Jamie links up with Jordan, the man behind Nuke Records to get the lowdown on how to launch a record label in modern times.
Your next release ‘Rollers Rights’ certainly has that element of mid 90’s drum and bass. This kind of style has certainly done the full 360 degrees and then some! Is this sound related to influences from the good old days or is it just a case of banging out what’s popular right now?
“Yes agreed! To me it’s just the best kind of drum and bass! I don’t like too minimal or too busy, just somewhere in between. My style has not really changed since I started producing just over 10 years ago. I have always aimed for the kind of vibe that I’m producing now, and lucky for me it is very popular at the moment.”
Is the plan for Nuke Records to feature up and coming artists and to provide a platform or do you aim to get the more well known producers on board during the labels life?
“It is a mix of both really. My plan with the label is to help up and coming producers start to come through and get noticed and also after a few releases I have some wicked bigger artists doing remixes. Once or twice a year a remix EP will be released of the label’s best tracks.”
Talking of lifespan, you are probably aware that one big trend in the 90’s was to have one main label with a multitude of offshoots for different styles. What’s your thoughts on this now? Does it have a place in 2017?
“I think it can work very well, keeping things fresh and focused on a certain sub-genres. I also know a few people who do have more than one label and it works for them. But I think for me I wouldn’t be able to put enough time into running another label! Not yet anyway.
My plan was to do one release every month but I have been sent so much good music I’ve got a release every 2 weeks for a few months as well as keeping up with my own productions, working full time and being a father! It is challenging but I am loving it.
Also I don’t want Nuke to be tied down to just one sub-genre, if you have ever heard one of my DJ sets you would know I play a bit of all sorts. There is too much good music to stick to one thing and plus I think it can get boring.”
Rewind to the very beginning, what was the idea behind setting up Nuke Records?
“Well I have wanted to start a label for a while now. I think there is a lot of good music that goes unnoticed or not quite up to scratch but does have potential, that’s where I will offer guidance or even mix the track for the artist myself.
What annoys me is up and coming producers getting ripped off by these dodgy little labels that put no time and effort into the music they sign. I’ve been there myself when I first started, labels offering the world and taking your tracks, never to hear from them again! Or just releasing pure crap.
My music has been going pretty well recently and I have some amazing people around me to help me when I need it so I thought it is time to do this! I have got to say the support so far has been amazing. I didn’t think it would take off so quickly at all.
What were your main struggles? Did you find a distribution company from the off? What’s your thoughts on going it alone and doing everything under one roof? Cutting out the middleman as such.
“Finding a name was an absolute NIGHTMARE! I am the worst person for naming anything ha ha but I swear it was harder finding a name for my label than it was my daughter! Literally every single name I thought of was taken. I also put up a status on Facebook asking for a good name which had over 200 comments and still nothing stood out. I had to just choose something or just give up the idea!
Everyone said go with Cygnus and I can’t say a bad thing about them to be honest. Very easy to use and if you have any issues they are very quick to respond
I don’t really plan on releasing much of my own music on Nuke, maybe the odd EP and collaboration but I am still working with Sub-liminal, Murky Digital and also new music on Low Down Deep, Serial Killaz and Grid.”
What do you find most enjoyable about running a record label? Do you find some parts of the job more interesting than others?
“I like to help people get the best out of there music, not that my music is absolutely amazing but a few tips and a bit of advice can go a long way. Hearing and seeing people progress is something I really enjoy about running a label.
To be honest I haven’t really hit any bad points about running the label yet, I guess I’ve got that to come though! The most stressful part is keeping to deadlines and just making sure the releases are good enough!”
If every artist under the sun was available to you, who would you choose to produce a track for the label? Would it be a drum and bass producer or someone totally outside of the genre?
“Yes it would have to be someone in the drum and bass scene! I would probably say some nuts collaboration such as Hazard, Serum or something along them lines! That is a hard question. I don’t really have a favourite artist but either of those would definitely make a sick tune with me.”
For everything else related to Nuke Records check out their SoundCloud.
Send demos to: firstname.lastname@example.org