Moshi Moshi Records started off as a hobby in 1998. Set up by three friends who had jobs working for major record labels. It was intended as a way of working with the bands that they loved but which didn’t fit in with the agenda of the day-job taskmasters. Early single releases from Zan Lyons, Kathryn Williams & Pedro and J Xaverre earned the label some plaudits. And sold a few records. Over the next five years Moshi Moshi slowly started to build a reputation for interesting, slightly leftfield, low-key releases. Then in 2004 things changed. For a start Moshi stopped being a hobby and became a fulltime job. Very soon after, Hot Chip and Bloc Party arrived and Moshi Moshi quickly became a name known to more than a few. Chart success followed with Yeti and The Rakes and higher-profile album releases from Architecture In Helsinki and Au Revoir Simone helped lift the label onto a new level. Then from 2006 onwards came artists such as Hot Club De Paris, Tilly And The Wall, The Wave Pictures, Slow Club, James Yuill, The Drums, Summer Camp, the list goes on.

In late 2006 the two remaining Moshi Moshi founders decided they wanted to get back to their one-off 7” release roots and the Moshi Moshi Singles Club was born. The intention was to try and release one 7” each month by a new up-and-coming artist. It would be limited to 1000 and only be available in a select group of indie stores. The artwork would be restricted to one colour and be designed by the bands themselves. Now some 40+ releases later the singles club’s roster makes an impressive list – (including) Kate Nash, Late of The Pier, Friendly Fires, Lykke Li, Florence and The Machine, Kindness, Dananananayckroyd. Disclosure. In 2011 Moshi Moshi expanded its remit by partnering up with some very talented young A&R folk to set up the imprints Tender Age, Not Even, Apricot and Dream Beach. Working under the Moshi Moshi umbrella these new labels have already yielded a clutch of exciting releases by artists from as far afield as Kenya and Seattle.

At the same time as running the record label Moshi Moshi Management has been quietly guiding the career of Metronomy and Slow Club as well as producers Ash Workman and Ollie Bayston. From 2012 this side of the business started to expand dramatically and now features a sizeable roster of emerging artists.

Looking back on the Moshi Moshi roster (particularly since the label ‘went fulltime’ in 2004) it’s a collection that bears comparison with any of its peers. For a label run by two people with no financial backing, it’s nothing short of an inspiration.

The music of a:udiostaar can best be described as a blend of smart, soulful and sexy house strongly impacted from the sounds stemming from the San Francisco scene and the west coast.  

Ivey Lee, known as a:udiostaar, has been in the trenches of the EDM scene for more than a decade. Lee became familiar with electronic dance music in the mid 90's and saw the rise of Big Beat and Trance take over the dance floor and commercial charts by both established acts and one hit wonders. 

In 1999, Lee followed the scene to Miami, a city basking in sunrays and radiating the good vibes he himself perpetuated.  It was here he discovered the progressive house movement in clubs such as The Living Room, Shadow Lounge, Mansion and crobar.

Still seeking a deeper more soulful musical vibe, he began to discover the funky soulfulness of the west coast sound.  Many of his early heros such as Jay-J, Chris Lum, Julius Papp, Mark Farina, and others gave him the desire to gravitate towards this deeper, more soulful West Coast style.

A:udiostaar's own sound, which has been classified as "sexy and sophisticated", lures non-house listeners and die-hards alike.  His mainstream-friendly-house music opens these "non-believers" eyes & ears to the beauty & sophistication of house music, 

Formerly known in the Richmond area under the moniker DJ GIV, A:udiostaar has played venues such as Europa and the now defunct BANK, as well as guest spots in Miami's old Living Room Strand Bar has now returned with a new identity and vision for the Richmond scene......

His mission --to bring a more sophisticated vibe to Richmond nightlife and partygoers everywhere. 


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