Thanks for your time Rune Recordings!
1. What Are Some Words You Would Use To Describe This Year?
Dima ‘RUNE’: Breakbeats Revival. I see positive trends in the reincarnation of style in a new generation of producers and DJs in the UK, USA, Netherlands, Germany, and Eastern Europe. Not sure that this applies specifically to nuskool breaks, but definitely breakbeat music in general.
As a record label, we love the “true” breaks, but we also follow contemporary labels and artists in electro and leftfield techno, which inspire us and give us hope that a new wave will cover the genre.
2. What Have Been Some Of The Highlights For The Label?
Dima ‘RUNE’: The main achievement is the top-charting release, among breaks releases, for two full weeks, as well as the 29th place in the Beatport cross-genres chart. It was the debut Infinity EP of American artist Dadmom.
It was also great to get a remix from our favorite producer BETA. His work has always been praised by progressive breaks fans and his remix is the best-selling track in the label catalog in 2019.
3. What’s In Store For 2020?
Dima ‘RUNE’: We have great plans for 2020 since the label will be 10 years old. We will start with the release from our new San Francisco residents, Dadmom & Haelix, who make fresh and deep breaks. Then we will release a remix album for Mechanical Pressure tracks from such producers as Kid Digital, Quadrat Beat, Future Funk Squad, Peter Paul, Borka FM, etc. We are also working on the second breaks album of our leading resident Nelver.
In addition, we promote breaks at parties in my hometown of Kiev. And we plan to loudly mark the 10th anniversary of RUNE Recordings among the residents and fans of the label this summer.
4. What Made You Decide To Create a Record Label?
Dima ‘RUNE’: It's a long story, but I think I had no choice not to do it. Should pay tribute to the mastermind of that process - Alex ‘Parallax Breakz’, with whom we launched RUNE Recordings in 2010.
Initially, I was an artist manager for Parallax Breakz, signing his releases for labels like Scarcity, Ego Shot, etc. But over time, we decided to launch our own label and began preparing the first releases. The first six months were quite successful for us, and RUNE Recordings was recognized as the best label according to the "Progressive, Deep and Melodic Breaks Polls Awards - 2011", which we learned about after the vote. Such recognition motivated us to make more quality releases.
5. How Did You Come Up With The Name?
Dima ‘RUNE’: Actually, this is Alex’s idea. At that time, he was fond of Slavic runes and chose the Ingus rune for the label logo. It was symbolic and suitable for starting a new label. Inguz means positive changes in life, which is in line with the spirit of RUNE Recordings at the entry to the industry.
6. What Was The First Album That You Ever Bought?
Dima ‘RUNE’: Speaking of breakbeat music in general, it was The Prodigy - ‘The Fat of the Land’ (XL Recordings). And if you take into account nuskool breaks, then one of the most memorable was Dan F - ‘Multistory’ (Disuye) and Mesmer - ‘Furious Fish’ (Sound Of Habib). I'm generally a fan of not very popular, but cool artists, for example, in the style of progressive & deep breaks. The unique style of the producer is very important to me, not just his popularity and production quality.
7. What Album Are You Most Proud Of In Your Label?
Dima ‘RUNE’: I can’t single out just one, because I love everything we worked on with the label team. But perhaps the five most powerful:
Andrew Philippov - Revolving Around Us
Sergei Orange - The Newer World
Nelver - RUNE Attack LP
Mechanical Pressure - Contact LP
Borka FM - Transformation LP
Sergei Orange - The Newer World
Nelver - RUNE Attack LP
Mechanical Pressure - Contact LP
Borka FM - Transformation LP
Each of these albums is not only a compilation of disparate tracks but a conceptual story. Therefore, before listening, read the description and then click play.
8. In Your Years In The Music Business, What Is The Best Thing About Being Involved With It And The Worst?
Dima ‘RUNE’: I hope we will be involved in the best projects such as cooperation with advertising agencies, video games or movie production companies. At the moment, we were offered to sell the label with all the artists and music rights. The amount of the transaction was not so high to sacrifice an integral part of our lives. That was the weirdest offer at the same time. :)
9. What’s Your Most Memorable Experience Inside The Label?
Dima ‘RUNE’: The most impressive experience is system communication, crisis management and agile project management. I think that we are in great shape now to achieve the best results, which can not be said about the style of breaks at all. We have earned recognition for our hard work and the advancement of our sound. And this is much more valuable than the charts, although thanks to our fans for support. :)
10. What Does Your Day-To-Day Look Like?
Dima ‘RUNE’: I want to emphasize that for us, RUNE Recordings is a professional hobby and not the primary source of income. We make quality releases but earn for living in other areas and projects.
If we talk about the label, the framework looks extremely simple and loop:
> checking inboxes and responding to messages
> communicating with artists on current and future releases
> transferring upcoming releases to mastering and approving sound quality with the artists
> creating a cover design and uploading the release to the distributor's website
> preliminary promotion and promo campaign on the release date.
> checking inboxes and responding to messages
> communicating with artists on current and future releases
> transferring upcoming releases to mastering and approving sound quality with the artists
> creating a cover design and uploading the release to the distributor's website
> preliminary promotion and promo campaign on the release date.
This is a continuous workflow, but the most important thing is communication within the team and with the artists whom we support along the way to the release. Each release is considered a new project that is being worked on by at least five people: the artist himself, label management represented by Art ‘Clandestine’, Jen ‘Corcyra’, and Dima ‘RUNE’ and our highly professional mastering engineer Dima ‘Under This’. In a few words, that’s how it works.
11. When Looking Into Potential New Artists To Sign, What Are Some Of The Qualities That You Find Exciting?
Dima ‘RUNE’: The A&R function is one of the most important in our label, but in recent years we have received so many demos that we have to refuse in 90% of cases. Like other imprints, we have our home residents on whom we are focused for 5-10 years. These are Nelver, Sergei Orange, Mechanical Pressure, and now - Borka FM, Dadmom and Windom R.
It’s easy to notice from our catalog that we don’t chase “top” names, but we are actively promoting our own and new artists. We sign works from newcomers if they conceptually fit our view of breaks, sound original and of high quality for the release. We often give a chance for a debut, but also see how the community reacts to the music of the new artist. If it's okay, then we continue cooperation by mutual agreement.
12. Do You Have Any Advice To Offer Up To Incoming Artists / Djs / Bands?
Dima ‘RUNE’: Yes, I have a point. Entering breaks music, do not build high expectations. Think about what you can give to this style before taking something from it.
Breaks is a unique genre in which self-expression is much more important than instant hype and imaginary chart positions. Try to make your music meaningful to the people who hear it.
13. Is There Anything Else That You Would Like To Share With Our Readers About The Records?
Dima ‘RUNE’: Remember that a label is a brand. It should have a mission, values and distinctive features. It’s worth thinking about it at the very beginning and sticking to strategy and tactics all the way, given the changes in the music industry and a particular genre.
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