Human Imprint

Human Imprint Recordings, commonly known as Human Imprint, is an American independent record label associated with drum and bass, particularly the high-intensity techstep, hardstep, and darkstep styles. Damian Higgins, the Philadelphia-based DJ and producer better known as Dieselboy, founded the label in New York City in 2002 as a subsidiary of System Recordings. Its catalog helped connect North American drum-and-bass audiences with both established British producers and a growing generation of American artists. The label's identity was built around forceful, technically elaborate club music and a distinctive visual language. Its releases frequently used science-fiction and fantasy concepts in their artwork, with some designs produced by Higgins himself. This combination of aggressive electronic production, carefully sequenced compilations, and highly developed visual presentation gave Human Imprint a recognizable position within the North American drum-and-bass movement. Human Imprint's roster included American artists such as Evol Intent, Hive, Gridlok, Infiltrata, Kaos, Karl K, Jae Kennedy, Stratus, KC, Vector Burn, Ewun, Noah D, Demo, Spktrm, and Gein. The label also issued or promoted work by international producers including Technical Itch, Decoder, Fresh, Bad Company, Skynet, Counterstrike, Concord Dawn, The Upbeats, and Zardonic. Across the catalog described in the reference material, the imprint released 22 singles, nine EPs, and six albums, although the label's current catalog and operating status are not established here. A major early milestone was The HUMAN Resource, a two-disc compilation released in April 2006. The collection paired a selection of twelve unmixed tracks and remixes with a continuous DJ mix assembled by Evol Intent. It reached number 14 on Billboard's electronic album chart and served as a broad statement of the label's artistic network, combining catalog material with exclusive tracks and remixes. In July 2009, Human Imprint separated amicably from System Recordings. Higgins subsequently developed SubHuman: Human Imprint as an associated outlet for dubstep and electro-oriented material. In 2010, Higgins worked with Steve “Smash” Gordon, associated with Steez Promo and Circle Management, to relaunch the Human Imprint operation. The relaunch began with releases including SPKTRM's Planet Human EP, followed by projects from Zardonic and Gein. SubHuman was formally introduced as a sublabel in September 2010, with artists including Bare, Mark Instinct, Muffler, NumberNin6, PXL FST, and Smash Gordon. In February 2012, Higgins and Gordon announced Planet Human as an umbrella structure for Human Imprint and SubHuman. The announced roster included Dieselboy, Smash Gordon, Bare, Hulk, Mark Instinct, Mayhem, Muffler, Nerd Rage, Nightwalker, NumberNin6, Pixel Fist, Sluggo, Subshock, Dan Wall, and Zardonic. The available reference material documents this organizational phase but does not establish whether Human Imprint continues to release music independently today.

Human Imprint was established in New York City in 2002 by Damian Higgins, the electronic music artist known as Dieselboy. It began as a subsidiary of System Recordings and concentrated on intense forms of drum and bass, including techstep, hardstep, and darkstep. The label became a platform for Dieselboy's own work as well as releases by prominent American producers and international artists, helping strengthen the visibility of North American drum and bass within a scene historically influenced by the United Kingdom. The label's catalog was accompanied by a deliberate visual identity. Artwork commonly drew on science-fiction and fantasy imagery, and Higgins created some of the graphics himself. This presentation complemented the label's emphasis on high-energy, technically intricate music and made its releases recognizable beyond their individual artists. Human Imprint's first major compilation was The HUMAN Resource, released in April 2006 as a two-CD set. One disc presented twelve selected tracks, club anthems, and VIP remixes from artists such as Bad Company UK, DJ Fresh, The Upbeats, Dieselboy, Kaos, and Counterstrike. The second disc was a continuous mix assembled by Evol Intent, incorporating Human Imprint material, exclusive tracks, and remixes. The compilation reached number 14 on Billboard's electronic album chart and became an important summary of the label's early creative network. The imprint later released Substance D and other albums, singles, EPs, and mixes. The documented catalog totals 22 singles, nine EPs, and six albums. Its American roster included Evol Intent, Hive, Gridlok, Infiltrata, Kaos, Karl K, Jae Kennedy, Stratus, KC, Vector Burn, Ewun, Noah D, Demo, Spktrm, and Gein. International contributors included Technical Itch, Decoder, Fresh, Bad Company, Skynet, Counterstrike, Concord Dawn, The Upbeats, and Zardonic. In July 2009, Human Imprint parted ways with System Recordings in an amicable separation. Dieselboy then created SubHuman: Human Imprint to accommodate dubstep and electro releases, reflecting the widening overlap between drum and bass and other bass-music communities. In May 2010, Higgins and Steve "Smash" Gordon, associated respectively with the Human Imprint and Steez Promo/Circle Management network, relaunched the operation. SPKTRM's Planet Human EP was the first release in the relaunch, followed by Zardonic's South Of Human EP and Gein's Human Chemistry EP. SubHuman was launched as a formal sublabel in September 2010. Its roster included Bare, Mark Instinct, Muffler, NumberNin6, PXL FST, and Smash Gordon, among others. In February 2012, Higgins and Gordon announced Planet Human as the umbrella label for Human Imprint and SubHuman. The available sources document the organization and its artist roster through this period, but do not provide reliable information about later releases, present ownership, or whether the imprint remains active.

