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Imprints: Leftroom Records

"I only sign records that I play."

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: Leftroom Records

Vibe: Everything from Disco to Techno

Founded: October 2005

Location: London

Upcoming releases: Ten Years Of Leftroom Compilation

Artists-to-watch: Paranoid London and Mr KS

Leftroom is a powerhouse label that balances off-beat techno with traditional house music. To celebrate their ten-year anniversary, they've launched a massive compilation release that shows off new material from their roster while reviving old classics. THUMP recently spoke to Leftroom label head Matt Tolfrey, who got us up-to-date on the London label.

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THUMP: Is there any particular reason behind the name?
Matt: We always knew we were into-left-of-centre music, something that was a little different. The name Leftroom was born by my flatmate at the time and it stuck.

Why did you decide to form your label?
I was finding it harder and harder to buy the music that I was into at the time. I was getting sent so many good demos from friends and people that I had met DJing, so i thought the next best logical thing to do would be start a label. I never started the label to put out my own music or sign records that i knew would make money. I only sign records that I play.

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: Leftroom Records

Vibe: Everything from Disco to Techno

Founded: October 2005

Location: London

Upcoming releases: Ten Years Of Leftroom Compilation

Artists-to-watch: Paranoid London and Mr KS

Leftroom is a powerhouse label that balances off-beat techno with traditional house music. To celebrate their ten-year anniversary, they've launched a massive compilation release that shows off new material from their roster while reviving old classics. THUMP recently spoke to Leftroom label head Matt Tolfrey, who got us up-to-date on the London label.

THUMP: Is there any particular reason behind the name?
Matt: We always knew we were into-left-of-centre music, something that was a little different. The name Leftroom was born by my flatmate at the time and it stuck.

Why did you decide to form your label?
I was finding it harder and harder to buy the music that I was into at the time. I was getting sent so many good demos from friends and people that I had met DJing, so i thought the next best logical thing to do would be start a label. I never started the label to put out my own music or sign records that i knew would make money. I only sign records that I play.

How would you describe your sound?
Left of centre disco, house, and techno.

Tell us about the scene in your hometown?
I live in London, so it is pretty vast. The city caters to all musical tastes, whether it's reggae, jazz, drum and bass, dubstep, house, techno, you name it. All capital cities have a healthy scene, so it's hard to explain without writing an essay.

Read More on THUMP: Imprints Jungle Funk Recordings

What's your favorite label that isn't your own? Were these labels inspirations?
I'm liking a lot of these vinyl-only labels at the moment because they are are not scared to try something different. And of course, if there are only 300 records pressed, you know you're one of only 300 people with it in the world.

Which release would you recommend to introduce a new listener to your label?
Either Laura Jones–"Love In Me" or "Go On Then" by Kate Simko feat. Jem Cooke. They are both two of our largest sellers and they aren't just straight up obvious dance floor records.

How do you connect with the artists you work with?
We listen to a lot of demos over here at Leftroom, but a lot of the music we sign is through personal contact: whether it be recommendations from other artists on the label or a USB from a resident DJ at a club. I've always said I wanted to build a family of artists, and we're getting pretty close.

Read More on THUMP: Kate Simko is Making Gritty Chicago House with an Orchestral Flair

What's the next release on the label? How far ahead do you plan your releases?
The next big release on the label is our Ten Years Of Leftroom compilation. It features remixes of old Leftroom tracks and some new collaborations between myself Guti, Route 94 and Heartthrob.

What challenges do you face running the label? What's changed over the years?
So much has changed over the years that it is hard to explain. I think the biggest change for me was the switch from vinyl to digital. It totally changed the game. Luckily we only had one distributor go under. We also didn't lose out on too much money. I know a lot of labels had to close down because they were in so much debt from distributor closures.

What sound do you think the underground music scene is moving towards?
Louder.

How would you describe your sound?
Left of centre disco, house, and techno.

Tell us about the scene in your hometown?
I live in London, so it is pretty vast. The city caters to all musical tastes, whether it's reggae, jazz, drum and bass, dubstep, house, techno, you name it. All capital cities have a healthy scene, so it's hard to explain without writing an essay.

