Life and Death

Founded in 2010 by Italian DJ and producer Manfredi Romano, better known as DJ Tennis, Life and Death has grown from an underground label into something much more: a trusted name in electronic music that curates records and events with purpose and personality. From its early days in Italy to its global showcases today, the label has always prioritized feeling over hype and storytelling over algorithms.

The name says it all — Life and Death isn’t about being one thing or chasing trends. It’s about the push and pull: emotional and raw, polished but unpredictable. The label moves between darkness and warmth, melancholy and joy, often in the same track. That balance is baked into its DNA and shows up across its music, events, and visuals.

Life and Death’s sound has always stood apart because it draws from everywhere — post-rock, Italo, new wave, early rave, ambient, house, even punk. You’ll find analog synths, off-kilter drum programming, lush atmospheres, and unexpected breakdowns. There’s room to breathe in these tracks, which is part of why so many of them feel like they belong as much on a long walk as on a packed dancefloor.

DJ Tennis has never been interested in doing what everyone else is doing. Before he even stepped into DJing, he was managing punk and experimental bands in Italy. That same DIY spirit has shaped everything he touches. As a DJ, his sets go deep, pulling from disco, house, and leftfield techno without ever feeling forced. As a producer, his music has landed on labels like Kompakt, Running Back, and !K7, and he’s remixed artists ranging from Diplo to WhoMadeWho.

But what really sets him apart is how personal his work feels. Whether it’s putting out a record or building out a lineup for a Life and Death party, you can tell there’s intention behind it. Even outside of music, he finds ways to connect — like launching Munchietown, a cooking-meets-conversation show in 2024 that brings chefs and artists into the same room for something a little more human than your average press run.

One of the label’s more exciting newer chapters is the live duo Tenashee — a collaboration between DJ Tennis and Ashee, a producer known for raw, genre-blending records that feel just as punk as they do electronic. Ashee first dropped Techno Face on the label in 2020, then returned in 2024 with the Country Classic EP — a murky, ravey two-tracker that helped reintroduce his name to the fold.

Tenashee blends live vocals, modular textures, and unreleased cuts into something that hits differently than your typical back-to-back or solo set. It’s loose, spontaneous, and meant to be experienced in the moment — whether it’s on a fogged-out dancefloor or closing down a warehouse party at 5 a.m.

From club showcases in NYC and Berlin to large-scale events like Rakastella in Miami (done in collaboration with Innervisions), Life and Death’s parties don’t feel like brand exercises — they feel like experiences you remember. The lineups are always thoughtful, and the vibe is usually a step left of center. You might see a moody sunset set, a full-on techno heater at 3 a.m., or a live performance that throws all genre expectations out the window.

The attention to visual identity and curation runs deep — from lighting to installations to collaborations with artists and designers. Life and Death even teamed up with Public Possession for a limited-run merch drop that felt more like an art project than a traditional label tee.

It’s this slower, more considered pace that’s helped the label stay relevant for nearly 15 years while still feeling fresh.

Because Life and Death isn’t just about tracks. It’s about stories, identity, emotion, and creating shared moments — whether it’s on wax, on a stage, or through your headphones. It’s a label that actually feels like it’s run by people who live for this stuff, who are in the scene, and who care about building something that lasts.

If you're someone who chases deeper grooves, heavier emotion, or just wants music with a little more to say, Life and Death is a label worth paying attention to. It's not about hype — it's about feeling something real.

And that’s why it keeps people coming back.