FAQ
Where is the label and store based?
Minneapolis, Minnesota.
What are your shipping rates and policies?
We use an accurate shipping calculation system priced by actual weight of the contents and billed at the current postage rates. All domestic and most international packages include tracking numbers.
Local Minneapolis, MN customers can now choose FREE local doorstep delivery at checkout, w/ any qualifying $20+ purchase.
Please be sure that your PayPal or Credit Card shipping address is correct, as your package will automatically ship to this address.
All packages are packed carefully and ship promptly, but we are not responsible for any issues, delays or damage caused by your local postal delivery service.
As an international buyer, YOU are directly responsible for all VAT or customs import taxes, as collected by your local government. We do our best to help minimize these charges, but ultimately all import taxes are your responsibility.
Is my vinyl safe?
We take great pride in packing each order carefully, using sturdy Whiplash brand mailers for 12" vinyl shipments for extra protection against any bumps enroute to you.
New vinyl that is SEALED will ship sealed by default, unless directed otherwise. Just send a message with your order and we are happy to remove the vinyl from the outer sleeve for shipping at your request.
Unsealed new vinyl will ship out of sleeve by default to protect against potential seam splits.
What is this store's return and exchange policy?
All sales are considered final unless your item is damaged or defective.
If there is a problem with your order, get in touch and we will do our best to make it right. Please keep in mind that many of the items in the shop are sourced from outside publishers, often with very limited stock available.
You cannot return an album because you don't like it, LOL.
If there is an issue with an item in your order, please reach out politely to:
lightenupsounds(at)gmail(dot)com
Do you accept orders placed outside of the US?
Yes!
We ship worldwide, with the exception of Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Philippines, Syria, Yemen, Guatemala, Venezuela or any nations on the continent of Africa, and we reserve the right to cancel any order at our discretion.
Will you hold or reserve an item for me until I can pay for it?
Sorry, no. All items and purchases from the shop are offered on a "first come, first served" basis. Due to limited supply and general frequency of orders placed, we cannot reserve unpaid items for anyone.
Do you take consignment?
Maybe.
How can I send my music for potential radio play?
Please listen to the program first, and if you think your music might be a nice fit for our program The Green Path, feel free to send promotional mailings to: lightenupsounds(at)gmail(dot)com.
We give priority to physical submissions, reach out for a current mailing address.
How long will it take to receive my order?
Except in rare circumstances, all orders are usually processed same or next day, and packages tend to ship within 48 hrs. of purchase, excluding weekends and holidays. Once shipped most domestic orders take anywhere from 2 to 10 business days to arrive depending on the efficiency of your local postal service.
International shipping delivery times may vary depending on location and expediency of the customs clearance process, usually between 5 days and 10 weeks.
The harsh realities of COVID-19 have slowed mail delivery times across the world, please be patient.
Do you offer wholesale / trades?
For our own label releases, we do offer wholesale rates for stores and mail-order sites, and are always happy to connect with new distribution partners. If you are interested in stocking our products, please reach out and request a current stock list.
We will consider potential trades with small independent labels and individual artists whose work we feel fits within the interests of ourselves and our customers. Reach out, we're sorta friendly.
How can I get my band or label's releases into your shop?
We're into all kinds of interesting music. If you feel like the work you're doing might be good fit to what we do here, reach out and maybe we can work together. We prefer vinyl and cassettes, and like to stock new titles in advance, or when they're still fresh. We prioritize overseas imports, and obscure, underground pressings or releases not widely available on larger platforms, but we're always excited to discover crazy new music of all kinds, and we always appreciate beautiful design and creative packaging concepts for physical formats, new or old. We will not support racist, homophobic, misogynist or otherwise bigoted artists. Check the shop to get a sense of what we're doing.
Does your label accept demos?
Officially, yes. A few amazing surprises have come through our inbox over the years, so we try to always keep an open mind. We are selective and always busy, but we are generally interested in checking out cool new music, and we make a point of trying to actually listen to most everything that comes our way. We receive a surprisingly large amount of unsolicited demos every month, and we plan our label releases pretty far in advance, so please make an effort to stand out from the crowd. We've outlined a few points below to improve your chances, so we advise you to read and understand these before reaching out.
- The best way to approach us is with a private link to a complete, previously unreleased album.
- Please be patient. It may take us a while to give everything the attention it deserves, but if we are moved by your work, and feel it would be a good fit with the label, you will hear back from us.
- Don't take things too personally if we are slow or don't respond, we're a one man operation, and sometimes we are swamped with orders, backlogged with upcoming releases, having a real life, watering the garden, etc.
- Before going to the trouble of sending your music our way for potential release, please take the time to well familiarize yourself with the past and present label catalog, to be sure that your project fits comfortably within our tastes. It might behoove you to mention why you'd like to work together, or other artists on the label roster that resonate with you.
We have an extreme ear, please try to blow our minds.
If you feel that your next upcoming album might be a good fit for our label, please feel free to send your very best to: lightenupsounds(at)gmail(dot)com