With the experience he garnered from running Cube Recordings, New York City-based DJ/producer/dance music journeyman Junior Sanchez launched Brobot a year ago with an informed mindset that was all about good music. Formed through an alliance with Steve Angello’s Size Records, Brobot has released a spate of flawless house tracks in the blink of an eye — namely Sanchez’s “Drop It 2 The Floor” collaboration with Todd Terry — as well as big tunes from Felix Da Housecat and rising stars such as Alexander Technique and Blaqwell.
The essence of Brobot’s sound is captured on Year One, an anniversary compilation mixed by Sanchez featuring tracks from Harry Romero, Chocolate Puma, Mitch De Klein and the aforementioned Blaqwell.
As he looks ahead to the coming year in which Brobot will issue albums from Sonny Wharton, Heatseekers & Bakman and !gnrnt LvLs, we asked Sanchez to look back on Brobot’s first 365 days.
Brobot now has one year under its belt. How do you look back on the label’s first year?
Junior Sanchez: Brobot has progressed rapidly over the last year. It’s good to see a new brand get embraced by peers and music lovers/DJs. This label is about quality, not quantity, so that thought process and maintaining that mentality really shows this past year.
What’s been some of the most satisfying moments in running Brobot? What have been some unexpected challenges?
To see all the support the label has gotten across the board from everyone from Pete Tong to Annie Mac, Danny Howard, Toddla T… that shows that we are a diverse label with good taste in music and it resonates.
As far as challenges, it probably was just to find really great music to sign when a lot of kids just want to please labels. I just want stuff that shows creativity, not necessarily a typical deep house or a tech-house cookie cutter track for the sake of getting out music because that style is hot.
The label has so far worked with legends like Todd Terry as well as up-and-comers. Was that A&R mindset by design from the launch or did it simply evolve?
Absolutely. I believe that there’s still great music coming from luminaries like Todd Terry, Kenny Dope, Dennis Ferrer, Carl Craig… I could go on and on. I mean, look at MK’s resurgence — it shows that you can’t count out these creatives. For example, Kerri Chandler is loved now more than ever. You can’t deny real producers who are gifted! It’s not just about marketing an unknown and making a new name, a big name. I think that always happens organically with anyone if your music is dope [and] DJs will support you and will play your music and a person’s consistency will determine their success. I love Jesse Rose, Doorly, Shadowchild, Hot Since 82, Route 94, Wiess, Âme, &Me, Danny Daze and Maceo Plex, who I absolutely think is on his own path. I love what he does. I support and play their music. Then there are kids like Bambounou, TWR72 and Brillstein — up-and-comers who are getting their shine because they are delivering quality music without trying to cater and be typical. They are just being themselves. I dig that in a young producers. We have a crew of newcomers like Blaqwell and Alexander Technique, who bring a dope perspective to house and its multifaceted genres.
“Expect always the unexpected from me, but always know it’s the best underground and freshest house and electronic music you’ll hear.”
Tell us a bit about the one-year compilation and how it came together.
It was something I knew we wanted to do, so I discussed it internally within the team and we just said let’s do it! I wanted to review the past year and give the supporters and DJs some exclusives to keep it fresh as well.
What’s on tap for 2015 for you both as a DJ, producer and label owner? Who are you planning to work with?
I have tons new stuff coming out on Brobot. For the new year, a release on Jesse Rose’s label, a collaboration with my long time friends Chocolate Puma that we’ve been working on this past year as well another collab with Groovebox and Harry Romeo on the way. Just recently spoke to Dirty South about helping him out on his film project, which I think will be really dope. Basically, I am keeping myself busy and keeping things fresh! Not saying that you’re gonna hear just deep house from me, because that’s the fad or tech-house because that’s the fad! [Laughs.]
I’ve been keeping it real since I started making music. Keeping it real means making music you believe in, not to be a hipster and be accepted by a scene. I make house music, that means I MAKE HOUSE MUSIC! There are a lot of roots in that and ingredients, so if that means sometimes you feel like making something harder, deeper or edgier from time to time, then that’s okay. That is what creative people do! That’s why we make music — it’s to express ourselves. A chef doesn’t cook one dish — that would be boring! People tend to forget that Armand Van Helden did tracks like “Witch Doctor” and “Flowerz,” and someone like Lil’ Louis did “Video Clash” and “Blackout” [for] clubs only. All these records were different in essence; some deeper, some tougher, some more techno leaning, some more house, but that is still the same person expressing themselves and not having to restrict themselves to one genre, because that’s what’s in today! So expect always the unexpected from me, but always know it’s the best underground and freshest house and electronic music you’ll hear.
Any final thoughts?!
I’m excited to see what 2015 has in store. So much great music coming out, and so many creative artists on the rise! It’s time to take our music even further into the future!
DJ image via Facebook