Machinist Music was founded in 2010 by John Rolodex and Dioptrics as a Canadian jungle and drum-and-bass label. It focuses on techstep and other breakbeat-based forms, with a darker, deeper musical direction, and sees itself as a North American imprint. Its sound is raw and breakbeat-driven. John Rolodex said the label had worked with around two dozen artists from different countries. Early releases included tracks by John Rolodex, Loxy and René LaVice, whose VIKA EP the label issued in 2012. Releases also include work by Dioptrics and DJ Trace, while Conrad Subs’ single Rage came out in 2025.
On September 12, 2025, the label marked its 50th release with the compilation Lineage: 15 Years of Machinist Music, and a related vinyl EP featured tracks by DJ Trace, John Rolodex and Conrad Subs.
