TuningSpork was founded by Jay Haze, Sean O'Neal, and Bjoern Hartmann in Philadelphia in 1999. The trio threw a series of parties with the aim of bringing in their favorite national and international DJs to the region. The brand soon developed into a record label, and the first three 12"s were split releases featuring one track from each producer (under their aliases The Architect, Someone Else, and B. respectively). The label soon carved its own trademark sound, often described as funky house with a sense of humor, avant-garde and tongue-in-cheek at the same time. As TuningSpork's profile grew to an international level, Jay Haze relocated the label headquarters to Berlin in 2003, sharing a studio space with Ricardo Villalobos. Talented producers from around the world, new and established, found a home for their productions: Dan Curtin, Michal Ho, Samim, and Guido Schneider are a few examples. Over the years, TuningSpork has been a dependable source of functional yet artful dance tracks for DJs around the world, supported to this day by some of the biggest names such as Derrick Carter, Andrew Weatherall, and Laurent Garnier.
Live/DJ booking inquiries: [email protected]
Demo submissions
We do not accept demos via post, to eliminate physical waste and carbon emissions from transit. We now have an online demo submission form at our official website. Please use that. Do not send us MySpace messages about your demo; they will be ignored.
CURRENT RELEASES OUT NOW:
Sierra Sam
The Swarm EP– TS50
Actively producing since the mid-90s, Sierra Sam is dropping his first solo EP of 2009. But don't let that fool you -- he's already had a busy year so far! He released an EP with Marcus Vector on their own label Toys For Boys, he co-produced the debut album from Bloody Mary on Contexterrior and he brought his live set to some of the world’s top clubs like Fabric and Watergate. Monika Kruse also invited him to remix one of her tracks, set for release this September on Terminal M.
Hugo
The Return of Stel and Atan - TS48
Put on your red shoes and dance the blues, cause Italy’s Hugo is back in action! Hugo’s upgraded version of "Stel and Atan" shows off his refined approach to what can only be described as Slapstick House – this is one looney tune that will leave the dancefloor swaying under the moonlight. Jay Haze’s remix retains the sense of humor, but brings things to a deeper level for a groove that will suck you in like a riveting episode of Lost. Or Murder She Wrote. Angela Lansbury was a fox!
Guido Schneider
Under Control EP - TS47
Guido Schneider returns to TuningSpork for some new concoctions of haunted house music, adding layers of spooky atmosphere over thumping beats to cast a spell on the dancefloor! "Under Control" finds him in collaboration mode with Jens Bond, while "Lay Lie Lay" features contributions from label boss Jay Haze.
Wasted Chicago Youth
Chase the Devil EP - TS44
The fourth EP from the Chicago duo, which finds Justin Long and Mazi Namvar fine-tuning their craft, zooming in on their city’s rich musical history, and adding their own personal details to the house tradition. “Mars or Bust†kicks things off with an onslaught of booms and snaps, effortlessly juxtaposing dirty beats with precise edits. On the flip, we have the fuzzy bounce of “Atomic Supermenâ€, followed by “Love thy Enemy†with its robust melodic interplay coming in and out of focus.
Alex Celler
Trapped in Dub EP - TS43
While Alex Celler may be a newcomer to the TuningSpork family, he’s already made his mark in the global house scene over the past three years, in the first half of 2009 alone will have released on Cécille, Area Remote and Freak n’ Chic. With the Trapped in Dub EP, the Greek-born, London-based producer combines his usual tribal rhythms and techy beats… but not without some unusual elements added into the mix.
Wasted Chicago Youth
Jive Conspiracy EP - TS42
Passionately bearing the Chicago torch since the 90s, Justin Long and Mazi Namvar DJ and produce together as Wasted Chicago Youth. Justin runs Dotbleep, the house imprint of 20:20 Vision, while Mazi co-runs Fresh Meat, part of the Brique Rouge family. Individually and with their other projects, they’ve released countless 12â€s and remixes on Robsoul, Cajual, Junior Boy’s Own, Dessous and Underground Construction.
Jay Haze
Can't Forget feat. D:exter - TS41
Taken from Jay’s latest album Love & Beyond, this track is distinguished by the soulful paranoid from frequent vocal collaborator D:exter. On this new single, “Can’t Forget†appears in four new iterations, courtesy of “original house gangster†DJ Sneak, eponymous label owner and part-time Gigolo Abe Duque, Philly-based Lil Dirrty Ghetto Bastard, and Jay himself under his Fuckpony guise. Several mutant strains of house music are present, from techy to piano-led to deranged acid.
