Behind the Scenes of Power Goth Recordings, a Denver DIY Record Label

For Power Goth Recordings, a label is all about leaning into community, learning to do it yourself and then putting out great music.

The Denver label is run by Broken Record vocalist Lauren Beecher and her husband, Corey Fruin, who also plays in Broken Record and fronts the band Replica City, along with their good friend Jay Papandreas. They got the idea to start the business after some encouragement from Chuck Coffey, who runs the local label Snappy Little Numbers, which released Broken Record's debut LP, I Died Laughing.

With Beecher's graphic design background and relationship with a Rhode Island-based lathe-cut shop, Coffey pointed out that the trio had everything they needed to start and run their own label. By the summer of 2022, Power Goth had released its debut single: Broken Record's "Weightless."

"He's been the most supportive person out there," Fruin says of Coffey. "I don't think we're the only label that's started because of his encouragement."

Throughout the process, Coffey was always happy to answer questions and help, Fruin adds: "It takes the mystery out of what a label is, versus what it presents itself to be. Like, anyone could do this. You just have to call yourself a label."
Beecher, Fruin and Papandreas have a long list of other labels that helped inspire their approach to Power Goth releases, including the donation-based, Jeff Rosenstock-led Quote Unquote Records; Dischord Records; Revelation Records; Numero Group; Ulyssa Records; the Ghost Is Clear Records, and Redscroll Records, among others. They say they are drawn to labels that aren't expecting to turn their operations into "money-printing machines," as Fruin puts it, but are releasing what they believe in, regardless of what's trendy.

"If we create a platform...it's our duty to put out something that we think is at least cool," says Papandreas. "I think that's a common thread through all of these things: We just really like and respect and are inspired by labels that follow the beat of their own drum."

Even with so many labels already out there, the Power Goth founders are quick to encourage others to create their own, just as Coffey encouraged them to do. "It's both cool and fun — and surprisingly easy — to do a lot of the stuff yourself," Beecher says.

Power Goth's current roster includes just Broken Record, Replica City and Flesh Tape, whose self-titled album was released via the label in January 2024. Flesh Tape frontman Larson Ross says the process with Power Goth has been "extremely easy," emphasizing the importance of a community-centric approach. 

"At the end of the day, whether it's a show or a release or whatever," Beecher says, "we're just trying to do the best thing that we can think to do for our own bands and for any other bands on the shows [we play], or anyone else we're working with."
From Broken Record's "stadium emo" and soaring, chorus-laden hooks to the dark, jagged, post-hardcore and post-punk sounds of Replica City and Flesh Tape's powerful, shoegaze-y alt-rock, the bands share a few sonic elements. But each one also brings something unique to the table, and it's this blend of cohesion and contrast that establishes the Power Goth sound.

That sound is captured in the label's basement studio, where Beecher and Fruin recorded most of I Died Laughing, as well as Replica City's Gift of Knives. Beecher also played drums on Flesh Tape's most recent single, "Petey." She now joins Flesh Tape at shows, after filling in at the last minute when the band's then-drummer got sick ahead of a concert.

In addition to its DIY approach, Power Goth maintains a strong focus on uplifting the local scene. "Corey and I have worked with labels of different sizes in our own bands, and over time, we've realized the number-one thing is community building and networking," Beecher says.

Power Goth also books concerts around Denver, including Broken Record opening for Ovlov at the Marquis on Monday, March 17, and Flesh Tape and Replica City sharing a bill at the Squire Lounge on Monday, March 24. The label wants to cultivate slightly mixed lineups that feel unified, its founders say, but are different enough to expose audiences to a broader array of sounds.

That's something Beecher and Fruin appreciated back when they met while playing in bands in Connecticut and being part of the East Coast DIY scene. The couple recalls catching a multitude of artists at house shows and the small-town, 150-capacity Wallingford American Legion, situated between Boston and New York City. "You would just go to the American Legion to see whoever's coming through that night, and you would get exposed to indie rock or experimental stuff, metal, hardcore, punk and everything in between," Fruin recalls.

For Papandreas, a freelance journalist and product designer, online message boards and the music-journalism network played a larger role in developing his love of music than an in-person scene. "I didn't really grow up in a scene, honestly," he admits. "Like, nobody I knew in high school was going to shows. Even if I wanted to go to shows, I just didn't have any friends who were into the same kind of music as me. I was always into punk rock that people in my high school were not into.

"I've always been active on the internet and stuff like that, and I've always had that as kind of a way to build things, rather than an in-person scene," Papandreas adds. "Just because I can go seek out the stuff that I like and connect with people who also like that stuff. So that's my scene: the internet, basically." But that platform ultimately led to him meeting Beecher and Fruin, who knew Papandreas's roommate through an online music messaging board.

Whether making connections online or in person, small record labels like Power Goth document the music scene through shows and releases, and help preserve local fringe communities. While DIY revolves around the punk ethos of doing what you want and trying things out yourself, it's also about digging into your community and holding up others — an equally punk sentiment throughout history.

"DIY doesn't have to be hyper-individualism," says Flesh Tape's Ross. "You can work as a unit with other people and push for a bigger project than an individual." He points to how music can bolster a platform for collective action, such as the Revolution Summer movement in the D.C. punk and hardcore scene, which used music and protest to amplify calls for boycotts, divestment and sanctions to help end apartheid in South Africa.

Power Goth also wants to use its platform and shows to advance causes. Broken Record recently released a split of Jimmy Eat World covers alongside A Place for Owls; the bands donated the proceeds to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund. Power Goth directed funds raised from another split with Broken Record and Flesh Tape to American Near East Refugee Aid, while Broken Record and Replica City joined a couple of other bands for a December toy drive and clothing-donation show for Mutual Aid Monday.

"Community in any form," Papandreas concludes, "is super important to everything that we do."

Broken Record plays the Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer Street, 7 p.m. Monday, March 17 (tickets are $31). Replica City and Flesh Tape play the Squire Lounge,1800 East Colfax Avenue, 8 p.m. Monday, March 24 (tickets are $10). Follow Power Goth Recordings on Instagram and Bandcamp for new releases and shows.