Welcome to Vessel Recordings, where passion for music meets industry expertise. Our team is a dynamic group of creatives, strategists, and visionaries dedicated to discovering, nurturing, and amplifying incredible talent. From A&R to marketing, production to artist management, each member plays a vital role in shaping the sounds of tomorrow. Get to know the faces behind the music—meet the team that makes it all happen!
IRA JAMES – Label Architect, Founder & Label Owner of Vessel Recordings | DJ & Producer
Ira James is the visionary founder and owner of Vessel Recordings, a cutting-edge house music label dedicated to bringing the deepest and most innovative sounds to the underground dance scene. As a DJ and producer, Ira is known for his seamless blend of deep house and techno, creating music that pushes boundaries and resonates with true music lovers. His commitment to curating fresh, high-quality releases has made Vessel Recordings a respected name in the world of underground dance music. Whether behind the decks or in the studio, Ira’s passion for the craft and his dedication to the scene shine through in every track he creates.
NONFICTION – Senior A&R at Vessel Recordings | DJ & Producer
Nonfiction is the Senior A&R at Vessel Recordings, bringing an ear for talent and a deep passion for underground house music. As a seasoned DJ and producer, he has been a driving force in the scene, curating cutting-edge sounds and shaping the label’s musical direction. With years of experience behind the decks and in the studio, Nonfiction bridges the gap between emerging artists and the evolving landscape of house and techno. His dedication to quality and innovation ensures that Vessel Recordings continues to push boundaries and deliver music that moves dancefloors worldwide.
JSPN – A&R, San Francisco/Bay Area
JSPN A&R For Vessel Recordings in San Francisco and The Bay Area, with a sharp ear for talent and a deep understanding of the ever-evolving music landscape, JSPN is dedicated to discovering and developing the next wave of artists. Based in the vibrant San Francisco/Bay Area scene, he bridges raw creativity with strategic industry moves, ensuring that emerging talent gets the right opportunities to shine. His passion for music, keen industry insights, and commitment to artist growth make him a key player in shaping the label’s future sound.
CHAD CHAMBERLAIN – Brand Manager
From riding waves to designing brands, Chad Chamberlain’s journey has been one of creativity, innovation, and passion. After competing as a semi-pro surfer, he transitioned into the action sports industry, working for his sponsor and gaining hands-on experience in apparel and accessories design. Over the next 35 years, he built a career shaping and producing standout products for major retailers.
When T&C shut down on the mainland, Chad joined Pacsun, where he played a key role in launching three private label brands. His expertise led him to Boot Barn, where he successfully developed several more brands, further cementing his reputation in the industry.
Fueled by his entrepreneurial spirit, Chad recently launched CREATIONZCATALYST, his own printing and design services company, after investing in a DTG printing machine. This venture allowed him to take his creative vision into his own hands, offering high-quality, customized apparel solutions.
His journey took an exciting turn when he met Ira, who presented him with the opportunity to help launch the Vessel Recording merchandise division. Now, Chad is channeling his expertise into designing the next wave of merch—coming soon to fans and supporters everywhere.
With decades of experience, an eye for design, and a relentless passion for creativity, Chad Chamberlain continues to push the boundaries of apparel and brand development, making a lasting impact in every project he touches.
DEAN PAUL DE LEON – Brand Creative Director
Dean Paul De Leon is a Southern California native. He graduated from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco in 2005 with a degree in Animation and Visual Effects. Following that, Dean Paul worked on photography, videography, marketing, and design at the record label Droid Recordings. Over the years he’s done a lot of traveling for the label with artists to various cities around the globe. While still working at Droid Behavior, he started working at AstraPacific Outdoor as a creative director working on branding, marketing, advertising and multimedia design out of the Los Angeles and New York offices. While there he worked with big companies such as NBC, CBS, Disney, Netflix, Fox, Target, Adidas, Ubisoft, Universal, and Amazon. He worked at AstraPacific for seven years in the Outdoor advertising company. Since then he’s worked with multiple record labels, booking agencies, and consumer companies on design, photography, graphic design, web development, marketing, branding, advertising, video editing, and conceptual design.
BFLY – Marketing Director & Web Guru at Vessel Recordings
BFLY is the creative force behind the marketing and digital presence of Vessel Recordings. As the label’s Marketing Director and Web Guru, BFLY combines a deep understanding of branding, web design, and strategic promotion to amplify Vessel’s reach in the underground house music scene. With years of experience in digital marketing and web development, BFLY ensures the label stays ahead with engaging content, sleek design, and impactful campaigns. Whether shaping the brand’s online identity or crafting strategies that connect artists with their audience, BFLY plays a key role in driving Vessel Recordings forward.
ARTURO GARCES – Mastering Engineer
Arturo Garces is a DJ and producer hailing from San Jose, California, where he has been immersed in the vibrant dance music scene since childhood. Growing up as the son of a collector of funk, soul, and disco records, Arturo was exposed to the roots of house music from an early age, evident in his works as a DJ and producer today. With a solid collection of tracks under his belt, Arturo has helped define the unique and emerging Silicon Valley sound, seamlessly blending the driving beats and energy of techno with the soulful, deep melodies of house.
In addition to releasing tracks on both established and underground labels like Robsoul, Cross Section, Henry Street Music, and Oomph, Arturo is also the label manager for three prominent labels: Jump Recordings, Beat Bum Music, and Resource Records. Arturo’s passion for dance music extends beyond his music; he initiated Rhythm Ritual, a community-driven event, and actively collaborates on various community initiatives with his team.
With a strong foundation in dance music and a dedication to his craft, Arturo is an artist to watch. His unique approach to blending different genres and his commitment to supporting and promoting the music of others make him a vital member of the dance music community.
