DFA Records

Last updated

DFA Records
DFAlogo.jpg
Founded2001 (2001)
Founder Tim Goldsworthy
James Murphy
Jonathan Galkin
Distributor(s) The Orchard (North America), Liberation Music (Australasia), PIAS Group (Rest of World)
Genre
Country of originU.S.
LocationNew York City
Official website dfarecords.com

DFA Records is an American independent record label based in New York City.

Contents

Originally founded in 2001 by Mo' Wax co-founder Tim Goldsworthy, musician James Murphy, [5] and manager Jonathan Galkin. [6] Goldsworth and Murphy were formerly a production team called The DFA, until Goldsworthy left the label.

History

Visual projections over DFA logo at a 2014 anniversary party in Los Angeles

James Murphy and Tim Goldsworthy met while working in New York on the David Holmes album Let's Get Killed . [7] After the recording was completed, Goldsworthy stayed in New York, and the two began to throw parties in the Lower East Side. They created the production duo, The DFA, but wished to grow The DFA into more than what it was. It was not until they met Jonathan Galkin, who subsequently quit his event-production job to work with James and Tim, that they turned DFA into a label. [6]

DFA Records began on a series of 12" single vinyl releases starting with The Rapture's "House of Jealous Lovers" and The Juan Maclean's "By the Time I Get to Venus". "House of Jealous Lovers" went on to sell 7500 copies. [8] Many of the early releases of DFA's catalog were released in Europe through Trevor Jackson's Output Recordings. After completing production on The Rapture's debut full-length album Echoes , DFA began to shop around the album. Although The Rapture eventually signed to Universal Music Group, the DFA label secured a deal with EMI for distribution of its acts outside the United States, along with several distributors within the U.S. [9]

The label has grown steadily since, producing full-length albums for its ever-growing roster of artists, as well as releasing a selection of singles and compilations on their label. Notable releases include The Rapture's EP "House of Jealous Lovers", the twice-Grammy nominated debut of James Murphy's band LCD Soundsystem and its follow-ups Sound of Silver , This Is Happening and American Dream . DFA have also released a number of compilation albums featuring artists such as The Rapture, The Juan Maclean, Black Dice, Shit Robot, Delia Gonzalez & Gavin Russom, J.O.Y., Pixeltan, Black Leotard Front, Hot Chip, and LCD Soundsystem.

As a production team, the DFA have produced and remixed artists including Radio 4, Le Tigre, N.E.R.D., Soulwax, Blues Explosion, Nine Inch Nails, Automato, Gorillaz, UNKLE, The Chemical Brothers and M.I.A. The DFA remix of M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes" appeared on A. R. Rahman's Academy Award-winning Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack. They spent an afternoon writing a song with Britney Spears, and were also approached by Janet Jackson to collaborate. [10] [11] The production duo effectively came to an end when Tim Goldsworthy left New York and moved back to his native UK. [12] The label was primarily run by Jonathan Galkin and Kris Petersen. [13]

Death From Abroad

In 2007 DFA Records started an imprint label titled Death From Abroad. This offshoot is used to release 12" singles by artists not based in North America, such as Mock & Toof and ALTZ. [14] The imprint also released a CD compilation of tracks released on the Berlin based Supersoul Recordings. [15]

Name dispute

The label's original name was Death From Above Records, dating from Murphy's nickname for the sound system he had helped build for Six Finger Satellite. This name was deemed inappropriate for a New York City-based label following the September 11, 2001 attacks and subsequently shortened to its abbreviation DFA.

