Label Focus – Strut Records
Celebrating a quarter of a century of compilation brilliance
WHAT’S THE NAME OF YOUR LABEL, AND WHO RUNS IT?
Strut Records, run by founder Quinton Scott and me, label manager Heather Sheret (pictured below).
WHEN & WHY DID THE LABEL START?
The label started out in 1999 at a time when the compilation market was flourishing. We wanted to tell the stories behind some of the important moments in dance music history so we kicked off with albums on Larry Levan at the Paradise Garage, the KPM Music Library, Grandmaster Flash and his role during the birth of hip-hop, the Wild Bunch pre-Massive Attack. The booklet and the sleeve notes for our albums were as important as the music.
GIVE US A BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT YOU’VE RELEASED SINCE THEN….
We’re probably best known for our compilations, such as Dave Lee and Sean P’s Disco Not Disco, bringing together post-punk and disco oddities from the New York City underground, or our Nigeria 70 series, which was the first compilation of its kind to introduce many Western ears to the rich scene of music in 1970s Nigeria.
Since then, as part of !K7, we’ve worked on reissuing the incredible Patrice Rushen catalogue, released compilations, reissues and box sets in conjunction with the Sun Ra estate, and have worked for many years with legends like Ebo Taylor, Pat Thomas, Orlando Julius, Flora Purim and Ethiopian jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke on making their music more widely available and building their legacy. We have also worked with some amazing contemporary artists from UK jazz act Flock, Afrobeat don Seun Kuti and Nubiyan Twist to Fra-fra band Alostmen and Greg Foat.
WHAT QUALITIES ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN THE MUSIC YOU RELEASE?
With older music, the label is still about documenting lesser known or lost areas of great music that we feel should be heard more widely and there is a seemingly endless source of incredible archives across different genres. With new artists, it could be another legend that has not fully received their dues or a great new generation band that fits well with the label – I think we have a high bar for the new music we release and we always want to feel that we can do the best job for the artist too to lift their music and profile.
WHAT KIND OF VISUAL IDENTITY DOES THE LABEL HAVE (ARTWORK, VIDEOS ETC) ?
I think we have always placed an emphasis on good design and presentation – we spend a lot of time on artwork and packaging for our releases and we have worked with some designers for many years. I’m not sure we have a label ‘look’, though, since most projects are led by the music and the artists. The Strut brand is always present but we try and keep it secondary to the project itself.
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST SELLING RELEASE TO DATE? TELL US A BIT ABOUT IT AND WHY YOU THINK IT WAS SO POPULAR.
Patrice Rushen’s compilation Remind Me and her original album Straight From The Heart have sold incredibly well since they were reissued. We felt that Patrice was always an artist that had been undersold and her Elektra albums are peerless.
They were recorded when the label was pushing into a “sophisticated r&b” sound post-disco and the albums are so rich, an intricate fusion of soul, jazz and disco elements with Patrice’s brilliant arrangements and a crisp production sound courtesy of Patrice and Charles Mimms. It has been great to see her music reach a new audience from these reissues and fresh touring.
NAME ONE RELEASE THAT YOU THINK DESERVED TO GET MORE ATTENTION THAN IT DID
One of the most inspiring projects we have worked on in recent years is Flock, a UK super-group made up of Bex Burch, Sarathy Korwar, Danalogue, Tamar Osborn and Al MacSween. Their musical chemistry was ridiculous from their first session at Fish Factory (for their self-titled album in 2022) and they use unique methods as ‘jump-off’ devices for tracks – strobe lights, circular music charts. So, would love Juno listeners to check out that album and their beautiful sophomore LP coming in October of this year.
IF YOU COULD SIGN ANY ARTIST, ALIVE OR DEAD, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?
Aiii, hard question! Would have to say Herbie Hancock – a massive influence on our own musical tastes and constantly moving forward as an artist since his early days. He always seems like such a wonderful, unassuming man too.
WHICH OTHER LABELS DO YOU ADMIRE AND WHY?
In our world of reissues, could pick out Numero Group for changing the whole approach to archives, Soundway, Habibi Funk, Analog Africa for constant quality, BBE, Soul Jazz, Honest Jon’s, Jazzman who have such incredible catalogues. Love Backatcha’s A&R too, Music From Memory’s fresh vision, Dark Entries’ amazing work on Patrick Cowley, Sylvester and more, Razor N Tape, Hive Mind, Mais Um, Night Dreamer, Mississippi. Could go on with electronic titans like Hyperdub. So many amazing labels out there…
WHAT CAN WE LOOK TO FROM YOUR LABEL NEXT?
Lots of good stuff coming over the next year – Flock’s new album Flock II, Sun Ra reissues including a full 6xLP box set of the classic Nuits de la Fondation Maeght concert in 1970. Edna Martinez has put together a brilliant compilation around Pico sound system culture in Colombia and we have some tasty catalogue releases from Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids and Ice/Lafayette Afro Rock Band on the way…
Strut’s 25th anniversary party is at Jazz Café, London on October 18 featuring Mulatu Astatke (live), Flock (live) and Danny Krivit (DJ set).