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Viva Recordings

Seattle's Viva Recordings is the first label in the Viva Record Co. family. Founded in '98 by Jon Lemmon, the label made an instant impact on the house scene with releases from Chris Simmonds (Cross Section), Rick Wade, Rick Preston, To-Ka Project (Drop), Hesohi, The Rurals, Undercover Agency (Lance DeSardi and JT Donaldson), and others. As the label grew, Lemmon enlisted John Lopez (Johnny Fiasco) for A&R and Rachel Schindler for marketing. The Viva Record Co. now maintains four labels, Viva Recordings (house), squid:records (tech-house), Cliktrax (club house), and footnote Records (sophisticated deep house). With a booking agency and publishing company in the bag, the Viva Record Co. looks set to take over the dance music world.

Brendan Costigane
Brendan Costigane
Listening to Brendan Costigane's sweet house music makes you feel a lot sexier than you actually are. Like a fine wine, it goes down smooth and has a mellow, creeping buzz.

Stealth Jazz - 2001


Johnny Fiasco
Johnny Fiasco
Johnny Fiasco is to house music fans what Guinness is to Irish folk. We're talking daily diet here, raw essentials. Delve in for a dose of Chicago's finest.



Hesohi
Hesohi
Ohio's Doug Martin masquerades as Hesohi for West Coast labels such as Imperial Dub and Viva Recordings. His bass-heavy herbal house is essential listening on and off the dance floor.



Lawnchair Generals
Lawnchair Generals
Presumably the kings of summer patio lazing, the Lawnchair Generals are most definitely royalty when it comes to making funky, driving house. Seattle's Viva was the first to spot their talent, watch the rest follow.

The Great Escape - 2001


Rick Preston
Rick Preston
Rick Preston is a profoundly gifted house producer who has graced the covers of Glasgow Underground, Solid Grooves, and Viva Recordings releases. Funky, unpredictable house music is his specialty; Mark Farina, Jeno, and Kevin McKay are known advocates of his sound.

CHA! - 2001


The Rurals
The Rurals conjure images of soft flowing rivers, lush green fields, and lazy hazy summer days with their mesmerizing deep house productions. Re-Fried, D.I.Y., Naked Music, and Turbo Recordings have all requested their work -- stream Headsongs and you will find out why.

Stockholm Mix Sessions - 1999
Headsongs - 2000
Stockholm Mix Sessions 2 - 2000
Farmyard Flavours - 2001


Chris Simmonds
Chris Simmonds
London's Chris Simmonds came to fame with Jack Smooth as Smooth & Simmonds, and his Active X-Trax series propelled him even further into the limelight. His label, Cross Section, is renowned worldwide as the premier source for tough dance floor house.



Souldoubt
Souldoubt
Alex Dean hails from the home of free party house music, Nottingham. His Freaked imprint ranks alongside Drop, Eukahouse, and Surreal, all of whom have licensed his Souldoubt productions. Seattle's Viva Recordings was the first U.S. imprint to realize his potential.



Toka Project
Toka Project
More discerning house heads will recognize the Toka Project moniker from Guidance, Filter Flow, and Drop discs. Strictly late-night dance floor, this Nottingham trio really knows how to rock a party.



Undercover Agency
Undercover Agency
J.T. Donaldson and Lance DeSardi reserve their Undercover Agency pseudonym for releases on London's Music For Freaks and Seattle's Viva Recordings. Deep and funky are the keywords for their original brand of house music.

Fly By Night - 2001


Rick Wade
Rick Wade
Detroit studio wizard Rick Wade came to fame with melodic house releases for Trackmode, Moods and Grooves, and Chord 44/Container. His own label, Harmonie Park, is at the forefront of Detroit's revived underground movement.