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ABOVE & BEYOND LAUNCH NEW AMBIENT AND DOWNTEMPO LABEL, REFLECTIONS

ABOVE & BEYOND LAUNCH NEW AMBIENT AND DOWNTEMPO LABEL, REFLECTIONS

“It’s born from all those moments in between the dancefloors – the mornings after, the nights apart, the journeys shared along the way,” they said

 

Words: BRIAN CONEY

Above & Beyond have launched a new ambient and downtempo record label.

Marking the third imprint under their Anjuna umbrella – the company founded by two-time Grammy-nominated, London-based trio back in 2000 – Reflections was founded to represent the “chill” arm of the label, which also includes Anjunabeats and Anjunadeep.

Reflections is titled after a track on the trio’s landmark 2019 album, ‘Flow State,’ as well as a downtempo compilation series released via Anjunadeep in 2019. Arriving two months after the release of the trio’s first film score, the launch is accompanied by two new Above & Beyond tracks: ‘Morning in Deira / Time Heals’. Stream below.

“Our two record labels, Anjunabeats and Anjunadeep were born on the dancefloor,” said Above & Beyond. “For over 20 years these labels have taken us, our music, and our artists, to dancefloors across the world. The third Anjuna record label is our new downtempo and ambient imprint called Reflections, and we are delighted to share it with you.”

“Reflections is born from all those moments in between the dancefloors – the mornings after, the nights apart, the journeys shared along the way. Those moments of Reflection.”

“This is a genre that we have a history in and one we belong in,” added James Grant, co-founder of Anjuna’s supervising company Involved Group. “If you look back on what we’ve done, on the Above & Beyond albums, there’s always been two or three standout downtempo tracks that have connected really well. Then, with everyone stuck at home, people had this sort of music on in the background while they were working. Mood listening became a really big thing. So lots of things conspired to make Reflections feel like a good idea at the right time.”

“A lot of our artists just started naturally sending us this kind of stuff. Yotto, for example, wrote a chill-out album which he sent to us when we were already planning this label. His record ‘Erased Dreams’ is going to be the first album on Reflections.”

Touching on the relationship between well-being, mental health and music, Reflections’ Label Manager Penny Longstaff said: “Alongside the music, we’ll be releasing a lot of which is going to be conducive to sleeping, relaxing, and focusing. We’re also launching a host of curated mood-based mixes. That just opens up so many new avenues of who we can reach with the music.”

An Above & Beyond remix will feature on a forthcoming career-spanning compilation by Madonna.

Photo by Amelia Troubridge

May 19th, 2022

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