Since its inception in 1989, Warp Records has become one of England’s most influential and respected modern record labels. Founded in Sheffield by Steve Beckett and the late Rob Mitchell, Warp tapped into the raw power of acid house and rave to fashion a distinctive visual and sonic aesthetic that attracted local, national and international talent and interest. With the release of the Artificial Intelligence compilation and album series in 1992 Warp began its second phase, fashioning new understandings for dance music and bringing forth some its best known artists including Aphex Twin, Autechre and the Black Dog. In 2000, the label moved to London and began its third phase, moving into films and expanding its roster to encompass such seemingly wide ranging, yet related, artists as Prefuse 73, Broadcast and Clark.

In this lecture at the 2007 Red Bull Music Academy, Warp founder Steve Beckett recalled the early days and inspirations of the label, how it has remained independent despite changing times and how he came to find two of his biggest recent artists in the folds of the Academy.