CASE STUDY
Defected Records, Shoreditch HQ
A New Era Music Company
Client: Defected Records
Location: Shoreditch, East London
Completion: 2020
Spaces delivered: Main control room, vocal booth, DJ booth and edit suite, event and performance space, offices with meeting rooms, outdoor event area
Our role: Acoustic and technical design, consultancy and project management
Project overview
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Defected Records is one of the UK’s longest running independent house music labels. Established in 1999 by Simon Dunmore, the company has grown into a wider music media group covering recordings, publishing, artist management, radio, livestreaming and global events.
Its catalogue spans the Defected imprint and sister labels including Glitterbox, DFTD, Classic and Soulfuric. Artists associated with the label include Masters At Work, Honey Dijon, MK, Sam Divine and Jamie Jones.
Defected has a strong heritage of chart success and industry recognition, from Roger Sanchez’s Another Chance (UK No. 1) to multi platinum releases such as Cola by CamelPhat and Elderbrook. Its roster has also contributed to multiple Grammy recognised projects.
Alongside recorded output, Defected runs a major global events programme and maintains a digital community exceeding twelve million. The Shoreditch HQ is central to these operations.
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Defected had recently taken over the ground and basement levels of the building, moving from the third floor and creating an opportunity to define a new creative and operational home.
It required a flexible, technically reliable environment that could support:
writing and production
vocal recording
livestreams and DJ content
filmed sessions
small performances and events
label operations across the ground floor offices
The basement would function as a multi use creative floor, while the ground level would house an open plan office environment. Both levels needed to operate as a single connected ecosystem.
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Shoreditch has a long established network of studios, labels and creative companies. This made it a suitable location for a hybrid HQ where recording, content creation and label operations could sit together.
Challenges and early direction
The project was delivered during the Covid period, which shaped access, workflow and coordination.
Defected had a clear creative vision but no fixed operational template for how the spaces should function. Early conversations with Simon Dunmore, Wez Saunders and Luke Solomon helped establish the core technical and acoustic requirements.
The aim was to create a space that was technically robust but not restrictive, allowing the team to evolve workflows over time and supporting a diverse set of use cases from DJ livestreams to A&R review sessions.
“At the beginning of 2020, Defected announced that it was building a studio space in the basement of our Shoreditch offices. After posting the announcement on social media, I was contacted by Mark Russell from Recording Rooms, whom I had known since my days at AM:PM Records (Polygram / Universal). I explained that the facilities needed to be versatile, as we wanted to produce music in the traditional sense but also broadcast the sessions to our community via our platforms. The conversations evolved. He communicated with Pioneer to install a bespoke, state of the art sound system throughout both floors, designed a DJ setup that enables live (filmed) DJ sets, and a PA system to create a small club environment.
Mark was proactive in all areas of the build, as well as being communicative and diligent in applying his ideas. He liaised with our producers and key staff to accommodate their requirements whilst using his extensive network of suppliers to negotiate competitive rates, all of this through the pandemic.
We are extremely satisfied with the end result, which will enable us to create the recordings and filmed content essential for a new era music company.”
Simon Dunmore, Former Owner, Founder and A&R Director, Defected Records and Glitterbox
Technical highlights
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Interesting Projects and Brinkworth were keen to define the basement’s visual language using slatted Acupanel timber. This established a clear aesthetic direction and required a tailored acoustic strategy to maintain a controlled room response.
We integrated broadband absorption and targeted frequency selective elements behind the slatted panels, allowing the interior concept to remain intact without compromising acoustic performance.
A custom high skirting detail was developed to:
route mains power, audio, data and AV cabling discreetly within three isolated compartments
provide access behind Valchromat acoustic panels
maintain a clean architectural line throughout
This detail became a practical and visual anchor throughout the studios.
The basement also needed a cohesive AV system linking the studios, DJ booth, office and outdoor event area. One of the key elements was integration with the Pioneer club PA system, allowing the team to reference mixes at club playback levels and connect the creative spaces directly to the wider live environment.
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The facility runs on a wiring and patching system supporting production, writing, DJ content, livestreaming and small events.
Key capabilities include:
full interconnectivity between studios, booths and edit spaces
normalled patching linking the studios, DJ booth and the Pioneer club PA
multiple tracking positions, including the sofa area
clean routing for livestreams and filmed DJ sets
A&R review feeds from the basement into the office areas
The control room is built around a Universal Audio Apollo interface and Dangerous Monitor ST, with Barefoot, Genelec and Pioneer monitoring distributed across the studio and booth areas.
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The space supports a mix of recording and broadcast led work, with equipment including:
Barefoot MicroMain monitors in the control room
Neumann U87 vocal microphone
PMC 6-2 mains, Genelec nearfields and a full Pioneer DJ ecosystem
Universal Audio Apollo Twin interfaces for flexible tracking and routing
tie lines enabling recording from multiple locations
This allows the facility to support a wide range of output formats without reconfiguring the core infrastructure.
Delivery and collaboration
The project required close coordination between the client, architects, project managers and technical teams. Despite the operational constraints of the COVID period, workflow and communication remained stable throughout.
The final facility supports Defected’s ongoing operations and delivers on Simon’s vision for a space where UK and international artists, DJs and producers can drop in and work creatively. The studios quickly became an active hub. The first livestreamed event after handover was a 24 hour DJ EZ set broadcast to Defected’s global community, raising funds for the mental health charity Mind.
“I am thrilled to offer my highest recommendation for Mark Russell and the team at Recording Rooms.
In 2020, we undertook the ambitious project of developing Defected HQ’s basement into a fully serviced recording studio, a task that demanded meticulous attention to detail and a profound understanding of acoustic engineering. Mark and his team surpassed our expectations at every stage. From the outset, Recording Rooms took charge of the full acoustic design of our studios, ensuring that every aspect was tailored to meet our precise needs. Their expertise was instrumental in transforming our vision into reality. Mark provided invaluable onsite support to our architects, Brinkworth, and the builders, D2, facilitating seamless collaboration and ensuring that all design specifications were impeccably executed.
Throughout the project, Mark demonstrated exceptional dedication and expertise, making the entire process smooth and stress free. His passion for his work is evident in the outstanding results we now enjoy every day at Defected HQ. For anyone seeking top tier acoustic design and studio installation services, I wholeheartedly endorse Mark Russell and Recording Rooms. Their contribution has been instrumental in creating a world class studio environment for Defected Records.”
Wez Saunders, CEO, Defected Records
Project team
Interesting Projects and Brinkworth: Architect, concept and interior design
D2 Design and Build: Fit out contractor
D3 Creative Joinery: Custom joinery
Cosmic Electronics: Pioneer installation, AV, networking, office and outdoor PA, CCTV and intruder systems
Recording Rooms: Acoustic and technical design, consultancy and project management
Tim Coombes: Acoustic consultant