Based in a North London house Ample Play Records was set up in 2009 by avid record collectors Tjinder Singh and Ben Ayres of UK band Cornershop – best known for the hit single Brimful of Asha.

The label was formed with a refreshingly independent, democratic ethos – free from major label pressure the band were able to release their own records. From there they welcomed in a wealth of nascent talent, their current roster boasts The Sufis, Sudden Death of Stars, Beat Mark, Matsuki Ayumu, Bed Rugs and The Smoking Trees.

Their inaugural release, Cornershop’s acclaimed 2009 record Judy Sucks A Lemon For Breakfast saw their label burgeon and allowed them to set up a structure that paralleled their ambition and joint releases with LA’s Burger Records and Antwerp’s Waste My Records have helped them widen their reach, placing them amongst a wealth of exciting independent record labels worldwide. And that’s just it. Independence is the lynchpin of their DNA, a holistic DIY approach providing freedom and lending itself to a more creative mindset, for both the label and the bands they represent.

For one day only, this Saturday, the Ample Records ‘front room’ will transform into the world’s smallest record store. Yep, the smallest. We spoke to Tjinder Singh to find out more.

Alex James Taylor: So can you tell us a little about the history of Ample Play, what made you set up the label? When did you set it up?
Tjinder Singh: Around 2009 we [Cornershop] were on Rough Trade Records, and that was a home we really appreciated as we had, and have, the utmost respect for Geoff Travis. However, Rough Trade Records structure started changing towards structures we had visited in the past, so we asked to move on and go it alone, and that’s when Ample Play Records started. With the background and experience between the three of us, Marie Remy [Singh’s wife], Ben Ayres and me, we set up a label with a simple remit that our artists would be as relevant today and nexteryear, hence in the long run things would level out for us. The label name (though it has manifold meanings) and the total independence hints at this relaxed but purposeful aspiration.

AJT: How was the process of setting it up?
TS: It was inaugurated at a time of great flux in the industry, digital sales, worldwide piracy, white indie boy bands, so it was not too easy to deal with then. However, we are music lead, and that has gained us steady and enthusiastic growth. Collaborations such as with Burger Records have helped spread that music over the Atlantic.

AJT: Any advice for other people looking to set up their own label?
TS: Our response on advising young musicians setting up a group has always been to never give advice, or you end up with same. It also goes for setting up a record label advice. As long as you have the enthusiasm for what you do that will be enough to sage through.

AJT: What do you look for in the bands you work with?
TS: Something different and longlasting, whether that is from the French band Sudden Death Of Stars, or the deceased band ’82 Crowd Of People. Most groups have their own approach, but if they don’t have any depth to it we can’t go for that.

AJT: How do you see the current music climate in terms of independent record labels, there seems to be a real resurgence at the minute, although at the same time the majors are still suffocating the industry. What’s your view?
TS: There are only a few truly independent labels, most indie labels are owned by major labels. So as you say, although majors seem to be suffocating the industry, having a stronghold over so-called independent music is part of that stranglehold. For our part we try to keep away from this major labeled industry, and only concentrate on music that moves us.

AJT: And vinyl has also had a huge resurgence in recent times as well, as have cassettes, in today’s world of MP3 downloads do you think people miss having a physical object? A full work of art; music, cover artwork, inside notes etc.
TS: A few years ago record sales were going down, they said live music is propping up the industry. Last year CD sales went down, they said vinyl is propping up the industry. In other words, there is always a need to talk up the music industry, even though its value as a whole has severely diminished over the past two decades. At the moment with MP3 sales falling and streams increasing one can only say that the need for physical product has taken a battering. For us as a label that is rather sad, we have always been big vinyl record collectors, and have tried to put most our releases on vinyl (and cassette), it’s the ultimate.

AJT: As part of this year’s Record Store Day you’re opening up the world’s smallest record store, can you tell us a little about that?
TS: It’s actually more anti Record Store Day, as we are doing it on our own. We have always seen every person as their own Cornershop, the ability to buy and sell their own wares – rather than working for the Man or WoMan, being their own man or woman.  These principles come to us by way of William Morris or the EF Schumacher. Our Smallest Record Shop In the World, is under our house entrance stairs – in the past it has been used as The Smallest Bookshop In The World, The Smallest Gallery In The World and The Smallest Disco In The World.

AJT: And what have you got planned for the pop-up store?
TS: We will be selling all Ample Play stock, as well as a small selection of our own record collection. Music will come courtesy of Ample Play artists, and chatting is completely free, and a lemon tea may be yours if we like you.

AJT: Sounds perfect, which release are you most excited about?
TS: The release we are most excited about at our Pop Up Shop is actually simply a pre-order of ‘TST’, the new album by California’s The Smoking Trees, its A1, double sunshine effect combining an encyclopaedic knowledge of psychedelia with their West Coast hip-hop and bricks. It has not even gone into manufacturing production yet; that’s how anti RSD it gets.

‘Inside Out’ by Sudden Death of Stars and ‘Going Down With a Hi’ by Charles Howl are both out now on Ample Play Records. Keep up to date with Ample Play Records here and find them on Facebook and Twitter