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Born out of rebellion, grit, and underground spirit, Trax Records is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025 with a landmark project that honors its legacy as one of the most influential electronic music labels of all time. Founded by Larry Sherman in 1985 from a vinyl pressing plant on Chicago’s industrial west side, Trax helped birth house music as we know it—rooted in community, experimentation, and an unapologetic do-it-yourself attitude.

At the helm today is Screamin’ Rachael, a pioneering vocalist, producer, and one of the first women to rise as a visible force in the electronic scene. Her punk roots and early presence in Chicago’s underground, not far from Frankie Knuckles’ Warehouse, helped launch house music into a global movement. Her trailblazing career includes bringing the genre to New York’s Club Kid scene, working with Afrika Bambaataa to create Hip House, and collaborating with iconic DJs like Larry Levan and DJ Keoki.

To mark four decades of impact, Trax Records: The 40th Anniversary Collection begins rolling out June 20—a sprawling digital and vinyl compilation curated by artist Jorge. It connects the label’s legendary past to its cutting-edge future. The release pairs foundational figures like Frankie Knuckles, Phuture, Ron Hardy, Marshall Jefferson, Armando, and Paul Johnson with contemporary innovators including Hiroko Yamamura, Analog 87, and Jorge himself.

Each drop in the series is more than just a music release—it’s a collector’s artifact. Pressed by Desslab in limited runs of 150 copies, every vinyl features bespoke artwork and rare cuts that tell the full story of house—from warehouse roots to modern boundary-pushers.

To kick off the series, Trax is hosting a celebratory in-store event on June 20 at Reckless Records (33 S Wabash, Chicago). Performances by house legends Joe Smooth, Ron Carroll, and Screamin’ Rachael will be joined by new-gen artists LaZara, Chillsesh, and a special DJ set from Jorge, spotlighting the label’s past, present, and future.

Trax International Posse In Amsterdam at ADE 2024

Complementing the compilation is Rising Again (TRX2620), a limited vinyl project produced by Pi Rho and restricted to just 500 copies. Featuring intergenerational collaborations between Joe Smooth, Screamin’ Rachael, Spada, Jacques x Gregory, and others, the record combines analog techniques with experimental tech, including brainwave-generated soundscapes. All proceeds benefit SocialWorks, the nonprofit founded by Chance the Rapper, extending Trax’s cultural relevance into tech and philanthropy.

Trax is also launching its first-ever fashion line in collaboration with Chicago designer Mario Maldonado. Distributed by Desslab, Juno, HHV, and deejay.de, the collection fuses the label’s iconic visual language with a modern edge. “We’re not a bottle-service brand,” Rachael emphasizes. “We came from basements and bedrooms—and that’s where the revolution started.”

As Rachael continues to tour, mentor, and advocate for LGBTQ+ media and youth engagement in Chicago and Nashville, her mission remains clear: keep house music grounded in authenticity and evolution. “Trax has always been about raw creativity,” she says. “This label is my life—and I’m not done.”

Four decades since its inception, Trax Records still refuses to follow formulas, still uplifts voices from the margins, and still delivers beats that keep the underground jackin’.

TRAX IS BACK—AND IT NEVER LEFT.

Trax Records Celebrates 40 Years of House Music Revolution with Limited Vinyl Drops, In-Store Events, and a New Era of Sonic Innovation

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