"In our continued age of what's called 'consolidation', where monopolies grow larger by conglomerates, and culture is threatened on a local level, it's essential we fight for the independent pubs, clubs and bars to keep their stage. Without it, we don't have a voice, and we don't have a soundtrack."
A record label, publisher, and management company, Transgressive Records are an independent label powerhouse who have been at the helm of some of the most exciting careers in modern music.
The label's ambitions and successes have only grown with time, yet their manifesto has been steadfast: to represent "one-of-a-kinds, regardless of the genre, background or discipline". Over twenty years in business Transgressive's knack for finding great talent has never faltered, from their early successes with 7" single releases, breaking a variety of rising guitar bands (The Subways, The Pipettes, Mystery Jets, Foals) to working with the internationally acclaimed artists SOPHIE, Flume, Loyle Carner, Songhoy Blues, At The Drive-In and Damon Albarn on debuts and catalogue highlights. Investing in the physical format and the independent live scene has been vital to all the label's successes and the journey to becoming one of the most innovative and boundary-breaking entities in British music.
In honour of the label's twenty-year milestone, we reflect on some of their key releases and catalogue highlights, celebrating with several new exclusive pressings, new represses and limited vinyl markdowns...
Transgressive Exclusives
Julia Jacklin - Crushing
The second full-length album from Julia Jacklin, Crushing embodies every possible meaning of its title word. It’s an album formed from sheer intensity of feeling, an in-the-moment narrative of heartbreak and infatuation. On Rough Trade Exclusive orange vinyl.
Songhoy Blues - Music In Exile
A true gem of Transgressive's roster. After fleeing North Malia in the wake of radical Islamists overthrowing their region, this male four-piece came to the attention of Marc-Antoine Moreau (Amadou & Mariam’s manager), who was looking for musicians who could record with the Africa Express team. After signing a deal with Transgressive Records whilst in the UK in 2013, the band were supported in crafting their masterful debut, Songhoy Blues, produced by Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), featuring the vocals of Damon Albarn. Electric desert blues, acoustic ballads and reworkings of songs from the Songhoy tradition. On Rough Trade Exclusive magenta vinyl.
The Moonlandingz - Interplanetary Class Classics
A band born from a semi-fictional concept album by Sheffield electronic analogue weirdos the Eccentronic Research Council and fronted by Fat White Family's legendary frontman, Lias Saoudi. A feast of swirling juddering synths, wailing guitars, motorik stomp and extraordinary songwriting.
Let's Eat Grandma - I'm All Ears
The second act from the British teenage vocalists, multi-instrumentalists and songwriters. Startling, infectious, innovative and thrilling, alive with furious pop, unapologetic grandeur, intimate ballads; with loops, Logic, outrageous 80s drum solos, as well as production from David Wrench (The xx / Frank Ocean / Caribou), SOPHIE and Faris Badwan (The Horrors). On neon pink and black marble vinyl.
Johnny Flynn - Sweet William EP
Johnny Flynn's Sweet Willaim EP is available on stand-alone vinyl for the first time. Featuring fan favourites Trains (Rose, Mary and Time), The Mountain Is Burning and Drum. On limited Rough Trade Exclusive 10".
SOPHIE - SOPHIE
Rough Trade Album of the Year 2024! The self-titled second and final album from the visionary artist, producer and pop pioneer, released via Transgressive and Future Classic. On Rough Trade Exclusive silver vinyl.
SOPHIE - Oil Of Every Pearl’s Un-insides Non-Stop Remix Album
Arriving on vinyl for the first time in November 2024, this record shows SOPHIE in party mode as she brings her iconic and critically acclaimed record to the club for 95 minutes of non-stop dance remixes featuring some of her long-term collaborators and friends (Doss, Cecile Believe, Bibi Bourelly, BC Kingdom). Released on Rough Trade Exclusive transparent red vinyl as part of our 2024 Albums of the Year celebration.
Transgressive Markdowns
We have special pricing (for a limited time only) across select titles in the label's catalogue in-store and online. Titles from Arlo Parks, Julia Jacklin, Alvvays, KOKOKO!, The WAEVE, Damon Albarn and more, with up to 30% off.
We chat with label co-founder Toby L to further understand the roster's eclecticism, the importance of the physical format, protecting independent venues and to reflect on the label's successes as they reach their landmark second decade.
Happy 20th Anniversary Transgressive!
Home to an ever-evolving, progressive roster of artists from eclectic sound worlds and backgrounds, Transgressive preside over some of our favourite names in indie pop, folk, alt-rock and electronic music. Although the label’s first few signings have roots in indie guitar music (The Subways, Mystery Jets, The Young Knives and Foals’ debut in 2008) Transgressive has only diversified its sonic palette since, signing the likes of desert blues rockers Songhoy Blues, acclaimed musician and actor Johnny Flynn, afrobeat fusion project Yannis & The Yaw, producer Flume, electronic avant-pop pioneer SOPHIE or Gen Z indie pop sensation Arlo Parks.
Was broadening the label’s sonic output a very clear goal from the offset? Did you face challenges trying to establish a position as a label as the roster diversified in this way?
We've always endeavoured to offer musical surprises or embrace misdirection - it's not always remembered that the first album release on Transgressive was from Regina Spektor, spanning a compilation of her early self-released records. Musically she remains a singular and unique artist, and in that regard, we've always aspired to release "one-of-a-kind"s, regardless of the genre, background or discipline. In the mid-noughties, we were delighted to be rather deep in the British guitar scene, but our sights were always far beyond that intoxicating moment. Our tastes and passions have always been diverse and expansive, and it's probably taken 20 years to credibly reflect the extent of them!
"We've always aspired to release "one-of-a-kind"s, regardless of the genre, background or discipline."
