Photo by Amelia Meath & Nick Sanborn

Sylvan Esso have announced the launch of their new independent artist-run label, Psychic Hotline. The recording company which is rooted in creative support and innovative marketing aims to widen the possibilities and accessibility of releasing music.

Psychic Hotline is based in the band’s hometown Durham, N.C., and founded by Sylvan Esso’s Amelia Meath, Nick Sanborn and longtime manager Martin Anderson. They are partnered with Secretly Distribution who acts as a distributor for artist-run labels from Ghostly International, to Warf Cat Records, to Jagjaguwar and many more.

 Psychic Hotline’s initial lineup of releases include a singles series featuring new tracks and one-off collaborations from Anjimile, Bartees Strange together with Eric Slick and Ohmme, Blake Mills and Amelia Meath, Flock of Dimes, Nick Sanborn’s Made of Oak, Peach Fuzz, Sam Gendel, The Tallest Man on Earth, Uwade and many more.

“We created Psychic Hotline to be the type of record company we had dreamed of,” said Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn in a press release. “An artist-led enterprise that strives to do right in radical ways by the creators who entrust us with their work; in the deals we make, the way we do business and the way we center the art and the artist. We do not seek to own intellectual property under any circumstance, nor do we subscribe to scarcity-based career approaches. We strive to ever-expand our musical community; to welcome more voices and more perspectives. We believe that the only common denominator in great music is honesty in expression.” 

Today Psychic Hotline has also released a collaborative track from Amelia Meath and Blake Mills in celebration of Psychic Hotline’s release, titled “Neon Blue,” the track marks the first single of the upcoming Psychic Hotline Singles Series.

On Aug. 14, Sylvan Esso will celebrate Psychic Hotline’s launch with Block Party at the Cat’s Cradle in Chapel Hill, N.C. The sold-out event will include performances and DJ sets from Sylvan Esso, Young Bull, Helado Negro, Sam Gendel and a host of Psychic Hotline artists and surprise guests.

Sylvan Esso will be the hosts and curators of this year’s Super Jam at Bonnaroo 2021.

Listen to “Neon Blue” here.