Jean Pierre is off to a strong start with his fledgling house music label, Pakate Records. He inaugurated it with the Actin’ Up EP by UK DJ and producer FLETCH in June 2021, followed by an April 2022 compilation titled Miami VA-001 that helped put a number of up-and-coming artists on the radar of influential selectors.




“For me, the label is a very personal thing,” Jean says. “I’m just starting to build a team with The Bullitt Agency, focusing on branding and stuff like that, but it’s mainly me. I don’t have a label manager, it’s just me handling everything. It’s very personal and I’m taking my time with it.”




Taking his time or otherwise, Pakate Records has already made moves to uplift the next generation of underground dance musicians. Don’t take our word for it, though. Below you can listen to five tracks from promising artists that have come out on the label thus far.




1. FLETCH - Want Me

Appearing on the B side of FLETCH’s aforementioned Actin’ Up EP, “Want Me” fused sassy vocal samples with primal sonics to great effect. The London-born, Manchester-based artist has also landed on labels like Toolroom Records, Kaluki Music, and Madhouse Records.




2. Daniel Orpi - Candy Mouth

Daniel Orpi demonstrates that less is more on “Candy Mouth,” which appeared on Miami VA-001. The track’s smooth bass line and understated percussion allow its filtered topline to shine. Labels like elrow Music, Edible, and Saved Records have also championed the London-based artist’s other music.




3. Reelow - Homegrown (NYC 2022 Mix)

Jean Pierre came up as an artist in the NYC underground, but it was more than the title of Reelow’s new mix of his track “Homegrown” that landed it on Miami VA-001. Between its infectious groove, crisp sound design, and almost psychedelic tension, there’s a lot that makes it a formidable weapon in any DJ’s arsenal.




4. Guti - La Familia ft. Flor Del Valle

Guti is more established than some of the other artists featured on Miami VA-001, to be sure — but “La Familia” is too good not to include on this list. Warm hand drum samples accentuate the organic warmth of Flor Del Valle’s dreamlike vocal in this compelling cut by the Malawi DJ and producer.




5. Joseph Edmund and REME - Don’t Talk

Compared to most other tracks released on Pakate thus far, “Don’t Talk” by Joseph Edmund and REME leans into the challenging waters of techno. The single’s upbeat tempo and dissonant sonics add a little variety to the Miami VA-001 compilation.






5 Tracks from Up-and-Coming Artists on Jean Pierre’s House Label, Pakate Records

Hungary

Reelow

Solid Grooves

Spain

DC-10

Hungarian DJ and producer Reelow, aka Renato Károlyi, was expected to be a musician. His mother was a singer, his father played the guitar, and his grandfather was one of the most important music curators in Hungary. With a background so weighted in classical, his slippery tech-house style doesn’t exactly fit into the family business. 

He lived under immense pressure to succeed in music. And he has. He’s flexed the speakers at world-renown clubs like Fabric, Privilege, and Sankeys. His inspired and infectious beats are supported by respected artists like Marco Carola, DJ Sneak, Adam Beyer, Monika Kruse, and Joseph Capriati.

As a kid, it seemed his path was obvious. He went to the best music school in Hungary. He was hyperactive though. So despite his love for music, he struggled to focus. When he picked up the trumpet, he started to feel a sense of purpose. And he really began to appreciate the beauty of music when he joined a symphonic band.

All went according to plan until he went to his first rave. “I went to my first rave when I was really young,” he says. He was fourteen. “Then I had my first cigarette. And I had [my] first everything I wasn't supposed to do. I started everything super early.”

He found his people, and he found his music. He also found himself at his first crossroads. Brasswind instruments aren’t simpatico with smoker's lungs. And his teacher forced a decision, trumpet or DJing. Reelow says it was an easy choice, “I said, well it was nice to learn from you but, I'm off. I'm out. So, I bought my first decks. I bought my first speakers and a mixer.”

His parents, like most parents, didn’t understand his new community. They also wondered why all of his money was spent on records, CDs, and event tickets. He was happy to go without lunch if it meant he could spend that money digging for the freshest beats. Reelow wanted to help them understand. “They didn't really see the art. So, I had to prove them wrong." 

It wasn’t just the community and the music. He fell in love with the adventure of crate digging. The thrill of tracking down one of only five copies of a record in all of Hungary. The disappointment when you buy it and the record has a scratch. “It was the whole package.” He explains, “Everything was a journey.”

When he got his first big gig in Budapest he invited his parents and it clicked for them. They were happy he was happy and successful. They experienced the beauty of a breathing dance floor. They also let him know that it was the last time they’d go to the club because it’s just not for everyone.

The financial crisis in 2007 had a devastating effect on Hungary’s clubs. And the years that followed only got worse Reelow tells me. “Step by step the clubs were closing down. There were more problems with the police and drugs. Everything was just so messy.”

He also recognized that he needed more room to grow as an artist. So he moved to London. And he experienced an unexpected level of support and love. It quickly became one of his favorite cities.

He may have soaked up the UK club culture a bit too much.  A few weeks of non-stop raving drained his bank account. He worked for six months at a high-end hotel to recover. He spent his nights illuminated by the glow of his computer crafting crispy cool basslines.

