Mexican DJ, producer, and label founder Robbie Akbal reflects on two decades of Akbal Music, the evolution of its sound, and the community built around the label. As the imprint celebrates its 20th anniversary, he discusses a limited vinyl release from Barac, upcoming compilations, international events, and his plans for the next chapter.
Photo credit: Robbie Akbal – Website
A veteran of Mexico’s house music scene, Robbie Akbal has established an international career as a DJ, producer, and label owner. Now based in Berlin, he has released music through Crosstown Rebels, Get Physical, Culprit, Kindisch, Sol Selectas, Selador, and No.19, while collaborating with artists including Audiofly, Kiki, Aidan Lavelle, Dance Spirit, and Shall Ocin.
Founded in 2006, Akbal Music has explored different expressions of underground house music, from minimal and deep house to Afro, tribal, and organic influences. Its 20th anniversary brings new releases, including Barac’s ‘I Close My Eyes In Order To See’ EP, a limited vinyl pressing, alongside a compilation and international anniversary celebrations.
In this conversation with EG, Robbie Akbal looks back at the label’s evolution, discusses the importance of physical records, and explains why reaching 20 years represents the beginning of another phase.
EG: Hi Robbie, welcome to Electronic Groove. It’s great to have you with us. How have you been, and how are you feeling about Akbal Music reaching its 20th anniversary?
Robbie Akbal: Hello guys, thanks for the opportunity. We’re very happy to reach this milestone. It’s been a very organic journey over these 20 years, exploring different shades and styles of underground House music, discovering new sounds, and sharing music with artists and friends from around the world. It’s great to look back and realize how much the label has evolved while still keeping the same spirit.
EG: Twenty years is a significant milestone for an independent label. When you look back at what Akbal Music has become, what does this anniversary mean to you personally?
Robbie Akbal: Time flies. It’s been a huge learning experience and a very interesting challenge over the years. I’ve lived in different countries and important cities like Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Barcelona, Berlin, and now in Asia during this journey, and I think all those places, experiences, and people have somehow influenced the label and the way it has evolved. Looking back, it’s pretty amazing to see where this journey has taken us.
EG: One of the projects marking the anniversary is the new vinyl from Barac, ‘I Close My Eyes In Order To See’. What made him the right artist to represent this particular moment in the label’s history?
Robbie Akbal: Akbal Music celebrates a very special moment in its history with the addition of renowned Romanian artist Barac, a key figure within the international minimal and rominimal scene. As part of this collaboration, Akbal Music presents ‘I Close My Eyes In Order To See’ EP. This release will be presented exclusively on a limited 180g audiophile vinyl edition as part of Akbal Music’s official 20th Anniversary.
EG: Barac has such a distinctive place within the minimal and rominimal world. What was it about his music that felt naturally connected to the Akbal Music identity?
Robbie Akbal: We really love Barac’s hypnotic vision of music. His sound is always very tribal, groovy, and on point, so we feel there’s a lot in common with what we’ve been doing at Akbal Music.
Minimal and intelligent House music has been on our radar since we started the label in 2006. We’ve always been attracted to music with a hypnotic, ethnic and deep feeling, and Barac’s sound fits naturally into that side of the Akbal concept, what we’ve always called our “ethnic trip.”
“We’ve always adapted to the sounds of the time and to what inspires us, but without losing what has always been important to us: the groove, the color and the soul in the music”
EG: You’ve chosen to present the EP as a limited 180g audiophile pressing rather than simply another digital release. What does physical music and the culture of collecting records mean to you after two decades of running a label?
Robbie Akbal: My brother Alex aka Barrack and I started in music almost 30 years ago and first encounter was with vinyl, afterwards we continue our vinyl only dj history till almost 2008 when the digital era took over, on Akbal Music this is our 5th vinyl release so for this 20th anniversary we saw a lot of value having the physical release.
