With Snugfelix's newly established Orca imprint about to drop its first 12" from hotly tipped Canadian producer XI, we thought it was time to get the lowdown on the label and what it is all about.
 
XI has also been kind enough to throw down an exclusive mix for us, which you can download after the interview. Packed full of exclusives from the man himself, including his stellar forthcoming release on Orca, it is time to get to know!

Can you introduce yourself...
 
I'm Snugfelix, otherwise known as William. I have lived in Bristol for the last few years where I ran a night with Luke Furesshu called Seasonfive for a couple of years. The night was about about pushing the more experimental side of dubstep, garage and techno; we had some great guests over the years and it's definitely something I'll miss. In the last year I've moved back to London, and it seemed like a good time to start a label and focus on the producers who I thought were being overlooked.
 
Why did you decide to set up the label?
 
As I kind of touched on, I set up the label as an outlet for the producers and 'sounds' which I felt weren't being represented. In my opinion, it's also a pretty interesting time for electronic music, so this label is also about documenting the many different sounds that are being mixed up at the moment, all the sounds from garage, techno, dubstep, funky, house and everything else.
 
What kind of sounds will the label be pushing?
 
Haha good question, I'm not actually 100% sure... I think this will develop over the first few releases. In some ways I'm always looking for music which I feel can work well on the dancefloor, but retains innovative and musical qualities. I don't mean for that to sound snobby, it's not about that at all.
 
What have you got lined up release-wise?

The first release is by, in my opinion, one of the most exciting producers today. He goes under the name XI, he's based out in Toronto and his tunes sound like some kind of future-aqua-crunked-out dubstep. He was the first producer in a long time to send me 10/15 tunes that were all amazing.

The tune on the first release is called The Ghost and blew me away when I heard it; it's crazy how many ideas he's got in this one tune and I love the palette of sounds he's used. He's defo a great talent and there will be more from him on Orca in the future.

On the flip, Headhunter has done a great remix, which is pretty different to his usual sound. These tunes have been getting some good support on dubplate, I know Youngsta, N-Type and Loefah have all been playing it which is cool.
 
After this, I can't be too specific, but there will be releases from Hyetal, Asusu and Luke.Envoy. Luke's been quiet for a while now but he's been real busy working in the studio. He's a real perfectionist so I'm glad that he's happy for these tracks to be released...

Do you have specific plans for the label's aesthetic/artwork?

Yeah, I want the artwork of the label to really represent the kind of music that is being pushed. There will be an ongoing theme of different animals, but I don't want to spoil the surprise so I'm going to keep the rest quiet for the time being. After the first couple of releases we're looking to develop the brand of the label and make a high quality package for all the vinyl buyers as well as the usual artwork for mp3 buyers, etc.
 
Have you got any further plans for expansion of the label?
 
I've had a couple of people interested in doing a label night already which is great, but apart from that I don't have any plans to start making Orca branded keyrings and mouse pads yet. Although maybe a calendar would be good haha!

XI – Ghost / Ghost (Headhunter Remix) will be out on Orca on Monday 3rd May.

Download XI's mix

 

Tracklisting

1. Kevin McPhee - Be [dub]
2. Jus Wan - Azure [Pushing Red]
3. F - Energy Distortion (Untold remix) [7even Recordings]
4. XI - 000 [Immerse Recordings]
5. XI - Smoke Signal [Offroad Recordings]
6. Chimpo - Spektrum Skank [Offroad Recordings]
7. Shortstuff & Hyetal - Don't Sleep [Punch Drunk]
8. Bombaman - mmeelloo ssttaarr [dub]
9. XI - Memory [dub]
10. XI - The Ghost [Orca Recordings]
11. XI - Icarusxxxe [dub]
12. XI - Vampires [dub]
13. XI - Superwhatever [dub]

Follow Orca on Twitter.

 

• Orca
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• XI

Related Links:

• Free Track: XI
• Free Ghost Remix Album
• Treacle Clothing Drop Ghost & Stoke Tees
• Wiley vs Geesus Host
• Lynx Plans New Ways Of Collaborating

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