1605 and LabelRadar Join Forces: UMEK’s Techno Powerhouse Opens Doors to New Talent

In techno, few figures loom as large as UMEK. The Slovenian DJ and producer has been a driving force since the early 1990s, carving out a global reputation for relentless energy and precision on the dancefloor. In 2007 he founded 1605, a label that quickly became more than a vehicle for his own productions. Over time it grew into a platform that connected hundreds of artists with audiences worldwide, building a catalog that now stretches past 330 releases and showcases well over 500 producers.

From the beginning, 1605 had a clear mission. “1605 was established as a gateway that would enable young producers (at the time mainly based in Eastern Europe) to reach a global stage. Our mission was to provide a portal for talented young people, who had difficulties cutting through the underdeveloped Eastern European setting and to get their music heard worldwide,” the label explains. While its roster soon expanded far beyond the region, that original ethos of discovery remained a guiding force.

Success, however, brought its own challenges. As the label’s reputation grew, so did the flood of demos. Many were far from the sound 1605 had carefully cultivated, and the sheer volume became unmanageable for a boutique team. Eventually, open submissions had to be paused, with UMEK himself scouting new talent directly. That approach kept quality high but left behind the open-door spirit that defined the label’s early years.

This year marks a turning point. 1605 has joined forces with LabelRadar, a demo submission platform designed to simplify the process of connecting artists with labels. For 1605, the partnership offers a way to revive its founding mission while avoiding the burnout that once came with unfiltered submissions. “It provides the service that we’ve been looking for a long time and that is definitely a problem-solver for the industry. We’re super happy to see what talent LabelRadar will bring our way,” the team says.

The collaboration builds on 1605’s long relationship with Beatport, where its releases have been available since the label’s earliest days. As Beatport expanded into distribution and artist services, the partnership deepened, and the integration of LabelRadar feels like a natural continuation of that shared history.

For UMEK, this step fits neatly into a career defined by constant reinvention. In recent years he co-founded Viberate, a data-driven platform that maps artist performance across streaming and social metrics, giving him and the label a sharper edge in spotting emerging talent. He also launched GrooveSector, a sublabel dedicated to hardgroove techno, a style that recalls his formative years but speaks powerfully to today’s peak-time dancefloors.

The release schedule for the coming weeks reflects 1605’s dual commitment to discovery and impact. Following the storming UMEK x ELAKTO track On My Mind, the label will issue Hear Me Out by Franco Smith and Martin Kinrus on August 29, followed by Obey To The Dancefloor EP from KOS:MO on September 5. 

Each carries the unmistakable weight of music made for big rooms but with the detail and craft that speaks to 1605’s enduring standards.