Astral Black started in 2013 as a London club night, but it has morphed into a whole lot more. Now entering its second decade of operation as a label, it has spent the past ten years releasing a wide variety of forward-thinking rap, club, and electronic music. Their mix for Nina runs along similar guidelines, which is to say: eclectic within certain parameters.

“It’s asking quite a lot of the audience to ride with us from a techy 130 Jossy Mitsu EP to a 12-track beat tape of Memphis rap and then a folk album about an imaginary ancient singing cult-leading wizard,” Astral Black founder Jon Phonics noted in our interview. But that’s why it’s such a great mix—and a great label. Listen to it, and read our full interview with Phonics below.

Where are you based?

Jon Phonics: I'm from London, currently living in Brooklyn, New York. 

Can you describe your label mix?

The mix starts off around 140 BPM, takes a smoke break halfway through, then slows down to about 130 before picking up the pace and finishing up around 160. It journeys through grime, jungle, Memphis, juke, techy 130 club shit, and everything in between. I tried to do a definitive mix using as many of the label’s releases from the past decade as possible, so the blends move quite quickly. 

What inspired you to start a label?

I just wanted to release music from my friends. Astral Black was originally a club night in London in 2013 and was a place for people that shared music online to get together, meet up and party, and it evolved from there. I was working for a label at the time so figured I would try and give it a shot myself. I started with cassettes until I sold enough of those to do vinyl.

Does your label have a sound or a mission?

Do dope shit every day.

Tell us about your scene(s).

I think by not being involved with one scene in particular, Astral has weathered the storm of a few eras that have come and gone, but that's also perhaps been detrimental to the success of the label, too. If I had said, "Hey, we just do house music," then maybe that would have been the easy route. But it's asking quite a lot of the audience to ride with us from a techy 130 Jossy Mitsu EP to a 12-track beat tape of Memphis rap and then a folk album about an imaginary ancient singing cult-leading wizard. 

What's your A&R process?

I'm lucky to say that life is interesting enough that talented people come into my life and allow me the honor of releasing their music.

What labels do you look up to?

Mo' Wax, XL, Stones Throw, Blah.