Hello everyone! Blanka Barbara here and thank you BRC for inviting Rabbit Records to do a showcase for you! RR is run by me and my husband, Iggy.
What made you create this label? Why? What is the idea and inspiration behind it?
The label was started during the pandemic. Although I had the idea of creating my own label a few years before that when I just started releasing my own music. The label’s creation is strongly tied to my own musical and artistic direction. The launch of the label also marks the moment of finding like-minded people, who were interested in similar types of music in 2019-20, especially IDM and melodic techno.
The first ‘official’ release we both consider an important milestone is my single “Winter Wonderland” - an 8-min poem about celebrating winter and what happiness you feel 🙂
Exactly a year later, we marked the end of 2020 with a re-release of the original plus added remixes by incredible artists Odra, Ezek, and Bodam Project. Do read my emotional description on Beatport:
How long had the idea of a label been on your minds before its official launch? What were the challenges running up to its launch?
Having the right idea for each release, collaborating with equally dedicated creators, and putting your trust into each artist whom you support, are the most important things. Also creating an appealing visual presence online and on socials is key too.
What is the inspiration behind the log and artwork?
Visually appealing, simple, elegant. These were the key words that we both mentioned when starting the process of understanding what we wanted to create alongside the music.
We put a lot of effort into each artwork, how it matches the music, and into animations for social media.
What genre of music the label hosts and what do you look for specifically in a track that gives you that sense of belonging in a track to release it on your platform?
We focus mainly on well-crafted tracks that have a soul, musically speaking. IDM, melodic techno, progressive house and indie dance are the main genres, although there is so much music in-between that you can’t pin down as a genre on Beatport or elsewhere.
The music must be engaging, creative, and cleverly produced. We are always looking for unique approaches.
In terms of demos, how do you accept, review and reject from all the thousands you receive? What are the challenges in sifting through the boatload of demos you receive for releases and the communication you maintain with aspirants?
On a weekly basis, pretty much. Finding quality tracks is not a problem most of the time, it’s finding the right partners with consistent output for the label that is the crucial bit. We do communicate with pretty much everyone and bounce ideas, unless it is just a link in a blank demo e-mail without any description or human touch. If you don’t speak English then write in Spanish or French or Japanese - we have Google Translate, you know!
The best demo pitch we'd ever received was from Stroke in Landscape, a German producer who put lots of energy and thought not only into his awesome music, but into understanding where his inspiration came from. He was able to present it all in such a beautiful, honest and elegant manner, that we just signed his whole EP “Voices of Winter” right then and there!
How many VA and compilations do you release in a year and what kind of tracks you choose? What kind of artists do you select for the VA? Basically what purpose does a VA serve to a label?
We’ve released two so far - both different and equally rewarding. The first one, “Portal 01: The New Shores”, was a collection of original tracks we were gathering for 8 months from different producers. We might repeat that exercise in the future - hugely rewarding and a lot of fun!
The second one was a compilation of existing bestsellers “Into the ADE 2022” - the title pretty much speaks for itself ;)
Which one has been a highlight release and why? (share artwork of the EP)
Many releases are dear to our hearts. It is impossible to choose a single highlight. Also because releases are actually different - some of them are single-artist-dedicated, like Himmelblau or KYOOT EPs. Some are mini-compilations like “Into the Limelight” series, but the majority are originals accompanied by remixes. Having a different perspective of a remixer was always our goal for presenting and enhancing releases. Also, some were focused completely on ethereal sounds, and some were more groovy than others. For example, “Beacon of Hope” was always meant to be a multi-genre EP! - featuring Retroid, Haen, Marcelo Ignacio and Max Effe:
Perhaps the most successful progressive house release is by lovely guys Spirit & The Guide entitled “Alafia”, with really cool remixes by Fran Garay and Golan Zocher. Take a listen to how musically fetching the whole release is!
What do you expect from new talent when you sign them? What makes you reject them from releasing on your label?
Producers, be human, be professional, be brave, be open-minded. Let’s be partners and deliver beautiful music to our audiences and DJs together.
From your country, which other label is pushing the same music as you are and how do you think everyone is helping push the local producers?
The UK is such a vast pool of talent and music, it is mind-blowing. A better question would be ‘What musical genre ISN’T pushed there’! A terribly competitive market, which is good for the industry, but the mainstream genres ultimately win the game - garage, grime, UK bass and so on.
What kind of support do you look for from artists and other parties in promoting your music worldwide? What are the challenges in promoting music to corners of the world where you may not be as popular as in your home country.
Funnily enough, I think we are more known abroad than in the UK! This is excellent because we achieved exactly what we wanted when we started Rabbit Records - connecting with like-minded people around the globe. So many friendships have sprung because of that approach, it is stunning and wonderful at the same time :)