Director's Notes - 141 - Save Dark Owl Records

(NOTE: As always, Director's Notes contain spoilers)

Being a loner is cooler than being popular. Success is a synonym for “sell-out”. Commercial viability = the devil. As an Xennial Pacific Northwesterner, these were the cultural values I was raised with. In Kurt Cobain’s last interview with Rolling Stone, he talks about how he doesn’t enjoy playing Smells Like Teen Spirit anymore because it’s too popular. Or as he put it, “Once it got mainstream, it was over.” Popular is bad. Success is failure. It was a delicious and confusing time to be alive. 

I’ve always had a nostalgic soft spot for “save the record store” type stories (ie, protect the Independent Whatever from the influence of the Soulless Corporation), which was a big theme in the stories of my microgeneration. And which is really a tale as old as Satan influencing Eve to eat the apple, though I personally prefer the morality fables of Empire Records or Wayne’s World. Anyway, the fiercely independent (bordering-on-asocial) Dark Owl Records seemed like the perfect place to indulge in a little 90s-flavored homage. There was also something appealing to me about a strong individual like Michelle reaching out to her community. I think because at some point, we all grow up and realize there are limits to the romanticization of individuality, and that needing and helping each other actually makes us stronger people. 

How independent is too independent? It’s an ancient question. It’s the story of human civilization. Tribes and countries and borders. Capitalism and socialism, religions and cults, the monetization of art. Personal lives and relationships. At the moment, here in Night Vale, it’s the story of coming together to save Dark Owl Records from the Burger Barn/GladTown Records Express (while still acknowledging that their Black Angus Barbecue Bacon Burgers are delicious). Or maybe even more so, it’s the story of a tipsy weeping Deb, needing a little alone-time, yes, but also really needing to hear from you. Please just call her already.

- Brie Williams
February 11, 2019