By ThinkInElectronic / Wednesday, June 25, 2014 / No comments /
South Africa's Newest Record Label Rejeked Records
We got the low down on Rejekted Records in this Exclusive Interview
Hello Guys, Thank you for taking time out to
do this interview with us. It is a huge pleasure.
How are you doing and what are you currently
listening to?
We are doing great thank you for asking. How
about you guys? At the moment I’ve just discovered that one of the artists I
used to listen to while growing up “Asad Rizvi” has now created an alias for
himself called “Asadinho” and is creating monster sounding sounding deep
house.. So I’m stuck on his “Fabric Promo Mix” its about 9 months old but sooo
underground that its fresh.
1.
What is the one thing you love
the most about South Africa?
The Freedom, yes some might beg to differ but
from my point of view, we are able to do anything that our heart desires
without no limitations. Which for me is amazing because you can follow any
dream we please. Oh and Cape Town!
2.
Can you tell us a little more
about the creators behind Rejekted records, How would your best friend describe
you and how did you two meet.
Funny enough we are best friends that created
this label, we have the same passion, drive and love for the music. I’m sure he
would say that I’m the greatest person he’s ever met! Hahaha! We knew of each
other as just another Dj on the scene through social media etc.. but it was
when we were added to the same line up at a gig down in Durban that we actually
got to know each other over a bottle of tequila and the rest is history.
3.
Everyone all grows up with ideas
of what we want to be when we older, Have you guys always wanted to be DJs/
Producers and what was it about electronic music that attracted you to the
scene?
Well on my part I really wanted
to become a pilot until the music bug bit in the late 90’s and that changed
everything. Attending raves back in the day and watching superstar dj’s perform
was when it hit home that this is what I want to do.
4.
Music is not what you do full
time, how do you balance working and your musical career, what are some of the
challenges you face?
TIME! If we could buy it somewhere we would
be first in line. I guess prioritizing is the key to manage everything and keep
the consistency going, there are times when we feel overwhelmed with the amount
of work to do but our LOVE, PASSION and the fact that Music is not a job for us
is what keeps us in the game.
5.
The industry is very cut throat
with new Djs and producers popping up like weeds. What are some of the
challenges you are currently confronted by in your career as an artist?
As you said .. Djs and producers are popping
up like weeds.. BUT we look at things differently, our aim is not to compete
with the world but to stick our plan and do what we love. From experience we
have learnt that if we do what we do and do it well there will always be space
for us in the market.
6.
There is an abundance of record
labels out there, you have just launch your own record Rejekted Records why the
decision to start your own record label?
Most probably the same reason
most Dj’s and producers start their own label. Everybody listens to music
differently, certain songs might not appeal to one and it might appeal to
somebody else and by understanding this we felt that a great way to let the
world hear the type of music that appeals to us was by starting a label. We
have come across hundreds of great unknown artists and we felt the need to
create a platform for them to get their music heard when other labels were
turning them down. Hence REJEKTED.. Its amazing what you find out there when
you put your ears to the ground.
7.
Every record label has a
signature sound that it represents it, what sound or message are you hoping to
portray with Rejekted records?
From the time we started discussing the label
we agreed that we will not stick to one specific genre.. we will rather run the
label with good music. Having slightly different tastes in music this helped us
broaden the spectrum of music we would sign and it was the best decision we
could have made because the amount of quality producers we picked up through
sub genre’s was mind blowing.
8.
What criteria needs to be meet by
aspiring producer hoping to have their tracks signed to Rejeked records?
There is no specific criteria, like we said
earlier its just GOOD Music that we look for. Something that makes us say wow
and more often than not, it’s when we hear originality in the production.
9.
Electronic Dance music is still
fairly new in South Africa, why do you think this is and what is needed to help
the EDM scene grow here?
I think the EDM scene in S.A is at its peak
at the moment thanks to big event companies taking the plunge and bringing the
cream of the crop of dj’s to our shores as well as big radio stations playing
out more and more of the EDM stuff on a regular basis.
10. In comparison to the current US and European EDM scene how long do
you think it will take before South Africa gets there?
I think on the Electro and progressive side
of things, S.A is pretty much on par, it’s more the Deep, Tech & Techno
sounds that we are behind with. I feel South Africans rather follow the craze
rather than figure out their own direction and that’s where I feel that its our
job as dj’s and producers to help educate our people.
11. Djing is something everyone can learn but producing is way trickier.
Do you remember the first time you sat down to producer a record, and how did
the record turn out?
When I think of it I laugh… If I had to
describe it in words it would be something like a mixture of Deep fried disco
with slice of lenz (As in Lenasia) techno and ambient nonsense. LOL. Its was a
hit though.. Well that’s at least what we thought.
12. What advice would you give to South African DJ/Producers hoping to
get a big break and get noticed?
Stay original, stay away from doing whats
already being done, Stay true to yourselves and your sound and someone will
notice that you are doing it from the heart.
13. If you could change one thing about the music scene what would it
be and why?
I feel that we always babble on about this.. but
anyway here we go again: We would ban commercial / radio hits from every single
nightclub everywhere. What happened to the days when you went to a club and
never heard one song that you knew and you went off the rails even so. I mean
why would you want to dance to something all night that you heard on the way
home from work on the radio? I guess we would just love the world if everybody
listened to underground house music J But
14. Which words or phrases do you overuse?
What Kind Maarmoo! / Whats the
buzz?!
15. Which DJs do you look up to and why?
Kevin - John Digweed (Need I say
more?) In my eyes the utmost talented dj in the world, a man that has perfected
the art of music mixing and crowd pleasing. The man that helped shape the
underground music scene around the world by creating a genre never done before
which we now know it as deep, tech and techno.
16. Which Djs would you like to see in South Africa?
I was lucky enough to see most of
the dj’s I’ve always wanted to see already, but if I had another chance it
would be John Digweed, Lee Burridge, Asadinho, Steve Lawler, loco Dice, Andrea
Oliva
17. Top 5 tracks at the moment
Aden - Whip (Jimmy Edgar Remix)
lana del rey - summertime sadness (asadinho
main vocal mix)
Jobe – Switched Off (Original Mix)
Dashdot BR Feat ZZ – Seduction is my
distraction (Original Mix)
Childish Gambino – I Crawl
18. Lastly, can fans expect a label launch party / label tours, and
what’s next for Rejekted Records?
A label launch party is
definitely in the pipeline, we are busy looking for the perfect venue and the
best music providers to showcase our label. We have just completed our first
installment of Rejekted Sessions where we feature a live 1 hour video recorded
mix with Chris Sen, next on the agenda is Ricardo Da Costa. We are also in the
planning phase of our second Rejekted residents Beatport album mix compilation
featuring our very own SA5H. And a whole lot of quality releases.
19. Last Messages for fans?
We prefer calling them friends… We appreciate
the support and we do what we do for those of you that appreciate what we do.
REJEKTED RECORDS: www.rejekted.com
BEATPORT MIXES: http://dj.beatport.com/
BEATPORT PAGE: http://www.beatport.com/label/
SOCIAL MEDIA -
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/
Thank you so much for doing this interview
with us. Layla and Yasmin
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