This is the second post about the Archives recent music acquisitions. Visit https://blogs.libraries.indiana.edu/iubarchives/2025/02/10/indianas-independent-music/ for the introductory post from Archives graduate student Ryan!

In the summer of 2023, as I began my work at the Archives, I was immediately energized by the sight of albums spread out on a table, awaiting processing as a new collection. A few weeks earlier, Michael Kaufmann—former label manager for Asthmatic Kitty Records (AKR) and current manager of IU Jacobs School of Music graduate Ryan Lott (known professionally as Son Lux)—had generously donated a significant collection of musical works.

To date, among the most exciting pieces for me in this donation is the complete works of Son Lux (Collection C770) including the highly acclaimed soundtrack to the 2023 Academy Award Best Picture, Everything Everywhere All at Once. An interview with Questlove (Ahmir K. Thompson) that can be found on Son Lux’s YouTube page noted that the Daniels (directors of the film) wanted to work with Lott on the film from the very beginning, before it was even cast. I was told by Michael that back in 2001, when Lott graduated from Jacobs with a film score degree, there was some pushback about this decision from people in the industry and peers. This was apparently not considered valuable at the time. Clearly, this was not the case. Ryan has continued to work on other films and even a video game soundtrack, Tell Me Why. (And it was recently announced Son Lux will score Marvel’s Thunderbolts, to be released in May 2025!)

Michael and Ryan’s connection traces back to the early 2000s when Michael was involved with Soul-Junk, a band that Ryan enjoyed. Soul-Junk also had connections to Danielson’s previous record label, Sounds Familyre. Daniel Smith’s family band, Danielson, has connections to Secretly, AKR, and Joyful Noise through music releases and a friendship with Sufjan Stevens. Physical releases of Soul-Junk and Danielson can be found in the Asthmatic Kitty collection at the Archives (Collection C766).

Son Lux’s early albums released on Joyful Noise Recordings is particularly noteworthy, as they highlight contributions from Karl Hofstetter’s label, Joyful Noise. Hofstetter, who founded Joyful Noise (Collection C764) in 2003 while studying at Indiana University, has played a key role in cultivating the label’s reputation for experimental and limited-edition releases. Joyful Noise is known not only for its beautiful and unique sound but also for its carefully designed, limited-run physical copies of albums and singles on vinyl, CD, and cassette tape. 

Based in Indianapolis, Joyful Noise is renowned for its eclectic and innovative catalog, featuring a diverse roster of artists such as Julianna Barwick, Kishi Bashi, and Half Japanese (featuring Jad Fair). The friendship between Karl Hofstetter and Michael Kaufmann has fueled numerous projects and joint releases. A prime example of this is Sisyphus, a collaborative release from Sufjan Stevens, Son Lux, and Serengeti, which was released through both AKR and Joyful Noise. This collection highlights a recurring theme in the independent music scene: connection and collaboration. Success in this world often thrives on working together, with stories of growth and creativity shaped by shared effort rather than individual achievement. If you visit the Archives to view the collection, I would encourage you to read the liner notes of all who came together to write and produce this music as well create the cover art.

A good amount of vinyl and CD releases from Asthmatic Kitty records (Collection C766) were also gifted to the Archives. Founded by Sufjan Stevens and his stepfather in 1999, AKR has been an indie gem since its creation. Many artists including Sufjan himself have played shows in Bloomington and other parts of Indiana. Notably, Asthmatic Kitty Records and Joyful Noise releases are distributed through Secretly. Artists have also recorded and produced their albums here. There are too many stories and historical happenings to include in one blog post but other notable contributions and IU representation in the collection include Stuart Hyatt’s Fieldworks and the album Heavy Ghosts from DM Stith.

A wide range of music records from both Asthmatic Kitty and Joyful Noise Recordings are housed in the Archives in Collections C764, C766, and Son Lux’s own collection, C770. Reach out to the Archives for further information or to view the spring 2025 exhibit highlighting the collections!