You Don’t Need a Label—You Need Patrick Stafford and Underground Retreats

The music industry is obsessed with gatekeepers. Labels, A&Rs, managers, everyone promising they hold the keys to your career. But in 2025, the truth is clear: you don’t need a label. You need Patrick Stafford, a vision, and a plane ticket.

Patrick Stafford isn’t just another kid making beats in his bedroom. He’s quietly building a global creative powerhouse called Underground Retreats (UGR), an event that every three months brings 30+ artists, producers, videographers, and creatives together under one roof. Not in some corporate boardroom. Not at an overpriced, invite-only “writing camp” that costs thousands. But in actual houses across the world, where passion, not industry politics, runs the show.

The Idea Behind UGR

Labels have long used writing camps to crank out hits. Stafford flipped the script: why should this experience be limited to the chosen few with deals? At Underground Retreats, entry isn’t about clout or co-signs; it’s about passion. If you care about your art and are genuinely hungry to make a name for yourself, you’re in.

Each retreat drops creatives from around the world into a shared space where the energy is pure freedom. Think less “rigid schedule” and more “open studio.” The retreat mixes in a few key touchpoints, classes from Stafford Beats, guest speaker sessions (sometimes with more than one), and group dinners, but most of the magic happens organically.

And every night? The crew packs into a common room for listening parties. New music, fresh collabs, raw ideas, all being heard by the people who just lived it with you that day.

Building Something Bigger Than a Camp

Photo by @alyssarphoto

What sets UGR apart isn’t just the vibe, it’s the output. Each retreat culminates in a collaborative album released on the official UGR Spotify page. Attendees can still drop their own singles independently, but Stafford encourages everyone to submit their best tracks for the group album. And here’s the kicker: those albums are often shared directly with industry managers, A&Rs, and producers who are scouting new talent.

In other words, UGR isn’t just an escape. It’s a launchpad.

How to Get Involved

Tickets run on a first-come, first-served basis through @staffordbeats_ and @undergroundretreats. They don’t cover food or travel, but you can choose your setup:

• Regular Ticket: Full bed, shared rooms, stay the whole retreat.

• Couch/Air Mattress Ticket: Save money, crash comfortably, and still experience everything.

• Day Pass: Access to all events without lodging, perfect if you’re local.
  

No gimmicks. No velvet ropes. Just show up, create, and connect.

Why It Matters

Patrick Stafford is proving something the industry doesn’t want to admit: the next generation of stars doesn’t need labels to validate them. They need spaces where collaboration is real, barriers are removed, and passion is the entry ticket.

Underground Retreats is that space. It’s not about clout-chasing or flexing your follower count. It’s about building community, making music that matters, and giving creatives a shot at being heard by the people who can change their trajectory.

For a kid who started out just creating content and beats, Stafford is building a movement. And the industry should be paying attention. Because if you want to make it, you don’t need a label. You need Patrick Stafford and a strategy.