Interview with Terabyte Co-Founder- Auzi
Although still pretty much in it's infancy Terabyte has built a strong following and a reputation for quality enviable by even long established labels, how do you think you’ve managed such an achievement so quickly?
Quit with your flattery woman haha! Obviously we have a huge way to go on this project of ours, but we literally couldn't have gotten to this point without social media platforms. Up to this point our presence is 100% online through our fans on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, SoundCloud etc. So we have them to thank on that one. As for quality, again we wouldn't be able to put out quality material without SoundCloud. We're pretty picky with our quality control now, which is key. I also think that the quality process is kind of self-fulfilling (without sounding like a twat) -if people hear quality output they're more likely to be sending over higher quality material.
Tell us about the beginning, who owns Terabyte? When was it started? Why was it started? What was the ethos behind the label? Did you always know what style of drum and bass you wanted to specialise in?
Altered Perception and I both founded the label in 201, but we actually first filed as a business in May 2012. The idea cropped up while Sam and I were still at school, once we freed up some time when we got to Uni we got the ball rolling. We DEFINITELY didn't know what we were after in the beginning- our very first splash page on our website said we were a 'dnb and dubstep label'- we killed the dubstep idea pretty quickly after things went south. We knew that we wanted to focus on deeper, more industrial sounds, but we both have a keen ear for the more lighter, liquidy vibe- so we try and throw that in every now and then on our 'Liquid Technology' series. Over the last few years we've really begun to hone in on building a family around UK-based up and coming producers, we're all about grass roots because that's where we started! We're beginning to tip our hat to more established artists, the bigger we get the easier that will become, but the main focus will always be a select group of Terabyte Mafiosi.
What has been the biggest challenge in starting up Terabyte?
I'm sure any independent label manager would tell you the biggest challenge they've faced is a financial one- you'd be surprised at the amount of services you need to pay for just to get a release through. Once you get it released, everyone knows you earn a pittance off the back of that. Having started as students we didn't have the capacity to pump money in as much as we'd have liked- which has definitely sucked. We've had to grow it from nothing, and we're finally starting to see the benefits of our output- 3 years later!
What’s been you proudest moment as a label?
Corrrrrr! Hard one. I know that Sam would definitely say the moment we signed a Data track (cats out the bag now- guilty!). As for me- way too many to pick one single moment. When I heard our second release- Tephra's 'Fade Away'- being played on the beach at Outlook I was chuffed to bits, that was really early on too! Making DJ Mag was probably up there too. I know it sounds really fucking soppy but I'm really proud of everything that we're doing at the moment, to be able to look back and see how far we've come off the back of whatever we could cobble together is really satisfying. Hopefully we can kick on and blow some other labels out the water- that's our agenda anyway haha.
What labels do you find inspiring?
So many! Our end of the drum and bass spectrum is really healthy at the moment. The renaissance of Metalheadz is awesome- their output is better than ever right now. Exit, Critical, Different- they're the ones we're looking up to. Can't knock the stuff from Warm Communications, Narratives, Horizons, Symmetry, Subtitles. It would be pretty closed-minded of me to say 'oh i don't like that label'- if you like drum and bass music it's the sound that matters, not who made it, or who signed it. I suppose we play off that at Terabyte really- reputation shouldn't get in the way of what you think is great music.
Do you have a Terabyte favourite release so far?
I loved the Volatile Cycle release we put out- got great feedback from the dnb community. They've moved on to bigger and better things at Renegade Hardware and Invisible, and rightly so. Big ups lads! I also loved the Rowpieces release- that's done really well. But I actually think my favourite yet is forthcoming- I don't wanna spoil any more than I have already. Look out for TB020 is all i'm saying.
You have an impressive back catalogue for such a young label, how does A&R work for you guys? What are you looking for and how do you usually find it?
Sam AKA Altered Perception takes care of all the A&R stuff- shouts to Anthony as well when he interned with us- they literally spent all their free time trawling the internet for demos. We pride ourselves on listening to every single demo that comes in to our inbox- and we ALWAYS reply one way or another. If you can't devote the time to do that to each of the people that take their time to send you stuff over- you're doing it wrong. An email takes minutes, send enough of them and hopefully you get a reputation for being friendly and approachable, comes back to that family vibe. Ultimately, if you fuck people off, they wont buy your shit. Its not rocket science.
We run a pretty tight ship- both of us have to agree that we like a tune, there are no gimmies either. Anything that Sam or I make has to be given the green light by us both, we wont just slip in our own output if we don't think it matches the quality of the catalogue. Suppose having 2 people at the helm helps the quality control process, maybe that is the key to our success? Who knows.
You run the label from three cities, how do you find the scene differs from city to city?
God I feel like I could write a thesis on this kind of shit haha. When I was at uni in Brum, the scene was seriously depleted (sorry guys). There were 2/3 main DNB promoters (I'm not counting the countless jump up nights) and the politics between them frankly, was ridiculous. I don't want to weigh into the politics either, its boring and upsetting for the scene, but the fact they couldn't settle their differences for the good of the scene has meant it's in a seriously fragile state up there.
Now I'm back in London I'm not as close to the ground with the promoting circuit, but obviously there's plenty of choice. Pleased to see mid-week events like Soul In Motion and 20/20 popping up too. Just sad that the bigger clubs are closing rank on their music policy, cough cough ministry cough cough.
I actually think on balance Leeds has the strongest scene in the country. Sam has lived up there for 3+ years now, the scene is so vibrant up there, literally an event a week, with great lineups too! I wish that culture would flood the nation, but a girl can dream hahah.
What tracks are you feeling at the moment that aren’t on Terabyte?
Ulterior Motive's album has killed it - i'm struggling to move forward from it haha. Ivy Lab's remix of TC's 'Everything For A Reason' is pretty fucking badass too. Aside from d'n'b- I'm really feeling 'Piano Weapon' by Doorly & Shadow Child- at least I was until I heard some hideous vocal edit on YouTube which I assume was (or has been) prepped for the fucking charts.
What are you planning for 2015?
So much! Literally just had a big meeting about this. Think label nights, merch, EP launches, the works. We're also really working hard to push into wax- but we all know the perils of the vinyl market.
Obviously you'll find out more as it comes along- but we've never been so excited about what's round the corner. I'm not just saying that for effect, I genuinely think next year we have potential to start gobbling up the competiton. FINGERS CROSSED
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