule. Your upcoming release list is humongous, how do you keep on that of all of it?
Mike Haley: I guess I just sit in front of the computer or on the phone all day long. It sucks, but its pretty worth it. I am going to quit my job soon, so I have more time to do the label.
ScenePointBlank: And do your label full time or are you going to get another job?
Mike Haley: I am going to try to do the label full time. It probably won't work out, but whatever. I can always get a part time job I guess.
ScenePointBlank: Any regrets in your record label 'career' that you would go back and change?
Mike Haley: Man, I would like to change a lot. But it's mostly mistakes I made, and I guess it's good to make mistakes.
ScenePointBlank: Any mistakes in particular?
Mike Haley: Well, I rush a lot. Artwork gets rushed and fucked up. Test presses get approved that maybe shouldn't. Shit like that. Sometimes it's not my fault, but no one else will care, so I don't either.
ScenePointBlank: If you had one piece of advice for someone starting a label, what would it be?
Mike Haley: Put out a spoken word album by me.
ScenePointBlank: How has the internet contributed towards your label running process?
Mike Haley: Well, the internet was around before my label, so I don't really know what it would be like without it. It seems to help out a lot with advertising and distribution. I doubt I would have a distro if I didn't have a webpage.
ScenePointBlank: How do you go about doing distro for you label?
Mike Haley: I used to deal with distros myself, but they never paid me and it got annoying. Now Ebullition handles all of that for me, which is amazing! Kent and Lisa do an amazing job over there. Top notch people. I still deal with some distros that I know aren't assholes. And I still do trades and what not.
ScenePointBlank: Does the pressure of running a label ever get to be too much? What do you do to relieve pressure in these situations?
Mike Haley: Yeah, it does from time to time. I've thought about not doing the label anymore, but I don't know what else I would do. I guess to relax I watch Mr. show, or smoke weed, or watch Mr. show and smoke weed.
ScenePointBlank: Any favorite Mr. Show quotes?
Mike Haley: Shit, we could be here all night long.
ScenePointBlank: Well, choose a few.
Mike Haley: I love saying obscure ones that only 2 or 3 people get.
ScenePointBlank: I don't know that one.
Mike Haley: Me either. "Here's the bet!" Do you know that one?
Mike Haley: I don't really know the show, but I was hoping for some funny quotes.
ScenePointBlank: Any upcoming bands that you are not releasing that are worth checking out?
Mike Haley: I heard the new Sunn o))) on Soul Seek. That rules. That band Mannequin is pretty sweet. I saw this band Baroness from Georgia not long ago and they were fucking amazing! Pearls And Brass fucking rule hard too! There is this band from Mass. called Ampere that are way good too.
