Jose James Interview @ on-point.be
on-point sent me a link to a wicked interview they did with Jose James…
Original link here. Props to the boys at on-point for conducting a great interview with Jose James and sending me the link - make sure you visit the site for other cool videos.
mp3: Flying Lotus - Visions Of Violet (feat. Jose James)
6 Questions: with… Ionik of Traveller Records
Via mailing lists, RSS news feeds, and word of mouth, I find out bout new 7″ records dropping half a dozen times a week. Sometimes I’ll know the artist or label and therefore know it needs checking out, or other times it just sounds cool or looks interesting and I am inticed to delve deeper. A recent excavation unearthed a gem hailing from Finland: Traveller Records. The relevant communication links were opened and before I knew it Masa (aka Ionik) from Traveller Records had sent me a couple of 7″ records. The needle dropped and so did my jaw, “this is the shit!”. Two hot hip-hop joints that have been lauded by the likes of Jon Kennedy, the boys at Fat Beats Records, and the good man Quantic. I grabbed a few words from Masa for this, the latest, 6 Questions…
1. Who Are You? Masa aka Ionik, owner of Traveller Records and a tireless fan of all things made of wax with a pinch of soul.
2. What do you do? Spin records, organize parties, snipe records at eBay, turn down requests, enjoy my new apartment, plus eat mostly this thing “lihis” which is kinda like meat pie but more exotic. I wish we had more snooker coverage on tv.
3. Why do you do it? I just LOVE good music.
4. So what’s new? We just got the Sun Rise Above single out, that’s going to be our last 7-inch. Next up is a two-part 12″ from Detroit that’s looking to be big. It’s our first step into more soulful side of things, that’s all I can say right now. Also in the works is a compilation that’s looking really promising right now, it should be out in late August. Another joint from Detroit also in the lab, so watch the skies people!
5. Who are you listening to at the moment? Mid sixties reggae, seventies soul, New Jersey garage, hip hop from back in the day, and I’m a big fan of late seventies/early eighties US boogie/disco/modern soul scene - the type of stuff that will get me to play louder than the club owners ever want! I just re-discovered my drum ‘n bass jewels recently, summer is here folks.
6. What’s your best nugget of wisdom? If not, why the f*ck not?
Sun Rise Above - Free Your Mind
>> download track
>> buy records @ Traveller Records MySpace page
This download link will expire on 22nd June.
Sounds like big things are going down in Finland! Thanks to Masa for taking the time to participate, much appreciated. Be sure to check out Traveller Records on MySpace and give Masa a shout at travellerrecords@hotmail.com if you have any questions or want to get your grubby fingers on some music!
Useful links:
- Traveller Records MySpace
- Download - Sun Rise Above - Free Your Mind
6 Questions: with… Unkle Ho
If you know your Aussie hip-hop you’ll have no doubt tasted the fruits produced by this rather creative chap. Unkle Ho actually produces for The Herd, the group that brought us such tracks as Scallops, Burn Down The Parliament, and their cover of the classic I Was Only 19. Both The Herd and Unkle Ho are signed to Aussie label Elefant Traks, one that I am loving more and more as each day passes. The material released on Elefant Traks is not bound to any rules or constraints, full creativity is encouraged and I believe this helps the artists to flourish and deliver a more developed and well rounded end result. This is entirely the case with Unkle Ho’s latest release Circus Maximus, but enough from me, let’s see what he has to say for himself in this, another edition of, 6 Questions…
1. Who Are You? Unkle Ho, gypsy beats producer from Sydney, Australia.
2. What do you do? Produce music as Unkle Ho and also for 8 headed hip hop beast The Herd. I also help run Elefant Traks, the label that Unkle Ho and The Herd are released on.
3. Why do you do it? Started doing it for fun and haven’t looked back. Hopefully when I’m an old man my crippling arthritis won’t stop me from tinkering on music machines.
4. So what’s new? Well funny that you should mention that, my second album Circus Maximus is now out in shops. People can listen to what I’ve been up to in the two years since the first one.
