Rebirthday
Daniele ‘Shield‘ Contrini’s long-running Rebirth Records imprint turns 20 this year, celebratings with event – including one in London this week – and the two-disc set of fresh remixes of key catalogue cuts, rarities and hard-to-find gems from the vaults. Having given a platform to everyone from DJ Alfredo to Larry Heard and Moodymann, as well as nurtured a whole generation of new artists too, we thought we’d join the birthday fun with a Label Focus.
WHAT’S THE NAME OF YOUR LABEL, AND WHO RUNS IT?
Rebirth Records, founded and run by myself, Daniele ‘Shield’ Contrini.
WHEN & WHY DID THE LABEL START?
I started Rebirth Records in 2006 in Brescia, Italy.
But my journey in music began earlier, in 1998, when I started spending a lot of time in the studios earning the fundamentals of production thanks to Fabio Bacci. At the time, I was studying economics, but I already felt that music was going to be my path. In the early 2000s I began working with Oxyd Records, a label in my area, where I was involved in A&R, artist scouting and promotional activities. Those were very formative years, the label gained strong recognition, with tracks played in clubs and radio stations like BBC Radio 1, and reaching even the Top Five in the UK single sales charts.
Despite the success, I felt I was moving away from what I was really looking for in music. I needed to create something more personal, something that was truly mine, following my own vision without compromise. That’s why, in 2006, I founded Rebirth.
GIVE US A BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT YOU’VE RELEASED SINCE THEN….
Rebirth has developed a diverse catalogue of more than 250 releases, moving between club-oriented tracks and more musical, listening-focused works..
Over the years the label has nurtuerd and championed before others forward-thinking artists such as Blond:ish, Rampa, Danilo Plessow, Jimi Jules and Argy while also releasing music from visionaries such as Agoria, Luciano, Michel Cleis, Dave Lee, Butch, Chaim, Emanuel Satie, Marc Romboy, Freaks (Luke Solomon & Justin Harris). Alongside these, Rebirth has built a strong in-house family of exceptional talents including NUfrequency, Robytek, Chromatic Filters, Corrado Bucci, Blue Mondays and Gianluca Pegoiani.
Rebirth has also collaborated with iconic voices and musicians including Tracey Thorn, Shara Nelson, Ben Onono, Maggie Reilly, Isabelle Antena, Liquid Liquid, Alison Limerick, Billie Ray Martin, Robert Owens, Ann Saunderson, Osunlade and Billy Cobham. On the remix side, the label has featured names such as Motor City Drum Ensemble, Ricardo Villalobos, Louie Vega, Dixon, Radio Slave, Acid Pauli, Red Axes, Palms Trax, Folamour, Ron Trent and many others.
In 2016, Rebirth celebrated its 10th anniversary with a special compilation curated by Larry Heard. More recently, the label has developed conceptual projects such as ‘Ciao Italia’, ‘Brixia Sonora‘ and Paraíso (selected by DJ Alfredo), each exploring different cultural and musical narratives, from the Italian underground scene of the ‘90s to the true spirit of Ibiza.
WHAT QUALITIES ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN THE MUSIC YOU RELEASE?
I look for music with identity and soul.
I’ve always tried to build a recognizable sound rooted in house music but open to contaminations. I’m interested in the connection between melody, songwriting and dj approach.
Rebirth has always been an eclectic label. We release both club and dancefloor tracks and more introspective music, often combining live instruments with electronic sounds. More than anything, I look for something timeless, music that can last over time years. For me, it’s about depth, emotion and authenticity.
WHAT KIND OF VISUAL IDENTITY DOES THE LABEL HAVE (ARTWORK, VIDEOS ETC)?
The visual side has always been a key part of the label’s identity.
I see visual art and music as deeply connected, and we’ve always paid close attention to this aspect. Our long-time designer Luca Sanna (Sanchezlife) has been shaping the visual language of Rebirth since 2010. Over the years, we’ve also collaborated with visual artists such as Emilio Isgrò and Emil Schult, reflecting a broader artistic vision beyond music.
For our 20th anniversary project, Rebirth 20, the artwork is based on drawings I made when I was three years old. My mother kept them for a lifetime and returned them to me shortly before she passed away. Those drawings became the emotional core of the project, connecting my creative origins with where I am today.
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST SELLING RELEASE TO DATE?
Some of the strongest releases commercially have been Blond:ish feat. Shawni ‘Wizard Of Love’, Pastaboys & Osunlade ‘Deep Musique’ (Rampa Remix), and Michel Cleis & Klement Bonelli ‘Marvinello’.
The Rampa remix of ‘Deep Musique’ became a major club track in 2017. It worked so well because connected different worlds, soulful house roots with a more contemporary sound, and reached both underground and wider audiences.
Many of these artists became very well known later on, but we supported them early, often before they were widely recognised.
NAME ONE RELEASE THAT YOU THINK DESERVED TO GET MORE ATTENTION THAN IT DID
There are quite a few, but I would mention ‘Go That Deep by NUfrequency ft Shara Nelson.
It has become a cult track for names like Laurent Garnier (who even sampled part of the vocals in his track ‘Enchanté’) and Âme when it was released back in 2008. Still, I believe it deserved wider recognition.
Also, ‘A Mente Delira’ by Ayala & Abrão (Musumeci Remix), a strong club track released in 2023, that could have reached a higher level. Ayala is also a very talented and underrated Italian producer.
IF YOU COULD SIGN ANY ARTIST, ALIVE OR DEAD, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?
Quincy Jones or Marvin Gaye.
Both represent a level of musical depth, vision and emotional impact that goes beyond genres, something I’ve always looked for in Rebirth.
WHICH OTHER LABELS DO YOU ADMIRE AND WHY?
I appreciate labels that focus on quality over qunatitiy and are willing to take risks. In a world that moves very fast, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to build something that lasts over time. I respect labels that have maintained a strong identity while continuing to evolve. Warp Records for example.
WHAT CAN WE LOOK TO FROM YOUR LABEL NEXT?
The 20th anniversary project Rebirth 20 marks the beginning of a new phase.
After the vinyl release for Record Store Day, the project will continue digitally in two parts across June and July. We are also planning a series of selected events during 2026 to celebrate this milestone.
Alongside that, I have upcoming releases including a new single, ‘I Like’, produced with Piero Pirupa and featuring The Egyptian Lover and Paris Brightledge.
The goal remains the same: to keep building something meaningful, connecting different generations and pushing the label forward.
Buy Rebirth 20 on double vinyl here
