Defected Records Artists

 

Defected’s brand reach and impact has been incredible over the last few years. Their total approach to music promotion, events, social media and exposure of new talent has changed the game for many. In 2019 the company sold over 450,000 tickets for its events and clocked 960 million total streams.

 

As Defected boss, Simon Dunmore said “We’re a music company. Ultimately, we own a lot of media. We own footage and photographs. It’s not the business that I started. Everything has grown.” Defected’s online reach is huge, including a Facebook page with over 1.2m followers and a YouTube channel with incredible numbers too. Its audience is loyal and its Defected events, whether in the US, Ibiza, Croatia or London have secured a legendary status amongst dance music fans around the world.

 

But for me, it’s their ability to break, grow and promote artists that stands them apart from the rest.

 

A producer like Kormak can come from global obscurity, although it has to be said his residency at Sydney’s Chinese Laundry was a huge deal in the Aussie dance music scene, to releasing on Defected’s main label and headlining gigs in both Asia Pacific and further afield. His appearance on DFTD along the way is the key here and fits the Defected model of breaking an artist, introducing them to the Defected audience and then promoting the name via their Defected Radio shows and gigs before finally giving them the full Defected Records exposure. It’s a brilliant method, proven and works - something other labels can only dream of thanks to Defected’s audience and profile, events and exposure.

 

Other producers that have come along this route include, Dario D’Attis - Dario D’Attid had already had a long career in house music before his Defected exposure. Two decades of it in fact, working in house music, deep house and tech house. The Swiss underground veteran began back in 1999 and had already released on Hive Audio, Noir Music, Poker Flat Recordings and the highly rated Strictly Rhythm.

 

Illysu & Barrientos and Mat.Joe are other names deep house heads will be familiar with before their DFTD releases. Both duo’s had solid followings, and a very underground appeal perfectly meeting the DFTD recipe.

 

Defected Records, as a main label has the big names, this is their showcase imprint and the place DFTD producers often are found doing a remix ahead of a full release. The majority of producers on the label are DJ’s too - again this allows Defected to maximise the profile and exposure opportunities for them. Names like Sandy Rivera aka Kings Of Tomorrow, Sonny Fodera, Roco Rodamaal, Heller & Farley, Todd Terry and the like need little introduction and are sure to demand attention for any release, gig or promotional opportunity and they’ve been hugely successful with Defected behind them.

 

Interestingly in recent times Defected Records has been bringing names back to the limelight - Heller & Farely being one that springs to mind, after years in the darkness they came back with a bang! Similarly, Darrius Syrossian has found recent fame with Defected after featuring on their radio show, then dropping a vinyl set and then a release.

 

Other names I’ve been enjoying and can be found in the House Music DJ Directory here on UM House Music Blog are OFFAIAH, Low Steppa, Ferreck Dawn - one’s to watch.

 

The label also occasionally brings back a classic track with new remixes too. Blaze came back to life and their classic track Lovelee Dae - under the deal to sign the Slip n Slide back catalogue.