Urban Torque is an independently owned electronic dance music label founded by Jason Moore and run with Leigh Morgan, who is also the label’s A&R Manager. The inspiration for the label came from the club night 'Urbantorque', which Jason established at Heaven nightclub in London between 1998-2002, as promoter and resident DJ. Many pundits have since commented that Urbantorque set the blueprint for many of the clubs that followed in London. The night boasted a carefully crafted line-up of DJs, never before seen under one roof in London. 'Tyrant', 'Friction' and 'Wiggle' held sway on rotation in the middle room, whilst techno godfather Juan Atkins held court in the main room, launching his first European residency. Regular guests included Danny Rampling, who asked Jason to deliver a live mix on his Radio 1 show, and a certain up-and-coming DJ called Danny Howells whom Jason really believed in.. The night didn't escape Pete Tong's attention either, and Pete asked Jason to host The Essential Christmas Party (In Association with Mixmag & ffrr) with DJs Pete Tong, Pete Heller, Stanton Warriors, Felix Da Housecat and Lenny Fontana.
Urban Torque the label began life in 2002, after an inspirational trip to the Miami Winter Music Conference. Armed with a scorching sampler, the label won early plaudits from DJs as diverse as Deep Dish, Charles Webster, Sasha, Roger Sanchez, and James Zabiela. It quickly began to set the pace, releasing some of the best deep electronic music around, leading iDJ to comment: “Urbantorque has released some of the best deep house to come out of the UK in a long chalk, and has consistently released spot-on dance-floor fare. – The UK’s best new house label?”
Even in those early days Urbantorque was never a label to release record after record after record, adhering to a philosophy that emphasizes quality over quantity and genuinely values artist development and A&R. Consequently, releases from the label are keenly anticipated by DJ's, press and fans alike. Urbantorque's early deep house sensibilities have morphed over the past years into a more electronic take on the deep; beautiful, emotive music that also impacts heavily on the dance-floor. It’s a sound that often crosses boundaries, defies genres and ignores passing fads; little surprise, given the outlook of its founder:
"I'm not interested in conforming or being accepted - that bores me. We're discovering new and exciting producers who have belief and attitude. Music is art and expression. It's not just about pleasing people. It should ask questions, challenge your comfort zones and evoke emotion. Most of all, it should stand for something; and that's what I hope we as a label will do.." Jason Moore - Label Founder.
Momentum at Urbantorque has been steadily building since its inception, leading to the drafting-in of two other team members. Neil Quigley, a regular spinner at Bedrock and Renaissance events, has been installed as an A&R scout. With an ear for what he describes as ‘electronic house with soul’, Neil’s almost neurotic search for deep musical gems is an unquestionable asset to the team. More recently, Tim Hirst has joined the crew of the good ship UT charged with spreading the word and raising the flag of Urbantorque as its Press and PR bod.
Urbantorque is now in the enviable position of boasting one of the strongest forthcoming release schedules of any electronic label. It will soon be putting out new material from truly global DJs and artists, including Tom Middleton and Hernán Cattáneo, a true superstar DJ without the superstar ego and a long-time supporter of the label. Together with genius production partner John Tonks, Hernán delivers a formidable label debut called 'Anime' (Out June 16, 2008).
Other releases to watch out for include 'Dark Star' by Afterlife & Pete Gooding; two names synonymous with the magic of Ibizan sunsets, who, have teamed-up in production as 'No Logo' following the success of their collaboration on the Café Mambo compilation albums. (Out May 26, 2008).
Francois DuBois's seminal cuts ‘Blood’ and ‘I Try’ have been bubbling away on underground dance-floors and radios across the globe for some time now, and you can expect more of the same beautiful deepness, including an eagerly awaited debut studio album.
With A&R and developing new talent at the heart of everything Urban Torque does, its not surprising that the agenda rests in more ambitious climes than 12" dance singles alone. The uber-cool Essex duo 'Relation', are currently in the studio finishing their debut studio album, and the hotly-tipped 'Eat More Cake' from Harrow, are also due to begin recording theirs. Both album artists have been in-development with Urban Torque for a number of years, and although frustrating at times for both artist and label, its a testament to UT philosophy to see it through.
i'm happy. YOUR track in MY mix have been selected and published in London. (there's a playlist) - presentation in front with the picture of the skull.
Hy Friend, I'm here again for EML this week is #40 and Special Guest” DJ VASILINA” From Moscow (TRACTORECORDS) On the air on Broadcasting Radio in S. Domingo on Listin Fm 99.7, in Europe on viaMontenapoleone, in Italy on 105 In Da Klub, in Switzerland on R.T.O and every week free for you on podcast Thank you for dowloading Maurinaz
