Back in 2011, Sonny Moore was evolving from a hyped DJ and producer, with a huge following online, to one of the biggest acts in music. But as he rapidly rose, he decided it was only right to take a few of his friends and peers with him. “A lot of these guys weren’t being recognised, or were in shitty deals,” explains label manager Blaise D’Angelo. “Sonny looked around and realised he had all these talented friends who needed a place to incubate together.” The first release on the label was Porter Robinson’s ‘Spitfire’, an epic statement of intent, as deftly melodic as it was ferocious. It was quickly followed by early releases from Zedd, Koan Sound, Skream, Kill The Noise and Skrillex himself. With everyone from Sub Focus to Jack Beats to Seven Lions releasing on the label in its early days, OWSLA’s rise as a label seemed to coincide exactly with the moment the old genre boundaries started to feel a little bit redundant. And while many of its releases are on the bassier and more abrasive side of the musical spectrum, its remit stretches far and wide.