Bootleg Bop Radio Presents: Juliette Boos
- Bootleg Bop Radio
- Nov 21, 2016
- 3 min read
Get to know the leading mermaid behind Lille based record label, Handle the Sound.
Handle the Sound is an independent record label run by Juliette Boos. HTS started out as a blog in 2012 and re-launched as a record label in 2015. Currently the label has released 3 compilation albums and singles showcasing emerging artists and regulars of the underground electronic music scene around the world. Juliette Boos focuses on finding music artists who go out of their way to experiment and create new sounds rather than searching for an artist solely based on renowned success.
Tell me a bit about yourself.
Hello! My name is Juliette and I’m 21 years old. I’m a French girl from Lille living in Brussels currently doing a master’s degree in advertising. I recently got into embroidery – I really love it but I need more practice. I like riding my bike. I used to work in Leeds (UK) for a couple of months and I’m still going there quite often. I like vintage clothes, minimalists ones as well. I spend hours on the internet trying to find nice websites, brands, blogs, music, and new artists. I’m very into political sociology and society in general as I’m reading a lot of books, articles and magazines about it (I also have a huge crush on France Inter).
When did you become interested in record label management?
I’ve always been interested in promoting artists. I never had enough courage to “build” something before, I was just curious about the best way to bring together someone who is unknown in contact with someone a bit more known.
Being a record label manager/owner, what are some tasks that you go through daily?
Love for music must come first. I think one of the most important things is being curious about new music, new emerging genres and new artists. I look for sounds on Soundcloud, Youtube, Bandcamp, through mixes and radio show etc.
When did HTS begin and how has it progressed over the years?
HTS started out as a blog in 2012. At the beginning, I was just posting sounds I liked, sometimes with a small description, sometimes not. What I wanted was to create a platform in order to promote artists. Even though it was just through simple posts, it was my way to help artists get more attention. In January 2015, I released the first ever compilation on HTS[Mermaids Comp. Volume 1.] It was the first step towards becoming a record label. It featured Arma, Tr!ck$, Sines & Kruxx, P Solja, BSN Posse,Pitcheno and Ankerman.
Since then I’ve released two other compilations,
Mermaid Comp. Vol 2: featuring Schwarz, Ca$h Bandicoot, Had Nothin, Ballast, Ice Cavity, Munguugnum, GetCosy, Ida Dillan, Rosbeg and DJ Kodo.
Between every compilation, I still released other things like a few solo tracks such as : Miggy – Give it 2 Me, Spurz – Mermaid Riddim, Mr Carmack – Simpler (Tony Goods remix), Lars Warn – Mazu,Zutzut – Jadea (Sunareht edit),SVANI – YAASSS, MINA – No Compromise Riddim, Adipop – Sincere Heart Ft Douceur and SIM L – Surrender.
Why did you choose a mermaid to be the face of HTS?
I really admire mermaids to be honest. I find them attractive and elegant.
When looking for music artists to be featured/become apart of HTS what do you usually look for in terms of the style of music?
I don’t really have any preferences in music. I like surprises. I like risks, and sweet melodies. But if I have to choose a few ones I’d say: afrobeats, latino sounds, r’n’b samples, grime, footwork and funky/disco sounds.
What has been the most exciting thing to happen for HTS?
Probably the release of Mermaid Comp Vol 1. It took me 1 year to prepare it so I was quite excited about it.
What are some advantages of running your own record label?
I’m running HTS on my own so I can decide anything I want to release or not release, what artists to contact etc. It’s very nice even though I have a lot of things to deal with on my own.
What are some struggles you go through being an independent record label, how do you handle it?
If I had more money, I would master every track, compilations etc. in the studio with professionals. I would also start physicals releases. I wish with time I can put more money into HTS in order to give everyone sounds higher quality.
What can we expect from HTS’s last release of the year?
HTS last release of the year will be from SMDG.
Soundcloud: Handle The Sound
Facebook: HTS
Twitter: JulBoos
