From Indiana University Students to Independent Music Scene Legends

This exhibit highlights three record labels and distributors connected to Indiana University Bloomington: Secretly Canadian, Joyful Noise, and Asthmatic Kitty Records. Founded in 1996 by then-Indiana University Bloomington students Chris Swanson, Ben Swanson, and friends, Secretly Canadian [Bloomington, IN] is a globally recognized label with a strong reputation for supporting independent musicians. Secretly Distribution formed the following year and works with labels such as Asthmatic Kitty Records [Bloomington, IN] founded in 1999 and Joyful Noise Recordings [Indianapolis, IN] founded in 2003 by then-IUB student Karl Hofstetter. The label focuses on challenging norms and supporting underrepresented voices. In 2007, IU alumnus Ryan Lott formed the band Son Lux which was managed by Michael Kaufmann (also of Asthmatic Kitty). This exhibit features publicity, interviews, and rare releases which document this independent music scene over the last three decades.