The house music scene was more vibrant than ever in 2023 with the help of these six labels that brought some heat into the mix.
The roots of house music date back to the formative years of the scene, and its presence has never left. In fact, it’s continued to reach even greater heights with each passing year. House music can be found in every major hub for dance music on the planet, from intimate nightclubs to larger-than-life festivals, and artists who make beats in the genre keep pushing boundaries to explore new sonic reaches.
Thousands of labels and even more producers are championing a wide range of house music sounds, from tech house to bass house and everything in between. This year has seen some of the heaviest hitters make major moves while fresh faces look to gain ground and captivate new fans, and we’ve curated six that we feel made a lasting impression. Read on for the full list!
Six House Labels That Shook Up the Scene in 2023
EMPIRE Dance
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EMPIRE has become renowned for bringing forth some of the best in the realms of hip-hop, R&B, and African music ever since Ghazi launched the imprint in 2010. This year brought something new and exciting into the mix for fans of the label, as after they acquired Dirtybird in 2022, they set their sights on the dance music scene and debuted EMPIRE Dance.
EMPIRE Dance has seen early success in its first full year of operation as artists have begun to get signed by the newly minted imprint. They quickly set the tone for their signature sound with releases like The Martinez Brothers and Tommy Genesis‘ “PFW (Paris Fashion Week)” as well as Night Tales and Champion DI’s “Work It Out.” VHOOR also found a home on the imprint with the Viaduto EP. Additionally, the House of EMPIRE compilation bridged two diverse regional cultures with genres including Amapiano, Phonk, and other subgenres of House, and its release was a huge moment for collaborative global music culture.
Beyond their own releases, EMPIRE Dance also brought others into the fold. This included Aluna, who launched her Noir Fever label under their banner, and Soul Clap, whose imprint resides there as well. Add in some free parties that have taken place near and far, such as their impressive showcase during ADE, and it’s clear that this label is gearing up to take listeners on quite a ride in 2024. Keep your ears tuned to their channels.
Experts Only
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When John Summit launched Experts Only (fka Off The Grid) in 2022, it was clear that he had a vision for greatness. Since then, he’s delivered each step of the way by dropping some pure heat on the imprint from his mind and those of other budding talents in the scene, all while growing a dedicated fanbase that soaks up every second.
While Summit’s own tracks like “Where You Are” with Hayla, “Legacy” with VLTRA, “Fade Out” with MKLA have stood tall on Experts Only, there have been plenty of other stunners in 2023. Odd Mob and OMNOM’s “Losing Control” was impossible to avoid at seemingly any house set, and the same went for Mau P’s showstopping tune “Your Mind Is Dirty.” Throw in a dash of BLR’s “Lipstick” with Robbie Rise and Ellis Moss‘ massive track “Calling,” and you’ve got the recipe for a successful future on the horizon.
Dirtybird
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The legacy of Dirtybird runs deep in the scene, and their fearless leader, Claude VonStroke, has continued to weather the changes that have happened along the way. Last year saw their acquisition by EMPIRE as they began to embark on their journey into a new era with fresh and exciting adventures that await now that it falls under the EMPIRE Dance umbrella led by Moody Jones.
Dirtybird trucked on this year by dropping some serious heat for house music lovers to shuffle the day and night away to. Not only did they drop heaters from longstanding artists like VNSSA and Walker & Royce, but they also put a heavy focus on the talent they’re helping reach even greater heights, such as Cour T., Body Ocean, GetCosy, Mike Kerrigan, and Arnold & Lane.
The new year is shaping up to be a refreshing one for Dirtybird. Dirtybird Campout and Dirtybird CampINN will be substituted with more boutique pop-ups that are free for their fans while the label goes back to focusing on the music. Claude VonStroke is shaking things up by leaning heavily into his Barclay Crenshaw alias with a new album on the way, and more tunes from other signed artists will be released soon. Make sure you’re locked into their socials for all the latest and greatest.
Defected
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It would feel wrong not to have one of the true global powerhouses in the house scene mentioned on this list, especially because their dominating path picked up plenty of momentum. Of course, we’re talking about none other than the UK-based label Defected. Their status at the top of the scene has never really come into question, especially in the post-pandemic years, where they have seemingly reached higher heights than ever before.
On the release front, Defected has housed releases from some of the most impressive artists in the scene, ranging from Todd Edwards and Ferreck Dawn to Harry Romero and Hannah Wants. That’s not to mention tracks like “Feels So Good” by Arielle Free and “Deep Inside Of Me” by Bob Sinclar, A-Trak, and Mele that captivated thousands around the world.
But beyond the beats, Defected has carved out even more space for themselves in the scene. They partnered with Beatport’s LabelRadar to help open the doors for new talent, expanded their New Year’s Eve festivities to become a global party that will grace every inhabited continent, and teamed up with The Circuit Group to deepen their presence in North America. There’s no stopping the path that Defected is on, and 2024 is about to be another major year for the brand.
Insomniac Records
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Insomniac Music Group is the home to a plethora of dance music labels that range from trance and future bass to dubstep and techno, but their flagship Insomniac Records imprint has really taken the cake in 2023 with some fantastic tunes. Artists who found a home on the imprint this year included Odd Mob, OMNOM, Martin Ikin, Chaney, Tom & Collins, AMEME, San Pacho, Kyle Watson, Dombresky, Solardo, Joshwa, Matroda, and James Hype, all of whom brought their dynamic sounds along with them.
Some of the standout releases on Insomniac Records this year included Westend, Noizu, and No/Me’s “Push To Start,” Biscits‘ “Don’t Stop,” SIDEPIECE’s “Westside,” and Max Styler’s “Satisfy,” among others. There’s plenty more to come in 2024, so make sure you’re tuned into Insomniac Records.
Hellbent Records
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Rounding out this list is a label pioneered by Cloonee – Hellbent Records. Defined by its mantra of “Good Music For Bad People,” this imprint set off to shake up the house in 2022 and really came into its own this year with even more incredible releases that have lit up dancefloors around the world. Standout artists that added some fire to the Hellbent roster in 2023 included the likes of Havoc & Lawn, Trace (UZ), Andruss, Lucas Bahr, Greg (BR), and Aitor Astiz, while their Hotter Than Hell and Welcome To Hell II compilations turned the dial up an extra notch.
Add in Cloonee’s merch drop, which sold out in the blink of an eye, and it’s evident that fans are hungry for even more from Hellbent as we head into 2024. Make sure to give them a follow because you won’t want to miss out on any releases next year.
