Simon Dunmore is a London-based DJ, A&R executive and label founder best known for establishing Defected in 1999. He begins DJing in 1982 and works in A&R from 1989, building a career in house and related dance music that grows out of his earlier background in soul, jazz and funk.

Early career

Dunmore comes up through West London’s soul scene. He works in a record shop, the Soul & Disco Centre in Rayners Lane, and also DJs and promotes his own nights locally and across London. He later writes for Blues & Soul and produces his own fanzine, The London Soul Circular. His move into house music follows naturally from the jazz, soul and funk records he grows up with.

A&R work

His first A&R role is at Cooltempo, where he signs Juliet Roberts, River Ocean’s Love and Happiness and Alyus’ Follow Me. He also works with artists including Arrested Development, Gangstarr, Adeva and Shara Nelson, and remixes occasional tracks for the label, alongside colleagues such as Gerald Elms. He then moves in 1995 to AM:PM, the dance division of A&M, where his signings include Ultra Naté, Mousse T, Alcatraz and Farley and Heller.

Defected

When Universal closes AM:PM, Dunmore and Janet Bell set up Defected on 1 January 1999. The label’s first release, Soul Searcher’s Can’t Get Enough, reaches number 8 in the chart and marks an early breakthrough. Defected develops into one of the major independent dance labels, with two sub-labels and a strong identity in funky vocal house. Dunmore also mixes the Eivissa 04 and Eivissa 05 compilations, reflecting the label’s Ibiza connection and its residency at Pacha, where Defected holds regular Tuesday night events under the “In The House” banner.

DJing and record collecting

He continues to DJ, with a long-running residency in Lausanne and regular appearances at Southport, where he plays from the event’s launch, as well as at Defected nights. He is a serious vinyl collector with more than 10,000 records, organised by label, and places particular value on labels such as Motown, Philly, Salsoul and Strictly Rhythm. His collection and tastes reflect a wide interest in soul, disco and house, and he remains focused on new music as well as older records.

Working method

Dunmore is known as an A&R figure who prefers to stay out of the spotlight and develop artists over time. He describes his main motivation as hearing music he loves early and helping it grow into a club anthem. He also stresses the importance of treating artists well, noting long-standing working relationships that date back to his A&M period.