UPSIDE RECORDS
Upside Records emerged during the late 1970s and early 1980s as an influential independent label specializing in experimental and avant-garde electronic music. The label played a crucial role in documenting the underground dance and ambient scenes, particularly in New York City.
The Guardian: Arthur Russell, the disco cellist in a world of echo
Most notably, Upside Records was home to Arthur Russell, the enigmatic cellist and composer whose genre-blending work bridged disco, ambient, and experimental music. Russell's releases on the label, including his collaborations and solo work, have since become essential artifacts of the era's creative ferment.
The label's catalog reflects the period's spirit of experimentation, featuring artists who defied easy categorization and pushed electronic music into uncharted territories. Operating during a time when major labels largely ignored such adventurous sounds, Upside Records served as a vital platform for musicians exploring the intersection of classical training, electronic production, and dance culture.
