Vibe: House, Techno, Electronica
Founded: 2010
Location: London
Upcoming releases: A Snatch! dub compilation
Artists-to-watch: Pele & Shawnecy, Paul C & Paolo Martini, Santos, Astin, Upercent, Ruben Mandolini, Paride SaraceniTHUMP: Is there any particular reason behind the name?Riva Starr: Well, I liked the sound of it and incidentally I also like to snatch samples from different kinds of music and throw them into my house beats and make something new. Oh! Also, one of my favourite movies is Snatch, of course.Why did you decide to form your label?
I've never had the time or even the experience to start one, but one day I said to myself, "If I don't start, I won't learn how." So, here I am after five years, and with a few dozens of releases with a label that I'm proud of. I'm so happy to have found so many producers who have been really engaged with the sound of the label.
How would you describe your sound?
It's pretty hard to describe, as I'm always on the move. People try to cage me in a genre all the time and by the time they find the definition for my sound I'm somewhere else already. That's why my new podcast will be called DEFINITION OF SOUND.I don't care about trends or hype sounds. I'd say that 4/4 beats are my favourite, but you can catch me playing some breakbeat tunes, and the funk will always be there as well.
I come from Naples and there's always been a healthy club scene over there for both house and techno. Big parties—winter in huge clubs and summer on the beach! But, when I was living there, I was playing anything but house and techno, mainly hip-hop, breaks, and jungle. Then I moved to London in 2006 and started the Riva Starr project.At the moment there are a few good promoters like Drop, Nice2B, and International Talent who are keeping the scene super healthy. The crowd is well-educated on the music, so you better go there and play properly, otherwise you are more likely to get some booing moments during your set.What makes your label different?
My taste, me and my crew's vision, the sound and our love for PIZZA! I'm very picky when it comes to signing music. People know about this, my friends especially, but in the end I have my sound in mind and in my ears. When people try to make tracks suitable for Snatch!, I tell them to produce what they like and not what they think I might like. I get easily bored of things and therefore I'm always on the hunt for new stuff that excites me.Which release would you recommend to introduce a new listener to your label?
There are plenty, lately I'm quite in love with Upercent's Spaceman EP, a journey into groovy organic house with a touch of funk and quirky analogue synth lines. A must-have.
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.
London-based Snatch! Records, headed by house music maestro Riva Starr, is growing like never before. With a slew of upcoming releases set for 2016 and their first ever BPM Festival showcase right around the corner, we thought it was about time to talk to them firsthand.
Name: Snatch! Records
Vibe: House, Techno, Electronica
Founded: 2010
Location: London
Upcoming releases: A Snatch! dub compilation
Artists-to-watch: Pele & Shawnecy, Paul C & Paolo Martini, Santos, Astin, Upercent, Ruben Mandolini, Paride Saraceni
THUMP: Is there any particular reason behind the name?
Riva Starr: Well, I liked the sound of it and incidentally I also like to snatch samples from different kinds of music and throw them into my house beats and make something new. Oh! Also, one of my favourite movies is Snatch, of course.
Why did you decide to form your label?
I've never had the time or even the experience to start one, but one day I said to myself, "If I don't start, I won't learn how." So, here I am after five years, and with a few dozens of releases with a label that I'm proud of. I'm so happy to have found so many producers who have been really engaged with the sound of the label.
Read More on THUMP: Imprints: Intec Digital
How would you describe your sound?
It's pretty hard to describe, as I'm always on the move. People try to cage me in a genre all the time and by the time they find the definition for my sound I'm somewhere else already. That's why my new podcast will be called DEFINITION OF SOUND.
I don't care about trends or hype sounds. I'd say that 4/4 beats are my favourite, but you can catch me playing some breakbeat tunes, and the funk will always be there as well.
Tell us about the scene in your hometown?
I come from Naples and there's always been a healthy club scene over there for both house and techno. Big parties—winter in huge clubs and summer on the beach! But, when I was living there, I was playing anything but house and techno, mainly hip-hop, breaks, and jungle. Then I moved to London in 2006 and started the Riva Starr project.
At the moment there are a few good promoters like Drop, Nice2B, and International Talent who are keeping the scene super healthy. The crowd is well-educated on the music, so you better go there and play properly, otherwise you are more likely to get some booing moments during your set.
