Why start a label now, in 2016?
It just felt like the right time. ReSolute has been establishing its distinct identity both in NYC and abroad for over eight years, and it seemed like the perfect time to make the leap by imprinting a record of our musical learnings. After years of throwing parties and connecting with so many great artists, it seemed natural to have a label to showcase some of the ones we admire and present them not only in our events but in another format—vinyl seemed appropriate.
And actually, this is not our first label. The very first one was back in 2011 simply called “ReSolute Label” which still exists under the management of an old partner. But naturally, things have changed since the beginning. We started out as just a small fun gathering of all our friends and featuring artists within our circle at the time. But we’ve grown and become more distinct in our bookings since then. DisDat reflects what we’ve become and what we’re about and we are really excited about our new project.
What do you think the ethos/style of ReSolute is, and how do you translate that to a record label?
ReSolute is about providing sophisticated cutting-edge music in a setting that’s raw, spontaneous, relaxed and unpretentious. It's focused on the music and the experience and about living in the moment. We like to give our artists an exciting and welcoming platform to really express themselves musically. Our crowd trusts that we're bringing some of the best artists around whether they're well known or completely under the radar. And there is always an element of surprise, or something unexpected at our events.
Our gatherings feel inclusive, both in the sense that many of the artists we bring become part of the ReSolute community and remain a staple of our parties for years (including the local artists who have become our residents), as well as a great portion of our guests... faces we gladly see week after week. The aim for the label is to bring this whole vibe, and aesthetics of our events. into a format that extends to more than just showcases—into something that DJs and music enthusiasts can take home and listen to when the party ends.
Why did you choose these three artists for the first release?
We didn't really make up the first release by artists, but rather by the tracks that display the variety of the musical style we go for at ReSolute. But the general idea behind the A&R is to display various artists that we have already booked to play our events, along with some undiscovered artists that we are really into.
For example, we loved S.A.M.'s set last time he played for us so we asked him to send us some music for the inauguration of the label. Zendid was a name that’s been on our radar for quite some time, while Mikisderek is an undiscovered duo that hasn't released anything until now. These three tracks by these three artists just jumped out at us for the first release. They fit the subtle yet high-energy sound that you might hear at our warehouse, early in the morning, which has become our signature peak time. It just fell into place that way.
There seems to be a resurgence of interest in minimal sounds in house and techno, the kind that ReSolute has been booking all along. Why do you think people are turning towards this sound again?
We try to have a wide array of genres, but obviously we have a soft spot for this sort of sound and yes I would agree that we’ve made it more accessible to our audience in NYC. But we don’t want to be pigeonholed in this specific type of music because good music is good music, no matter what style. We already have plans in work for the next releases that stretch into more electro sounds, or even housier, but the goal remains the same: to transcend our musical taste to our audience, no matter what category you put it [in].
As far as why more people are turning to more minimal house and techno in general these days, perhaps it's a reaction to the EDM wave that's sweeping the commercial electronic market. With the over-saturation of subpar music, I think people are naturally seeking a return to the core principles that drew them to dance music in the first place. Minimal music is no easy task—it's a reduction of all of electronic music core elements that still retains all of its energy and emotionality, and there's elegance in that. It's not so obvious but I guess more people are waking up to that. We can also thank how consistent some of the great frontrunners of this genre are, like Perlon for instance. They have never turned their back on their sound just to follow trends and be 'hip,' yet they remain so relevant and well respected. Their consistency has paid off and people recognize the integrity.
Tracklist
A1 S.A.M. - Brooklyn Nights
B1 Zendid - WS3
B2 Mikisderek - Sump1
DisDat will release DSDT001
on May 23rd, 2016.