Deltasonic

Deltasonic is an English record label based in Liverpool, England. Previously joint ventured with Sony Music, it is now totally independent. It was formed by Alan Wills, the former drummer with Liverpool bands Shack and Top.

Aiming to be like Mo'Wax, Wills started his first label EVA in January 2000, primarily to release material by Joe Fearon aka Paracruzar. However, after three promo-only releases on clear 10-inch vinyl, including the first release by 'Mountaineers' (credited on the record as 'The Sandpeople'), he decided to move on to new areas and, with the help of his partner Ann Heston and consultancy from Simon Duffy (Tri Tone), he started a new label called Deltasonic Records. The name is an amalgamation of two ideas, as Wills explains: "I predominantly wanted it to be a guitar label and the guitars we liked are rooted in the Blues, so Delta, and Sonic is from Sonic Youth, just the coolest band name ever."

The discovery of The Coral gave Wills the impetus to bring his idea of a new guitar-band label to life by starting Deltasonic. Wills told HitQuarters that: "It was always the aim to release them through Deltasonic, and it was always their aim to be on Deltasonic ... Most people wouldn't have understood the Coral at that point."

The label originally had a joint venture deal with Sony, with the major record company owning 49% of Deltasonic and using its network to distribute and market it releases worldwide. The partnership was a gamble for Sony that was motivated by chairman Rob Stringer and president Muff Winwood's love of the label's roster, and their belief that guitar music was on the rise.

The first single released was by The Coral. Other bands later signed to the label include Mountaineers (who later moved on to Mute records), the Zutons, The Dead 60's, The Little Flames, The Rascals, The Basement Candie Payne, and their first long-term signing from outside Liverpool, The Longcut followed by The Suzukis.

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