Owsla

History

In 2012, Owsla launched a monthly subscription, The Nest, with benefits including early access to Owsla releases. In 2013, Bromance Records partnered up with Owsla to create an American branch titled Bromance US with releases from Gesaffelstein, Illangelo, Brodinski and LOUISAHHH!!!. A year later, Owsla launched the Nestivus Charity Campaign, a series of holiday initiatives with all proceeds going to the international music nonprofit, Bridges for Music.

On September 18, 2016, Owsla celebrated five years of establishment with a party in Los Angeles. In a video published by Owsla, Skrillex spoke about the establishment. He said "I make music 'cause I love music and it all starts from there. And I surround myself with good people that I believe in as well. I think it’s important to create your family." The General Manager of Owsla, Blaise DeAngelo asserted that Skrillex previously, like many other artists, had issues with record labels, implying that it caused him to create his own. Owsla was described as a label started for electronic music artists who "couldn’t get good label deals or resources and support they needed."

Porter Robinson's Spitfire was the label's debut release. Releases that followed, such as Zedd’s Shave It, Gesaffelstein’s Aleph and What So Not’s Jaguar, were described as prominent. Owsla Head of A&R Chris Morris explained that "In order for an artist to be signed, there has to be that passion from the top down," asserting that it is an "artist-driven" company. On May 5, 2017, Owsla released an annual compilation album, Howsla. It was described by Pitchfork as "a focused take that’s largely modeled on bassline house, a style from the northern UK that’s distinguished by greasy low-end melodies, hard-thwacked drums, and a slippery, skippy sense of swing." Subsidiaries of Owsla include Nest HQ, a website dedicated to giving exposure to electronic music artists and Owsla Goods, a 'fashion wing'.

Owsla went dormant in 2020, following the release of Salvatore Ganacci's Boycycle EP. No official announcement has been made regarding the label's fate, however, the Nest HQ library was quietly deleted in 2024.

Key people

• Sonny Moore (Skrillex) – founder, chief executive officer
• Tim Smith – co-founder, artist manager
• Kathryn Frazier – co-founder, publicist
• Clayton Blaha – co-founder, director of artists and repertoire (A&R)
• Chris Morris – head of A&R
• Blaise DeAngelo – former general manager

Artists

• Bassnectar
• Birdy Nam Nam
• BloodPop
• Dylan Brady
• Carmada
• Crookers
• Destructo
• Dog Blood
• Ekali
• Elohim
• Figure
• From First to Last
• Dillon Francis
• Salvatore Ganacci
• Gesaffelstein
• Getter
• Ghastly
• HeartsRevolution
• Hundred Waters
• I Am Legion
• I See Monstas
• Jack Beats
• Jack Ü
• Joyryde
• Valentino Khan
• Kill the Noise
• KOAN Sound
• Chris Lake
• Loudpvck
• Anna Lunoe
• The M Machine
• Marshmello
• Alex Metric
• Mija
• Moody Good
• Must Die!
• josh pan
• Pennybirdrabbit
• Alvin Risk
• Porter Robinson
• Route 94
• Rusko
• Seven Lions
• Showtek
• Sirah
• Skream
• Skrillex
• Snails
• Star Slinger
• Sub Focus
• TC
• Teddy Killerz
• Tennyson
• TroyBoi
• Vindata
• Virtual Riot
• What So Not
• Wiwek
• Zedd

