Label Talk with Isolate
Taking over Istanbul, and now the world, Isolate label bosses Murat Uncuoglu and Alican developed their very own sound thanks to their events, label showcases and EPs from international artists.
We’ve enjoyed watching the brand grow and evolve over the years, and were curious to sit with the two owners (and friends) to hear more about their story.
Hey Murat and Alican, it’s an honor and pleasure to have you as guests today in this new Label Talk!
How are you guys doing?
ALICAN: Hello and thank you for having us back! It's a pleasure to return after almost four years. We're doing well, and the start of the year has been quite busy for us. We've been heavily working in the studio, channeling our creativity into crafting new music and remixes.
MURAT: Additionally, we've been carefully planning out the upcoming year for ISOLATE, focusing on releases and exciting events.
First of all, I was wondering how you met, and how you started working together as Murat Uncuoglu and Alican?
ALICAN: Our journey goes back to the early 2000s, a time when I was just a music lover attending club nights and festivals in Istanbul, while Murat, a great DJ, was someone I always looked up to and followed.
Our connection started when I began making music with my friend Soner. Excited to share it with Murat, he kindly invited us to his studio, where we spent hours exploring different techniques in production and learned a lot. This marked the start of a long-lasting partnership.
MURAT: As we enjoyed the music and laughter, we naturally decided to join forces and make music together. It was around the years 2010-2011, we started collaborating on music as “Murat Uncuoglu & Alican”, kicking off a musical partnership that later become the ISOLATE label.
How did you come up with the idea of creating a label together?
MURAT: Back in 2006, we had the idea to start a record label. However, our first attempt faced challenges because running a label requires a lot of time and dedication. Due to our other commitments, we couldn't give it the attention it needed, affecting its success.
ISOLATE took a different path and became a lively party series in Istanbul, hosting club nights, parties, and festivals. We realized these events were the perfect way to share and showcase our musical vision.
ALICAN: After that, we decided to launch a record label, kind of like a soundtrack to our parties, but it’s not just about party music.
It’s a platform for the music we like, from our close group of friends and artists we respect.
Why the name « Isolate »?
ALICAN: There isn't a big story behind this one. We just picked it from a long list of names we liked.
Isolate just turned 5 years old. The label has gained international recognition in the past few years, with quality releases and a roster of respected producers in the melodic house and techno niche. But Isolate is also a well-known brand in your hometown Istanbul, thanks to the parties you organize, inviting main acts like Solomun, Adriatique, Âme and Innellea. How did it all start, and what would you say helped you grow the project so much over the years?
MURAT: Some years ago, we ran a club in Istanbul called Indigo for six years. We believed that, if done right, we could contribute to the growth of the music scene. We aimed to bring in fresher sounds with “deep, techy, groovy” house music.
Every Friday and Saturday, we hosted events at the club, including open-air summer gatherings
For us, it's all about the music.
After the Indigo journey ended, we continued organizing parties with the artists we had invited to our club. Some of them gained significant success, and we hosted big parties with them.
The evolution from a challenging start in the record label adventure to a successful brand represents a journey marked by growth, learning, and a renewed commitment to our ongoing passion for music.
On the occasion of the 5 year anniversary, you released a remix EP, with the contribution of producers such as Aera, Upercent, EdOne to name a few. It also includes a great remix by UK artist Hardt Antoine that we just premiered on Melodic Diggers. Could you tell us a few words about this release?
ALICAN: While deciding what to do about the FIVE YEARS project, we aimed for something distinct and landed on the concept of releasing remixes from our back-catalogue.
This was a challenging journey, involving careful selection of original tracks and decisions regarding the roster of remixers. But in the end, we're really happy with how it turned out.
We're excited to share a great collection of remixes with contributions from great artists like Aera, Argia, Auggië, Colossio, DJ Counselling, EdOne, Gunce Aci, Hardt Antoine, John Falke, Tom Peters, and Upercent.
This special collection will also be available as a limited-edition Triple Vinyl.
We loved attending your Off Sonar and ADE parties in 2023. Can we expect more international events from you this year?
MURAT: We had a great time organizing these parties, especially at ADE, which was the fourth one and always holds a special place for us. Our first Isolate party in Barcelona was fantastic, with a packed night of fun.
We're excited about expanding Isolate parties to new cities, and our first stop will be Ghent on March 9th with our friends from FDTD.
We're also in the process of planning more parties across Europe and the US, all while continuing our Off-Sonar and ADE events.
What’s next with releases on the label?
ALICAN: Sahar will be releasing a new EP titled "Stereo Love" around mid-February, and REj has something special for our new series "Momentum".
We've also signed some fantastic music for the upcoming months, so stay tuned for more exciting releases!
Can we expect more Murat x Alican collabs in the future?
MURAT: We've been keeping busy with our own projects, working on both originals and remixes.
Recently, we began working on a remix for our good friend Tom Peters' label, DESSERT.
ALICAN: We look forward to finding time for more collaborations on original music in the future.
What piece of advice could you give to producers or curators who wish to launch their own record label?
MURAT: The key is to stay true to your personal taste rather than just following trends and to have a solid team of people or partners to collaborate with. Nowadays, it's not just about choosing the music; it involves planning, scheduling, and promoting the release, which is a significant aspect.
Fortunately, we've been working with Cosmas from "Blueprint Visions" for over a year, and he's doing a fantastic job, making everything flow smoothly.
Last but not least: coffee or tea?
ALICAN: Coffee for me, black :-)
MURAT: Coffee in the morning, tea at night!
Interview by Just Lauren
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