When Long Odds finished recording their album The Dry Land, frontman Adam Elliott asked bandmate Joe Camerlengo to send the record to any label that might help it reach listeners. Camerlengo’s outreach landed on Mario Malachi, a Columbus‑based musician who started Clean Demon Records in 2019.
From bedroom tapes to a community label
Malachi founded the label while living in Columbus as a way to distribute the music of his own projects, including Hydrone and Snurch. Using two tape machines, he hand‑duplicated cassettes and sold them directly to fans. Inspired by DIY acts like Thee Oh Sees and King Gizzard, he launched Clean Demon with no formal business plan—just a “fuck it, I’m going to do something” attitude.
Since then, the label has grown into a modest collective that supports a range of local rock acts. Bands such as Big Fat Head, Manic Splits, Brian Damage, Jackoff Demons, Jocks, Spitcurl, Perfect Harmony and the rising trio Golomb have all released music through Clean Demon. In 2022, the label’s Ohio for the Record compilation became its best‑selling release, moving more than 300 cassettes.
Handshakes, not profit
Malachi emphasizes that Clean Demon is not a profit‑driven enterprise. He calculates the break‑even point for each cassette run and passes any surplus to the band at cost. He estimates his total earnings from the label at around ten dollars, describing the operation as a “passion project” rather than a legitimate business. Band members echo this sentiment, noting that the collective’s purpose is shared musical taste and community, not financial gain.
To expand its reach, Malachi posted an email address on the label’s Instagram for demo submissions. Longtime collaborator Nate Wilder, guitarist for Big Fat Head, now serves as an unofficial “partner in crime,” helping recruit bands and promoting releases. The label recently pressed its first two vinyl LPs—Long Odds’ new album and Big Fat Head’s record—both debuting at a joint concert at the Rumba Café, where Malaji tended the merch table.
Local impact and future hopes
Local musicians view Clean Demon as a vital documenter of the Ohio music scene. Camerlengo says the label “owns the corner on really cool, dingy rock records,” and being part of its roster provides a seal of approval that helps bands avoid disappearing into the void of solitary Bandcamp pages.
Despite growing national attention for some of its artists, Malachi says his aspirations remain unchanged. “I never had any aspirations for it and I still don’t,” he told Matter News. He hopes to continue pressing records, producing tapes, and offering a supportive platform that pushes artists a little further than they might go on their own.
Clean Demon Records exemplifies how a small group of dedicated musicians can foster a vibrant, faith‑grounded community of creators without compromising on traditional values of hard work, humility, and service.
Original reporting: Matter News (Columbus) — read the source article.
