In the first of a new series of label profiles I wanted to pick a label that was getting people talking, listening, dancing and buying music despite the economic difficulties of recent years. Baker Street seem a perfect choice. Small and beautifully formed, a label that's been bopping along to it's own rhythm for almost 4 years. One of those select few labels I make a b-line for when the promo's arrive and one almost always guaranteed to be part of the untitledmusic shows.
Formed in late 2006, Leeds (UK) based record label Baker Street Recordings is run by Paul Hardy and Jacob Kelly and has quickly established an reputation as one of the most exciting house music labels to emerge from the UK in recent times. Thanks to the pairs hard working ethic and ear for quality tunes.
Baker Street started their early days on vinyl and to this days there's still some pretty rare 12" releases knocking around, and whilst the digital demands of the modern label have to be met there's plans to once more release some limited runs on the black stuff in the future. Those precious 11 releases that made onto vinyl included tracks from such names as Sasse, Miles Maeda, Phill Weeks, Hardy himself, Justin Harris and more.
"We came up with the idea of the production name first Holmes & Watz, it came from the idea that Jake was the ideas and I did all the production and engineering. As we started releasing tracks we decided to start a label so we could get more of our own stuff out there. Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson lived on Baker Street hence the name. Jake has now left the label to start up his Nu Disco Label EAR but we still help each other out."
How would you describe the labels sound?
"Our sound is just good house music from deep to tech. Key artists would be Justin Harris, Dubble D, Lee Mortimer, Sasse, Jay Shepheard, Sei A, Moodymanc, Jay Tripwire, Demarkus Lewis, Josua Iz, Murray Richardson (as previously featured here on the blog).
We want the label to move organically with the music, not against it. We're very open to what we put out on the label, we've even released a hip hop track!"
As Paul suggests, since it's creation Baker Street has played host to many of the undergrounds top names such as LoTech, Sasse, Mat Prehn, Bang Bang, Tom Davis, Miles Maeda, Joshua, Jacob, Neil Bainbridge, Michelle Owen, Jesus Gonsev, Ben Dean, Martijn, Cristian Vargas, Lil Mark, Holmes & Watz, Leon Louder. And of course a regular on my own untitledmusic shows.
Paul also works for Ralph Lawson’s 2020 Recordings/ dotbleep and credits much of the Baker Street success to learning from Ralph. As such his music has graced both labels, along with Lost My Dog, 22 Digit and Undertones. Aside from Baker Street, Jacob’s music can be found on labels such as Music For Freaks, 3am and PE Music, while Holmes & Watz productions have also appeared on Minority Music and Paranoid.
What's the best thing about running a label?
"Running a label has been a passion of mine ever since I worked for 2020 vision, and when we got our first vinyl it just snowballed. Some of the best bits are finding new music from some of the further reaches of the world."
What's your average week like, DJ'ing, managing a label...?
"Between running the Label, Publishing, Djing and my Engineering Company, I have a lot going on. Connor joined the team early this year and has taken over a lot of the workload, we will look through loads of promos, complete reports, complete deals, and generally push things forward."
You must get to hear a stack of new material every week (for the label and as a DJ) - which up and coming producers/labels are you looking out for?
"From the label we have Michael Mclardy, Martijn, LoTech, Tom Davis we are also looking at Irregular Disco Worker, Joe Morris and a new guy called Ruthit"
Baker Street's output is consistently well received across a wide spectrum of A-list DJs from big room names like Timo Maas and Axwell to worldwide deep/tech stars including Fred Everything, Mark Farina (another name featured recently on this blog), Brothers Deep, Fish Go Deep and Nick Holder who was recently quoted as saying “fantastic again, Baker Street is rollin’”. Mr White from Larry Heard’s legendary Alleviated Records looks out for everything, “another great release yet again from Baker Street” and Luke McKeehan, owner of Nordic Trax and one of the most respected label-heads in the business, is a huge fan, “Baker Street are killing it, wicked wicked stuff again.”
Support from the press has been excellent too; iDJ, DeBug and DMC Update have all heaped glowing reviews on Baker Street, while respected online outlets Our House Mag, Inhale and Traffic have featured the label and it’s owners in-depth. But that's not the whole story, Baker Street are also known for their legendary parties, the highlight of which is their annual February soiree. The 2009 instalment saw a mouthwatering line-up of Derrick Carter, Moodymanc, Lil Mark, Buckley and Solo take over an old Warehouse in Leeds. In Jacob and Paul’s own words “It went nuts! Derrick was on form and the vibe there was electric.”
