Founded by Shantel and Daniel Haaksman in 1995, Essay Recordings, known for its funky and alternative line up of electronic artists, including Makossa & Megablast, OMFO, and the Amsterdam Klezmer Band, experienced some growing pains early on, as all new businesses do, and had to close its doors in 1998. In 2002, however, good music won out and Essay returned better than ever. Accompanied by the singles 'Bucovina' and 'Disko,' Shantel's 'Bucovina Club' project, released in 2003, helped reestablish the label as a top purveyor of unique big band/electronica.