Jayson is a selector that we have followed and enjoyed hearing from Houghton, Gottwood, Dance Tunnel and many more under the radar hot spots in London. Jayson lives in the Birmingham contributing culturally to the heart beat of the city connecting the dots, from music, art & also kung fu. Check the Interview and enjoy exploring the mind and ideas of an artist growing and exploring the new and the old, observing and listening, learning and creating within a forever changing landscape of music, pop, politics, economics and all the particulars in-between. the mix is an absolute pleasure and the only way to describe the outing is DEEP, nothing more or less, a timeless excursion of sonics, colours and frequencies. Enjoy the words and feel the vibes, this is the wonderfully eclectic world of the one and only, Birmingham’s finest, Jayson Wynters with love and a lot of soul, follow Jayson here & here.
Where did you grow up and how did this shape you?
I grew up in Handsworth which is a borough in Birmingham that is a predominantly an Afro/Caribbean and Asian community. As a 2nd generation of Jamaican heritage, I was brought up around sound system culture, Birmingham carnival, house parties, the church, going to band practice with my dad, steel band rehearsals with my mum and step dad and radio broadcasting with my uncle. All of these things have shaped me musically.
What music was around at home whilst you grew up?
Reggae, Dub, Soul, Funk, Rare Groove, Jazz Funk, Steelpan etc.
As a teenager what interested you sub culture wise?
Growing up my things were computer games, manga films and mostly rap music followed by garage as I got older.
What was the first piece of music you purchased?
Bobby Digital in Stereo by RZA on Compact Disc.
Can you remember your first clubbing experience?
Aged 17 going into club DNA with bumfluff and a long jacket getting asked for ID but managed to blag my way in was the first experience but more notably the Steering Wheel days in China Town were some of my most memorable. Garage music was in its golden era my uncle was on the door which was guaranteed entry and it was great fun.
Can you describe your Houghton experience?
I haven’t done many festivals prior to Houghton but upon first arrival I was completely blown away. The attention to detail with the whole set up from the sound, stage production, the record shops, the art installations, the lighting, the people and the location. You can tell it’s been curated by someone who knows their onions. My first Houghton gig in them woods was one of my most memorable DJ moments. It’s a great festival.
What parties do you check, where do you play and how do you buy music / records?
At the moment regarding parties it’s a little thin as the scene here in Birmingham isn’t as strong. My friend James used to put on some great parties that really inspired me musically where I was introduced to DJs like Jane Fitz, XDB, Leif, Ben Boe etc These used to take place at Spotlight in Digbeth a few years back. I mostly play at a venue I co run called Artum which is a multi-concept space where we sell records, lifestyle books, wine, sakes and run/host various events . We host a night called Infinite Space ran by Adam Shelton who is a good mate of mine and I am a resident for his night which covers mostly electronic music. I also play in London and other parts of the UK sometimes as well as some spots in Europe. I buy music from any and everywhere whether that’s friends, discogs, juno, honest jons, phonica records, some regular spots in Paris like synchrophone or betinos and our distributors such as Rush Hour, Rubadub and Clone.
talk to us about the regular places you play..?
Artum (formally Cafe Artum) is the most regular place I play at currently and was curated having one thing in mind – quality. The booth set up, the custom turntables with rega tonearms, the master sounds mixer and is all powered by an L Acoustic loudspeaker system. We always get complimented on the set up from DJs especially if you play records. There are still some tweaks to be made but as far as set ups go, I feel confident we have one of the best in the Midlands.
What does the rest of the year look like for you?
Business as usual, and more focus on music related projects producing and releasing material, DJing, and the continuation of curating Artum. I am back at Houghton this year also which I am looking forward to.
What change would you like to see in the future?
Great question. I mean we could be here all day but I’ll keep it brief – Music wise balanced lineups, more club nights which I think is the backbone of the scene. More recognition for Birmingham’s music/creative scene, less emphasis on how many followers you have on socials.
What is the impact of social media, as you mentioned followers being a factor..?
— Social media is a great tool if utilised correctly but i think for the most part too much emphasis is on what ‘reach’ people have and it can become a little destructive. A lot of us get into this comparative mindset which can lead to us down a path of doubt, and can trigger all sorts of unwanted emotions. On the flip side it could also encourage and motivate us, but i think its still a slippery slope, talking from my own experiences and observations of course. I just think more focus should be toward the art first and foremost as thats why we are here.
Do you have any future gigs your getting excited about..?
If I am honest I am really grateful for any gigs that come my way.. but really looking forward to Houghton, this will be my third appearance this year and you know what your getting.
What music are you reaching for..? What music challenges you..?
Im always hunting for different bits, and its dependent on where I am at mood wise. I am challenged by many different styles and genres but I think Jazz is the style that challenges me the most.
This is the first interview and podcast for 2022 from the very underground, determined & very talented DJ on the scene called Karis. We came across Karis On Project London Radio as a dj who had a regular show and residency on this underground station famed for its minimal leaning. With Karis the groove was thick, the track I.D was hard to pin down and we definitely saw some promise, playfulness and an artist that will make waves and punch through a cut throat scene in the capital. We catch up with Karis who talks candidly about growing up in Bradford, early family influences, roots and culture and moving to London. Check the podcast for a real raw and authentic repertoire and interpretation that really shows you and tells you who Karis is, check her on socials here and here.
K / D: Where did you grow up and how did this shape you?
