djdownload.com - Label Details - Vicious

Originally starting life under the name of Vicious Vinyl, the now simply titled “Vicious” has been selling, distributing & licensing records all over Australia & the world since 1990. Conceived by John Course, Andy Van and Colin Daniels out of a frustration at not having Australian dance music out there doing battle with the world’s best Vicious now encapsulates House, Breaks, Progressive, Electronica and "anything we like", as the three founders put it.

Up until early 1999 all the Vicious releases had previously been distributed by Mushroom Distribution Services (M.D.S.) in Australia with several UK distributors taking product to the UK market on limited vinyl import. In June 1999 the compilation series “House & Club Anthems” was released through EMI and following that success Vicious decided to make Virgin Australia their home, going on to release Madison Avenue, Trigger, Traveler presents Quest, Rogue Traders, and the compilations “Dance House & Club Anthems” Volume 6 & 7 and “A Night Out”. With the many changes taking place at major labels Vicious decided to go back to an independent distributor in early 2004 and teaming up with Shock Records Australia seemed like a very logical fit. “We release a quite diverse range of club and electronic music" John continues "It makes sense for us to have different options for different projects and operating as a totally independent label enables us to do so".

By setting up in Melbourne and encouraging local and interstate talent Vicious has inadvertently played a large part in making Australia a far-flung but integral part of the global dance music scene. The music Vicious release is constantly evolving and whether it be house, techno, breaks or a hybrid of rock and something completely new we are open minded to it. Vicious' outlook is also always moving forward. It's a natural progression, the same as that of the DJ's who run it, - to introduce new music and to open people’s minds to new sounds. The fresher the better. "We don't want people to see a Vicious label and say 'I know what that's going to sound like’", says John. "We want to be diverse". Both Vicious labels continually release new songs and push new talent with Vicious Grooves taking care of the funkier selections and Vicious releasing the electronic and breaks sounds.

With all this happening you are sure to see things constantly appear from one of Australia’s longest running and leading independent music operators.