Jay CunningINTRO
Having only launched in 2021, Violet Nights Recordings has already made a huge impact on the growing underground scene dedicated to revitalising, and continuing, the seminal 90’s Drum & Bass atmospheric sounds. And with only 3 vinyl releases (there are many more to come!) it’s time to find out what’s behind the VNR movement…
Who’s behind VNR and how did the idea of the label come about?
We feel so privileged to be involved in this new era for D&B.
Flash, What are the cornerstones that make VNR what it is?
The biggest cornerstone is the people that buy the music and contribute to the group online. We have a vibrant community of people who love the scene and the music, and we are overwhelmed by their constant enthusiasm and support. It’s not easy or inexpensive supporting music that you love – but without them, there is no scene, no music and no label, so hats off to those guys.
Musically we have an ethos, but we’re not too prescriptive. We believe the term Atmospheric casts quite a wide net. The principles would sound something like high production levels, musicality, funk, soul, stirring pads and shimmering vocals with cosmic, spiritual vibes.
We are extremely proud of the stable of artists we are building, and the music they are producing is incredible. We get so excited when we receive new tracks. It’s a huge buzz to hear these tunes and to know that they exist. Then it hits us that not only are we going to own them on vinyl, but they’re actually coming out on OUR label. We feel so privileged to be involved in this new era for D&B. We have to send a huge shout to our brother Blame. He has been heavily instrumental in so much of what we have done so far, and we can’t thank him enough. Musically, he is a genius. As I often say ‘Blame, nice guy, bad man!’. It’s not just his tracks we have signed, he is an important sounding board in all that we do aesthetically. His input has influenced the way VNR looks and presents and is priceless.
Absolutely, we are working on this right now. We are lucky enough to have some amazing DJ/Producers involved with VNR and we are looking forward to unleashing them and their music on to a suspecting public.
The first release set the bar high with Blame and just kept on giving, how’s it been going so far?
Blame, the label was launched with the epic Understanding And Knowing & In My Soul, how (and when) did you come about creating these?
Back in 1996, I needed exclusive dubplates for my DJ sets. These dubs were so hard to get hold of because the big DJs had a monopoly on all the unreleased bangers. So I decided the only way forward was to make my own! I never released these tracks at the time because they were what gave me the edge in my DJ sets. As the years went on I forgot all about them, and it was only while searching the vaults (aka a box in my garage) that I rediscovered the tracks. Amazingly the DAT tapes still played perfectly, and as soon as I mentioned to VNR that I’d found them, a meeting was set up and we sealed the deal on the spot!
Chippie, Big Grey Wolf was your first release on VNR, tell us what this tune means to you.
Flash, what are your thoughts on the 160 tempo D&B scene?
I genuinely believe that energy and vibrancy in music is in no way linked to tempo
We’ve been signing music for the label in anticipation of launch for over 2 years and there are some astounding tracks scheduled. The dream is that they will prove to be the classics of this era. We have lots of tracks in the vaults but we are always on the lookout for more. We talk about building something lasting, but the reality is we take nothing for granted. The golden rule we follow is that everything, first and foremost, is led by the quality of the music. For as long as there are killer tracks available, we will keep pressing them. Long may that continue.