References

References

1. (12 May 2017). "Two Major Labels Reportedly In Discussions To Acquire Spinnin' Records". Your EDM.
2. "Make Your Mark: Owsla- The Mothership". Relentless Beats.
3. (2017-03-22). "Owsla Announces House-Focused Compilation Howsla, Drops Chris Lake's "I Want You" - NEST HQ".
4. By808sJake. "The 25 Best Songs on Owsla, So Far". Complex.
5. (2013-05-10). "Label Spotlight | Owsla". Onlythebeat.com.
6. Billboard. (2015-01-25). "Sundance 2015: Skrillex".
7. Billboard. (2016-09-21). "Skrillex's Owsla Label Celebrates With Los Angeles Rager in Honor of 5-Year Anniversary". Billboard.
8. (2011-06-07). "Skrillex Announces Launch of Owsla Label". Billboard.
9. "Skrillex, Owsla Label Announce The Nest: Subscription-Based Imprint". Billboard.
10. (2016-09-14). "Label Focus: Owsla - Blog". Mixmag.
11. (2016-02-04). "The Origins of 10 Iconic Names in Dance Music". EDM.com.
12. (22 February 2013). "Owsla Will Take You To The Mountain: A Deeper Look at Skrillex's Winning Streak". RaverRafting.
13. Dessa, Kate. (2013-07-18). "Bromance Records Launches American Branch via Owsla". Earmilk.
14. Billboard. (2014-12-18). "Skrillex's Owsla Label Launches Nestivus Charity Campaign". Billboard.
15. (2016-09-23). "OWSLA unveils five-year anniversary recap video".
16. Cunningham, Katie. (2016-09-21). "Why Owsla could be the most important label in dance music right now". Inthemix.junkee.com.
17. Leight, Elias. (2016-12-08). "Skrillex's Owsla, Known for Big Beats, Branches Out With Singer-Songwriter Mark Johns". Vogue.
18. (2017-03-22). "Owsla begins to roll out new house compilation 'Howsla' with new Chris Lake video". Dancing Astronaut.
19. (2017-05-10). "Skrillex and Chris Lake team up for house {{as written".
20. Philip Sherburne. (2017-05-04). "Various Artists: Howsla Album Review". Pitchfork.
21. Billboard. (2016-12-20). "Owsla GM Blaise DeAngelo Talks Label's Five Year Mark & Moving Beyond Music". Billboard.
22. Paredes, Josue. (2020-02-18). "Salvatore Ganacci Releases 'Boycycle' EP".
23. Yopko, Nick. (2024-11-07). "All of OWSLA's NEST HQ Uploads Have Been Removed From SoundCloud".
24. (2017-06-28). "Best Label: Owsla". DJMag.com.
25. (17 March 2017). "Bassnectar and ATLiens make their OWSLA debuts with 'Interlock'".
26. Photography: Thomas Uribe. "Premiere: Blood Diamonds - Apex". Dummy Mag.
27. (2019-03-20). "josh pan ditches electronic stylings on debut joint album, 'This Car Needs Some Wheels' with Dylan Brady". Dancing Astronaut.
28. (2014-12-15). "Skrillex Signs Duo 'Carmada' After Only Hearing One Track". EDM.com.
29. Khal. "Crookers - "Ghetto Guetta"". Complex.
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31. "Dog Blood - "Middle Finger" - The 25 Best Songs on Owsla, So Far". Complex.
32. "Ekali joins the Owsla family - EARMILK".
33. "Elohim - Connect by ELOHIM - Listen to music".
34. (2016-01-29). "Figure - Horns of the Apocalypse EP (Owsla)". Your EDM.
35. "Skrillex Reunites With From First to Last, His Former Band, on New Track "Make War"".
36. (2014-07-24). "Skrillex's Owsla Unleashes Free Exclusive Music From Zedd, Dillon Francis & More". Your EDM.
37. (30 July 2018). "Salvatore Ganacci returns with another dramatic Tomorrowland set". We Rave You.
38. (2013-06-17). "Gesaffelstein – Pursuit (Official Music Video) Not Safe For Work". YourEDM.
39. Billboard. (2016-11-03). "Getter Dishes on Face-Melting Music Videos and 'Radical Dude!' EP". Billboard.
40. Billboard. (2016-08-16). "Ghastly Talks Owsla, Metal, and Not Getting Comfortable". Billboard.
41. Jess GentileMar 25 2014, 12:00am. (2014-03-25). "HeartsRevolution Has an Ice Cream Truck Made of One Million Swarovski Crystals - Thump". Thump.vice.com.
