Label Love: San City High
If you had to describe San City High in three words, you could choose a lot worse than "up for it."
The label started by UK DJ, producer and radio show host Kissy Sell Out specializes in straight-up party-starting music, characterized by a big, brazen electro tint.
Boston trio Hot Pink Delorean are a fine example of the San City sound, constantly pushing a frantic club pace in their tracks, full of thumping, undeniable rhythms, powerful synths and big breakdowns, serving up a generous dose of dance floor bounce wherever they go, such as their delightfully wonky Court Jester EP for the label.
But San City is far from a one-trick pony, and though it does a nice line in upfront, in-your-face vibes, the label also branches out into plenty of other areas, from the ruffled riffs of Art vs. Science — who give the club stomper an indie-disco edge — to the deep, and soulful melodic vocals of Tinashe, layered over Kissy’s choppy dance stylings in “Come on Over."
Newer signings to the label also demonstrate its range, such as Canadian duo Zeds Dead, who favor skittish beats and huge, quivering dubstep wobbles — check the smoky, jagged “Rude Boy” for a demonstration.
The colorful productions of Kissy himself, however, are perhaps the flagship sound of Sound City, with his latest album, Wild Romance, signalling an evolution from the electro exuberance of his debut, Youth, in 2009. As well as plenty of hands-in-the-air bangers, Wild Romance also takes in more melodic, thoughtful moments, showing the varied range not just of the label boss, but also of San City High itself in 2012, but — of course — always underpinned by an ethos to release music that gets people moving.
Kissy’s latest single, "Gimme Sin" featuring Saint Saviour, is out October 29 via San City High. Check it out on SoundCloud here.