Read More on THUMP: Imprints Jungle Funk Recordings

What's your favorite label that isn't your own? Were these labels inspirations?
I'm liking a lot of these vinyl-only labels at the moment because they are are not scared to try something different. And of course, if there are only 300 records pressed, you know you're one of only 300 people with it in the world.

Which release would you recommend to introduce a new listener to your label?
Either Laura Jones–"Love In Me" or "Go On Then" by Kate Simko feat. Jem Cooke. They are both two of our largest sellers and they aren't just straight up obvious dance floor records.

Advertisement

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: Leftroom Records

Vibe: Everything from Disco to Techno

Founded: October 2005

Location: London

Upcoming releases: Ten Years Of Leftroom Compilation

Artists-to-watch: Paranoid London and Mr KS

Leftroom is a powerhouse label that balances off-beat techno with traditional house music. To celebrate their ten-year anniversary, they've launched a massive compilation release that shows off new material from their roster while reviving old classics. THUMP recently spoke to Leftroom label head Matt Tolfrey, who got us up-to-date on the London label.

THUMP: Is there any particular reason behind the name?
Matt: We always knew we were into-left-of-centre music, something that was a little different. The name Leftroom was born by my flatmate at the time and it stuck.

Why did you decide to form your label?
I was finding it harder and harder to buy the music that I was into at the time. I was getting sent so many good demos from friends and people that I had met DJing, so i thought the next best logical thing to do would be start a label. I never started the label to put out my own music or sign records that i knew would make money. I only sign records that I play.

How would you describe your sound?
Left of centre disco, house, and techno.

Tell us about the scene in your hometown?
I live in London, so it is pretty vast. The city caters to all musical tastes, whether it's reggae, jazz, drum and bass, dubstep, house, techno, you name it. All capital cities have a healthy scene, so it's hard to explain without writing an essay.

Read More on THUMP: Imprints Jungle Funk Recordings

What's your favorite label that isn't your own? Were these labels inspirations?
I'm liking a lot of these vinyl-only labels at the moment because they are are not scared to try something different. And of course, if there are only 300 records pressed, you know you're one of only 300 people with it in the world.

Which release would you recommend to introduce a new listener to your label?
Either Laura Jones–"Love In Me" or "Go On Then" by Kate Simko feat. Jem Cooke. They are both two of our largest sellers and they aren't just straight up obvious dance floor records.

How do you connect with the artists you work with?
We listen to a lot of demos over here at Leftroom, but a lot of the music we sign is through personal contact: whether it be recommendations from other artists on the label or a USB from a resident DJ at a club. I've always said I wanted to build a family of artists, and we're getting pretty close.

Read More on THUMP: Kate Simko is Making Gritty Chicago House with an Orchestral Flair

What's the next release on the label? How far ahead do you plan your releases?
The next big release on the label is our Ten Years Of Leftroom compilation. It features remixes of old Leftroom tracks and some new collaborations between myself Guti, Route 94 and Heartthrob.

What challenges do you face running the label? What's changed over the years?
So much has changed over the years that it is hard to explain. I think the biggest change for me was the switch from vinyl to digital. It totally changed the game. Luckily we only had one distributor go under. We also didn't lose out on too much money. I know a lot of labels had to close down because they were in so much debt from distributor closures.

What sound do you think the underground music scene is moving towards?
Louder.

How do you connect with the artists you work with?
We listen to a lot of demos over here at Leftroom, but a lot of the music we sign is through personal contact: whether it be recommendations from other artists on the label or a USB from a resident DJ at a club. I've always said I wanted to build a family of artists, and we're getting pretty close.

Read More on THUMP: Kate Simko is Making Gritty Chicago House with an Orchestral Flair

What's the next release on the label? How far ahead do you plan your releases?
The next big release on the label is our Ten Years Of Leftroom compilation. It features remixes of old Leftroom tracks and some new collaborations between myself Guti, Route 94 and Heartthrob.

What challenges do you face running the label? What's changed over the years?
So much has changed over the years that it is hard to explain. I think the biggest change for me was the switch from vinyl to digital. It totally changed the game. Luckily we only had one distributor go under. We also didn't lose out on too much money. I know a lot of labels had to close down because they were in so much debt from distributor closures.

What sound do you think the underground music scene is moving towards?
Louder.