Pinacolada Records

Pinacolada Records is an independent record label based in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand. Run by Ōtautahi-based record collector, DJ and music enthusiast Tim Baird, the label started in September 2001 and is notable for releasing the debut album from DFA Records artist the Shocking Pinks, as well as albums from Pearly*, the Tiger Tones, Pig Out! and Rockwood. Pinacolada Records also put out a series of 12” vinyl releases from Thisinformation, Headspace, Fanatica and Rockwood over the first two years of the label’s existence.

The label went into hiatus in April 2008, and was restarted in early 2023.

The first release that the label was involved with post-hiatus was a compilation of the Ōtautahi post-punk group The Playthings 7” singles and live recordings from 1981. This release came out on May 6th, 2023 on 12” vinyl, digital and minidisc as a collaboration with Ōtautahi-based label Leather Jacket Records, and reached #1 on the Official Aotearoa New Zealand Charts on May 13, 2023. It also reached #11 on the Official Aotearoa New Zealand Album Charts the same week, making it the label’s most successful release to date. The Playthings also reformed for a one-off gig at Space Academy in Ōtautahi to celebrate the release.

The two labels then went on to collaborate again in 2024, this time releasing Ōtautahi shoegaze legends Barnards Star and their debut EP release on vinyl and digital formats for the first time. The EP had only ever come out on CD in 1999 through local label Beat Atlas Records, was re-released on November 6th, 2024.

Barnards Star also reformed to play at a sold-out release party held at Space Academy in Christchurch on December 14th, 2024. This marked the first time in almost 25 years that the members of the band had played together. The vinyl and digital EP reissue also performed strongly on the Aotearoa New Zealand album charts debuting at #8 on its first week of release.

The most recent release on the label is by Ōtepoti-based indie rock band Pearly* entitled ‘Not So Sweet’. This album came out on vinyl, digital, CD and cassette formats on August 29th, 2025 as a partnership between Pinacolada Records and Leather Jacket Records with distribution handled by Flying Nun Records. The album debuted at #6 on the Aotearoa Nee Zealand album charts, and also featured at #12 on the Top 50 Aotearoa New Zealand releases of 2025 Chart on the Rolling Stone Australia website.