Destined Records

Destined Records is a British independent record label associated primarily with the work of producer, songwriter, DJ and recording artist Matt Schwartz. Schwartz established the label in 2000 as an outlet for his own releases and related projects, giving the imprint a close connection to his activity across electronic music, dance-pop, remixing and studio production. Rather than functioning chiefly as a large conventional label with a broad publicly documented roster, Destined Records has operated as a platform for Schwartz-led releases, collaborations and artist aliases. The label’s identity reflects Schwartz’s unusually wide-ranging career. He has worked under names including The Drill, M’Black, DADA, 4tune500 and Deepest Blue, and has moved between club-oriented electronic records, vocal dance music, songwriting and production for mainstream pop and rock artists. Destined-associated material includes releases credited to Schwartz himself, DADA, M’Black and collaborations with other artists. Among the better-known examples are M’Black’s “Heartbreak,” which reached the top position on the Billboard Dance Airplay chart in 2010, and DADA collaborations including “Bang It All” with Mastiksoul and Akon and “Crazy Love” with Rui Da Silva and One. The imprint also provided a home for work connected to Schwartz’s production network. His broader credits include projects involving Deepest Blue, a duo he formed with Joel Edwards; club and electronic collaborators such as Sandy Rivera, Paul Harris and Dragonette; and songwriting or production assignments for artists including Kylie Minogue, Selah Sue, Yungblud, KSI and others. Not every project in Schwartz’s discography was released through Destined Records, so the label should be understood as one part of a larger professional and publishing ecosystem rather than as the sole vehicle for his work. Destined Records’ catalogue includes singles, remixes and dance releases designed for club play, digital distribution and crossover exposure. Some releases have been linked with outside labels or distribution partners, including Robbins Entertainment in the case of M’Black’s “Heartbreak.” The label has also been associated with music used in wider media contexts; Schwartz’s production and songwriting work has appeared in film and television, although those placements are not necessarily Destined label releases. Publicly available information gives limited detail about the imprint’s corporate structure, current roster, headquarters or present operating status. Its documented significance rests mainly on its role in Schwartz’s artist and producer career and on the international reach of the dance and electronic recordings connected with him. Destined Records is therefore best characterized as a British independent, producer-led label imprint with a catalogue spanning electronic dance, house, pop-oriented collaboration and remix culture.

Destined Records was founded in 2000 by Matt Schwartz, an Israeli-born British producer, songwriter, DJ and recording artist who had developed experience in London studios during the 1990s. Before creating the imprint, Schwartz worked at the Hit-House in Hammersmith and later at BeatFarm Studios, where he was involved with production and recording projects connected with artists such as Farley “Jackmaster” Funk, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Massive Attack, Arthur Baker, Sara J and Tall Paul. This studio background helped shape Destined Records as a producer-centered venture rather than a conventional artist-services corporation. The label was established primarily to release Schwartz’s own music. During the early 2000s, his work appeared through multiple names and collaborative configurations, including 4tune500, Deepest Blue, The Drill, DADA and M’Black. Schwartz also formed Deepest Blue with Joel Edwards in 2002; the duo released singles and the album Late September, although their releases were not all issued through Destined Records. This period established the musical territory associated with Schwartz and the imprint: electronic dance, house-influenced production, vocal club records and crossover songwriting. Destined Records’ catalogue developed through a mixture of solo material and collaborations. Releases connected with the label included DADA projects, M’Black’s “Heartbreak,” and collaborations involving artists such as Rui Da Silva, Mastiksoul, Akon and Nani. The label’s releases existed alongside Schwartz’s work for other companies and clients, including remixes, film and television placements, and songwriting for mainstream artists. Consequently, the boundaries of the Destined catalogue are not always identical to the full body of Schwartz’s discography. The imprint’s most visible chart association was M’Black’s “Heartbreak,” which reached number one on the Billboard Dance Airplay chart in 2010. Further international dance activity followed through DADA collaborations, including “Bang It All” with Mastiksoul and Akon and “Forever” with Mastiksoul featuring Nani. These projects illustrate the label’s orientation toward digitally distributed, club-focused singles and producer-driven international collaborations. Schwartz continued to maintain a broad career beyond the label, writing and producing for performers including Kylie Minogue, Selah Sue, Madison Beer, Cheryl Cole, NERVO, Yungblud and KSI. His later work moved into pop-rock and alternative production as well as electronic music, but the available reference material does not establish a comparable expansion of Destined Records into a large independent label group. Public information also does not clearly document the imprint’s current corporate ownership, staff, headquarters or active release schedule. Its historical importance is therefore best understood through Schwartz’s role as founder and through the dance and electronic recordings issued under the Destined name.

• 2011

  International DADA collaborations

  [1]Matt Schwartzen.wikipedia.org

  DADA releases “Bang It All” with Mastiksoul and Akon and “Crazy Love” with Rui Da Silva and One, extending the label’s collaborative dance focus.

• 2010

  M’Black tops Billboard Dance Airplay

  [1]Matt Schwartzen.wikipedia.org

  M’Black’s “Heartbreak,” associated with Destined Records and Robbins Entertainment, reaches number one on Billboard’s Dance Airplay chart.

• 2004

  Deepest Blue releases Late September

  [1]Matt Schwartzen.wikipedia.org

  Deepest Blue issues its only full-length album, Late September, which reached number 22 on the UK Albums Chart and received a silver certification according to the reference material.

• 2002

  Schwartz forms Deepest Blue

  [1]Matt Schwartzen.wikipedia.org

  Schwartz teams up with Joel Edwards to create Deepest Blue, one of the principal artist projects associated with his early-2000s career.

• 2000

  Destined Records is founded

  [1]Matt Schwartzen.wikipedia.org

  Matt Schwartz establishes Destined Records as an outlet for his own releases and related producer-led projects.

A British independent, producer-led dance and electronic imprint used primarily as a release platform for Matt Schwartz’s own work and collaborations.

• Electronic dance singles · 2010

  M’Black releases

  The M’Black project represents one of the label’s most commercially visible associations. “Heartbreak” combined dance production with a vocal-led format and reached number one on the Billboard Dance Airplay chart in 2010. The project illustrates Destined Records’ emphasis on producer-led electronic releases intended for club, radio and digital markets.

• Dance and house singles · 2011

  DADA collaborations

  DADA was one of Matt Schwartz’s artist identities and was used for a series of international electronic collaborations. Destined-associated examples include “Bang It All” with Mastiksoul and Akon, “Crazy Love” with Rui Da Silva and One, and other collaborative releases. The recordings reflect the imprint’s cross-border club-music orientation.

• Electronic dance music · 2005

  The Drill releases

  The Drill was one of Schwartz’s electronic artist aliases, associated with club singles, live performance and DJ-oriented material. Some releases were connected with the wider Destined ecosystem, although the available sources do not establish that every The Drill recording was issued by Destined Records.

1. 1Matt Schwartzen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Destined Records official websitedestined-records.com