He loves London. But it’s a machine that will quickly eat you up without the proper support system. He decided to get enough money to move to Ibiza, and that’s when his career blossomed again. He began to sign records to labels like Rawthentic, Elrow, and Solid Grooves. And he began to soak up the life of excess, but he had already learned an important lesson about balance. 

“I planned this career for the long ride. Nobody said you will be able to do afterparties for the rest of your life, it isn't gonna work.” Reelow reads, practices yoga, and meditates daily. It’s the best way for him to prepare himself for those days when he goes straight to the club from the studio.

Throughout his journey, Reelow said that house music has been the one constant. He imagines because house music has been constant for over three decades. The sound has gotten warmer and more powerful. But its vibe is still identical to the early days of rave.

“House music has been always here, and it's always gonna be here.” He goes on to explain that there is no wrong place for house music, “In a club or at the beach. In an afterparty or when you're cooking it's the ultimate connection for me in the electronic music.”

Spotlight: Reelow

In this Spotlight, we're joined by Hungarian-born artist Reelow. Reelow is a classically trained powerhouse. He discovered raves as a teenager and hasn't looked back. We talk to him about community, balance, and his incredible journey from raver to sought after producer!

Read our Spotlight on Reelow: https://entergrayarea.com/artists/reelow

▪️Follow Reelow ▪️
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/reelow_ofc/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/reelow
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/reelowofficial
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/5FizNUi0Rn6ZR6cmXL5nts
Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/reelow

Connect with Gray Area:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/entergrayarea/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/enterGrayArea
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/entergrayarea
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3nGJIfQ
Website - https://entergrayarea.com/

Gray Area's mission is to build a bigger house music community in North America by helping fans discover exciting house music artists, event brands and festivals that are new to them. 

#grayarea #blackcircle #housemusic

Gray Area Interview: Reelow

Hungarian DJ and producer Reelow, aka Renato Károlyi, was expected to be a musician. His mother was a singer, his father played the guitar, and his grandfather was one of the most important music curators in Hungary. With a background so weighted in classical, his slippery tech-house style doesn’t exactly fit into the family business. 

He lived under immense pressure to succeed in music. And he has. He’s flexed the speakers at world-renown clubs like Fabric, Privilege, and Sankeys. His inspired and infectious beats are supported by respected artists like Marco Carola, DJ Sneak, Adam Beyer, Monika Kruse, and Joseph Capriati.

As a kid, it seemed his path was obvious. He went to the best music school in Hungary. He was hyperactive though. So despite his love for music, he struggled to focus. When he picked up the trumpet, he started to feel a sense of purpose. And he really began to appreciate the beauty of music when he joined a symphonic band.

All went according to plan until he went to his first rave. “I went to my first rave when I was really young,” he says. He was fourteen. “Then I had my first cigarette. And I had [my] first everything I wasn't supposed to do. I started everything super early.”

He found his people, and he found his music. He also found himself at his first crossroads. Brasswind instruments aren’t simpatico with smoker's lungs. And his teacher forced a decision, trumpet or DJing. Reelow says it was an easy choice, “I said, well it was nice to learn from you but, I'm off. I'm out. So, I bought my first decks. I bought my first speakers and a mixer.”

His parents, like most parents, didn’t understand his new community. They also wondered why all of his money was spent on records, CDs, and event tickets. He was happy to go without lunch if it meant he could spend that money digging for the freshest beats. Reelow wanted to help them understand. “They didn't really see the art. So, I had to prove them wrong." 

It wasn’t just the community and the music. He fell in love with the adventure of crate digging. The thrill of tracking down one of only five copies of a record in all of Hungary. The disappointment when you buy it and the record has a scratch. “It was the whole package.” He explains, “Everything was a journey.”

When he got his first big gig in Budapest he invited his parents and it clicked for them. They were happy he was happy and successful. They experienced the beauty of a breathing dance floor. They also let him know that it was the last time they’d go to the club because it’s just not for everyone.

The financial crisis in 2007 had a devastating effect on Hungary’s clubs. And the years that followed only got worse Reelow tells me. “Step by step the clubs were closing down. There were more problems with the police and drugs. Everything was just so messy.”

He also recognized that he needed more room to grow as an artist. So he moved to London. And he experienced an unexpected level of support and love. It quickly became one of his favorite cities.

He may have soaked up the UK club culture a bit too much.  A few weeks of non-stop raving drained his bank account. He worked for six months at a high-end hotel to recover. He spent his nights illuminated by the glow of his computer crafting crispy cool basslines.

He loves London. But it’s a machine that will quickly eat you up without the proper support system. He decided to get enough money to move to Ibiza, and that’s when his career blossomed again. He began to sign records to labels like Rawthentic, Elrow, and Solid Grooves. And he began to soak up the life of excess, but he had already learned an important lesson about balance. 

“I planned this career for the long ride. Nobody said you will be able to do afterparties for the rest of your life, it isn't gonna work.” Reelow reads, practices yoga, and meditates daily. It’s the best way for him to prepare himself for those days when he goes straight to the club from the studio.

Throughout his journey, Reelow said that house music has been the one constant. He imagines because house music has been constant for over three decades. The sound has gotten warmer and more powerful. But its vibe is still identical to the early days of rave.

“House music has been always here, and it's always gonna be here.” He goes on to explain that there is no wrong place for house music, “In a club or at the beach. In an afterparty or when you're cooking it's the ultimate connection for me in the electronic music.”

Reelow

Articles

John Cameron