Cooltempo Records

Cooltempo Records is a British record label that developed within the Chrysalis Records organization during the late 1980s, when dance music and the UK acid house movement were reshaping the British recording industry. The label initially focused on club-oriented music and signed or released work by dance and house artists including Monie Love and Adeva. Its catalogue expanded beyond the immediate acid house and dance market as the scene became more fragmented, bringing in soul and jazz-influenced vocal performers such as Juliet Roberts, Mica Paris, Shara Nelson and Innocence. This combination of dance-floor production, sophisticated soul vocals and crossover appeal became a defining characteristic of the label. During the early 1990s Cooltempo broadened its musical range further into jazz, hip hop and alternative forms of contemporary black music. Releases associated with Guru, Gang Starr, the Brand New Heavies and Arrested Development connected the imprint with the jazz-rap and acid-jazz currents that were influential in the period. Its catalogue also included artists and projects connected with Inner City, Carleen Anderson, K-Klass, Paul Hardcastle, Loose Ends, Kenny Thomas, Damage and other UK and international acts. The label therefore operated less as a narrowly defined genre imprint than as a platform for dance-derived, soul-oriented and rhythm-focused music. DJ and broadcaster Trevor Nelson worked with Cooltempo from 1993 and was involved in signing Lynden David Hall and D'Angelo. Those associations reflected the label's interest in developing artist-led soul and contemporary R&B alongside established dance releases. Cooltempo's historical catalogue includes albums, remix collections, singles and compilation material, with remix culture playing an important role in its output. Examples include releases connected with Adeva, Eternal, Inner City, Carleen Anderson, Lynden David Hall and K-Klass. The label became part of Blue Raincoat Music's ownership of Chrysalis Records when Blue Raincoat acquired Chrysalis Records in June 2016. Cooltempo was subsequently revived in May 2018 after an extended period in which it had been largely inactive. Its first release in almost two decades was Francesca Lombardo's single "Eye Ring," followed by her album "Life of Leaf." The album combined electronic production with elements linked to Lombardo's classical musical training. Cooltempo then released a debut album by electronic act Infinity Ink, signaling an effort to reconnect the imprint with contemporary electronic music while retaining its historical dance orientation. In 2020, Robin Millar, chairman of the Chrysalis Blue Raincoat Group, released "Meditation From A Desert Island" through Cooltempo. The material had initially been created during the COVID-19 lockdown for colleagues as a weekly source of music intended to support mental wellbeing. Positive internal reception led to the decision to issue the recordings officially. This release illustrated the revived label's willingness to accommodate personal, atmospheric and wellness-oriented music alongside club and electronic projects. Cooltempo's significance rests primarily in its catalogue and its role within the Chrysalis family rather than in a large standalone corporate operation. The label's history links late-1980s UK dance culture with 1990s soul, jazz-rap and electronic music, while its post-2018 revival has preserved the brand as an active imprint under Blue Raincoat's ownership.

Cooltempo emerged within the Chrysalis Records organization at the end of the 1980s, during a period when acid house, house music and club culture were becoming major forces in the United Kingdom. Its early repertoire included dance acts such as Monie Love and Adeva. Rather than remain limited to one form of club music, the label adapted as the dance scene divided into more specialized audiences. It expanded into soul and jazz-oriented vocal music, releasing or supporting artists including Juliet Roberts, Mica Paris, Shara Nelson and Innocence. In the early 1990s Cooltempo became associated with the broader movement linking dance production, jazz, hip hop and contemporary black music. Its catalogue included work involving Guru, Gang Starr, the Brand New Heavies and Arrested Development, as well as projects by Inner City, Carleen Anderson, K-Klass, Paul Hardcastle, Loose Ends and Kenny Thomas. The label also issued remix material, making it part of the period's wider culture of extended club versions, reworkings and dance-oriented reinterpretations. Trevor Nelson began working with the label in 1993. During his association with Cooltempo he signed Lynden David Hall and D'Angelo, reinforcing the imprint's interest in sophisticated soul and R&B artists. The catalogue also reached into pop-soul and crossover material through artists such as Damage and Eternal. Cooltempo's output consequently covered singles, albums, remix packages, digital releases, music videos and compilation products rather than a single standardized format. After a long period of limited activity, Cooltempo became part of Blue Raincoat Music's corporate ownership of Chrysalis Records in June 2016. Blue Raincoat later revived the imprint in May 2018. The first release of the revived era was Francesca Lombardo's "Eye Ring," followed by her debut album "Life of Leaf." The album combined electronic music with influences associated with Lombardo's classical training. A debut album by electronic act Infinity Ink followed, establishing a contemporary electronic direction for the reactivated label. In 2020, Robin Millar, chairman of the Chrysalis Blue Raincoat Group, released "Meditation From A Desert Island" on Cooltempo. The project had been created during lockdown for colleagues, with the intention of providing a new weekly soundtrack that could support mental wellbeing. Because the recordings were well received, they were converted from an informal internal project into an official release. This episode demonstrated the revived imprint's broader creative remit and its continuing connection to the leadership of the Blue Raincoat-Chrysalis group. Cooltempo's historical identity is therefore built around movement between genres: it began in late-1980s British dance culture, developed into soul, jazz, hip hop and remix music during the 1990s, and later returned to active operation through electronic and atmospheric projects. Its continuing importance is tied to its catalogue, its association with Chrysalis and its preservation as a specialist imprint under Blue Raincoat Music.

