Toolroom Trax, our underground club label of music for DJs, by DJs’ has officially hit its 200th release! A huge feat for us and something we are seriously proud of here at Toolroom. So to celebrate our 200th Trax release, we thought we’d look back over the legacy of our beloved imprint and asked our staff to spotlight their most memorable records from the catalogue.
Mark Knight
Picking my favourite Trax release is a bit like picking my favourite child its almost impossible.Toolroom Trax is the backbone of my sets in fact some times I can literally play a whole set of Toolroom Trax releases.
I am super proud of the signature sound of Trax and I think ‘Wheats – Red Shadow’ embodies it completely. Big riffs, big vocal hooks and an even bigger sound. This is a sonic juggernaut! There is not a single dance floor across the world that this record hasn’t taken the roof off for me… David Wheatcroft take a bow sir.
Lou Cooper
Amplified Label Manager
Toolroom Trax has always set the bar high when it comes to good quality, club-focused records.
Delving a little further back into the Trax archives, one of my favourites has to be Alan Fitzpatrick & Wheats’ ‘M27’. A peak-time weapon that was made with the dancefloor in mind and saw huge support from the likes of Adam Beyer, Danny Howard and Tiger Stripes. A timeless classic Trax record that showcases the signature sound and still sounds just as good now as it did back in 2019.
Danny Weeks
Head Of Albums
My favourite release from the Toolroom Trax catalogue has to be ‘Rene Amesz – Bustin’. It’s relatively new but a record that will never leave my recordbox. I’ve been a huge fan of Rene Amesz for nearly a decade now, nobody works drums like him, they’re chunky, tough, percussive and full of energy.
I’ve played ‘Bustin’ many times out live and it has never failed to deliver, the crowd have always reacted so brilliantly and we’ve all shared this incredible buzz on the dancefloor. It has this super cool and original arrangement that rises and falls throughout the track which can be really tough to do and Rene pulls it off with a bang!
Luke Hemmings
Production Engineer
Trax has always been the benchmark for roof-ripping, peak time club weapons and it was an absolute honour to have my track ‘The Shake’ signed to the imprint.
A stand-out release in recent months has to be ‘Deep Down’ from Rene Amesz & DiVine. The hook is so naughty and it sends people wild every time.
Rianna Cooper
Creative Developer
One of my favourite Trax releases comes from earlier this year from Federico Scavo with his debut release for the label, ‘Watchin’ Out’. Sampling the Split Decision Band‘s 1978 hit; ‘Watchin’ Out’ is the perfect feel-good summer anthem that gets you up and dancing from the get-go! The uplifting Disco beat, Funk inspired bass line and catchy vocals embodies everything a classic club banger should be.
George Ankrett
Head of Music
For our 100th release it was great to welcome one of Europe’s most influential and celebrated artists to the label. Booka Shade originally released the seminal record ‘Trespass’ in 2006, but in 2019 the Berlin duo reworked the original into a peak time Techno roller – keeping the infectious fragmented hook, but making the overall production tougher, more driving and ultimately more club friendly.
Miles Shackleton
Brand Director
I’ve worked closely with Ben over the past few years building the Toolroom Academy, and I’ve seen first-hand how much he’s inspired the next generation of Toolroom artists – many of whom have gone on to release on Trax themselves! But let’s not forget this guy is an incredible artist in his own right. I love ‘002’ for those glitchy synths that takes you into melodic techno territory. A powerful and club-focused track, exactly what Trax is there for.
Carly Newman
Toolroom Academy
Any Prok & Fitch tracks from 2015/2016 onwards gives me such a weird butterfly feeling of nostalgia when I hear them, as they bring back so many memories from when I first started DJing. These guys were always staple in my sets back then and their tracks always sound epic in a massive club. Soulful vocals and pumping basslines always get me!
Prok & Fitch – Movin’
Jamie Kemp
Director of Sales
Just a quality record that screamed “different” – Tom Wax is quite the legend in the scene too, loads of respect for his sound over the years. This one has been on repeat for me for many years!
Matt Smallwood
Head of A&R
Adrian Hour – ‘Make You Feel Good’ is probably my favourite Trax release of all time and fully encapsulates the labels manifesto. What a talent Adrian is! Around that time back in 2014 I was managing the label and remember him sending me this and I was totally blown away by the production and sheer energy. Flawless!
Mikey Whyte
Head of Marketing
Another record I love particularly is Ellis Moss’ ’The Shake’. A brilliant example of beautiful simplicity and a record that has every hallmark of what a Toolroom Trax embodies. The infectious vocal hook, rolling Bassline and massive production – it just sounds soo good on a big system. Every DJ I’ve seen play it immediately screws their face the moment it’s mixed in as well haha, banger! Hats off to our very own Luke on this heater.