Q: and/OAR?

A: and/OAR is a publisher and retailer specializing in environmental sound and various forms of avant-garde sound art.

The main mission of and/OAR has been to raise awareness of the sonic environment around us, and to
encourage a broader understanding and deeper appreciation of all that is SOUND, which can lead to a better understanding and deeper appreciation of all that is LIFE.


Q: What does the name "and/OAR" refer to?

A: "OAR" is an acronym for Overheard And Rendered.
Overheard And Rendered was a recording label from 1999 to 2001.
and/OAR was originally founded in 2001 as a sub-label of Overheard And Rendered.
Also, the and/OAR & either/OAR names were derived from the phrases "and/or" & "either/or" which are often
used in English sentences to indicate "one or the other" or "both". Therefore, the names were partially chosen because of their all inclusive nature. They are unifying and collective names. Of course the name "mOAR" just means "MORE" from the same source, only different. In 2012, "fOARward" will see and/OAR venture even
further into previously uncharted territory.

"OAR" is also similar to words in other languages that refer to the ear like "ohr" (German), "oor" (Dutch),
"oreille" (French), "orecchio" (Italian), "orelha" (Portugese), etc.

Additionally, in the film industry,"OAR" refers to "Original Aspect Ratio", which is the size and shape that a
director intended their film to be viewed at. This relates to an obvious interest in film that has made itself apparent with releases such as "Another Kind Of Language: Dedicated to Andrei Tarkovsky", "Yasujiro Ozu - Hitokomakura" and "Michelangelo Antonioni - Trilogy And Epilogue". Cinematic references / comparisons are also often made in release descriptions because this is one of the more compelling aspects of the kind of music that a/O presents, and such mental connections can enhance the enjoyment of the listening experience, regardless of whether the artist intended the connection to be there or not. However, in the end, it's really up to the listener to decide what connections they wish to make.

In 2008, the either/OAR and mOAR series were established in order to expand the range of sound art
presented by the label, while preserving the original focus of the main catalog to environmental sound art. In 2012, a fourth series called fOARward was proposed with the intention of first-time CD re-issues of older recordings, although as of 2023, no releases have materialized due in large part to the unexpected downturn of CD sales and international distribution.


Q: What do you consider to be an "environmental recording"?

A: Since an "environmental recording" is a recording of the sounds of a particular environment, this would
include various kinds of captures made with various open-air microphones, as well as non-open air microphones, receivers, & various sonic sensor apparati like: piezo discs, hydrophones, geophones, shortwave radios, VLF receivers, satellite transmissions, inductive mics (magnetic coils), bat detectors, etc.


Q: Demos?

A: Thanks for your interest, but not at this time.


Q: Radio promos?

A: and/OAR offers "DJ discounts" for all and/OAR releases and certain Diffusion shop items, so please
contact us about this if you are interested. If we don't know who you are or haven't heard of your program, we might need to see some form of proof or verification.


Q: Limited editions?

A: Yes. From 2001 to 2003, and/OAR was a CDR-only label, so edition numbers ranged from 50 to 150 copies per release. From 2004 to 2011, the CD edition numbers ranged from 300 to 1,000 copies per title. Since 2011, due to the advent of small-run glass-mastered CD replication and a decline in distribution and sales, CD editions have ranged between 100 to 300 copies per title.


Q: Logo change?

A: Yes. 2010 marked the beginning of and/OAR's ninth year of existence. So, in anticipation of the ten year anniversary (in 2011), a new logo (seen at the top of this page) was introduced. This was a significant change from the original name logo used from 2001 to 2009. Since 2011, the new logo has varied in appearance, depending on the context.