"Running a label has been a passion of mine ever since I worked for 2020 vision, and when we got our first vinyl it just snowballed. Some of the best bits are finding new music from some of the further reaches of the world."
What's your average week like, DJ'ing, managing a label...?
"Between running the Label, Publishing, Djing and my Engineering Company, I have a lot going on. Connor joined the team early this year and has taken over a lot of the workload, we will look through loads of promos, complete reports, complete deals, and generally push things forward."
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| Paul Hardy, Baker Street Recordings |
You must get to hear a stack of new material every week (for the label and as a DJ) - which up and coming producers/labels are you looking out for?
"From the label we have Michael Mclardy, Martijn, LoTech, Tom Davis we are also looking at Irregular Disco Worker, Joe Morris and a new guy called Ruthit"
Baker Street's output is consistently well received across a wide spectrum of A-list DJs from big room names like Timo Maas and Axwell to worldwide deep/tech stars including Fred Everything, Mark Farina (another name featured recently on this blog), Brothers Deep, Fish Go Deep and Nick Holder who was recently quoted as saying “fantastic again, Baker Street is rollin’”. Mr White from Larry Heard’s legendary Alleviated Records looks out for everything, “another great release yet again from Baker Street” and Luke McKeehan, owner of Nordic Trax and one of the most respected label-heads in the business, is a huge fan, “Baker Street are killing it, wicked wicked stuff again.”
Support from the press has been excellent too; iDJ, DeBug and DMC Update have all heaped glowing reviews on Baker Street, while respected online outlets Our House Mag, Inhale and Traffic have featured the label and it’s owners in-depth. But that's not the whole story, Baker Street are also known for their legendary parties, the highlight of which is their annual February soiree. The 2009 instalment saw a mouthwatering line-up of Derrick Carter, Moodymanc, Lil Mark, Buckley and Solo take over an old Warehouse in Leeds. In Jacob and Paul’s own words “It went nuts! Derrick was on form and the vibe there was electric.”
And of course untitledmusic
History of the Street, mixed by LoTech - untitledmusic exclusive:
As the industry utilises more and more technology to promote itself, how are you finding the challenges of engaging audiences on social networks and the like?
"We are using a very good promo and social media company to advise us in what is new and what is useful (Kahua Music), this has helped us spend time on things that are working and less time on things that aren’t, its all about utilizing the time you have.
We became a digital label a few years ago just as a reaction to the market, now we have established Baker Street more we are looking to do some limited vinyl runs and see if we can make some progress on this side again, fingers crossed, its all down to the customers at the end of the day."
Which I guess suggested a new cycle in dance music may be on the cards as labels look to add value to releases with limited edition vinyl runs - let's hope so at least!
What are you listening to at home these days?
"At home I will listen to everything, but the XX album and the new Matthew Dear Album are on a lot right now!"
And finally, what's does the future hold for Baker Street?
"We want to continue developing the Label, bringing new artists to the forefront and making the Label more established with the old guard."
"We are using a very good promo and social media company to advise us in what is new and what is useful (Kahua Music), this has helped us spend time on things that are working and less time on things that aren’t, its all about utilizing the time you have.
We became a digital label a few years ago just as a reaction to the market, now we have established Baker Street more we are looking to do some limited vinyl runs and see if we can make some progress on this side again, fingers crossed, its all down to the customers at the end of the day."
Which I guess suggested a new cycle in dance music may be on the cards as labels look to add value to releases with limited edition vinyl runs - let's hope so at least!
What are you listening to at home these days?
"At home I will listen to everything, but the XX album and the new Matthew Dear Album are on a lot right now!"
And finally, what's does the future hold for Baker Street?
"We want to continue developing the Label, bringing new artists to the forefront and making the Label more established with the old guard."
