30 years. Over 800 releases. 9/11, the dot com crash, Napster, the recession, a global pandemic, and the full arc of the digital music era. Om Records has weathered all of it, and today the San Francisco-based label marks the milestone with ‘Om Records – 30 Years,’ a compilation out now that draws a line from where the label started to where it stands today. Listen here.
Co-founder Chris Smith traces the label’s origin directly to the energy of mid-90s San Francisco. “The music scene in the city was incredible when we started the label,” he says. “There were solid club nights seven nights a week for house music, downtempo, acid jazz, and a vibrant hip-hop scene too that we commingled with. We were obviously super into house music, but we wanted to do something that really embodied all of these eclectic sounds.” That spirit of genre fluidity has defined Om’s entire catalog, and the 18-track compilation reflects it fully, featuring Kaskade, Groove Armada, Samantha James, Colette, Mark Farina, Rithma, King Kooba, 40 Thieves, Homero Espinosa, and more.
The celebrations extend beyond the record. Tomorrow, May 9, a free day party takes place at Embarcadero Plaza in San Francisco, produced by Another Planet Entertainment as part of their San Francisco Free Concerts series in conjunction with the San Francisco Recreation & Park Department, with Mark Farina, Colette b2b Heather, Shiny Objects, and J Boogie performing. The night continues at The Great Northern with Derrick Carter, Mark Farina, Colette b2b Heather, Shiny Objects, J Boogie, Rithma, King Kooba, 40 Thieves, and Homero Espinosa. Limited tickets remain.
On May 16, the celebration moves to Jungle Hollywood in Los Angeles for a 4pm to 9pm event presented by Coco & Friends and WCS Events in partnership with KCRW, featuring Mark Farina, Colette, DJ Heather, Rithma, Raul Campos, and DJ Dazy. Limited tickets remain there as well.
Limited edition vinyl of ‘Om Records – 30 Years’ is available now on Bandcamp.
‘Om Records – 30 Years’ Tracklist:
Kaskade – “Freedom feat. EZI”
Samantha James – “Summer Haze (Late Night Alumni Mix)”
Groove Armada – “Do It Right”
Colette, Richard Earnshaw, Kenny Summit – “The Sunshine”
King Kooba – “Radio Faber (Homero Espinosa Tuff Mix)”
Shiny Objects – “Want Your Love”
Rocket Empire – “DMC”
40 Thieves – “Déjà Vu”
Rithma – “Can’t Future the Past (Big Room Mix)”
Mark Farina, Homero Espinosa, Dani Siciliano – “Stay on My Mind”
J Boogie’s Dubtronic Science – “Wind Trades feat. Carlos Araiza”
PillowTalk, Choosey Lover – “Uncharted”
Max Sedgley – “Ego Spiritual (Revisited)”
Samantha James – “Closer”
Rithma – “Slow Gin”
The Jazzual Suspects – “The Out”
Ming & FS – “Back to One feat. Napoleon Solo”
King Kooba – “The Savage”
Anniversary Events:
May 9 – San Francisco, CA – Embarcadero Plaza (Free Day Party)
May 9 – San Francisco, CA – The Great Northern (Night Event)
May 16 – Los Angeles, CA – Jungle Hollywood