Fossil Records is a cooperative project of musicians, writers and artists from the American West. Brought together by Margo Cilker and Avery Hellman, our aim is to capture the expression drawn from seasons of work on ranches and in rural outposts. The folk culture that develops in the analog world and the Artist building a scene out of nothing are what inspire us. We’ve been cultivating our passion for underground folk music for over a decade, and we’ve dug down deep to find carefully penned words and music. We know that those who care about depth in songwriting are out there, and we’re here to foster a community that appreciates songs that stir the soul.

Whether you’re making folk-rock, cowboy poetry, or daisy-chaining analog synths at a saloon; it’s your Western story to tell. 

We are underground rock, we are Fossil Records.



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MARGO CILKER

Margo Cilker toured a lot, and now she is tired. She lives and works alongside fellow songwriter Forrest VanTuyl in the Great Northwest. Her roots are in California, but music has always led her hither and yon, from South Carolina to Shetland and many places in between. After a busy touring schedule from 2022-2025 with the full band, she is home again to write new songs and ponder the great, wild things. 

 margocilkermusic.com


AVERY HELLMAN

Avery Hellman started attending their grandfather’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass music festival at the age of 8. Watching artists like Alison Krauss, Hazel Dickens and Gillian Welch as a child instilled a deep affection for folk and alternative music. At 19, Avery began performing and writing songs, but they simultaneously took on a parallel path working and living at their parents’ ranch in Petaluma California. Avery cared for sheep, horses, cattle, as well as helping to restore tired creeks and soils on the mountainside. After years of ranching and songwriting, Avery began performing under the name ISMAY, which is the namesake of a town of 19 in eastern Montana (which Avery has yet to visit, most likely for cosmic reasons). As ISMAY, Avery has appeared at SXSW, on Apple TV+, and at The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. ISMAY has opened for Steve Earle, Watchhouse, and John Doe, and has released three albums. In 2025 Avery released a documentary film and podcast Finding Lucinda about tracing the roots of Lucinda Williams. Presently, Avery tours as ISMAY, helps run the Markleeville General Store in the Eastern Sierra, and hosts Woollystar Music Festival.
ismaymusic.com
findinglucindafilm.com





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Headquarters

PO Box 128
Centralia, Washington


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Submission Process


We do not take any digital submissions. If you are interested in submitting, please send physical media to:


Fossil Records
PO Box 128
Centralia, Wash.
98531



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