Fairtilizer blog: The Do It Yourself Music Club » funk

Chaz Jankel

Fairtilizer — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:39:16 +0000

The legendary Chaz Jankel, keyboard player and guitarist for Ian Dury & the Blockheads, has just self-released his new solo album ‘Submarine has surfaced’. Official leak + interview below:

What am I up to?
I’m busy with Blockhead gigs as im a fulltime active member. Also I’m cowriting material for other artists to “hopefully” record. Oh yes I’vve just cowritten and produced an album for China Soul.

Have I seen music evolve since the 70’s?
Yes I have although the biggest and most creative music was probably made then. I get as much inspiration from romantic classical music (Grieg, Tschaikosky, Chopin, Debussy), or looking at a beautiful pastoral scene as I do from anything else.

Pros and cons of the internet?
I like what has happened with the internet as far as artists are concerned. As, because of massive illegal downloading bands have been forced out on the road. So there is probably more variety of live events (including festivals) than ever before. I also think the internet allows fans and artists much more direct access to each other. In the 60s, 70s and 80s bands and solo artists were lured time and time again by “financial advances” from major record labels, but more often than not. That’s all the support they saw and as a result they felt massive resentment towards these various massive corporations that would have given their fake Rolexs to have singed “Coca-Cola” as a recording artist as they knew the taste was a guaranteed “hit”. So yes the internet has taken away the monoply of the majors.

Digital and hardcopy?
Yes I think both formats are still important. For the “mature” music fan the hard copy or cd is iconic. It’s not as enjoyable or aesthetic as an lp but its still something to hold, study and indulge in. Likewise the download is a very inexpensive direct way of accessing an artist very swiftly (I don’t personally do that yet) although I check a lot of stuff on Youtube. I dont know what the percentage difference between hard copy and digital is yet. And my biggest source of income is a toss-up between “Hit me with your rhythm stick” and “Ai no corrida”.

Advantages to releasing your cd on your own label?
This is an experiment for me. I must say im tired of having to convice record labels that my music is great. I don’t feel at this point in my life I should have “to go down on one knee” and beg for a deal that will 99% probably turn out to be a huge disaster. My advice to anybody would be as in control of your work as you can. This is now officially the age of “do-it-yourself”. I also think giving away music is ok and can help get a potential fan get more interested in you and delve further into your previous catalogue and hopefully delve deeper into their pockets!

Unofficial leaks?
Depends what it is but I can’t imagine it would be a disaster compared to an earthquake for example.

The ecological impact of downloads versus “plastic cds and lps?
Its a very good point. Because most of my time is spent thinking up new musical ideas I dont consider myself a huge burden on the resouces of this planet. I once met a soprano who wouldnt even listen to any recordings as she considered it inferior to the live performance (a little over the top possibly). I do like the artwork of any artist as its a visual/textural counterpoint to the music.

Artist to watch
The Wood brothers

Record labels
CJ records

Websites
surfthechannel.com(for movies)
bbc.co.uk/iplayer

Where are we going?
I would like to think that people are becoming more tolerant but at times I think im being naive .I think that women should be given more political power as by their very nature theyre protective and nurturing which is precisely what “mankind needs”.

How to inform the older fan of todays technology?
I’m still struggling in many ways but eventually you have to adapt and remember that the most important thing as a musician is to communicate, be inspiring and be creative, always, as this is our intrinsic nature as human beings.
Thank you
Chaz

Visit Chaz Jankel website

WORLD CUP FEVER!
“See what one fan has done with Chaz’s new single ‘I come alive’ – a great video montage of Brazil football moments with a great remix.
World Cup Fever has reached Crouch End!!!!!!!

Let’s Tussle

Fairtilizer — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:34:06 +0000

Discover Tussle from San Francisco via their massive and mostly downloadable playlist of classics tunes and remixes. Mind-altering post-disco mixed with world music. Check the bonus interview of Nathan and Tomo.

What are you up to at the moment?
Nathan : At work doing this interview hoping no one busts me.
Tomo : lalalalalalalaundry time!

What’s your musical background?
Nathan : I have always had a deep appreciatation for music, I remember my parents playing the beatles for me when I was a baby. I learned how to play guitar in my fathers religious group in North Carolina. I also play in Huts and I DJ around the city.
Tomo : Besides Tussle, hey willpower, coconut, mango, bananapapaya, walt disney

How would you define the Tussle sound?
Nathan : Reducing our music down to a nutshell, diminishes my enthusiasm for making music , so I will leave that up to the listener. When approached with this question I usually just respond with our instrumentation. Bass+drums+electronix=Tussle.

What are your Influences, musical family and side projects?
Nathan : Moondog, John Coltrane, Mile Davis, Prince, Zongamin and T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo De Cotonou is a major influence on us. I listen to a lot of electronic music from every era. We also really enjoy cooking and eating food, traveling and animals (except pigeons).

Are you planning on releasing an album?
Nathan : We are mixing our next release right now. Our first release as a 3 piece.

