Elefant Traks Is Calling It a Day

Elefant Traks has reached the end of the road.

“Just as we celebrate 26 years of independent music,” says managing director and artist manager Tim Levinson (aka Urthboy) in a social post, “we are also officially calling it a day.”

Formed in 1998 by a group of multicultural friends, led by Kenny Sabir, Elefant Traks was born out of “activism” and a DIY ethos.

The Sydney-based hip-hop specialist went on to guide the careers of Hermitude, L-Fresh The Lion, The Herd, Joelistics, Horrorshow and many more, and is a winner of the AIR Award for best independent label, taking the top prize at the 2012 ceremony.

The music company has “championed the underdogs” since its birth, continues Levinson, who took the reins in 2002, alongside members of the Herd including Kaho Cheung, Richard Tamplenizza and Dale Harrison.

The celebrated indie is a joint leader, with One Day Entertainment, Offbeat Collective, on the ONE OFF TRAKS annual writing camp, participants for which are announced today.

Elefant Traks’ doors will shut for good later in 2024.

Levinson’s video is a trip down memory lane, visiting the music company’s original headquarters, and its site at Faversham Streett, Marrickville where recordings were cut for The Herd, Horrorshow, Urthboy and others. 

“When we moved in here, it was just factories,” he recounts. “When we moved out, it was probably one of the premier music and cultural hubs of the entire city.”

That creative hub no longer exists, developers swinging the wrecking ball.

The end of an era is “sad but it’s also a cause for celebration as we look back on all the accomplishments of our artists,” Levinson explains. “So many friendships were made and relationships developed and songs were written. So many cultural stories were told.”

Employees include Dale Harrison (production manager), Jannah Beth (A&R, project manager), Carolina De La Piedra (A&R, artist manager) and Sofia Nicotra (communications coordinator).

The future is unwritten, times are currently tough, though Levinson has no regrets.

“While the adversities that face artists might seem insurmountable, the future will be written by those who innovate and come up with new ideas in much the same way that Elefant Traks did back in 1998.”

Before the curtain drops for the last time, Elefant Traks will unleash a round of finale parties, details of which will be announced in due course.