I grew up in Bradford a place I jokingly nicked named the ‘Wild West’ a small city in Yorkshire close to Leeds. You had to grow up fast and have street sense, I was a regular clubber by age 15. Growing up I had a lot of freedom but no direction. I was always a performer from a young age. I was a dancer and competitive figure skater and then went on to performing arts college. Always collecting music to dance or skate to and spending my pocket money buying tapes and CDs
K / D: As a teenager what interested you sub culture wise?
My parents had a massive influence on me musically, I’m from Scottish / Jamaican decent, everything from 1960s Reggae Dub to early Acid House would play in the background my dad was also a sound engineer who dedicated his whole career to music and introduced me to the earliest sounds of Jungle and UKG before they had a name, he’d play tracks in his Car and I’d absorb it. As a kid I was heavily influenced by 90s house anthems, we had these video tapes of music videos like ‘Madness – Our House’ and I was addicted to these videos tapes, I religiously watched top of the pops as I got older and later MTV. It’s great to see this culture resurface recently and it’s definitely given me inspiration to put my own writing and vocals to use a bit more in future.
As a teenager in my melancholy years, I really got into early 00s chill out music because it was instrumental and combined classical and electronic sounds that I could skate to. On the flip side I also loved Hip-hop and female RnB artists. I recently looked back through all my tapes/ CDs from the 90s/00s and found Prodigy, Fat Boy Slim, Daft Punk, Pulp, Faithless, Missy Elliott & 3LW in there to name just a few.
K / D: What made you move to london?
Moving to London this time is completely different to when I lived here in my 20s and played some of my first DJ sets in 2013. I’m playing out a lot less now and being more creative at home!
K / D: What parties do you check, where do you play and how do you buy music / records?
I do still check out my favourite local parties like UK Hun & Special Grooves, still love an illegal rave too. But when I’m not playing, I’m mainly at home in the studio learning the ropes by shadowing Apolaki who’s a super talented self taught producer, I’ve just bought Ableton Push.
K / D: talk to us about the regular places you play..?
Since moving last summer I’ve been lucky enough to connect with some great people and I’ve played and done podcasts for UK Hun X Dimsum, VSVN, Subconscious, Cadre Movement, Take-Off, Keep it Deep, Suspect LDN, Balamii & Rinse FM, I also have x2 weekly residencies where I get to unleash my Disco/House/Italo side, which is a sound I’m not known for but you’d be surprised!
K / D: how do you buy music / records?
Buying music, digital or vinyl, I mainly do it at home online. I don’t go out to record shops that much, I always felt kind of dismissed back in the day walking into these environments. I try not to buy music the first time I hear it, I like to go back to it a few days later and if it still sounds good to me then I’ll purchase it.
K / D: how do you find it playing the music you do being a women.? Any barriers..?
Over the last 5 years I’ve seen a big influx of female DJs which is amazing and even better, I now see more women from minority backgrounds doing bits too. When I started out I didn’t see women that looked like me playing this kind of music. I did look up to Cassy a lot for this reason and she’s still one of my all time favourite DJs. I do still think we live in a world where age matters more if you’re a woman, but here I am in my mid thirties still doing it! These are the kind of societal barriers I’m doing my bit to help break, just by being me and living my life!
K / D: What does the future look like for you ..?
I’ve never been good at asking for things, gigs etc ‘cringe’, so I tend to just start things myself. I’m very independent in that respect. I don’t want to give too much away but I’m working on something new but not setting ETA just yet.
K / D Keep It Deep return for our 1st party since 2018 at HWK London Hackney Wick from 5pm to midnight. K / D started in 2010 as an editorial space, experiences, radio show and podcast. we nurture and expose electronic music from hyper local communities in the UK, London to worldwide across the U.S and Europe. We focus on considered electronic music across the spectrum with highlights and strains across house, techno, uk garage and all the other facets in between. We are back with an intimate experience at the lovey HWK right next to Hackney Wick station, East London. The food is great, the sound is warm and the staff cool and understated to compliment the discerning and well dressed crowd. Arrive early the vibes will be high and energy on point. For this excursion the music will be provided by Drastic Shuffle b2b Sofie, Mohson Stars on resident duties with E.wan mui.mui b2b Chris G and also Jay Edmonds b2b Dela bringing the heat and groove as we welcome in British Summer Time.
A donation to an Ukraine cause will be made post event to show solidarity and support. We have decided to go for DEC Disaster Emergency Committee and we would encourage donations however modest or small. DEC charities and their local partners are in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries providing food, water, shelter and medical assistance. Together we dance, united we stand.
Please find some useful links and signposts to help you navigate, here is a very robust an extensive resource link from RA here.
