Five years in the industry marks a significant milestone for In-Reach Records, a label founded on a deep passion for Drum & Bass music and a mission to share that passion with kindred spirits. What better way to commemorate this achievement than with a compilation, ‘The Formation’ VA LP, that encapsulates the sounds and artists that have fueled the label’s journey so far.

All nine of IRR’s past contributors, along with key members of the In-Reach family, have collaborated to create this emotionally charged Various Artists album.

Heading up the release is a very serious piece of wax, the Formation LP 12" album sampler which dropped in September 2023. The 12” vinyl exclusive album sampler comprises two tracks that have been causing waves in the scene for some time with remixes from Kid Drama & Madcap.

https://biglink.to/IRRVALP10

Released by:
In-Reach Records
Compilation release date:
21 October 2023

On My Mind - The Formation VA LP [In-Reach Records | IRRVALP10]

Five years in the industry marks a significant milestone for In-Reach Records, a label founded on a deep passion for Drum & Bass music and a mission to share that passion with kindred spirits. What better way to commemorate this achievement than with a compilation, ‘The Formation’ VA LP, that encapsulates the sounds and artists that have fueled the label’s journey so far.

All nine of IRR’s past contributors, along with key members of the In-Reach family, have collaborated to create this emotionally charged Various Artists album.

"‘On My Mind’ introduces itself entirely differently to the heavy tracks on J Plates’ Brain Drain EP (IRR-005). The smooth break starts things off before being joined by summery keys and a catchy vocal. The darkness of Brain Drain is not totally lost however - after the upbeat intro, Jeremy unleashes a heavy hitting bass line to bring back the balance."

👉 J Plates 
@https://soundcloud.com/jplates


In-Reach Records
@in-reach
www.facebook.com/InReachCo
www.instagram.com/inreachrecords

The Formation VA LP

On My Mind

PREMIERE: J Plates - On My Mind (IRRVALP10)

👁️‍🗨️ Drum & Bass / Jungle Producer & DJ 
📍 Guildford, United Kingdom (via NZ)

📺 Watch: J Plates @ Planet Wax 
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⏳ Forthcoming: TBA

🌐 Labels: 
Silent Force Recordings | In-Reach Records | Omni Music | Skalator Music | Audio Theory Records | Bare Necessity Records | Offworld Recordings | Sonata Recordings | Deafmuted Records | Liquid Brilliants Recordings | ill Records |

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...

💬 J Plates (Jeremy Graham) was first introduced to Sound System Culture and Bass Music back in 2007 while attending the seminal 'Phat 07' Bass Camp, located on the idyllic Inangahua site near the top of the South Island, New Zealand. The non-stop outdoor music festival featured an unfathomable line up of the scenes finest International and National acts, a true master class in all things Drum & Bass / Jungle. This experience (alongside subsequently attended events) would form the basis of a deep & lengthy career as both a Live Sound Engineer and Music Producer in the years to follow. This is where the J Plates journey begins.

During the next five years the budding producer would go on to complete a music degree; promote and run sound systems for a variety of successful club nights (including for headliners such as Concord Dawn, The Upbeats, State of Mind, Trei, Dose, Optimus Gryme, and DLR & Octane); spend a year and a half in Belfast, Northern Ireland promoting and working on events (including hosting Black Sun Empire’s debut Belfast show and playing support in 2010), as well as perform, produce and release a number of music projects; ultimately leading to the establishment of the J Plates moniker towards the end of 2012.

With a number of musical influences already established alongside a quickly evolving collection of vinyl, debut J Plates single ‘Look Within (feat. Karen Saunders)’ was signed by Liquid Brilliants Recordings (RU), and a series of J Plates singles would soon find their way onto additional compilations throughout 2014 via Sonata Recordings (UK), Deafmuted Records (CZ) and Offworld Recordings (UK); the latter making it’s way into the Juno Downloads top 20 Drum & Bass chart.

With a clear passion for ‘golden era' sounds within the Drum & Bass / Jungle spectrums, J Plates released the all vinyl ‘Back To School’ Mixtapes, spread over four parts and showcasing a range of influential favourites spanning 1996 through to 2012. The series would provide a springboard for the artists own resident radio show aptly titled ‘Atmospherics’, via Hamilton City’s Noize Radio that ran shows throughout 2014-2015.

Gaining on this momentum, the first fully developed J Plates EP’s ‘Defeat The Purpose’ & ‘Visions’ were picked up by Audio Theory Records (GR), and Omni Music (UK) respectively between 2015-2016, alongside growing global support and praise from veteran artists such as Klute (Commercial Suicide), Con*Natural (aka MC Conrad), Vice Versa (Good Looking Records), and Stunna (31 Records). Additionally, NZ’s Nick Collings (Criminal Records / UpFM) slated the producer as one to watch on his nationwide ‘In It For The Kicks’ Electronic Music show (via the acclaimed Radio Hauraki), while J Plates also appeared in double spread interview feature ‘This Month In Clubland’ via Rip It Up magazine.

