It began with a Prince’s Trust start-up loan, and since that time back in 2005, Milton Keynes-based label KingUnderground has gone on to great success, writes Sammy Jones.
The one-time independent online-record outlet has moulded and expanded and is now operational as a record label releasing music from artists all over the world.
“The aim is to release quality underground music on vinyl as well as on digital formats,” says man at the helm, Dan Englander, who co-founded the business with Peter McCaffrey.
The pair shared a passion for good music, record collecting and hip-hop.
Today, Dan is the sole owner of KingUnderground, which he has been running successfully for the past eight years or so, still predominantly pushing hip-hop, but also soul and funk, with more expansion planned,
The growing roster of artists includes players from Norway, Russia and the US, and some from right here on the doorstep, including Ernest Herb (below) and Simiah.
Multi-instrumentalist Herb enjoyed a busy live 2017 and is now working on his debut album which will be delivered later this year.
Simiah’s debut release, in 2010, was only the second album issued through the label.
He is currently finishing up his fourth long-player with the Phantom Ensember.
One of the most successful label names is one-time Virgin Records signee Lewis Parker, who has also produced for the Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah.
Dan also uses KU as a vehicle for his own music-making, delivering tunes under the name Pings.
“The label is going from strength to strength,” he said.
“We recently did our first label night at the legendary Jazz Cafe in Camden Town which was highly successful.”
The coming months will be suitably busy too with more artist development and more signings - and some surprises: “ I’m in the middle of trying to sign a very good soul, r'n'b singer, and we are also setting up a label night in Berlin,” Dan said.
Keep up to date here
> Never miss leisure news in Milton Keynes - Follow us on www.twitter.com/thisistotalmk
And on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thisistotalmk