Mohson Stars is a very passionate and stylistic DJ always full of energy and ready to play records at any situation, choosing vinyl as the main medium but not constrained buy it or technology. Researching, collecting and digging for records is a long standing passion across all genres from House, Techno to Disco & Ambient. Mohson is very comfortable playing in various spaces and to different size crowds from intimate 7 private sound baths to a gaggle of heads at an after party or many at an summer multi day festival. Key spaces in the London Mohson has played at include The Cause, Motion Bristol, Pickle Factory, Studio 9294, Peckham Rooftop, Night Tales, Mick’s Garage & Basing House to name a few. Recent highlights include playing for the Secretsundaze crew at the Pickle factory opening up b2b with Sash Dixon for 4 hours starting the 1st record & building the vibe across various styles and tempos until peak time to handover. Several dates for Paradise Alley at 93 Feet East inside with the huge Martin Audio sound system. Flexing through choice disco & decadent house and garage in the later hours. Notable podcasts have been crafted this year for the Manchester based High Emotion party displaying a choice selection of deep house. The Sticky Plastik podcast which received a more stripped back minimal groovy approach. Mohson has played on various London based radio stations displaying a wide knowledge of music and records. From Hoxton FM, to Bloop, Wick Radio, Balamii, Netil Radio & more recently holding down a bi-weekly show on Project London as K / D Keep It Deep with close friend’s Untitled. Mohson also makes music after gaining a diploma in Electronic Music Production from SAE Music School in London. This year Mohson played at the Love Trails festival located on the Gower Peninsula in Wales warming up the festival’s headline act DJ Luck & MC Neat who pioneered & grew the UK Garage Scene. Warming up for Red Rack’em at Mick’s Garage created an unforgettable energy and opening up the Project London forest party in the Hackney Wick woods again provided energy, warmth and another fond memory. Mohson runs the K / D Keep It Deep project which he started in 2010 after leaving Resident Advisor as big plans as the project turns 10 in 2020. no A feature writer. K / D is a podcast, party, radio show & editorial platform to nurture and expose electronic music.
2019-2010 founder at K / D Keep It Deep blog, podcast, radio & party series.
Radio: Wick Radio / Hoxton FM / Netil Radio / Balamii / Project London / Bloop Radio Sud Electronic 2009 Steffi, DJ Qu, Scott Ferguson, Lakuti Festivals: Love Trails 2019 Afriquoi – Hackney Colliery Band – Charlie Dark / MITM Meadows In the Mountains 2013/14 Janbe Fitz – Wolf & lamb Prtico Quartet / Leefest David Rodigan – Craig Charles)
Residencies: Nofitstate / Bluu bar / Strut The F**k up / Kaleidoscope / Untitled / Mulletover / Keep It Deep / Paradise Alley/ Dream Sequence.
Clubs: Pickle Factory / Oval Space / The Cause / Night Tales / Bar 90 / Studio 9294 / 93 Feet East / The Star (various / Basing House / Dalston Roof Park / the Last Days of Shoreditch / White Post / Café 1001 / Folklore / Mick’s Garage / Night Tales / Motion Bristol /
Education: 2016 SAE Diploma Electronic Music Production
Various corporate & private gigs for brands / events / activations / various private client briefs 2019 .
Corporate Brands – Diesel / Anthony Morato / We Work / Minotti / Take The Bridge / Run Dem Crew / Evossi /
Running – Run Dem Crew / Evossi / Love Trails / Running Junkies / Take The Bridge / Hackney Half 2019.
Writing – Feature RA writer 2005-2008
Into The Wood various parties 2016 Suede 2013 Droog, Ellis & King Seamless 2014 soho (phonica) Colors 2014 (paquita Gordon & nick gynn) 2015 -KOG Keep On Going 2015 Zone Sessions parties and Hoxton FM Jam Cult 2015 Sean Innit, guilhem monim @ Turntables Fruitbowl 2015 pillow talk, wildkats, rich nomile 2016 started Dream Sequence residency at White Post Cafe and parties at Machine No 3 & Folklore Mulletover 2017 (Geddes, Jonny Rock & Bobby Pleasure) K / U Keep It Deep collaboration with Untitled at 177 (Georgio & Loren Heer)
This is the first interview and podcast for 2021 from the very fresh, focussed & new producers and djs called Inner Zone. We came across IZ from their JV Sports release on The Brick which came out in 2020. This track is very current and fun with breaks and cheeky vocals, and the Rinse FM takeover on the Anna Wall show was super ravey & fast paced with many track ID requests. We talk all the good and great with this production trio made up of Alex Anderson, Rupes & Dr Baird. Enjoy the ride and the mix, please follow these super cool cats on insta here soundcloud here & discogs here.
K / D: Where did you all grow up ..?
It was a range of Birmingham, South Manchester and Reading.
K / D: Describe what London means to you and any key moments..?
London will always be super important to us as it’s where we met, have the studio and have all lived for ages (apart from Nic who’s now in Bristol). The key moment for us was after one of the Make Me loft parties when we were packing down and Alex who was managing the bar asked Nic and Rupes if we fancied coming over to his to make some tunes. We spent the next few years meeting up on a Wednesday after work, eating pizza, bags of sports mix and drinking Stella trying to make tunes that Craig Richards might play, but failing miserably.
K / D: How did Inner Zone come to be and who are the members..?
See above. The crew is Alex Anderson, Rupes and Dr. Baird
K / D: Key influences and inspirations..?
We come from slightly different backgrounds musically so it works nicely when we all come together. Alex’s background in Jungle means that he’s got a Midas touch when it comes to dealing with breakbeats, whilst Rupes’ love of Sasha and proggy sounds back in the late 90’s means he’s always looking for groove and rolling bass. Nic cut his raving teeth in the golden age of Brummie trance and techno so between us we bring different things to the table and I think that’s reflected especially in the newer stuff we’ve been making.
K / D: Explain how JV Sports came to existence & who does what out of the 3..?
At some point we ended up with a few sketches which we sent to Alec Falconer as we used to bounce tunes between us back in the day. This was probably 5 years ago or something. He was playing one of them in a b2b with Anna Wall and she later asked us if we had any demos for her label. We cobbled together the 3 or 4 best ones from that time and she gave us the encouragement to finish them. To be fair, Inner Zone wouldn’t really exist as something serious or legitimate without Anna so we owe her everything for helping us make the jump into releasing music and actually believing in the project and output.
