What We're Looking For

 Submissions open SOON! Check back for details.

So, what are we looking for? 

Punk is in the name, so you can assume a preference. I grew up on the Pistols, Johnny Thunders, X-Ray Spex, Patti Smith, but also Good Charlotte, All Time Low, New Found Glory, MCR, Simple Plan, Fall Out Boy, plus musicals (Broadway, Hollywood, cult) and The Hold Steady. 

That said, we embrace punk as a culture, NOT a genre. That’s what we want to lift up: the misfits, the vagabonds, the losers and freaks- with a conscious, intimate lean. We’re especially interested in acts exploring social commentary, personal development, and mental health in their lyrics. 

We’re happy to welcome artists from almost all genres, incl. but not limited to:  

indie, dreamo, slowcore, shoegaze, rap, conscious hip-hop, country, pop, Americana, folk, emo, and pure pop punk. 

Also VERY into spoken word albums, with or without musical additions. 

(Hard no on heavy metal and mumble rap.)

PLEASE NOTE:

We want acts on the pensive side of punk. Raw and real, but pretty. Unplugged/lo-fi preferred. We welcome plugged acts who want to release an unplugged/acoustic album through our label! 

We will prioritize simple/acoustic acts for the sake of simplicity in recording, mixing and mastering, but that does not mean we will reject full band sets outright. (Some of our own acts fall into the latter category.)

Above all, we want it melodic with a lyrical emphasis. 

We like the weird, the wondrous, the whimsical. 

Songs that sound like what we want: 

Solo- Frank Ocean 

Play Me a Hank Song- Tyler Childers 

Therapy- All Time Low 

Trophy Scars- Hill Country Devil 

Tomorrow Tomorrow- Babygirl 

Citrus- The Hold Steady 

Blue Eyes- The Wedding Present 

It’s Okay- The Catalysts 

Starry Eyes- Cigarettes After Sex 

Jolene- Cake 

Drugstore Perfume- Gerard Way

Halfway Home- Big D and the Kids Table

Soda Shop- Jay Brannan

Simple & Sweet- Jon Bellion 

A Better Son/Daughter- Rilo Kiley 

Belong!- Neon Dreams
Swing Life Away- Rise Against

smiling when i die- Sasha Alex Sloan

New England- Billy Bragg 

Boys who make out- Borscht 

Bleachers (MTV Unplugged album) 

Bright Eyes

^ A mix of genres/recording quality. (Find a playlist with these songs here.) 

Interested? Email us at punkmonkrecords(at)gmail(dot)com 

If we're interested, we will reply with a distribution and licensing offer. Our contracts are easy-to-read, but will require physical signatures.