Contaminated Records' Alicja Trout’s first band was the Clears, a storied synth pop outfit led by Shelby Bryant (who would, years later, serve as the model for DJ Qualls’ mousy keyboardist in Hustle and Flow).

Next up was the Lost Sounds, a seminal Memphis band whose unique sound made an impact that is still being felt, and which launched the career of Jay Reatard. Currently, Trout plays with Mouserocket, the River City Tanlines, and her solo project, Black Sunday.

The one constant of all of those recording projects is the great production that Trout brought to the table, despite the fact that very few of them were recorded in an actual studio. Trout’s production skills have been brought to bear on dozens of albums, including the Reigning Sounds’ Too Much Guitar (much of which was recorded at the Goner Records store). That’s the Memphis DIY ethic in a nutshell: if the resources aren’t available, make music with what you’ve got.

Contaminated Records
http://www.contaminatedrecords.com/index.html

River City Tanlines
http://www.rivercitytanlines.com/

Lost Sounds
http://www.lostsounds.net/

Black Sunday
http://www.myspace.com/blacksundaymemphis

Jay Reatard
http://www.myspace.com/jayreatard

The Clears
http://www.smellslikerecords.com/theclears/index.php?artist=The%20Clears

Reigning Sound
http://www.myspace.com/reigningsoundfans

Mouserocket
http://www.myspace.com/mouserocket

Goner Records
http://www.goner-records.com

CREDITS
special thanks to
Alicja Trout
Abe White
Scott Patterson
music
"Working Girl" and "True Freshman"
performed by
Everyday Faces (http://www.myspace.com/edayfaces)