In terms of our process, it’s super collaborative and fun when we get together. We work out of Alex’s studio so he’s in the driving seat and does most of the engineering as he knows the kit back to front and is fastest on the DAW but we all jam on the machines and work together in the creative process. Nic names so the tunes so blame him if anything sounds ropey. In terms of JV Sports specifically, the main pad which runs throughout was made on a Roland JV2080 and so the track name was a reference to that along with the aforementioned Sports Mix.
For more specifics on the production on the track, there’s a hi res filter on the pad which is being modulated with an lfo and then run through a mooger fooger ring modulator to get that mad metallic effect. The breaks are classics, Think and Funky Drummer and the bass is a simple sine wave with a pitch envelope on it.
K / D: How have you navigated lockdown..?
Mainly getting together, trying to stay positive, knocking up some healthy food and then getting down to making breakbeats. Having a year of not doing parties and DJing, being at festivals etc has meant we’ve spent a lot of time together and have crafted our sound a bit. So whilst it’s obviously been shit and challenging, creatively it was a blessing and I’m really glad we’ve made the most of it. I think it’s also fair to say we’ve become closer and are all better pals as a result of spending so much time together too – the hours seem to fly by and we try to get in the studio whenever we can now. On a personal level, Nic learnt the Rubik’s cube, Rupes learnt Italian and Alex can now meditate for 2 days without sleeping.
K / D: What have you got planned for 2021…?
We’ve got another EP coming out in the summer which is a bit more housey, and then a tune at the back end of the year on one of our fave labels which we’re really buzzing about. We’ve got a load of tracks that need finishing too so hopefully another EP or two and we’re thinking about setting up a label at some point to self-release some stuff. We’re also going to do the odd DJ gig as Inner Zone too. 2021 should be a goodun!
K / D: What lessons have the pandemic delivered..?
How much it is possible to achieve in a weekend of studio sessions on a regular basis. It’s been a real eye opener for us. As mentioned before we were only putting in 3-4 hours into this project prior to COVID I don’t think there is any way we’d ever go back to that again.
K / D: Any idea or feeling for the mix..?
We wanted to keep it fairly vibes and upbeat with some nice basslines and breakbeats. It’s just coming out of the cold snap so maybe this can be a soundtrack to some sunnier times ahead 🙂
K / D: Tracklist..?
Nic is moving house at the moment so everything is boxed up, he can’t remember the names of the tracks he used in the first part of the mix. So this may have to wait a few weeks.
K / D: last word from inner zone..?
Yeh defo – we’d like to thank you Mohson for inviting us to do this mix – it’s our first one as Inner Zone and we’ve been fans of the series for a while – it’s good to see it back in action! Also big ups for all the charity runs you’ve been doing IZ x
K / D Keep It Deep turned 10 this year, 2020 has completely changed plans, we kickstarted the podcast series last month and now we are proud to present Derek Carr for K / D Keep It Deep Podcast 24. Derek is an Irish Dj Producer, who has very quietly beavered away crafting his signature deep and groovy sound, stirred with curvy bowls of texture and melody. Derek also runs his own Trident Record Label for his own production releases, pushing that Detroit Inspired machine music with soul and funk. Derek has also started performing live to bring his studio production energy to the dance floor. Enjoy the concise and honest interview and the wonderful 60 minute high energy workout. Follow Derek on FB here and his releases here.
Explain where you grew up and how family life was..? I grew up in a small village right in the centre of Ireland, with my Mother and Father and my three siblings, all younger than me (2 boys and 1 girl). Family life was good, we had two very loving parents who raised me and my brothers and sister very well. We didn’t have a lot, but we wanted for little and we had a lot of love and support.
What did music represent in the family home..? Music wasn’t a big deal to my parents, my mother would listen to the radio, but we had no record player or tape machine. So top 40 music is all I heard in my home until I had enough money to start buying my own music, but I was intrigued by music from an early age.
As a teenager what music did you explore, 1st, album, 1st artist you discovered, what was the 1st club you experienced..? As I said, Top 40 music was all I listened to until I discovered magazines and music papers in the mid 1980’s that opened up my horizons a lot. I loved Duran Duran and Depeche Mode, the first album I purchased (on cassette) was Nik Kershaws – Human Racing. The first artist I really discovered was probably David Sylvian and his band Japan, it was at that point that I really fell in love with music. I found myself obsessed with songs, sounds and the imagery.
How were your studies and education..? I was, if I’m being honest, a bit of a messer and probably didn’t fulfil my academic potential, always wanting to have a laugh.. I only went to college for 1 year and dropped out. But by then all I wanted to do was make money and buy some music equipment.
Why did you come to London, what did you experience in the early years..? I only visited London once in the 1990’s – I never lived there – Dublin was far more influential on me in my late teens and early twenties. It had a vibrant underground scene and lots of music shops.
When did the passion for music, turn to DJing any notable early supporter / mentors..? I wanted to become a producer; DJing never really entered my thoughts until I got a little older. I know both go hand in hand with a lot of people on the House/Techno scene. I enjoy both aspects of it to be honest – I love DJing to a crowd, it really lifts me to see a crowd respond to music I play. I never really had a mentor; I was there at the start in 1988/1989 in a small village in Ireland. There weren’t many mentors hanging around. But a lot of people supported me from the time I started producing consistently. People like Richard Brophy at DJ Mag and Eamonn Doyle at D1 records encouraged me. Dave Mothersole from London also helped push me along.
