NX Records

Tony Wilson: Most of all, I love Manchester. The crumbling warehouses, the railway arches, the cheap abundant drugs. That's what did it in the end. Not the money, not the music, not even the guns. That is my heroic flaw: my excess of civic pride. 
- 24 Hour Party People

Goldsmiths says:

Goldsmiths, University of London has partnered with leading electronic producer Matthew Herbert, founder of Accidental Records, to launch NX Records - a new independent label, run by and for artists and students.

An evening of eclectic live performances on Thursday 9 May at London's Southbank Centre will officially launch NX Records and PureGold - a six-week festival showcasing the wealth of musical talent from Goldsmiths.

Talking about the partnership, Matthew commented: "It feels really exciting to be partnering up with an institution, and in particular an educational institution rather than a bigger record company, or heaven forbid - a brand, to support new artists making music.

"Goldsmiths has a proud and impressive pedigree and I know the next generation there will be likely to produce broad and brilliant music. Instead of the tired major label model of throwing money at something and hoping it works, we will endeavour instead to give the many artists on the label the tools, skills, confidence and backing to be able to not only realise a meaningful version of their music, but to own the rights in it and to take an active role in how that music is made public.

"After all, who better to render a convincing re-imagining of the currently unstable music industry than those most likely to be inventing what it will sound like in the years to come."

Simon Deacon, Director of Popular Music at Goldsmiths, commented: "NX Records exists to showcase the talents, and hopefully launch the careers, of up and coming artists who have begun their creative journey at Goldsmiths. Initially it is intended as a platform for students from the popular music course."

Students on the Popular Music programme, who came up with the name NX to reflect the label and the College's home in New Cross, will also be involved with A&R, organisation and the running of the label alongside Matthew and Accidental.

NX Records has its official launch party on Thursday 9 May at the Queen Elizabeth Hall at London's Southbank Centre, as part of the launch for the PureGold Festival.

The launch evening will run across three stages: The Front Room (NX Records launch with live performances from featured acts & DJs), The Purcell Room (a combination of contemporary, classical & pop performances) and The Queen Elizabeth Hall (featuring audio & visual work from the Electronic Music Studios).

For the PureGold festival programme, click here. To find out more about the Department of Music, click here.

To download the NX Records mixtape, click here. To stream, click here.