A milestone in the global techno industry
The legendary Scottish label Soma Records has recently announced the commemoration of its three and a half decades of existence with the launch of the ambitious recording project 'SOMA35'. Founded in 1991 in a Glasgow basement by the production duo Slam (comprised of Stuart McMillan and Orde Meikle), along with Dave Clarke, Glenn Gibbons, Nigel Hirst, and Jim Muotune, the label has established itself as a true institution within the electronic music ecosystem. This celebration is materialized through an exclusive series of remix EPs, the first installment of which not only pays tribute to the historical catalog but also marks a colossal numerical milestone: the release of the platform's 700th catalog number.
The sonic architecture of SOMA 35.1
The first release of this project, officially cataloged as 'SOMA 35.1', establishes a temporal bridge between the foundations of European techno and contemporary currents. For this inaugural occasion, the artistic direction has selected two of the most emblematic works produced by co-founders Slam, "Vapour" and "Program", which have undergone a rigorous process of reinterpretation.
- The track "Vapour" receives a high-intensity dancefloor treatment with remixes by veteran British producer Mark Broom and the hard-hitting Berlin duo FJAAK.
- The classic "Program" is reconstructed through the hypnotic and atmospheric vision of VRIL, complemented by an avant-garde perspective provided by Linear Phase.
The label's official calendar states that this first installment will be released in digital format on June 27, 2026, followed by a 12-inch vinyl pressing scheduled for July 24. The complete 'SOMA35' project will unfold over six releases, incorporating a lineup of top-tier artists into its roadmap. Among the producers confirmed for upcoming editions are undisputed benchmarks of the international circuit such as Surgeon, Oscar Mulero, Luke Slater, Carl Craig, Lewis Fautzi, Nørbak, Phil Berg, Phara, Lindsey Herbert, and Nastia Reigel.
In 1991, in the early days of Soma in a damp Glasgow basement, we never would have imagined that the label we started would still be alive and kicking in 2026. The original idea has always been the same: to release quality electronic music that moves us.
— Glenn Gibbons (Co-founder of Soma Records)
The unwavering legacy and independent ethics
The relevance of 'SOMA35' transcends the mere release schedule; it represents the survival and adaptability of an independent platform in an industry characterized by its extreme volatility. As the duo Slam has expressed in institutional statements, the label was originally born from the need to create a direct channel for their own productions, strongly inspired by the raw aesthetic and the 'do it yourself' ethics of the emerging Detroit and Chicago labels during the nineties.
Upon reaching its 700th catalog number, the Scottish entity not only validates its position as a fundamental pillar in the export of techno, but also reaffirms its historical commitment to talent development, remembering that it was they who released the first productions of legendary projects like Daft Punk. The curation of this remix series reflects a meticulous strategy: intertwining respect for the genre's pioneers with the sound design of new generations, ensuring that the groove, synthesis design, and clubbing culture that defined its beginnings continue to operate with maximum technical validity in DJ booths around the world.
