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For over four years the vibrant, young label has gone from strength to strength, establishing the careers of a number of key artists like Floating Points, Fatima, and Funkineven. The label was launched in 2009 when Floating Points and Alexander Nut ran into each other at the Plastic People nightclub in London. Since then Eglo Records has established one of the UK's finest contemporary future Funk and Soul based catalogues. Tracks like Floating Point's anthemic Vacuum Boogie, Funkineven's rough bounce She's Acid, or Fatima's smooth charmer Soul Glo made the label famous far beyond the borders of their hometown of London. The company itself works like a close-knit family in which each member is befriended with the other, in it with a full heart and bags of soul. Beside their most prominent artist Floating Points, singers like Fatima or producers like ARP 101 make this family business to something real special. Fatima's ability to transcend musical styles like breezy summer Pop, spacy psychedelic Hip Hop and twisted R&B is totally unique. And ARP 101's way of melting Hip Hop with ill synths and weird drum machines is exceptional and peerless, too. As a platform for the undiscovered the label releases modern dance music that fuses soulful Hip Hop with House and Techno. The compilation Eglo Records Vol.1 underpins this with one track from every release 2009 - 2011, as well as some brand new stuff and exclusives. Many of them previously released only on vinyl, some of which have been selected by Alexander for his Carhartt Radio Show. To accompany it we talk with him about his work, his heroes, and his current state of mind.
(Alexander Nut)
Where and how did Eglo records start?
Alexander Nut: It started at a number of places, we all crossed paths on various occasions but Plastic People was a definite meeting place back then... I guess my show on Rinse Fm played quite a big role too, everyone passed through that at some point. Both of those spots being in East London. Me and Sam (Floating Points) became friends, then some months later we decided to release some music... it all stemmed from that really.
What is the driving force behind the label?
Alexander Nut: Faith in good music and creativity. Music as expression. And making the most what surrounds you. It all evolved from groups of friends who recognised the creative possibilities and potential within one another. We're all big music geeks too, so that helps.
What do you love about music?
Alexander Nut: I don't know if I could answer that question so easily, it would be like describing what your spirit is... I'm just grateful to have music as such a powerful force in my life. It's a blessing.
How would you characterize the output of Eglo records?
Alexander Nut: It's colourful, it's honest. It's soulful. It doesn't like rules. It knows its history. But really it's the sound of a bunch of friends having fun and expressing themselves.
Do you have a "wish list" of musicians you'd like to see on Eglo?
Alexander Nut: Kind of, everyone who we released already is still on that wish list too. But it would have to happen naturally. I like to know the person who's music we're putting out. To know it is coming from the right place. We've got an EP from an artist called Dirg Gerner coming, which im really excited about. The line of producers on Fatima's album is pretty mind blowing, too. We've got some cool stuff lined up so you'll just have to keep and look out to see who else is on the wish list. I'm sorting out dropping something by one of my musical hero's right now in fact.
(Fatima)
What track - contemporary or old - you wish to have signed for Eglo and why?
Alexander Nut: Tell you what, I will give you both. I would love to put out some stuff in the vein of what Tony Allen makes, a track like Ariya, it's live music with a lot of space and a lot of spirit .... if I could work with a US artist right now I would love to put out some of that Bj The Chicago Kid stuff. Motown signed him though, so that ain't happening.
Can you give some advice to someone who is interested in starting his or her own label?
Alexander Nut: Just make sure your putting out great music, don't worry to much about the other stuff at first. Just concentrate on the music itself. Everything else follows.
How does living in London shape the work at Eglo?
Alexander Nut: Well there is only Stevie (Funkineven) and Mizz Beats who are from London. We all live in London, but Fatima is from Sweden, Sam from Manchester, Arp 101 from Belgium. I'm from a small and strange place called Wolverhampton. But we all came together in East London. So we have London to thank too I guess.
Can you remember where you first started DJing and the kind of music you were playing?
Alexander Nut: Yeah when I first got turntables I just wanted to scratch, I wanted to be like Funkmaster Flex.... but I was mad into music from an early age so I had a pretty diverse music collection from the beginning... lots of old Soul and Jazz, Stax and Motown stuff, loads of Hip Hop, Hendrix, Curtis Mayfield.. .. my first DJ gig was a six hour set playing Soul, Funk, and Boogie at a bar. It was good fun still.
Which track gets currently the most rewinds when you play?
Alexander Nut: Well there is certain types of music which go with the rewind, because no body better not be rewinding a Lonnie Liston Smith record or something... but if I drop Almighty Father by Warrior Queen and Sunship, or Pulse X or something then yeah, we can do the reload thing. I think that DJ Rashad & DJ Manny Drums Please got a rewind when I dropped it the other night.
(Floating Points)
How did you select the tracks for your Carhartt Radio Show?
Alexander Nut: Well it is all Eglo material plus two tracks which I released on my other label HoTep. I wanted to show all the different sides to the label, so there are various parts to it. Some of what we do is producer and dancefloor driven, but we also work with a lot of vocalists and musicians so we also make music for the heads. And that is reflected in the mix, I also put some unreleased beats in there!
If you would do a forecast of what is the sound of tomorrow how would it look like?
Alexander Nut: What would the sound look like? I mean you would have to close your eyes and come up with your own vision, but freedom is the future of music ....
What old albums you rediscovered lately and what makes them special?
Alexander Nut: Everyday im rediscovering new music, some I never heard before, some from my own collection. I recently bought Super Cat Don Dada... which is a classic I never actually owned before. Super Cat is one of the nicest on the mic... of any form of music, never mind Reggae and Dancehall. He's the Don Dada! I also pulled out Yusef Lateef's Detroit: : Latitude 42º 30' Longitude 83º which I hadn't listened to for a couple of years... that record is amazing.
What was the first record you bought?
Alexander Nut: Going Loco Down in Acapulco... by the Four Tops. Real talk!
What was the last book you read?
Alexander Nut: I'm always reading little books on ancient history and things like that, but I would advise everyone to pick up The Tao Of The Wu by RZA. It's a pretty inspiring read.
Can you name us your favorite hero in fiction?
Alexander Nut: The Ghostbusters! Who else!
What is your idea of happiness?
Alexander Nut: Cooking outside in a tropical climate with friends and family.
Can you send us a picture that illustrates your current state of mind to post along with your answers?
Alexander Nut:
On June 2nd Eglo will host a party to celebrate the 4th birthday.
06/02/2013 - Jazz Cafe - London - GB