ATP! Label Profile: Mightier Than Sword

What started off a hobby in his college dorm has now become a full-time job for Mightier Than Sword's owner R.J. Crowder-Schaefer, who started the label back in 2006 and has since gone on to release a mixture of up and coming and established punk rock bands from Such Gold to Transit to The Ataris to Blink-182.

Although somewhat known for issuing vinyl releases of well-known albums by the latter; as well as The Movielife, Mightier Than Sword's origins lie in being independent and the punk rock community by working with bands like After The Fall, Take Notice and Last Lights. Crowder-Schaefer has also transferred this community work ethic to MTS by listening to what fans want and presenting each release with great care.

Interview with R.J. Crowder-Schaefer

Year Founded: 2006

First Release: Prevail Within - The Architects Of Broken Souls (CD/Digital)

Latest Releases:
Transit - Something Left Behind (CD/LP/Digital)
I Hate Our Freedom - Seriously (CD/Digital)
Cro-Mags - The Age Of Quarrel (LP Re-issue)
No Trigger - Be Honest (7”/Digital EP)
Last Call - 12:57 (Digital EP)
After The Fall - Eradication (CD/LP/Digital)
Such Gold / Into It. Over It. - Split (7"/Digital EP)

5 Essential Releases:
Such Gold - Stand Tall (CD/7”/Digital EP)
After The Fall - Eradication (CD/LP/Digital)
Last Lights - Self-Titled (7”/Digital EP)
Blink-182 - Enema of the State (LP)
Blink-182 - Dude Ranch (LP Re-issue)

Number of Releases: 31

Current Roster: After The Fall, Last Call, Such Gold, I Hate Our Freedom, No Trigger, Transit, Latin For Truth

Why did you form Mightier Than Sword?
I started Mightier Than Sword with the intention of releasing records for band’s that I was friends with, mostly around the San Antonio, TX area, where I grew up. After running the label out of my college dorm room at NYU, and a couple different apartments, I started running things full-time and got a proper office in Brooklyn, NY, which was a huge step up for the label. Although Mightier Than Sword is no longer simply a hobby of mine, I still run the label with the intention of releasing music for band’s that I love and believe in, and have met some of my best friends over the past 5 years running the label.

How did you come up with the name Mightier Than Sword?
I was sitting on a plane, flying from San Antonio, TX back to New York City for school when I came up with the name. I had already decided that I wanted to start a record label, and had the first release planned out already, I was just missing a name. I started making a list of names that reflected positivity and pulled the name from the saying “The pen is mightier than the sword”, which to me places music and all of it’s positive benefits over negativity and violence. Music, for me, has been so influential and uplifting, and I want to help spread it to as many ears as possible.

Why should people take an interest in Mightier Than Sword?
Mightier Than Sword puts a strong emphasis on quality packaging and presentation, especially when it comes to our vinyl pressings. Our aim is to create a community around music that’s based on genuine artistic expression, hard work, and the positivity of the band’s involved.

What are your future plans for Mightier Than Sword?
We will be announcing 5-6 new signings this Summer, and will be focusing on building a bigger, more diverse MTS family. We will also be launching a brand new website this Summer, which will include details on the management side of the company, which will be expanding as well. We can’t give too many details right now, but keep an eye out in May/June for some big announcements.

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