About NTE
What's NTE?
Nothing to Exist is a record label focused on making physical presses of music. It was started in March, 2025 by Billy Gartrell in Brooklyn, NY.
Why physical releases?
There's something about physical media, like vinyl, CDs, and cassettes, that feels precious. I have so many memories of my world turning upside down listening to songs, holding the albums, and reading the lyrics—-fully consumed by the direction of the art. Having that tactile relationship to music is special to me.
In an age of content created specifically for algorithms, it feels important to contribute in a way that can help us slow down. Pull out a record, take a seat, and enjoy it on your own time.
You know, there's also an aspect to having _a collection_ in my home that I really love. You can come into my house, look at my records on the shelf, and learn something about me through that alone. I think that's nice.
Label as an archive
In my opinion, one of a label's primary jobs is to act as an archive of art. Culture changes and I want to document what I can from my friends and community. The collected works of different artists all contain a perspective from a very limited moment. And that's cool. To borrow from one of my favorite quotes, art allows us to, for a moment, step into a house or garden of our past.
Make what you want
For me, Nothing to Exist is an exercise in permission. Permission to make the things I want to make. Permission to be the person I want to be. Permission to let myself see things through to their end. Permission to be an aritst. Permission to not compromise on vision. Permission to treat things with care. Permission to be a nerd. Permission to believe in myself. Permission to believe in my friends. Permission to spend money on it all. Permission to contribute. Permission to help make the world a place I want to live in--one where people feel free to share their voices. Permission to give a shit. Permission. It's all about permission. I think I've finally given it to myself.
Make a band. Write some songs. You can do it. All you have to do is try.
Stay in touch
Feel free to send an email to hello@nothingtoexist.com. Happy to talk music, pressing records, or building websites.