Alongside Metalheadz and Moving Shadow, V is one of the leading drum & bass labels. Founded by DJs Bryan Gee and Jumpin' Jack Frost in '93 for the then unknown Roni Size and Krust, things have grown steadily and look set to continue with the release of their latest album "Planet V". Essentially a follow-up to their first compilation, "V Classics", it follows the format of new and exclusive tracks from their enviable artist roster: Roni Size, Die, Suv, Bill Riley, Ray Keith, Dillinja, Lemon D plus Ed Rush & Optical, Peshay and Adam F. "People think that V is just about the Bristol boys and maybe a bit of Dillinja but it's not," starts Bryan, "anyone can do a V tune."

Anyone may be able to do a V tune but they've never released a totally unknown producer, anyone brought in seems to be already established. "There's nothing in that all," retorts Bryan. "If something comes to me and I like it and it's obtainable I will put it out on V. It's just our standards and the standard of some of the stuff we get sent in the post... to me, the label is special and I'd rather not put out a tune all year unless I think it's special. It's not about putting out tunes and paying the rent. We started this label out of love for music and me and Frost, we DJ and do other things in our own right, so it's not just about money. It's special to us and I think it's special to the people. We've given them a safe haven - they can see a V release and want it without even hearing it and that's how I want it to continue."

Plans have changed since this interview and true to his word, there now is a track on "Planet V" from a previously unknown producer: D Product's "Faithless". He hails from Bristol and while he may be a newcomer release-wise, he's been making tunes for the past two years that DJs like Die have been playing. Look out for more stuff from him on V and Full Cycle. There are two other new names on the album - Kamanchi and Bio Mechanics - but all I'm allowed to say is that these are aliases for already established artists.

"People told me that "V Classics" was special," he continues, "and so I'm just trying to give them something a bit more than the norm again, take things to the next level. Personally, I don't think a lot of drum & bass albums do what people really want. When you're putting an album together, it's something special, it's not just a bunch of 12"s. It's taken me a little while to put it together because I'm trying to create a story, not just throw tracks together. I'm trying to give people something they can feel, that flows."

So what do you look for in potential V tracks? "Some labels just stick to a style of music, but we don't, we look for a vibe. Like "Warhead" and "Brand New Funk" are totally different tracks, but both cause that excitement. When you hear them, you feel something tingling inside you, that's what I'm looking for." He knows what he wants and even briefs his established artists beforehand. "Everyone on the album, I've told them what I want. Basically, when they do a track for V they kinda know what to do, but I always talk through it with them as well."

You would think someone who knows what he wants to hear in music so much would have released one of his own tracks by now, but if anything Bryan is harder on himself because of this: "I'm doing a remix just now but I haven't got anything on the album. I still don't think my production is ready for V. It might be my label and I could bung out things I've done, but that's not what it's about. I'm going to continue knocking away and when I'm feeling it like I feel everything else, then it goes on V. I'm always looking for the very best, and I'm not prepared to compromise. If I can refuse tracks from Roni Size and Krust, then you know how critical I am."

Bryan not only wants to take V Records as far as possible, but drum & bass in general. He's constantly looking to take things a step further and link things up. Without being the least bit arrogant, Bryan sees himself as a bit of an ambassador for the scene, with a duty and responsibility to promote the cause. This is going against his nature; Bryan readily admits he's a low-key, laidback kinda guy that would prefer to be in the background, but he realises there's a job to do and he's in a position to do it. A key goal is making the music available to as many people that want it, especially abroad. He recently struck a deal with Ultra Records in the USA so that V product can get to people quicker and easier. They're also looking to sell records direct on the forthcoming V website. "It's also going to give people the information they need to know," adds Bryan. "People abroad rely on information and on my travels I've realised that the internet is very important."

Bryan recently played in Sao Paolo, Brazil - just one of the many exotic locations he has played in the last year with many more to come on the extensive tour promoting the album. Bryan is a bit of a crusader when it comes to spreading the drum & bass gospel abroad, but he doesn't have to convert people, they already want jungle. In fact, travelling and seeing this demand provides much of his inspiration: "It's unbelievable how it's all connected. People are talking about the same things, they're up to date with the tunes... When people come up to me and talk about V, that really motivates me to give them more. It's a real passion seeing people really getting into the music, because this music is what I'm all about."

