Black Lizard Records – a long-standing client of MN2S Label Services – has been nominated for Beatport Hype Label of the Year at the 2025 Beatport Awards. We caught up with label heads Leandro and Iole to hear their reaction and find out more about the label’s story so far.
How did you both get into music originally?
Leandro Da Silva: I was born in Brazil, so music has always been in my blood — it’s part of our culture. Then, after moving to Italy, I started working in radio, and my musical taste shifted from samba to dance music. I began DJing very young, and eventually worked at one of Italy’s biggest radio stations. Founding Black Lizard Records was my way to become independent and release my music freely, without limits or filters.
Gioia Marzocchi: I started studying music and piano in school, but honestly, solfeggio didn’t exactly make me fall in love with music…! But it was still my first introduction. Over the years, music kept coming back into my life, until I became a VJ for an Italian music TV channel, where I presented the weekly dance music chart. That experience really brought me closer to the electronic scene, and that’s when everything started to take shape.
How long has your label been in operation?
Black Lizard Records was founded in 2016. Our first release was more of a creative test project — we just needed something to kick things off and officially register our first track with the Italian collecting society (SIAE). That marked the start of our journey.
Tell us a bit about the latest release.
Our recent releases are deeply influenced by Latin sounds. We’ve been signing lots of Brazilian and Spanish DJs to bring those warm, vibrant rhythms into the catalog. With each track, we’re aiming to spotlight the richness of Latin vibes, while staying rooted in house and tech house.
Congratulations on being nominated for the Hype Label of the Year. How do you feel about the nomination?
We honestly didn’t see it coming! We knew 2024 was a strong year in terms of music and chart performance, but we never expected to be listed among the best labels of the year — especially alongside such big names. It was a beautiful surprise and a huge motivation to keep pushing forward! (Actually, we don’t think we’ll win the award on April 24th; the competition is way too high. But we’ll be there to enjoy the ceremony!)
Check out Black Lizard Records on Beatport.
Could you sum up your label’s philosophy and creative vision?
We support our artists and treat every track with full respect. We know how hard it is for a DJ to make a living from their music — visibility on platforms is key. Of course, we can’t guarantee success, but what we do promise is maximum exposure for every release, and a professional approach to every step of the process. We love working with artists who respect the craft and our team, just as we respect their creative work. When we started, our logo was a small lizard paw — later, we switched to a full lizard image, but it felt too obvious. And just recently, we revamped our logo and concept to better reflect our evolution.
What advice would you give to anyone thinking of setting up their own imprint?
Build a strong identity, choose quality music, don’t be afraid to experiment, and surround yourself with professionals. That’s how you create something that lasts .
What are your plans for the rest of the year and beyond?
We want to keep nurturing young talent while also expanding our roster with more established acts. It’s all about finding the right balance between fresh energy and solid experience, and building a diverse, exciting catalog. Last year, we launched “THE LIZARD,” a touring party format we took to several cities, from Rome to Miami. We also launched a weekly radioshow called “BLACK LIZARD RITUAL”, which we hope to develop into a full-scale party format soon!
What have you enjoyed about working with MN2S?
Working with MN2S — and with Chris in particular, but also Patrick and Duygu — has been a huge support. You were our very first distributor! We had a break in between, but we’ve been back together for the past two years and everything’s running smoothly. We really appreciate the partnership!