Transgressive

Transgressive Records began with “1am” by the Subways in September 2004, setting out from London with a run of early singles by Mystery Jets, the Young Knives and Regina Spektor. Founded by Tim Dellow and Toby L, the independent label grew from a meeting at a Bloc Party gig organised through Toby L’s Rockfeedback website.

Its roster has brought together artists working across indie rock, electronic music, art-pop and singer-songwriter forms. Flume, Sophie, Alvvays, Julia Jacklin and Damon Albarn have all released music through Transgressive, while Arlo Parks’ 2021 debut album Collapsed in Sunbeams earned the Mercury Prize. Other artists associated with the label include Miso Extra, Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Ben Gregory, Odetta Hartman, Rose Elinor Dougall and Graham Coxon.

Transgressive has also expanded beyond recorded releases through Transgressive Management, which represents Johnny Flynn, Marika Hackman, Let’s Eat Grandma and Wesley Joseph, and Transgressive Publishing, whose writers include Black Country, New Road, Foals and Loyle Carner. In 2026, Transgressive Records and Canvasback signed the Los Angeles four-piece Jawdropped.