Anti- (record label)


Anti- is an American record label founded in 1999 as a sister label to Epitaph. While Epitaph's focus has mostly been on punk rock, Anti-'s roster includes country, hip hop, reggae, soul, post-metal, indie folk, rap rock, indie rock and Tom Waits.
Founded by Andy Kaulkin, Anti- first gained attention by releasing Tom Waits's Grammy Award-winning Mule Variations in 1999. Other veteran recording artists such as rhythm and blues singers Solomon Burke, Bettye LaVette and Marianne Faithfull have signed onto Anti- after leaving other labels.

Andy Kaulkin

Kaulkin began working for the Epitaph label. His role was looking after the label's data management system. In 1995, he was head of marketing. He eventually worked his way up to become the president for the label, and worked there until 1998. Later he founded Anti-. Under Kaulkin's stewardship, the label began with the release of Mule Variations by Tom Waits which was met with success.
Other artists signed by Kaulkin include Mavis Staples, who came to the label as a result of a meeting between Kaulkin and her manager, and Jade Jackson, whose vivid storytelling attracted Kaulkin.
As a musician, Kaulkin played piano on "Haggard ", which was the title track of Merle Haggard's album Haggard Like Never Before. He had multiple roles as composer, musician and producer on the Blues Got Soul album by King Ernest.

Roster