INDUSTRY RECORDINGS : Don't Second Guess.

As you all should know Industry Recordings has been a staple in the drum and bass scene for quite some time now. With consistently solid releases which appeal to fans across the board, Industry has truly remained a figure label in the scene. Ben Sumner the exec. for Industry Recordings kindly gave us 20 min of his time to answer some burning questions. So here they are.


1.So how long has Industry Recordings been operational?
We started the label in 2000 and had our first full release in 2001; so we are 7 years old.

2.Highest selling releases ?
Our best selling single was actually our first release Total Science - Format b/w Davide Carbone -Direct; and our best selling vinyl album was the Heads of Industry LP which featured Accidental Heroes, Cause 4 Concern, Future Cut & Kontrol, Influx Datum, EBK, Total Science, Bulletproof and Davide Carbone - all of whom have gone on to big things! The Industrial Revolution mix CD series has also sold very well over the years.

3. Opinion on D&B currently ?
This is a pretty big question that I could probably waffle on about for hours and hours; but the scene has changed a lot from when I started out in many ways. Obviously it is disappointing to see vinyl sales decline over the years and some of the humanity of the scene has been removed through the development of the digital age but as with everything there are two sides to the story. The Internet and explosion of digital music formats have allowed drum & bass to spread to an even wider audience globally, and encouraged more and more people to get into it in one way or another; which can only be a good thing.

I miss the days when if you wanted a tune you had to seek a certain person out in the flesh to get it, and the fun of meeting up with fellow producers and dj's which just isnt the same with AIM. I miss the days of dubplates and vinyl only sets, with that lovely warm analogue sound rolling out in clubs everywhere. However I love the fact that I can get new tunes without leaving my house and I don't have to blaze my life savings cutting dubs @£40 a pop or whatever.

I like the fact that kids with passion can make tunes and start labels but I hate the fact that there's a million labels out there and a lot more shit tunes in the shops. Although having said that I think there is some amazing music out there, with people like Lynx, Commix, Lomax and Logistics pushing boundaries with quality tracks. I have to say I've heard as many tunes I think are sick in this last year as any of the last 15 years I've been listening to this music. I guess as long as the music is good then the drum & bass scene is good; but I worry that DJ'ing is the only way to make money these days and that creation of amazing tunes isn't as rewarding financially for producers as it used to be. Thus making it hard for people to justify spending more time in the studio to keep pushing things forward. I do also really fear the death of vinyl, as I love it so much; so my message to people is if you like a tune - buy the vinyl - it's so worth it, it's the best quality you can get with a phenomenal frequency response (warm bass), and you are supporting the artists you like, so they can continue making tunes for you!!

4. Whats instore for 2008?
We have loads of good stuff lined up for '08 including a Cyantific remix of one of our biggest tunes '9 2 5', a remix from Marky, a few new bits from HoldTight and Lomax as well as stuff from new artists including Brother, Ben E, KDC and Morebeat & Kantyze. We are launching the long awaited Industry Digital imprint which will see a broad variety of interesting material available only through digital medium. Check http://www.industryrecordings.net/ for news, audio and more.

DECEMBER Top 10
1. Lomax - Burning Flag - Critical
2. HoldTight - Old Times (Genetics Rmx) - Industry
3. HoldTight feat. Lomax - Equilibrium - Industry
4. Ben E - Beer Goggles - Industry
5. Lomax - Minimal Meltdown - Critical
6. Spectrasoul - Adoration - NuDirections
7. Lomax & Fokuz - 5 Weeks - Bingo
8. HoldTight - Breakfast Club - Dub
9. Zero Tolerance & Beta 2 - Strike Back - Westbay
10. ? - Movin On Up Rmx - White

Ben Sumner Industry Recordings
+44 (0)7957 622 750
AIM: IndustryRecs
http://www.industryrecordings.net/

www.myspace.com/industryrecordings

Out Now:

HoldTight Old & New LP

Out Soon:

IND027: Lomax / Holdtight & Kleer - Blazius / DweebIND028: Holdtight feat. Lomax / Brother - Equilibrium / Blue Notes

Also watch out for more remixes and tracks from Lomax, Cyantific, DJ Marky, Agent Alvin, HoldTight, Genetics, Domino and more..