Asthmatic Kitty is an American independent record label founded in 1999 by Sufjan Stevens and his stepfather, Lowell Brams. It was originally conceived as a platform for musical projects by a community of artists from Holland, Michigan, a small city on the shore of Lake Michigan. Some were Holland natives, and others had come to attend local colleges and universities. While the original Holland nucleus has now dispersed to various parts of the country, the fellowship is still growing, with new artists and shared projects with other independent labels. In 2009 the label inaugurated the Library Catalog Music Series, showcasing instrumental music by a wide variety of musicians. Asthmatic Kitty is now based in Lander, Wyoming, Indianapolis, Indiana and New York City.
To quote the bio on the Asthmatic Kitty site, the label is “named after Sara, a voluptuous orange and white longhair [cat] who wandered out of the woods in 1995, pregnant, starving, and afflicted with various parasites and ailments, including feline asthma. Although she still wheezes a bit, especially when being chased by her sister Tabby, Sara today enjoys a healthy and happy life of luxury. Cast-off animals make the best pets!”
The label is home to a lot of great artists but it’s household name is, far and away, its cofounder, Sufjan Stevens, who has released 6 studio albums and has enjoyed a great deal of international success. His 7th studio album, Carrie and Lowell, is due March 31, 2015.
