Imprints 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.Name: Kaluki Musik
Vibe: House and techno
Founded: Events started in 2006, label started in 2010.
Location: Manchester, England
Upcoming releases: 2nd Sequel new release in May 2015
Artists-to-watch: Pirate Copy, 2nd Sequel, System 2
Vibe: House and techno
Founded: Events started in 2006, label started in 2010.
Location: Manchester, England
Upcoming releases: 2nd Sequel new release in May 2015
Artists-to-watch: Pirate Copy, 2nd Sequel, System 2
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What began as a basement rave at Manchester's historic Sankeys Soap nightclub has become a highly sought after event company and label. Lee Spence and Nick Yates have long outgrown the days of grimy basements to instead cultivate their Kaluki events at renowned clubs and festivals across the UK. The events are respected by both a local and global audience, with red hot monthly parties headlined by artists like Claude VonStroke, Sub Ann, Jamie Jones, at venues like Fabric London.Kaluki Musik is Yates and Spence's music label, a project that grew from the Kaluki events consistent successes. The label has garnered just as much acclaim through special vinyl releases, exquisite releases by artists like Nathan Barato, and top spots in the Beatport charts.THUMP recently spoke to Spence and Yates to know more about their business partnership and the label's new objective in North America.
Kaluki's 7th Anniversary at The Warehouse Project
THUMP: Explain the name?
Lee: It comes from an old Jewish card game called Kalooki. But it also has a second, secret meaning that we can't tell you about!Why did you decide to form your label?
Lee: We wanted to give the chance for upcoming producers to release their music and become a part of our brand and family. We have released over 30 EPs and three full albums over the past five years. Sometimes these are with high-profile remixers like Steve Lawler, Darius Syrossian, and Todd Terry.
Nick: I'm more of the promotional, events, brand side of the label. The music production is mostly thanks to Lee. But that's why we're such a good team.
Lee: It comes from an old Jewish card game called Kalooki. But it also has a second, secret meaning that we can't tell you about!Why did you decide to form your label?
Lee: We wanted to give the chance for upcoming producers to release their music and become a part of our brand and family. We have released over 30 EPs and three full albums over the past five years. Sometimes these are with high-profile remixers like Steve Lawler, Darius Syrossian, and Todd Terry.
Nick: I'm more of the promotional, events, brand side of the label. The music production is mostly thanks to Lee. But that's why we're such a good team.
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How would you describe your sound?
Lee: We have a sound that covers everything—from deep house through to techno. Sometimes there are big tracks made for the dance floor, and sometimes the sound is deeper and more experimental. We try to sign music that stirs up some kind of emotional reaction while you're listening to it for the first time.
Nick: We've always been on the edge of different genres, we like house, underground music, techno. But it has always been about good music, that's what we base ourselves on. We don't base ourselves on one genre of music. Through events and the label, we've done this for over nine years, so things need to go with the times. The music and the people need to roll with the years that you're crossing. You can't have solely one type of music that sticks with your brand for nine years, or you'll get lost in the past.Manchester has such a diverse music scene—the UK in general. How do you stay relevant and compete with other labels?
Lee: We are perfectly placed—we listen to a lot of new music through our events, and our team lives and breathes music as is. It's only natural for us to have our finger firmly on the pulse of new music. We try to sign the music that we truly believe in and that's really all we can do. When you do it for the love, normally people with the same mindset can recognize and appreciate it, and ultimately will feel the same.Which release would you recommend to introduce a new listener to your label?
Lee: Probably the three track EP by Manchester duo System 2 called Nuthin Wrong. They have been good friends on Kaluki for many years.
Lee: We have a sound that covers everything—from deep house through to techno. Sometimes there are big tracks made for the dance floor, and sometimes the sound is deeper and more experimental. We try to sign music that stirs up some kind of emotional reaction while you're listening to it for the first time.
Nick: We've always been on the edge of different genres, we like house, underground music, techno. But it has always been about good music, that's what we base ourselves on. We don't base ourselves on one genre of music. Through events and the label, we've done this for over nine years, so things need to go with the times. The music and the people need to roll with the years that you're crossing. You can't have solely one type of music that sticks with your brand for nine years, or you'll get lost in the past.Manchester has such a diverse music scene—the UK in general. How do you stay relevant and compete with other labels?
Lee: We are perfectly placed—we listen to a lot of new music through our events, and our team lives and breathes music as is. It's only natural for us to have our finger firmly on the pulse of new music. We try to sign the music that we truly believe in and that's really all we can do. When you do it for the love, normally people with the same mindset can recognize and appreciate it, and ultimately will feel the same.Which release would you recommend to introduce a new listener to your label?
