PopHorror Let's Get Scared
As a record collector and a fan of horror and weird fiction, it’s always great when my two passions can collide. Cadabra Records is blending the best horror/Lovecraftian literature with vinyl to create a pairing that I’m a massive fan of. I recently spoke with Jonathan from Cadabra Records about the label along with some things that they’ve been working on!
PopHorror: Thanks for taking the time to do this, Jonathan. For those of us who aren’t familiar with Cadabra Records, would you be able to give us a brief description of the label?
Cadabra Records: Sure. Cadabra Records is a vinyl only, Spoken Arts label that specializes in the horror/weird genre. We fuse reading with a musical score, which is very effective. It’s like having your favorite horror fiction on your record shelf instead of a bookcase.
PopHorror: How did you come up with the idea to do a record label based on Lovecraftian horror and other short stories?
Cadabra Records: I’ve been a fan of what Caedmon Records (pre-Random House) had done years ago, as well as a select few other Spoken Arts labels. I knew there wasn’t much in the horror genre and realized it was an untapped resource. I knew that I could expand on this and make it something that would work for our generation.
PopHorror: How do you determine what stories you’ll bring to vinyl?
Cadabra Records: Above all, they need to translate well in audio form. I usually pick favorites, as well. I also have to consider the story’s length to make sure it can fit on a vinyl record.
PopHorror: I’m a really big fan of the album artwork that you have for your releases. I personally own Clark Ashton Smith’s Inferno and Lovecraft’s Halloween In A Suburb. The Inferno artwork stands out especially, in my opinion. How important do you view the album artwork?
Cadabra Records: Thank you! Art is just as important as the audio for a vinyl record, partly because a record is something you hold in your hands and is not just a CD or a computer file. The vinyl record is an art form. Having a chance to produce these records is a very satisfying experience.
PopHorror: You have another Lovecraft story coming up soon, The Fungi From Yuggoth. Can you tell us a bit about that?
Cadabra Records: The Fungi From Yuggoth is a sequence of 36 sonnets of Lovecraft’s best poetry. This record is read by by voice actor Andrew Leman of the Lovecraft Historical Society and came out fantastic. Sound is being done by Theologian. The album is cased in a deluxe gatefold jacket and comes with extras, including a poster. Our edition of The Fungi From Yuggoth is both hypnotic and mesmerizing, and has been given the golden treatment.
PopHorror: A few months ago, you released Dracula. Do you have any plans for other larger scale stories?
Cadabra Records: You better bet!
PopHorror: As a Spoken Arts label, what sort of difficulties have you faced in getting your label recognized and for your work to be seen? I found your label almost by accident. I was on Sam Heimer’s Instagram page and saw he posted some artwork he did for you and the rest is history.
Cadabra Records: Cadabra has a long way to go, but things are moving fast. Unlike many of the soundtrack labels, there’s no groundwork for us to follow. I’m building this from the ground up. Also, Sam Heimer is an incredible person and artist!
PopHorror: Is there anywhere we can check out the recordings online?
Cadabra Records: Yes, we’re on Soundcloud.
PopHorror: Is there anything else you’d like to tell us? Any upcoming releases?
Cadabra Records: We have a very notable release of H.P. Lovecraft’s The Picture In The House that’s available now. It’s being read by Andrew Leman and composed by Fabio Frizzi, who is well known for his work with Lucio Fulci on his films The Beyond, The Gates of Hell, Zombi 2 and many more. This is a landmark release for Cadabra Records.
PopHorror: Thank you for your time!
Cadabra Records is really one of the coolest record labels around, and they’re doing some of the most interesting work. If you’re a fan of weird horror and records, you owe it to yourself to check out what Cadabra Records is releasing. You can check out their store here, and be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram, as well.
