Focus Point: Duckplates highlighted
Duckplates: A Pioneering Bass Music Label
In the vibrant world of bass music, Duckplates stands out as a label that's carving its own path. Founded in 2023, Duckplates was born out of a shared passion for all things bass and dance music, as two friends—Luke, better known as Duckworthsound, and Mikel, known as Dread MC—decided to join forces and create something extraordinary.
The duo, based in London and Bristol respectively, had already been making waves in the music scene with their energetic performances. With a deep-rooted love for the genre, they decided to establish Duckplates, a label that would break down boundaries in multi-genre sets and promote authentic underground bass bangers.
The label's ethos is not about comparing themselves to other labels but about doing things their own way. Duckplates spent the year of 2023 brainstorming and developing the idea for their label with the team at Cygnus.
Today, Duckplates boasts a roster of 12 talented artists, including 1997, Ghostfxce, Six28, Neumonic, AYCH, SH?M, Valdeez, Coben, Spence, and Chuck Shadow. These artists bring a diverse range of sounds to the table, ensuring that the Duckplates label is not confined to a single sound but instead represents a spectrum of bass music with a consistent high-energy vibe.
In a bid to support up-and-coming artists, Duckplates will be launching a free platform called Duckplates Free. This platform will provide free downloads of bootlegs and flips for streaming on Soundcloud or YouTube, offering a platform for new talent to reach a wider audience.
As they look to the future, Duckplates has upcoming plans for original releases, showcase sets, and label nights across the UK and potentially worldwide. One of their upcoming events is a Duckplates showcase night in LA on Feb 28th, featuring their American artists Neumonic and Chuck Shadow.
When it comes to finding new talent, Duckplates' A&R process is unique. They source new talent through their Discord community and connections made at shows. However, they do not accept submissions via email or direct messages; instead, they use a monthly demo drop community call on Discord for submissions.
Running a bass music label in today's bustling music scene requires a lot of time, effort, patience, good communication, planning, and a small team. But for Duckplates, it's a labour of love, and they're committed to making a significant impact in the world of bass music.
The duo, Duckplates' founders, aim to fuse entertainment and technology, planning to launch a streaming platform called Duckplates Free, offering free downloads of bootlegs and flips for wider audience reach. In the realm of bass music, Duckplates' diverse roster not only includes classic genres but also explores the intersections of music and lifestyle, striving to promote authentic underground beats and fresh sounds.
