Sounds Are Active

Sounds Are Active is an independent record label based in Long Beach, CA. It was founded in 1999 by Chris Schlarb. The label has focused on releasing music in the genres of free jazz, avanthop, ambient and other experimental music.

A strong visual aesthetic has helped to define the label image. Sounds Are Active has worked with such visual artists as Tim McMullen, Jonathan Dueck, Paul Goode, Jason Munn, Grady McFerrin, Laura Park, Jeff Madrid, Aaron Tanner and Joel Speasmaker.

In 2005 Sounds Are Active introduced an option to subscribe to all of their releases (digital and physical) for a year. In November 2006 they released their first film, the rockumentary 40 Bands/80 Minutes!.