About

“Co-founders of the Tacoma-borne independent record label, Youth Riot Records, Daniel Cohn and Spencer Johndrew, met each other in the lobby of a hotel the day before their first day at the University of Puget Sound. For anyone who’s gone away to school, the first day (or even the day before the first day) can be especially nerve-wracking. Where am I? What is this? Will I make any friends? These are the questions that can rattle aimlessly in the mind. Unless, of course, you find someone to cling onto. Thankfully for Cohn and Johndrew, they found each other and, since then, the seeds of their friendship have gone on to sprout one of the most important indie music labels in the region.

Together, in 2014, Cohn and Johndrew started Youth Riot Records. The foundation for the label came together from several avenues. The two friends love music and both grew up with it, influenced largely by family and friends. Cohn, since staring at his giant family’s closets full of records and CDs as a kid, has been obsessed with collection. Johndrew is more instrument-centric. He plays in five bands (Cohn plays in one), and he’s responsible for much of the tracking, mixing and mastering the label does. Cohn, who has worked for labels and distribution companies, does much of the administration. Though both say, there are no official titles.

To begin Youth Riot Records, Cohn and Johndrew started a band and recorded a 7” single, which they pressed to vinyl and sold. With that in hand, they began to approach other regional bands to offer them the same deal. Cohn and Johndrew, as Youth Riot Records, would front the cost for pressing and other responsibilities and then they and the bands would split what came back 50/50. While Youth Riot Records is still a modest operation, the outfit has worked with several significant bands from the Northwest, including Mommy Long Legs, Dark Smith, Versing and, most recently, internet darling fuzzy rock band, Enumclaw.

While Youth Riot assuredly has room to grow, expand and spread its wings, there is great promise. Their roster is strong, diverse and growing. Their ambition is sturdy yet flexible. The co-founders continue to learn and strengthen their savvy. Research is key, both into new technology, technique and business habits, as well as the history of the region, its tastes and evolutions from punk to hip-hop to folk and rock. At the end of the day, Cohn and Johndrew are students of the Northwest as much as they are suppliers of its newest songs.” - Jacob Uitti, South Sound Talk