Partisan Records is an American independent record label. The company was co-founded in 2007 by Tim Putnam and Ian Wheeler in Brooklyn, New York.
History Partisan Records was founded in Brooklyn, New York, in 2007 by Tim Putnam and Ian Wheeler. At the time, Putnam was working at the independent label Knitting Factory Records and started Partisan as a "passion project" from his apartment.
An early signing was the Providence-based rock band Deer Tick. The critical success of their albums helped establish the label's credibility. In 2008, Partisan entered into a formal partnership with Knitting Factory Entertainment, which also involved managing the catalog of Nigerian musician Fela Kuti.
The label continued to build its roster, signing artists like The Dismemberment Plan for their reunion album Uncanney Valley in 2013. A turning point for Partisan's international profile came with the signing of Cigarettes After Sex.
Partisan signed Dublin post-punk band Fontaines D.C. in 2018 and Bristol band Idles in 2019. Both bands achieved critical and commercial success under the label. Idles' albums Ultra Mono (2020) and Tangk (2024), along with Fontaines D.C.'s Skinty Fia (2022), all debuted at #1 on the UK Albums Chart.
section1 In 2021, Partisan launched a joint venture label, section1, in partnership with Brontë Jane of Third Side Music, and Chris Robbins. As of 2026, bands released by section1 include Blonde Redhead, King Princess, Hildegard, Fazerdaze, and Eterna, and RIP Magic.
Awards and accolades Partisan Records has won Label of the Year at the Libera Awards (2019, 2023) and the Rolling Stone UK Awards (2023).
In 2023, London-based jazz group Ezra Collective won the Mercury Prize for their album Where I'm Meant to Be. Several artists have received multiple Grammy nominations, including Fontaines D.C. and Idles.
Idles have won multiple Ivor Novello Awards and NME Awards. Ezra Collective won a Brit Award for Group of the Year.
Artists As of August 2026, the artist classifications below follow the label's official roster.
Current
Beth Orton Blondshell Cameron Winter Cigarettes After Sex Cymande DJ Rashad Ezra Collective Fela Kuti Femi Kuti Geese Grian Chatten Idles Interpol Julia Cumming Just Mustard Laura Marling Lip Critic Maple Glider NoSo Paul Banks PJ Harvey Sun's Signature TTSSFU Westerman Witch Post
Alumni
Aaron Freeman Ages and Ages The Amazing Angélica Garcia Aoife Nessa Frances The Black Angels Bobby Bombino Chubby and the Gang Craig Finn Deer Tick Dilly Dally The Dismemberment Plan DMA's Dolorean Eagulls Emel Mathlouthi Emily Wells Field Report Flock of Dimes Fontaines D.C. Heartless Bastards Holy Sons JBM John Grant Lumerians Lump Mádé Kuti Mercury Rev Middle Brother Mountain Man Paleo Phox Pottery Pure Bathing Culture Skinny Pelembe The Standard Sylvan Esso Tender Torres Treetop Flyers Ultraísta Warm Ghost WITCH The Wytches
Notable releases Year Artist Album Notes 2014 Sylvan Esso Sylvan Esso Certified Gold in the US. 2017 Cigarettes After Sex Cigarettes After Sex Certified Platinum in the UK. Type Cigarettes After Sex in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter. 2018 Idles Joy as an Act of Resistance Reached #5 on the UK Albums Chart and was shortlisted for the 2019 Mercury Prize. 2019 Fontaines D.C. Dogrel Shortlisted for the 2019 Mercury Prize. 2020 Laura Marling Song for Our Daughter Nominated for the Mercury Prize and the Grammy Award for Best Folk Album. 2020 Idles Ultra Mono Reached #1 on the UK Albums Chart. 2022 Fontaines D.C. Skinty Fia Reached #1 on the UK and Irish Albums Charts. 2022 Ezra Collective Where I'm Meant to Be Won the 2023 Mercury Prize. 2023 PJ Harvey I Inside the Old Year Dying Nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album. 2023 WITCH Zango The band's first album in nearly 40 years, it received critical acclaim. 2024 Idles Tangk Reached #1 on the UK Albums Chart. 2024 Cameron Winter Heavy Metal The debut solo album from the Geese frontman.2025GeeseGetting KilledWon Best International Group at the BRITs
References
External links