phra·try [ fráy tree ]

noun. Definition: 1. any of the similar units, as a group of clans, of a primitive tribe. A phratry is a term for a kinship division consisting of two or more distinct clans, which are considered a single unit, but retain separate identities within the tribe. Similarly, the individual artists and musicians affiliated with Phratry Records are unique and often distinguishable from one another stylistically, but together they form a cohesive community.

Currently operating in its seventh year, with more than thirty releases under its belt, Phratry Records (Cincinnati, Ohio) continues the tradition of DIY, independent record labels under the influence of SST, Touch & Go, Dischord, Amphetamine Reptile, GSL and Gravity, among others. Uninterested in being a genre-specific record label, Phratry boasts a diverse catalog—everything from punk, rock, metal and noise to folk, indie and contemporary classical—by artists who share decidedly non-mainstream ethos regarding music.
       
In an increasingly saturated and hyper-commercialized industry, Phratry Records remains true to the tradition of underground labels by releasing music for the sake of music and for the sake of community. Each release is viewed as an artistic endeavor—not as a commodity. The label is a collective effort in which the bands and the label share the financial burden and promotional duties.
       
Unaffected by trends, Phratry Records proudly and enthusiastically offers a number of its releases in multiple formats—from vinyl to digital and yes, even compact discs—with a high emphasis placed on physical releases, album artwork and packaging. In a moment in time when music has been devalued by “fans” as something they should not have to pay for, it is the opinion of Phratry Records that music and accompanying artwork, lyrics and notes should be pored over and hand-held as much as possible. Current technological “advances” that have reduced the experience of music to nothing more than a series of ones and zeroes (often times available in only the lowest resolution possible) negates the hard work and relationships that musicians, visual artists and craftsmen and women in the printing industry have shared for decades, not to mention vast strides made by audio engineers and manufacturers alike.
       
The Phratry Records logo is inspired by the art of the Northwest Coast American Indians who, like many indigenous cultures, revere art as an integral part of life. The images and symbols represent the relationship between the spiritual world in which ideas are conceived and the physical world in which they are realized.