New York City is the place you’d call the nexus for tribal house, but it wasn’t always that way. Operating out of the New York tri-state area since 1996, Hilo Records is a premiere dance music label with a heavy focus on tribal, progressive and vocal house music. But what do they have to do with New York being a tribal town?

In 1999, HiLo label head Jonathan Trattner joined forces with Joey Rivera as the Firetomz, dropping the influential “Drum Fever” on then stalwart dance label Strictly Rhythm. With the fierce drums and pounding beats, their track—along with few others (read: Junior Vasquez)heavily influenced the New York club sound, paving the way for a style that jocks such as Victor Calderone, Hex Hector and Chus & Ceballos champion around the world today.

As unique as it is a tastemaker’s imprint, Hilo Records raised out of Trattner’s desire to eschew the major dance label route in order to develop a brand he and his label partner Bryan Galvan can have creative control over. What started in Trattner’s parent’s basement is now a fully operating recording studio, as well as a production, promotion and music distribution company.

Reinforcing their powerhouse sound is the Hilo All-Stars radio show—now in its fourth year—on XM Satellite Radio. With the future of online music broadcasting in tow, HiLo is making it possible for non XM Radio subscribers to listen to podcasts. People can visit www.hilorecords.com and click on the tiny apple ipod icon to download free podcasts as well as subscribe to their series of shows and receive periodic updates.

HiLo’s roster includes Jonathan Trattner; Rivera and Trattner; Lenny Fontana; Trattner and Galvan; AnGee Blake; Bryan Galvan and Peaceable Kingdom. They say ‘Let the music speak for itself,’ and HiLo tracks speak volumes. The above par material has seen numerous charting and plays from DJs such as Danny Tenaglia, Timo Maas and Peter Rauhofer. Their 2004 single “La Zona Blanca” became such a massive worldwide hit that it was licensed to NRK for Tom Stephan (aka Superchumbo’s) “These Beats Are” compilation.

2006 is HiLo’s biggest year yet, as the camp embarks on previously unexplored territory. The group will release Trattner and Galvan’s first-ever original album. The album features a never heard T&G remix of John Creamer and Stephan K’s “High Hatz” as well as their Stereo Productions release.