"The world is demanding for weirdos, for alternative identities and multiplicity of identities," Danse Noire co-founder, vocalist and experimental producer Aïsha Devi says over Zoom. "I think people are fed up with polished facades and that's why they are looking for smaller labels and smaller artists who put themselves in the circus of the industry without any fear of not belonging."

The label, founded by Devi alongside friends Raphael Rodriguez, Niels Wehrspann and Samuel Antoine after she returned from a transformative period of self discovery, exemplifies this self-assured, no-fucks-given attitude. Since 2013, the Switzerland-based platform has fostered an environment for unique self-expression that's seemingly unaffected by industry dynamics, trends and critics. A purveyor of high-level concept albums from genre-bending artists, most of whom are largely unknown at the time of signing, the label describes members as "a collection of misfits." Its roster leans towards the avant-garde—think textured, noisy instrumentals rich in sound design. Examples include Yikii's eerie pop inspired by nursery rhymes and dark fantasy games, Narcissi's folktronica that references Slavic spirituality and GIL's industrial ambient. Balancing out these cinematic cuts are more club-friendly releases such as dystopian grime from Istanbul-based El Mahdy Jr, Gabber Modus Operandi's riotous interpretations of Indonesian dance music and Devi's own hypnotic, bass-centric mutations, aimed at connecting listeners with the non-physical realm. As Holly Dicker wrote in her 2017 RA profile of Devi, "Danse Noire symbolises her vision of music as ritual and clubbing as a spiritual act."

"We try to offer context to their art and support their vision without placing them in the usual tropes of experimental electronic music," describes Rodriguez. "There are so many labels out there and yet we keep finding all this incredible music that seems to not have an outlet."

Each release feels like an immersive journey into the artist's own world—a quality that more listeners outside of the experimental realm are slowly appreciating, according to Devi. On the 2018 LP 鬼島 Ghost Island, Meuko! Meuko! uses a cacophony of chanting, her own vocals and Chinese instruments to concoct an otherworldly escape from the gritty realities of city life. Taiwan, where the artist resides, suffers from what's colloquially known as a "ghost-island syndrome" due to its unrecognised status by most United Nations member states. Inspired by this, Meuko! Meuko! crafts a disjointed, unruly tapestry of noise and spliced beats that nods to her interpretation of the country's hazy political outlook.

Allowing acts to produce what they like is as much a business decision as it is a creative one. From a booking and marketing perspective, talents in the industry are often told to specialise in a particular style to increase their chances of limelight. Disillusioned by such practices, Rodriguez, Devi, Wehrspann and Antoine prefer to stay under the radar in order to keep their creative liberties intact rather than penetrate the upper echelons of streaming charts.

"Getting bigger is not our intention," says Devi. "I would like to grow as much as possible in harmony with the underground scene because I think it's the most faithful place in the world. I love belonging to this heaven and I don't want it to be corrupted by commercial and bigger constraints." This also enables the label "to engage with artists on a deep level even when we don't know if they will make it," she continues.

Commenting on Danse Noire's relationship with the broader electronic industry, Rodriguez uses the metaphor of a Trojan Horse. "We just try to access the resources, channels, and essentially whatever avenues we can find to push our artists in there," he says, sitting next to Devi on the same Zoom call. "The label is self-funded by all of us. Obviously, it's great not to lose money, but it doesn't aim to be functional as a business so there's a number of rules that we don't really have to comply with and we can just be fine circumventing as long as we keep the freedom to really go wild with everything we do and question every move we make."

Like PAN and Hyperdub, Danse Noire is one of a few eccentric labels that's widely respected by both industry players and fans alike. Its ability to deliver a well-coordinated album release, from artwork to public relations, without placing any restrictions on artists, is incredibly rare to find, several producers told Resident Advisor. Unconventional acts with abstract sounds (often bordering on the extreme) have traditionally operated in a DIY economy centred around self-releases and local blogs, so for them to receive the same level of support as with a major label is a game-changer.

"In my experience, no offense to the other labels with whom I worked in the past, Danse Noire is just on another level of professionalism," says Montreal-based Racine, who joined the roster last year with his album Quelque Chose Tombe. "I just have to focus on producing the music and I know the rest will be done with precision. It's just such a relief not to worry about all the other stuff..No detail is left unattended, and the good part is I don't have to assemble all the pieces of the puzzle myself."

"High-quality releases with a fair amount of professionalism" distinguishes Danse Noire from other underground labels, echoes Yikii. "Giving enough attention to artists, not limiting the music to a certain genre and giving artists the maximum space to explore themselves" are other major draws, the Changchun-based talent adds.

Racine, Yikii

Artists widely agree that more boundary-pushing labels, booking agencies and other infrastructure are needed for experimental music to expand and attract new followers. "A proactive market, and less prejudice" are some qualities missing from the status quo, according to Yikii. For Bali duo Gabber Modus Operandi, an open-minded approach to disruptive music is also sorely needed. Experimental art is often viewed through a Eurocentric lens so more institutions are needed to challenge Western perspectives, they say.

Danse Noire's commitment to elevating standards in the experimental realm comes from personal experience. A musician herself, Devi is all too familiar with the struggles faced by up-and-coming talents. Before announcing the first album under her given name, 2015's Of Matter And Spirit, the Swiss-Nepalese composer underwent a long journey of self-discovery and meditation (as revealed to RA in the previously-mentioned 2017 interview) to combat a deep frustration she felt with society. "Nobody was looking for me, nobody was waiting for me, so I had to find a light by myself," she recounts. That's why it's so important for her to help other musicians looking to get their foot in the door.

When listening to demos, Danse Noire operates on pure instinct. They tend to avoid music that's too "well-produced," preferring submissions with rawness and emotional depth instead. "We generally dislike music that's devoid of meaning, the ethos is very important to us," Rodriguez says. "We do want to work with people whose politics are more or less in line with ours and who have a certain vision, or at least openness to feedback and growing together."

"We release an artist who we believe will have an impact on others, not one who will make millions," adds Devi. "I really like the idea of omni-shaping music that can have different genres, different forms," she continues. "To me, music makes people transcend. You cannot do this if you're in a single tunnel of creation."

When asked whether this multidimensional perspective on creation can ever become a norm in an industry obsessed with classifications, Rodriguez and Devi smile wistfully. "If bigger players are inspired or take something from us, that's how we can actually change and shape society."

Resident Advisor · Label Of The Month Mix: Danse Noire mixed by Gabber Modus Operandi

Danse Noire as mixed by Gabber Modus Operandi
Tracklist /
Racine - Sujet
Vaghe Stelle Feat. Aisha Devi - Devotion
IVVVO - Redux
El Mahdy Jr. - Crack-Addicted Bellydancer
Haf Haf - Blue Dragon (Gatekeeper Remix)
Narcissi - Путь-Дорожку Дальнюю
Gil - Compact Renewal
Aïsha Devi - Hakken Dub
Aïsha Devi - Popular Science
Gabber Modus Operandi - Pariah
bod [包家巷] - The Recurrence of Infections (Flora Yin-Wong Remix)
Yikii - Heart Halo 心之光晕
Ruhail Qaisar - Fatima's Poplar (forthcoming)
Meuko! Meuko! - 鬼島 Ghost Island
Gabber Modus Operandi - Goroxxx
Réelle - Hybris
Blightcaster - Miserable, Mediocre, Nothing (forthcoming)