Can you remember your 1st dj gig, how was it, what did you play..? I think the first DJ gig I ever got was a little hard techno club in Dublin where I played crazy 160 bpm techno – I do remember sparks coming out of one of the speakers.. and all the lights being on full – must have been 1993/1994.
Can you share some of your inspirations across all arts ..? Music and art are such personal things, I know how really good music touches me, how it makes me feel and I sometimes wonder am I the only one who feels this way about a track or a song. My major inspirations in Techno are of course the originators from Detroit, Kraftwerk and Depeche Mode. But I am inspired all the time by all the new artists coming through. So many new producers nowadays that are so talented.
Your sound is very consistent, deep and groovy with melodic hooks that are instantly recognisable, can you describe your process & sound..? Keep it simple, give people something to dance to, move to and hum along to. Melody has always been a key part of my productions. Little melodic refrains countering one another. It’s probably down to all the electro pop I listened to in the 1980’s.
With Coronavirus and how has it impacted you professionally & personally, any positives..? I’m sure they’re have been some positives.. I just can’t think of any at the moment. Professionally it’s been tough, lots of gigs cancelled, lots of good nights out lost in 2020, but we will recover, 2021 will be much much better. From a production point of view little has changed. I carry on making music, I carry on releasing records. Personally it’s been terrible, friends and family all out of reach for so long, makes you appreciate the people you love and who love you in return.
Any projects you are focussed on currently..? I have a number of records due out in the next few months, on my own label (Trident Recordings). There is also an album on the way in Firescope Records. Some remixes and collaborations also – Busy Busy.
K / D Keep It Deep turned 10 this year, 2020 has been a challenging and changing year we all have felt. We have positive news as we have a new podcast & interview from Joao Maria to share with you. Joao Maria Girao is highly active and productive and very active in the Lisbon scene. Joao MAria is an founder / booker of Lisboa Electronica, Founder of Collect which is a multi platform record shop, radio show, record label and food joint. Joao also runs the Assemble Music record label who have released music by Ricardo Villalobos, Ion Ludwig, Vera & STL to name a few, quality house and techno. Joao Maria lets not forget is a very diverse and passionate dj always moving, changing and telling stories by way of sonics, sounds and frequencies. Enjoy the honest and sincere exchange. We 1st met at Lisboa Electronica a few years back and the infectious and childlike energy was radiant and obvious to feel. The mix is a very playful and fun story which is punctuated with style and pace.
K/D: Where did you grow up and what are your stand out memories?
I was born in Faro, the capital of the Algarve, in the 70s, and had a great time growing up there! The late 80s and early 90s were really good years in my small hometown, as we basically did what we wanted outside, on the streets and at the beach. We surfed and skated day and night, and listened to a lot of punk music of course. I was the lead singer in a punk rock band for a few years and we played a lot of gigs in some of the Algarve´s most popular venues. It was great, some of the best times of my life! In 1997 I went to London to study Hospitality and Tourism, and ended up staying for almost 6 years. Going to the UK really influenced and shaped me as a person and as an artist, and ultimately defined my professional path until this day. I finished my Hospitality and Tourism degree but never actually put it into practice, as I got involved with electronic music and the clubbing scene as soon as I arrived in London, and just never stopped. In 1998, I already held a residency at Café 1001 in Brick Lane.
K/D: What did music represent in your family home?
To be honest I don´t come from a musical family. My parents never consumed music and didn’t really even listen to it except on the radio when they were in the car. I remember saving up some money for a cassette recorder when I was just a kid, and spending weekend afternoons recording tracks I liked from the radio, a lot of pop music at the time.
K/D: What music did you explore as a teenager? What was your 1st album, the 1st artist you discovered, and the 1st club you experienced?
I listened to a lot of Hip-Hop and Punk Rock during my teenage years. Influences that I now realize are extremely relevant to my taste within electronic music. I feel that Electro, Acid and Techno for example, are very connected to the old school Hip-Hop and Punk scenes. The first records I bought with a musical conscience were stuff like Run DMC, Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Grandmaster Flash, Ramones, Sex Pistols, Dead Kennedys, The Misfits, The Clash, Rancid, Joy Division, Sonic Youth, Toy Dolls..My first clubbing experience was at Kadoc, in the Algarve, around 1993. Later, when I came back from London, I was often invited by the late António Cunha (he passed away in 2012, he was an outstanding figure of the Portuguese electronic music scene), to play at legendary parties like Technolandia and Supersonic, which happened a few times a year at Kadoc. At the time, two of the best clubs in Portugal were in the Algarve: Kadoc and Locomia. Those were surely some amazing years. Unfortunately, the Algarve no longer has clubs playing underground music, only commercial stuff.
K/D: Can you remember your 1st dj gig? How was it and what did you play?
My first gigs happened at private parties with good friends and were always a great experience. I played a lot of Hip-Hop and Break Beat for a year or so, then entered in the House and Techno scene.
K/D: Can you share some of your inspirations?
I have good friends, some of whom are DJs and others who simply love music, and partying! Throughout my 22 years as a DJ they´ve been with me to the best and the worst of parties. I could write a whole book about it. All the friends I would include in that book are my inspiration!
K/D: Can you point out your key highs and lows over the last few years?
