Ears To The House

2 Minutes

News

Did Defected REALLY try to find a venue in Antarctica? As label mysteriously goes silent on Instagram, Wez Saunders makes suspect claim in end of year address – so we looked at whether it could actually be done…

Ears To The House Team 5 January 2024

Since the beginning of the year, Defected has done something rather unusual – it’s gone quiet. Regular Ears To The House readers might have noticed that the label appears to have deleted everything on...

1 Minute

News

Have we had too much to drink this Christmas? Defected are selling earplugs on their site – but one of our colleagues thinks there’s something they’ve missed…

Ears To The House Team 27 December 2023

One of the most crucial aspects of the modern business world is presentation. No matter what the product being supplied is, if it’s being showcased to the world in the wrong way, you’re going...

2 Minutes

News

Aren’t you the ones who just get Sam Divine and Low Steppa to play all your events? Defected post a meme about going to see new artists – and their hypocrisy couldn’t be clearer to see…

Ears To The House Team 7 December 2023

One regrettable truth about the dance music world is how many within it possess almost no sense of self-awareness whatsoever. It’s not hard to explain – this is what happens to people and businesses...

2 Minutes

News

Sleigh it ain’t so! Defected are getting in the mood for Christmas by selling some special festive jumpers – but what persuaded Wez “Santa” Saunders to put them on sale?

Ears To The House Team 26 November 2023

As of this Sunday afternoon, there are just 29 days until a rather fuller-bodied bearded man wearing a red suit comes down everyone’s chimney – and they find out whether they’re on the nice...

2 Minutes

News

Is Wez Saunders a fan of recycling? Defected have been getting into the garage house scene – by getting Crackazat and Sean McCabe remix stuff from the old Sub-Urban catalogue they own…

Ears To The House Team 22 November 2023

There are a truly endless number of dance music sub-genres in existence. So many, in fact, that Ears To The House can’t help but wonder if some of them are just made up –...

2 Minutes

News

One of Louie Vega’s many hats, a painting by David Morales and Sam Divine’s trainers – the weird and wonderful items up for auction now ahead of a Defected fundraiser for homeless charity Shelter…

Ears To The House Team 13 November 2023

As another Monday inevitably continues its endless trudge into another Tuesday, Defected’s Wez Saunders finds himself with yet another busy week. Saunders, of course, wouldn’t have it any other way – many sources within...

2 Minutes

News

So is this why Sondela was shown the door? Defected launches a new afro-house label called Mahaba, just months after waving goodbye to its last one…

Ears To The House Team 6 November 2023

Defected is a company that devotes its existence to becoming larger, not smaller. This was one thing that stayed constant throughout the Simon Dunmore years, and Wez Saunders shows no sign of changing that...

3 Minutes

News

It’s like the McDonald’s budget menu! Defected unveil their offering for shorter four dates in Croatia in 2024 – and the names are as stale as a three-day old Big Mac…

Ears To The House Team 3 November 2023

When Wez Saunders made the decision to raise the capital to buy the Defected empire of companies in 2022, questions inevitably arose as to what he wanted to do with it. No one spends...

2 Minutes

News

That’s a bit more like it! After Defected get panned for measly $600 donation to Kathy Brown fundraiser, boss Wez Saunders stumps up $2000 of his own money- $500 more than his predecessor…

Ears To The House Team 30 October 2023

Yesterday, Ears To The House pressed the publish button on an article about a fundraiser aiming to raise $50,000 for house music’s very own Kathy Brown – currently recovering from major surgery and fighting...

2 Minutes

News

Couldn’t you have donated more than that, Wez? Amidst Kathy Brown Stage 4 cancer battle, Defected’s old boss contributes $1500 to fundraiser – but the label only gave a measly $600…

Ears To The House Team 29 October 2023

Around two weeks, Kathy Brown was doing what she did best – namely being Kathy Brown. The American singer, known in the house music world for countless records including “Joy”, “Turn Me Out” and...

2 Minutes

News

Whatever ARE they trying to tell us?! Duck Sauce – the collab between A-Trak and Armand Van Helden – describe their relationship with Defected as “tantric”…

Ears To The House Team 26 October 2023

During our two and a little years in existence, Ears To The House has come across a lot of different statements on a lot of different subjects. The language in such statements varies from...

3 Minutes

Business

Why ARE they teaming up with a three week old startup? Now Wez Saunders signs Defected up for a partnership with The Circuit Group – and it’s all about the mutual scratching of backs…

Ears To The House Team 25 October 2023

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again – nobody spends tens of millions of pounds on acquiring a company, and then proceeds to do things in the same way they’ve always been....

3 Minutes

News

After former Defected boss Simon Dunmore repeatedly points out his “values” on Lenny Fontana’s True House Stories, one question – just what ARE your values, Mr Saunders?

Ears To The House Team 2 October 2023

Just a few short days ago, the now deposed owner and founder of Defected gave a nearly two hour long interview. Speaking to Lenny Fontana’s intriguing True House Stories series, Simon Dunmore spoke about...

3 Minutes

Business Money Spinner News

Is this really the best you could do, Wez? Defected FINALLY announce their Dubai event lineup – and it’s about as cookie cutter as they could get…

Ears To The House Team 21 July 2023

A few weeks ago, Ears To The House reported on the news that Defected had finally done the previously unthinkable – and announced an event in Dubai. The company whose own slogan is about...

2 Minutes

Business News

Strange times indeed! As Sondela becomes the first label to ever be released from Defected’s vice-like grip, what led to the split in the first place?

Ears To The House Team 19 July 2023

Ever since Defected was launched back in 1999, the label had grand visions to become a leader in house music. This was entirely unsurprising to anyone paying attention – founder Simon Dunmore previously worked...

3 Minutes

Business News

Frankie Knuckles, he is not! Are power struggles within Defected the REAL reason why Luke Solomon is getting a House Masters compilation of his own?

Ears To The House Team 17 July 2023

During our enforced week away, Ears To The House received a few emails on our article from earlier this month – all about how Defected was now mistakenly claiming some its own artists as...