Micah Baxter on ‘Pound 4 Pound’, Building Gritty Records and Reworking a House Classic
For Micah Baxter, some of the most important developments in his career have started with a simple exchange of music.
The Peterborough producer has steadily established himself within the groove-led end of house and minimal, releasing on Nervous Records, Repopulate Mars, Deeperfect and more while building his own Gritty Records imprint. His latest release brings another of those connections full circle.
‘Pound 4 Pound’, Baxter’s first collaboration with 19-year-old Manchester producer HG, lands on Lost Culture Records following early support from Marco Carola, SOSA, Joseph Capriati, Paco Osuna and Lee Foss. The relationship began with HG sending Baxter promos, before their overlapping approaches made a collaboration increasingly obvious.
“So HG had been sending me promos for a while, and I really liked his sound. There were also some big similarities with the tracks I was making at the time, but he had his own twist on it.”
The record began with its recurring vocal. Baxter constructed an initial loop around it before HG reshaped the bassline, introducing the rolling movement that would ultimately define the track. Stems travelled back and forth and, within days, ‘Pound 4 Pound’ was finished.
That economy reflects Baxter’s wider approach. His productions rarely rely on oversized melodic moments, instead finding impact through basslines, percussion and subtle changes in groove.
“Personally, I approach it from the perspective of being on the dancefloor myself,” he explains. “I think about what gives me that ‘wow’ factor and what makes me want to move, especially with more stripped-back tracks.”
The response from DJs he once looked towards for inspiration has provided reassurance that those instincts are translating. “Having their continued support means a lot to me, as it gives me confidence in the tracks I’m creating and provides even more motivation and self-belief when I start working on new music.”
Lost Culture becomes the latest addition to a catalogue spread across several established house labels. Baxter, however, does not view those releases as having dictated his musical direction. Instead, he has sought homes that already make sense for what he produces.
“Their sound and identity have always resonated with me, so when the opportunity came around, it felt like a natural fit to release this track with them.”
That philosophy takes on another dimension with Gritty Records.
Initially established as somewhere Baxter could release his own music when other labels passed on it, Gritty gradually became a platform for other producers, including HG. Its A&R philosophy deliberately ignores many of the metrics increasingly surrounding emerging artists.
“We don’t really care how long someone has been producing or how big their social media following is. For us, it’s simple: good music is good music.”
Building that platform from Peterborough has required Baxter to look well beyond his immediate surroundings. With little local dance music infrastructure and few venues nearby, networking elsewhere became a necessity rather than an optional part of developing his career.
“Travelling to different areas and building connections, both online and in person, with DJs, promoters and other producers really helped me create a network that allowed me to move beyond Peterborough.”
Those connections now extend considerably further. Alongside shows across Italy, Malta and the UK, Baxter has recently found himself working with Lee Foss and Chicago house pioneer Marshall Jefferson on a new version of Jefferson’s ‘Move Your Body’ for the record’s 40th anniversary.
The opportunity grew from Baxter’s existing relationship with Foss following a release on his label. A conversation in Ibiza around an early version developed into the pair refining the remix together, before Foss brought Jefferson and the label into the process.
“For me, the original track has always been a timeless classic, so when approaching the remix, we wanted to stay true to what made the original so special while bringing a fresh, updated feel to it for 2026.”
As Baxter’s own schedule expands, Gritty increasingly demands the same attention as his artist career. Running the label has made organisation particularly important, but it has also expanded the international network that helped him move beyond the limitations of his hometown in the first place.
“It’s not just about having contacts within the industry; it’s about building real relationships with people who share the same passion for music.”
That idea connects much of Baxter’s journey so far. From receiving HG’s promos to running Gritty, releasing internationally and eventually sitting in a studio project connected to one of house music’s foundational records, relationships have repeatedly created the next opportunity.
His ambitions now stretch beyond Europe, with more international shows, labels and collaborations still on the list. Yet the immediate objective is deliberately straightforward.
“For now, my main focus is to keep releasing music consistently, as I’ve done throughout this year, and maintain that momentum as things continue to get busier.”
For an artist whose career has largely been built by creating opportunities beyond what was available locally, there is little reason to change that approach now.
