„Why would you stick to one place? Go explore” – Interview with TELUM

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No name, no track title, no artwork — just a stamp and the music. Since 2018 TELUM has grown into one of the most sought-after vinyl imprints in minimal, its releases selling out within days and topping the Juno charts, every record still credited to „Unknown Artist”. Behind it all is London’s Lee Clement, who also runs the AURUM and NOVUM offshoots. On July 18 the label makes its Budapest debut at the Fidull x Telum Open Air, so we sat down with him to talk anonymity, patience, missed demos and why a label should always run beyond borders. The interview is published in its original English.

You launched in 2018, and Phonica introduced you back then as a mysterious new label, letting the music do the talking. Eight years on, did the anonymity play out the way you planned, or has it grown into something different along the way?

„If you plan too much you would just be confining yourself.”

To be honest there was never actually a plan in place, I don’t think there should be one really, music is about creativity, emotion, freedom, expression and how you feel in the moment… if you plan too much you would just be confining yourself. I’ve let the labels run a natural course which has led to what they are today.

No name, no track title, no artwork, just the stamp and the music. What makes a demo a TELUM? Is there a moment while listening when it clicks?

I’ve been asked this one a few times, even by producers when sending me demos. I’m not looking for anything in particular and actually it’s something not too easy to explain, I just know when I hear the right the sound. It can be a tech house track, something pushing more minimal, a deeper lower tempo one or something more uplifting or maybe going more electro. I like so many genres of music, so I like to hear different influences and varieties not just the same track over and over again.

Has there ever been an artist who struggled to give up their name? How do producers usually feel about their track going out into the world as Unknown Artist?

Occasionally, this is how AURUM was born to give the artist a choice, then eventually I just decided some were just better suited to this label.

There are sometimes longer silences between releases. What’s going on behind the scenes during those stretches? Are you selecting, waiting, or is there simply no record until the right music shows up?

„In the end it’s about quality not quantity, I’d rather take time than just rush releases out.”

I think there has been multiple reasons for this in the past. Waiting for the right tracks to land or I’ve already got them but there were big pressing delays. Sometimes life itself can be an obstacle, I’ve just had other things going on that distracted me from music temporarily. But In the end it’s about quality not quantity, I’d rather take time than just rush releases out.

What convinced you to do Telum’s first Budapest night with Fidull? I’m curious how well you know the Hungarian scene, and what you’re expecting from this crowd.

I’m always exploring the scene whether it’s digging new music, discovering DJs and producers or promoters and events. It’s great to connect with likeminded people and collaborate to make something special. I came across Fidull a while back as I know a few artists from Budapest and i could see their passion for music and throwing great parties in some really cool locations so I knew it would be a good partnership. I’m excited for this one!

Running a label can be a comedy at times: demos get lost, tracks end up elsewhere, or the next big one gets snatched from right under your nose. What’s the funniest story like that from eight years of Telum? If it’s a painful one instead, we’ll take that too.

It’s happened a couple of times where I have heard an amazing track get played, I find out what it is and connect with the producer and it turns out they sent the demo around a year or so before but it’s now already signed because I missed it :)) I guess those ones weren’t meant be or i should be more focused on getting through all demos sent over quicker!

Minimal and microhouse have clearly shifted towards a more popular sound in recent years, and you hear it in more and more sets. Is that showing up in the demos you receive? And will TELUM stay a counterweight, or do you see yourselves giving in a little over time?

„Being unique and true to yourself is what will actually help you stand out in the long run.”

Ive definitely seen a shift in what is deemed as the popular sound but I think the industry always goes around in a circle. I respect all sides of the industry and I actually really like some of music that is being made and played at the moment but i don’t think that means producers should jump on a bandwagon and just make what is popular in that moment, being unique and true to yourself is what will actually help you stand out in the long run. I still get a mixture of everything sent over to me and I like it like this, as I said before we shouldn’t confine ourselves, be creative.

What’s it like running a minimal / microhouse label out of London these days? Do you move together with the local scene, or does Telum run on its own track, beyond borders?

London is great, it’s my home, we have some incredible venues with amazing line ups and so many choices every week to go and be inspired and to connect with people. There is a lot good things happening here with parties and labels etc but there is lots of amazing things happening in other countries too so, I think you should always run beyond borders, why would you stick to one place? Go explore!

„Why would you stick to one place? Go explore!”

TELUM releases on 180g vinyl only — find them at your favourite record shop or at deejay.de, and follow the label on Instagram and SoundCloud. Thanks, Lee — see you on July 18!

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