One of the highlights of my musical career up to now was the possibility to start working with a group of great, honest people and now really good friends, who had the will to bring value to the electronic music scene in Lisbon. Great things were born from this partnership, including Ministerium Club and festivals Lisboa Electronica Musiculture and Lisb-ON Jardim Sonoro.https://www.facebook.com/lisbonjardimsonoro/https://www.facebook.com/lisboaem In July 2019, I also created a new brand named Collect. A partnership with my brother and Mariana (aka Mary B), which aims to bring music and food together in one place. Collect is located in Cais do Sodré, Lisbon, and we have a restaurant and bar on the ground floor, and a record shop, online radio station and bar on the first floor. https://www.facebook.com/collect.pt Another big highlight is definitely the Assemble Music summer parties we do in Lisbon together with our friends from Quiosque Ribeira das Naus. Its already a classic! “Assembling Ribeira das Naus” happens every year, since 2016, once a Month from May till October and its an afternoon free party in front of the river with an amazing vibe and crowd. Besides the residents, Mary B, Diogo Lacerda, Miguel Neto and myself, we invite a special guest every time. Names like Aubrey, St. Joseph, Robin Ordell, Vlada, Reedale Rise live, Jan Krueger, Bruno Schmidt, Onirik, Voigtmann, Michael Melchner, Markus Sommer, Robin Ordell, Patrick Specke and many others.Besides this side of things, my career as a DJ is happening just the way I want it to. Fortunately, I was able to create other sources of income within music, which have allowed me some financial stability, and give me the possibility to choose where I play, not having to accept every djing gig just for the money. Of course there are still loads of clubs I would love to play at, but I´m happy to already have played in a few clubs and parties around the world i really admire.Regarding low points, when they happen, I always see them as an opportunity to rekindle my motivation and get back on top to do better.
K/D: How would you describe your DJ career thus far? Any standout gigs? What about your sound and ideas for the future?
Since I started DJing professionally I understood that I also wanted to do other things in the music industry. For the last 22 years I´ve worked as a professional DJ, as an event and festival organizer (Lisb-ON Jardim Sonoro, Lisboa Electronica Musiculture, SBSR, Sudoeste), as a radio show host for Portuguese stations which support electronic music (Radio Oxigénio, and now Vodafone FM), as a label owner and manager (Assemble, Ministerium Records), and as a record shop owner (Carpet & Snares, and more recently Collect). Looking at my career as a whole I feel quite proud.There are a few special gigs that really stuck in my mind. When I played after Ricardo Villalobos at SBSR in 2011, with around 10 thousand people in front of me and an incredible vibe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-aAkR49jLQ. The first time I played for Tini & The Gang in Ibiza, when it was still on the beach in 2013. It was so good and so special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3Y2fvTk0Ls Gigs at Club Der Visionaere are always special too. Having played at Womb in Tokyo with my brother St. Joseph was crazy, and the whole week we spent there was one of the best experiences I´ve ever had! In 2009, I played at a Get Perlonized party with Zip and Sammy Dee at Lux, in Lisbon, which was also amazing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJOslGB2wHs.I feel very lucky to have played almost all the electronic music festivals in Portugal during the last decade, alongside artists I admire and who have become friends!In 2021, I´m going to play a special gig at Lisb-ON Jardim Sonoro with Tini. We´re going to play b2b and I believe it’s going to be one of those moments. We became good friends a few years back. She’s one of the good ones and steps up for a lot of up-and-coming talent, and others who were never able to show their work over the years. We´re alike in many ways but have never played b2b. It’s definitely going to be fun! ;)At the moment I’m making music and have already finished a few tracks, which I want to release under another name, “Solid Funk”. This project explores my Techno side. I´ve been playing a lot of Techno over the past few years, but different kind to what most of the techno artists normally play in Portugal. Nowadays Techno here is very focused on the industrial scene. I always like telling a story during my sets, if I have enough time for that of course, and most importantly playing with groove. Techno has a lot of Groove, especially stuff from the 90s.
K/D: How has Coronavirus impacted you professionally & personally? Any positives?
No positives since the Covid-19 virus appeared. I think Covid 19 is a serious problem but Healthwise, thousands and thousands of people die every year from cancer, heart failure and other diseases. All people affected by these problems have had their exams and operations postponed because of Covid. It doesn’t make sense, as a lot more people are going to die because of the security measures the government has imposed over the last months than from the virus itself. It looks like there is no other health issues besides Covid in Portugal. Professionally, all small and medium sized companies have been left with no support. The Portuguese government doesn’t have enough funds or an effective solution to help private initiative. The situation is really scary, to say the least. Many restaurants, bars and clubs are going to go bankrupt and close doors until the end of the year. On our side we´re doing everything we can to survive. We believe that whoever makes it to April/May 2021 will be able to really slowly turn things round.
K/D: What is the latest on the festivals?
Everything cancelled and rescheduled for 2021.
K/D: How are the clubs and bookings looking?
The only bookings being done right now are for festivals in 2021. Clubs in Portugal are all closed and it is still unknown when they will reopen. The worst thing is that the Portuguese government doesn’t have funds or real solutions for private companies, as I mentioned previously. Portugal is supposedly a safe country to live in but the government steals wherever and whenever it can, and acts as a small dictatorship masked as a democracy. Now they say clubs can open until 8pm with tables and chairs, and serve snacks…!? The measures the government comes up with to try and help those who have to remain closed are crazy, and they know they ultimately won´t solve the problem. If there is no real support from the government, I´m in favour of opening bars and clubs with restrictions that ensure safety but allow them to work enough to pay the bills, save the business and the lives of those involved. The financial hole is going to kill a lot of people and destroy a lot of families.
K/D: The record labels you are managing how has the journey been and what ideas for the future do you have..?
