Indie Label Finds New Groove in Patchogue

Independent record label 401K Music has traded the New York City music scene for Patchogue, where founder Veronica Gretton is putting down roots and preparing a limited-edition vinyl release with a distinctly local connection.

After more than a decade based in New York City and Brooklyn, the company relocated to Patchogue during the pandemic. Gretton said she quickly found a home in the village and its growing arts and music community.

A longtime music-industry veteran, Gretton has worked with some of alternative and new wave music’s best-known acts, including The Cure, The Stone Roses, Talking Heads and the Ramones.

Her Patchogue-based company continues to work with established artists, including The B-52’s and Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder, who has also collaborated with Gorillaz, as well as emerging alternative acts including Ambulance Ltd, Strawberry Fuzz and The Drums.

Now 401K Music is teaming up with Record Stop in Patchogue for a limited-edition vinyl release featuring two emerging indie bands. An exclusive pre-release will be available through the longtime independent record store, with the artists and availability to be announced.

“After spending so many years immersed in city life, I never expected Patchogue to become home,” Gretton said. “But I really fell in love with the community and the energy here.”

She said releasing new music locally and working with an independent shop such as Record Stop makes the project particularly meaningful.

Record Stop has been part of Long Island’s music scene since 1974. Its Patchogue location sells vinyl, CDs and music equipment while also serving as a gathering place for musicians and fans.

The store includes a dedicated performance space for live music and other events, complementing Patchogue’s expanding arts and entertainment scene.

For Gretton, the collaboration connects her decades in the music business with her label’s new hometown and a new generation of independent artists.