Isolation Records was founded by Adam Hammond and Gary Packham in late 2005. Both music obsessives from a young age, the pair had often talked about forming their own label, but finally realised that you can talk forever without actually doing anything, so at last Isolation was born. This was intended to be a label that reflected not only their wide-ranging tastes, but one that could stand isolated from the mainstream, having a strong identity of its own, both in terms of music and image. All involved would be encouraged to work together to foster this identity, one that would hopefully inspire rather than restrict creativity.

With many months spent visiting hundreds of local gigs and trawling the internet in the search of suitable bands, the label’s first release saw the light of day in July 2006, and it grew quickly, releasing records by three bands and forming associations with other promising local groups who featured in label live showcases in the hope they would develop into fully fledged Isolation artists. With a national deal with the country’s largest distributors making the label’s releases available to every record shop in the country, interest from the States, and airplay on national radio, increasing workloads saw the recruitment of Rick Francis to the ranks early in 2008.

It was a mixture of the world recession and personal crises that led to the label's demise. Packham found he could not fuflil his commitments and withdrew, with Francis also departing some months later. This left an intolerable workload on Hammond who was unable to draft any other suitable candidate in to assist and, with the financial pressures brought on by the economic downturn, Isolation Records was put on ice.

In 2011 it was decided to continue with the Isolation website to help bring to people's attention the best things happening in the music world, as well as highlighting other artistic endeavours of value in the Horsham area and Sussex in general. And with a new venue potentially being constructed in Horsham itself, Isolation could well be introducing some live action to the town in the near future.


I admire artists; I can enjoy a painting, appreciate the light and the shade, and recognise the technical ability in a brushstroke. I admire writers; I can enjoy a poem, marvel at how its construction creates unique imagery, and appreciate the chain of being that ties it to written history. I can enjoy a novel, gain fulfilment from a well worked plot, and applaud a neat turn of phrase. But when I hear music, the hairs stand up on the back of neck, my pulse races, and my spirit soars. I am lost in its grandeur. It was always music. It will always be music. And the few people who make music the way it should be made.