Derek Vo, DEROIA, & ZAYTEK combine as Schema to release ‘Grudges’

Derek Vo, DEROIA, & ZAYTEK combine as Schema to release ‘Grudges’ coming on their new label also called Schema on Thursday 29th June.

‘Grudges’ is an electrifying house/dance record in the style of Gorgon City, KREAM, and CID.

With pulsating beats, infectious melodies, and soul-stirring vocals, it’s a festival and club-ready anthem. Explore heartbreak through heartfelt lyrics, as the track blends introspection with an uplifting chorus. Ethereal synths, dynamic drops, and build-ups create anticipation and release. This record is a cathartic escape and unifying force, transforming heartache into self-liberation

A shining example of how a new record label is supposed to be done, Schema co-founders Derek Vo, DEROIA, & ZAYTEK have been building buzz for the past few weeks ahead of their debut June release.

If you look at their initial launch content, you will immediately notice that it stands out from your typical social media post. In fact, most of what the imprint has shared has been radically different from other labels we have seen in the past. Most notably, their frequently asked questions post stated, “at this time Schema does not accept demos.”

Their branding and unique business model have garnered my attention enough to conduct an interview. Today, we will get to know a little bit more about these co-founders with the aim of understanding how Schema came to be and where this imprint is headed.

12 Questions with Schema: How “Grudges” will set the tone for an impressive debut year

Gentlemen, thank you for taking the time to speak with me today.

Schema: “Thank you for having us. We’re really excited to get a Data Transmission premiere. It means a lot to us.”

Where are you guys based out of?

Derek Vo: “So I’m based close to the Bay Area in California. DEROIA is based in Columbus, Ohio & ZAYTEK is based in Washington D.C.”

You guys are all over the place! How did you meet?

DEROIA: “In the summer of 2021 we signed up for a Repopulate Mars Summer Production Course that Lee Foss was hosting when everything was still locked down due to COVID. We met in that class and have been friends ever since.”

You met in 2021 and are launching this imprint two years later, what does the time period in between look like?

ZAYTEK: “We all work a day job in addition to doing music. Life for us the past couple of years has been routine in terms of work, working on music, shopping tracks out to labels, investing in different resources, and just trying to get better at the craft. We bonded over being in similar places in life.”
Interviewer: “How do you transition from being a group of producer friends to deciding you want to launch a business together?”

Derek Vo: “Well we were running into a lot of similar frustrations in terms of waiting extended periods of time to hear back from a label, being rejected when we really believed in a song, or not having much support from the labels we signed with when it came time to market our song. Over time we kept wondering if it would be easier if we did everything ourselves.”

One thing that stands out to me is that you guys already had a relationship before deciding to go into business together versus going off and trying to find partners for that specific reason. Can you speak to that?

DEROIA: “Yeah, that’s a great call out and something we have talked about before. On one hand someone might say going into business with your friends is risky, but we personally feel like it made things a lot easier. The trust was already there. We know about one another’s personal lives. Making decisions and signing off on things became easy to do.”

Let’s shift gears a bit and talk more specifically about Schema. You guys stated you won’t be accepting any demos. What’s that about?

ZAYTEK: “We understand that traditionally a label would want to sign individual tracks from other artists. We will be approaching it a little differently by only releasing songs that we have made.”

Are you guys collaborating on every track?

Derek Vo: “No. Our initial batch of releases will each have a single Producer/Writer but our future releases may be collaborations amongst each other or even with producers outside of our camp.”

Is there a specific sound that the imprint is interested in releasing?

DEROIA: “Each of us has our own sound and we don’t always create the same genre. Having the flexibility to create what we want is an aspect of running our own imprint that we’re all looking forward to. The aim is that supporters of the label will come to enjoy each of us as producers for the individual talents we bring to the table.” Interviewer: “What can you tell me about the debut release “Grudges?”

ZAYTEK: “Simply put, it’s a song that you are going to want to listen to repeatedly. It has a commercial feel to it but it’s so raw in terms of how the vocal hits against the instrumentation. It’ll work for so many different types of sets. It’s the perfect track to debut with as the weather is getting better.”

How do you plan on following up “Grudges,” what’s next?

Derek Vo: “I have my debut track with the imprint coming in July and ZAYTEK has his coming in August.”

What’s been the best part about creating Schema? The worst?

DEROIA: “I would say the best part is having your creative integrity put back into your own hands instead of always being dependent on someone else. The worst is having to take time away from producing or personal life to meet or work on business administrative things. However, you only get out of something what you put in so you really have to be committed to it if you’re thinking of launching your own brand.”

What advice would you give to other producers who may be inspired to launch their own imprint the way you guys have?

ZAYTEK: “Take the time to do things the right way. Whether that’s owning your intellectual property, forming an LLC, hiring a brand strategist, etc. It may cost more up front but it will pay off in the long run.”

Grab a copy of ‘Grudges’ from https://www.schema.audio/