• 2012

  Planet Human umbrella structure announced

  [1]Human Imprinten.wikipedia.org

  Planet Human is announced as the umbrella label for Human Imprint and SubHuman.

• 2010

  Human Imprint relaunch

  [1]Human Imprinten.wikipedia.org

  Higgins and Steve Gordon relaunch the label, beginning with SPKTRM's Planet Human EP and subsequent releases by Zardonic and Gein.

• 2010

  SubHuman is introduced

  [1]Human Imprinten.wikipedia.org

  SubHuman: Human Imprint launches as a sublabel focused on dubstep and electro.

• 2009

  Separation from System Recordings

  [1]Human Imprinten.wikipedia.org

  Human Imprint ends its subsidiary relationship with System Recordings and begins developing a broader independent label structure.

• 2006

  The HUMAN Resource is released

  [1]Human Imprinten.wikipedia.org

  The label releases its first major compilation, a two-disc collection that reaches number 14 on Billboard's electronic album chart.

• 2002

  Human Imprint is founded

  [1]Human Imprinten.wikipedia.org

  Dieselboy, the professional name of Damian Higgins, establishes Human Imprint in New York City as a subsidiary of System Recordings.

A high-energy independent electronic music label focused on drum and bass and related bass-music styles, with a strong science-fiction and fantasy visual identity.

• Compilation album · 2006

  The HUMAN Resource

  A two-disc compilation released in April 2006. The first disc presents selected Human Imprint works, club tracks, and VIP remixes, while the second contains an uninterrupted Evol Intent DJ mix incorporating catalog selections, exclusive tracks, and remixes. Its chart performance made it one of the label's most visible releases.

• Sublabel releases · 2010

  SubHuman: Human Imprint catalog

  A series of dubstep and electro-oriented releases created to extend Human Imprint's scope beyond its core drum-and-bass catalog. Artists associated with the sublabel included Bare, Mark Instinct, Muffler, NumberNin6, PXL FST, and Smash Gordon.

• DJ mixes · 2012

  Planet Human mixes

  A set of mixes associated with the Planet Human umbrella period, including Dieselboy's Live at Beta and Wake the Dead, as well as Smash Gordon's Smash Your Fucking Face Vol. 4. The documented mixes were distributed as digital or free-download projects.

• Recorded music · 2002

  Human Imprint singles and EPs

  The label's principal output consisted of high-energy drum-and-bass singles, EPs, and albums spanning techstep, hardstep, darkstep, and related bass styles. The documented catalog includes 22 singles, nine EPs, and six albums by the period covered in the reference material.

• 2012

  Create Planet Human as an umbrella labelStrategy

  Background

  Human Imprint and SubHuman had developed overlapping artist and genre activities.

  Action taken

  Higgins and Gordon announced Planet Human as the umbrella structure for both labels and presented an expanded roster.

  Aftermath

  The announcement consolidated the documented Human Imprint and SubHuman activities under a broader brand architecture.

  Source

• 2010

  Relaunch the label with Steve GordonStrategy

  Background

  Following the separation from System Recordings, Higgins restructured the label's operating arrangements.

  Action taken

  Higgins partnered with Steve Gordon and relaunched Human Imprint with new releases from SPKTRM, Zardonic, and Gein.

  Aftermath

  The relaunch re-established the imprint's release program and prepared the creation of the SubHuman sublabel.

  Source

• 2010

  Launch SubHuman as a genre-expansion sublabelStrategy

  Background

  Dubstep and electro were becoming important adjacent formats for artists and audiences connected to the label's bass-music community.

  Action taken

  Human Imprint introduced SubHuman: Human Imprint to handle releases in those styles.

  Aftermath

  The roster expanded to include artists such as Bare, Mark Instinct, Muffler, NumberNin6, PXL FST, and Smash Gordon.

  Source

• 2009

  Separate from System Recordings and broaden the label structureStrategy

  Background

  Human Imprint had operated as a System Recordings subsidiary, while Dieselboy's activities increasingly touched adjacent bass-music styles.

  Action taken

  The parties ended their relationship amicably, and Higgins developed SubHuman: Human Imprint for dubstep and electro material.

  Aftermath

  The change allowed the Human Imprint concept to encompass a wider range of electronic music while retaining a drum-and-bass core.

  Source

1. 1Human Imprinten.wikipedia.org