Credit: Sean RiciglianoFrom his work both in and outside of music, Tom Morello has always been politically active. In an effort to highlight lesser-known activist musicians, the Rage Against the Machine guitarist has launched a new record label, Firebrand Records.
"The label gives you one-stop shopping for all your rebel-music needs," Morello tells Rolling Stone. "It's the kind of label that I wish had existed my entire artistic life."
In celebration of Firebrand's launch, the label has released a digital sampler featuring everything from rap to punk to indie rock. The label's first full-length release will be from singer-songwriter Ike Reilly, who Morello calls "part [Bruce] Springsteen, part Replacements."
"There are always artists on the frontlines of social justice struggles, and now they have one home and one label," says Morello. "But first and foremost the music has to be great. It's not just like, 'Hey, you wrote a song about Guatemala labor unions, come on our label.' There's an extensive vetting process. Separating the wheat from the chaff is key."
Morello is currently working on his first album under his own name, but it won't be released on Firebrand. He does guest on Reilly's record, though.
"We have a very clear mission, and that is to bring global revolutionary music to everyone who wants to hear it," Morello says. "As someone who's spent a couple of decades with various labels, I see it exclusively from the artist perspective. We're not trying to get rich off Firebrand Records, we're trying to enrich people's hearts and minds."
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