22 Aug SoulTrain.com Q&A – Adrian Younge
Producer, composer and now label owner Adrian Younge is almost an anomaly in contemporary music. Having a breakout year in 2009 thanks to his work on theBlack Dynamite soundtrack, Younge eventually became the go-to producer for anything involving vintage soul. That includes collaborative projects with everyone ranging from The Delfonics to Ghostface Killah.
As head of Linear Labs Records, Younge is preparing the release of Souls of Mischief’s sixth studio album, There Is Only Now. Set to drop Aug. 26, the project will include guest appearances from Snoop Dogg and Busta Rhymes.
Speaking with SoulTrain.com, the reigning champion of analogue discusses his handcrafted approach to music recording, sequel to Twelve Reasons To Die, future collaborative projects and among others.
SoulTrain.com: Talk about the inception of Linear Labs Records. Was it a difficult transition from artist to label owner?
Adrian Younge: It was always one of my dreams to own a label and I’m just humble that I’m finally here and able to really do it. I’ve learned so much from working with Wax Poetics and Rza, that I feel like I’m finally at that point with myself. As far as Linear Labs, I basically wanted to create a label that spoke to consumers that appreciate handcrafted products. I want my music to be deemed as handcrafted artist and produced music, a kind of bespoke perspective on the creation of this kind of art. So basically, my label is essentially founded upon the music I do. I want people to understand the level of quality they’re going to receive when they see the Linear Labs logo or hear music from us. I want to be a modern Motown, but not the Motown of the ‘60s; I want to be the Motown of the ‘70s when they were a little bit more cutting edge. That’s basically what I’m looking at and I’m just happy that Souls of Mischief’s album is going to be the label’s first release.
No Comments