Clarke Wisco

Wisco is a former Sacramentan who started the Seven Inch Project, www.seveninchproject.com.

What is the Seven Inch Project, exactly?

Basically, the Seven Inch Project is a record label based out of Long Beach. It’s pretty much run by one person: myself. It’s a vinyl series. Each record is a volume in the Seven Inch Project series. The first record that came out was by a band in Sacramento called Agent Ribbons. I don’t know if you’re familiar with them …

Um, yeah.

There are four records in the series total. Another one will be released on April 9. Each record has unique cover art [by a local artist]. Each has a gatefold jacket, [and it’s made from] 70-gram, colored vinyl. You can download the songs on the Seven Inch Project Web site after you buy the record.

How do you feel about music going digital?

It’s a mix between a good thing and a bad thing. … It’s a lot easier to get exposure that way. But if you don’t put a value on [your music], and people don’t pay for it or know where it’s from because they’re not holding something tangible in their hands, it kind of loses its value because it’s so accessible.

Why vinyl?

CDs have a shelf life of 15 years, but vinyl lasts forever. You can go on the Internet and look up rare vinyl that’s been around for 50 years. The sound quality on vinyl is way better than hearing something on a CD. You hear the little hisses and pops and it adds an older feel to it, like it came from somewhere. Like it had some sort of history to it. It gives it character.

Why did you choose Sacramento’s own Agent Ribbons to be Volume 1 in the series?

I met Natalie [Gordon] through a mutual friend. … I saw her play at a cafe in Davis and I was just blown away. … When Agent Ribbons got together, I was just immediately like, “I have to be a part of this in some way.” I wasn’t even going to start the Seven Inch Project if it hadn’t been for Agent Ribbons. I was just so inspired. I haven’t really thought about that before.

So you used to live in Sacramento. Do you miss anything about it?

I miss being around such amazing people [who are] creating things and making music. Whether or not it was good or bad, it was creative. People are creating things because that’s what they do, not because they’re out to get big or sell records or stuff like that. I think they would like to do that, but I think a lot of musicians in Sacramento make music because that’s what they like to do, that’s what their purpose is.