Further highlights during these early years included stopovers at San Francisco's mythical ‘Stamina’ nights hosted by resident Jamal (Commercial Suicide), which found J Plates playing support for Dave Owen (Good Looking Records / Dispatch) as well as Calyx & Teebee (Ram Records) on separate occasions. While back in NZ, J Plates closed out with an all vinyl set for bass heavyweights Truth (Deep Medi Music), alongside sharing the bill with NZ mainstays Concord Dawn (Uprising Records) and Bulletproof (Cyanide Recordings) to book end the sector.

Seeking further influences and opportunities, J Plates would eventually re-locate to the UK at the start of 2017, where the seasoned producer would go on to establish a series of releases over the next few years. Bashful singles ’The Relic / Liquid Metal’ would find a place on quickly rising Portuguese label Skalator Music (PT); receiving a flurry of praise & radio support from Everyday Junglist, DnB Dojo, Emplate DnB Radio, DNB Heaven, and Naked Beatz, while back to back EPs ’New Perspectives’ & ’Telepathy’ would return to the Omni Music (UK) imprint showcasing a new found direction & enthusiasm with further support in tow.

2020 would mark the start of a new chapter for J Plates, commencing with the lavish two-part vinyl showcase ‘Intelligent Mindz Mixtape’; packed with select Intelligent & Atmospheric favorites. While around the corner, the brooding ‘Brain Drain’ EP would find it's home over on London's In-Reach Records (UK), with Mastering provided by veteran drum-funkster Fanu (Metalheadz) and including an all J Plates artist promo mix (with a selection of as yet unreleased material and best bits from years past). After receiving a glowing string of support including track features by René LaVice (BBC Radio 1), as well as John Rolodex (Dread Recordings / Machinist Music) via 'Rolodex Radio', J Plates would proceed to embark on a sequence of self released projects, kicking off with Re-Masters of sophomore tracks 'A Cut Above / Strength To Strength’. Perking up the ears of DJ Trax (Moving Shadow) with a feature on his own 'Catch A Groove’ show via Jungletrain, J Plates would further provide a featured guest mix for Stunna’s ‘The Greenroom’ show later in the year.

A quick succession of additional releases would follow to wrap up the end of this pivotal year. The split Drum & Bass / Dub Techno influenced ‘Planet Junk’ EP, featuring collaborations with seasoned NZ producers Marc:One (aka HSD/High Speed Dubbing), Felun, and Le Fonk (aka DJ Paradise), would find it’s home on the J PLATES imprint, alongside debut full length album ’Seven Days of Fire’ showcasing an assorted arsenal of tracks arriving just in time for a Halloween release. One final highlight would wrap up an already bustling year for the striding producer; the 12” vinyl release of ’The Eternal State’ EP via Silent Force Recordings (UK), Mastered, cut and praised by legendary engineer Simon Davey (The Exchange Vinyl) marking a career milestone.

After a much-needed break, J Plates was back on form within the early half of 2021. Bare Necessity Records (UK) picked up some heavier flavors from the then North Yorkshire based Producer; the ‘Going Deeper’ EP knocked ears and warranted a future remix of track ‘Slipstream’ by Bristolian aficionado Dedman (Subconscious Audio / Parallel Depth) which would arrive the following year, while lone single ‘Bad Blood’ also delivered a more upfront style triggering a barrage in the comments section. It was also around this time that J Plates returned to his home country of New Zealand, settling into the South Island Drum & Bass stronghold of Christchurch City, with tracks being featured by local don Gwarden (Future Jungle Sessions) via 8K radio; commencing the next phase of the producers career.

While taking time out to visit family & friends, the J PLATES imprint solidified itself with autonomous back-to-back releases throughout the remainder of the year. Amongst the whirlwind of prolific tracks, one release stood above the rest; the Atmospheric Jungle singles ‘Feels Good / Be With Me’, receiving praise from Good Looking Records head honcho LTJ Bukem himself. The arrival of stellar remixes by Art Cuebik (Repertoire) & DJ Koncept (Celcius / Vinyl Combat) via debut remix package 'Be With Me Remixes’ would grant support from the likes of 88 Katanas (Mechanical), Monika (Liquid Exchange), Stunna (The Green Room), and Josie Bee (Noods Radio) to close the year on a real high note.

The start of 2022 found soulful purveyor Monika (Ingredients / Shogun Audio), having previously provided generous support, follow up with an invite to appear on his resident RDU radio show 'Liquid Exchange’ with a J Plates guest mix to kick start the year. An additional guest appearance on Subtle Radio’s Skalator Music showcase followed shortly after, meanwhile, developing label Metius Music (UK) approached with a remix offer for upcoming HProject (Omni Music) release ‘Artemis EP’, with J Plates providing remix duties on Atmospheric track ’Solaris’.

Not one to be pinned down for too long, J Plates embarked on his return to the UK towards the end of August of the same year, but not without first cementing a cache of brand new material; collaborations with Hamilton City’s own DJ Paradise (Backlash Records), alongside additional solo works arriving in the form of forthcoming ‘Been Thinking’ EP, which sees a welcomed return to Silent Force Recordings (UK) with a 12” vinyl release currently scheduled for 2023.

While the end of 2022 officially marks a decade of J Plates, the start of 2023 sees the now permanently UK based producer moving hastily forward with a refreshed image and renewed focus in further establishing himself within the Drum & Bass / Jungle scene.
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