Start with the label, not the mailing list
Before you send a track, listen to what a label puts out. Not just one song: spend time with several releases. Ask whether your record would make sense next to them without having to explain why. If your track is a percussion-led afro house record, a label focused on another sound is probably not the right inbox. The same goes for a nu-disco cut sent to a label that only releases harder club music.
We release groovy house, funky house, nu-disco / disco house and afro house. We look for records with movement, character and a memorable musical idea. You do not need to copy what we have already released. You do need to hear a connection. A smaller, well-chosen list of labels is more useful than a mass email to everyone whose address you can find. If you are still choosing where to send, our list of house labels accepting demos points to official submission pages.
Finish the track before you share it
A demo should be a finished piece of music. Check transitions, balance and the parts that matter most: the groove, bassline, drums, vocal or hook. A rough master helps us hear how it holds together. A one-minute sketch makes it difficult to judge the record you want to release.
Listen outside your studio before sending. If a vocal or sample is used, make sure you have the rights to it. Send original, unreleased music rather than a bootleg, edit or track already public online. If you have two strong tracks, send two; if one is clearly stronger, lead with that one.
Use a private streaming link, not an attachment
Make it easy to press play. Any private streaming link works — SoundCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, WeTransfer or similar — as long as it streams in the browser without asking for a download, sign-in or access request. Test the link in a private browser window before submitting it. Check that any password is included and that the link will still work in three weeks.
Do not attach large audio files to an email. Avoid public uploads when sharing an unreleased original. Give each track a clear title so we know which record we are hearing.
Write the short message
Your introduction should sound like you. Two or three sentences are enough: who you are, why this particular track fits the label, and one useful detail about the music. You do not need to list every milestone or describe the track with superlatives. Let the music do the work.
“Hi, we’re [artist name], making groove-led house from [place]. We thought [track title] might sit well with your releases because of its bassline and disco feel. Here is a private streaming link; the track is finished and unreleased.”
That example is intentionally plain. Replace the bracketed details with your own, and only say what is true. If you have used AI tools, explain how you used them in the form. You do not need a big following or previous releases to be heard by us.
Give one label a fair chance
Please do not send the same track to several labels at once. Pick the label that feels most right, send the strongest version, and give them time to listen. If there is a form, use it instead of guessing an email address. Submission forms help keep the music and the information about it together. Read the guidelines each time: one label may ask for a single private link, another may use a submission platform.
For Grooveface, send up to two finished, original, unreleased tracks through our demo form. Tell us whether the music is signed elsewhere and confirm that you control the rights, including any samples or vocals. The form is free to use.
Know when to wait, and when to move on
After submitting, resist the urge to follow up after a day or two. We listen to every demo and reply within three weeks if it is a fit. If you have not heard from us after three weeks, that is a no for this track. You are free to send it elsewhere. You are also welcome to send us new music in the future.
For another label, check its own stated response window first. If it does not give one, allow a reasonable amount of time before one brief, polite follow-up. Do not send the same message repeatedly or treat silence as a reason to stop making music. A pass on one track is not a judgment on everything you will make next.
Avoid the small mistakes that stop a listen
The most common problems are practical: a broken or expired link, a file that cannot stream, missing access permissions, or a track that does not match the label at all. A long generic message sent to many labels makes it harder to see why this record belongs here. Unfinished ideas, uncleared samples and a public release presented as unreleased are also poor starting points.
Before you press send, play the exact link once more, read your message aloud, and make sure the track is your strongest work right now. The best submission respects the listener’s time. Then send it, step away, and keep working on the next one.