LABEL PROFILE #2 RAMP RECORDINGS
October’s label profile explores the inner workings of Tom Kerridge’s Ramp Recordings, which over the past few years has developed into one leading labels in the broad dubstep/funky/garage category. With a total of 39 releases to its name, the latest being Maximillion Dunbar’s ‘Cool Water’ LP, Ramp has been prolific to say the least since 2009. It’s a label which showcases different styles and tempos, not sticking with one genre or specialising in a particular style, but promoting artists and music they really believe in. The brilliant EP’s in the label’s back catalogue range from Falty DL and Shortstuff to Computer Jay and Ras G. Not to mention the label takes great pride in it’s wonderful artwork, ensuring the 12″ sleeves always match the quality of the music.
In May of this year, Ramp also set up a new sub-label, which is titled PTN. From the outset it has been decided that this side project will have a more defined and structured view around the music it releases, taking on the more underground and experimental basement sounds from the ever progressing UK Funky and House scenes. With 5 releases in the space of 5 months, this label is already rising, and each release has been an absolute killer. Hypno’s ‘Over the Top’ EP really established the label, but it was Breach’s UK funky anthem ‘Fatherless’ that has established an already solid reputation, something which was only enhanced by Doc Daneeka’s brilliant ‘Television’ EP which was released only two weeks ago. A new label with a bright future, PTN could eventually rival even Ramp in terms of popularity and reputation.
We were lucky enough to catch up with Ramp and PTN head honcho Tom Kerridge to discover more about the everyday scenes within respective labels, everything from how he decides what to release to where it all began for Ramp. You can check out the interview below.
Interview:
Hi Tom. Could you quickly introduce yourself for those who may not be informed of your work?
My name is Tom Kerridge, aka Tom@RAMP. I own and manage RAMP Recordings, PTN & BRAiNMATH, and I DJ sometimes.
When and why did you originally set up RAMP Recordings? How did you go about setting the label up?
I started setting up RAMP in 2004, our first release was in January 2005. I started the label because it was something I always wanted to do. My life was generally lacking a bit of direction back then, I use to spend my time DJing, going to clubs, and buying records – I felt like I should be doing more. I signed a few artists, got a bank loan, and signed a distribution deal. This was in the days before any retard on the street could walk into a distribution deal.
RAMP has quickly become one of the leading labels in the group of indefinable releases that explore ever diversifying mutations of dubstep/UK garage/UK funky/techno. Are you pleased with how the label has progressed over the past couple of years?
Aww, that’s very kind of you to say. I am indeed very happy indeed with how everything is progressing.
Can you give us a brief insight as to what is invloved in the day to day running of a label?
Listening to demos, shouting at people, hassling illustrators who have missed deadlines, massage various artists egos, deal with companies who are clearly trying to rip you off, try to ignore my distributors complaints about the spec of my sleeves. It changes from day to day really, but I do all of the above at least once a day.
The releases on Ramp’s roster have been varied, ranging from Falty DL to Doc Daneeka to Ras G & The Space Program. How do you go about looking for or deciding which records/artists to release?
If I like it, I release it. I don’t really see music as genres, just good and bad. The stuff that goes on RAMP is generally quite messy sounding.
Your label is obviously a strong advocate of vinyl, something I admire greatly. What are the 12″ sales like, do they compete with digital sales?
Making money from 12′s is getting tougher and tougher, especially when you factor in dedicated sleeves, which is something we like to do. We are still doing okay though. Digital sales are definitely growing by the month, but w e are in no rush to abandon vinyl.
Can you tell us a little bit about the new PTN sub-label of Ramp? It seems more focused than the main label in terms of the style of output, with like-minded UK funky/house releases from Doc Daneeka, Hackman, Hypno and most recently Breach. Is this a style you’re looking to push with PTN?
I was hearing a lot of UK Funky stuff – Doc D, Hackman, etc., and I just thought, this stuff is great, but who the fuck is going to put it out? There were no labels that really service that kind of music, and as much as I loved it, I really didn’t think a lot of it would work on RAMP, so I started PTN.
PTN was originally a RAMP sub label, but it has already outgrown that in the space of 3 releases, which I’m still pretty in awe of. We have signed up 3 albums, as well as countless singles.
Can you inform us of any future releases coming up on both the RAMP and PTN labels?
Next up, we have:
RAMP039 / NOCHEXXX – Ritalin Love / Timepiece 12″
PTN005 – Doc Daneeka – Television EP
RAMP038 / Maxmillion Dunbar – Cool Water LP
RAMP040 / Hypno – Go Shorty / Sunkin 12″
PTN006 / The Mind Of DJ Dom 12″
And lots more after that too.
What are your hopes in the future for RAMP Recordings?
To keep putting out music I love I s’pose. More albums. Annoy those who have annoyed me. Ultimately force more people to enjoy music that is disjointed and bleepy.
Finally, what advice, if any, would you give to someone who is looking to establish an independent label of their own?
It would be a pretty silly time to start a label from nothing at the moment. The industry is in a pretty big transitional period, which would make the very difficult task of starting a label much harder than it usually is.
Aside from that, my only piece of advice would be sign good music – most labels seem to find that a bit of an alien concept right now.
Thank you very much for speaking to Take Flight Club. All the best in the future.
Written by Ben Roberts
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