Blue Élan Records is an

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...

based in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the wo ...

. It was founded by entertainment and insurance lawyer Kirk Pasich, and his son, musician Connor Pasich, in 2014. Stylistically, the label's releases cover Alternative and

Indie Rock Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the mu ...

, Americana,

Folk Folk or Folks may refer to: Sociology *Nation *People * Folklore ** Folk art ** Folk dance ** Folk hero ** Folk music *** Folk metal *** Folk punk *** Folk rock ** Folk religion * Folk taxonomy Arts, entertainment, and media * Folk Plus or Fol ...

, Blues, Hip Hop, and others. Their artist roster also ranges in age and industry history.

History

Kirk founded the label with his son, Connor, to release

Cindy Alexander Cindy Alexander is an American indie singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. She currently resides in greater Los Angeles, California. In 1998 Alexander was named Songwriter of the Year and nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year by th ...

's sixth album, ''Curve.'' After contacting artist

, whom Kirk had met during the production of StarTomorrow, about her recent cancer treatment, she invited him to visit her studio where she was recording her next album. Shortly after their meeting, the label was formed, and ''Curve'' released via Blue Élan Records in 2014. Over the next four years, Blue Élan added

Rita Coolidge Rita Coolidge (born May 1, 1945) is an American recording artist. During the 1970s and 1980s, her songs were on '' Billboard'' magazine's pop, country, adult contemporary, and jazz charts, and she won two Grammy Awards with fellow musician and th ...

Janiva Magness Janiva Magness (born January 30, 1957) is an American Grammy Award nominated blues, soul, and Americana singer, songwriter, and author. To date she has released 16 albums. The Blues Foundation named Magness the B.B. King Entertainer of the Yea ...

Jesse Dayton Jesse Dayton is an American musician, actor and record producer from Austin, Texas best known for his guitar contributions to albums by country musicians including Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson. He is also notable for his col ...

, Rod Melancon, and others to the roster, including

Gerry Beckley Gerald Linford Beckley (born September 12, 1952), better known as Gerry Beckley, is an American singer, songwriter, and musician, and a founding member of the band America. Early life Beckley was born to an American father and an English mothe ...

and Rusty Young. The label gained further attention in 2017 when Janiva Magness earned a Best Contemporary Blues Album Grammy nomination for her Blue Élan release, '' Love Wins Again''. The label has partnered with the Alliance for Children's Rights on multiple occasions, a legal fund to help children in poverty access free services to legal aid.

Artists

* Amy Wilcox * Bob Gentry *

Boxing Gandhis The Boxing Gandhis are an American alternative funk/soul band from Los Angeles founded by music producer David Darling ( Brian Setzer, Meredith Brooks, Sprung Monkey). The group was signed to the record label Mesa Blue Moon in 1993 and scored a ...

* Bryan Stephens * Car Astor * Chelsea Williams *

Cherie Currie Cherie Ann Currie (born November 30, 1959) is an American singer, musician, actress and artist. Currie was the lead vocalist of The Runaways, a rock band from Los Angeles, in the mid-to-late 1970s. After The Runaways, she became a solo artist. ...

& Brie Darling *

Colin Devlin The Devlins were an alternative rock band originating from Dublin, Republic of Ireland, although the eponymous Devlin brothers were born in Newry, County Down.Cory Branan Cory Branan (born December 15, 1974) is an American singer-songwriter from Mississippi. Early life Branan was born in Memphis, Tennessee, to parents Dallas Lee Branan, a jet mechanic at FedEx, and Peggy Branan (née Rhodes). He grew up i ...

* Gina Sicilia *

Jon Anderson John Roy Anderson (born 25 October 1944) is an English singer, songwriter and musician, best known as the lead singer of the progressive rock band Yes, which he formed in 1968 with bassist Chris Squire. He was a member of the band across thre ...

* Lisa Lambe * Mint Trip * Mustangs of the West * Natalie Gelman *

Ozomatli Ozomatli is an American rock band, formed in 1995 in Los Angeles. They are known both for their vocal activist viewpoints and incorporating a wide array of musical styles – including salsa, jazz, funk, reggae, hip hop, and others. The grou ...

* Red Wanting Blue *Rod Gator *

* Roan Yellowthorn * Rusty Young *

The Rembrandts The Rembrandts are an American alternative rock duo, formed by Danny Wilde and Phil Solem in 1989. They had previously worked together as members of Great Buildings in 1981. The Rembrandts are best known for the song " I'll Be There for You", ...

* Scout Durwood *

Soul Asylum Soul Asylum is an American alternative rock band formed in 1981 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their 1993 hit "Runaway Train" won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. The band was originally called Loud Fast Rules, with a lineup consisting of Dav ...

* The Vegabonds *

The Devlins The Devlins were an alternative rock band originating from Dublin, Republic of Ireland, although the eponymous Devlin brothers were born in Newry, County Down.Alternative rock record labels Indie rock record labels Record labels established in 2014 American independent record labels