Trekky Records

Local record company Trekky Records was founded by Will Hackney and Martin Anderson. Will stopped by for a chat about workin', recordin', and cool websites (spoiler - JoP is one!). TrkFest is coming up for Trekky on June 13th. Be sure to check it out!

What or who is the driving force behind Trekky records?

All of the different personalities in the different bands. These weirdos keep Martin and I inspired to keep promoting and releasing their music.

Describe an average Trk business day.
Martin and I listen to the music on my computer with the "Shuffle" feature on. Our office is in the basement of our house and its called "The Pleasure Dome" (by some). Martin and I quietly write emails all, occasionally pausing to make fun of someone or say "This song is awesome" then around one someone yells "LUNCHTIIIIIIIIIIME!" and we go upstairs to eat veggie burgers. Then more emails! Yea girl.

How does a band get signed to Trekky?

You have to know Martin and I or people in the crew for usually about 7 years and then you're in!

Do you actively go out and recruit talent from around the area?

Nope, but we still go to a ton of shows because many of the bands around here are amazing!

What are defining characteristics of Trekky bands?

They all sound very different, but generally a common thread is trying to do something different and un-marketable from a business point of view. We like this.

What bands that you have played in over the years have influenced you the most?

Martin and I started out playing in a loud band called Alvarez Painting that really taught us what its like to be in a band at a very young age. Auxiliary House and Lost in the Trees have taught me the good things and the frustrating things about being in a giant, enormous band.

It's 2024, what does Trekky records look like?

Based on an multi-use compound in Chatham County run on solar power and home to our offices, homes, organic farms, horses, a roller coaster and a recording studio. In other words, an anarchist commune.

What bands outside of Trekky do you take the most inspiration from?

Locally our friends in Megafaun, Bowerbirds, Midtown Dickens and The Rosebuds are all amazing at giving honest performances, making beautiful records and not selling out. Crucial.

In Chapel Hill, what do you find is the best club to play music at?

Nightlight is our longtime favorite venue. We've been doing shows there for nearly a decade and its only getting better in recent months!

What websites do you visit on a daily basis?
Pitchfork, Craigslist, Jar of Paperclips (via Google Reader)

In this era of home recording and distributing local music, other start-ups like Trekky have emerged (ie: Sufficient Records). How do you feel about their competition on the music scene?

We don't compete with anyone, we fully support anyone else trying to make something happen. I've never heard of Sufficient Records...

What are the biggest accomplishments of Trekky to date?

Last year's TRKfest Music Festival, our annual Christmas show and Project Symphony, which was the debut of Ari Picker's (Lost in the Trees) first symphony.

What are some areas that Trekky could work on?

Having money!

What do you consider Trekky's biggest musical release?

The Never's album Antarctica. It was a full album and a 50-page color storybook. Yikes!

What is the biggest time of year for Trekky on the whole?

Usually Autumn I think. We released 5 records last fall. All of our bands are in tune with each other's cycles, I guess.

TrkFest is coming up in June. Tell our readers a lil' something about it!

TRKfest is a one day blissfest in Pittsboro, NC that is now an annual event. All of the Trekky bands and our best friend bands all play out in the hot sun and its wonderful. This year's is Saturday, June 13th and you can check myspace.com/trkfest for info!

What is Trekky's mascot?
An owl. A reclaimed symbol from the free masons. Or Bobby Britt, fiddle player. Beware the fleet fingers of Bobby Britt.


The Owl Room Sessions hearken back to MTV's Unplugged Series. What is your ultimate goal for these sessions?
Just to keep em going and inviting people to have a different sort of show experience. Man, I'll never forget Stone Temple Pilots' MTV Unplugged!

Many Trekky band members cross over to help each other out on other ensemble or solo projects. Not including the ones that have already occurred, what cross-overs would you like to see happen?

We talk about this constantly, trying to come up with the weirdest and most magical combinations. Most recently we've just been talking about putting all of the hottest dudes in one band and having them be an R&B group.

What social causes and projects does Trekky currently participate in? What are some that you foresee becoming involved with?

We have an "Adopt a Highway" road that we clean and our annual Christmas show benefits the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. We do as much as we can on our respective budgets. Hopefully when we are famous we can do a giant concert and buy Chapel Hill a monorail or something.

What radio station do you consider the best/listen to the most in the Triangle area (AKA Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill)?

WXYC is great for a broad range of music. WKNC in Raleigh plays more local music than anyone on earth and they are amazing for that. WXDU is wonderful also. Joe Norkus' show with his Dad on WCOM is a "must-listen".

Of course numbers don't matter, but what do you consider to be a good show for your bands?

One where something happens that could never happen ever again.

What local bands are you digging the most right now, outside of Trekky's?

Hammer No More the Fingers and Kingsbury Manx just released awesome albums.

Is Trekky your sole occupation? What about for other bands? Do members have jobs outside of Trekky?

Most people have day jobs in the Trekky crew. Martin and I work pretty much full time.

The Trekky family just welcomed a new addition to the fam. Are you excited to watch your bands transition into all different phases of their lives, not just musically? What does that mean for the future of Trekky?

This is very exciting for us because indeed Trekky is sort of our whole life and not just our hobby. We all feel like its our baby (in fact we all tried to name it) and we hope that she grows up feeling like she has this giant extended family helping to raise her. Also we hope she starts a band ASAP.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us Will! Our readers look forward to hearing from Martin!