Grid Records is a Parisian label that, in their own words, takes a focus on “forward-thinking music.” That’s a pretty big conceptual tent for a label, but when diving into the Grid back catalog, the framing doesn’t not make sense. Since 2021, Grid has put out an eclectic slate of releases—aurally-detailed records that push and pull on the limits of the dancefloor. Grid’s mix for Nina, which is handled by the artist Toupaz, is a dive into every corner of the label’s history. It’s both rhythmic and adventurous, and it paints a picture of a label that is unencumbered by sonic boundaries. Listen to the mix and check out an interview with Grid founder Clad and Toupaz below. 

Where are you based?

Clad: Based in Paris, born in Grenoble (in the French Alps).

Toupaz: Vienna, Austria.

Can you describe your label mix?

Toupaz: It was a real pleasure to dive into the back catalog of Grid. I thought I knew most of it, but listening to all of it again, I found quite a few tracks I had overlooked before. I wanted to dive into the whole range of music that Clad put out, but I think I leaned slightly into the not-so-dancefloor-friendly side of it in the end. Although as an outside eye, I saw Grid as a label I'd go to for more functional tracks to play out, my perspective kinda shifted after this mix. There's a lot to discover beneath that first impression I had. Big shouts to all the musicians on the label!

What inspired you to start a label?

Clad / Grid: I started the label by saying to myself that what I would like the most would be to propose releases from artists who have a love for music that is a little bit avant-gardist and mixes genres without being too restricted in terms of sounds. I didn't want to focus on the French "bass" scene either, which is a bit too round in my opinion, some artists obviously like Simo Cell, E-Unity, Toma Kami, Doline, Christian Coiffure, Deena Abdelwahed, Realitycheck, and Flore stand out, but I don't always find myself in it, it's often focused on breakbeats or it stays too maximalist for me (I must be getting old ahah). 

Or you have to turn to labels and artists mixing these kinds of influences with others, like Worst Records, Big Science, Krakzh, Bamboo Shows, and Klump. I didn't want to become a label only focused on the English scene, there are already excellent labels for that. My desire was rather to go and find artists from very different territories who try to make something new which slaps me. That’s why the first compilation proposes both French and foreign artists from different countries. 

Does your label have a sound or a mission?

Clad: I liked the idea of having a label that has a clear identity, but allows for a variety of things, like Kincaid's EP, which is very calm, or Toupaz and qwqwqwqwa's, which are more dark and rough, or Doline and Kevin Murf's, which are so unique and can be played in a club as well as at home. There’s also an aspect that I discovered along the way and that I like a lot: to select tracks that sound like you don't know if they are made to be mixed or listened to at home. Covid probably participated in making me appreciate even more the music at home ahah, I listen to a lot of ambient music and I can totally see myself releasing an EP to listen to quietly with a good tea rather than focusing on things that can be played at any cost in a club.

I also like the idea of proposing impossible or unpredictable releases. It’s a bit hard for a small entity such as Grid, but I like to surprise the listeners. It can be a different style for an artist, or a collaboration. Toupaz comes noisy on “Rabatanto,” goes dancehall on “Birdsong”—not usual from him! Nico released a unique track featuring Tristan Arp, who is actually a good friend, but wait—nobody asked them for a collab before? OK, let’s try, then! DJ Polo plus Breaka featuring Swordman Kitala is also unpredictable, right? Doline and his twin Lolito for their first collab EP is also cool. It’s like being part of the creation actually, and artists always enjoy going outside their comfort zone in the end. AD93 released this album by Holy Tongue and Shackleton, is this real!? That’s a good mission for a label, I think.

Tell us about your scene(s).

Clad: The label navigates between the UK bass scene, minimal/deep/hypnotic scene, and the ambient/experimental scene. It was created as a home for experimentation—the releases are always mixing colors, genres and textures, but each one is linked to the others. The Toupaz release, for example, proposes dubstep, UK broken techno, colorful synths, noisy basslines, and dancehall-ish vibes. The only main thing I can tell is that I like colored and detailed sounds, things you can hear in each release. It’s a balance between cerebral and pop aspects, to feed your brain and give emotions at the same time.

What's your A&R process?

Clad: I think it’s really simple—I contact artists I like and see if they are interested in sending demos and we work together to finalize the tracks. Sometimes it takes time, such as Polo and Breaka, sometimes it’s a one shot, like Plebeian, for example. Then I ask the artists if they wanna work with a specific mastering engineer, if not I will ask Krikor to master the tracks, he is always available and fast, he understands the vibes and the label direction, and if needed I can talk with the artists about what they prefer, easy. He has mastered a lot of French releases, from the Temet label, for example.

When all is ready, we discuss the artwork with the artist and Loïc, a.k.a. E-Unity, who is a great music producer but also an artistic director in his “real life.” We progressively create a coherent art direction throughout the releases, but he tries to innovate and stick to each EP. Of course, if the artist wants to work with someone, Loïc will be OK, but it actually hasn’t happened so far.

What labels do you look up to?

Clad: No doubt here, I’m fan of Hessle Audio, the boys have been so forward-thinking, I will not describe the whole story as anyone knows Pearson Sound, Joy Orbison, James Blake, Objekt, Batu Joe, Ploy, Bruce, Paverelist, Untold, Call Super, and Blawan. The best!

PAN, Modern Love, Livity Sound, Ilian Tape, AD93 (fka Whities) have also been influences. Recently, I've really loved Well Street Records with their minimalism, really impressive. Of course Timedance is another big one for me, TraTraTrax also made a hold-up these last years, as a fan of the dancehall scene, they found the perfect match between the UK bass scene and dembow/dancehall vibes. Accidental Meetings try to push the experimental further, real good label! On the trancey, side I love Naff, Animalia. 

Good Morning Tapes was my fav label during Covid era. I’m listening to a lot of ambient music and this one from the south of France was so cool—the organic side of ambient; their love for melodies touched me. It’s really the kind of music I’d like to release beside club tools. It’s like super ASMR for me, giving tingles with the sounds, and bringing melodies on top. You can already find some tracks from Grid which are in this direction. ;) I’m also a big fan of minimal techno and the scene is coming back these last years, too many labels to talk about!