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UNIFIED RECORDS:
IT’S JUST ABOUT THE ARTIST!
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Time… It’s time for change, used to sing the late Barry White. And God knows how they’ve changed since with the unevitable bad on one hand and the good on the other with the latest being the progressive arrival of people bringin’ a breathe of novelty in the makin’ of the said contemporary groove. Chicago-based Unified Records imprint being at the forefront of this with artists such as Peven Everett and Mr A.L.I. to name a few with Steal Vybe due to add his contribution to the edifice with a whole album. More explanations with label President, Mike Brown…
Hey Mike, I pretty much tend to think our Miami coverage wouldn’t have been what it is without a word as to what you’ve accomplished with your label along those last months, obviously contributing to bring a breath of fresh air, not to say some renewal as far as the said modern groove is concerned. One comment?
When my partner Brian Reaves and I came up with the idea to start a label 4 years ago, we just wanted to help artists to get their music out and have them to get possible major deals.
Big Cee of Consortium Muzik eventually told us that you’ve opened the path to this while giving your contribution to Peven Everett and Mr A.L.I.’s recognitions. Your reaction?
While putting this label together we knew we wanted to be different. So we delt and deal with a lot of live production artists.
Quite ironical at a moment when the whole record industry faces its biggest crisis to see a whole bunch of new talents showing their faces. How would you be tempted to explain this? Because of the hard times naturally pushing artists to reach new boundaries ? Because of the globalization? Something else that you would have in mind?
I think because of digital online stores we are going to see lots and lots more new talent. Also yes times are definitly pushing Artists to reach new bounderies.
People eventually enthused about 2008 tellin’ me how they felt/believed a change was gonna come. D’you feel like it?
A change is definitely in the making. However I don’t believe anyone at this point knows exactly what it is going to be.
It pretty much looks like the times we’re living currently see the ongoing emergence of artists, producers, label managers firmly decided to develop a strong identity as opposed to recent times where this was obviously more a matter of opportunity. Do you agree?
Absolutely. And it’s what’s needed to keep house alive. I think we really need to take a look at house on its self. It’s one of the longest lasting genres and it’s stayed over sea level because of all of our efforts.
Going further way, I’d be tempted to think that recently created imprints such as Consortium Muzik, Seed Recordings and yours among a few others are run the way records companies were back in the day. In other words, like labels worring about signing music responding to certain criterias…
This is what we set out to do 4 years ago. Our slogan is It’s About the Artist. Meaning we are not the label. Our Artists are the Label.
On the other hand, you please pardon/correct me if I’m doin’ a mistake, but for quite some time, as a supposedly observer, I found hard to get infos in regards to your releases. Is it to say that for some reasons which are yours, you felt more comfortable remaining away from eventual sollicitations from the outside?
This is very funny for us as well. When we started the label we did all sorts of promotion/sollicitations from the outside and we built a big fan base in UK, France, Germany and Switzerland, as opposed to the States where it was very small. At the same time, we still wanted to remain a small label and not to be over exposed.
Let us know about where you’re comin’ from… The ups and unevitable downs you’ve had to go thru on the maturation of your venture?
For us it’s been a lot of fun. We started off great and we are still doing great. We are content with being a small label and we will stay this way. The only down we have is the same one everyone else has (The sales on vinyl !!!)…
If there was A definition to give it, then what could/would this be?
Consistancy
This leadin’ us to… Miami and this event of yours where are to appear Chris ‘Steal Vybe’ Forman & cohorts live among other names…
I think this event is truly the elements of House. It not only has Steal Vybe performing but is surrounded by some the world’s greatest DJ’s playing House from the Past, Present and Future. Steal Vybe will be performing tracks from the new Album ‘Shine’ on Unified. This event is a must if your are honestly into house. For extra details, please see unifiedrecs.com (MFSB)
Last but not least, one word about your release schedule…
Eurgh… Consistant, what else?
BEPPE GIOIA – Milo (Unified Records)
DJ AAKMAEL – Deep Respect Track (Unified Records)
DJ AAKMAEL – Feel It (Unified Records)
Mr A.L.I. – About Us – The Diaspora’s Den Mix (Unified Records)
VICK LAVENDER – The Chase (Tribute To Fred Hampton) (Unified Records)
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