Chrysalis Records reborn as a front line label

26 February 2020 - Press release

Launches innovative partnership with Partisan Records to co-sign Laura Marling

Chrysalis Records, the iconic and influential record company, is to be re-launched as a front line label, marking a return to releasing new music for the first time in over two decades. Chrysalis announces its first signing in partnership with award winning independent label Partisan Records. The labels have come together to sign acclaimed British singer/songwriter Laura Marling in a fully co-branded global release. Further signings to Chrysalis will be revealed in the coming months.

Over the past 12 years, Laura Marling has built up a formidable reputation as one of the finest singer/songwriters of her generation, releasing six critically and commercially acclaimed albums. Five of those were UK top 10s and there have been numerous Grammy and Mercury Prize nominations for her work. Following the release of the album I Speak Because I Can Laura won the BRIT Award for Best British Female Solo Artist in 2011.

Marling will release the follow-up to 2017’s Semper Femina later this year, more details on that coming soon.

Partisan MD Zena White says of this strategic partnership, “There is a unique synergy between the diverse, immediately identifiable voices of Partisan and those of Chrysalis decades prior to our existence. We’re thrilled to come together on its relaunch, and even more so to be working with the unmatched talent of Laura Marling.”

Chrysalis CEO Jeremy Lascelles adds, “Laura Marling, Chrysalis Records, Partisan Records. A match made in heaven.”

Founded in 1968, Chrysalis broke and developed some of the most internationally successful and acclaimed artists throughout the '70s and '80s, including Jethro Tull, Billy Idol, Blondie, Pat Benatar, Huey Lewis and the News, Ultravox, Sinead O’Connor, The Specials and The Waterboys among many others.

Partisan Records last year won Best Independent Label at the AIM Awards and Independent Label of The Year at the Music Business Worldwide A&R Awards whilst White received International Woman of The Year at the Music Week Women in Music Awards. Its current roster includes artists such as Cigarettes After Sex, IDLES, Fontaines D.C., John Grant, the catalogue of Fela Kuti, and many more.