Souta. launches as a new label out of Bali, teases a 600sqm experiential playground for artists
The debut release is a deep & melodic EP called XXXX by Chukku
Emerging from the Island of the Gods comes a newly minted label called Souta. from the people behind ASA Group. The imprint has set up shop in Bali after its parent company relocated from Hong Kong and now consists of three branches: Aya Studios (recording studio), Souta. (record label) and Aimi (publishing) with a 600 sqm space currently under construction in a remote area of Bali padded by rice fields for what will no doubt become a playground for experiential showcases and audio-visual production on the island. And then some...
Though the label is headquartered in Southeast Asia, Souta., which is named for a word derived from Japanese culture meaning sudden sounds of the wind, was created with a global vision to discover fresh new talent and place them in intriguing east meets west collaborations, ultimately giving a platform for regional musicians to create music with worldwide appeal.
In tandem with the launch comes our first glimpse at the label’s curation. The inaugural release comes via the expert hand of label founder and cultural attaché Chukku, who is known for being an artist at home taking crowds on incredibly varied journeys. Chukku has spent most of his life mastering this art form and his career has been interwoven with themes of deep melodic, tech, afro house and techno. As such, XXXX EP is a deep, dimensional and atmospheric number, heralding a producer who has been a fully-fledged multi-instrumentalist since the age of 15 — and is a perfect precursor to what’s ahead for Souta.
XXXX EP comes paired with a series of remixes by artists close to the label. The original release is accompanied by a rework by longtime friend and labelmate Devlar, who demonstrates his immense talent as a producer with a version that adopts a relentless rhythmical force. Oliver Osborne and Enoo Napa have also been confirmed for forthcoming remix packages, with Devlar and Oliver Osborne preparing to release their own EPs on the label this month as well.
Rumours of a launch party are swirling amongst social circles though the label has not yet made any announcements. But we’re inclined to tell anyone in Bali to chill the champagne…
XXXX EP was released on June 4, 2021 via Souta. Purchase it here.
