| From Ennui into a Dark World: the beginnings of an indie
label |
| These days the music industry is riskier than ever. With
two major labels gone in the last ten years and EMI looking ready to take
a dive, the longevity and steady growth of indie label Dark World International
is notably remarkable. |
| The phrase "Dark World" was first used in reference
to a 1992 underground video series released by J.A.Bohr. While recording
with the band Milwaukee's Black Orchid, J.A.B. had the opportunity to work
on the North American public access television series "Ennui Entertainment
Presents..." (airing 1994-1996). J.A.B. used Dark World as a production
company name and Dark World International history officially began. |
| Ennui Entertainment as a potential record label folded
in 1994, and the rights to the Black Orchid master tapes reverted to J.A.B.
and Dark World. In 1995 Dark World restructured as an indie label, acquired
the rights to the music of Infinisynth, and became a BMI music publisher.
Realizing he needed help, J.A.B. turned to long time friend Kris (Kristi)
Ameringer. Kris was brought in as President to help facilitate the restructuring
of Dark World and soon became involved behind the boards as a producer
as well. |
| Dark World hit the internet in 1996 with www.darkworld.com.
Originally designed to market the bands and their releases, darkworld.com
was years ahead of the industry in using the internet to publicize themselves.
To help capture a larger internet audience, darkworld.com expanded beyond
the usual band hype to include the award winning surrealist visual area
Planet Mythos. |
| By 1998, a growing cult fan base from internet exposure,
a strong business foundation allowing the label to become a North American
corporation, and an artist roster that now included Milwaukee's Black Orchid,
Infinisynth, Kylyra, and Stygian Tars, the future looked rosy for Dark
World. |
| Disaster struck this tight knit indie label in the summer
of 1998 when the Dark World studios in Minneapolis were burglarized. All
of the company's recording equipment and many artist's instruments were
lost overnight. While wrangling with their insurance company over coverage
for their losses, Dark World received yet another blow: friend, father,
and mentor Allan Ameringer died of cancer. |
| Refusing to let setbacks stop them, Dark World kept recording
and releasing their artists while planning a transatlantic move. While
some supporters of the indie label were surprised when they made their
plans public, according to Kris Ameringer, "We [the company and the
artists] had talked about moving to Europe for years. All of our information
told us we had a larger and stronger fan base in Europe but we were unable
to capitalize on it being in North America." |
| In 2004, Dark World completed its move to Ireland. Reborn
as Dark World International, this indie label now boasts digital distribution
on iTunes and an artist roster that includes 11 artists and spans the rock,
industrial, dance, and metal genres. |
