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10 Questions with ... Dan Yocom
July 18, 2023
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. Partisan was founded in 2007 in New York City with Deer Tick's War Elephant serving as the flagship. Very few things are the same as they were back then. We have offices in Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Charlottesville, London and Berlin. Moreso than ever, Partisan is a global concern, representing artists across a wide swath of locations, backgrounds, genres, fanbases, etc. etc. etc. Our mission is to change people's lives through music to better understand themselves, and to better connect with each other. We like to think that we're working with immediately identifiable voices enhancing the human condition, not exploiting it.
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
2003-06 WMUH Music Director + DJ
2006-08 college radio promotion at Fanatic
2008-12 radio promotion at SPECTRE / Distiller 2012-present Partisan Records
1. You have been at Partisan Records for over 11 years. What stands out the most from when you first started working at the label in 2012?
It's been a good run that keeps getting better! I officially started at Partisan the same week that we announced Heartless Bastards' signing and their album Arrow. I immediately hit the road with them on the Triple A junket and learned a lot in a short span of time! It feels like three lifetimes ago. I'm incredibly proud of how far this label's come since then.
2. For those that don't know much about Partisan, give us the 411 on the label.
Partisan was founded in 2007 in New York City with Deer Tick's War Elephant serving as the flagship. Very few things are the same as they were back then. We have offices in Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Charlottesville, London and Berlin. Moreso than ever, Partisan is a global concern, representing artists across a wide swath of locations, backgrounds, genres, fanbases, etc. etc. etc. Our mission is to change people's lives through music to better understand themselves, and to better connect with each other. We like to think that we're working with immediately identifiable voices enhancing the human condition, not exploiting it.
3. Tell us about Partisan's artist roster.
Partisan started as a label with a bit of an Americana edge, and then went through phases including working with many Oregon and Wisconsin artists, the "revival" of "post-punk" (call it this to my face, I double dog dare you!!) via guitars in the UK and Ireland, and somehow to where we are now. Our artists are as diverse as ever, but united in our mission. Perhaps the strangest thing about the roster is that we were founded in NYC, but hadn't worked with a band from here until we started working with the young geniuses in Geese. We now have a few other NYC tricks up our sleeve -- it feels right! There's also a nice group of legendary British women -- Elizabeth Fraser, PJ Harvey, Beth Orton -- with whom we've recently started working -- pinch me! Hopefully some folks reading this recognize the names Fontaines D.C., Cigarettes After Sex, Blondshell and IDLES!
4. I really like Blondshell's debut album that was released in April. She has been buzzing on Alternative Hot Picks with her new single "Salad." Give us the radio pitch on Blondshell.
Working with Sabrina has been a dream come true. She's an artist that knows what she wants to say, and says it without mincing words. Whether you're a young person going through some of the trials and tribulations she's singing about, or closer to my age looking back fondly on the best of the '90s, there's something to like here. It didn't take long for me to declare myself a "Salad man" when the record got turned in, and certainly Triple A radio isn't disagreeing with me I'm well aware that all things change, but Blondshell sounds like the Alternative radio of my youth!
5. Tell us about running the radio promotion department and how you work with radio.
Well, now it's time to let you in on a little secret: for the last 5 years or so, there hasn't been a department to speak of. I moved into a Product Management role a few years ago, and have since had to cut out 90% of the direct communication I had with stations. I have very trusted partners in places like co-sign and in people like Karen Glauber -- they keep the wheels turning to give me more time to worry about what quote is going to go on an LP's marketing sticker, before that ends up in the trash. Fortunately, I've forged many friendships and long-lasting relationships with some great people in radio -- it's a family I chose, so I'll not be walking away!
6. How would you describe your role at the company?
I've worked at this company as long as I have because of the curation of music that speaks for itself! That said, that certainly won't pry open every door. I let others do the talking for me a lot of the time, but I always want to be thoughtful about how we're connecting our artists with stations and their communities. I'm a Product Manager with radio at the forefront of my brain, and I make sure that's reflected in our planning and campaign execution.
7. What is a typical workday like for you?
After doing the Wordle and guzzling coffee, the rest can be a bit all over the shop, but that's part of what I love about my job. From the moment a record gets turned in, to the point where we're reissuing an album 11 years later, I've got to be the point person for the artists that I'm lucky to represent. Artist/client meetings, marketing campaign planning, radio campaign planning -- lots of organizational stuff. The day is always filled with music, and many times that carries into the night, when it's time for live music.
8. What is your favorite part of the job?
Connecting people! That takes many forms - to the artists, to radio, to other fans, to themselves, etc. Working with our roster over the years has introduced me to most of the smartest people I've ever met. I can't believe how fortunate we are to work with people with such clear visions to go along with their stockpiles of talent! It's a fairly large family at this point, and that's got to be the best part!
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
Coffee, thinking about an R.E.M. reunion, getting a Sublime song stuck in my head, yelling at my inbox, and adjusting my fantasy baseball lineups three times.
10. What may surprise people most about you?
People are generally surprised to hear that I got a degree in Biochemistry and Asian Traditions. It's not lost on me that that was also a lifetime ago.
Bonus Questions
What are weekends like for you?
They've started a lot earlier for the last two years, since I got into Premier League football/soccer. I support Brentford, which has me holding a Guinness and yelling at a TV earlier than should be allowed. I'm in a book club and do a fair bit of reading. There's always live music on the weekends too!
What are your favorite restaurants in New York?
It's amazing to have so few repeats necessary! That said, Birds Of A Feather (Szechuan cuisine in Williamsburg) is perhaps my most trusted go-to. I'm always trying to find better Mexican food, and I'm happy to report that that hasn't felt as hard of late!
Favorite food?
Anything that isn't celery or a potato that hasn't been fried.
Favorite drink?
Coffee, Coke Zero, and lemon Spindrift make appearances most, if not all, days. I love a good cocktail or cheap beer. I recently got back from my favorite wine terroir as well, which is in the Willamette Valley in Oregon.
Rank your sports teams in order of passion.
Philadelphia Phillies
Brentford Bees
Penn State Nittany Lions
St. Louis City SC / Philadelphia Union / Manchester United Red DevilsFirst record ever purchased?
Hard to say! I remember when we got our first CD player that my mom and I split the price of U2's Achtung Baby and Michael Bolton's Greatest Hits. I also have a funny memory of having to return my Radiohead Pablo Honey cassette because the radio edit wasn't prominent in the track list. My mom also made me return Queen Latifah's "U.N.I.T.Y." cassingle. I haven't uttered "who you callin' a bitch?" since!
First concert?
R.E.M. at the Spectrum in Philadelphia in October of 1995 was my first big one. I'm still not over the fact that Grant Lee Buffalo was the opener on that part of the tour, rather than Radiohead!
Favorite band of all-time?
R.E.M.
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