VARIOUS — Umami Series I

Various – Umami Series I is the newest 12-inch vinyl from Arepas Records (catalogue AREPAS004), arriving in October 2026. The compilation gathers five distinct cuts that span deep house, tech house and dub-inflected rhythms, each promised by the label to bring its own “taste and vibe”. As the first various-artist release on the imprint, it marks a curatorial turn for a label that has previously issued solo outings from Erwin. Arepas Records has built a modest catalogue over the past two years, beginning with the Arepas EP (AREPAS001, 2025) and followed by the Ceylon Treats EP LP (AREPAS002, 2025) and Iberian Cuts LP (AREPAS003, 2026). Umami Series I arrives after these Erwin-centric releases, expanding the label’s palette by introducing a roster of collaborators that the label describes as “befriend artists we admire a lot”. Side A opens with “O/Y – Saure Dinos”, a track whose title hints at a sharp, perhaps acidic character that sets a focused tone for the record. It is followed by “Lesterr – Plinse”, which maintains the momentum while offering a contrasting mood, linking the two A-side cuts through a shared deep-house groove that suits both early-set warmth and later-night refinement. On the flip, “Ian Oskadev – Lost Letters” continues the deep-house thread, providing a spacious backdrop that invites subtle mixing. “Havet feat. Mz Sunday Luv – Nemesis” introduces a darker, dub-house edge, its title suggesting tension that can be used to shift the energy of a set. The compilation closes with “Calaido – Vindalh”, a final statement that rounds off the journey with a lingering, tech-house pulse, leaving room for DJs to segue into more driving territory. Within the broader context of Arepas Records, this compilation underscores the label’s willingness to diversify beyond Erwin’s output, positioning Umami Series I as a snapshot of the label’s expanding aesthetic. The selection reflects current underground trends where deep, tech and dub house intersect, offering a cohesive yet varied listening experience that aligns with contemporary club programming. For DJs, the record offers a versatile toolkit: the A-side tracks work well for warm-up or groove-focused sections, while the B-side provides darker textures and a closing momentum suitable for peak-time transitions. Collectors will appreciate the vinyl-only format as a tangible representation of the label’s curatorial intent, and the five-track spread makes the release easy to integrate into both crate-digging and set-building. Umami Series I is presented as a 12-inch vinyl, vinyl only, featuring five tracks that explore deep house, tech house and dub house territories. The record is catalogued as AREPAS004 on Arepas Records. Tracklist: A1. O/Y – Saure Dinos A2. Lesterr – Plinse B1. Ian Oskadev – Lost Letters B2. Havet feat. Mz Sunday Luv – Nemesis B3. Calaido – Vindalh