You can follow Baker Street Recordings here:
http://www.facebook.com/bakerstreetrec
http://www.bakerstreetrecordings.com
http://www.myspace.com/bakerstreetrecordings
http://bakerstreet.posterous.com
http://www.soundcloud.com/bakerstreetrecordings
http://www.twitter.com/bakerstreetrec
http://soundcloud.com/bakerstreetrecordings
And Paul Hardy here:
http://www.bakerstreetrecordings.com
http://www.myspace.com/bakerstreetrecordings
http://bakerstreet.posterous.com
http://www.soundcloud.com/bakerstreetrecordings
http://www.twitter.com/bakerstreetrec
http://soundcloud.com/bakerstreetrecordings
And Paul Hardy here:
Discography:
2006 :: BST001 - Various Artists - Baker Street Sampler Vol1
2007 :: BST002 - Lil mark & Joe Jeffries - Stonned Again EP
2007 :: BST003 - Justin Harris - Defbrows EP - (Jacob London Mix)
2008 :: BST004 - Dubble D - Lucky Strike EP - (Holmes & Watz & Lo Slung Mix)
2008 :: BST005 - Lil Mark - Spits & Pieces EP - (James Curd Mix)
2008 :: BST006 - Jacob - Insperation EP - (Justin Harris & Paul Hardy Mixes)
2008 :: BST007 - Monoman - Crazy EP - (Hector Moralez & Lee Mortimer Mixes)
2008 :: BST008 - Paul Hardy - Bam Bam EP - (Miles Maeda Mix)
2008 :: BST009 - Holmes & Watz - Believe IT EP - (Phil Weeks & Bonar Mix)
2009 :: BST010 - Leon Louder - Sweet Shop EP - (Pete Dafeet & Holmes & Watz Mixes)
2009 :: BST011 - Paul Hardy - The Joker EP- (Sasse Mix's)
Digital
2009 :: BSD001 - Bang Bang - Love Insurance EP - (Demarkas Lewis & Hector Moralez)
2009 :: BSD002 - Midnight Audio - Substance EP
2009 :: BSD003 - Neil Bainbridge - Dubseventeeone - (Paul Hardy Mixes)
2009 :: BSD004 - Jacob - Gems EP - (Lil Mark & Moodymanc EP)
2009 :: BSD005 - Paul Hardy & Moodymanc EP - (SEI A remix)
2009 :: BSD006 - Martijn - Circus Dub EP - (Paul Hardy & Tom Davis Remixs)
2010 :: BSD007 - Tom Davis - After Though EP
2010 :: BSD008 - Paul Hardy - Factory EP
2010 :: BSD009 - Baker Street Sampler Vol 2
2010 :: BSD010 - Mat Prehn - Roots (Justin Harris Mix)
2010 :: BSD011 - Ben Dean - Doppler Effect EP
2010 :: BSD012 - Samuel H. Simpson meets Stereo Paws - Some Mo (Joshua Mixs)
2010 :: BSD013 - Steve SoulBasics & Martijn - Lose It EP (Jay Tripwire Remix)
2010 :: BSD014 - Murray Richardson - Risky Business EP (Martijn Remix)
2010 :: BSD015 - Cristian Vargas - Rogue Breakfast(Joe Morris & Michael Mclardy Mixs)
2010 :: BSD016 – Merlyn Martin – Between Days (Bitwise & Amit Shoham
Future Releases
2010 :: BSD017 – Ben Gomori – Trouble EP
2010 :: BSD018 – Guy Williams – Like That (A-D-S-R & Tom Davis Remix)
2010 :: BSD019 – Michael Mclardy EP
2011 :: BSD020 – Pekos & Colour Breed Ep
2011 :: BSD021 – Murray Richardson – Order & Progress EP (Paul Hardy Mix)
2011 :: BSD022 – Ki Creighton (Yousef Mix)
2011 :: BSD023 – Paul Hardy – Swirl EP (Matthias Vogt & Ruthit Remix)
2011 :: BSD024 – Mat Prehn – Insominac Oasis EP (The Timewriter Remix)
2010 :: BSD017 – Ben Gomori – Trouble EP
2010 :: BSD018 – Guy Williams – Like That (A-D-S-R & Tom Davis Remix)
2010 :: BSD019 – Michael Mclardy EP
2011 :: BSD020 – Pekos & Colour Breed Ep
2011 :: BSD021 – Murray Richardson – Order & Progress EP (Paul Hardy Mix)
2011 :: BSD022 – Ki Creighton (Yousef Mix)
2011 :: BSD023 – Paul Hardy – Swirl EP (Matthias Vogt & Ruthit Remix)
2011 :: BSD024 – Mat Prehn – Insominac Oasis EP (The Timewriter Remix)
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