A SUNDERLAND record label has taken its founding DJ to the top of the charts, after launching its first EP earlier this month.
Only four days after its issue, Haze Records’ first release, from home-grown resident DJ Loui Brown, hit number one in the Tech House Charts on Beatport, the largest music store for DJs in the world.
The Sunderland DJ is also fourth in the overall releases chart, beating off tracks from around the world, from more than 20 other music genres.
Loui, who is from Millfield, said: “We had high hopes for the EP, but the reaction to it has been incredible, and we couldn’t believe our eyes when we saw how well it had done.
“We believe in the music we produce, and we know we have a strong following. Having the label and being able to release EPs and see them being embraced and championed by DJs around the world is something completely different for us. We’re really excited about what the future could hold for us, and can’t wait to get the next release out there and see what the reaction is to it.
“Our plan is that we will take it in turns to release our music; all of the lads that form Haze are producing some real quality music, and we just want to share that as widely as we can, and with it, put our home-city on the map as a place for great independent music.”
The Wearside record label, which produces house and techno music, was launched by founders Carlton Johnston, who is 24; brother Aarron, 28; close friends Loui Brown and label manager Mark Lowry. The Haze brand members also include Joel Henderson, Joey Dunn, Nath Fryatt, all aged 22, Christian Usher 25 and Ben Carter, 27. As well as having their own record label, the music mavericks travel the world DJing, and stage their own music nights, to bring the sounds of Ibiza to the streets of Sunderland.
What makes their success even more remarkable is that they all have full time jobs and run Haze in their free time.
Carlton Johnston, who is a Production Engineer by day, said: “Haze has grown organically out of a bunch of lads with a love for house music.
“We know that loads of people from Sunderland follow this kind of music, and we wanted to make sure that they didn’t have to go anywhere else to enjoy it. Haze was born, and from there it has grown and grown.
“What started with DJ nights has taken us on the path of producing our own music, and to have achieved what we have less than a week in to releasing music is incredible. We hope to grow and grow and take the message about Sunderland’s music scene with us.”