In 2004, DFA Records forced the Canadian duo Death From Above to change their name to Death from Above 1979. Murphy explained his side of the story in a 2005 interview with Pitchfork Media:

We knew about them for a long time, the name thing wasn't a big deal. It wasn't until they signed to a major label, which wouldn't release the record until we signed off on the name. That's how this all came about.... [Parent company of Death From Above 1979's label, Vice] Atlantic's not gonna release a record by a band with the same name as another entity in music.... We spent a lot of money because we didn't just wanna be total fucking assholes and just say no. We were trying to find a way for it to actually work.... I was like, "What the hell's wrong with Death From Above 1979?" But the copyright attorney was like, "No, that's not fine." And I said, "If they become a totally different name, and it delays their record, that's something I'm not comfortable with." So we just tried to make it work as well as possible. [16]

The band would later go on to change their name back to Death from Above in 2017 without any legal repercussions, reverting back to Death from Above 1979 in 2020. [17]

Dispute over finances

In 2013 Murphy filed a lawsuit against Goldsworthy, alleging Goldsworthy owed money and had been making unauthorised withdrawals from bank accounts and using the company credit card improperly. [18]

Additionally, in 2020, Galkin was dismissed by Murphy due to concerns regarding finances and maintaining artist relationships. The split was acrimonious and involved legal disputes regarding the removal of Galkin's minority ownership of DFA. [19]

Sound and influence

As well as Murphy's LCD Soundsystem the label is currently home to the likes of The Juan Maclean, Hot Chip (North America only), Shit Robot, Gavilán Rayna Russom, Prinzhorn Dance School, Shocking Pinks, Holy Ghost!, Still Going, Syclops, Planningtorock and Yacht. They are also jointly releasing music with fellow New York City based label Rong Music, by artists such as Free Blood and Woolfy. [20] The label has also reissued the first two albums by Athens, Georgia based new wave band Pylon, the first time they have been available on CD, [21] as well as a retrospective collection of tracks by Peter Gordon and the Love of Life Orchestra. [22]

The influence of musicians and bands like Brian Eno, Talking Heads, Liquid Liquid, ESG, Blondie, Yazoo, New Order, as well as Chicago House, can be heard throughout the DFA catalog. [23] [24] [25] Rather than retread, however, the DFA have taken the live dance music of the time and infused the techniques and themes with a modern aesthetic—alternately faster, heavier, dubbier, noisier, and generally more intense than their influences[ citation needed ].

Artists

Artists who have released music on DFA Records include:

Discography

Label

Compilations

Production

The following outlines production credits to The DFA (Murphy and Goldsworthy), and is not a list of recordings released by DFA Records.

Remixes

  • "Deceptacon" (DFA remix) for Le Tigre, on Remix (Mr. Lady · 2001)
  • "Orange Alert" (DFA remix) for Metro Area, on "Dance Reaction" (Source · 2002)
  • "Dance to the Underground" (The DFA version) for Radio 4, on "Dance to the Underground" (City Slang · 2002)
  • "Emerge" (DFA version) for Fischerspooner, on "Emerge" (Capitol · 2002)
  • "Destination: Overdrive" (DFA remix) for Chromeo, on "Destination: Overdrive" (Turbo · 2003)
  • "Rise" (DFA remix) for Delia Gonzalez & Gavin Russom, on "El Monte"/"Rise" (DFA · 2003)
  • "In a State" (DFA remix) for UNKLE, on "In a State" (Mo' Wax · 2003)
  • "Shake Your Coconuts" (DFA mix) and (DFA Instrumental mix) for Junior Senior, on "Shake Your Coconuts" (Atlantic · 2003)
  • "Sister Saviour" (DFA remix) and (DFA remix instrumental), and "Echoes" (DFA remix) for The Rapture, on "Sister Saviour" (Output · 2003)
  • "Sunplus" (DFA remix) for J.O.Y., on DFA Compilation #2 (DFA · 2004)
  • "Get Up/Say What" (DFA remix) for Pixeltan, on "Get Up/Say What" (single) (DFA · 2004)
  • "She Wants to Move" (DFA remix) for N.E.R.D., on "She Wants to Move" (Virgin · 2004)
  • "Mars, Arizona" (DFA remix) for Blues Explosion, on "Crunchy" EP (Mute · 2005)
  • "Dare" (DFA remix) for Gorillaz, on "Dare" (Parlophone · 2005)
  • "Another Excuse" (DFA remix) for Soulwax, on "NY Excuse" (PIAS · 2005)
  • "The Hand That Feeds" (DFA remix) for Nine Inch Nails, on "The Hand That Feeds" (DFA remixes) and "Only" (Interscope · 2005)
  • "Just Like We (Breakdown)" (DFA remix) for Hot Chip, on "Over & Over"/"Just Like We (Breakdown)" (Astralwerks · 2005)
  • "Smiling Off" (DFA remix) for Black Dice, on "Smiling Off" (DFA · 2005)
  • "The Boxer" (DFA Version) for The Chemical Brothers, on "The Boxer" (Virgin · 2005)
  • "(Far From) Home" (DFA remix) for Tiga, on "(Far From) Home" (PIAS · 2006)
  • "Colours" (DFA remix) for Hot Chip, on "Colours" (EMI · 2006)
  • "Slide In" (DFA remix) for Goldfrapp, on "Fly Me Away" (Mute · 2006)
  • "Relevee" (DFA remix) for Delia Gonzalez & Gavin Russom, on "Revelee" (DFA · 2006)
  • "Springfield" (DFA Remix) for Arthur Russell, on "Springfield" (Audika · 2006)
  • "My Love" (DFA Remix) for Justin Timberlake, on "My Love" (Zomba · 2006)
  • "Frontline" (DFA Remix) for Captain, on "Frontline" (EMI · 2006)
  • "Paper Planes" (DFA Remix) for M.I.A. on Paper Planes (Homeland Security Remixes) - EP (XL Records - 2008)
  • "Tomorrow" (DFA Remix) for Clinic on "Tomorrow" (Domino Recording Company - 2008)
  • "Love Is Lost" (Hello Steve Reich Mix By James Murphy For The DFA) for David Bowie on The Next Day Extra (Columbia Records - 2013)

