TIM VAN WERD DELIVERS PURIFIED 500 ID ‘GOOD AS YOU ARE’ FT. ADRI

After months of anticipation following its premiere during Nora En Pure’s landmark Purified 500 stream from South Africa, Dutch artist Tim van Werd makes his Purified Records debut with ‘Good As You Are’, featuring ADRI.

As the final ID from the milestone performance to receive its official release, the track completes the musical picture of a moment that has continued to resonate throughout the Purified community.

Built around ADRI’s emotionally direct vocal performance, ‘Good As You Are’ pairs gentle instrumentation with progressive synth work and a gradual melodic rise, creating a record that paints a timeless sonic picture and leaves a lasting impression. 

Speaking about the release, Tim van Werd mentioned:

''From the studio to the mountains of Africa where Nora En Pure was the first to play ‘Good As You Are’, such a beautiful moment. Can’t wait to see how this one comes to life on the dance floor. ''

With releases on Spectrum, Armada and his own Innerleaf Records, more than 30 million streams, and support from artists including Joris Voorn, Tinlicker, Eelke Kleijn and Nora En Pure, Tim brings an established melodic identity into the Purified catalogue.

The artwork returns to the Lillie Hills in South Africa’s Greater Kruger region, where Purified 500 was filmed, through a photograph captured by Olivia McMurray. Bringing the release back to the landscape where it was first shared, the image connects the music with a milestone shaped by nature, community and a defining moment in Purified’s journey.

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Tim van Werd | ADRI | Purified Records | Only One

KITTBALL RECORDS CELEBRATES 300TH LABEL RELEASE

300, Pt. 1 – the first of three VA compilations marking the label’s milestone – is out now

Twenty-one years. 300 releases. A catalogue built without ever standing still.

Kittball Records reaches its milestone 300th release with 300, Pt. 1, a various-artists compilation celebrating more than two decades of house music, collaboration and an enduring commitment to the next record.

Bringing together a diverse selection of artists from across the label’s international family for the first of three milestone compilations, Tube & Berger join forces with Frank Sonic and Freddy Muller, while Noah Loco and Mat.Joe, Denace 2 Society, Jochem Hamerling, Roxy Nox, Purple Palms and Raffi Habel, and GIORG each add their own voice to the collection. Together, the names reflect Kittball’s long-standing commitment to established favourites, emerging talent and artists pushing the label’s sound forward.

At the heart of the 300th release is Back to the Stars, a new track from Kittball founders Tube & Berger alongside Frank Sonic and Freddy Muller. More than simply part of the compilation, the dreamy track serves as a musical reflection of the journey behind Kittball’s 300 releases – and the shared belief that authentic music has kept the label moving forward for more than two decades.

Speaking about the milestone, Arndt from Tube & Berger / Kittball mentioned:

“300 releases sounds like a big number, but for us it’s really just a lot of music, a lot of great people and more than 20 years of somehow keeping this thing alive. We’ve had amazing years, difficult ones, made good decisions and definitely a few questionable ones. But we’re still here, still releasing music we believe in. And that probably means more to me than the number 300 itself.”

Founded in Solingen in 2005 by Tube & Berger and Juliet Sikora, when Kittball entered the German house scene, there was no shortage of electronic music labels. Its approach was simple: stay uncompromising, and keep putting quality records into the world. Twenty-one years later, that philosophy remains largely unchanged.

Over the years, Kittball has weathered its share of highs and lows, evolutions and detours, building a catalogue that reflects the artists, sounds and moments that have shaped the label along the way.

Among them is Purple Disco Machine, who released Purple Pianos on Kittball in 2015, years before his sound reached the global charts. Robert Owens brought his unmistakable voice to Slipknot, while artists including Timo Maas, andhim, Ida Engberg, Format:B, Junior Jack and Volkoder have all contributed to the label's story through singles and compilations.

Kittball's history has also been captured through projects such as the Kittball Konspiracy compilations and the charity series It Began In Africa, bringing together different generations and corners of the electronic music community.

Some of those records still belong on a dancefloor at 3am. Others are unmistakably products of their time. For Kittball, both matter. A catalogue should document where a label has been – without pretending it always knew where it was going.

Because despite the milestone, Kittball isn't looking backwards for long. The team behind Kittball are keeping their pedal to the metal keeping the records coming.

300, Pt. 1 is out now via Kittball Records

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LA DISCOTHÈQUE SECURES MAJOR INVESTMENT FROM ESCAPISM TO FUEL WORLDWIDE GROWTH FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL 10TH YEAR

As the first in a series of six global investments planned by Escapism, the partnership scales the celebrated 10-year-old UK brand into North America, Europe, and Asia

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Celebrating “A Decade of Disco”, influential event series La Discothèque marks its 10th anniversary with new and substantial investment from Escapism, the electronic music brand and family office led by Dez Derry. 

Derry, who manages an eight-figure family office fund focusing on electronic dance music brands that target an older demographic, has selected La Discothèque as the first investment in a portfolio he is building, with the goal of completing six deals globally over the next three years. The investment will fund the brand's expansion into new international markets including North America, Europe and Asia.

Founded and led by Kat Warburton, who will continue as CEO to drive global expansion and scale the business, La Discothèque has spent the past decade building one of the UK's most respected disco brands. They mark this 10-year landmark with two huge Anniversary shows at The Warehouse Project and Drumsheds this November, and, most recently, a monumental July residency at 528 Ibiza. This milestone year now sets the stage for the brand's next chapter, taking La Discothèque beyond the UK into new regions where interest in the brand has already been building.

The investment will support the expansion of Kat’s team, providing La Discothèque with the infrastructure to run multiple shows simultaneously. This will allow the brand to meet growing international demand while preserving the core values and ethos that have defined its first decade.

Kat Warburton, founder of La Discothèque shares:

“I’m incredibly proud to have taken La Discothèque to its 10th Anniversary. A decade of building, pushing boundaries and throwing some seriously unforgettable parties. It’s taken hard work, creativity, innovation and resilience, but above all, it’s been driven by an incredible community and the relationships we’ve built along the way. 

The investment from Escapism gives us the opportunity to take La Discothèque to the next level, elevating every part of the brand, expanding into new markets and bringing our vision to audiences around the world. We’ve got big ambitions for the next 10 years. This is just the beginning!”

Says Dez Derry founder of Escapism, "Escapism backs music brands that have already proven themselves, and La Discothèque has done exactly that over a historic 10 years. We're not here to change what already works. We're here to give Kat and her team the platform to take the unique La Discothèque experience to the rest of the world."

To complete this year's anniversary celebrations, La Discothèque has a packed run of shows ahead including a 5-room takeover at The Warehouse Project and a return to the 15,000 capacity Drumsheds following its previous sold-out show there, both taking place this November. Meanwhile, Escapism, which focuses on hosting events in unique locations, launches its sold-out debut event on 10th October at the iconic Victoria Baths, featuring headliners Deep Dish alongside Smokin Jo & Pattn.

Music and live entertainment specialists Brian Doyle and Ben Stoter of Ross Bennett Smith served as M&A advisors to Dez Derry’s family office, managing the structuring, financial due diligence, and execution of the transaction. Pearse Connery and Ethan Turner of JMW Solicitors served as legal counsel for the deal.