Ya Basta Records

¡Ya Basta! Records is a French independent record label founded in 1996 by Philippe Cohen Solal, best known as a member of the electro-tango trio Gotan Project. Operating out of Paris, the label has built a reputation for a carefully curated, quality-over-quantity approach, releasing a small number of records with a strong emphasis on artwork and visual identity. Its catalogue spans electronic, tango, world, and pop music, and it is the home of Gotan Project as well as solo projects by Philippe Cohen Solal and releases by artists such as Féloche, El Hijo de la cumbia, and David Walters. The label's aesthetic is closely tied to the visual signature of artist Prisca Lobjoy, whose elegantly oblique eye has shaped covers, flyers, and videos. Cohen Solal has described the label's philosophy as wanting to release "few records – but the right ones," with the means to care for every detail, starting with artwork. The label's eclecticism and refusal to be confined to easy genre classifications attracted early support in the UK, and Cohen Solal has said the crew felt "more in line with London than with Paris." Contemporaries cited by the label include Kruder & Dorfmeister, Thievery Corporation, and Gilles Peterson. Musically, ¡Ya Basta! has been a vehicle for Cohen Solal's vision of composing rather than recycling, creating its own universe rather than simply making "world music" fusions. Gotan Project's debut album included only a few covers, treated as vague milestones, such as Frank Zappa's "Chunga's Revenge." The label has also released solo work by Cohen Solal, including "The Moonshine Sessions," and more recent projects such as "TANGO y TANGO" and collaborations with Mike Lindsay. In 2026 the label celebrates its 30th anniversary, marked by a party and a special anniversary album due in autumn 2026, led by the single "Rainbow & Starlight" written and produced by Philippe Cohen Solal and featuring Sarah Manesse and Maxwell Farrington. The label remains active and independent, with a stated preference for keeping the operation small and focused as a laboratory of ideas.

¡Ya Basta! Records was founded in 1996 by Philippe Cohen Solal, who is best known as a member of the electro-tango group Gotan Project. The label was established in Paris and quickly became known for its carefully curated output and distinctive visual identity. From the outset, Cohen Solal articulated a philosophy of releasing "few records – but the right ones," with the means to care for every detail, starting with artwork and visual aspects. This approach set the label apart and helped it secure a place in the European electronic and world-music scene. The label's visual signature was shaped by artist Prisca Lobjoy, whose "elegantly oblique eye" informed covers, flyers, and videos. Musically, ¡Ya Basta! attracted early support in the UK, which Cohen Solal noted was often more open to genres that are not easily classified. He has said, "We always felt more in line with London than with Paris." The label's contemporaries include Kruder & Dorfmeister, UFO, Patrick Forge, Thievery Corporation, and Gilles Peterson. A defining feature of the label has been its refusal to make straightforward "world music" fusions. Cohen Solal has stated, "I always wanted to include music from the entire world, but never tried to make fusions like 'world music'." Instead, influences on each record are cautiously measured to create an unprecedented mixture of science and melody, as paraphrased from the name of their publishing house. The label emphasizes composing over recycling, aiming to create its own universe. Gotan Project's debut album included only a few covers, treated as vague milestones, such as Frank Zappa's "Chunga's Revenge." Cohen Solal also explored cover versions on his solo album "The Moonshine Sessions." Over the decades, ¡Ya Basta! has released music by Gotan Project, Philippe Cohen Solal, Féloche, El Hijo de la cumbia, David Walters, and others. The label has also been involved in multimedia projects, such as the musical VR experience "INSIDER-OUTSIDER" inspired by Henry Darger, presented at the Grand Palais in 2025. In 2026, the label celebrates its 30th anniversary with a party and a special anniversary album due in autumn 2026, led by the single "Rainbow & Starlight." Cohen Solal has expressed a preference for keeping the label small and isolated, describing it as his laboratory of ideas.

• 2026

  30th anniversary album due in autumn 2026, led by single 'Rainbow & Starlight'.

• 2025

  Musical VR experience 'INSIDER-OUTSIDER' inspired by Henry Darger presented at the Grand Palais from June 20 to September 21.

• 2025

  30th anniversary celebration held on September 11 at Les Récollets, Paris.

• 1996

  ¡Ya Basta! Records founded in Paris by Philippe Cohen Solal.

Independent, curated French label known for quality-over-quantity releases, strong visual identity, and genre-defying electronic/world music.

• Gotan Project releases

• Philippe Cohen Solal solo works (e.g., 'The Moonshine Sessions', 'TANGO y TANGO')

• Releases by Féloche, El Hijo de la cumbia, David Walters

• 30th anniversary album (2026)

1. 1¡Ya Basta! Records – official websiteyabasta-records.com
2. 2About – ¡Ya Basta! Recordsyabasta-records.com
3. 3Ya Basta Records – Wikidatawikidata.org