Launched just last year, Knockback Records has quickly become a driving force in Liverpool's dance music scene. Founded by three students who met in the city, Harry, Dimitri, and Josh, the label has created a space where student culture meets a new wave of underground talent. In this interview, we speak to the team behind Knockback Records, exploring the challenges and triumphs of their first few months as a business, their mission to redefine Liverpool's music scene, and their plans for 2025.
Q. What motivated you to launch your own record label?
Harry: "We started it as a friendship group after feeling that there wasn’t a strong underground scene in Liverpool. We wanted to be able to go out and listen to the music we love, so we decided to start our own label, driven by a deep passion for the scene".
Dimitri: "Both Josh and Harry produce, and I have a strong passion for music. So, we all sat down in our living room and decided to create something of our own and to build the underground scene we felt was missing".
Q. Can you tell us about the vision behind the label, and what goals you hope to achieve in the long run?
Dimitri: "My vision for the label is to be deeply involved in the underground scene, locally, nationally and even globally. I want us to be at the forefront of the genres we love, such as garage and bassline. The goal is to become the leading brand in that scene, so people associate us with great music and a great time".
Harry: "Through this process, we realised that it’s much better to make decisions with the long term in mind rather than rushing to the top. We want our image to develop organically while staying true to underground culture".
Q. What kind of impact does Knockback Records aim to have on the music industry?
Dimitri: "We really want to put artists first, and our main priority will always be how we can do that ethically. There’s a lot of stigma around the music industry, particularly regarding the treatment of artists and the commercialisation of underground music. We want to focus on preserving the authenticity of the music”.
Harry: "What you often see with producers, for example, Sammy Virji, is that once an artist’s popularity skyrockets, the baseline level of underground music moves to a higher level and brought it into people’s vision".
Q. Can you describe the feeling of launching the label for the first time and what the atmosphere was like at your first event?
Dimitri: "That’s quite a funny one because I think the first event was probably the most instrumental moment in our journey so far. It didn’t go too well, as we didn’t sell a lot of tickets; however, the atmosphere was still amazing, and we had a great time with our friends and the DJs performing".
Harry: "The event put everything into perspective. It made us realize we would need to take different roads in order to improve what we were trying to do. Looking back, it was a failure that led to a lot of the success in what we are now doing".
Q. How has being based in Liverpool, a city known for its rich musical heritage, influenced the direction of Knockback Records?
Dimitri: "The city is the main inspiration for what led to the label being created. Liverpool, being Liverpool, is what makes it so special because it has such a sociable, tight-knit community".
Harry: "You can gain a foothold in the area and spread the word much more easily than if we were based in London or Manchester, where so many people are trying to do the same as us".
Q. Can you tell us about your Guest Mix series and what inspired the idea behind it?
Dimitri: "We started thinking, what is Liverpool missing and what can we do to contribute to the scene? Naturally, it came to making recorded mixes, something that is quite popular at the moment".
Harry: "Recording and editing speeds up with every episode; we can now go through the process within a 2-3 day period".
Dimitri: "We like having a personal connection with the artist rather than booking artists to play events. Instead, we have a great time recording with them, and the door is open for future possibilities".
Q. Who have you featured in the Guest Mix series so far, and what kind of artists are you hoping to collaborate with in the future?
Dimitri: "Our first one was with Below Zero, who I believe are at the top of their game in the student DJ scene. It’s really good to be working with people who are established in the space we are looking to get into. For our second Guest mix, we had Rico from Echo Collective. They have also been making waves in Liverpool with a recent event at Kitchen Street. We also have one coming out very soon with the duo DSDK UK. They have been amazing to work with, and we are really excited to get it out".
Harry: "In terms of future collaborations, we want to get people on the Mix Series who are happy to come and work with us and want to express themselves, and that’s what it’s all about".
Q. What advice would you give to emerging DJs and producers looking to get their start in the underground scene?
Harry: "The first six months of producing music were probably the most joyful. Even though you're less familiar with the process, experimenting and seeing what you can create is the fun part. While it’s useful to refer to others’ music, the key for DJs and producers is to find their own techniques, sounds, and build a strong image".
Dimitri: "I've found that the best DJs and producers I've interacted with are usually open, energetic, and in tune with their listeners. There’s no trying to be overly cool or judgmental".
Q. What have been the highlights and most memorable moments since starting the label?
Harry: “All three of us have realised that we are ready to stay in a consistent growth mode. We want the long run and to create longevity for the company".
Dimitri: “The label is not just something we want to do while at uni; this is something for the future and a dream of ours".
Q. Finally, what can we expect from knockback records in 2025?
Dimitri: “In the short term, we will definitely be releasing more of our Guest Mix series. We want to continue being authentic and growing naturally, building strong relationships with artists, and supporting newer DJs and producers while establishing our own presence. To sum it all up in one sentence, I would say we want to continue creating consistently good content and see where it goes from there".
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