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uly 24, 2008 — Budding t-shirt company P Is For Panda (www.pisforpanda.com) is branching out into the world of music, not by sponsoring bands like many clothing lines, but by starting a record label. Through a partnership with Hopeless/Sub City Records, the Atlanta area-based organization is launching an imprint to serve a wide variety of indie rock artists.

After leaving his previous label, The Militia Group (which he founded and operated for 12 years), P Is For Panda owner Chad Pearson ironically chose to cut music out of his life entirely. He entered into various career paths that had nothing to do with the industry (baking, construction work), but eventually found himself returning to music. I started listening to old demos I had gotten and kept, and I started really enjoying myself, said Pearson. I had bands reaching out to me, asking me when I would start up again, asking for my advice, and after awhile it just made sense. My love was always there; I just needed to find what I loved about music again.

Since starting P Is For Panda in 2007, Pearson has found success selling t-shirts, thanks largely in part to support from the indie t-shirt blogging community. Word-of-mouth has proven to be the best form of advertising for Pearson so far, and it s something he relies on in his business model. Because the company also donates a third of its profits to various charities, keeping costs down by forgoing advertising is important. I want P Is For Panda to do more than just make a buck, said Pearson. I want to help others as best I can.

Now that P Is For Panda is entering into the realm of music, it s only natural that Pearson partner with his old friend and fellow humanitarian Louis Posen, head of the thriving independent label Hopeless Records and its philanthropic arm Sub City. Through all our years of friendship, Chad has always conducted himself in the spirit of making a positive impact with his endeavors, which is a mantra we strive to live up to here at Hopeless/Sub City, said Posen. We are deeply honored that Chadpicked us to work with him.

Pearson s good intentions are readily apparent throughout the music community, which is something Jeremiah Edmond of the indie rock outfit Manchester Orchestra can attest to. Chad is one of those few people who gets the music industry, but gets music and artists even more, and really believes in the music he stands behind, said the drummer, who also runs Favorite Gentlemen Recordings. He s someone who truly wants to help the artists, and truly does.

The first release on P Is For Panda is a compilation featuring 16 songs from eight up-and-coming groups, including Gasoline Heart, Discover America, Damion Suomi, Mike Dunn & The Kings Of New England, and more. The album will retail for a mere $1.98 and be available digitally August 5th, with a physical street date of September 2nd. In continuing with the clothing side, P is for Panda has also unveiled a new summer line of t-shirt designs from artists Jesse LeDoux, M. Brady Clark, Brian Manley and Roy Fleeman.

To celebrate the new musical venture, a CD release show and label launch for P Is For Panda will be taking place July 25th in Atlanta at the Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge. Featuring music and artwork from the company s collaborators, admission is two cans of food that will be donated to the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Ten percent of all art sold will also be donated to the Valentino Achak Deng Foundation in order to help rebuild schools in southern Sudan.

My goal with P Is For Panda is to be more involved in the community by giving back, whether it be with my time, financially, or otherwise, said Pearson. The mission statement is quite simple: music + art + charity.”

For more information on P Is For Panda, visit www.pisforpanda.com, and to learn more about Hopeless/Sub City Records, visit www.hopelessrecords.com.

P Is For Panda Mixtape Volume 1

01. Your Heart Andy Shauf (www.myspace.com/andyshauf)
02. Shake It Off Gasoline Heart (www.myspace.com/gasolineheart)
03. Miles Of Grey Discover America (www.myspace.com/discoveramerica)
04. Get Up Mike Dunn And The Kings Of New England (www.myspace.com/mikedunnandthekingsofnewengland)
05. Rush Down My Spine Josh Moore (www.myspace.com/joshuamoore)
06. I Held You Pretty Good Pasadena (www.myspace.com/pasadena)
07. Darwin, Jesus, The Devil, And Me Damion Suomi (www.myspace.com/damionsuomi)
08. Here’s To The Kid J.R. Rund And The Hold Up (www.myspace.com/jrrundandtheholdup)
09. The Queen Mike Dunn And The Kings Of New England
10. How It Started Discover America
11. Ghostly Reminders Josh Moore
12. Burn Bright (But Burn Far Away) Gasoline Heart
13. She Says J.R. Rund And The Hold Up
14. You Remind Me Andy Shauf
15. One More Time Damion Suomi
16. Double Back Pasadena