Q&A: Underground Source Records

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Soundspace

Who is Underground Source Records?

Underground Source

I’m Amine Benali and Underground Source Records is a deep house label based in Tunisia that I launched in July 2012 with a simple goal, promoting the new wave of young talents and also highlight Tunisia on the worldwide scene hoping to bridge the gap between being commercially successful and staying true to the underground.

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Soundspace

All the records you release have a very similar sound, was this the initial plan or did it happen by accident?

Underground Source

Of course this was the original plan, releasing this kind of deep house with the 90’s touch. We set ourselves apart from other labels with our first releases especially Matteo Barile’s The Garden State and Rosenhaft’s “OlaWanaDue”. Those 2 releases traced a path for this label, a path which led to our latest EP with that same special touch made in Underground Source Records.

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Soundspace

You said your aim is to make the world more aware of the house scene within Tunisia, do you feel its struggling to gain global publicity?

Underground Source

Of course it is struggling. No one is aware of the huge number of artists who are struggling, their music is good enough to compete with the most creative talents on the worldwide scene. But many of them dropped out because they always face closed doors and unless there’s some credit and feedback for their work, all of them are going to turn their backs to their country and find support in the foreign labels where they could sign and get some recognition for the work they do.

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Soundspace

You’re now one year old, what are your plans for the next 12 months?

Underground Source

Well, hopefully we’ll have more influence and share Underground Source Records’ music with a global audience. Also maybe sign more well Known Artists on the deep house scene. But we’ll never stop presenting new young artists to the world and especially to Underground Source fans.

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Soundspace

If you could live in one country for a day, where would it be and why there?

Underground Source

I would really like to spend a day in Berlin, wandering around from club to club and from store to store.

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Soundspace

Do you have any advice for anyone considering starting a label?

Underground Source

It takes a lot of commitment and a ton of money. You will almost certainly have to work on your label every day, even if you have a full time job. You’ll need to be organized and be passionate about what you do. Because let’s face it, everything turns out better with passion. It’s also about the love you have for House music.

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Soundspace

What’s your opinion on the current state of the digital & physical markets, house scene and overall music industry?

Underground Source

Vinyl is back which is a good thing. But it is going to annoy Digital only labels! That’s why we’re preparing our entry to the physical market. There are some huge changes happening to the music industry. I mean with the huge competition and the hundreds of releases everyday we should make a difference by appearing overly different from the bumper crop of house-bass labels that are gaining steam.

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Soundspace

What can we expect in terms of releases in the near future?

Underground Source

An EP from Alex Agore, with remixes from Colman Buckley and Nick Beringer. Nothing better!

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Listen to Owen Thomas – Stayin’ Friends (Incl Remixes):

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