Max HeyraudWe shine a spotlight on 9 emerging labels putting their own stamp on the quintessential Irish dance music sound, spanning techno, house, and experimental club sounds.
From the gritty, anti-establishment edge of Bare Knuckle Records to the genre-bending vibes of Ethereal Skies, these labels are pushing boundaries with bold, innovative visions across every corner of the musical spectrum.
We Are Active Records
Belter’s Only, the We Are Active Records imprint, has become the go-to platform for Ireland’s next generation of deep house and feel-good house producers. The label has paved the way for emerging talents like Evan McGee, Josh Dowdall, and Luke Kearns, while also attracting industry heavyweights like Alan Fitzpatrick and Dizzee Rascal, bringing even more attention to the label.
In a quote from Four Four Magazine last year, Belters Only emphasized their long-term vision: “It’s a long-term project for any artists that are represented by We Are Active. We’re trying to build careers, not just make a quick buck.”
Twn Cnfg
Thomas Killmurray and Peter Sweeney, better known as Offtrack & Rustal, launched Twn Cnfg last year with a clear vision: a label dedicated exclusively to collaborative projects.
Still in its early stages, Twn Cnfg debuted with a stripped-back, classic techno release from the founders themselves—four sublime cuts showcasing the depth of Irish techno. An abbreviation of Twin Configuration, the imprint challenges the norm, bypassing solo EPs and DJ sets in favour of true collaboration, both in the studio and on the dancefloor through its releases and club nights.
2FACE
Dublin-based, Bristol-rooted label 2Face is curated by CULT and Dylan Fogarty, alongside former label affiliate DJ Cosworth from Hardline Records. The label’s debut release is a split EP featuring the highly anticipated collaboration, “Sound of the Summer”, from Skerries techno stalwarts, alongside solo tracks: “Northside Party” from Fogarty and “Check This” from CULT. With more music in the works from these three artists, known for their constant evolution and experimentation across a range of sounds, it’s anyone’s guess where 2Face will go next.
Influence Records
Dublin Influence Records has been relentlessly releasing a string of hard techno and hardcore tracks from some of the industry’s most sought-after artists, including Veseli, Jason Cluff, NineTed, NYCO, and more. Launched by the Dublin-based techno party Influence, the label quickly made its mark with high-quality free download releases. With a strong focus on showcasing Irish talent, Influence Records has consistently placed local producers in the spotlight, collaborating with emerging, hard-edged techno artists to shape its identity.
Bare Knuckle Records
Dublin’s latest techno imprint, Bare Knuckle Records, has arrived with a clear mission: “Handcrafted cuts sprinkled with a dose of anti-establishment and anti-populism sentiment. Rough, rugged rhythms with real purpose.”
The label debuted with an EP from Dublin’s Farlo, featuring remixes from Vidian, Hitchay, Black Mirror Park, and Åre:gone. The release offers upfront minimal techno, drawing influences from dub techno, Detroit, and early Birmingham industrial sounds. With notable support from The Advent and Remco Beekwilder, Bare Knuckle Records is making its mark in the scene with its bold, distinct sound.
Rapid Trax
Hardhouse is back, and Rapid Trax is leading the charge with anthemic, vintage-inspired hardhouse bangers. With DART from Finglas at the helm, the label is all about colossal, festival-ready tracks that have been dominating dancefloors across the Netherlands, Ireland, the UK, Australia, and beyond.
Featuring releases from DART & Kyle Starkey, NewTone, and Kara Okay, Rapid Trax’s rise shows no signs of slowing down. The label’s debut release, “Dance N Move”, already feels like a modern-day anthem, setting the tone for what’s to come as its ascent continues to soar.
Encrypted
Encrypted is an offshoot imprint run by the team behind Cork’s rave and club nights, Kriptik, focusing on raw yet refined techno showcases. The first VA featured Aero, Doug Cooney, Cailín, and more, while the second compilation brings Casey Fable, Rustal, and additional appearances from label heads and affiliates Hooligan, Mejmi, and Doiléir.
Each release brings together a diverse range of Irish talent, spanning stripped-back modern cuts, gritty Birmingham influences, and abstract, sound-design-heavy tools. With every drop, Encrypted continues to carve out a bold, forward-thinking identity in the Irish techno scene.
Blackcat Records
Blackcat Records, a Dublin via New York label and sister imprint to WhiteWolf Records, was founded with a clear vision: to showcase both unknown local talent and the legends of the techno scene.
All music is handcrafted at BlackCat Studios in NY, with a mission to deliver techno in its truest, most dub-influenced form—minimal, powerful, and atmospheric, perfect for fans of Maurizio, Basic Channel, and beyond. The label’s forthcoming release features Rustal, Dublin’s dub techno don, presenting a deep, live-recorded trip through his expansive sound palette. From downtempo dub-techno to contemporary, heavy-hitting techno, the release has already garnered early support from Ben Sims. Previous releases on the label have featured techno royalty like Luke Hess and Joshua Harrison, cementing Blackcat’s place in the scene.
Ethereal Skies
Dublin-born, London-based Ethereal Skies is back with Aerga Vol. 02, expanding its imprint as a platform for genre-defying, experimental, and nu-skool electronic music. With a strong focus on local talent and a global reach, the label continues to showcase both established innovators and rising stars.
The 13-track compilation delivers a bold mix of cutting-edge sounds, from dreamy ambient and pulsating hardcore to heavy bass, hard drum, hyper-maximalist jungle, pure experimentalism, and euphoric progressive trance. Aerga Vol. 02 captures the limitless possibilities of electronic music, pushing boundaries and delivering fresh, forward-thinking club sounds that defy convention.