Can you tell us how your label started?
The label was created in 2002 by Gordon Gieseking. Gordon had been a DJ since 1992 firstly specializing in Hip Hop and then moving into the world of electronic music around 1998-2000. At first, the label was envisaged as a compilation project only, but in 2004 Gordon found a perfect partner – Thomas Ulrich and his now formidable mail-order imprint “hhv.de”.
From there, the labels’ team and family grew, releasing firstly instrumental and vocal solo projects and steadily expanding over time.
How would you describe the Project: Mooncircle sound to the ones that don´t know your label´s output?
Our diverse back catalogue is one of no musical boundaries. Today much of the label’s output focuses on the fusion of organic and electronic music. With us you never know quite what to expect, but we’re always looking for original and engaging music.
Can you tell us which is your most successful release so far, saleswise? And, if you feel you can reveal it, the one you are most fond of, for a reason or the other?
Our most successful release to date is Long Arm’s “The Branches”. Released in early 2011 and re-released in a deluxe gatefold edition, it is a wonderfully constructed Downtempo Instrumental Hip Hop and Nu Jazz record. In terms of our “favorite record”: Every single release holds some special significance to us, whether it’s a new record from one of the long established artists on our roster or a new musical addition all together. We choose our new artists and releases very carefully over time and always look for new experimental music that can take our label into a new realm and direction.
Which is your favourite medium when it comes to release music on your label? Is vinyl still the long-term way to go in your opinion?
We almost always release on vinyl with the inclusion of a digital download code for each release. Additionally, all our music is available digitally across a wide range of platforms such as Bandcamp, iTunes, Bleep, Boomkat and many others. We also do very limited runs of cassettes for specific releases, which many of our customers and followers seem to really enjoy as well as CD versions every now and then. We also put a heavy emphasis on artwork and design, the label prides itself on the inclusion of original ideas and visions that are manifested not just in the music.
Can you tell us something about your latest releases? Neida and Erik Luebs Ep´s for example, how did you get to meet and sign them?
Most of the time we find artists ourselves or they are recommended by friends and other artists from our roster. Before we work together on releasing music, we usually already establish a relationship. With these two particular artist we have been in contact for quite a while and have been exchanging and working together on the music and ideas behind it for quite some time. We’re very happy about how they turned out eventually.
Talking about the A&R side of your work, what do you look for in an artist or an act when it comes to finding new talents for your label? Are the good old demos still a way to get your attention?
We listen to as much material sent to us as we can every single day, Josh, who works with us in the office, filters through a large amount of demo’s sent to us and we regularly listen together to things that flash up on our musical radars, get a group opinion and share some feedback.
As a listener, which kind of music excites you at the moment?
We each have our own tastes here in the office, but we all keep an ear out for genre bending emerging artists. Each of us has tastes based on our respective backgrounds in music and therefore looks in various directions for new stuff to listen to.
Can you tell us about the releases you got in the pipeline for the rest of 2015/early 2016? Any new artist/act is joining your roster?
We have a number of releases in the pipeline including in late November the new album from long time label artists KRTS entitled “Close Eyes To Exit”. We have been very excited to get this out for quite some time, Kurtis (KRTS) has become a very good friend of ours over the years and continues to surprise us to this day with his unique take on forward thinking electronic music.
We have also just added a new exciting addition to our roster in the form of Jilk, a Bristol based producer who started out as one man and his laptop and now, 10 years later, Jilk is a collective of musicians who create some truly wonderful Folk based music combined with electronic elements. We are really confident that Jilk will bring something unique to the label! We’re also currently working on the debut full length album by South Carolina based Kwala, who creates uniquely lush and magic dreamscapes in his music.