See also

Related Research Articles

Radio 4 were an American punk band based in Brooklyn, New York. Formed in 1999, they claimed their music is "made in New York, is about New York, and sounds like New York".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LCD Soundsystem</span> American indie rock band

LCD Soundsystem is an American electronic rock band from Brooklyn, New York, formed in 2002 by James Murphy, co-founder of DFA Records. The band comprises Murphy, Nancy Whang, Pat Mahoney (drums), Tyler Pope, Al Doyle, Matt Thornley, and Korey Richey. They have been signed to DFA since their inception, and also signed to Columbia Records in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Losing My Edge</span> 2002 single by LCD Soundsystem

"Losing My Edge" is the debut single by American rock band LCD Soundsystem. It was released as a 12-inch single in July 2002, through DFA Records. It was later featured on the CD version of their eponymous debut studio album. "Losing My Edge" peaked at number 115 on the UK Singles Chart. It was also listed at number 13 on Pitchfork's Top 500 Songs of the 2000s list. In October 2011, NME placed it at number 40 on its "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years" list. In June 2018, Rolling Stone listed it at number 77 on its "The 100 Greatest Songs of the Century – So Far" list.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disco Infiltrator</span> 2005 single by LCD Soundsystem

"Disco Infiltrator" is a song from the eponymous debut album by LCD Soundsystem. It was released on 6 June 2005 as the debut's sixth single. The song was written by LCD Soundsystem's frontman James Murphy and produced by Murphy and Tim Goldsworthy as The DFA. It contains a sample from Kraftwerk's "Home Computer".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Murphy (electronic musician)</span> American musician

James Jeremiah Murphy is an American musician, DJ, singer, songwriter, and record producer. His most well-known musical project is LCD Soundsystem, which first gained attention with its single "Losing My Edge" in 2002 before releasing its eponymous debut album in February 2005 to critical acclaim and top 20 success in the UK. LCD Soundsystem's second and third studio albums, Sound of Silver (2007) and This Is Happening (2010) respectively, were praised by several music review outlets. Both albums have also reached the top 50 in the Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Juan MacLean</span> American electronic musician

John MacLean, better known by the stage name of the Juan MacLean, is an American electronic musician.

Tim Goldsworthy is a British record producer, DJ and recording artist.

<i>DFA Holiday Mix 2005</i> 2005 compilation album by The DFA

DFA Holiday Mix 2005 is a compilation of tracks and remixes by various artists on the dance-punk label The DFA. It was released on October 31, 2005 in the UK and October 25, 2005 in the US. In the UK it was sold cheaply and was widely available across many record stores. However, in the US it was only made available in limited quantities from the DFA Records webstore.

