Our Face to Face series is back in the UK for the second time, and we’re once again taking the opportunity to delve into the world of electronic music with Keir Tyrer, co-founder of drum & bass labels Shogun Audio and Elevate Records.
Hailing from the Brighton music scene and founded by Ed Keeley (best known under his DJ name of Friction) and Keir Tyrer (a.k.a K.Tee), drum & bass label Shogun Audio and its affiliates structures – Elevate Records and SGN:LTD – have shaped the UK scene – and, dare we say it, the genre as a whole – over the last twenty years.
While Keir Tyrer took care of the business side of the label, Ed Keely played the role of talent scout and A&R. This dynamic duo signed some of the biggest names on the international drum & bass scene, including Alix Perez, SpectraSoul, Poly & Bryson and Rockwell, released tracks from drum & bass legends such as Noisia or Icicle. They built a legacy made of records and parties that have left their mark on clubbers (in the UK and beyond), and one that is still very much alive and going strong today.
On the occasion of Shogun Audio’s 20th anniversary, Alice McLean, Head of Video and Audience Development at Believe UK, spoke to Keir Tyrer about the Shogun Audio’s success and longevity, the importance of marketing in building a label and developing artists, and their partnership with b:electronic
My approach [..] has been to embrace streaming from the very, very early days. I think that paid some big dividends over time because as the market swung in our favor, we were already doing the right things, and had the right learnings, and the right of attitude going into that. So for me, Believe have been an amazing partner, we’ve had […] double digit growth year on year on year, and so there’s never really been any reason to question what we’ve done together because it’s been a big success. The team have been great.
Keir Tyrer
Shogun Audio, co-founder and co-owner
Want to learn more about Shogun Audio?
Get the latest Shogun Audio news on their website, on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
You can also follow Elevate Records on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.
You can stream Shogun Audio’s 20 Years of Shogun Audio compilation on your favorite streaming platforms, as well as Elevate Records latest release, “Document One” by Different & Comma Dee.
You can also follow b.electronic on Instagram to find more information about their latest releases.