Big Loud is proud to announce today a new joint venture with Severance Records. Helmed by longtime industry experts and Co-Presidents Mike Easterlin and Steve “Stevo” Robertson, Severance Records is an independent, modern rock label based in Nashville, Tenn. with a global vision and footprint.

“Stevo and I could not be more excited to be joining the Big Loud family,” Easterlin shares. “(Big Loud Partners) Seth (England), Joey (Moi), Craig (Wiseman), and (Big Loud Rock / Big Loud Management Partner + President) Greg (Thompson) have been so supportive from the first time we met about building this partnership together. Watching the company that Big Loud has become in the country space only drives Stevo and I to want to make Severance Records the same kind of force in the alternative space. Our goal is to be rooted in Nashville, but global in vision.”

Easterlin most recently served as Co-President of Elektra Entertainment after serving as President / GM at two of the company’s cornerstone labels – Fueled By Ramen and Roadrunner Records. He counts additional experience in leadership roles at Island Def Jam, after starting his career at Virgin Records. Easterlin has fostered and promoted the careers of powerhouse artists like Smashing Pumpkins, Lenny Kravitz, Blur, The Killers, Nickelback, Panic! At The Disco, All Time Low, Twenty One Pilots, The Band Camino, Paramore, Shinedown, Tones and I, Young The Giant, Bailey Zimmerman, and more for over 25 years.

Robertson joins Severance after a 25-year tenure with Atlantic Records, last serving as GM / SVP of A&R, Pop / Rock for the label’s Nashville presence. Across his storied career as an ace A&R executive with an ear for alternative hits, Robertson signed Shinedown, Paramore, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Knox, and A Day To Remember among other impactful acts, and helped developed talent including GAYLE, Collective Soul, Seven Mary Three, Matchbox 20, and many more.

“I’m a fan of so much of the music Mike and Stevo have discovered and promoted throughout their careers,” Big Loud Partner / Producer / President of A&R Joey Moi says. “Working with them on building and establishing some incredible new rock and alternative acts is something we’re all really looking forward to.”

“Mike and Stevo have championed some of the most exciting, culture-driving music of the last two decades, so when the opportunity to work with them in this capacity came up, it was an instant ‘yes,’” Big Loud Partner / CEO Seth England adds. “We’re grateful to partner with them and build a legacy together with Severance.”

The newly forged label is impacting the alternative space now, starting with flagship signing Dexter and The Moonrocks.

Hailing from Abilene, Texas and rooted in Southern alt / alt-rock, Dexter and The Moonrocks are a sub-genre all their own. Creating a distinct, fan-labeled “Western Space Grunge” sound, the self-proclaimed “sad space cowboys” pull inspiration from artists ranging from Rainbow Kitten Surprise and Foo Fighters to Tyler Childers and Whiskey Myers, finding a distinct niche and quickly piquing the interest of fans with their edgy take on Southern rock.

“We’re honored to have Mike, Stevo, and the Severance / Big Loud team believe in us and give us the opportunity and resources to pioneer a sound that’s meant for all the freaks, geeks, and everyone in between,” the band shares. “Whether you think ‘a pair of boots’ means cowboy or combat, we’ve got music that will make you feel truly comfortable in your own skin, and we cannot wait to share it with you.”

Dexter and The Moonrocks are booked by Mike Krug (WME), managed by Chris Schoemann (Lion’s Claw Entertainment), and Joe Greenwald (Marketing & Promotion).

“When Mike (Easterlin) and I laid the groundwork for Severance Records, we were driven by a genuine love for rock music and an instinct to follow its evolving path,” Co-President Robertson says. “In an industry that seemed to have momentarily turned away from rock, we felt a strong undercurrent – a shift back towards the authentic sounds of guitars and raw attitude. Dexter and The Moonrocks struck a chord with us immediately. While being influenced by greats like Nirvana and Kings Of Leon, they’re a bridge to the future of rock, blending influences from rock legends and contemporaries like Rainbow Kitten Surprise and Colter Wall. Their sound is the DNA of Severance Records – rediscovering and redefining rock with a fresh perspective, especially with a nod to Southern roots.

“We’re shaping a unique culture. Our focus is alternative – alt-rock, alt-pop, alt-country, and indie rock. We’re drawn to authentic, unconventional sounds. Dexter and The Moonrocks are at the forefront of that. As our first signing, they represent the distinct sound of Severance Records.”