5. Who are you listening to at the moment? Lots of things, Waiting For Guiness’ new album is great, this Russian band called Billy’s Band, local Aussie band called Because of Ghosts and some top shelf dancehall from Mista Savona.
6. What’s your best nugget of wisdom? Hmm, one who cuts his own wood is twice warmed…
Unkle Ho - Big Bad Rag
>> download track
>> buy Circus Maximus @ Amazon
This download link will expire on 11th June.
Usual etiquette applies; check out Unkle Ho on MySpace, get him added to your friends, then go buy the album! Seriously though, it is a brilliant album. I think I might even create a genre to cater for it… gyp-hop, cos those gypsy beats are banging! Thanks goes out to Unkle Ho for sparing his time to participate.
Useful Links:
- Unkle Ho MySpace page
- Elefant Traks MySpace page
- Unkle Ho website
- Elefant Traks website
- Download - Unkle Ho - Big Bad Rag
- Buy Circus Maximus @ Amazon
6 Questions: with… Flow Dynamics
I’ve given you plenty of time to catch your breath since the last 6 Questions, so here is another one! Still on a funky tip, this time it is the turn of Aussie producer Flow Dynamics. Hot off the release of his debut album, this is your chance to learn a little bit more about the fella…
1. Who are you? Dave McKinney aka Flow Dynamics aka Soul Harmonics. Based in Australia.
2. What do you do? Flow Dynamics is my beats, breaks, funk, hip hop kinda project, and Soul Harmonics is my soulful house and nujazz outfit. I spend a lot of time in the studio, making tunes, and having a lot of fun. Music makes me happy. I like working with different artists doing collaborations and writing songs for different singers. I tend to play a lot of the instruments myself as much as possible, (bass, drums, keys etc) and if my playing sounds really crap then I’ll enlist the help of my music friends to bring their goodness to the mix! I’ve got my own studio at home, so I record everything live and then chop it up and muck around. I love the combination of live instruments chopped up and processed in the studio. I’m also getting right into DJing with serato and using ableton live to make things interesting out on the road. I also work as a marine biologist when I’m not making beats. Gotta pay the bills! I do a lot of coral taxonomy, which is basically swimming around with a scuba tank on identifying coral species. It is very complex, and keeps me busy, but I like the balance between science and music. Keeps me refreshed and inspired for making tunes.
3. Why do you do it? Music wakes me up night. Keeps me up at night. Gets me up in the morning. I just love music. There is so much good music around, and so much music to be made. Back in 1992 I was at uni studying science, and had nothing to do with making music at all. I went and lived in Brazil for a year, as my brother had just got back from a student exchange there. He told me about how amazing it was, so I hit it for a year to check it out. After a year in Brazil, in such an incredibly musical place, where even an old grandma can play a killer samba on the table top, the music bug bit me for life. I got back home to Australia with a pile of Brazilian vinyl in my suitcase and went back to uni, It was then that I suddenly realised that music was what I wanted to do with my life. I started playing drums, and playing percussion in a traditional Brazilian percussion group with a bunch of Brazilians, and got into capoeira and all that. Then started playing in different bands and started listening to a lot of funk and soul. From there it was dj-ing around the place and playing live electronic gigs around Australia as Rhibosome. After that, it was onto my current Flow Dynamics and Soul Harmonics projects.
4. So what’s new? The Flow Dynamics album has just been released on Freestyle Records in UK, Europe, US, and Japan, and in Australia on Invada Records. You can also catch a new release featuring Soul Harmonics on French soulful house label Jaffa Music. Touring to UK, Europe & Australia in September October. The Soul Harmonics full length album is also finished and will be coming out soon, plus I have a pile of upcoming remixes for Fort Knox Five, Flevans, Beatfanatic etc.
