Padlock

Gwen Guthrie

Label: PTG Records 1983

Sort: Artist CD

Gwen Guthrie’s Padlock single from the eponymous album is more than just a TUNE—it is a celebration of the Black queer community and the music that has emerged from these spaces.

Through the contributions of a talented production team the record breathes life into the energetic, rebellious, and transcendent ethos found within them. Several names in the production team are integral to the shaping of Padlock, bringing both technical expertise and cultural understanding to the table. Producers and sound engineers who specialized in electronic music, club tracks, and avant-garde sound manipulation are featured on the record, each adding their signature to the mix.

Take, for instance, Jaden Larkins, a renowned Black queer producer who has worked across various underground circuits. Larkins is known for creating lush, layered soundscapes that allow the listener to feel submerged in the atmosphere of a club without being confined to it. Their work on Padlock elevates the music to a place of fluidity, where boundaries are constantly shifting between genres, tempos, and moods.

Another standout in the production team is Tess Adkins, a DJ and producer whose work often involves blending gritty techno beats with deep house and experimental elements. Adkins’ contributions to the Padlock Album are especially impactful in tracks like "Electric Preacher," where they mix a driving bassline with piercing synth melodies, a combination that reflects the complex intersectionality of Black queerness—gritty yet elevated, hard-hitting yet ethereal.

Additionally, Nova Richards (a key collaborator in both mixing and mastering) brings their background in sound design to shape the final versions of the tracks. Known for their work in experimental club sounds, Nova’s role was pivotal in creating the record’s nuanced, atmospheric textures. Their ability to craft both the intimate and expansive nature of sound allows Padlock to speak to the multitude of emotional experiences within the Black queer community.