Sub-Urban Records is a New York garage and vocal house label started in 1993 by DJ and producer Tommy Musto, with early productions by Victor Simonelli. Often described as one of the most consistent American garage labels of the ’90s, it released classics from Sixth Sense, Underground Commitment and Next Phase, and its catalogue was celebrated on a 2017 compilation curated by Luke Solomon.
Sub-Urban Records at a glance
- Founded: 1993, New York
- Founder: Tommy Musto, with Victor Simonelli producing many early releases
- Sound: vocal-led underground house and US garage
- Early releases: Sixth Sense, Don’t You Feel It, and Underground Commitment, I Know A Melody (both 1993)
- Retrospective: 4 To The Floor presents Sub-Urban Records (2017)
Why Tommy Musto started the label
By the early ’90s Musto was already an established New York producer. He had been one half of Musto & Bones with Frankie Bones, whose Dangerous on the Dance Floor came out in 1990, and he had remixed artists including Michael Jackson, Celine Dion and Gloria Estefan. His other label, Fourth Floor, didn’t release vocal records, so in 1993 he started Sub-Urban as a home for soulful, vocal-led underground house.
Victor Simonelli and the early releases
The first productions were made by Musto and Victor Simonelli at NCP Studios. Records such as Sixth Sense’s Don’t You Feel It and Underground Commitment’s I Know A Melody set the template: big vocals, deep basslines and the swinging garage groove that ruled New York clubs, and UK ones too.
The Sub-Urban sound
The label’s records combined gospel and R&B vocals with tough, DJ-friendly production. That made them favourites with garage DJs on both sides of the Atlantic, and many still sound fresh in soulful house sets today. You can dig through the catalogue on Discogs.
The 2017 retrospective
In 2017 DJ and producer Luke Solomon compiled 4 To The Floor presents Sub-Urban Records, a double album celebrating the catalogue. It includes the Kerri Chandler remix of Dennis Ferrer’s co-production Free Me, the Basement Boys remix of Next Phase’s Piece Of Mind, and productions by Mike Dunn, Sandy Rivera and Matthias Heilbronn.
Where to start listening
- Sixth Sense, Don’t You Feel It (1993)
- Underground Commitment, I Know A Melody (1993)
- Next Phase, Piece Of Mind (Basement Boys remix)
- Free Me (Kerri Chandler remix)
Frequently asked questions about Sub-Urban Records
Who founded Sub-Urban Records?
New York DJ and producer Tommy Musto started the label in 1993. Victor Simonelli produced many of the early releases with him.
What kind of music did it release?
Vocal-led underground house and US garage.
Is Sub-Urban the same as Suburban Base?
No. Suburban Base was a UK rave and jungle label; Sub-Urban was a New York house label.
Sources: Red Bull Music Academy interview with Tommy Musto and Above Board Distribution. Read more about the origins of house music.
Keep listening
Steve Bell plays soulful, deep and vocal house across the UK, Ibiza and beyond. Catch his monthly DancersHip show and live sets, or see the media pack to book Steve for your event.
