For Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting eight female artists who have launched record labels along with their successful careers as musicians!
Charlotte de Witte
Earlier this year, Charlotte de Witte launched a new imprint to further solidify her love for techno music after introducing us to KNTXT and sub-label RPM. KNTXT even welcomed fans to its physical store, which was a temporary retail space that “will be open for selective occasions only” in Brussels last month. The new label, Epoque, celebrates techno music in Belgium. “Epoque is a Belgian label and nightlife archive by @kntxtmusic and @charlottedewittemusic. In collaboration with clubs and labels, past and present, we capture the spirit and lifestyle of our bygone discotheque culture,” Epoque shared on Instagram.
“The Époque label remixes iconic tracks, brings back dance classics and uses club memories and aesthetics to translate them into unique new tracks produced by the current electronic scene.” The very first release on the label is a remix of ‘Universal Anthem’ by Push, reworked by techno icon Charlotte de Witte herself.
Jennie
From being a part of one of the biggest girl groups to releasing solo music like ‘You & Me’ and ‘Solo,’ Jennie of BLACKPINK has made a great name for herself. In December 2023, the South Korean rapper, singer, and actress took to Instagram to announce a new venture – OA, a new label and company.
“Hi, this is Jennie. This year was filled with many accomplishments, and I’m so thankful for all the love I’ve received,” Jennie’s post on her Instagram Story read. “I’m also about what’s to come, as I start my solo journey in 2024 with a company that I have established called OA. Please show lots of love for my new start with OA and of course BLACKPINK. Thank you.”
“OA, which stands for ODD ATELIER, is a space that aims to create new things that attract attention in a different way from what is usual or expected. It is a label founded by artist JENNIE in November 2023,” the OA’s official page wrote while sharing a picture of Jennie.
Additionally, two more BLACKPINK members have announced the launch of their record labels this year – ‘LLOUD’ by LISA and ‘Blissoo’ by Jisoo.
Chloe Caillet
Paris-based DJ/producer and multi-instrumentalist Chloé Caillet christened her label titled ‘SMILE Records with her new single titled ‘12 Inch Acid’ earlier this year. “12 INCH ACID” is officially out! My most requested track ID and club groover is available today on all platforms and is the 1st release on SMIILE RECORDS. @smiilebychloe,” shared the artist on Instagram in January.
“This release is a collab between my Aussie brother @luke.alessi and I. We made it in my studio in ibiza late summer with the idea of putting in all of our favorite elements of dance music to create chaos on the dancefloor,” she explained. She also launched SMILE – an LGBTQ+ party club night concept in 2023.
Aluna
Aluna launched the Noir Fever label to highlight black artists in dance music. It was created to celebrate female, LGBTQ+, and black artists and unveiled its debut project – ‘Fédération Internationale du Bruit,’ an eight-track mixtape by Montréal collective Moonshine in February. It is composed of tracks from artists including Branko, Sango, the members of the Moonshine Collective, and Aluna.
“In 2020 I wrote “that letter” calling out the racial inequalities in the dance music industry and guess what…I didn’t get much of a reply from the industry. so I took that as a “be the change” vibe and the concept of @NoirFever was born – a vehicle to champion the freshest Black artists in dance music and tell the stories of how they are pushing the culture forward and reclaiming the future of a genre that we created. So today I present to you ‘La Fédération Internationale du Bruit’ from the infamous @Moonshine.mu collective, out now on Noir Fever Records,” revealed the British dance music sensation.
“It’s a wild experience seeing a collective dream come to fruition. Starting an independent label requires a leap of faith from everyone involved and we at @noirfever are so honored that @moonshine.mu believed we were the right people to help share this beautiful piece of art with the world. La Fédération Internationale du Bruit is more than incredible music, it’s a movement built from years of fostering a collective vision across continents and it’s just the beginning,” wrote Aluna.
Courtesy
Courtesy uncovered her new label, Against Interpretation, in January. The inaugural track from the label featured French artist Klo. Titled ‘Let The Music Hypnotise You,’ the track will mark a new beginning for the star as she bids farewell to Kulør. The Copenhagen artist announced that the previous releases would be available on the techno label.
“Over the last year I have loved meeting young dancers and DJs, who I see are open to different genres of dance music and who, like me, believe that high impact on dance floors can come from many different sources and BPMs. The future in dance music is eclectic and I have made Against Interpretation for it. I want to thank the long list of musicians, producers, and visual artists who have contributed to Kulør over the years,” said Courtesy on Instagram.
“For my new label, I have borrowed the name ‘Against Interpretation’ from an essay written in 1964 by late American author and intellectual Susan Sontag, which I have been reading obsessively lately. The themes of the text may or may not be relevant for this announcement, I will let the dedicated reader decide.”
The artist expressed her gratitude, writing: “A huge thanks to Tiarnan (artist @spray.forever ) for many hours of work on the production with me, and to @leoluchlnl for all the drum listening sessions, as well as to @youngmarco for his indispensable feedback and to my text angle @samuelhaitz and to @idydodomu and @neverenver for graphics. And ofc thanks to Kl? – I love this collaboration unfolding.”
Imogen
Imogen has launched the label Wigs to foster emerging artists in the scene. She took to her Instagram in 2021 to announce the label, saying: “Super proud to finally announce Wigs, my new party and record label ?? in lockdown I was thinking about the scene here and I found in London my friends and I were missing a space to go to regularly where you know exactly what vibe of the party is going to be.”
“I want to support the new artists in our scene, fusing this with the roots that got me into dance music, mixing the older with the new. With the hit of covid so many young musicians have had nearly two years of missed opportunities so I felt like there was no better time to create Wigs than now,” she added.
The first project, ‘WIGS001,’ features DJ Plant Texture, Ben Pest, DJ Stingray 313, and Jerome Hill. Wigs is also a party and workshop series.
Kitty Amor
Kitty Amor, who is known to channel African electronic music, has started her own imprint called Mahaba. “I am excited to be creating a musical space for myself and other artists to showcase our sound. As a passionate tastemaker, Mahaba is an outlet to express the global influences of an ever-growing sound in electronic music without feeling boxed in. Spreading the message of love and care, Mahaba is a label that desires to sonically connect the world,” she said of what we can expect from Mahaba, as per a statement shared on Instagram.
“Stepping outside comfort and allowing for sonics to move people and meet them where they are musically present, is the driving principle behind this track and the motive behind the label,” she said. Badbox, NAE (SA) and Dr Feel’s ‘I Like It’ is the latest release on the label.
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