About

Rocket Otter is an independent music distro and small-run label focused on thoughtfully selected releases from independent artists and labels.

I didn’t start Rocket Otter because I wanted to run a store. I started it because I have loved discovering music for as long as I can remember.

When I was six years old, my aunt gave me a 14-cassette “Greatest Hits of the 50’s and 60’s” collection. There was really only 3-4 songs per side, so they were really padding it to call it a 14-cassette collection, but still, those tapes cracked something open. The melodies, the textures, the variety. I was hooked.

At fifteen, a friend introduced me to Tooth and Nail Records, and that opened an entirely new world to me. Through that doorway, I discovered shoegaze, hardcore, punk, metal, and indie music and the DIY scene more broadly. It was not just new music. It was a scene. It felt alive and reachable.

Going to shows meant discovering distro tables, folding tables covered in CDs and tapes from bands I had never heard of. I loved scanning artwork, taking a chance on something unfamiliar, and walking away with a new favorite band. I loved the friction of it. I loved the hunt.

I was also the friend who wanted everyone else to hear what I had found, often buying CDs as gifts just to share something new.

In high school, I helped start and run a short-lived venue called The Upper Room in Stephenville, Texas in 1998. We brought in regional bands and touring acts like Dogwood and Twothirtyeight. I built the website and helped run shows until I moved away for college. That season made something clear. I did not just love listening to music. I loved building spaces around it.

In college, I was mentored by audio engineers who taught me live sound. Within months, I was running shows. That work eventually became Big Ear Sound in 2005, providing live sound operation and system design for small and mid-sized venues.

In 2006, I expanded into DJ services, primarily weddings. That side of the business grew significantly and was recognized by The Knot wedding magazine. I was voted a “Best of” DJ in the 2009 national edition and again in the 2010 regional Texas edition. I continued operating a successful DJ and audio business until I completed my Master’s degree and transitioned into teaching in 2015.

But music never left.

I have continued seeking out new sounds and resisting the idea that music should be passive background noise. In a time when music is often treated as disposable, the value of intentional listening, and even friction, feels higher than ever.

Rocket Otter exists because that kid staring at distro tables never really went away.

It exists to encourage exploration.

It exists to support independent artists directly.

And now, it also exists to help bring new releases into the world through small, intentional label projects, working closely with artists who share that same independent spirit.

Rocket Otter is a place for people who value physical music and enjoy discovering artists in a more intentional way. The goal is simple. Create a reliable retail space and an honest label home where physical releases can be discovered, appreciated, and supported by listeners who care about owning and spending time with music.

The catalog leans toward independent punk, hardcore, emo, shoegaze, noise rock, indie, and electronic music, while staying open to adjacent scenes and sounds that fit the spirit of the shop.

Thank you for visiting!

Landon