He still believes drum & bass needs more vocal tracks and is obviously proud to have Suv's "Closer" on "Planet V": "I've just heard the new Breakbeat Era album, and when it comes out I hope it makes people realise that vocal input is very important to this music. There's some brilliant music out there just now but you can go home and not remember anything. I'm going to try and go all the way with "Closer" - release it as a single with some different remixes and even make a video for it. It's a real different track, the vocals on it are like a reggae singer's with really wicked lyrics. I want to really push the vocal thing, just put a face back on the music really."

Somebody Bryan has in mind is Kier (ex-Deelite) who has recently worked with Jonny L and Blue. "I love her voice," admits Bryan, "and I want to get her down to work with some of the producers. She has also got so much enthusiasm and passion for the music that I feel it. That's how I work, I feel vibes off people. She's here and wants to be part of this scene and I'm feeling that off her. Kier's also important because that's a face that people recognise all over the world. I heard some of her album tracks and the lyrics were there, but I felt it wasn't fully ready yet. That's why I want to bring her down and see if we can make things happen with her.

"We're also dealing with Ultra Records who are tied up with Empire management and have a lot of big hip hop acts on their books," he adds. "The next thing is to get some of the artists working together, but it's got to be done naturally. It's no good two record companies from different countries phoning each other saying 'I've got this, you've got that, let's put them in a studio together and see what happens.' It's back to the vibe thing again. I've got to talk to my artists and see who they're feeling and would like to work with. At this moment, where we are with drum & bass on a worldwide thing, I think it's getting easier for producers to say 'I want to work with them' and it will happen, because people are aware of this music all over the world. Rappers and artists in other fields of music have respect for jungle now - it's ready to happen."

Why "Planet V" and not "V Classics 2"? "It was going to be "V Classics 2" but as we're taking it to another level, the name "Planet V" gives a better image of what we're trying to do. When you think of "Planet V", you think of something way out... the future... and that's what this music is about. We're trying to take people somewhere different, where they haven't been yet. It's also about trying to create a positive vibe. We're also doing Planet V events now and it's not just about drum & bass, we're trying to incorporate garage, hip hop, house and techno. We're just trying to create a different vibe - bring back that old feel good vibe but taking it further. The Planet V thing still isn't finished yet, we've got lots of ideas."

V's independent status is obviously very important to them but they're reaching the stage where it's getting more and more difficult to keep taking things up a notch all by themselves. "We just need a bit of backing for that extra push for things like videos and distribution," agrees Bryan. "Everyone knows about V now, it's just getting it to them more. However, I don't want to get tied down and pressured. I talk to some of my artists, and they're under pressure to meet deadlines for albums and I don't want to get into that sort of thing. We work freely and we do things on feelings and vibes and when we think the time is right, but with majors, everything has got to be mapped out. The music keeps changing, so I just take it as it goes along and that's the freedom of an independent." Without the artists V is nothing. Bryan sees the future for V in projects like artist albums and videos, but it's difficult to plan ahead as so many of their roster have album commitments with major record labels. It says a lot for V that they don't tie their artists to exclusive contracts or pay them large advances but still get such loyalty and respect.

Look out for 17 tracks on a whopping eight piece vinyl box set with three bonus tracks on double CD. After that will be a four track Roni Size EP. Bryan has waited patiently for two years since the last Roni Size release on V, so he's obviously very excited about this and is considering making a video for this release as well. Then there are new 12" releases from Krust, Die, Peshay and Adam F. So many ideas, such little time. They even would like to bring back Philly Blunt, and see the link-up with the hip hop artists fitting it neatly with this but there's always the danger of spreading yourself too thin. "There's still so much to be done," he concludes. "I can't even get Philly Blunt started again because I'm on the V thing. You have to put 100% in anything you do - if you only put 50 in, you only get 50 back. So I'm just trying to put the whole 100 into this. Going to Brazil made me realise we've only just started. Until I can go places like that and see our things in shops or switch on the radio or television and hear our music. You're not even hearing it over here, so we've got a long way to go yet."

WORDS: Colin Steven