When you first formed in the mid-2000s, releasing albums on vinyl was less integral to an album campaign than the role it might play now. How has the ongoing vinyl revival shaped the Transgressive story and how important is it when breaking new artists?
When we started, releasing albums on vinyl was a very unusual occurrence - as a format, it had steadily plummeted in demand and interest since the 90s. But it was always our preferred medium, ever since buying 7" singles in local record stores with pocket money as kids, through to pilfering parents' record collections. All our early releases were limited, and often contained extravagantly designed vinyl packages. It was one of our early revivalist fantasies to make it a core format again in music, alongside promoting the growth of digitally accessible music. It's mind-blowing to consider how intrinsic it is once again in modern music culture, and how long may that remain. It's the ultimate embodiment of an artist's identity: the artwork, the credits, and of course the music itself. It tells you everything you need to know about the soul and intent of its creator. In that sense it's essential for breaking new artists - it often marks the arrival of an artist when they're ready to make that first dramatic statement of intent as to who they are and what they do.
"It's the ultimate embodiment of an artist's identity: the artwork, the credits, and of course the music itself."
Looking back on two decades of great music, can you share five key releases and campaigns which have defined the label's success in terms of shaping the ethos, as well as commercially?
I'm sure we'll all have different records depending on which day of the week it is! But today for me, The Shins' Wincing The Night Away sticks in mind - being able to partner with that legendary band on such a beautiful record, as well as our first of numerous collaborations with the seminal Sub Pop, was such a sublime and thankfully successful experience, it becoming a silver record over here. And then Foals' Antidotes - which critically and commercially became the launchpad for one of the most exciting musical careers in recent decades. Skin by Flume has become a true modern classic - with millions of sales and a Grammy. Collapsed in Sunbeams by Arlo Parks soundtracked a complex and unique time in the world when it was released in 2021, going on to win the Mercury Prize and a BRIT. Damon Albarn's The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows is possibly one of the most beautiful albums we've ever had the honour to release... It really is such a moving opus.
We’ve had some very special live music moments with Transgressive artists at Rough Trade, intimate album launch shows and signings in our shops with the likes of Arlo Parks, Damon Albarn, Alvayys and electric shows with KOKOKO! (The first artists to play all Rough Trade live spaces since the opening of our new venue space and shop in Liverpool) It's brilliant to see these world-class artists in these intimate spaces and independent venues, which is also happening throughout London for Transgressive’s anniversary shows (where Transgressive are partnering with Music Venue Trust and War Child) What role do independent venues continue to play for the label and its artists?
They say that playing a single gig is the equivalent of doing twenty rehearsals - and the only way to get good on a stage is by playing a lot of them. There's only one opportunity for a new artist to launch, so the natural environment is within grassroots venues, where they can cut their teeth to an empathetic crowd of people who want to discover new music. The ambience of a small venue cannot be replicated, and the ability to directly connect and relate with an audience will often never be more profound than in these environments. In our continued age of what's called 'consolidation', where monopolies grow larger by conglomerates, and culture is threatened on a local level, it's essential we fight for the independent pubs, clubs and bars to keep their stage. Without it, we don't have a voice, and we don't have a soundtrack. It's truly vital we don't allow new artists to skip such a crucial part of their development by depriving them of entry-level rooms to play in. I used to promote club nights as a teenager, and I can honestly say that every major moment in my life and career happened in small venues - the moment I met Tim, fellow co-founder of the label, the moment we met our future distributor of the label, and even the moment I met my future partner in life! That magic all happens in small venues, and we mustn't forget that fact.
"It's truly vital we don't allow new artists to skip such a crucial part of their development by depriving them of entry-level rooms to play in. I used to promote club nights as a teenager, and I can honestly say that every major moment in my life and career happened in small venues"
It was our pleasure to crown SOPHIE as our Album of the Year 2024, a posthumous album from the late and legendary pioneer producer, released via a partnership of Transgressive and Future Classic. This release honoured an artist with a monumental legacy quite unlike any other Album of the Year before. Can you share a bit about Transgressive’s journey with SOPHIE, from the release of Oil Of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides to working with the family on the posthumous final project?
SOPHIE remains the greatest sonic architect we've ever had the honour to collaborate with. We heard rumours that she was potentially available to work with following her Product singles compilation and through plenty of persistence and helping promote some of her shows we were able to make a suggestion to sign her, along with our close friends at Future Classic. When we had our first dinner with SOPHIE, it was impossible not to be thrown by her elegance, composure and cutting wit. She was extremely prophetic, and immensely empathetic. Everything was extremely considered, but also matched with the right level of 'fuck it' energy behind it. From hearing early versions of songs, we knew that her first album, Oil..., was going to be an utterly unique artistic expression and statement. When the video for the first single, It's Okay To Cry, surfaced, we knew that things were going to entirely transform forever. That following run of singles, Ponyboy, and Faceshopping, not to mention songs such as Is It Cold In The Water and Immaterial, immediately marked SOPHIE out as a total one-off writer and producer.
The initial response was strong from those in the know, but word of mouth over ensuing years was really the sign of something special building. That said, by the time of its release, SOPHIE was already deep into working on what would become the Non-Stop Remix follow-up to that album - which in itself is another remarkable body of work - as well as what was to become her second record, SOPHIE. Between show-stealing sets at Coachella, Fabric, Sonar and so many others, she somehow found the time to write and create so much incredible music. We remain forever honoured to work with her family to help bring to life the record that she was so close to completing, and are delighted by the initial response it's received. It's an all-time enchanting expression in electronic music, and we'll all be studying, appreciating and partying to its many twists and turns for decades to come, of that I'm certain.