ABOUT STRIDE RECORDINGS
Stride Recordings is an all Canadian drum and bass label, founded in 2009 by Toronto-based DJ Kapulet after receiving countless submissions for his highly acclaimed CCDNB podcast. After coming across dozens of amazing unsigned dubs and wondering how they could just slip under the radar, Dustin Kapulet decided to take matters into his own hands and get some of this great undiscovered music out and available to the general public.
With impeccable talent and relatively unknown status at the time the Stride collective was born, each of its flagship artists have carved out their own paths since the label’s inception, earning its members a reputation for being both innovative and consistent. The first release from the label was 2009’’s “The Future” EP from Toronto prodigy Rene LaVice. Relatively unknown at the time of its release, Rene has since gone on to release a slew of well received, high selling singles and EPs for Stride and various other labels while receiving DJ support from taste makers in the genre like Andy C, Sub Focus and Loxy in their live sets.
The second artist to come out on Stride is fellow Torontonian Schematic. A true master of the boards, his extensive education in mastering and engineering was evident in his production instantly. Considered another of the label’s flagship artists, he began to make waves both locally and internationally with his collaborative work along with Rene LaVice, as well as his solo releases, which have garnered him significant support with plays on Bailey’s show on 1xtra and Fabio’s BBC Radio 1 program.
Not limited to just Toronto, Ottawa’s Override and Vancouver’s Spinlock dropped the next two subsequent releases, with heavy hitting EPs that are considered among some of the finest work released by Stride to date. Spinlock’s “Nerve Damage” EP quickly became the label’s biggest selling release, remaining at #1 for several weeks on D.O.A./Track It Down. Meanwhile Override’s “Saturn” EP enjoyed great success as well, cementing their spots in the current new wave of Canadian producers seen as front runners to carry the torch sparked by many long standing veterans of the Great White North.
Stride offers up two guarantees with each release: quality and diversity. One unique aspect of Stride Recordings is its lack of borders and walls when it comes to the sub-genres that embody the label. Not to be pigeonholed into just one sound or style, each release from the label’s artists has its own unique flavor. From more minimal liquid funk to abrasive, yet soulful dancefloor smashers with original vocals.
Upon building a solid buzz locally with a string of solid, well-received releases from its artists, Stride landed a distribution deal that has since brought its releases to mediums such as iTunes and Beatport and increased its sales dramatically while continuing to offer free downloads.
The massive single “Save Me” by Rene LaVice featuring vocalist Kier Edwards (and its VIP counterpart) only furthered the interest around the label. The biggest selling offering from one of Canada’s most talked about new production teams was the compilation “The Stride EP” which featured new music from each of the Stride artists, as well as frequent collaborators like Jedison.
In 2011, longtime Toronto veteran Stranjah was signed as the label’s fifth producer. Having released music in the past on heavyweight labels such as Renegade Hardware, Metalheadz and 31 Records, he brings to the table the experience of a savvy veteran and is still putting out some of his best music to date right now. Evidence of this is his recent signing to Hospital Records.
The future of Canadian Drum and Bass is Now.
“Stride is expected to be a major outlet for the DnB sounds of Canada” -K MAG