Launching with a single from co-founders We Are Neurotic earlier this year, C3DO Recordings is a playful house, disco and electronic label founded by Dylan C. Greene, 3kelves, and We Are Neurotic, dedicated to nurturing its family of artists and providing a steady stream of quality, idiosyncratic releases.
Next up it’s another of the label’s founders Dylan C. Greene whose single Fool Me is out now.
Dylan C. Greene emerged in the electronic scene during 2021, gaining recognition through remix competitions and collaborations within online music communities. His remix for Disclosure’s ‘Never Enough’ led to releases on Kitsuné Musique and True Romance, and remixes for artists like Lion Babe.
Following a standout remix for Disclosure and tracks on Kitsuné Musique and True Romance, Greene’s C3DO debut ‘Fool Me’, blends jazz, soul, and depth, coined ‘Gran Turismo House’ by Dylan. Anticipate sharp synths and sliced vocals atop dynamic drums.
Hi Dylan, thank you for taking the time to chat with us today! How has the year been treating you?
Pretty Good! This year has been quite the change from the jump since we started the new label. I’ve definitely been doing a lot more industry / administrative work and have had less time to make music, but I’m excited to get back to that once we’ve gotten a solid release routine going.
Where do you think the impulse to create music comes from for you?
I’ve been driving teachers crazy by tapping out rhythms on tables with pencils ever since I was a child, so I’m pretty certain I was just born with a natural impulse to make music. I also do weird shit like putting my ear up against a can of sparkling water to hear what it sounds like. I don’t know, I’m a nerd.
Your tracks, like the remix of “Never Enough” by Disclosure, have a distinct blend of energy and nostalgia. What drives your approach to creating music that resonates on both these levels?
I think it’s a combination of old taste and new technology. Right now, I mostly get inspired by a lot of older house tracks, and will try to recreate those sounds to use in my own tracks. Thing is, those sounds were usually cooked up with a vintage sampler or synth or sequencer of some kind. So, I think me trying to recreate that with modern laptop tools automatically teds to create this blend of modern nostalgia.
Collaborations seem to be a significant part of your work, with artists like 3kelves. How do you choose your collaborators, and what do you believe they bring to your music?
Honestly, I’m much better at collaborating then making music on my own. It’s also the reason I love making remixes. If I make something fully by myself, I will usually become way too overcritical. When I’m working with someone else or doing a remix I tend to feel more accepting of the process and usually the results end up being better because of it. I started working with 3kelves because we have very similar tastes, and I feel that’s the most important thing when collaborating.
With your music being celebrated from Eindhoven to San Francisco, how do you see your diverse background influencing your sound and your connection with global audiences?
Being fortunate enough to have lived in both Europe and the US, I’ve started to recognize the differences in dance music culture between both continents. For one, I feel like there is a very broad dance scene in every major European city, whereas in the US, some major cities barely showcase proper club music at all. Just the difference between LA and San Francisco alone is pretty massive. I think showcasing my European ‘take-your-time / building the set throughout the night’ DJ approach to American audiences definitely differentiates me a bit, but then again, I also like to get to the point a bit faster than your average Berlin techno DJ.
The launch of C3DO Recordings is a big step. What inspired you to start your own label, and how does it reflect your vision for music?
Basically, we we’re done with waiting on other labels, and wanted more control on how and when we put stuff out. We have so much good music and we feel like the bureaucracy of dealing with other labels was slowing down our output so much that we wanted a platform to just put out whatever we want, whenever we want. We also want our stuff to sonically stand out. Playful and different, and not afraid to stray away from your typical dance music formulas.
Can you share insights into the A&R process for C3DO Recordings? What do you look for in artists and tracks to sign?
Well, we aren’t particularly looking to sign anyone at the moment. We started the label to specifically have a platform for our own music. Us being: We Are Neurotic, 3kelves, and myself. That being said, if the right fit comes along, we would be open to it. As long as it’s fresh and different.
With the music industry rapidly evolving, particularly within electronic music, how do you see C3DO Recordings standing out in today’s landscape?
Is it rapidly evolving though? Cause I’m just hearing the same hooks recycled over and over again, haha. We aren’t here to hop on trends. Heck, our first release ‘Hyperservice’ has basically no breakdowns and a 2.5 minute piano solo at the end.
Meanwhile Spotify is pushing songs under 2 minutes total. I don’t know, maybe it’s not the smartest ‘business decision’, but we’re just trying to put out fun dance music that speaks to ourselves and not any one audience or industry. We’re going for timeless over trendy.
This year seems promising for C3DO Recordings. Can you give us a sneak peek into what we can expect in terms of releases or artist signings?
We’re going to put out singles on a monthly basis. The next one will be a deep house cut by myself called ‘Fool Me’. We also have some exciting collaborations and remixes coming up, including more ‘3kelves & Dylan C. Greene’ stuff of course.
Reflecting on your journey so far and with the establishment of your label, how do you see your artistic identity evolving in the next few years?
Right now, I’m in more of a ‘club focused’ direction. I’m really trying to hone my craft of making tracks that are super effective on the dancefloor. Tracks that take their time and get everyone dancing and in the zone. I also want to do more remixes. A lot more remixes. It’s my favorite thing and I feel like the ‘Remixer/DJ’ career path is heavily underrated. Just look at Soulwax for instance. Their remixes arguably made them the legends they are today. I wouldn’t complain of being in a similar position.
What should we expect from you for the rest of 2024?
Did I mention more remixes? Also more gigs. We are doing southern California at the end of March, taking it to NYC in early April, and I’m currently working on more Europe dates for the summer. Also more music. Just more of everything really. Keep it locked.
Follow Dylan C. Greene | http://linktr.ee/dylancgreene