Nightchild Records | Label Profile

 

Nightchild Records is a digital house label based in NYC and run/owned by DJ and previous UM interviewee Rissa Garcia. A pure house-head Rissa has shaped a label in her style - authentic, focused but not restricted to a single genre within the underground house world.

 

Starting back in 2007 it looked to its hometown for talent in the first couple of years before broadening its reach and global appeal. Support has come from big names; Dj Sneak, Louie Vega,Danny Tenaglia, Demarkus Lewis, Danny Krivit, and more - demonstrating the serious underground house music credentials of the label.

 

How did the label come to be - what’s the story of how/why you created it?

 

Originally it was an idea formed with a friend of mine and current mix engineer, Carlos Ruiz, with the goal of releasing our music and some friends and local artists’ music. When the digital era came about it made it a lot easier for artist to get their music out but you still needed to have connections to labels and most won’t take on unknown artist so we wanted to provide a platform for local NYC artist who we believed in at the time.

 

What were the biggest challenges you had to get to release one?

 

The first challenge was getting distribution and everything that comes with starting a brand new label like getting a logo, website, etc.

 

What makes the label unique?

 

I don’t feel we’re unique in any particular way. We just release music we like and try not to worry about genre or pigeon holing the label to one particular sound.

 

What’s your musical policy - what do you look for?

 

Honestly, it’s not something I can put into words. I spent a lot of time on the dancefloor with DJ’s that used to play all night long and their sets were so varied so my taste is the same. And though I mainly known for house, deep house and garage, I like all styles of underground dance music. For me, it’s all about the groove and overall feeling of the track. It can be a peak time dancefloor stomper to a soft slow groover to a discofied funky track.

 

What producers have you had on the label that sum up the style you want best?

 

I think they all do or else they would not be on it.

 

How do you go through demos, how do you like people to send them, what’s your process?

 

I don’t have a preference. Get it to me however you want to via dm on social media/soundcloud or  hitting our website/emails. Just as long as there is a streaming and download option.

 

How long do you plan between signing a track and release?

 

Once we have it mastered and ready to go I usually like to get it out asap. We don’t have a huge promotional plan and I know artist are anxious to get their music out.

 

How do you go about creating the artwork?

 

I have two artist that are also graphic designers on the label so they have been doing most of our recent work. It’s either by Sean Cormac and Jon Billick.

 

Do you work with artists to help them develop their brand/audience?

 

No, I think an artist brand is all on them but I do run a family style label so I’m always here to help them in anyway they may need.

 

What’s your view on artists albums?

 

I think they can be hit or miss. I love an album that has different styles of music and it’s introduced in a way from start to finish that makes sense.

 

What’s been the most successful release to date and your personal favourite?

 

Our last VA comp Sounds of NY had some great chart action and support. Jon Billick’s track I Fancy You from the comp was played on Rinse FM by Todd Edwards so that was a plus.

 

What do you do around a release - promotion etc?

 

I usually create videos for the release and get it into the hands of some of our favorite djs. If it’s one of my local NYC artist release I’ll try to coordinate a release party here in NY. We also plan on implementing some spotify playlist contributions going forward.

 

Do you have merchandise?

 

Yes we do sell T-shirts from time to time and will be making some more stuff coming in the New Year.

 

What’s the labels point of view on retail sales vs streaming revenue?

 

Well as most in the business know, there is very little money in regard to streaming revenue for small indie artist and labels but it helps broaden your audience. I think most of today’s music consumers are djs vs majority of the market that tends to stream rather than download.

 

What’s the hardest thing you find with releases?

 

The over saturation of releases and trying to get noticed among them.

 

How often do you have a release?

 

We don’t have a set schedule as I’m not really hunting down demos at the moment but I try to get one out every 3 months or so.

 

Do you use a promo list and what do you get out of it?

 

We use promo worx from Label Worx but honestly don’t see much benefit from it.

 

Can people apply to get on the list?

 

No

 

Do you use a PR company or the services for that a distributor sometimes offers?

 

Not yet but we may release some vinyl this year so may be for one of those releases it would make more sense..

 

How important to the release is airplay, DJ support, artist self-promotion?

 

I think it all matters these days. Anyway to get the word out on the release helps.

 

How much work do you put into social media promotion or paid advertising on social media?

 

I’m definitely more grass roots so I put a lot into social media promotion but not much on the paid adverts for the label.

 

Do you do any events or club nights?

 

Yes but under my event brand Dancing Room Only :) We’ll actually be celebrating our 100th EP release on Saturday March 21st at Mood Ring here in NY with myself and two other label artist Ruez and Sean Cormac.

 

What releases have you got lined up for the year ahead?

 

Next I have my own EP coming up and also working to release a full album LP for the end of this year. We will also put together another one of our VA comps and some more singles from our artist and hopefully some new ones as well.

 

What do you think the big issues ahead are?

 

Getting people to buy music again. Continued oversaturation of the market.

 

Where would you most want people to buy the music?

 

Traxsource and Beatport are the biggest sales sites for us.

 

Where can people follow the label?

 

We’re on most digital sales/streaming sites like Traxsource, Beatport, Spotify, Amazon, Tidal, Pandora, etc.

 

Follow Nightchild Records:

Website