New Jersey native Mike Simonetti is responsible for launching several influential record labels, in addition to recording left-field disco tracks and cinematic electronic music. Simonetti first became known for running Troubleman Unlimited, a highly productive label active throughout the 1990s and 2000s that specialized in post-punk, noise, and indie rock. As his tastes shifted toward electronic music, he co-founded Italians Do It Better with Johnny Jewel in 2007, helping to spearhead the Italo-disco revival. He began releasing his own disco tracks and edits in 2010, as well as more atmospheric pieces, collected on the full-lengths Capricorn Rising (2011) and Solipsism (2018). After leaving IDIB, he co-founded the experimental dance label 2MR Records with Mike Sniper (Captured Tracks), in addition to making ethereal dance-pop with Elizabeth Wight as part of the duo Pale Blue.