Sun Records (Record Label Interview)
“We’ve always got one foot in preservation and one in progress.”
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How Sun Records Balances Legacy and Innovation
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When you think of Sun Records, you think of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis — the birth of rock and roll. But what happens when a label that iconic has to evolve for the modern world?
That’s what I wanted to find out when I sat down with Chase and Laura from Sun Records, who are helping write the next chapter of the label that Sam Phillips built.
The challenge? Protecting a legacy while pushing forward. “We’ve always got one foot in preservation and one in progress,” Chase told me. Laura described their philosophy as honoring Sam’s “perfect imperfection” — respecting the past without trying to cosplay it.
They talked about breathing new life into the archives, remixing from the original tapes, and even earning Sun’s first-ever Grammy in 2024. At the same time, they’re signing new artists who make sense for the brand — modern voices rooted in blues, country, and Americana.
We also got into the art of reissues, the ethics of legacy catalogues, the power of sync placements, and the magic that still lives inside that tiny studio in Memphis.
It’s a story about how to carry a torch without burning it out — and a reminder that even the most historic labels are still indie at heart.
Listen to older episodes of our podcast, check out our free resources for independent record labels, or learn how to start your own record label.
