Just Her has been the key behind the ever impressive Constant Circles, a label which has gone from strength to strength over the last twelve months. We’re delighted to welcome her on board for the latest edition of the Select Cuts series as we run through the rise of the imprint accompanied by an exquisite, ethereal hour long mix. It’s all below. Enjoy 🙂

WWD: Constant Circles has been on an impressive rise from the get-go. Can you talk us through the moment you decided to launch the label?

Thank you! Well it has always been a goal of mine to run a business – I’ve basically wanted to be my own boss since I was a kid. And after a good few years in the music industry building my contacts and experience, I thought it was the right time to go for it, so in 2015 I decided to launch Constant Circles. It is primarily a record label, but it’s also a music & art concept with an emphasis on visual arts, plus a radio show and blog (www.constantcircles.com).

WWD: If you could go back to the very beginning, is there one thing you would do differently?

I don’t think so actually. I’m a strong believer that everything happens for a reason and our negative experiences are just as important as the positive ones in helping us to grow. Everything that has happened so far has led me to this point, and that is exactly where I want to be right now – I’m truly grateful and happy ☺

WWD: There are an increasingly large amount of labels in electronic music these days, in addition to a huge amount of music. In your eyes, is it feasible that a smaller label without a big team can make the money needed to survive or should it been seen as a means to another end?

I agree that the market is saturated, but I also believe that if you are good at what you do and work hard, you can stand out and be successful. Because of the way the industry has changed, it is definitely harder to make money as a label now, especially in the traditional ‘sales’ sense, but as long as you are willing to adapt and try new things I think it is totally possible. I do think it is important for any artist to have multiple income streams though – so a record label can run alongside gigs, publishing, events, and in my case teaching, for example – so you always have something to fall back on financially.

WWD: Outside of the music world, where have you been spending your time recently? Do you get the time to do anything else?

I think it’s really important to make time for other things. I just got back from a few days in the Lake District and it was a reminder that you can forget what the real world feels like sometimes in this business. I’m really into fitness and the outdoors, and I go surfing & camping as much as I can in the English weather. I’m also about to start my third property renovation – I’m not a DIY person at all, but I like coming up with ideas and organising stuff!

WWD: It won’t be long before 2016 is a distant memory. What are the three moments, music or otherwise, that are gonna last in your mind?

A big memory for me this year was releasing ‘Let Myself Go’ with Kieran Fowkes on Constant Circles. I knew the track was strong but I didn’t realise it would do quite so well, with a Top 5 Beatport position, Radio 1 play and support from some massive DJs across the world. That was definitely a defining moment for myself and my label this year.

Another standout memory is taking part in AfrikaBurn, which is basically a mini ‘Burning Man’ event, in the South African desert. It was unlike anything I’d experienced before and was a huge challenge at times but there were also some moments that I will cherish forever – such as dancing to a beautiful set by Madmotormiquel while the sun came up, DJing in a full on sandstorm, making new friends for life, and using the outdoor ‘toilets’!

Away from music, I managed to fit in a trip to the USA earlier this year. We did some tourist stuff like Hollywood & Venice Beach, but then we drove along Highway 1 from L.A to San Francisco, and then onto a friends wedding, which was in a beautiful lodge in the California Mountains. It was epic. I’m hoping to get back out to the states for a tour in 2017.

WWD: You’ve just released a whopper new remix of Stonehouse – Dance By You on Marc DePulse’s Jeahmon! Records. Where did you put the track together? How has it been going down on the dance-floor?

Yes, I’ve been working quite closely with Marc DePulse recently as he has remixed on Constant Circles and also on my Einmusika EP. I have huge respect for him as an artist so I was super happy to remix on his label.
I worked on the remix in my studio at home, which is where I create all my music including all the vocals. I always work through the stems and pick out the key elements I want to use and this had a really distinctive hook and some nice textures, so the idea came together really quickly.

Marc and myself have both tried this out on the dance floor and it really does work! It’s quite a peak time moment. Plus the feedback on this has been great too, so I’m really pleased with how it turned out.

WWD: What’s the next big project you have in your eye-line?

At the moment I’m focusing really hard on some new solo material, including some big new tracks with Kieran Fowkes, who I work with a lot on vocal stuff.
In terms of the label, we are putting together a really exciting run of showcases for 2017, starting with a new residency at a great club on the seafront in Brighton called MONO, which kicks off on 11th March. There’s so much more going on behind the scenes too but I can’t reveal anything just yet!

WWD: Before we leave you, can you tell us a little bit about the mix you’ve provided for us today?

I think with mixes it’s nice to go on a bit of a journey and keep it interesting, so I always try to open with some deep electronica, and work my way through the dynamics to more driving tech house & techno. For this mix I’ve done exactly that, but with a focus on some of the latest material on the label, and of course my new remix of Stonehouse is thrown in there too.

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