42. Krystal Rodriguez. (May 12, 2017). "Hundred Waters and Skrillex's New Team-Up Will Make You Feel Better - Thump".
43. (16 July 2013). "I Am Legion - Make Those Move [Owsla]". Your EDM.
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45. (2013-08-22). "Owsla After Dark Part I - Jack Beats - NEST HQ".
46. Corban Goble. (2015-03-05). "Various Artists: Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack Ü Album Review". Pitchfork.
47. (2017-02-21). "A New Track From JOYRYDE's High-Octane Owsla EP Is Here, "I WARE HOUSE" - NEST HQ".
48. Ezra MarcusApr 6 2017, 9:17pm. (2017-04-06). "Owsla's Anna Lunoe, Wuki, and Valentino Khan Team Up like Voltron for Walloping New Track - Thump". Thump.vice.com.
49. (2015-10-09). "Album Review: Kill The Noise 'OCCULT CLASSIC' [Owsla] - NEST HQ".
50. Billboard. (2017-03-22). "Chris Lake Talks 'I Want You,' Owsla House Compilation 'Howsla,' and the Future of American House: Exclusive". Billboard.
51. "NGHTMRE and LOUDPVCK's New Single for OWSLA Might Be the Hardest Song You Hear All Year - Thump".
52. (2016-09-16). "Anna Lunoe Goes All Out On New Single "Radioactive"". We Got This Covered.
53. (2016-03-10). "The M Machine - Superflat [Owsla]". Your EDM.
54. Billboard. (2016-11-29). "Marshmello Launches New 'Ritual' Merch Line With Owsla". Billboard.
55. Billboard. (2013-03-25). "Alex Metric Talks About His Owsla Single, 'Ilium': Watch Here". Billboard.
56. (2016-02-02). "Owsla Artist Mija Sits for Tasteful, Gothy Playboy Shoot - Thump". Thump.vice.com.
57. Dabrye. (27 May 2014). "Stream Moody Good's genre-hopping debut in full, forthcoming on Owsla and MTA Records - FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music". Factmag.com.
58. Sophia. (2014-08-14). "MUST DIE! Announces New LP For Owsla". Edmsauce.com.
59. (8 June 2017). "OWSLA Producer/Singer josh pan Releases Jarring Video For "nowhere"".
60. (13 February 2014). "Pennybirdrabbit "For Love EP" [Owsla/Big Beat]". Your EDM.
61. "Owsla - The 15 Best EDM Labels Right Now". Complex.
62. "Dream - "This Isn't House" - The 25 Best Songs on Owsla, So Far". Complex.
63. (2013-06-05). "Skrillex signs Rusko to his Owsla record label". NME.
64. (17 November 2013). "Seven Lions - Serpent Of Old [Owsla]". Your EDM.
65. (28 December 2012). "Noisecontrollers & Showtek - Get Loose (Owsla) • Harderstate - Hardstyle & Hardcore Forum". Harderstate.com.
66. (2017-09-29). "Skrillex Chops & Screws Renaissance Synths For Sirah's 'Deadbeat': Listen". Billboard.
67. "Skream ft. Sam Frank - "Anticipate" - The 25 Best Songs on Owsla, So Far". Complex.
68. (16 January 2018). "EDM Wishes Skrillex A Very Happy 30th Birthday". Your EDM.
69. (2017-06-08). "Skrillex's Latest Episode Of Owsla Radio Features Snails, What So Not & More". Your EDM.
70. Almeida, Nicole. (27 January 2017). "Striving for More: A Conversation with Star Slinger". Atwood Magazine.
71. (26 November 2013). "TC Tightens His Grip On The Dance Floor With 'Get Down Low EP'". Your EDM.
72. Byanonymous superhero. "Teddy Killerz - "Teddy Massacre"". Complex.
73. (2017-09-01). "Tennyson Release New Single "Cry Bird" + Announce Uh Oh! EP On Owsla". Runthetrap.com.
74. (2019-06-21). "Skrillex & TroyBoi Unleash Their Massive "WARLORDZ" Collaboration". YourEDM.
75. (8 August 2017). ""Favor" with Vindata + Skrillex + NSTASIA Sounds Unlike Any Owsla Collab, Ever [LISTEN]". Your EDM.
76. (18 April 2019). "OWSLA Comes Back Strong: Signs Virtual Riot & Releases Salvatore Ganacci Music Video". Riverbeats.life.
77. (21 February 2014). "Check Out What So Not on Owsla After Dark". Your EDM.
78. (7 February 2017). "Wiwek Releases Two New Tracks On Owsla [VIDEOS]". Your EDM.