Its been amazing, Assemble Music is my little baby :)We are having some delays because of the situation of the virus but things are finally going through again. For the next releases we have a bomb ep from the legendary Freddy Fresh with 4 old school Acid Techno / Electro tracks recorded in the 90´s! Its really amazing ep! Also still for 2020 we have the mini album of a good friend and super talented Reedale Rise with six beautiful breakbeat, Electro and ambient tracks. Pure class!In 2021 it will be our 10th anniversary and we have ready a new series of compilations with a an amazing mix of old school producers and super talented new generation!
This is written from my home in Plaistow, East London, UK. K / D Keep It Deep is an independent project which has been runnig for 10 years and started in 2010. We ‘nurture and expose electronic music’ this has been our tag line from day 1 and will continue moving forward.
With the tragic murder of George Floyd on the 25th of May & many many more, this has frenetically forced the conversation about race, racism, inequality & social injustice. The global protests we have witnessed with many people around the world walking the streets to be seen and heard is very powerful. African Americans, black music, black artists and black culture is something K/ D has enjoyed, supported, written about and celebrated and will long continue to do so.
The music we have covered and championed for 10 years comes from Detroit, Chicago, New York & of course Europe. The music & speakers dont lie, music transcends skin pigment, the dancefloor brings people together, breaks down barriers and builds an energy and community that can heal and provide hope. 2020 will never be forgotton, we cannot ignore the BLM movement and also the double impact of Covid-19 on ethnic minorities around the world has been very challenging. We are seeing history in the making and our silence will not be tolerated, we all have a voice & some modest level of influence and decorum. We have to be heard, take the right side of justice, fight the good fight and move forward, towards a brighter future.
Please see a list of resource and links to educate, read, share, donate to, protests to attend and more. We will keep updating this so please share and share and share. tell a friend.
Time to get to work:
Open Learn free courses online from the Open Universiy, This Race, Ethnicity & Crime course takes1 hour and is a great introduction.
Fabric Nightclub 19th birthday, every October the underground electronic music community in the UK descend onto Farringdon for the annual Fabric marathon club birthday which starts with the Friday night Fabric Live and then a quick reset before the main event Saturday night session that and rolls into Sunday ending somewhere exclusively into Monday morning. The club has seen a lot over the past few years its closer and opening the land standing residencies and its one in particular Craig Richards still going strong.
This year the line-up kept consistency with long time residents and friends including Ricardo Villalobos, all 3 of the Appolonia gang Dan Ghenacia, Dyed Soundorom & Shonky, DVS1 with both a House and Techno Set, Joy Orbison, Rhadoo, Sonja Moonear & Helena Hauff to name a few. Up and coming talent and new blood also got a look in on the line up with names including Bobby Pleasure, Wayne Holland, Oli Silva, Dax J, & Saoirse to name a few.
We arrived into the Sunday in Farringdon to grab some booze and a few pre drinks to ease into the melle around 5pm, the streets around the club were unassuming and quiet with the few revellers coming and going. We had a relatively smooth, efficient and quick entry into the club with friendly door staff not sure on the day, the hour the time. As we breezed past the pay booth and cloakroom we could hear that background sub bass emitting from room 1 as we descending down those stairs and the chatter or people entering the smoking area.
the doors opened awash with new smells of fresh ravers and those that have outpaced themselves and lasted well into Sunday night with ease. You always get that eager anticipation and excitement to see the room 1 booth, the dj at work and what the energy on the dance floor will look like. We entered to Appolonia grooving away in room 1 with the dj booth looking lively. Appolonia still very much cart around with bags and trolleys full of vinyl which is very commendable. The sound was deep and driving, keeping the straight through crew and fresh feet engaged and interested. We grabbed a drink at the bar with walked into room 3 which just opened around 6pm. Craig Richards opened the smaller space b2b with Joy Orbison which very quickly filled up with those wanting to was into a smaller occasion or take a break from the main room hedonism. Twim TM (Thomas MelchiorTim Hutton, ) The Fall Of The House of Shadows got the crowd elated with its ghostly chords and ravey stabs. Craig also hammered N Gynn Dark Side Of The Moon EP out on Bobby Pleasure’s party turned label Pleasure Club. This release has unassumingly been making noise as the lead title track Dark Side Of TheMoon takes on this groovy shuffle with a very simply 1 chord drone that swirls and echoes. As Joy Orbison and Craig closed out the opening set of room 3 on the birth day the vibe was set with lots of breakbeat, deep house and some electro grooves.
next up we had Wayne Holland b2b with Oli Silvia 2 up and coming djs that have had stellar years with stand out sets at Houghton Festival amongst others. The pace and style picked up seamlessly as the sound eased into Cobblestone Jazz with its dreamy melody and funky percussion. By now the party was in full swing the energy in the room was very light and humorous as the djs weaved a new narrative of part tracks and forgotten classics to the old school DC-10 regulars.
Back to room 1 for a bit go main room action and the club appeared to shed a 2nd skin with fresh face dancers weaving down the stairs and room 1 was most certainly into full swing. Joy Orbison started around 9pm crafting his usual sound blending between skippy Garage instrumentals & House cuts which got the entire room shuffling and dancing. The main room sound system always delivers and as you recognise tracks being mixed in your ears always attend to new details & nuances that are heard on these big room rigs. As the time glided effortlessly towards midnight Joy flexed a Bjork remix as one of his final tracks.
