Beatport Hype: Colorize

Launched as a sub-label of the London-based imprint Enhanced Music in 2011, Colorize has been a progressive house stalwart for almost a decade. With hundreds of releases to its name, its experienced roster has pushed progressive house into more vibrant territory with a sophisticated and eclectic palate.

We caught up with three of the label’s most beloved acts — prominent French wunderkind Matt Fax, Canadian enchanter Dezza, and the enigmatic PRANNA — to learn more about this engaging imprint. Matt Fax has also provided an hour-long mix that brings the sonic spectrum of the Colorize catalog into full view.

How did you all first link up with Colorize?

PRAANA – We’ve always loved the Colorize sound and sent in “Mojave” to the team once we had a rough version. They really loved the record and saw our vision for PRAANA. Together we’ve had countless meetings and conversations about what we would like PRAANA to sound like and our overall message as artists. Colorize gets it. We love having this as our home!

Dezza – It’s been so long I actually had to do some research to answer this question! When Colorize was first launched in 2011, one of the A&R’s there reached out to me. I think I was the second artist to release on the label.

Matt Fax – I got linked up with the label in late 2012 with the help of a friend, I sent a couple of originals, and a few months later, I got a solo release on the label.

How has Colorize helped push your career forward? What are some of the label’s greatest strengths?

PRAANA – Colorize has given us a great platform as a new artist. We’ve been able to collaborate with other great artists on the roster who share a similar vision. They’ve supported our campaigns and marketing initiatives very strongly. Some of the label’s greatest strengths are that the employees are all very passionate about our music/aesthetic and being part of Enhanced. They have great access to resources that help new artists like us grow.

What are your thoughts on the current state of progressive house?

Dezza – Personally, I don’t really like to put myself in a box when it comes to genres. I will say that I have been playing heaps of progressive house on my live streams — progressive house is in a good spot.

You’ve been producing progressive house and trance since you were 15 years old. Has your production process, mindset, and attitude changed this year with the pandemic?

Matt Fax – It felt like I was back in 2016 when I had no gigs and I stayed home making music. This allowed me to try new things, but it felt weird to not being able to travel when I had been booked to open for Jason Ross on his US album tour.

Tell us about the Colorscape compilation series. How would you describe it, and what are some standout tunes from Volume Two?

PRAANA – It was an amazing piece of work to have been a part of. We were a huge fan of Volume One as well, so being able to team up with Dezza and Matt Fax for this was rad. For our mix, Ram Dass was a huge part of it. His sampling added the core to our work for this one. Some other standout tracks are PRAANA & LEVV’s “I Am (Loving Awareness Mix),” which was released on Colorize on December 4th. Also, Matt Fax & Sound Quelle’s “Sunburst” and Dezza & Lauren L’aimant’s “Settle.”

Dezza – The Colorscapes series is one of the best ideas to come out of the Colorize/Enhanced office, aside from signing me as an artist in 2011 of course! I would describe it as a thoroughly enjoyable journey through deep and melodic progressive house, on all levels. PRAANA, Matt Fax and I all have different tastes and styles of DJing and I feel Colorscapes Volume Two is a perfect example of that. Being part of a compilation series has always been a dream of mine all the way back to my first days of getting into music as a teenager. I take pride in showcasing all of the artists in the mix. It’s hard to pick standout tunes but Djimboh, Axis, Murtagh, Klur, and Trilucid nailed it with their contributions.

Matt Fax – I think it’s one of the best compilations in the game right now. We put so much heart in choosing tunes that resonate with us instead of releasing fillers just to fill a schedule. Some standouts from Volume Two would be Estiva’s “Rush Hour” and Trilucid’s “Glimmer in the Dark.”

Purchase Colorize’s 50-track compilation, ‘Colorscapes Volume Two,’ on Beatport.

Cameron Holbrook is Beatportal’s Assistant Editor. Find him on Twitter.