<i>DFA Compilation, Vol. 1</i> 2003 compilation album by The DFA

DFA Compilation, Vol. 1 is a compilation of tracks by various artists signed to the dance-punk label The DFA. The only two tracks contributed here that were not produced by The DFA are "Endless Happiness" and "Cone Toaster", both by Black Dice. The compilation was released on September 30, 2003.

<i>DFA Compilation, Vol. 2</i> 2004 compilation album by The DFA

DFA Compilation, Vol. 2 is a three disc box set released by the dance-punk label DFA Records. It contains tracks and remixes of various artists signed to DFA Records as well as other artists with a close affinity to the label. The first two discs are a collection of recording previously only available on 12-inch vinyl. The third disc is a mix CD of tracks featured on the compilation, and some others, mixed by Tim Goldsworthy and Tim Sweeny. The compilation was released on November 2, 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">45:33</span> Extended play by LCD Soundsystem

"45:33" is a six-part composition by American rock band LCD Soundsystem. Commissioned by Nike, it was released digitally as a one-track studio album on October 17, 2006, as part of the Nike+ Original Run series. Initially, it was available exclusively through the Nike Music Store on iTunes. New York–based creative lifestyle marketing and public relations agency Cornerstone helped the musical efforts and coordinated the track. A CD re-release with three bonus tracks was issued by DFA Records on November 12, 2007, with the "45:33" composition also receiving a vinyl release. An eight track remix CD entitled 45:33 Remixes was released September 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gavilán Rayna Russom</span> Musical artist

Gavilán Rayna Russom is an American electronic music producer, musician and DJ. Russom has released music under various names, including Black Leotard Front, Black Meteoric Star and The Crystal Ark, as well as collaborative work with Delia Gonzalez and the band LCD Soundsystem. In addition to her musical work, Russom is also a visual artist and a writer. Russom lives in New York City.

Marcus Lambkin better known by the pseudonym Shit Robot is an Irish electronic musician and DJ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">House of Jealous Lovers</span> 2002 single by The Rapture

"House of Jealous Lovers" is a song by American indie rock band the Rapture. It was released as the lead single from their second studio album, Echoes, in March 2002, through DFA Records in the US and Output Recordings in the UK. It was eventually re-released in 2003.

<i>The Long Goodbye: LCD Soundsystem Live at Madison Square Garden</i> 2014 live album by LCD Soundsystem

The Long Goodbye: LCD Soundsystem Live at Madison Square Garden is a live album by American rock band LCD Soundsystem released in 2014. It is a near-unedited live recording of their final show held at Madison Square Garden in 2011. At the time, this was billed as the band's final show ever.

Museum of Love is an American band formed by LCD Soundsystem drummer Pat Mahoney together with Dennis McNany. Their first song "Down South" was released in July 2013, followed by "Monotronic" in October 2013. Their first full-length album was released on October 14, 2014 by DFA Records. The duo released a new song "Marching Orders", their first in four years, in November 2018. They released another new song called "Cluttered World" in March 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yeah (LCD Soundsystem song)</span> 2004 single by LCD Soundsystem

"Yeah" is a song by American rock band LCD Soundsystem. It was released as a 12-inch single through DFA Records on January 13, 2004. The Crass and Pretentious mixes of "Yeah" later appeared on the CD version of the band's eponymous debut studio album. The song peaked at number 77 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christmas Will Break Your Heart</span> 2015 single by LCD Soundsystem

"Christmas Will Break Your Heart" is a song by American rock band LCD Soundsystem. It was released as a download single as well as a limited one-sided 7-inch vinyl on December 24, 2015, making it the band's first single in five years.

<i>American Dream</i> (LCD Soundsystem album) 2017 studio album by LCD Soundsystem

American Dream is the fourth studio album by American rock band LCD Soundsystem, released on September 1, 2017, by DFA and Columbia. It was announced on January 5, 2016, the day after it was revealed that the band was reuniting after a disbandment lasting nearly five years. It is the band's first album in seven years, following This Is Happening (2010). This album reached number 1 on the Top Rock Albums chart and was LCD Soundsystem's first record to top the US Billboard 200.

