Synopses & Reviews
James Lavelle founded MoWax in 1992 and has worked as a producer, recording artist, and promoter for artists, musicians, and designers affiliated with the label since. He has curated exhibitions at the ICA and the Museum of Mankind in London and has guest-produced countless albums and radio shows.
Synopsis
A lavishly produced celebration of the output, aesthetic, and legacy of one of the most influential record labels in contemporary music.
About the Author
A lavishly produced celebration of the output, aesthetic, and legacy of one of the most influential record labels in contemporary music. Founded in England in 1992 by the young DJ James Lavelle, the record label Mo'Wax became an icon of independent music, a pioneer of new genres, and the epicenter of a movement in popular culture. A strong countercultural and international identity informed Mo'Wax's output, from its groundbreaking musicians to the artists and designers responsible for the album covers, music videos, and packaging. Artwork on vinyl and CD sleeves by graffiti legend Futura 2000, the designer Ben Drury, and Massive Attack's Robert Del Naja became icons of its library. Mo'Wax brought together musicians from the United States, France, and Japan with indie and rock artists from the UK (often under the moniker of Lavelle's collective, UNKLE). The label's musicians included DJ Shadow, DJ Krush, the Beastie Boys, Thom Yorke of Radiohead, Ian Brown of the Stone Roses, and Richard Ashcroft of The Verve, among many others. Mo'Wax also pioneered the concept of collaboration between music culture and high-end brands, creating unique products ranging from vinyl toys to collectible sneakers with Nike, Medicom, and A Bathing Ape (with Nigo), among others. With contributions from the seminal musicians Mo'Wax represented and the artists responsible for its aesthetic, this book is more than a celebration of a record label: it is the record of a focal point in contemporary music, style, and culture.