The creativity of the team behind London-based label Speedy Wunderground is simply breathtaking. The label celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, with the three founding members Dan Carey, Alexis Smith and Pierre Hall starting the label on 25 February 2013 with the release of ‘I Go Out’ by Steve Mason & Emiliana Torrini. It started with a 10-point plan and a simple manifesto: one song, one day in the studio, released as soon as possible after. That track is always recorded (and often written) in one day, it’s quickly mastered and sent to be pressed before anyone has the chance to object, and each player is only allowed to overdub one other instrument, with no exceptions. Generally, there is no lunch (“It’s quite good when everyone is hungry,”) and, importantly, a good time should be had by all.
This ethos has seen producer Dan Carey work with the likes of Kae Tempest, Fontaines D.C., Grian Chatten, The Lounge Society, and Wet Leg, with huge success including number one albums and a ‘UK Producer of The Year‘ award at the Music Producer Guild Awards for Carey. Speedy Wunderground also picked up ‘Best Small Label‘ at the AIM Awards. There is a sense of constant motion at Speedy Wunderground. There is never resting on any laurels. With recent signings Heartworms and O. building momentum, their latest signing Viji is set to release her debut album So Vanilla on 27 October.
As part of the 10th-anniversary celebrations, the label has produced a limited edition box set of 10 x 7” vinyl (20 tracks in total, one on each side, two on each disc) comprised of a selection of Savage Gary (Dan Carey) dub versions taken from the Speedy Wunderground single series. The artists included are an eclectic mix including the dance music of PVA to the wild saxophone of Melt Yourself Down to the shoegaze of Honeyglaze and the spoken word of Kae Tempest.
To celebrate the landmark 10 years, they’re also throwing a party at London’s iconic Village Underground on Saturday 16 September. Carey and team will curate a mammoth seven-hour celebration and no official line-up will be announced until closer to the event, with the only hint being to feature an array of Speedy Wunderground alumni ‘”past, present and future”. It promises to be a very special night and with the label stating the importance of “a good time being had by all” I’m sure that the next 10 years will be just as productive, just as creative and just as much fun, for Speedy Wunderground and all the artists involved.
For tickets for Speedy Wunderground’s 10th anniversary celebrations on 16th September please check here.
