Universal‘s Decca Records Group has launched a new record label, Mercury KX – dubbed ‘the first post-classical imprint operating within a major music group’.
A fresh incarnation of the Mercury Classics label, the imprint was unveiled with a special launch event at London’s Omeara this week, introducing the label’s newest acts.
Already home to Icelandic composer Òlafur Arnalds, Mercury KX has added multiple new artists to its growing roster, including London duo Solomon Grey, Australian composer and pianist Luke Howard, and the mysterious, masked pianist Lambert – whose self-released debut album featured input from Nils Frahm.
The new label aims to ‘identify and work with composer-performers of strong creative individuality that bring a distinctive perspective to contemporary music’. It is focused on new instrumental music – ‘crossing borders between electronic, modern, classical, alternative and ambient’.
Dr. Alexander Buhr, Managing Director of Mercury KX comments: “These incredibly talented artists are crafting distinctive new music at the fringes of classical, alternative and electronica. Freedom is the engine of creativity, and with this new label we want to offer them a platform without genre restrictions.
“These incredibly talented artists are crafting distinctive new music at the fringes of classical, alternative and electronica.”
Dr Alexander Buhr, Mercury KX
“Mercury KX is to be defined by mutual aesthetic values rather than genre, which offer its artists the opportunity to venture into whatever musical directions inspire them.”
Ólafur Arnalds’ music was propelled into the UK’s mainstream consciousness with his scoring of ITV’s acclaimed drama Broadchurch, for which he earned a BAFTA.
He has toured extensively and done successful collaborations with a host of artists including singer Arnór Dan, concert pianist Alice Sara Ott and pianist and producer Nils Frahm.
The first album release on the Mercury KX label is Arnalds’ Island Songs.
Solomon Grey is a London-based project of the musicians, producers and composers Tom Kingston and Joe Wilson. The band released two singles via tastemaker labels Black Butter and Kitsuné before releasing their debut album in March 2016 via Decca Records.
Australian pianist and composer Luke Howard has built himself a dedicated international following through his self released music, combining strings, piano, synthesizers and electronics.
He has opened for Benjamin Clementine and Ben Frost, and performed with artists as diverse as Lior and Jeff Mills.
[Pictured L-R: Alex Buhr, Olafur Arnalds, Dickon Stainer at this week’s Mercury KX showcase. Credit: Tabatha Fireman]Music Business Worldwide
