South Asian culture platform Dialled In has unveiled Dialled In Records, a London-based label dedicated to developing and breaking South Asian artists across genres. The label has launched in partnership with The Collective, the A&R entrepreneur imprint within Island-EMI at Universal Music Group U.K.
The label’s inaugural signings are Ahadadream — one of Dialled In’s own co-founders — and New Delhi and Mumbai-based multidisciplinary collective Excise Dept. Born and raised in Karachi before relocating to the U.K. at 12, Ahadadream has become a notable presence on the British music scene, earning the backing of major names including Skrillex, with whom he features on debut single “Bass Dhol” alongside Raf Saperra. Excise Dept blend experimental electronics with South Asian identity, singing and rapping across multiple regional languages — their inclusion speaks to the label’s intention to work with artists based on the subcontinent itself, not only within the diaspora.
Dialled In co-founder Dhruva Balram framed the launch as the culmination of an infrastructure the organization has spent five years assembling across live events, touring, artist development and now recorded music. “This isn’t just a label launch,” Balram said. “It’s a statement about what’s possible when you build from within the culture, with the right people and refuse to compromise.”
The Collective’s A&R director Callum Ross, who hails from an Indian family, said the partnership’s appeal lays in Dialled In’s willingness to challenge received ideas about what South Asian music looks like today. “Their take on what South Asian music is in 2026 is so refreshing — it challenges and breaks stereotypes,” he said. Nicola Spokes, managing director of The Collective at Island-EMI, praised the platform’s range and its focus on artist development, adding that Dialled In brings “deep commitment to signing, developing and breaking artists on the global stage” and calling the launch “a truly special moment.”
Founded by a collective of South Asian entrepreneurs, curators and music professionals, Dialled In has built a presence across South Asian arts and culture in the U.K. over the past five years, with programming reaching institutions such as Glastonbury, the Barbican and the V&A as well as grassroots venues.
The label will be celebrated at the Dialled In 5th Birthday Festival on May 30, a one-day event spread across eight Dalston venues, drawing an expected 3,000 attendees alongside a lineup of international South Asian acts.
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