Pure Space launches cross-continental sub-label, Open Phase

Trusted Gadigal Land/Sydney-originating now Cammeraygal Land-based DJ, producer and label head Andy Garvey has overnight announced the expansion of her much-revered label Pure Space, and the first transmission of brand new sub-label, Open Phase.

Originally starting as a beloved radio show hosted by Garvey on Gadigal Land’s fbi radio between 2016 and 2023, Pure Space’s label output began in 2019 and has seen it comfortably establish itself as one of Australia’s most respected platforms for forward-thinking electronic music.

That reputation has led it to partner with a wide variety of producers, both at home and abroad, including Andy Rantzen, Zara, Jennifer Loveless, Eastern Distributor, CHEAHDX, Mara, Command D, Rings Around Saturn, jobfit, various compilations, and work by Garvey herself.

While Pure Space’s focus has by no means been narrow, Open Phase sees Garvey focusing on cross-continental collaboration and “a sincere connection of parallel creative worlds; both auditory and visual.”

That inaugural collaboration is set to be handled by Naarm/Melbourne-based al dente and Brooklyn artists djfix and jek, with a visual collaboration between Gadigal Land’s bbennnybb and jek, too.

Al dente is no stranger to the Open Phase universe, having released his ‘multiform’ EP via Pure Space in 2024.

In practice, PS-OP001’s collaborative exchange unfolds midway through the release, with international collaborators remixing one another’s work. The first listenable track from the release is djfix and jek’s remix of al dente’s ‘bifercated’, which sees the duo flipping the work into “a heated version; primed for large unified dancefloors” in Garvey’s words.

Outside of Open Phase, Garvey is no stranger to facilitating cross-continental collaborations and exchange. Having run Pure Space both at home, nationally and internationally, she’s become accustomed to using everything at her disposal to foster fruitful relationships between her home and like-minded musical communities the world over.

From radio show to label and event series, Pure Space’s amorphous qualities have provided Garvey with a consistently flexible outlet, now with a renewed, more focused meaning within Open Phase.

It’s with this frame of mind that a new creative undertaking by Garvey, particularly with such a wealth of experience under her belt with Pure Space, presents such a welcome addition to Australia’s electronic music landscape.

‘PS-OP001’ releases via Pure Space’s Bandcamp on Wednesday, March 11.

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