About Us

Our Mission:

Whatnot Records is a genre-defying independent music label that specializes in producing, promoting, and distributing experimental music in all its forms. From free jazz to avant-pop to contemporary classical music and beyond, we push the boundaries of musical expression and creativity. Our mission is for our label to foster collaboration and dialogue among experimental musicians from diverse backgrounds, schools of thought, and cultures, resulting in groundbreaking and novel musical experiences.

News

01/02/2024

Our latest album, Scree Scrub Mountain Sky, by New Zealand’s one-and-only Moth Quartet is now live on all streaming platforms!

05/09/2023 Our latest single, Pulsar Rays, by innovative electroacoustic composer, Dariush Derakhshani is now live on all on streaming platforms!

05/09/2023

Our latest single, Pulsar Rays, by innovative electroacoustic composer, Dariush Derakhshani is now live on all on streaming platforms!

08/08/2023

We’ve partnered with Groover to help discover and promote new experimental music artists! They are a great resource for emerging artists looking to get started at promoting their music. Check out our profile by clicking on the widget or the hyperlink above!

Instagram

SCREE SCRUB MOUNTAIN SKY has arrived! @mothquartet invites you to join them on their bold and innovative debut, as they weave a rugged sonic tapestry of the New Zealand wilderness. Link in bio!
SCREE SCRUB MOUNTAIN SKY, the debut album of New Zealand's @mothquartet, is just 2 days away! Don't miss the release of this daringly original new album of landscape and nature-inspired music for string quartet.
We are delighted to announce the release of SCREE SCRUB MOUNTAIN SKY—the debut album of New Zealand's @mothquartet. Comprised of Salina Fisher (violin), Tristan Carter (violin), Elliot Vaughan (viola), and Nicholas Denton Protsack (cello), the
It's #BandcampFriday! If you want to support our artists, please consider purchasing one of our albums on Bandcamp today, at whatnotrecords.bandcamp.com (link in bio)! Bandcamp will wave most of its regular fees, meaning a full cut for our artists! T
Pianist-composer @_richard_sears_ recently shared with us his track TRACING TIME (from his new album Appear to Fade). We really enjoyed the delicate, broken quality of the spliced and fused piano lines in this track! Check out his profile to give it
Shoutout to @megmorleymusic and @petrahallerdancer, who recently reached out to us with their track, 'Ascendant', featuring experimental piano and tap dancing. A very compelling and subversive combo, which we highly suggest you check out! A link to t
🎶VOTE FOR DARIUSH DERAKHSHANI! We are pleased to announce @dariushde's work, Pulsar Rays, (recently released via our label) has made the finals of the "Young Lion*ess of Acousmatic Music" competition by @theacousmaticproject. Follow the l
Shoutout to @zachariasfalkenberg, who shared his fascinating composition "Cycles, Pt. 3" with us via @groover.en, recently! We really enjoyed the interplay of experimental electronic textures blended with a unique post-techno sound. Check o
PULSAR RAYS is now live on all streaming platforms! We are delighted to release this dazzlingly innovative and original work from the one and only Dariush Derakhshani @dariushde. Be sure to give it a listen! (LINK IN BIO).
We are delighted to announce the release of PULSAR RAYS, a breathtakingly original work of acousmatic music from the daring mind of composer, Dariush Derakhshani. In two days, the single will be live on all commercial streaming platforms. Stay tuned!

Our Story:

Whatnot Records was founded by Canadian composer-cellist Nicholas Denton Protsack in 2022. He was soon joined by his brother David Protsack, who serves as the chief financial officer of the label. Although Whatnot Records was initially intended as a centralized platform for the creative projects of Nicholas and his collaborators—which span a wide variety of genres and formats—it later became envisioned as a platform for experimental music in all its forms, designed to bring innovators across many genres and cultures together. Whatnot Records aims to challenge the boundaries of music and foster a community of artists who share a passion for exploration and experimentation.