5. Who are you listening to at the moment? I’m into a lot of different music. Especially heavy funk, soul music, hip hop, afrobeat, nujazz, soulful house, drum & bass, broken beats, downtempo, afro latin, jazz, and Brazilian grooves. You can check a pile of my charts here: http://www.flowdynamics.com.au/charts/heavy.htm - Here’s a few rekkids I’m digging right now;
Speedometer - Four Flights Up (Freestyle Records)
Lanu - Disinformation (Tru Thoughts)
Askillz vs Beat Vandals - Sunshine (Bombstrikes)
Featurecast - Avenue Rock (Good Groove)
Joss Stone / Yam Who Remix - Tell Me Bout It (Giant Step)
The Snugs - Strugglin’ - Omegaman Remix (Good Groove)
DJ Day - What Planet (Milkcrate)
Rhythmagic Orchestra - African Mailman (Impossible Ark)
Zeca Pagodinho - Quando Eu Contar
Jazz Liberatorz - Ease My Mind (Kif)
Peter King - Omo Lewa (Flow Dynamics edit) (Forthcoming)
Bamboos ft. Ohmega Watts Get in the Scene (Tru Thoughts)
Marva Whitney - I am what I am (Freestyle Records)
Flevans - Apostles (Jack To Phono)
MItchell Dewbury Band - Beyond the Rains (Mr Bongo)
Mr President - Love & Happiness (Pusher)
Drum Lessons - Strings of Life (Sonar K)
Lack of Afro - Wait a Minute (Record Kicks)
Phiro Y Sus Carribes - Comenzos (Soundway 45)
DJ Graham B - It’s Alright Now (Freestyle)
Sound Stylistics - Shake & Hip Drop (Freestyle 7″)
Sharon Jones - I’m Not Gonna Cry (Daptone)
Mark Murphy - Stolen Moments -Nicola Conte Remix (Verve)
DJ Vadim Talk To Me (BBE)
6. What’s your best nugget of wisdom? Whatever it is that you do, do it with LOVE! It IS what makes the world go round. Spread that Love!
DJ Regal - Shock Ya Mind (Flow Dynamics remix)
>> download track
>> buy Flow Dynamics @ Freestyle Records
This download link will expire on 30th May.
There you have it, everything you ever wanted to know about Flow Dynamics… and then a little bit more! Thanks to the man himself for taking the time to participate, appreciated as always. Usual routine; like what you hear? Act on it. Add Flow Dynamics to your MySpace friends and make sure you cop that album!
Useful links:
- Flow Dynamics website
- Flow Dynamics MySpace page
- Soul Harmonics MySpace page
- Download - DJ Regal - Shock Ya Body (Flow Dynamics remix)
- Freestyle Records website
6 Questions: with… Lack of Afro
Been a short while since the last 6 Questions feature, but hey… I’ve got a fresh one! This time it is the turn of Adam Gibbons, aka British funk maestro Lack of Afro. Anyone thinking that funk died in the seventies wants to get their head tested, it’s strong as ever, just gotta go that extra mile and search it out sometimes. So, without further delay, here’s the low-down…
1. Who are you? Adam Gibbons, aka Lack of Afro. Born and raised in Exeter in the South West of England, I now live and work in London.
2. What do you do? I’m a producer and musician. My music tends to be heavy on the beat and is a combination of samples and live playing. Track creation nearly always starts with a sample that I can hear potential in – it can be anything from drums to horns or even the sound of an audience at a live gig, whatever. It’s all about what triggers off an idea or what has the right feel.
I then play in other parts myself, sometimes bass, keys or drums - sometimes guitar or saxes. Live playing is something I’m passionate about because it adds that ‘human’ element which is sometimes lacking in sample based music. That’s where the soul is - in the live playing. If I’m after something a bit different then I ask other musicians in to see what they can add to the track. Collaborations are something I’d like to do a lot more of in the future; I’m a bit like a sponge that way, soaking up as many influences as possible…!
