Label Focus – Tempo Records
Frodo runs us through the key points of his drum & bass label Tempo
WHAT’S THE NAME OF YOUR LABEL, AND WHO RUNS IT?
Tempo Records, with sublabels: TempoSpeed, TempOzone, TempoSubs, TempoCore and TempoDubs.
Labelowner: -Frodo.
WHEN & WHY DID THE LABEL START?
Back in 2013 with PRPLX – Fabric Of Space – TempoLP01
At the time I wasn’t hearing what I liked and the fun of releasing music on your own platform and that of many producers you liked is a great feeling.
GIVE US A BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT YOU’VE RELEASED SINCE THEN….
We’ve released music from artists like: PRPLX, DJ Trax, Voyager, Source Direct, DJ Krust, DJ Trace, Soul Intent, Gremlinz & Ink, Response, mSdoS, Switch, Chromatic.
WHAT QUALITIES ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN THE MUSIC YOU RELEASE?
Music that hits the dancefloor but also is suitable to listen to at home. Music that hopefully is still accurate in a few years time. Bringing diversity from an artist, usually three or four different flavoured tracks on a crystal clear vinyl 12” and digital. Quality mastering by Stuart Hawkes of Metropolis mastering, London. Always quality above quantity!
WHAT KIND OF VISUAL IDENTITY DOES THE LABEL HAVE (ARTWORK, VIDEOS ETC) ?
Always crystal clear vinyl with a quality designed label and standard designed outersleeve and proper innersleeve to protect the vinyl quality. Short videos with a 30 second clip of the release to be posted on https://Instagram.com/Temporec
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST SELLING RELEASE TO DATE? TELL US A BIT ABOUT IT AND WHY YOU THINK IT WAS SO POPULAR.
Source Direct – TempoSpeed03, for obvious reasons, he’s one of a few quality producers (alongside Photek, Wax Doctor, Krust, 4 Hero and couple of others) who pioneered the jungle sound. I known Jim from a Tempo event a few years back where we chatted on a release for Tempo, a few years later it happened, that release made me proud as I’m – besides Photek – a huge Source Direct fan too.
Pic: Label boss Frodo, chilling
NAME ONE RELEASE THAT YOU THINK DESERVED TO GET MORE ATTENTION THAN IT DID
I think I’m pretty happy about all the releases that where released so far. A great list of fine producers I worked with. Most releases sold out so that’s pretty good for a fairly small independent DIY label.
IF YOU COULD SIGN ANY ARTIST, ALIVE OR DEAD, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?
That’s got to be Photek; The Truper, Studio Pressure, Special Forces, Origination. He’s my number one drum and bass producer! It’s the art of leaving out and still remain to bring the original funk in music and that’s a skill not many have.
WHICH OTHER LABELS DO YOU ADMIRE AND WHY?
Goldie’s Metalheadz for staying true to the craft, razor’s edge quality music! Doc Scott’s 31 Records and Klute’s Commercial Suicide, Ant-TC1’s Dispatch that are still going strong. I have great respect for labelowners that still release cool music from (new) artist they believe in after so many years, it’s a huge dedication and effort they make to keep a scene healthy and vibrant. Imagine if there weren’t any labels anymore…! I’m glad the scene at this moment is so vibrant with Jungle producers such as Tim Reaper, Sully, Mantra, Djinn, Sherelle and the whole Rupture & Repertoire crew to name just but a few. Big up to all the jungle crew.
WHAT CAN WE LOOK TO FROM YOUR LABEL NEXT?
After the release of Voyager’s ‘Shields Down’ 12″ I’ll be very pleased and thankful if the new sublabels do well in terms of making a few vinyl fans happy and still giving producers a platform to release their music.
There will be new albums coming from Response, Furney and Acid Lab. And some new limited picture discs on the TempoSpeed series from a few legendary top producers who haven’t released any new music in a while. Some hot breakbeat releases from new producers and a release by man of the moment’ Tim Reaper & Kloke on TempoCore in a few months too.