EG: The release has been described as a meeting point between different generations, visions, and sonic identities. When you think about Akbal Music’s own history, how much has the label changed, and how much of its original philosophy remains intact?
Robbie Akbal: Over these 20 years, we’ve gone through different periods and styles that have shaped the identity of Akbal Music. We started in 2006 with a more Minimal Deep Tech sound, then around 2010 we moved towards a Deep House vibe, during what was a very special period for the music.
Around 2016, we shifted more towards Afro and Tribal House, and by 2019 we were exploring the more Organic side of House. Now in 2026, we’re also embracing a fresher Indie Techie House sound.
We’ve always adapted to the sounds of the time and to what inspires us, but without losing what has always been important to us: the groove, the color and the soul in the music.
EG: Over twenty years, the underground electronic landscape has changed dramatically, from the way music is discovered and distributed to the way people build relationships with labels. What have those changes taught you about keeping an independent label alive?
Robbie Akbal: It has always been a passion and a pleasure to run my labels: Akbal Music, Akbal Music Editions and Midnight Riders. For me, being an independent label is also about having the freedom to release your own music when it doesn’t necessarily fit what bigger labels are looking for.
At the same time, it gives us a platform to support new talents and artists we believe in, and to collaborate with people whose music feels natural to what we’re doing. I think that passion, freedom, and the connection with artists are what have kept the labels moving forward over the years.
EG: You’re also taking the anniversary on the road with a 20 Years tour under your own name and the Akbal Music banner. What do you want these events to communicate about the label beyond simply celebrating its history? Where will your fans be able to catch you for the celebrations?
Robbie Akbal: We just want to spread good music and celebrate this milestone with the people who have been part of the journey. We’re taking the 20 Years celebration to Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Turkey, with festivals, club nights and more dates to come.
Then early next year we’ll be heading to Europe, Mexico and South America. Hopefully we can celebrate together with many of the people we’ve met along the way and make some new memories too.
EG: There’s also an upcoming 20 Years compilation in the works. How are you approaching the task of representing two decades of Akbal Music without turning the project into a straightforward retrospective?
Robbie Akbal: Yes, we’re releasing a small VA with three new tracks:
1. Robbie Akbal & Nicare — ‘Spirit House’
2. Anturage, Alexey Union, Luciano Scalioni & Benesh — ‘Rainfall’
3. Söhns — ‘Smashy’
We also have a separate compilation featuring some of the top tracks from the last 20 years. So it’s a mix of where we are now and some of the music that has been important to Akbal Music throughout the years, rather than just looking back.
“We’ve always been attracted to music with a hypnotic, ethnic and deep feeling, and Barac’s sound fits naturally into that side of the Akbal concept, what we’ve always called our ‘ethnic trip’”
EG: A label’s catalogue can become a kind of musical archive over time. When you revisit the Akbal Music catalogue today, are there records or periods that reveal something about the label that you perhaps didn’t fully recognise when they were released?
Robbie Akbal: Everything has become very organic over the years, and when I look back at the catalogue, you can really hear the evolution of the label. The first three years were probably the least defined period for us; we were still finding our sound and figuring out where we wanted to take Akbal.
But I think that’s also part of the story. You learn from every release, and those early years helped us understand what felt right for the label and eventually shaped the sound we developed afterwards.
EG: After twenty years, what are you most interested in building next with Akbal Music? Does reaching this milestone feel more like a point of reflection, or the beginning of another phase?
Robbie Akbal: We just want to keep releasing good music with no pressure and continue following what feels right for the label. We’d also love to restart our label events around the world and bring the Akbal family together again. Twenty years feels more like the beginning of another chapter than the end of anything.
EG: Thank you so much for your time. We wish you all the best with Akbal Music’s 20th anniversary, the Barac release, the tour, and everything ahead. Take care!
Barac’s ‘I Close My Eyes In Order To See’ EP marks the 20th anniversary of Akbal Music with a limited 180g vinyl edition. Order your copy here.
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