What makes your label different?
My taste, me and my crew's vision, the sound and our love for PIZZA! I'm very picky when it comes to signing music. People know about this, my friends especially, but in the end I have my sound in mind and in my ears. When people try to make tracks suitable for Snatch!, I tell them to produce what they like and not what they think I might like. I get easily bored of things and therefore I'm always on the hunt for new stuff that excites me.
Which release would you recommend to introduce a new listener to your label?
There are plenty, lately I'm quite in love with Upercent's Spaceman EP, a journey into groovy organic house with a touch of funk and quirky analogue synth lines. A must-have.
How do you connect with the artists you work with?
Sometimes I don't even talk to them and I just pick the music and let my crew deal with the rest, but sometimes I help them with doing an edit or give them suggestions about the sounds. It's never the same. Of course there are some artists who release constantly on the label and are also part of our Snatch! management roster, and with them there's a proper long term plan.
What's the next release on the label? How far ahead do you plan your releases?
It's a release I'm quite proud of as it marks our first party ever at BPM Festival in Mexico this January. It's a selection of 11 tracks that have a minimalistic dub approach in common. I really liked the idea of the contrast between a sunny Mexican beach and simple dubby beats. It's a bit like the concept of the dub dancehalls in Jamaica—just with house music!
Read More on THUMP: Imprints: Last Night On Earth
What challenges do you face running the label?
Mainly the time, sometimes there's not enough hours in the day to do everything. Between my own productions, travelling, and the label it gets very hard even to cut a bit of time for myself. Luckily enough, I've got a very solid crew that has been with me since day one that know me well and that help me a lot, even in the relationship with the industry. Nowadays, having a label is much more complicated than before because you have to face the ever-changing market and business.
What's changed over the years?
We have the same enthusiasm as the first day, the label is much bigger, and we have many more fans. As I'm writing this, we have three tracks in the Beatport Top 10 (two tracks from my new I Believe In You EP and the new Astin & Waveshape single). We also have been booked to play amazing festivals and branded parties over the years, so we've had the chance to host tents at Creamfields, Tomorrowland, etc. I feel like we can do way more though, so the next step is to have a much more solid structure and grow our very own artists to a higher level.
Snatch! Records will host their first ever BPM showcase in Mexico on Friday, January 8. For additional tickets & information click here. Snatch! Records BPM Festival Compilation will be available in January.
Riva Starr is on Facebook // Twitter // SoundCloud
Snatch! Records is on Facebook // Twitter // SoundCloud
Sometimes I don't even talk to them and I just pick the music and let my crew deal with the rest, but sometimes I help them with doing an edit or give them suggestions about the sounds. It's never the same. Of course there are some artists who release constantly on the label and are also part of our Snatch! management roster, and with them there's a proper long term plan.
It's a release I'm quite proud of as it marks our first party ever at BPM Festival in Mexico this January. It's a selection of 11 tracks that have a minimalistic dub approach in common. I really liked the idea of the contrast between a sunny Mexican beach and simple dubby beats. It's a bit like the concept of the dub dancehalls in Jamaica—just with house music!
What challenges do you face running the label?
Mainly the time, sometimes there's not enough hours in the day to do everything. Between my own productions, travelling, and the label it gets very hard even to cut a bit of time for myself. Luckily enough, I've got a very solid crew that has been with me since day one that know me well and that help me a lot, even in the relationship with the industry. Nowadays, having a label is much more complicated than before because you have to face the ever-changing market and business.What's changed over the years?
We have the same enthusiasm as the first day, the label is much bigger, and we have many more fans. As I'm writing this, we have three tracks in the Beatport Top 10 (two tracks from my new I Believe In You EP and the new Astin & Waveshape single). We also have been booked to play amazing festivals and branded parties over the years, so we've had the chance to host tents at Creamfields, Tomorrowland, etc. I feel like we can do way more though, so the next step is to have a much more solid structure and grow our very own artists to a higher level.Snatch! Records will host their first ever BPM showcase in Mexico on Friday, January 8. For additional tickets & information click here. Snatch! Records BPM Festival Compilation will be available in January.