Lee: Probably the three track EP by Manchester duo System 2 called Nuthin Wrong. They have been good friends on Kaluki for many years.
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How do you choose the artists that you work with?
Lee: We listen to all the demos we get and sign the music we really like. Sometimes we meet people at our shows in Manchester or Ibiza and they've given us a CD with some tracks. We always like to road test the tracks out at our shows to see how the crowd reacts when you play it for the first time. That's really important to us.
Nick: Pretty much. Basically, a) we have to be happy with it and b) the kids at the club need to be happy with it.What's the next release on the label? How far ahead do you plan your releases?
Lee: Next will be an EP by a talented young Italian produced named 2nd Sequel with a remix by System 2. We try and keep only three releases ahead, so if something exciting turns up we can release it while it's hot.
Lee: We listen to all the demos we get and sign the music we really like. Sometimes we meet people at our shows in Manchester or Ibiza and they've given us a CD with some tracks. We always like to road test the tracks out at our shows to see how the crowd reacts when you play it for the first time. That's really important to us.
Nick: Pretty much. Basically, a) we have to be happy with it and b) the kids at the club need to be happy with it.What's the next release on the label? How far ahead do you plan your releases?
Lee: Next will be an EP by a talented young Italian produced named 2nd Sequel with a remix by System 2. We try and keep only three releases ahead, so if something exciting turns up we can release it while it's hot.
Resident Pete Zorba playing at Gorilla
What challenges do you face running the label and the brand?
Lee: We are a small team—well, just two partners who both lead very busy lives. So we have to work very hard to keep everything moving along. We don't mind that though, in fact, we love it!What made you decide to bring a label night over to North America for the first time, especially in a city like Toronto?
Lee: We were invited through friends of Kaluki, Nathan Barato and Attilio Pugliese, after working together both in Ibiza and at Fabric in London. It will be our first trip to Toronto. We're really excited to see what the city has to offer after hearing so many good things from friends and DJs who have been on tour in the city.
Nick: Ever since Nathan produced on our label and did a release with us, we've ended up getting to know him and the BPM crew really well. I asked him to play Fabric last summer and he said he'd do it, one hundred percent. So all summer I hit it off with the guys from Toronto, all the guys from Canada, the LCPR team… they're all unbelievable people.It's weird. The Art Department boys, all the guys from BPM—it's pretty much a Toronto take over in the house scene. It's taken off over there. For me, it's like the new New York. There's a lot of stuff happening and a lot of stuff to talk about. So I thought rather than these kids come to my parties, I'll bring my parties to the kids.And everyone from Toronto is fucking cool. America seems to be a bit more difficult. Everyone in Toronto is uber friendly and cool. I can't wait to come over and see everyone from there.Kaluki Musik is on Facebook // Twitter // SoundCloudKaluki will be hosting their first North American label night at Red Nightclub in Toronto on Friday, March 20, 2015.
Lee: We are a small team—well, just two partners who both lead very busy lives. So we have to work very hard to keep everything moving along. We don't mind that though, in fact, we love it!What made you decide to bring a label night over to North America for the first time, especially in a city like Toronto?
Lee: We were invited through friends of Kaluki, Nathan Barato and Attilio Pugliese, after working together both in Ibiza and at Fabric in London. It will be our first trip to Toronto. We're really excited to see what the city has to offer after hearing so many good things from friends and DJs who have been on tour in the city.
Nick: Ever since Nathan produced on our label and did a release with us, we've ended up getting to know him and the BPM crew really well. I asked him to play Fabric last summer and he said he'd do it, one hundred percent. So all summer I hit it off with the guys from Toronto, all the guys from Canada, the LCPR team… they're all unbelievable people.It's weird. The Art Department boys, all the guys from BPM—it's pretty much a Toronto take over in the house scene. It's taken off over there. For me, it's like the new New York. There's a lot of stuff happening and a lot of stuff to talk about. So I thought rather than these kids come to my parties, I'll bring my parties to the kids.And everyone from Toronto is fucking cool. America seems to be a bit more difficult. Everyone in Toronto is uber friendly and cool. I can't wait to come over and see everyone from there.Kaluki Musik is on Facebook // Twitter // SoundCloudKaluki will be hosting their first North American label night at Red Nightclub in Toronto on Friday, March 20, 2015.