Interviews

I met Scotty Coats years ago, playing a gig in Long Beach, (where I was actually playing one of his remixes), I’ve done parties with him, a remix for a band (De Lux) he was working with, been through life’s rinse cycle with him as a pal, and have always taken interest in his various endeavors. When he mentioned to me that he was leaving Capitol/Virgin (where he was director of vinyl marketing) for a new project, I was surprised and intrigued. That’s when he told me about Good Neighbor, and a new toxin free way to manufacture hi fidelity records. I sat down with him recently to discuss this project and the team he was working with. - DK

DK: I read that annually approximately 180 million units of vinyl are produced, and that accounts for 30,000 tons of PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

SC: Yeah, it's one of those things you may not have on your radar, but once you do it is hard to ignore. PVC is a widely used material, and it is in a lot of products (building supplies, packaging, toys etc.) it is also carcinogenic, and very little PVC makes it through the recycling process.

DK: I started buying records as a kid, and to be honest never gave the matter much thought.

SC: I hear you, very similar for me, then I met Tim Anderson when I was at Capitol, Tim knew the industry from so many perspectives as a indie musician, producer, composer and A&R(he was at Harvest Records), we both loved records, the experience of it, our own history with it, but becoming informed about the process and detrimental aspects of it gave us serious pause.

DK: So how did The Good Neighbor project evolve?

SC: Tim had been looking for alternatives for several years when I met him, and he knew Reyna Bryan who created RCD Packaging which focused on developing sustainable packaging solutions and assisting brands in transitioning to them. They considered several options, then focused on these engineers in Europe who had been working with an injection molding technology.

DK: Were they applying that to vinyl?

SC: Harm Theunisse and his partner Pierre van Dongen had been at Phillips working on CD's and Laser Discs and they applied for a grant (In the Netherlands) to evolve their process for records, they received the grant with the provision that PVC not be used. They refined their methods, some genuinely groundbreaking work by Harm to make it energy efficient without PVC and also delivering a product with proper sonic fidelity.

DK: Testing the fidelity for a new method the next crucial next step?

SC: For sure. Filip Nikolic aka Turbotito, who is a beta tester for Izotope (production software company) ran comparisons and the wave forms and frequency response were virtually identical, I mean fractions of a percent variations, we listened to a variety of music A/B'ing our product vs. standard pressing, and we really had zero issues, that charged me, it made it clear this would work, we could insure a quality product.

DK: You sought funding and went to establish the brand?

SC: Reyna and Tim had a lot of that lined up, we received some funding from the skate and indie music world. (Andrew Reynolds, Tony Hawk, Atiba Jefferson, Chris Fahey)

DK: Was there a plan to build a US plant?

SC: Yes, right now we are fabricating in Europe, but come June we will be set up here in the states, and the plan is to expand our production capacity. We are doing 180 gram 12”s right now, we will be adding 140.

DK: Is the price point comparable, can you do a competitive turnaround on orders?

SC: Happy to say -yes” to both. We are doing more per day per machine than any vinyl plant, our turnaround time is solid, also regarding cost we are very competitive.

DK: That all sounds proper.

SC: It has been an overwhelmingly positive experience; Harm is a genius, what he and Pierre have made possible is genuinely groundbreaking. I feel grateful working with people like Tim and Reyna who are knowledgeable and genuinely committed. Reyna's environmental knowledge and capacity to problem solve is inspiring.

We have some great people on our team, Jonny O'Hara who is our VP of production, has a trove of knowledge and experience, and is excellent at finding elegant solutions. Maddi St.John, who previously worked with Tim, and who has been DIY from her early days throwing events in Philadelphia, is our project manager.

DK: Willing something new to happen always has pressures and risks

SC: For sure, but when you are working with a great group of people on something you love (music), and a process you all see as a vital step to help improve the environment, it makes the days feel imbued with meaning.

DK: I love the promo video and Ms.Badu's narration.

SC: We loved the work Studio Linguini did for us. Erykah did me a solid blessing us with that, she’s as real as it gets. and I smile every time I hear her narration. (I owe her some tacos!)

DK: Who are some of the artists who have pressed with you so far?

SC: Ruth Radelet, TV On The Radio, Heavy Moss, Honey Dijon(DJ Kicks), Pipe Eye, King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard, Finneas, Shellac, there are a bunch of people in the pipeline now, and its growing as people learn about the existence of a quality alternative.

DK: Given the daily dystopia of our present time, which at this moment is overwhelming any sentient soul, it is nice to think about some passionate motivated people doing something that is innately positive on multiple levels.

SC: Well as we both know, good times/bad times, you find a way, but to be involved with this group of people and working on this project I feel a sense of gratitude navigating the terrain.

DK: Most gracious my man.

SC: Love ya D

DK: More than cheese?

SC: Let’s not get carried away.

Visit Scotty & Good Neighbor at these locations: