Mike Park is a Korean-American musician and record label owner. He was a member of the seminal Bay Area ska-punk band , and is currently releasing acoustic-based solo albums, the most recent of which is titled “North Hangook Falling.” He also runs Asian Man Records, the two-person label he founded in his mother’s garage in 1996.

Despite the label’s smaller size, Park has a great ear for finding talent, putting out the first recordings by bands like Less Than Jake, The Alkaline Trio and the Lawrence Arms, while also cultivating a diverse roster of interesting acts. He is also the founder of the Plea for Peace Foundation, a non-profit whose goal is to promote peace through the power of music. Park is currently taking the year off from touring to write new songs and focus on his baby daughter. But as busy as he is, he was nice enough to answer a couple of our dumb questions via email.

How do you find most of the artists you sign to your label?
Not through demos! It’s a number of things: A. Going on tour and seeing bands that you play with. B. Bands that you currently work with that break up and that you put out new records for. Like when breaks up and out comes Alkaline Trio and Lawrence Arms! Win, win for me! C. Band guys that I work with call me drunk at 2 a.m. to say, “We just played with the best band. They are going to be HUGE!” And by default I check them out.

What’s the best-selling release on Asian Man?
Alkaline Trio’s “Maybe I’ll Catch Fire,” closely followed by Potshots’s “Pots and Shots.” Never heard of Potshot? Well, they are from Japan and sold a shiiiiite load of records over there.

If a band leaves Asian Man for a bigger label do you feel like you’ve done your job or that you’ve not done your job?
Well, it really depends. For the most part I’m extremely satisfied. I have a really open relationship with every artist I work with. Asian Man is an extremely small label and sometimes people have this perception that we’re friggin’ huge. But I have one employee and no desire to become bigger than what one employee plus myself can handle. It’s just a more humble way of being part of an industry (music) that for the most part sucks and really shares no common goals except for the actual music.

You’ve had a record label for over 15 years now. How has file-sharing and the rise of digital music changed the way you operate?
It hasn’t really changed that much except for the fact that we’re selling a lot less music now. But I’m just being more cautious in the way I spend my money. I believe the digital era of music will help the independents by bringing DIY to a whole new level. A level where bands can fend for themselves in terms of being carried on digital servers like iTunes, which is like being carried in a big chain store. In the past, this was an extremely arduous task for an independent band. Now they can be carried by the biggest digital distributors and level the playing field. I mean sure, the big labels will still carry the torch by buying up all the front page banner ads to drive traffic directly towards their artists, but for the most part I see it as a good thing. Geeez. I’m babbling.

How does “Degrassi: The Next Generation” stack up to the original?
At first, I thought, “What the fuck! How can you mess with perfection?” But after watching the new “Degrassi,” I have to admit I’m hooked. Add the fact that Amanda Stepto (Spike from the original) is still on the new series and that these kids can really act, and bam!, you’ve got a winner. Now, if PBS can just start playing this in the States I won’t have to rely on Netfllix to see the new episodes.

Describe the last time you experienced racism.
Everyday there is subtle racism in my life. From being called Yao Ming on the basketball court to the more extreme of having someone yell out their car window “Ching chong ching chong” whilst I ride my bike to work. Oh the joy!

Any chance there will ever be a Skankin’ Pickle reunion?
Fuck No!

Is ska dead?
Fuck No!

What is your karaoke song of choice?
“Summer Lovin,” the duet with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. This way I get to sing with a special lady.

Can one be both a yuppie and a punk?
No! Please please please. No!

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