Label Focus – Hidden Folder

Christopher Ledger’s Hidden Folder label under the spotlight

After his minimal/tech stylings made serious waves on Sven Vath’s Cocoon, DIAL, Adam’s Bite and more, Italian Christopher Ledger has launched has own Hidden Folder label as a vehicle for his vivid, elcectic grooves.

With a new EP – the four track ‘Talk Up Straight’ – about to arrive on Juno’s virtual shelves, we invited the Rome-based DJ and producer to tell us more…

WHAT’S THE NAME OF YOUR LABEL, AND WHO RUNS IT?

The name of my label is Hidden Folder, and I’ve been running it since August 2023.

WHY DID THE LABEL START?

The label started as a personal outlet for my music, although I plan to welcome other artists soon.

GIVE US A BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT YOU’VE RELEASED SINCE THEN….

I’ve released three EPs, including the HDF002, which should be out around the time this interview goes online.
Both HDF001 and HDF002 were written by myself under the Christopher Ledger alias. HDF001 had a limited run of 40 vinyl copies and featured a remix by Danish House artist ‘C.K’ on the B-side. For the HDF002, I decided to do a full press of 300 copies with the label center artwork. The first release ever on the label was the HDF999, which came out in August 2023 under my Taylor Aaron alias, focusing on a deeper side of techno/minimal/house. It also had a limited run of vinyl copies – ten to be exact.

WHAT QUALITIES ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN THE MUSIC YOU RELEASE?

I am looking for original and unique dance music that resonates with me. Music that I believe could stand the test of time and not be constrained by any trends.

WHAT KIND OF VISUAL IDENTITY DOES THE LABEL HAVE (ARTWORK, VIDEOS ETC)?

The label’s visual identity is deeply rooted in computer realms and directory paths. The concept is to grant people access to the hidden folders where the music is stored.

WHAT’S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST SELLING RELEASE TO DATE? TELL US A BIT ABOUT IT AND WHY YOU THINK IT WAS SO POPULAR.

The HDF002 pre-orders have been the highest by far among the three releases. I’m not entirely sure why, but I can say with certainty it includes all the shades of sound that best represent me.

NAME ONE RELEASE THAT YOU THINK DESERVED TO GET MORE ATTENTION THAN IT DID

It’s difficult to pinpoint one release deserving more attention, considering I’ve only three releases on the catalogue. Nonetheless, I’m content with the attention and support each release has received thus far.

IF YOU COULD SIGN ANY ARTIST, ALIVE OR DEAD, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?

It’s really hard to name just one, but some artists I dream of having on the label are Special Request, Soul Mass Transit System, Prozak, Burial, Bicep, Four Tet, Skee Mask, just to name a few. I believe each of them has a very personal and unique sound that transcends time and trends.

WHICH OTHER LABELS DO YOU ADMIRE AND WHY?

There are too many to name! The first ones that come to mind are labels like Timeisnow, Craigie Knows, The Nothing Special, Photek, XL Recordings, Locked On, Ninja Tune, Oblong, Playhouse, Evasive Records, Swag Records, Rephlex, and many more, surely for their extensive catalogs and quality music; I’ve collected many of their vinyl releases.
Though in a different music genre, nowadays I also hold Hypnus in high regard, for the vibrant community they’ve fostered and their proactive approach to music, plug-ins, parties, and so on. Their creation of plugins like the remarkable Slink, as well as their inclusivity in involving fans and artists in label decisions, truly sets them apart in my opinion.

WHAT CAN WE LOOK TO FROM YOUR LABEL NEXT?

HDF002 should be released any day now, while HDF003 is scheduled for September or October. The tracks are already written and need to be mixed. For HDF004, I’m considering a Various Artists (VA) release, as I have a lot of great music from friends that I’ve been playing frequently and feel deserves a home.

More importantly, as I welcome new artists, I want to emphasize my goal of building a community and a healthy ecosystem where people can share music and passions in one place. I’m also looking forward to starting to host events soon.

Pre-order Christopher Ledger’s ‘Talk Up Straight’ EP by clicking here