Best known as perhaps the only label that has carried house music’s legacy into the new millennium, Defected is now set to storm Doha with one of the year’s snazziest concerts, ‘Defected In The House’ on September 29, beachside at the Hilton Doha.
A British independent record label specialising in house music recordings, events, artist booking and management, Defected Records, since 1999, have delivered track after track that has defined the scene, all adding up to hail them now as the ultimate global authority within the genre.
A popular brag, and a well-founded one, is that if you have ever been to a club, bar or house party where the DJ was playing house music, the likelihood is that at least one of the records you heard was signed to Defected. Every year, more than half a million people around the globe attend ‘Defected In the House’ events, which bring some of the world’s biggest DJs to clubbers all over; regular events are held at London’s Ministry of Sound, Singapore’s Zouk and Jakarta’s Dragon Fly.
Defected In The House also held a residency at Pacha in Ibiza throughout the summer season (June-September) for eight years. In 2013, Defected left Pacha and took up residency at the Cipriani-owned Booom! at which it has been the most successful night over the summer season.
Jared McCulloch, Managing Director of Iconic Events, which is organising the show, told Community, “We are really looking forward to the return of Defected In The House after an amazing night with them around the same time last year. Defected have had a huge summer launching their new festival in Croatia as well as a massive summer season with Gliterbox at Space Ibiza and hosting their own arenas at leading festivals around the world.
This year, Defected is back by popular demand with one of the world’s leading DJs and Defected resident Sam Divine and the legendary owner and boss of Defected Records Simon Dunmore. It’s a privilege to have Defected back in Doha for this special launch event at the Hilton.”
Sam Divine, a House connoisseur with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the genre, has been an international DJ for the past decade. Her bio on Defected says Divine has a reputation as a party starter, with an in-built ability to hype any crowd. “Sam is on a worldwide domination mission and it’s no wonder she has millions of listeners across the globe; tuning into the Defected Radio show which she presents every week. The show is the #1 House Music podcast on iTunes in the UK.”
As for Simon Dunmore, the owner and founder of Defected, the man has ensured that Defected ups its game every year, keeping a close eye on the consistency and quality of the label’s releases. Defected’s continuing success has been possible largely due to its adaptability, and Dunmore’s openness to signing and nurturing fresh talent, rather than sticking to tried-and-tested, predictable modes of operation. “You always have to come up with fresh ideas to constantly reinvent yourself, as this gives you the opportunity to have longevity,” Dunmore says. “If you continue to do the same thing – especially in music – it becomes too predictable and people move on.”
Operating in more than 40 countries, Defected is the most internationally recognisable dance brand in the world with a reputation built on the love of music. With millions of records sold globally, the label has worked with some of the biggest names in the business, and is responsible for introducing talents such as Bob Sinclar, Junior Jack, ATFC, Sandy Rivera and Copyright to an ever-hungry audience.
From its first release to its last, Defected’s sound has been deeply rooted in classic soul and disco, and while their sound has no doubt developed over the last decade, the firm belief in the essential musicality of house has never faded. Flying the flag of house music all along, Defected has preserved its history while continuing a new one, bridging the gap across generations of music lovers and clubbers worldwide.
For the Doha gig on September 29, Defected will be supported by Qatar’s leading DJs, Jared McCulloch, Pyrokiss DJ W & Carl Roberts. Tickets are available online at Platinumlist.net. Doors open at 8pm.