UNDERWATER RECORDS:
Darren Emerson started Underwater Records in 1994. Initially to release records for his friends, the label has, since its inception, seen releases from Emerson himself, Meeker, Ned Flanders, Christian Smith and John Selway, Steve Mac, Wally Lopez, Greg Churchill, Sharam Jey, Mutiny and Tim Deluxe whose releases Sirens/ We All Love Sax and It Just Wont Do, put Underwater firmly in place on the independent label spectrum. The first album released on the label, a compilation mixed by Emerson and Deluxe, was released summer 2002, entitled Underwater: Episode One, exclusively including Emersons limited edition solo track H20 Underwater: Episode Two was released in June 2003 and mixed by Emerson and Mutiny whilst in 2004 Paul Jackson mixed Underwater: Episode 3 alongside Emerson. In 2005 Darren went head to head with Sharam Jey for Episode 4. 2006 saw him alongside Magik Johnson mixing Underwater Episode 5.
Emerson signed Icelandic band Gus Gus to the label, their critically acclaimed album Attention was released in October 2002 and bought another facet to the label; they were also named as the touring support act for Moloko in 2003. Gus Gus last single taken from the album Desire was released in November with a special remix from Ian Brown (Stone Roses).
2003 also saw Underwater release Tim Deluxes first ever solo album The Little Ginger Club Kid, also tracks from Paul Jackson with the huge monster The Push (the vocal version courtesy of Steve Smith from Dirty Vegas was released in Jan 2004), Sam La More, Paul Woolford, Tony Senghore, Sharam Jey, Mutiny, Wally Lopez and more
2004 and the label released an album from Mutiny, and tracks from Greg Churchill, Random House Project, Rune RK, Sharam Jey.
2005 a busy year with releases from Darren Emerson presents H20, Sharam Jeys debut album 4 Da Loverz including the singles 4 Da Loverz and Push Your Body, Pnaus debut album Again with the single Enuffs Enuff released. Also the track She Loves It from Eyerer & Chopstick with brand new 2005 remixes.
2006 saw Underwater releasing Episode 5 mixed by Darren Emerson and Magik Johnson, a new compilation series entitled Solo with the 1st instalment mixed by Bristol duo Deepgroove, singles by Arthur Baker, Magik Johnson, Joel Mull, Beckster and D. Ramirez's massive hit La Discotek.
2007 has already seen the release of Paradox by Darko Esser and Benny Rodrigues, I Give Up by Magik Johnson with a John Dahlback remix, Deepgroove's Weekend Weapons vol.1 and 2 featuring Jus Luv Rave and The Marshall Plan, Ingo Staar's first single Stuck In My Head, an electro stomper with Ian Brown style vocals as well as D. Ramirez's La Discotek remixes by Darren Emerson, Shakedown, Cagedbaby and Emerson Todd. Ingo's second single C64 is available exclusively on Beatport and DJdownload.
UNDERWATER EVENTS:
Underwater Vs Subliminal at Pacha, Ibiza in 2001 and 2002 won best Ibiza club at the 01 and 02 Muzik Awards and saw some of the worlds finest talent DJ week in, week out. Emerson had his hugely successful regular monthly residency at Londons The End on the last Saturday of every month. The residency began in February 2001 and has since seen the likes of Fatboy Slim, Jon Carter, Medicine8, King Unique, Tim Deluxe, Lottie, Kidstuff, Paul Jackson, Yousef,Mutiny, West London Deep, Sharam Jey and Pnau kick the dancefloor into touch.
In January 2004 the night went bi-monthly, hosting all three rooms of The End and also took on a Northern residency at Sankeys in Manchester. Underwater paired up with Subliminal in 2002 at the Homelands festival to host their own arena which was rammed from start to finish. Underwater also went on the road throughout Europe in 2003, going to such venues as Shindig, Maison, Profounde, Lush, Bed, Sugarshack, Slam, Do This Do That, and abroad holding arenas at 4 Elements in Rotterdam, 5 Days off in Amsterdam, Lovefields in Holland and more.
2003 also saw Underwater go solo for the first time in Ibiza. Underwater took over Tuesday nights at Pacha throughout the summer, showcasing what was best on the label, the best of the Brit talent and the best DJs from around the world the night then went on to win Best Ibiza House Night in Mixmag. In 2004 Underwater again took on an Ibiza season at Pacha and proved to be even more of a success than the previous year. And for the 2004 Creamfields event, Underwater and Circus jointly hosted an arena, bringing together the likes of Emerson, Yousef, Tim Deluxe, Josh Wink, Lottie, Mutiny, Paul Jackson, Paul Woolford and Mark Farina.
Currently Underwater holds a residency at The End, London now in its 5th year as well as still putting on various parties around the world.
2003 AWARDS:
LABEL OF THE YEAR - in DJ Magazine
BEST IBIZA HOUSE NIGHT - in Mixmag for Underwater @ Pacha in Ibiza
BEST HOUSE NIGHT - in Mixmag for Underwater @ The End
