Bass music can range from Dubstep to Drum & Bass. While it can take on many shapes and sizes, one thing that always holds true is that it will make you go bump in the night. Some people see it as the problem child of Dance music with its disruptive nature and rebellious artists but others can't get enough of it. One label that has provided a home for these misfits is Play Me Records. The Los Angeles based label was started by Reid Speed and her husband Alexander Rosson in 2009 and they're dedicated, above all else, to the discovery and development of the next breed of raucous artists.
Reid Speed has earned a name for herself in the Bass music world, namely Drum & Bass, for years as a producer and a DJ. At 15, she ended up at a rave called Eden in Colorado where a DJ Dan set gave her the idea that stories could be told through music. She decided from then on, her money went solely to new DJ equipment and records. She started getting gigs by frequenting NYC record store Breakbeat Science and gaining detailed knowledge of Bass music. But as she started her own original projects and she met failure with enough of them due to forces out of her control, she grew tired of relying on others. So she created an environment where she could ensure success. Reid decided to create a multi genre label, Play Me, but gravitated towards Dubstep since Beatport preferred single genre releases--a smart business move to position her young label for growth. Their third release hit #25 on the Beatport Dubstep charts and since then releases from artists like We Bang and J Rabbit have consistently placed high on the charts.
Play Me Records continued its streak of supporting talented young artists with releases including Dillon Francis' first track. This led to their string of awards like Best Branded Label (2012) from Symphonic Distribution, Best Dubstep Label (2011) from Symphonic Distribution, Best Dubstep Label (2010) from Beatport, Best Breakthough Artist (We Bang "Smash The Floor"), Best New Artist (Bare), and Best Label (2010) from Symphonic Distribution. All of this came before the label even turned five years old.
Their popularity has grown fast enough to the point that they needed to create a sister label, aptly called, Play Me Too. Play Me's releases have also been licensed for use on Ministry of Sound, Nike, MTV, CBS, and So You Think You Can Dance. Other notable accomplishments include seven #1s and over half of its releases reaching the Top 10.
Play Me Records' roster is currently composed of Cyberoptics, Riot, Must Die!, Singularity, and Donkong among others. But they don't limit their releases to their artists solely. Their Facebook profile description reads almost like the manifesto at the bottom of the Statue of Liberty explaining that all are welcome to New York City:
"We specialize in memorable, full-frequency range, melodic bass music. All genres/BPMs."
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Keep up with Play Me Records on its Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, website, and Twitter.