It’s not everyday a bonafide veteran calls in at Plain & Simple HQ for a chat about running a record label. Consider this a real privilege then.
Born, bred and still-based in New York City, Dennis Ferrer is a legend when it comes to soulful- leaning, quintessentially Big Apple sounding house music, and boasts a career that name-checks the likes of Masters At Work and Martinez Brothers, to name but a few. He’s also been heading up the Objektivity imprint since operations began back in 2006, and visits London next weekend to head up his label showcase at Egg, on Friday 16th May. Taking that into consideration, we decided it was a good time to ask the man in question a thing or two about a thing or two, and how he does what he does, so read on if you feel similarly inclined.
Describe your imprint’s output.
Quality before quantity. Objective looks at dance music in general hence the imprint’s name. But with a ‘K’…
What would you say makes it different?
Hmmmm I never thought about that. I suppose we don’t really do what everyone else is doing stylistically wise. I’m not really a trend follower. We just really do what we feel and I suppose that comes across as a bit off the beaten path.
What is it that makes you keep looking for new talent to expose?
That doesn’t ever end. Everyone needs a helping hand every now and then…. and I remember when I was trying to break in and a very selective few people actually held the door open for me. I’m just doing what anyone who’s been given this blessing SHOULD be doing. Not a single one of us in reality “owns” their music… IT OWNS YOU. Everyday that passes by and I talk to people who recognise me and the music I’ve created proves this.
What’s the label’s pinnacle achievement so far?
Still being around. Haha.
If people were going to hear one release from your camp, what would you prefer it to be?
Oh wow… …I don’t know… …I would suppose for me it would be the remix to Telepopmusik, Love Can Damage Your Health. I mean that was soooo out there at the time.
All being well, skip forward five years, where would you like things to be?
Massive branded events…with massive lineups…and amazing records being released. Pretty much every label owner’s dream, haha.