For Yousef, founder of Circus Recordings, everything begins and ends with feeling. That intangible pulse that moves through a great DJ set, the energy that catches in the gut when a record hits just right. This is the foundation upon which Circus has been built. Over 200 releases later, the Liverpool-born imprint stands as one of modern house music’s most consistent voices, a label that prizes emotional connection and instinct above metrics, algorithms, or trends.
Founded in 2008, during Yousef’s years in London, Circus Recordings was born less from strategy than necessity. “I hated waiting for labels like Cocoon, Desolat, and Defected to release my music,” he admits. “So I began my own thing.” It was a practical move, but one charged with intent. In an era defined by gatekeeping and slow release schedules, Circus became his answer to autonomy: a direct line between creative spark and global audience.
In an age when most labels define themselves by genre or subculture, Yousef’s criteria remain refreshingly visceral. “The sound now is anything good—anything that makes me excited or feels good,” he says. “That can be a song, a big rave-up, or just a groove or DJ tool. Generally colourful, proper house music.”
That sense of instinct has always been the throughline. Early releases set the tone—stripped-back, groove-heavy cuts that felt at home both in small basements and sprawling festivals. Over time, the label’s sound widened its palette while staying rooted in that fundamental concept. As Yousef puts it, “House is a feeling. So if it’s under my skin, I’m releasing it.”
This ethos, emotional truth over rigid curation, has given Circus its elasticity. It has embraced everything from peak-time techno burners to soulful vocal cuts and exploratory electronica. What unites them is a shared vibrancy and authenticity: music that feels lived in, not manufactured. Yousef’s curatorial process mirrors his approach to DJing: instinctive, immediate, precise. “When I get a demo I like, I move very quickly,” he explains. “If I think I need a few listens, it usually means a pass.” Once the decision is made, things move fast. Release dates, artwork, teaser videos, and promo campaigns come together in a tightly coordinated arc. “We do all we can to illuminate the music before, during, and after the release process,” he adds.
What sets the brand apart isn’t just the quality of its music, but the sincerity behind its operations. There’s no detached A&R committee or marketing-driven gatekeeping. Yousef’s approach remains personal, hands-on, and rooted in the excitement of discovery. “When I sign a tune, it’s the same feeling I used to get from record digging in shops around the world. The excitement of finding a gem still feels great.”
That tactile joy, an echo of countless hours spent crate-digging, remains central to Circus Recordings’ spirit. It’s an artist-run label in the truest sense: passion before profit, intuition before analytics.
Every long-running label has its milestones, and Circus has had more than a few. Chief among them is the 2013 release of Green Velvet’s ‘Bigger Than Prince’, a record that became a global anthem, catapulted Hot Since 82 into the stratosphere, and reignited Green Velvet’s own legendary career. “It was a global smash,” Yousef reflects. “It made Hot Since 82 a mega star and reignited GV’s illustrious career.”
Alongside that towering success, Circus has welcomed a lineup that reads like a who’s who of house and techno royalty: Kerri Chandler, Laurent Garnier, Carl Cox, Jamie Jones, Camelphat, and many more have all graced the label’s catalog. Each artist brings their own energy to the imprint, but Yousef’s curation ties it all together, balancing household names with rising stars.
Equally significant are the ‘Movements’ compilations, which have become platforms for emerging producers to break through. “They’re aimed at helping newer names cut through,” he explains. It’s this democratic spirit that keeps Circus Recordings vital and human.
Yousef’s own five artist albums, particularly ‘I Operate in Purple’, which hit number one on Beatport’s overall chart, have also served as anchors in the label’s narrative. Each record reflects his evolving artistry while reinforcing the label’s dual identity as both a DJ’s tool kit and a deeply personal creative outlet.
While Yousef’s career has long been intertwined with his hometown through the legendary Circus club nights in Liverpool, the label has grown into a global operation. Its releases find their way into the playlists of touring DJs around the world, supported by a community that values quality and depth. “I think it’s hugely respected,” Yousef says. “It’s a go-to for most touring DJs and artists.”
And for all its reach, Circus Recordings still feels grounded. It’s a label that celebrates community and craft as much as it does success. The operation runs lean but purposeful, balancing heritage with innovation. An extension of the same ethos that has made Yousef’s own DJ sets so enduring.
Crossing the 200-release mark would be a remarkable milestone for any independent label. For Yousef, it’s something close to surreal. “Not in a million years did I think I’d still be pushing the label after 200+ releases,” he admits. That longevity, however, hasn’t dulled his enthusiasm. If anything, it’s deepened his commitment to discovery and inclusivity.
“The key moments for me have been releasing music from major names, while simultaneously giving newer names a chance too—giving them the exact same treatment across the board,” he says. “The label is about new music and inclusion and has been since day one.”
That spirit of balance, as it honors the past while investing in the future, is what gives Circus its staying power. It’s a label where a breakout artist can share catalog space with a legend, and both will receive equal respect. As Circus Recordings moves into its next phase, Yousef’s ambitions remain both grounded and expansive. “I’d like to develop a more commercial, non-house label too,” he reveals. “To use my skills and experience to see what can be done when I remove genre boundaries”. It’s a fitting next step for an artist and curator who has never been content to stay inside the lines. Whether it’s through house, techno, or something yet undefined, Circus seems destined to evolve while remaining true to the energy that birthed it: curiosity, joy, and connection.
At its core, Circus Recordings represents a rare thing in electronic music: longevity without compromise. It’s a label that has survived trends, formats, and scenes by trusting emotion over strategy. In Yousef’s world, music isn’t judged by its potential to chart, but by its ability to move, to create that spark of recognition between artist, DJ, and dancer.
In a contemporary landscape often dominated by data, Circus continues to feel refreshingly human. It’s not about perfection, it’s about pulse. And as Yousef’s journey with the imprint continues, one thing is certain: Circus Recordings will keep chasing that feeling.
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