Cassy’s label is firing on all cylinders

Cassy admits herself that she needed a push to start her own label, but since founding it in 2017 she’s found her groove and found a disitinctive “deeper, individual and unique version” of house music on which to concentrate. With her ‘Chateau Dance’ collaboration with Fred P – remixed by Steve Rachmad and touched by the magical mix mits of Buckwacka! as well – freshly out, it seemed a great time to shine the Juno Daily Label Focus searchlight on Kwench.

WHAT’S THE NAME OF YOUR LABEL, AND WHO RUNS IT?

Kwench Records. I run it. 

WHEN & WHY DID THE LABEL START?

In 2017. I felt reluctant to start it  but my then manager pushed me, saying that it would be very good for me. I wanted to find my way into it organically. It took years to find my groove, though. 

GIVE US A BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT YOU’VE RELEASED SINCE THEN….

A mix of functional house, deep house and trippy house, until finally a deeper, individual and unique version of house, as found on the last three EPs from the label – The Mission, E.T Ascension, and Château Dance with Fred P and Steve Rachmad bringing in remixes. 

WHAT QUALITIES ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN THE MUSIC YOU RELEASE?

That it hits the spot, that even if we are not inventing new styles and rehashing our favourite house records, I still want the music to be special and have producers who possess this very individual touch. They need to stand out in some way for me. 

WHAT KIND OF VISUAL IDENTITY DOES THE LABEL HAVE (ARTWORK, VIDEOS ETC) ?

I started working with the amazing Chris Rehberger, a very talented and established graphic designer in Berlin. I met him through Perlon. He is the designer and also one of the label owners of Perlon. He understood my mission with the music and it works well with his concept and idea for it. 

WHAT’S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST SELLING RELEASE TO DATE? TELL US A BIT ABOUT IT AND WHY YOU THINK IT WAS SO POPULAR.

Hmmm I think it is changing right now. Some tracks stood out sale-wise, probably like ‘Hot Key’ by Avision, Sebo K’s ‘New Steps’, or my records ‘Pacemaker’ and ‘Beat Your Feet’. ‘Runt Runt’ by Art Alfie was on an Apple Playlist and immediately got lots of attention. But of late the best selling one would be my last EP E.T Ascension, and now this will change with the current release – the collaboration with Fred P. One which really stands out, maybe not sale-wise but feedback-wise, is the label’s second release, Fred P’s Journey Mix of mine and Demuir’s record ‘Please Me’. Very interestingly, lately I had more people tell me how much they loved that.

NAME ONE RELEASE THAT YOU THINK DESERVED TO GET MORE ATTENTION THAN IT DID           

Cassy x Pete Moss You Gotta Know PT1 EP, featuring a remix from Ron Trent. 

IF YOU COULD SIGN ANY ARTIST, ALIVE OR DEAD, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?

I think I’m working with the artists I want to work with. I’d love to find new artists that share our vibe and love for the music. Actually, I’d love to release music by the very very very early MK.

WHICH OTHER LABELS DO YOU ADMIRE AND WHY?

So many! I especially love the ones that really follow their own path and don’t release music because they have to. I hugely admire labels like Honest Jon’s Records, which have a very musical and eclectic path. Or I obviously LOVE and hugely admire Basic Channel and Main Street Records. These labels, these pieces of music that keep and keep on selling, people keep discovering the music. It is fascinating to see. There are so many out there to mention..

WHAT CAN WE LOOK TO FROM YOUR LABEL NEXT?

Fred P and Cassy EP 2 with a DJ Rolando remix, a release by The Persuader and AD, and more very wonderful artists who I respect and admire.