The decrease in the quality of the Dutch label is not particularly evident, since Afrojack performed relatively well this year, keeping a balance between commercial hits and underground works, including his Tech alias Kapuchon. However today we discuss Wall Recordings, the fourteen-year-old sub-label under Spinnin’. In my opinion, it has lost its power in the past couple of years, something unsatisfying to witness for long-term fans.
Congrats @afrojack with #6 in the @DJmag Top 100! Amazing result ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/oqFKCoMez3
— Wall Recordings (@wallrecordings) October 13, 2021
Conceived in 2007, Wall has been an outlet to mostly Afrojack’s experimentations, with sporadic features from friends such as R3HAB and Bassjackers in its former years, blooming and attaining a peak in the 2015-15 era with several important releases. There were many important figures associated with the brand: Ravitez (now Chico Rose), D.O.D., D-Wayne, KIIDA, Apster, Karim Mika and the list goes on. Thanks to them, Wall built a solid foundation in the Big Room/Electro House realm of the electronic scene.
Things have changed quite drastically over time, as many of these acts have taken onto different paths and in the following years, its label-head, Ravitez, and a new protégé named Chasner and a few more handled the roster. Space was given to experiments and niche ideas. With releases on a weekly/bi-weekly schedule, Wall was comparable to a newborn Maxximize Recs.
Amidst this, something changed. 2019 brought a new logo and a different strategy (perhaps because of it going back and forth as an independent label and under Spinnin’/Armada).
Since 29th September of that very year, Wall had exclusively stuck to Afrojack’s music.
Except for a sudden pop-centric output by FRNKROK and Chasner two months ago, it seems the only artist involved in the said project was none other than its creator.
It’s somewhat clear that there isn’t much interest left anymore for inducting new names and pushing forward the “dirty” signature style of Wall, even though it is still welcomed by the fans when Afrojack does that (see “Hot” and “Wish You Were Here“). Why? Probably since it’s difficult to find the right names with consistency, or it’s just more profitable to focus on a single, fiscally reliable artist. There are no concrete answers here, but it’s not uncommon to see a label fade out because of managerial decisions.
Running a label is hard, and Wall has been extremely picky with their signees and hence makes me sad to see it become a solo venture. At this rate, I am afraid we won’t have a “Wall” left anymore, but just Afrojack.
What do you think?
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