Sam GreenwoodToday [Thursday 19th November] James Connolly aka Dance System shares his highly anticipated new mixtape Where’s The Party At?.
Out now on digital and cassette tape, the inaugural release on the newly formed System Records is a 20-track collaborative project featuring a star studded lineup of artists including India Jordan, Hudson Mohawke, A-Trak, Herbert, Shadow Child, Sally C, Cromby, Big Miz, Lauren Flax, DJ Deeon, Absolute, Alex Virgo, Hugo Paris and more.
Since the release of the bouncy, fun-filled ‘Let’s Go’ with India Jordan and the euphoric, energetic offering ‘Hands In The Air’ featuring Hudson Mohawke over the last month, the project and announcement of System Records has received widespread support from the likes of Annie Mac, Danny Howard, Jaguar, Pete Tong, Mistajam, CRACK, DJ Mag, The Vinyl Factory, Ransom Note and more. For a project that isn’t about house or techno and instead about fun, playful dance music from all corners, faces and personalities in the scene, such glowing early support for Where’s The Party At? is indicative of the scene’s appetite for something a little bit different, and of the influence and authority that System Records will have in setting trends in the scene for 2021 and beyond.
“Launching System Records and creating the Where’s The Party At? mixtape came at the end of a really reflective period for me during the first lockdown. I used this time to really get to the core of what I’m about musically; revisiting everything that got me excited about dance music in the first place. We’re in a time when we can’t go to the club, and we can’t play out, so it’s brought me back to those teenage days in my bedroom; lying in bed with my headphones on listening to Essential Mixes and tape packs; dreaming of raves, having a mix and making music on eJay. Back then, I had to imagine what clubs were like and now the whole world is in the same situation; clubs are out of reach and we can only go there with our imaginations. With Where’s The Party At?, I wanted to capture that excitement and anticipation, and create a soundtrack for the perfectly wild, fun and drama-filled night with all your favourite DJ’s.
In 2010 I started the Night Slugs label with Bok Bok, because there was no other home for our music. Ten years later, I find myself in the same position with Dance System; I need my own label to fully express my vision. The Where’s The Party At? mixtape really gives you a taste of what’s to come on the label and the kind of artists we will be working with. I’m also developing a few, very exciting, new talents – this is probably what I enjoy most about running a record label and I cant wait to show the world what we’ve got cooking!”
Check out the packed 20 track compilation below, plus purchase the full release via Bandcamp here.