Next up Ricardo Villalobos who had 3 hours to craft a story like he usually does in room 1. fabric looked very relaxed and alert, very playful and engaged as he entered the main room booth. Ricardo has a very loyal fan base and if you do ever see him play you will witness the energy and interaction the fans share. Ricardo opened his set with one of his own productions The Contempt which came out in the 90s on Landomat & then Playhouse. This is a whopping 22 minutes long and opens with Latin percussion and a sultry guitar and no kick drum for a solid 10 minutes. The metallic and jagged stabs drive the song until the kick drum joins the soiree. the track also has this repeating vocal which can be hard to distinguish which builds as the track breaks down. Tracks like this seam to palette cleanse the crowd as you literally will forget the last song played before the dj started. The crowd started to get itchy as without the kick drum which provides the metronome for the entire space was not obvious. As soon as the kick slowly built the crowd reacted and here we are, Ricardo in 5th gear and very much looking life he is enjoying himself. Room 1 became rammed and as we tried to take a bit of space equidistant from the front and back speakers we simply settled into the space and enjoyed the atmosphere. Later into his set Ricardo played LFO Leeds Warehouse Mix which came out on Warp in the early 90s and this track really gives the room 1 sound system a good workout with its outer space lead, spacious melody and driving bass line, the lower frequencies attack the room in waves and motions, big track, big reaction.
As the time etched closer to 3am Craig Richards appeared to close out the main room for the Fabric 19th birthday. Even at this time the club did not appear to ease on bodies and the bars were 4 to 5 people deep and the toilets busy with chat and action. We slipped into the green room for 5 minutes and caught up with lots of djs who has played in Fabric this year or over the precious years, the energy was high with old memories recounted and laughs witnessed. Back into room 1 to hear Craig do his thing as the sounds manoeuvred towards electro, breaks and old school techno. We struggled to track id any of the music Craig played the obvious number to a few was his own production ‘My Friend Is Loving His mind’ which has a pulsating bass line, snappy percussion and drone vocal relating the title track.
As the night slowly reached 5am the birth day celebrations came to an end with the dance floor full, lights on, claps and cheers with lots of people grinding with joy. It was now Monday morning and the club has been opened around 36 hours from the Friday night, another birthday completed, rock solid music lots of regular marquee names and also new up and coming djs making their mark. The club quite simply cracks on with its ethos, consistent music policy, up for it and open minded crowd and one the best sound systems you can find in a space this size. Now time to plot out the nights to attend in 2019 at Fabric which is going as strong as ever.
HIGH EMOTION is a party and podcast series based in Manchester which had a unique and very distinct visual art direction which started in 2018 by Neil Diablo & Richard Kelly. High Emotion Podcast 002 has been curated and supplied by Mohson Stars.
The party has a loyal following and the High Emotion residents have been gracing the radio waves on Reform Radio which has been steadily growing since 2013. Reform currently helps young adults into employment coupled with support from Allied London as one of their St John’s Projects.
High Emotion entered the wonderful world of podcasts with its 1st edition in August supplied by Wes Baggaley who is based in London. Wes has had a stand out year with his co run party with Dan Beaumont called Bottom Heavy. Wes has played at Chapter 10, Fabric, Frankfurt Pride, Breakfast Club Tel Aviv, Farr Festival & Pickle Factory to name a few.
For the 2nd edition High Emotion approached Mohson Stars who is resident for Dream Sequence & K / D. Mohson has also had a stand out year playing for Paradise Alley at 93 Feet East, playing at numerous Pop On Over parties including very recently at the Magic Roundabout before it closes its doors for good. Mohson has played the main room at the new north London club The Cause with its Core Sound System, underground bookings and hard-core rave crowd. Mohson also collaborated with the Untitled crew at Rolling Stock who used to run parties at the Horse & Groom & have a regular show on KMAH Radio. Mohson has also been holding down various shows at Netil Radio and will continue to do so rolling into next year. Secretsundaze have also booked Mohson Stars to play in the main room for their Jan 2019 edition at the Pickle Factory with friends.
Mohson Stars has shared a tracklist for this mix and statement relating to the idea behind the mix picking up where Wes finished the 1st edition. The mix was recorded with 2 x1210s, CDJs, Xone 92 mixer, a couple of active monitors and a sub for extra warmth. The mix is invariably focused on US House by way of Moodymann, Delano Smith, Fingers Inc, Metro Area & Masters At Work to name a few. It is a strong energy mix with quick transitions and lots of vocals. check the Soundcloud link above to hear the mix and follow High Emotion here or Mohson Stars here, here & here.
TRACKLIST:
*st germain whats new f communications
*choo ables hard to get bt’s massive groove e-sa records
*dj assassin a face in the crowd cross section records
*moodymann i can’t kick this feeling when it hits planet-e
*boobjazz midnight ceremony stir15 recordings
*delano smith message for the dj jimpster red light remix still music
*julien jarre jungle beats basic recordings
*baaz don’t mention quintessentials
*fingers inc never no more lonely alleviated records
*focus marvin is one versatile records
*maurice fulton presents boof life is water spectrum
*logic the warning strictly rhythm
*metro area square pattern aura environ
*peven everett burning hot timmy regisford remix tribe records
*kerri chandler what is 623 king street sounds
*mood II swing do it your way groove on
*dj romain its the spirit dub mix nu faze records
*masters at work the ha ha dance cutting records
*rework you’re so just playhouse
*satoshi tomiie and i loved you ffrr
This is written from my home in Plaistow, East London, UK. K / D Keep It Deep is an independent project which has been runnig for 10 years and started in 2010. We ‘nurture and expose electronic music’ this has been our tag line from day 1 and will continue moving forward.
K / D - Keep It Deep 