Embassy is an Atlanta based record label run by US producers Distal and Mite. We caught up with them to chat about the label and get their thoughts on the bass music scene over the pond.

How long have you been running Embassy for?

D: Our first release was in March, but we had been planning it for 7 years! We always talked about running a label and releasing tunes, just wanted to make sure the timing was right and honestly the time right now is perfect.  

Are you just releasing US artists or is it more diverse? Is there a plan of action or a particular ethos you’ve stuck to?

D: No we just put out 004 by Acre, he’s from the UK. There is no particular ethos or plan of action except QUALITY and momentum. We’re always looking for original and well thought out music. I think we both just want things to flow with the releases. We love tunes that have a definite embrace of the past (aesthetic, mix etc…) but with a forward thinking execution. That said, we definitely are trying to do our best to expose artists in North America that we feel are on top of their game. Moldy for example.

M: I think it’s important that we are trying to provide a physical sanctuary for other musician’s voices. The website blurb captures our ethos pretty succinctly: Embassy seeks to build a bridge between all forms of electronic music; bare-bone crunk, plastic-like drums and lush synths of Techno, percussion of nu jazz, and the raw bass of early Jungle. Thoughts and ideas of the future with sounds of the past.

When Mike and I were starting out we always tried to combine different genres in our sets and at the time in Atlanta, that was uncommon. A lot of styles had splintered off since the 90s and were quite insular.

Since 2005 when I felt D’n’B dying and slower tempos gaining steam it’s been really refreshing to see electro ‘club-top 40 style’ DJs playing techno and dubstep in their sets as well as dubstep artists, playing house, UKG and straight up breakbeat hardcore.

Dubstep seems to be getting bigger over there, but I get the impression that its the more commercial Caspa/Rusko esq jump up?

D: Yeah. It seems that way. I mean big ups to those who can get Bass Music to the forefront. I think people have less of an attention span lately, and it’s because the crowds are becoming younger and younger. Which is great, it’s just up to the DJs and producers to educate the new crowds.

EMB005A - Moldy Embrace The Filth by Embassy Recordings

Getting a balance between the jump up and the deeper stuff?

D: I think you get more of a variety when you go to shows that are thrown by an older/more educated crowd. The younger promoters and DJs seem to still be working out how nights are supposed to flow. When I play I try to start it out real slow and build anticipation throughout the set, usually ending with juke/footwork.

Have you been playing a lot of the juke/footwork stuff out recently? That stuff is only really just beginning to pick up over here…

D: Yeah, I’ve been playing a ton of it. I love the energy it has. I love to make it too. It’s just an all around fun process. And it’s simple arrangements and ideas make it a DJs wet dream to play out! 

I’ll be honest and say that its that’s only just come onto my radar, but it’s got me hooked. I love how raw it sounds.

D: Yeah, it’s street music in Chicago! It’s a grassroots effort. A lot like how Crunk used to be like in Atlanta, or even hip hop in the late 70’s in NYC. Widespread. The producers get it done by whatever means necessary. A lot of them are on some bare bone setups. We just had DJ Rashad for our Embassy Recordings night ‘ROYAL’. It went off!

What grabbed your attention about the Moldy tunes?

D: I’m in love with the fact that he can keep it minimal and yet so effective. The track ‘No Means To Smoke It’ uses only 5 or so sounds… but it hits you like a wall ! Moldy has been doing very big things in the US for years. He’s one of the original pioneers of the sound for our country. He stays true to the idea of what DUBstep should be. We wanted this release to be a testament that the U.S. does know what ‘true dubstep’ is, and has known for a while.

EMB005B - Moldy - No Means To Smoke It by Embassy Recordings

What’s the plan for Embassy over the next year? What have you got coming up?

D: We’ve got a slew of fresh artists who are just starting to really build something. The next few releases are going to get a bit harder; we plan on releasing some tunes we did a few years back that we consider our personal breakout tunes.

Then the plan is to release a small EP from this guy in Toronto, he’s doing some mental work with vocals and soundscapes. It’s very enlightening and definitely his own.

Also we might be releasing a few juke/footwork tunes from some new US artists that I’ve been working with, and then finally gonna come back around and release some tunes by Belgium heavyweights “Subreachers” … actually their release will be quite diverse; acid house and dubstep.

Are you guys releasing solely digital?

M: At the moment we are digital only, but we hope to change that soon! We’re trying to work out a box set of 7inchers for the tenth release … and hopefully we can switch to full 12” soon.

What are the best parties in the US for bass music? Who else is pushing the sound over there?

The best parties in the U.S. for bass music at the moment… that’s a tough one. We’re doing this so large in Atlanta right now. Atlanta dubstep has become a well oiled machine, and we bring such a diverse arena of sound. We have something for everyone. From Appleblim to Caspa, and most of our profit has gone back into our soundsystem. Time for a sound clash?

There’s a vinyl only night in San Diego called ‘Dead Technology”. There’s ‘Bassic’ in Boston, and I hear there are tons of underground parties in NYC going on after the dissolving of ‘DubWar’. I just played SMASH! in Vegas last week, that was a proper party. And ‘Gritsy’ in Houston holds it down for the second best southern town outside of Atlanta

One of the most intriguing parties for me is ‘Da Warzone’ in Chicago. It’s a footwork night that’s setup for people to get off the streets and into dancing! The turnout is always huge.

EMB004B - Cosmic Revenge - Mind Eraser by Embassy Recordings

Whats your production set up like?

D: We’re both on Logic Pro 9 with Mackie monitors and some midi controllers

Do you guys use any hardware or is it VST all the way?

M: I resample through a mixing desk to give some of the sounds some crunch! We both have used outboard drum machines and samplers in the past, but it’s easier to just do it all in the computer so we can change things if they don’t work on the dance floor.

There is something cool about recording it all on the fly straight from the drum machine….

D: Yeah thats what I respect the most about the juke guys… it’s the complete opposite setup!

OK final question… Digital VS Analogue?

D: Both! Though at the moment we play on Serato with CDJs, but there are some tunes you can only get properly on wax. I like to have the option to bring a few vinyls to put in my set when I play out.

M: Personally I like the feel of vinyl and I like flipping through the records and the smell of the dust etc. I like the sound of putting the plate down and missing the nub and then sliding it on… but to be honest right now because of technology like looping etc, I prefer Serato for DJ’ing.

Check out Distal on SUBFM every other Sunday from 6-8pm and in the meantime head to Boomkat to purchase the Moldy EP… Proper dancefloor dubstep!