• 2020

  Meditation From A Desert Island is released

  [1]Cooltempo Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Robin Millar's lockdown-created project is issued officially after being developed as music for colleagues' wellbeing.

• 2018

  The label is revived

  [1]Cooltempo Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Cooltempo returns to active release activity after almost two decades, beginning with Francesca Lombardo's work.

• 2016

  Blue Raincoat acquires Chrysalis Records

  [1]Cooltempo Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Cooltempo becomes part of Blue Raincoat Music's Chrysalis-related holdings.

• 1993

  Trevor Nelson begins working with the label

  [1]Cooltempo Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Nelson's involvement supports Cooltempo's expansion into contemporary soul and R&B, including signings associated with Lynden David Hall and D'Angelo.

• 1980

  Cooltempo emerges within Chrysalis

  [1]Cooltempo Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The imprint is established within the Chrysalis Records organization, with its identity developing around dance and club-oriented music.

A Chrysalis-associated British imprint spanning dance music, electronic production, soul, jazz, hip hop and remix culture, with a revived focus on contemporary electronic and artist-led releases.

• Dance and soul recordings

  Adeva catalogue

  Cooltempo released albums and extended dance material associated with Adeva, including "Adeva," "Love Or Lust" and "The 12" Mixes." These releases represent the label's early connection to vocal house, club music and the late-1980s dance scene.

• Remix albums and compilations

  Cooltempo remix and compilation catalogue

  The label issued remix collections, sampler albums and related club-oriented packages involving artists such as Inner City, Carleen Anderson, Eternal, K-Klass and Lynden David Hall. These products reflect the importance of alternate mixes and DJ-focused formats in Cooltempo's business.

• Electronic album · 2018

  Life of Leaf

  Francesca Lombardo's debut album followed the single "Eye Ring" and marked Cooltempo's first release cycle in nearly twenty years. The project combines electronic music with musical elements connected to Lombardo's classical training.

• Electronic album

  Infinity Ink debut album

  Cooltempo released the debut album by electronic act Infinity Ink during the label's post-2018 revival. The release reinforced the imprint's renewed interest in contemporary electronic music.

• Ambient and wellbeing-oriented album · 2020

  Meditation From A Desert Island

  Robin Millar's album was developed during lockdown as a series of musical pieces shared with colleagues. Its official release gave Cooltempo a more reflective and atmospheric project alongside its established dance and electronic catalogue.

• 2020

  Release Meditation From A Desert IslandProduct launch

  Background

  Robin Millar initially created the music for colleagues during lockdown as a weekly soundtrack intended to support mental wellbeing.

  Action taken

  After the recordings were positively received, the group decided to release them officially through Cooltempo.

  Aftermath

  The project extended the revived label's remit into atmospheric and wellbeing-oriented music.

  Source

• 2018

  Revive Cooltempo as an active electronic imprintStrategy

  Background

  The label had been largely inactive for almost two decades, while its historical catalogue remained associated with dance, soul, jazz and remix music.

  Action taken

  Blue Raincoat and the Chrysalis organization reactivated Cooltempo and began releasing new electronic-oriented projects, starting with Francesca Lombardo.

  Aftermath

  The revival produced releases by Francesca Lombardo and Infinity Ink and re-established Cooltempo as an operating label rather than solely a legacy catalogue.

  Source

• 2020

  Robin Millar releases Meditation From A Desert Island[1]Cooltempo Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Music originally made for colleagues during lockdown was formally released by Cooltempo after receiving a positive response.

• 2018

  Cooltempo Records is revived[1]Cooltempo Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Chrysalis-associated imprint returned after a prolonged period of inactivity, beginning a new phase of releases.

• 2018

  Francesca Lombardo begins Cooltempo's post-revival release program[1]Cooltempo Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  Francesca Lombardo's "Eye Ring" became the label's first release in nearly two decades, followed by the album "Life of Leaf."

• 2016

  Blue Raincoat Music acquires Chrysalis Records, including Cooltempo[1]Cooltempo Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Cooltempo came under Blue Raincoat Music ownership as part of the company's acquisition of Chrysalis Records.

1. 1Cooltempo Recordsen.wikipedia.org