House Cartel expands into label, House Cartel Records

Jakarta-based house music collective House Cartel has officially expanded into a record label with the launch of House Cartel Records.

The new imprint follows more than 14 years of activity through events, club residencies and collaborations across Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

Founded as a collective of DJs including Nandi, Robin, Waiteasa and Los Baro, House Cartel has been part of Indonesia’s underground electronic music scene since 2012.

“At its core, House Cartel Records is rooted in the original lineage that connects New York, Chicago and Detroit,” the collective explains.

“Our releases will primarily explore deep, soulful, funky, and groove-driven house music, always with a strong focus on musicality and dancefloor functionality. Listeners can expect records that are subtle rather than obvious, timeless rather than trend-driven, and crafted with DJs in mind,” they add.

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The first release comes from Singapore-based producer and live performer Halal Sol. Known for producing raw house music, Halal Sol began creating music in 2013 before developing a live approach using hardware controllers.

His productions draw from 90s house influences, with deep grooves and synth-driven textures shaping his sound. He has also worked on remixes and productions across Singapore’s independent music scene, including projects connected to artists such as B-gourd, Charlie Lim and Intriguant.

For House Cartel, moving into recorded music is a continuation of the community built over the years.

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“Launching the label feels like a natural evolution of that journey,” the collective says, continuing: “Our goal is to develop a catalogue that has lasting value—music that DJs can return to years from now because it remains relevant on the dancefloor.

“We want House Cartel Records to be recognised for consistency, quality, and authenticity, releasing records that respect the deep musical heritage of house music while allowing artists to express their own unique sounds. Ultimately, we hope to become a trusted imprint for selectors, dancers, and music lovers who appreciate house music in its purest form,” they add.

Listen to 'Halal Sol - Tell Me?' EP here.

Amira Waworuntu is Mixmag Asia’s Managing Editor, follow her on Instagram.

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