Category — Podcast

After a long time without any new posts and podcast updates I am glad to present you a new episode of the ONE TAKE TAPES Podcast. This time Gu from Our Label Records made a great and drifty mix. Thanks Gu! Check the ONE TAKE TAPES Podcast and click here.

In Addition I made an interview with him about his business, records and passion.
So, read more about the person who gives funk music a new home…

OTT: How are you doing?
Gu: Fine and thankful.

OTT: Introduce yourself. where do you come from?
Gu: My name is Gu. I make part of my living as a DJ and musician, and I live in Bremen, North Germany.

OTT: Tell us something about “our label”, the concept, the artists and why did you found the label?
Gu: Our Label Records is basically an outlet for funky tunes we may find, whether it is something unreleased that crosses our paths, or some idea that we develop with musicians to them bring it to the world. As a DJ I am always happy about quality releases to spin, and here we support that need for quality music.
Of course, I hope I can write and produce more of our releases as well, as I did with our very first 45 „Give Me A Minute“.

I had the idea for a label in 2004 and with the help of my dear brother it was finally founded in March 2005. So far we have released „new“ Funk music from current bands but we are also thinking about starting a sub-label for reissues. And of course we are open to release Jazz and Soul, too, even though our main focus is the Funk.

OTT: What will be the next release - some words about the next vinyl/release?
Gu: We are currently talking to different artists for our next 45. These include Osaka Monaurail, The Dynamites and The Sweet Vandlas but there is nothing settled yet. With The Sweet Vandals chances are that I will write and produce another tune for Our Label.
Also, we are looking into releasing the first Our Label Records compilation soon.

OTT: Tell us something about your opinion regarding the independent music market, especially the reissue/retro market and your experiences.
Gu: It is very nice to see so many independent labels for all the different genres. Usually, the more companies you have in one sector the more difficult it is for the big companies to dictate. You can get quality music for a good price, whether you buy vinyl, CDs or downloads.

Just don’t let anybody tell you that it is the consumers’ fault if the industry is suffering. It is the industry’s fault, because too many people with business degrees make decisions about music, not enough people with actual taste are making the actual decisions. However, once you have independent labels with people like Jazzman Gerald or Gabe Roth making these decisions, quality music is released.

As far as the „retro“ market is concerned I feel that there is more funk and soul coming out than ever. And look how suddenly Duffy and Amy Winehouse are topping the charts with retro sounds. There are good times ahead for Funk and Soul. Make sure you look out for Lucinda Slim and The Lawmen. They will be the next big thing coming from the hands of Keb Darge and the people at Daptone Records.

OTT: Tell us something about your experiences selling and distributing 7inches.
Gu: Fortunately Our Label Records releases are distributed via Unique Records/Groove Attack which makes them available all over the world. Depending on your output you might find it hard to reach that wide an audience without a good distributor.

OTT: 7inch vs. 12inch?
Gu: For a DJ the 7 inch is your best friend when it comes to travelling. One box of 45s will have enough quality tunes to play all night long.And both formats usually have loud pressings, which is always nice to DJ with. But DJing aside, I don’t have a preference - as long as the music is good, I don’t care.

OTT: reissue vs original?
Gu: If you are a collector more than anything else, reissues might not be the „real“ thing for you. So far, my enthusiasm for music made me not care that much whether a record was reissued or original. When I started playing Jazz, Funk and Soul the most part of my set came from compilations and reissues. Also, people on the dance floor never seem to care as long as you play great music for them. That’s most important to me. If that makes me less of a DJ from a collector’s point of view, I don’t care.

When the original is affordable I am very happy to get it, but I’d rather get 10 great reissues for my money as one great original for the same amount.

OTT: Your current top 5 records
Gu:
The Fugitives: Human Jungle
The Sweet Vandals: Beautiful
Joe Williams: Jump For Joy
Moose Jackson: My Big Ten Inch Record
Little Richard: Rip It Up

OTT: Some words about your record collection…
Gu: The one addiction I have is buying music.

OTT: Any new great digs?
There is always something somewhere to be found and right now I am working on expanding my 50’s R&B and Rockabilly crate. Latest thing I found is a HipHop record though. „High Hopes“ by Beyond, which is the b-side to a tune called „Sugar“. That was a good find.

OTT: What is a perfect mix tape?
Gu: Flawless and personal in its selection.

OTT: What was you first record you’ve bought?
Gu: My first album was actually a tape. „Ready For The Battle“ by the Rock Steady Crew. I asked my mum for some money at some big mall to get that.

OTT: Some words about your passion to music and vinyl…
Gu: We were brought up in a musical household and alongside family and friends, music is the most important thing in my life. As each passion should be, music is something that calms me down as well as it lifts me, whichever is necessary. Music has, so far, never let me down.

OTT: Anything else? Parties, Dates, Clubs…where we can meet you guys in the next time?
Gu: In my hometown there is the Urban Jazz Groove (in its 15th year!) every first Friday of the month with Souljazz, Deep Funk and Boogaloo (www.ujg.de). Juke Joint Music is the latest addition to my regular set, every second Saturday of the month with 50’s R&B, Rockabilly and Northern Soul. I DJ at both of them with occasional guests.

Also, I am in London every now and then to stay with and learn from my dear friend Keb Darge. I hope I can make it to the Aberdeen Soul Allnighter where Keb will play on October 4th. I will also be back in Madrid to DJ with Santi and Mayka of The Sweet Vandals very soon.

OTT: Our Label in 1, 3 and 5 years?
Gu: As a two men business we are working on continuously releasing music for your listening pleasure and as mentioned before, there should be a compilation in the next 12 months. In 5 years we have hopefully released some 20 singles and more than that first album…

OTT: Gu, many thanks for the interview and the great mix!

For further information:
Our Label Records Website