3. Why do you do it? Music is engrained in me so I’ve never had to really think about what I do too much. It’s just there - I can’t really explain it. If you’re a musician or producer then it never really leaves you, it’s with you wherever you go. My Dad is a massive soul fan, so I grew up listening to a lot of Motown and stuff on Stax and Atlantic, as well as a lot of mod stuff. I think my style of production owes a lot to that era. It’s not polished, it’s just all about the vibe!
I take great satisfaction knowing that people are enjoying my music. Whether it’s in a club environment or through something like MySpace, it’s extremely rewarding when someone drops you a message to say that they’re into what you’re doing.
My initial ambition was just to get records released; now I’d just like to see people continuing to take pleasure in my music and on a personal level, to collaborate with artists that I admire.
4. So what’s new? Another 7” on Freestyle featuring two deep funk covers; The Arctic Monkeys’ “When The Sun Goes Down” and Dusty Springfield’s “Spooky”. Release date tbc.
Most of my energy is currently going towards finishing the Lack of Afro debut album. Entitled “Press On”, it will be released on Freestyle records later this summer. It’s 95% done and is sounding grand. Release date also tbc.
I’ve also just completed remixes for The Houdinis (Social Beats Records) and two for The New Mastersounds. One for a “New Mastersounds Remixed” LP for Record Kicks and the other for a compilation called “Soul Shaker Volume 4”, also on Record Kicks. I’m also just about to start one for Diesler on Freestyle.
Finally, I’ve been asked to produce the latest LP from US soul band The Diplomats of Solid Sound, for release on Record Kicks due for release in Sep/Oct ’07, as well as a remix for them too. Check www.lackofafro.com for details of all of those, and visit www.myspace.com/lackofafro to hear them.
5. Who are you listening to at the moment? Lots as always. Amongst others;
Bonobo - Days To Come (Ninja Tune), The Cinematic Orchestra – Ma Fleur (Ninja Tune), Eddie Roberts -Trenta (Salvos), Koop – Koop Island (Diesel), unreleased tracks from Funkshone, Nostalgia 77 – Everything Under The Sun (Tru Thoughts), Flow Dynamics – Flow Dynamics (Freestyle), The Sound Stylistics – Play Deep Funk (Freestyle), Solid Pleasure – Solid Pleasure (Afrokats), Smoove – Dead Men’s Shirts (Acid Jazz), The Cinematic Orchestra – Remixes (Ninja Tune), N*E*R*D – Fly or Die (Star Trak), The Small Faces – Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake (Immediate), Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare (Domino), John Legend – Once Again (Columbia), Amy Winehouse – Back to Black (Island), Mark Ronson – Version (Columbia)
6. What’s your best nugget of wisdom? This is really aimed at unsigned artists because it’s something I struggled with. When looking for feedback on your material, try and ask someone who’s either had tracks released before (that makes similar music to you of course - don’t ask the opinion of a hard house DJ if you write classical music for example!), or someone who’s involved with a record label that you’d like to be on. Once you’ve found someone who’s willing to give you an honest opinion then hang on to them and ask their opinion on future projects. There are a lot of bullshitters out there who will just tell you what you want to hear and honesty can be hard to come by. Don’t ask for friends’ or family’s opinion because (and this is through no fault of their own), they’ll just tell you what you want to hear.
At the end of the day though, you have to be true to yourself, so if in doubt, always go with your gut feeling and always trust your ears. Press On…
What more do you need to know?! My thanks goes out to Adam for taking the time to answer the six questions, I really do appreciate it. The man lacking in big hair was also kind enough to share a track, it’s one of my fav tracks at the moment, Roderigo…
Lack of Afro - Roderigo
>> download track
>> buy 7″ @ Freestyle Records
This download link will expire on 18th May.
Don’t forget to add Lack of Afro to your MySpace friends, everyone needs friends right?! And spread the good word, the word of funk! It’s all out there, just waiting for you to grab it!
Useful Links:
- Lack of Afro website
- Lack of Afro MySpace
- Download - Lack of Afro - Roderigo
- Freestyle Records website
