Left, Right & Centre Record Label Launch – interview

Credit: Abbie Fowler

Left, Right & Centre established themselves in 2018 as a UK flavoured club night in Manchester showcasing the more eclectic sounds of bass, dubstep, gqom and techno. In May 2020 – with 15 parties under their belt and a reputation for pushing pioneering sounds – the prominent club night launched their record label with a various artists EP release trilogy: Nothing Left to Say, Right Place Wrong Time and Centre of Attention.

Each EP featured four tracks which in total exhibited 12 truly unique sounds from Henzo, Heritage & Delo, Josh Scott, Korzi, Kessler, Craig Walker, Hypho, Everett, Porter Brook, Hedchef, Alexis and Feloneezy. Consisting of new and old associates of Left, Right & Centre, the tracks adhere to their own rules and principles but remain strong in UK influences. An incredible initiative to inaugurate their ethos for the record label by exhibiting this generation’s artists in low end driven sounds.

We caught up with the brains behind Left, Right & Centre, Wakil Ahmed and Connor Cooper, to hear more about their journey launching the record label in the infamous 2020. It’s been a year like no other and Left, Right & Centre want to assure us to keep faith in the arts. They’ve been releasing club music without clubs being open, hosting radio shows across the country and doing what they do best, supporting artists.

What made you decide to create a record label?

Wakil: “Something that we noticed with club nights was how quickly the impression you’ve made on people leaves them. Especially in the endless pool of like-minded events in Manchester where there used to be so much going on every weekend. So, I guess a big factor towards the decision to start a label came from wanting to do something that stands the test of time”.

Have you found any advantages from starting the club night before the record label?

Connor: “Looking back, we were both pretty young in 2018 and still studying too. We have learnt a lot about the scene in Manchester and across the UK since then, so an advantage is that we got to know our place within it all through running the club night. I think it would be boastful to say that we have put our own stamp on Manchester’s nightlife but I do think we are on our way to doing that and it has definitely put us in a better position to build on our reputation from the club night – prove ourselves a bit more to take that next step and progress”.

Credit: Left, Right and Centre

What was the inspiration behind the various artists EP release trilogy?

Wakil: “The compilation series in our eyes is an opportunity for us to showcase our range in sound. Although the spectrum of tempo we’re working in is varying for what we have in the future, it’s all being tied together with the goal of pushing forward thinking UK flavoured music and with a common denominator of being bass heavy. The reason why we decided to split it into a series of three is because you often get compilations with a huge volume of music. I feel like the sheer volume of a lot of the larger label compilations take away from the less attention grabbing tracks and almost leaves you spoilt for choice”.

What’s the story behind the name Left, Right & Centre?

Connor: “We always tell people different stories as to where it came from, it’s become an ongoing joke between the two of us. The actual memory of how it came about escapes me! But it’s quite funny when people use the phrase in day to day speech or you hear people say ‘left, right and centre’ on the telly, it’s like they’re doing a bit of free marketing for us. I also read a definition once that said that ‘left, right and centre’ means all inclusive and all welcoming, which I thought was a pretty nice description”.

Credit: Abbie Fowler

How has running the club night influenced label signings?

Wakil: “Whilst being focused on the bubble of UK Leftfield-Bass/Techno the club night has sometimes drifted into other genres such as Grime, GQOM, Breaks and Dubstep and we’re more than happy to carry this attitude into the label signings. To us if it’s interesting and forward thinking that’s all that really matters and to be honest when being sent new music they’re the ones that catch your attention. I guess with the label signings I see it as a platform to push sounds that are a little bit more experimental. Club-ready, but not necessarily dance floor-friendly”.

What can we expect from Left, Right & Centre in 2021?

Connor: “For 2021 we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves. We’ll be focusing on artist lead EP’s with some remixes in there as well. We’d really love to be back in the dance too, it’s our third birthday at the beginning of the year and it would be a blessing to be able to celebrate that properly like we have done the past few years”.

Left, Right & Centre have a limited edition run of LRC-USBs that feature all 12 tracks from the 12 artists exhibited throughout their label launch and are available to purchase for £10 here.