Founded: 2013
Location: Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Members: Chef, Heartbeat(s), 8prn (Project Pablo)
Number of Releases: 5
Heartbeat(s) & 8prn – "Wait"
Rook Milo – Bleached/Luxury Sedan
Autem – Out/Syno
Nick Wisdom – Beam Me Up/Snoopin
Sleepyhead – Untitled EP
Artist-to-watch: SleepyheadImprints brings you regular profiles of the most exciting record labels the world over, with input from the movers and shakers who contribute to their local electronic music communities.What's the deal?
I was first turned on to the Vancouver label ASL Singles Club when I started getting Facebook invites to their Homies Only parties throughout the city. After the third or fourth one, curiosity got the best of me. I checked out their Bandcamp and immediately fell in love with 8prn's collaboration with Heartbeat(s), "Wait".Since then, EPs from Canadian producers Rook Milo and Nick Wisdom have cemented ASL as premium curators. I reached out to former LOL Boy and label head, Markus Garcia, to shed some light on their creative process—read on and make sure to check out their catalogue on SoundCloud.Why did you decide to form ASL Singles Club?
Markus: We wanted to release music made by our friends whose work we admired, both local to Vancouver and internationally based. The visual and fashion aspect was of equal interest, and we wanted to create a single outlet for it all.Where does the name come from?
We were drinking in our former basement studio and we just thought of it out of the blue. We were originally trying to come up with a name for a monthly party.How would you describe your sound?
We like to think of it as if you owned your own store: we've got a bit of this and a bit of that, but it fits an over-all esthetic. In this case, it's an updated approach on classic underground dance music. Most of the stuff has elements of our favourite genres; house, rap and R&B.Have your releases been received as well as you'd hoped?
They've been far better received than we hoped. We've been really low key and extremely DIY in the beginning of the label. It's exciting to see people giving such good feedback and praise.What makes ASL different?
We aren't going to pretend that we are doing something that has never been done before, but we're more than just a record label; we're developing a clothing line and releasing visual based art. So, in a way we're a bit of an art collective. We're highly influenced by Warhol's The Factory, but at the same time, we're a label like Kitsune Maison. We're not even really trying to be different or unique. We're just trying to create and release things that excite us.Which release would you recommend to introduce a new listener to ASL?
Sleepyhead's Untitled EP is a good start. However, the upcoming record from Prison Garde is another great start.Which are your favourite tracks?
That's like asking a parent who their favourite child is!How do you choose the artists that you work with?
First and foremost, we listen to their music. Then we explore their world outside of the music. Do they play shows? What's their overall vibe? In the end it comes down to their music and if excites us and if we can work together.How important are personal connections with your artists to you? Would you ever release an EP from someone that you didn't know?
Personal connections are important but it's not like we've met every artist face to face; releasing music with an artist inevitably develops the relationship. Thank god for Facebook and Gmail though, we can connect on that level and make sure we're on the same page.What's the next release on ASL? How far ahead do you plan your releases?
Heartbeat(s)' "Hopeless Romantic", Prison Garde and DJ Sharda. We try to plan at least two to three months in advance.Who designs your shirts?
Devin "Cheffers" White.If money was no object, what would the next piece of custom apparel be?
ASL Singles Club custom socks.
Location: Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Members: Chef, Heartbeat(s), 8prn (Project Pablo)
Number of Releases: 5
Heartbeat(s) & 8prn – "Wait"
Rook Milo – Bleached/Luxury Sedan
Autem – Out/Syno
Nick Wisdom – Beam Me Up/Snoopin
Sleepyhead – Untitled EP
Artist-to-watch: SleepyheadImprints brings you regular profiles of the most exciting record labels the world over, with input from the movers and shakers who contribute to their local electronic music communities.
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I was first turned on to the Vancouver label ASL Singles Club when I started getting Facebook invites to their Homies Only parties throughout the city. After the third or fourth one, curiosity got the best of me. I checked out their Bandcamp and immediately fell in love with 8prn's collaboration with Heartbeat(s), "Wait".Since then, EPs from Canadian producers Rook Milo and Nick Wisdom have cemented ASL as premium curators. I reached out to former LOL Boy and label head, Markus Garcia, to shed some light on their creative process—read on and make sure to check out their catalogue on SoundCloud.Why did you decide to form ASL Singles Club?
Markus: We wanted to release music made by our friends whose work we admired, both local to Vancouver and internationally based. The visual and fashion aspect was of equal interest, and we wanted to create a single outlet for it all.Where does the name come from?
We were drinking in our former basement studio and we just thought of it out of the blue. We were originally trying to come up with a name for a monthly party.How would you describe your sound?
We like to think of it as if you owned your own store: we've got a bit of this and a bit of that, but it fits an over-all esthetic. In this case, it's an updated approach on classic underground dance music. Most of the stuff has elements of our favourite genres; house, rap and R&B.
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They've been far better received than we hoped. We've been really low key and extremely DIY in the beginning of the label. It's exciting to see people giving such good feedback and praise.What makes ASL different?
We aren't going to pretend that we are doing something that has never been done before, but we're more than just a record label; we're developing a clothing line and releasing visual based art. So, in a way we're a bit of an art collective. We're highly influenced by Warhol's The Factory, but at the same time, we're a label like Kitsune Maison. We're not even really trying to be different or unique. We're just trying to create and release things that excite us.Which release would you recommend to introduce a new listener to ASL?
Sleepyhead's Untitled EP is a good start. However, the upcoming record from Prison Garde is another great start.Which are your favourite tracks?
That's like asking a parent who their favourite child is!How do you choose the artists that you work with?
First and foremost, we listen to their music. Then we explore their world outside of the music. Do they play shows? What's their overall vibe? In the end it comes down to their music and if excites us and if we can work together.How important are personal connections with your artists to you? Would you ever release an EP from someone that you didn't know?
Personal connections are important but it's not like we've met every artist face to face; releasing music with an artist inevitably develops the relationship. Thank god for Facebook and Gmail though, we can connect on that level and make sure we're on the same page.What's the next release on ASL? How far ahead do you plan your releases?
Heartbeat(s)' "Hopeless Romantic", Prison Garde and DJ Sharda. We try to plan at least two to three months in advance.Who designs your shirts?
Devin "Cheffers" White.If money was no object, what would the next piece of custom apparel be?
ASL Singles Club custom socks.