Monarchy Records is more than a label. It is my long-term vision for a self-sustained cultural engine that fuses the raw energy of UK dance music with the sharpness of a modern brand. Inspired by labels like EC2A, Hardline Sounds, and Untitled Distribution, I aim to turn Monarchy into a multi-dimensional enterprise encompassing vinyl distribution, limited-run merchandise, sample packs, and branded raves or pop-up events.

Like EC2A, which has established successful imprints such as Bootleg Bandits and Unit 6, I want Monarchy to house sublabels with distinct sonic identities, each one tailored to different styles across UKG, tech house, and speed garage. My broader ambition is to create a platform that builds cultural capital, facilitates cross-scene collaboration, and reflects the dynamism of the underground. DJing internationally is a key goal, not just for exposure but to connect Monarchy to like-minded scenes and networks abroad, cementing its role in the global dance ecosystem.

Blog Post 2 – How My Course, Peers, and Work Experience Shaped My Vision

While my university course has provided some structure, most of my real-world learning has come from external work and peer collaborations. A standout experience was my involvement with Pullup Recordings, where I helped run events including their London stop and the upcoming Gemfest in 2025, where I’ll perform. These moments have shown me the nuts and bolts of independent event promotion—flyers, guest lists, set times, logistics.

Zaron Lane, a close peer since our Chichester College days, has been a critical source of honest feedback and creative exchange. Our discussions often shape my decisions for Monarchy, whether about sound, release strategy, or visual identity.

Additionally, my role managing Yosqi London has given me concrete business experience, handling suppliers, making high-level decisions, and navigating customer-facing work. This job unexpectedly became a training ground for understanding brand-building, which directly informs how I intend to scale Monarchy Records as a label and lifestyle brand.

Blog Post 3 – Core Influences—Labels, People, and Genres

Monarchy Records is shaped by a wide net of influences across generations of UK dance culture. Contemporary labels like EC2A, Hardline Sounds, Untitled Distribution, Constant Sound, Instinct, Pondlife Party, and ATW guide my vision for how a label can operate as a culture, not just a catalogue.

I’m also heavily influenced by 90s pioneers like ECKO Recordings and Reflective, who laid the groundwork for garage, speed garage, and early house hybrids. The sounds of artists like Dr Dubplate, DJ Cosworth, Soul Mass Transit System, Burnski, Main Phase, Interplanetary Criminal, Silva Bumpa, and Big Ang continue to shape my production decisions.

Sonically, Monarchy lives at the intersection of UK Garage, Speed Garage, Bassline, Dubstep/140, Deep House, Grime, and even strands of Dutch Hard House, as seen in the works of Club Caviar and Malugi. I’m also drawn to the world of white labels and dubplate culture, spaces where scarcity and sonic identity create hype organically. This energy mirrors the streetwear world of Supreme and Palace, which I see as visual and distribution references.

Blog Post 4 – The Realities of Living as an Artist and Label Owner

Running Monarchy Records as a self-funded entity presents significant challenges. Vinyl pressing is expensive, sample clearance is complex, and event logistics are resource-heavy. Every release involves costs for mastering, artwork, promo, and physical production. Without external funding, each decision has to be strategic.

Balancing creative output with administrative duties and a day job creates time pressure and emotional fatigue. The push to maintain a coherent brand identity while still experimenting musically is a constant balancing act.

However, experiences like working with Pullup Recordings and managing Yosqi have given me resilience. They’ve shown me how to operate on tight margins and still deliver quality. These roles also taught me to value partnerships, leverage contacts, and stay pragmatic under pressure.

Blog Post 5 – My Work and Its Reception Beyond University

Monarchy Records is designed for a specific kind of listener and cultural participant—one who values rarity, physical media, underground aesthetics, and sound system culture. I’m not chasing mainstream exposure. Instead, I aim to build a brand that DJs, collectors, and core fans trust.

By focusing on vinyl-only releases, secret bootlegs, and genre-blending tracks, I’m creating a sense of identity that goes beyond the music itself. Limited merch drops and pop-up events will help extend that identity offline, generating real community and cultural currency.

I believe this will resonate with people embedded in the DIY dance scene—those who care about energy, not algorithms. Leveraging social media is still part of the strategy, but it will be used with intent, not overexposure. My long-term aim is to make Monarchy a name that travels organically—passed hand-to-hand, played in the right sets, seen in the right places.

Blog Post 6 – Creative Output—Tracks and Artistic Direction

My current batch of tracks represents the breadth and direction of Monarchy’s sound:

• Reset – An acid-heavy, hardgroove-tinged speed garage track designed for peak-time club use.
• Watch This – A techy, bass-weighted garage roller that bridges groove and grit.
• Pyrate – 22 Badman (Junko Remix) – A remix with housey overtones and sub-bass designed to cut through large systems.
• Badboy Dub – A pure white-label tune, fast and raw, made for vinyl with no digital release.
• Feel About Luv – A flip of DJ Pooch & De-Legal’s “Sexy Lady,” meant as a B-side that pairs nostalgia with new-school weight.
• True Love Never Dies – A bootleg of the Inga B & Hazza classic, rebuilt for today’s dance floors.

These tracks aren’t just output; they’re prototypes for the label’s sound and ethos. All are designed for playability, sonic character, and cultural alignment with the scenes I want to engage.

Blog Post 7 – Sustainable Practice and Professional Wellbeing

Staying sustainable as both an artist and label owner means pacing myself and structuring responsibilities. Collaboration is key, sharing duties with trusted friends, delegating tasks like design or promo, and rotating DJ bookings to avoid burnout.

I also plan to seek mentorship, not from institutions but from peers and professionals already operating in similar spaces. The success of labels like Hardline and Pondlife Party shows that independent, collaborative structures are viable with the right networks.

Wellbeing means knowing when to slow down, when to push, and how to avoid comparisons. This is a long game,not a rush to go viral or blow up. Success for Monarchy will come from consistency, culture, and care.

Blog Post 8 – Next Steps and Long-Term Development

In the next 6–12 months, my focus is on:

• Finalising and pressing the first Monarchy Records EP.
• Launching a branded event series in London and surrounding areas.
• Expanding the online presence through curated visuals, mix series, and interviews.
• Building connections with distributors like Untitled Distribution through organic networking.

Long-term, Monarchy Records will operate as a modular platform—with sublabels, raves, bootlegs, digital tools (sample packs), and international collaborations. I want it to mirror what EC2A and Hardline have done: build a system, not just a label.

The ultimate goal is to create something that lasts—a space for artists to experiment, for fans to belong, and for culture to evolve without compromise.