Dark Shadow Recording launches new label

Stephen Mougin has made quite a career for himself in acoustic music. He plays guitar with the Sam Bush Band, and performs in a side project duo with banjo picker Ned Luberecki. Bluegrass artists seek him out as a record producer for his studio expertise, and his track record for getting top vocal performances from his clients.

Mougin’s studio, Dark Shadow Recording, is a popular spot in Nashville to lay down tracks, and his vocal harmony training CDs are in wide use.

This sounds like a man in dire need of another job, yes? But that’s just what he’s done. Stephen (who goes by Mojo) is announcing today the launch of his own record label, which will share the name of his studio.

Plans for Dark Shadow are to grow slowly, releasing only a small number of projects each year, focusing on new and up-and-coming artists in the bluegrass and Americana realms.

First out will be the project he is currently engineering and producing, for Tennessee family group, The Rigneys. Mojo produced this brief video to introduce his debut signees.

Stephen is hoping to work primarily with bands as opposed to solo artists.

“I like that collaborative effort of a band. Pick the songs, learn the songs, record the songs, then go out and perform the songs.”

And he intends for Dark Shadow to be an artist centered company.

Stephen Mougin“We’re really focused on the music and the performers. Everybody WANTS to do that. I’m in a place where I CAN do it. I want to focus on the artists, really help them take a giant step forward.

I’m looking for a nice relationship between the label and the artist where we’re both helping each other. We’re in this together, completely together. I believe in the power of many.

So I’m thinking of label decisions from the point of view of the artist. While that may not be the most financially sound approach, I believe that by supporting the needs of the musicians, we will grow the label.”

More details about the studio and the new label can be found online.

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About the Author

John Lawless

John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.