Ressort Imprint

Ressort is a record label founded in Berlin in 2013 by the producers Ekserd and Głós. The idea for a label had already developed earlier on in Ekserd’s life in a northern German province, far way from the capital city, which is characterised by its ubiquitous club-culture. »In this area, Techno was no more than a non-existent phenomenon. One would rather occupy oneself with the latest tractor models and how much milk the best cow would give this month.« he blankly comments on his home town. However, when the young producer met the like-minded Głós before his A-levels, the first plans were forged, which were put in concrete terms at the latest in Berlin; the back then-neck of the woods dream turned into the label which we see today. The name was chosen very deliberately; similar to the designated domains of a newspaper department, the two understand themselves as being specialised in one particular area; the dance floor. With a »certain soft spot for tools«, the two declare the way it is. Although the concept frays little by little, the catalogue opens itself slowly towards experiments. However the focus continues to lie predominately on danceable Techno, which should represent itself as much as possible.

The approach of both operators towards the choice of releases and the collaboration with their artists is similarly open/closed-minded. A key part of Ressort’s editorial department, so to speak, is adapted from other producers, like for example Array Access and Strck. »From the guys who have especially impressed us in the years of the label’s existence, particularly personally and acoustically«, says Ekserd. Enlarging this core is also not necessary, the Techno-department wants its personnel division to stay loyal. Yet, on the other hand no exact sound is focused on – which would normally be classified in most Berlin clubs- and the artwork is also curated with nothing but loose stringency. It should say; yes to uniformity, no to monotony. Ressort releases are readily recognisable but they do not look identical. This all sounds like organic growth, which it essentially is; Ressort as a general idea functions like a greenhouse for what happens in music. All of this sounds way too much like hinterland metaphors which for the two would sound way too much like northern German rural gossip. Which they have successfully escaped from, on their own.