How did High Chai Recordings get started? What have been the biggest highlights since the label’s debut in the Asian/left-field electronica scene?
Dimm: Actually HCR is a reincarnation of High Chai Records which was launched in 1998 by DK/Bollygirl, with collaborative 12” releases with Ming & FS and their Madhattan Studios label. Together they released OmZone’s Tantra which was featured on Raymond Roker’s Altered States Of Drum & Bass compilation (OM Records 1999). The original release of the Tantra a year earlier benchmarked one of the first US vinyl pressings in the global Asian electronic scene. URB, XLR8R and Mixer gave the releases 4.5 stars and rave reviews. In 2008, DK, Cenzo and I relaunched as High Chai Recordings. HCR saw DK’s GOONDA project with Cenzo garner critical praise on the BBC. The follow-up was my Revolution Rising: Ethnotechno.com compilation which culled together an unprecedented who’s who of names from Asian electronica scene. We’re quite democratic at HCR… we go with our passions and curate and present projects we truly believe in. In 2010, HCR followed-up with Nu Asian Soundz which produced a Top-Ten Beatport label standing with B.R.E.E.D’s remix of Jalebee Cartel’s Mirrors.
►►►dimm summer sessions vol.1:
- barbouze :: auto mattic [high chai / patriarch recordings]
- major lazor :: when you hear the bassline [downtown]
- kush arora :: humidifier [kush arora productions]
- baobinga :: raggipahop VS. busta rhymes [steak house]
- aaren san :: apes from space -dirtyloud remix [aelaektropopp] VS. MIA XXXO -SBTRKT remix [interscope]
- l-vis 1990 :: united groove -baobinga & id remix [mad decent]
- bassnectar :: cozza frenzy -megabass remix [om]
- chasing shadows :: amirah [hench]
- jalebee cartel :: mirrors -b.r.e.e.d remix [high chai recordings]
- liquid stranger :: fist of fury [high chai recordings]
- b.r.e.e.d :: sound killer [high chai recordings]
- deekline :: party party feat. top cat -jfb mix [rat records]
- subatomic soundsystem :: respect my shit [subatomic sound]
- faithless :: sun to me -emalkay remix [white]
- bop :: nothing makes any sense -blu mar ten remix [medschool]
- rod azlan :: jah liv -starkey remix [dfa]
- rihanna :: rude boy -tc remix [def jam]
- sub focus :: splash feat. coco [ram records]
