Fordal (Les Dales) is a North East-born producer whose lifelong passion for music was shaped by early exposure to jazz via his saxophonist father and a deep connection to dance music’s counterculture. From being inspired by Andrew Weatherall at Turnmills to running the iconic Binary Records shop in the late 90s, he built a foundation that led to performances at venues like Ministry of Sound, EGG London and The Arena. Known for his eclectic, boundary-defying sets that balance light and dark, Fordal has since refined his production skills at Point Blank Music School, combining a vast record collection with a distinctive artistic vision set to resonate with music lovers worldwide.

Fordal Returns to Twelvepoint with Haunting New Vocal Cut and Huge Remixes from Ranj Kaler and Lexicon Avenue

A deep, emotive vocal cut meets rolling breaks and dark, late-night grooves in a versatile three-track package built for DJs and selectors.

 

Hi Fordal! Thanks for talking to 6AM group. How are you?

I’m great, thanks for having me! It’s been a busy but exciting time in the studio and with the labels, so I’m feeling energised. It's always nice to take a step back and chat about the music side of things.

 

You’re the co-owner of both Forensic Records and its sub-label Twelvepoint. For those just finding your work, what led you into building and running your own platforms for releasing music? Has your perspective on label curation shifted over time?

Forensic has always been close to my heart — it was one of the first labels that really shaped my understanding of deep, progressive house back in the day. When the opportunity came to help run it, it felt like coming full circle. Twelvepoint grew out of that and pace for slightly different shades of the sound — more melodic, deep, and emotional, plus other genres such as electronica and breaks. Over time, I’ve realised curation is everything. In the beginning, I probably thought it was all about finding tracks I personally loved. Now, it’s about building a consistent identity for the label while still leaving room for surprises. It’s a balance between taste and vision.

 

You’ve got roles as a producer, DJ, and label owner. Which part of that process do you find most creatively satisfying right now? And does switching between those roles influence how you approach music differently depending on the day?

Right now, producing is where I’m most in the zone. There’s something about starting with a blank canvas and gradually sculpting a track that’s incredibly addictive. However my passion for getting behind the decks is always there.  DJing feeds into the sculpting — testing ideas on the floor, seeing how people respond, and then taking that back into the studio. Running the labels keeps me connected to a bigger picture, which stops me from disappearing too far down the rabbit hole. Each role shapes the other: producing teaches me patience, DJing keeps me focused on groove and energy, and the label work sharpens my ear for longevity.

 

You have a new release coming out titled “All or Nothing” which is Twelvepoint’s fifth release. Do you approach your own productions differently when they’re coming out on your own label versus releasing on someone else’s platform? Does that added control change how you shape the final product?

Absolutely. Even when it feels right to release on other labels I certainly enjoy doing so. However, when I’m releasing on my own label, I probably take more risks as there’s a certain freedom in doing so  — I can lean fully into the emotion or atmosphere I’m chasing. On other labels, I’m always mindful of their aesthetic, so there’s more of a dialogue. With Twelvepoint, I get to shape not just the music but the whole story around it, from artwork to remixes, so the vision stays intact from start to finish. 

 

 

It feels like the title “All or Nothing” could carry a few different meanings depending on how you frame it. What made you land on that title, and how does it connect to the decision to make this a vocal-led release?

For me, “All or Nothing” is about commitment — whether that’s to a person, a creative pursuit, or a moment on the dancefloor. The vocal really brought that idea to life. There’s an urgency and vulnerability in the delivery that made the phrase feel right. It’s one of those cases where the title and the emotion of the track are inseparable.  As with all songs, however, the meaning is what the listener feels !

 

You brought in Ranj Kaler and Lexicon Avenue to remix this release, and both delivered very different takes. What made you choose them specifically for this project? Was it something about their past work, your connection with them, or the way they interpret emotion in music that stood out to you?

Both choices came from deep respect and personal connection. Ranj has this incredible ability to weave warmth and soulful breaks into his productions, and I knew he’d find a unique way to express the vocal’s emotion together with his incredible electronica sound. Lexicon Avenue is part of my musical DNA and also my extended Forensic family, business partner and great friend — he just instinctively knows how to take a track into darker, hypnotic territory while keeping its essence intact. I wanted contrasting interpretations, and they delivered that perfectly. 

 

Thanks so much for talking to 6AM. What other projects do you have lined up for the future? Anything else you would like to add?

There’s a few exciting things on the horizon — more Twelvepoint releases, some remixes I can’t quite talk about yet, and a couple of gigs that will take me back to some favourite dancefloors, including the Forensic Records ADE party in Amsterdam, October this year.  I’m also in the middle of a batch of new productions that are pushing me into slightly different territories sonically. Beyond that, I just want to say thanks to everyone who’s been supporting the music and the labels — it means the world.

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Connect with Fordal: Instagram | Spotify | Soundcloud