Danse Noire Records

Danse Noire is a Swiss record label founded by Aïsha Devi, Niels Wehrspann, Raphaël Rodriguez und Samuel Antoine in Luzern in 2013. “When we are a foursome there is some kind of happy chemistry”, is the way initiator Aisha Devi (who has herself published music on Danse Noire) describes the joint collaboration. “It is a four power Yin-Yang, because we all come from different musical directions. Niels, who makes the artworks is more a child of 90’s electro, Sam and Ralph come from the experimental rock scene and I begun with hip hop and industrial”. They all have in common the love for electronic sounds, which all come with a sombre touch, as the labels name Danse Noire implies. “We are searching for social misfits, who can express their indisposition the best through music”, they say. That has however less to do with adolescent demeanour; Devi sees apparently a lot of political potential in the label. “We try to include the people in a collective dynamic of awareness and self-empowerment. We try to create a beautiful new world, in which the invisible is included”, she says.
Devi’s words about the label might sound esoteric. That’s exactly what it’s partially about for Devi. [I think music can unify the avant-garde and the spiritual. All of us at Danse Noire agree that the society of the spectacle collapsed and we arose at a new definition of music”, she says. “Chaos carries the power of change.” The music by Danse Noire can sound equally chaotic and mysterious, where besides Devi among others; IVVO, Vaghe Stelle and Haf Haf have published. The name of the label furthermore explains that the mix of ambient, house and techno releases is indeed electronic music but far away from following trends. At first glance these are characterised by a simple design that has a high value of recognition. “Our artwork is just as modest as conceptual”, explains Devi. “It aims to disclose the erosion of our society through the awkward beauty of sophisticated internet snapshots.” The four of Danse Noir ultimately recruit their artists there. “There is a dark net for music!” And who else, if not a label named Danse Noir, should go there to search?