Max HeyraudDublin-born hardhouse label Rapid Trax readies itself for its debut showcase at Dublin’s Boss this weekend, as label head DART invites Kara Okay, Bella Claxton and WOLTERS to the capital for a night centred around the new wave of hardhouse.
Rooted in the high-octane, euphoric spirit of Ireland’s 90s rave culture, Rapid Trax has quickly positioned itself at the forefront of the genre’s resurgence. With a focus on emerging talent and a modern take on classic hardhouse energy, the label has built a reputation for championing the next generation of artists pushing the sound forward. Ahead of the showcase, we spoke to the artists and founders about the scene’s rapid growth, the influence of nostalgia, and why hardhouse feels more exciting now than ever.
DART
What is Rapid Trax’s identity as a label?
Our intention is to bring back those golden years of high-energy/feel-good house music from the 90s. The sounds that bring people together as one. Growing our family of artists as we go.
Hardhouse is back in the spotlight. From a tastemaker perspective, are you receiving a strong flow of submissions at the moment, and how does the scene feel right now?
There’s so much talent emerging at the moment. 90% of what we put out on the label is fresh new artists. The goal is to be a breeding ground for new talent and be at the forefront of this new wave. Although we started this journey 2 years ago, I feel like it’s only the beginning. The heights it could reach are endless.
The label has a distinct Dublin edge, from its name to its aesthetics. How important is that sense of place to you?
Extremely important. Dublin is a city steeped in 90s house culture. Growing up listening to mixtapes from DJs like Mark Kavanagh, DJ Pressure, etc., shaped me. I want the label to leave a legacy like those legends did in my hometown, but this time I’d like to take it worldwide.
Rapid Trax has its first Dublin showcase this weekend. What can people expect on the night?
A breath of fresh air for the city – something new. I can’t stress enough how talented these artists are and how big their unreleased catalogues are. Expect cutting-edge, brand new music you won’t hear anywhere else.
Kara Okay
How did your relationship with Rapid Trax begin, and does it feel like a natural fit for your music?
Rapid Trax was the first label to ever give a home to two of my originals, about a year and a half ago. I learned a lot from that process, and it really felt like a joint effort, and it still does. Rapid is like family, all the artists releasing and working on it see each other all the time, which is sick.
Coming from the Netherlands, are you aware of Ireland’s history in hardhouse, and are you looking forward to experiencing the new wave in Dublin?
I think Ireland and the Netherlands both share a rich history in broad 90s rave and dance music and culture, and we draw inspiration from it every day, in the creative process, but also in things like artwork and aesthetics. I am very keen to showcase new school and old school sounds blended together in my set on Friday!
Bella Claxton
What’s the hardhouse scene like in Australia right now, and do you feel any cultural parallels with Ireland?
Australia’s hardhouse scene feels like it’s in a really exciting growth period at the moment. Over the last few years, there’s been a clear shift toward faster, more driving sounds, and hardhouse has naturally found its place within that. What’s been interesting is seeing it evolve beyond just nostalgia; there’s a younger crowd connecting with it in a fresh way and bringing their own energy to it.
I definitely see cultural parallels with Ireland in that sense. Both scenes seem to have a real appetite for 90s-inspired sounds and rave culture, which is something that feels really prominent right now. For a younger generation, hardhouse feels fresh again; even though it’s rooted in an older sound, it’s new territory for a lot of these kids, discovering it for the first time.
When I first started listening to and playing this sound, I found it incredibly addictive, and I think a lot of young people are connecting to that same feeling now. It has this raw, underground energy, but still feels accessible enough for a wider audience to connect with, which is a big part of why it’s resonating so strongly.
You run Cadence, and alongside labels like Rapid Trax, both have been influential in this current wave of hardhouse. How are you finding the scene at the moment, and is there a lot of new talent coming through?
The scene feels really healthy right now. There’s a genuine enthusiasm around hardhouse again, but it feels broader than just one trend or moment. There are lots of artists pulling from different influences and pushing the sound in their own direction, whether that’s more trance-led, groove-focused, or clubbier and tougher.
Running Cadence has been really rewarding because it’s given me a platform to champion music I genuinely believe in, while also helping spotlight and guide emerging artists. There’s definitely a lot of exciting new talent coming through at the moment, which is probably the most encouraging part.
The bigger the scene gets, the more influences naturally come into it, so the sound is constantly evolving year by year. But for me, the music that really seems to connect is the stuff that gives you that nostalgic feeling while still sounding fresh and relevant for today. Artists like Mike Momburg, UNI, Jordan George, and Kara Okay are all doing that really well at the moment.
You can purchase final tickets here.
