COVERCHORD EXCULSIVE

nonnative × RUSH HOUR
ANTAL INTERVIEW

A new exclusive t-shirt from nonnative x RUSH HOUR
We catch up with the music label’s founder, Antal

Founded in 1997 as a small record store in Amsterdam, RUSH HOUR has expanded to label, distributor, party organizer, and all-round purveyor of dance music culture.

Committed to discovering rare beats and supporting the next generation of artists, RUSH HOUR continues to play an important role in the modern scene, transcending genres, tempos, generations, and borders.

Impressed by a nonnative t-shirt he wore while headlining Japanese music festival Rainbow Disco Club, RUSH HOUR boss Antal Heitlager reached out to collaborate. The two brands’ similar chronologies, shared values, and of course, a common love of music, made the partnership a natural one.

For their second collaboration, a long sleeve t-shirt is offered in WHITE, LT.BLUE, NAVY, and GRAY, featuring an original graphic back print and brand logos to the chest. Available exclusively to COVERCHORD.

We caught up with Antal, the founder of RUSH HOUR for an exclusive interview to talk about 25 years in the dance music scene, and his personal relationship with Japan.

Be sure to check out the final Rush Hour Night on Saturday, August 20th at Contact (Tokyo) before they close their doors for good.

Antal
INTERVIEW

Antal at Rush Hour 2017
Photo by Andy Tan

── You founded Rush Hour 25 years ago in the basement of a barbershop in Amsterdam. It is now one of the most respected record stores, labels and distributors of independent music in the world. What was the goal when you started out and how has it changed over the years?

We just wanted to start a record shop and surround ourselves with music. Access to the good stuff was much harder back in that time so the shop was a way to get better access. From one day to the other we started to work out more ideas we got along the way.

── Rush Hour embodies everything that your fans love about your DJing - eclectic and diverse, yet cohesive as a whole. What is the thread that ties the music together for you?

Soul, feeling. I honestly think it should not matter what the "genre" is. I am looking and listening for stuff with a certain feeling and that's why I think they are related, and therefore it could be played in a cohesive session in the clubs for instance.

── Was this always the case? How has Rush Hour, and your DJing, evolved over the years?

We gather more knowledge every year we are in existence. It's as simple as that. So once we became aware of that we tried to implement all of that into our store. It's sometimes hard because a specialization with a certain style is easier and more manageable. However also quicker out of date or generally just conservative.

Antal DJing 1998 at Dance Tracks

── Through the re-issue arm of the record label, Rush Hour has unearthed many long-forgotten gems and popularized little-known genres. How important is the pure joy of digging or the “thrill of the find” to you still 25 years after founding the store?

You can't move forward without knowing the past I guess. Enthusiasm for certain sounds makes it sometimes biased but in general, it's a gut feeling to just dig for songs and tracks that give you goosebumps. As a company, I wouldn't want to leave one of the two out.
Sometimes I do think I need to spend more time on new music. Lately, I have really been doing that and my monthly radio show at Worldwide guides me with that as I mainly want to play new stuff there.

── You also release a lot of new music. How does the approach to finding new music differ?

It doesn't so much. It's more your own focus. You can drift away easily with modern digging tools. So the focus is important there. Do this and leave the other stuff.

Antal with Sadar Bahar 2015
Photo by Andy Tan

── In recent times, Amsterdam has become a focal point for both dance music culture and record culture globally. What is it about the city and the community there that pushed it towards the vanguard of the scene?

There is a nice group of people that are active and try to move it in a forward direction. It's a small scene so most of us know each other, speak with each other and influence each other.

── You have been visiting Japan both as a DJ and to source records since your very beginnings with Rush Hour. What lies behind the strong Japan connection?

First, it was some sort of exotic love for the culture. Especially film and the food. Later we found out that Japanese stores and selectors are really deep so there was a lot to learn. That particular quality is something that did not go unnoticed and intrigued me a lot.

── You recently released a compilation album on the music festival Rainbow Disco Club’s record label. What was the concept behind the release and how did you put it together?

I was searching for a bit and then I came to the conclusion that I want to represent a few different things via the compilation. I wanted it to be a very personal selection no matter what. Second I wanted to have a cohesive story that represents music from all corners of the globe and also all ages. And I want to make a mark with some Dutch producers. Next to that, I had RDC in mind and how and when to play this music.

Rush Hour Amsterdam (New Store)

── You will be bringing Rush Hour Night to Tokyo again this August, in what will be one of the last nights at revered Tokyo club “Contact”. What do you have in store for the night?

It's an honor to play one more time for Contact. This time we will have Sadar Bahar, Kikiorix, and Shinichiro Yokoto plus myself in the main. And then the second room is hosted by friends. Next to that, there will be a little record fair with some personal and cool shit from private sellers. 

── As you did in 2019, you will be collaborating with men’s fashion brand nonnative again to coincide with the latest Tokyo Rush Hour Night. How did that collaboration come about?

A certain guy named Sam wanted to get together and do something. I was into it so thought of giving it a go! And good stuff came out of it!

── What do you have lined up for Rush Hour in the coming months and years?

We are working on finishing our community/playground space in the basement of the new store. We will start 25 years of Rush Hour worldwide tour from January 2023 and on. And I want to get sharper with the selection and better at football.

Rush Hour Amsterdam (New Store)
Photo by Rogier Oostlander

Antal

Antal is the founder of the world-renowned and highly influential record label Rush Hour and its sub-label Kindred Spirits. The record store and label represent a vast range of musical genres, from avant-garde techno/house to re-issues of long-forgotten classics and everything in between. His philosophy is reflected in his DJ style, the wealth and depth of his knowledge mean you never know what you will hear next. Since starting his DJ career in 1996, he has played all over Europe, Australia, Asia, and the U.S., preferring serious equipment such as E&S or Rane rotary mixers and Dope Real isolators to play his sets.

RUSH HOUR NIGHT

Location_Contact Tokyo
Date_Saturday, August 20th