Secretsundaze
Sretsundaze is the trademark of forward-thinking, underground house music. As an artist and brand – spanning parties and festivals, a record label, a studio, an NTS residency and a live band project – it’s been operating for over 20 years and embodies the spirit and community of London’s club culture. But it’s never been one to sit still or rest on its laurels; leave that to the nostalgia crew because Secretsundaze always keeps it moving.
Take this year, 2024, as an example. Right now Secretsundaze is stepping out as an artist proposition in its own right, helmed by producer/DJ/curator James Priestley who’s currently packing a stack of club tracks that will drop across the year and establish the project as a hit factory for DJs and dancers searching for a fresh take on house music that draws on breakbeat energy and trancey euphoria. Priestley is known to take the roof off as a DJ and now he’s adding to his arsenal with sought-after solo productions of his own under the Secretsundaze name.
As a tastemaker, Secretsundaze sits at the cutting-edge, bringing new heads into the fold and always looking to champion new talent. His NTS residency, which has seen MoMa Ready, Paquita Gordon and Alex Kassian guest recently, is a reflection of the project’s current dancefloor obsessions. The meticulous curation of the Secretsundaze presents parties and Multi Multi festival, renowned for featuring talents such as Ash Lauryn and Carista long before they gained widespread recognition and uniting visionary artists like Toumba, Tash LC and NIKS under a single roof, serves as a compelling testament to Secretsundaze’s commitment in celebrating new artists.
Now for some history: 2022 saw the launch of Spirit Of Sundaze Ensemble, a full live band project that reimagines anthems beloved of those in the know, recording and performing cult bangers like Photek’s ‘Mine To Give’ and Joyce Sims’ ‘Come Into My Life’. The band has already graced the stages of the Queen Elizabeth Hall (Southbank Centre) and the ICA as well as Beat Hotel and Kala festivals, with a debut LP set for release later this year.
This duality of cutting-edge and classic is what makes Secretsundaze so special. Priestley originally cut his teeth as a d’n’b DJ and a promoter of not-so-legal warehouse parties before becoming an annual resident at the legendary Robert Johnson and landing gigs at Panorama Bar and Queen at Smart Bar, which is the kind of gigography that many selectors would happily settle for. But Priestley’s love of underground club culture has propelled him even further and Secretsundaze is now two decades deep, a pillar of London culture that has poured blood, sweat and tears into the city’s music community.
Secretsundaze begins 2024 as a solo venture with Priestley at the helm, navigating an ever-expanding musical universe that unearths and re-engages with different styles, genres and music scene via parties, live shows, productions, radio and even a new record label.
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