Automato was a Brooklyn, New York-based hip hop sextet formed in 1995. Its members were Nick Millhiser (drums), Jesse Levine (vocals), Morgan Wiley (guitar), Andrew Raposo (bass), Alex Frankel (keyboards), and Ben Fries (vocals). All six of its members are from New York City except for Wiley, who was born in Lagos, Nigeria and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in his youth. Their admiration of multiple artists from disparate genres led them to DFA Records' Tim Goldsworthy and James Murphy. The group released their self-titled debut album on the Coup de grâce label in 2004, and it was produced by Goldsworthy and Murphy. According to Frankel, the group "kind of fell apart" soon after releasing their debut album.

References

  1. 1 2 [ dead link ]
  2. ↑ "Free Energy – Stuck on Nothing". Billboard . January 9, 2010.
  3. ↑ Joffe, Justin (March 30, 2016). "LCD Soundsystem Rises From the Dead to Lead Us Back to the Promised Land". The New York Observer . Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  4. ↑ [ dead link ]
  5. ↑ "DFA Records: An Interview With James Murphy". Free Williamsburg. October 1, 2002. Retrieved August 14, 2008.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. 1 2 "DFA: Sweet Connection". ModularPeople. 2004. Archived from the original on May 26, 2005. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  7. ↑ "Label Profile: DFA Records". Junkmedia. June 9, 2004. Archived from the original on October 6, 2007. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  8. ↑ Romano, Tricia (September 3, 2002). "Prophecy Fulfilled". Village Voice . Retrieved August 14, 2008.
  9. ↑ Paoletta, Michael (November 13, 2004). "DFA Inches Toward Mainstream". Billboard . Retrieved August 14, 2008.
  10. ↑ Reynolds, Simon (October 26, 2004). "House of Zealous Rockers". Village Voice . Retrieved August 14, 2008.
  11. ↑ "LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy Snubs Janet Jackson - News - exclaim.ca". Exclaim.ca. October 10, 2005. Retrieved August 11, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Tim Goldsworthy Parts With DFA?". Resident Advisor. February 3, 2010. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
  13. ↑ Matos, Michaelangelo (September 21, 2011). "Behind the scenes at DFA: Jonathan Galkin". Resident Advisor . Retrieved December 3, 2011.
  14. ↑ Bruno, David (August 2, 2007). "the week in Dance w/ David Bruno (08/02/07)". Brooklyn Vegan.
  15. ↑ "DFA teams up with Supersoul". Fact Magazine. May 2, 2008. Archived from the original on May 3, 2008.
  16. ↑ Sylvester, Nick (May 9, 2005). "Jukebox: James Murphy". Pitchfork.
  17. ↑ "Death From Above 1979 Are Just "Death From Above" Now | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. June 6, 2017. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  18. ↑ "James Murphy files lawsuit against record label co-founder". 3 News NZ. March 6, 2013. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  19. ↑ "James Murphy Ousted DFA Records Co-Founder Jonathan Galkin Last Year. What Happened?". Pitchfork. September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Free Blood D.F.A. Records/Rong Music". Anthem Magazine. June 23, 2008. Archived from the original on October 10, 2008.
  21. ↑ "PYLON - DFA reissues & some shows (like at Merc)". Brooklyn Vegan. October 7, 2007.
  22. ↑ Dale, Jon (January 14, 2011). "Peter Gordon - Love of Life Orchestra". Dusted Magazine.
  23. ↑ Keefe, Michael (March 20, 2007). "Sound of Silver". PopMatters . Retrieved July 16, 2009.
  24. ↑ Sisson, Patrick (September 11, 2003). "Echoes". PopMatters . Retrieved July 16, 2009.
  25. ↑ Theakston, Rob (September 11, 2003). "The Warning". AllMusic . Retrieved July 16, 2009.
  26. ↑ "The Clouds - The Clouds LP". DFA Records. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Larry Gus". Facebook.com. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  28. ↑ "Marcus Marr". Facebook.com. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.