Credit where credit's due

Edie Quinn is undoubtedly one of the most important individuals in all of Screamo. In a scene that is known for groups that disband before ever recording a song, Edie's band COMA REGALIA is now together for 14 long years, in which they recorded 7 albums, over 30 Splits and more than 200 songs. Her label Middle-Man Records probably is the most important Skramz-label in the last 10 years, alongside Zegema Beach Records. But what a lot of people don't know is, that Edie was active as a musician long before the success with COMA REGALIA... in the pre-internet days of the 90s. She also founded Middle-Man Records way before the early 2010s, when the label became popular with the early releases by COMA, GILLIAN CARTER and a lot of the other Quinn-related projects.

But what's most impressive about Edie Quinn as a musician, an artist and a scene person is her ethos. Not only that she constantly puts out records with different line-ups, bands and projects, but it sometimes seems like she doesn't care how many people are listening. At least, it's not her main intention. It seems like she's doing it for herself, for her passion and for the art as a form, rather than to sell as many records as possible. Some of these really great projects flew under the radar, cause Edie doesn't come up with tags like "with members from COMA REGALIA" or "featuring Edie Quinn". That's the purest form of idealism.

A compilation like this is proof enough how much COMA REGALIA and Edie mean to the scene. It's a big sign of adoration on the side of Zegema Beach, for initiating the release. And it's a big sign of respect on the side of these 19 acts for participating in it. What impresses me the most is the mix of artists, that shows how much impact COMA had on various people, some of them just starting out, others being the veterans they are. From musicians who have already worked with Edie (HUNDREDS OF AU, SPLIT SILK) to bands who have released stuff on Middle-Man (ATAMEO, TO FORGET) to the ones who have shared a Split with COMA (PIRI REIS) to acts of the new generation (MY HAIR IS A RATS NEST, LETTERBOMBS), the tracklist is extremely diverse. In terms of chosen tracks, most phases of the band are covered, up 'til 2020's "Marked". I especially love the love for some "En Sperata"-songs, as this was the record that introduced me to COMA.

COMA REGALIA just put out a Split with SNAG. This comp is a symbol for COMA's worth to and influence on the scene, but it's nowhere near a retrospective. I'm sure Edie has a lot up her sleeve for the coming years. The one who became many. And the many will become even more...

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