As a long-time resident of the party and native of the city itself, Stacey Pullen was the natural choice to launch the label. Since emerging as part of the ‘second wave’ of Detroit techno, his heartfelt and unpredictable sets have sustained him a packed touring schedule the year round. With acclaimed mixes on fabric records, 20:20 Vision and Balance Music to name a few, his experimental mixing style and encyclopedic music knowledge cement his status as a true innovator in the scene. Combining artists new and old, local and international, the first mix of the series is a heady voyage into the Detroit spirit.
Stacey adds: ‘I wanted to showcase the versatility of music from Detroit, whether it be a Detroit label or Detroit artist, the connection is there for you to grasp. My mix features music from across the board by artists that have been around for a while and those new to the scene.’
His track selection predominantly represents Detroit, but also details its influence on European aesthetics, bridging the transatlantic gap in the same way that the events do. Firm favourites like Marcellus Pittman, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Delano Smith, Patrice Scott, DJ 3000 and Soulphiction all feature alongside local heroes like composer Craig Sherrad, Teknotica Records label boss Gary Martin and Ataxia. Atmospheric groove-driven tracks like Philpot Records label boss Soulphiction’s ‘Ann Arbor’ and Craig Sherrad’s ‘The Fader’ are offset against organic, jazzy cuts like Marcellus Pittman’s glistening take on Motor City Drum Ensemble’s ‘Raw Cuts’ and Motuo’s ‘Purple Pulse’. Minimal entries like Sawlin’s mind altering ‘Wired Evening’ on Delsin and Remote Viewing Party’s ‘410’ show us the trippy side of the Detroit sound, with the mix ending on scene veteran Patrice Scott’s aptly named ‘Detroit State Of Mind’. Carl Craig launched the Detroit Love parties in 2014 as a way of representing the city’s heritage across the globe. On the decision to create a label, he explains: "Detroit Love as a label is the most obvious progression from what we have done with the parties. The idea is to connect the vibe of the parties with something people can take home with them."