Formed by the same minds behind Tenderhooks and Trouble Vision, Tief started out in 2011 as a London Club night based in Corsica Studios. Dedicated to exploring and showcasing the best of house, techno, bass and disco, Tief has enjoyed a quick ascent up the ranks of London’s esteemed social hierarchy with the likes of Joy Orbison, MCDE, Levon Vincent and Omar S gracing the stage.
Fast forward just over a year and the guys decided it was time to expand into more challenging pastures; thus Tief Music, the label, was born. As a record label in its own right, Tief Music has delved into some of the more obscure corners of electronic music, shying away from some of their more mainstream contacts, and bringing to light a number of otherwise unknown talents.
Sisterhood, a production duo made up of Harry Benson and John Malcolm Moore, ushered in the brand’s inaugural release with their ‘Call Me Ishmael’ EP, receiving support from a host of names including Bicep, Tom Trago and Axel Boman. If you haven’t yet heard it then get on it as its an absolute stunner. With what could potentially have been seen as a risky first signing, Tief Label Manager Matt Hessleworth proved his capacity for seeing the gems in the peripherals.
With its second release we see the newly born label get edgier still, bringing to the forefront of the UK music scene the sultry tones of Cape Town. Prophets of the South is formed of established Glaswegian producer OOFT! and Cape Town native Esa Mervin Granger, the result is an infectious blend of African percussion and deep house; imagine the start of the lion king but with a more ‘red stripey’ vibe. Their Ek Maak Julle Dance EP marked the second release for Tief Music and is something altogether different. Translated as ‘I Make You Dance’, the title track is a rave fuelled afro-house suite that weaves Chicago style synth sounds through African drums to create something new and wonderful. This seems to have become the manifesto for Tief Music who have since released a third, split EP from Marco Bernadi and Johannes Volk as well as securing themselves a firm repeat place in the Gottwood family, we got in touch with Matt Hesselworth to find out about the Tief artists and to discuss the transition from club night to record label.
Earlier this year you took Tief; the club night, and turned it into Tief music, what made you decide to make the jump and has it been a difficult process?
Not at all, with the reputation of the club night and the connections and experience gained it wasn’t really too hard to start it up. I was just waiting for the right music to surface before starting the label, which thankfully it did!
You had a lot of contacts from guests at the club night, yet you went with new-on-the-scene duo, Sisterhood for your inaugural release, what drew you to them?
Well I think it’s an easy option to go for someone tried and tested but felt that I wanted to start something new, with someone new. Keeping it in the family was important too, John and Harry are good friends.
It was important to add something to the release that people know and trust, that’s why we went with Juju and Jordash and Arttu for the brilliant remixes!
Your second EP release from Prophets of the South is something altogether different; can you tell us a bit more about them?
I met Esa in Cape Town and loved his energy when seeing him play after Black Coffee at the Cape Town Electronic Music Festival, he is now living in Hackney and making a lot of amazing music which I am getting excited about – Ali Ooft! (the other half of Prophets) is of course a very established and talented producer in his own right.
They will play together in February as Prophets of the south at Corsica for the first time too, really looking forward to that one!
And can we expect further explorations into Cape Town?
I’d love to work with one or two other South African artists like Spoko or Culoe perhaps on a remix at some point.
It seems that turning club nights into brands is becoming something of a pattern for Corsica Studios, with Tief and Tenderhooks now both labels in their own right, is the same thing likely to happen with Trouble Vision?
Hmmm, there was always an idea to put out a series of TV releases with tracks well equipped for the ‘power hour’ (5-6am) but it never really amounted to anything, maybe that will happen at some point!
Can you give us your own insights into the electronic scene at the moment; are you happy with where it’s at and where do you predict it is headed?
Tough question! I think the scene especially in London has become really hype based and very over saturated, which is not a good thing.
Artists are becoming well known for sometimes the wrong reasons I feel, and some genuinely talented producers are being left behind because they don’t have an image that ‘cool’ factor which is a real shame. Who knows where it will go! You can only hope that the genuinely talented will stand the test of time.
We would have to agree! Right, onto Gottwood. Obviously thank you very much for gracing us with your presence over the last couple of years, what have you enjoyed most about the festival?
The setting I think, the lighting, surroundings and woods are so fun. You really get the sense that you are secluded and the vibe is unbeatable.
Any funny Gottwood stories or weird facts you would care to reveal?
When the power cut out during the Tiger and Woods set the year before last, it was one of the tech guys who spilt a drink on the power supply, he didn’t own up, but I saw it.
Ha, OK so the cat is finally out the bag… It was great to see them playing in the dark though such good vibe! Which artists do you reckon will be big next year?
Damiano von Erckert!!!!!! Check out his ‘Love Based Music’ if you haven’t already..
What are your Top five tunes at the moment?
Trackman Lafonte & Bonquiqui – Pacific House
Willie Burns – Waste your time
Mr Beatnick – Syntheses Trilogy (all of it is killer!!)
Casino Times – Stirling (forthcoming on Wolf)
Damiano von Erckert – Adhab Masfari
What is next for Tief Music? Any big plans over the next year?
I have tracks on the way from Marco Bernardi and Johannes Volk (tief003) and then some amazing music from Sisterhood, Esa, Arttu and Lauer amongst some others I can’t mention yet.
Exciting times and just to wrap up, if you were stranded in the woods which three items would you not be able to leave behind.
iPhone (for Snapchat), thermal pants and haribo
Words by: Jack Rogers
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