The Sound Of

Continuing the legacy of his Lovefingers blog, Andrew Hogge’s ESP Institute is a truly anything-goes imprint, unbound by genre or style. Alongside a mix from its catalogue, he tells Anna Wall about how how his DIY attitude and digger’s mentality has helped him unearth countless new musical gems

With its grimy cyberpunk aesthetic, Berlin label Mechatronica's innovative electro releases have found fans in the likes of DJ Stingray 313 and Helena Hauff. Alongside a mix from its catalogue, co-founder Casper Mejlholm tells Ben Murphy how experimentation and rule-breaking are at the heart of its success

Founded by Bristol DJ/producer Yushh in 2019, Pressure Dome’s focus on emerging talent and varied compilations has made it a key force in pushing UK club music to new heights. Here, alongside a mix from its catalogue, Oli Warwick learns more

Helmed by 2 Bad Mice, Over/Shadow is one of the most essential labels in the modern jungle/drum & bass scene. Though initially formed around much of the classic Moving Shadow crew, its focus is set firmly on the future, releasing cutting-edge music from artists old and new alike, and aiming to create a sustainable model for all. Alongside a mix from its catalogue, Ben Hindle learns more

Founded by Jensen Interceptor and Assembler Code in 2018, International Chrome has become a byword for electro-licked club heaters — but it’s much more than that. From charity releases to expansive tapes, the label’s focus on bringing like-minded individuals together and connecting global sounds has kept things in a state of constant evolution. Alongside a mix from its catalogue, Ben Murphy learns more

Poland’s Pointless Geometry challenges the sonic and economic norms of both the music industry and its home country’s ruling power. Alongside a mix of tracks from its catalogue, label heads Copy Corpo and FOQL explain how they put community building, an egalitarian approach, and uplifting local artists at the forefront of everything they do

Melding psychedelic house, trance and techno with crackly charm, Naarm's  Butter Sessions imprint is raising the heat on dancefloors across Australia and beyond. Alongside a mix of tracks from its catalogue, Anisha Khemlani speaks to founders Sleep D about their community-building approach

UK-based label All Centre’s prolific output – and active online and IRL community – has placed it at the bleeding edge of bass-fuelled club music. Alongside a mix of tracks from its catalogue, Eoin Murray chats to DJ Pitch and Simkin about its evolution over the past five years, and its ethos of giving new artists a shot

Created by the team behind India’s Krunk events during the pandemic, Krunk Kulture was named as a label to watch by DJ Mag in 2021, and has since flourished into an essential multi-genre outlet for South Asia’s most cutting-edge artists. Alongside a mix of tracks from its catalogue by founder Rafiki, Aneesa Ahmed learns its story

Merging the steely sonics of industrial, EBM and techno with the colourful tones of post-punk and Italo, BITE has been raising the heat on the dancefloors of Berghain and beyond for five years. Alongside a fierce mix from its catalogue, Niamh O’Connor speaks to co-founder Phase Fatale about hybridised sounds, vibrant artwork and the joy of label nights

Since 2014, Wisdom Teeth has been a home for electronic music that blends the synthetic with the organic, and hits a sweet spot between bass-charged velocity and daydream reverie. Alongside a two-hour mix from its catalogue, founders Facta and K-LONE chat to Eoin Murray about the friendship and adventurous palette that have shaped the imprint’s evolution

Named after the postcode of legendary East London club Plastic People, ec2a has been putting out red-hot dubplates and helping to cultivate the reinvigorated UKG scene by nurturing up-and-coming artists. Alongside a mix from its catalogue, founder Dr Dubplate shares the label’s story so far with Rob McCallum

Launched in 2016, Amsterdam-based imprint The North Quarter has become a key platform for soulful drum & bass and beyond. Alongside a mix from its catalogue, founder Lenzman speaks to Ben Murphy about surprising listeners, originality, and the guiding principle of sharing the music he loves

Germany’s Get Physical Music has been a crucial outlet for house music in its many forms for 20 years. Alongside a mix from its catalogue, Kristan J Caryl meets co-owner Roland Leesker to learn about how the label is foregrounding artists from South Africa, Brazil and Cuba — and why trusting your gut is the key to success

In the space of five years, the Eastern Margins collective has become a nexus for artists from East & South-East Asia and its diaspora, connecting the dots between regional electronic music genres that are often overlooked in the West. Alongside a mix from its catalogue recorded by Jex Wang, James Gui learns how the label continues to evolve

After being immersed in the Afro house scene during a decade living in Ghana, Mimmo Falcone launched MoBlack Records to help promote the sound internationally. Nearly 10 years and over 500 releases later, the label is a crucial outpost for the sound.  Alongside a mix from its catalogue, Kitty Amor learns the label’s story

With a range of sounds encompassing slo-mo house, gothic EBM, Italo disco and more, and an equally unrestrained art direction, Freeride Millenium is a no-holds-barred expression of love between its founders Jorkes and Daniel Rajcsanyi, aka ParisBöhm, and the queer community they aim to uplift. Alongside a mix of tracks from its catalogue, they share the label’s story

Hosting its first residency in Ibiza at the legendary DC-10, Patrick Topping's Trick imprint has seen a release break through to the UK charts, and grown from an imprint to an empire. With Australian DJ/producer Airwolf Paradise on mix duties with an hour of club-ready label cuts, DJ Mag sits down with Patrick Topping to talk about his vision to share the versatility and imagination of electronic mainstays, and giving breaks to the undiscovered underground

As the underground drum & bass label celebrates its 20th anniversary, Critical Music founder Kasra records a breakneck mix of tracks from its catalogue, and chats to Jake Hirst about the imprint’s history and constant evolution

Showcasing the diversity of sounds on offer in the Indian electronic music scene and inspiring a new generation of artists to get creative, boxout.fm Recordings has evolved from radio station to club night to vital label. Alongside a mix from its catalogue recorded by Mutable Mercury, founder DJ MoCity tells Safi Bugel about the platform’s journey so far