Behind The Label: Because Music
Two decades in, Because Music remains one of the most forward-thinking independent labels in the game, blending heritage, club culture, and boundary-pushing artistry with zero interest in playing it safe.
Cameron Holbrook
Founded in 2004 by Emmanuel de Buretel, Because Music has spent the last two decades carving out its own corner of global music culture. From its first breakthrough with Amadou & Mariam’s Dimanche à Bamako to its long-running alliance with Ed Banger Records, the label helped export the electricity of French club music through Justice, DJ Mehdi, Mr. Oizo, SébastiAn, and a generation of artists who reshaped dance floors far beyond Paris.
What’s kept Because compelling is its refusal to stay in one lane. From Charlotte Gainsbourg to London Grammar, Metronomy to Jorja Smith and beyond, the label's eclectic catalogue is a mix of elegance, experimentation, and proper club muscle. Expansion from their Paris-based stronghold into London and Los Angeles, plus a direct distribution model, made sure that independence actually meant global.
Its not just a label that champions fresh sonic exploration, but its become a guardian of musical heritage, reissuing gems from London Records, parts of various majors' archives, and even key Prince and Daft Punk material – a noteworthy balance of future and past under one roof.
Now 20 years in, Because is doubling down on new voices. Shygirl, Logic1000, LB aka LABAT, BAMBII, Tatyana Jane and new exciting signings on the horizon, reaffirming its role as a global tastemaker with no interest in creative borders.
