London-based label Electric Minds are set to release their first label compilation next month.

Entitled Electric Minds Volume 1, their second CD release is a collection of tracks encompassing the very best of the label’s ten prior vinyl 12-inch releases. In support of the compilation, Yam Who? and Electric Minds label manager Dolan Bergin will be dropping into Australia for a series of shows, followed by a string performances in Japan. Electric Minds Volume One, features tracks from Yam Who?, Lil Tony and Ilija Rudman, with several of the tracks previously receiving well-documented praise from the likes of Will Saul, Luke Solomon and Ame. We tracked down Bergin by to ask him a few questions about the label and forthcoming tour.

You’ve have been at the helm of Electric Minds for some time now – are things getting easier? Has business been a gradual rise, or more like a rollercoaster?

I’m not sure if things get easier. When I started the label, the initial set up was a bit of a headache, but I had some good advice from a few people, so that made things easier. Also, once you are up and running, you get into a routine, so the production/manufacture gets easier. Every release is different, though, so the end result varies depending on sales. But, on a whole, the label has progressed over the last 18 months – the tenth 12-inch that was released from Yam Who, Ilija Rudman and Lil Tony was the biggest selling yet.

Electric Minds has exhibited a strong allegiance to vinyl. Why is that? Have you seen consistent levels support for the medium from the public, or has it been varying?

I’ve always bought records, [but] I also use the occasional CD when DJing, as I get sent demos/promos that I like to include - that’s about as far as I’ve stretched technology wise. Record shopping is something I’ve always liked doing, so it was really important to me to cut records when starting the label. I wouldn’t say that the market is strong for vinyl, but I think there has been an improvement over the last few months. Last year, it was doom and gloom for vinyl, but this year there seems to be more positive comments in the press, and [now] in some major US/UK shops, records are now being stocked again. I think by pressing vinyl, you are making a commitment to the music you release – it’s very easy to set up a digital label, so by putting your money where your mouth is and investing in a 12-inch, it shows something about the confidence in your release.

I’m not snobby about releasing digital music; I have the catalogue out there to download, so record buyers can access the records. Also, in countries were it’s not feasible for people to invest £7 on a release, they can still keep up to date through mp3s and wavs. However, records will always sound better than digital files, so for the label, it’s going to be the preferred format. There are also a strong circle of people out there that will always support vinyl; from producers like Ricardo Villalobos, to the guy buying records in your local market – as long as they are still around, we’ll be in business.

With the day-to-day running of the label, do you get much time to DJ? Are you playing shows weekly, or whenever you get a chance?

Since the label began, DJing has definitely picked up. In the last few months, the label has been invited down to play at Secretsundaze and Need2Soul and, for the summer, there is the tour of Australia and Japan, and in July, we’re heading to Croatia to do a boat party for the Garden Festival. There are a couple of UK festival dates in August and, of course, London’s East End provides many opportunities to DJ, as there are parties kicking off every week. From time to time, the label also puts on its own parties in London, the next being 1 August to mark the 4th year since we threw our first party.

You’re heading on tour in June. Aside from the compilation material, what can we expect from your sets?

I’ll be traveling with Yam Who, so between us, we’ll be bringing three bags of records – vintage disco from US and Europe will be in abundance. We’ll also have techno, house and a few other bits, so should make for an eclectic mix.

You’ve struck up a deal with Knowfowl, one of Sydney’s most highly regarded independents. How did that relationship come about?

I started sending the label’s records to a distributor called C Vibes, which was based in Australia. They have, unfortunately, started to wind down the business now, but while we were working together, I asked if they could help me by putting me in contact with a tour agent. Mike at C Vibes passed me to his friend, Huw, from Knowfool, and we started talking from there. Huw was keen to develop the touring side of the business, so we put together the idea of the compilation, and adding dates to support the release. So, after many emails and a CD later, we’ll be heading to Sydney to hook up with Huw and co. at Knowfool and kickstart the CD’s release.

What’s on the horizon for the label? Will it be straight back to work upon returning to the UK?

We’ll be heading to Japan after Australia, so we have three dates in Tokyo, and then its straight back to the UK. I’ve got a couple of releases from Mushrooms Project, Toby Tobias and a new single from Yam Who that is being manufactured while we are away, so I’ll be getting those into shops in July. Then, it’s off to The Garden Festival in Croatia with Yam Who, where we’ll be hooking up with Ilija Rudman to do the boat party. Then, there is the fourth birthday on 1 August and a third CD in the pipeline – more news on that in the coming weeks.

Tracklist
01. Yam Who - Buzz Reaction
02. Gatto Fritto - Bursting The Bubble
03. Stevie Kotey & Max Essa - Salon De L'Herbe 1974
04. Chaz Jankel & Yam Who - Without You
05. Free Disco - Psychedelic Symmetry
06. Arthur Russell - Wax The Van (Yam Who Rework)
07. Chaz Jankel - You're Too Funky (Ilija Rudman Remix)
08. Free Disco - Hippe Can Dance With Boogie (Stevie Kotey Remix
09. Stevie Kotey & Max Essa - Salon De L'Herbe
10. Ilija Rudman - Ocean Colour

Electric Minds will release Electric Minds Vol. 1 in June 2009. 1 Comment