As artists, how do you use & see the web today? How important is it for you?
Nathan : The “flood gates” have busted opened. It’s the new great wide open. With the portability of music, people are listening to music more than ever before, while they walk, shop, work, travel. I think this means their hunger for new music is greater than ever, its an exciting and confusing time for musicians. Music is basically human ideas and experiences wrapped up in a messy little package. Its okay to share ideas, share music, I think its good for all of us. Its in our nature to share the things we like.
Tomo : i just put songs up on myspace page. just doing it to share. and i appreciate when i find things i like on line.

How do you see it evolving in the coming years?
Nathan : I think people will become more dependant on resources to help them wade through the massive amount of content out there. You know what is funny about most online music sites? They all cover the same 10 artists at the same time! Its so dumb because there is so much out there (here) to discover.

As artists, what would be your dream online music service?
Nathan : I think something like if myspace and twitter had a baby. Myspace is good for sharing music and exposure and twitter is more immediate and direct.

Which music site (shop, blogs…) would you recommend?
Nathan : I like these music sites:
matrixsynth
cokemachineglow
lovefingers
awesometapesfromafrica
LoudFarm

I like also like these design-y blogs:
dropular
butdoesitfloat
shift (from japan)
Tomo : hitsquad

How’s the scene in San Francisco?
Nathan : Lively. We have played some really fun show this summer with great local bands.
Tomo : Crazy.

Best thing that happened to you recently?
Tomo : I realized i should be careful about drinking.

Number one junk food?
Tomo : Pizza.

Best venue?
Tomo : In San Francisco? Great American music hall good sound good people

Your recipe for hangovers?
Nathan : Vitamins, exercise, water and food.
Tomo : Water and food, sleep some more if there’s time .

Last book you enjoyed reading?
Nathan : The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
Tomo : Collages by Anais Nin.

Best TV shows (current and ever)?
Tomo : …..Iron Chef?

Last album you enjoyed listening?
Nathan : I just recently rediscovered FLOW MOTION by Can
A great one.

I also really enjoy the We Gave It All Away…And Now We Are Taking It Back by Mungolian Jetset
A weird one.

And The Kings Of Benin Urban Groove 1972-80 by T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo De Cotonou
A fun one.
Tomo : Mick Turner “Moth”

Tussle’s Fairtilizer
Tussle’s Myspace

Edges part 2

Fairtilizer — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:09:57 +0000

The soundtrack of a new generation of french producers (part 2). Eight rare or unreleased tracks from Danger, Nil, Spitzer, Anoraak, Djedjotronic, Rove Dogs, Mondkopf & Breakbot. Interviews below:

ANORAAK

What are you up to at the moment?
I’m just back from a sunbath and a coffee, and right after answering your questions, i’m going to make the last set-ups for the live i’m doing tommorrow for the live radio show Purple UFO in Paris.

As an artist how do you use & see the web today?
As a unique chance to build things by yourself. But it’s cleary a part of the job running a myspace page, and it takes a lot of time, but it’s really worthy, you can have a direct relationship with the people who listen to your sound.

How important is it for you?
It’s really important, 90% of what happened to me (and most of my friends too) is coming basically from the internet networking.

How do you see it evolving in the coming years?
It will be, and is already i think, the first and easiest place to find, listen or buy music.

And the music industry?
People will always ask for physical releases, so it’s not going to die, it just has to change.

As an artist, what would be the best online music service of all your needs?
Myspace is quite ok, it’s a huge network, everybody’s on, and it helps a lot if you use it the good way.

What do you except from a label in 2009?
High quality champagne and loads of money.

Favorite digital and physical format and why? Recommended music site (shop, blogs…)
Vynil is still a great object to buy, go to Melomane (Nantes, France) or Rough Trade (London, UK).

I don’t buy digital, but iTunes is cool i guess. To find new free licenced tunes, valeriecollective.com is a good place to go

DJEDJOTRONIC

What are you up to at the moment?
I’m cleaning up my computer desk.. too much cups of coffe over there:)
I’m also working on a remix and an edit… and training for my upcoming summer gigs.

As an artist how do you use & see the web today?
I’m connected every day. It’s like an imaginary office where i can work and keep in touch with the rest of the world in real time.

How important is it for you?
It’s my main promotion weapon.

How do you see it evolving in the coming years?
I hope it will stay as free as possible. I mean, i hope that we keep access to any information at any moment.
Not like in certain countries..
I think we’ll probably have all our discotheque on an online server. No more dj bag.

And the music industry
I feel that free access to music is the rule now.
We cannot ask the kids to pay 15bucks to download an album when they pay 20 bucks per month for internet access.
Music Industry has to change…

As an artist, what would be the best online music service of all your needs?
It should be a mix between discogs, youtube, and fairtilizer in one unique web site.
A place where u just have to click on the artist name and then access to all his downloadable discography. Even old catalogue references.

What do you except from a label in 2009?
Freedom

Favorite digital and physical format and why? Recommended music site (shop, blogs…)
mp3 320 kbps & vinyl.. I’ll never sale my old techno vinyl collection.

NIL

What are you up to at the moment?
Answering this interview, cooking a good lunch, watching Frekazoid episodes, working on a new track at the moment called “Sans titre 6″ and willing to make a bunch of new songs to release them later on this year.

As an artist how do you use & see the web today?
I stream badly encoded versions of my tracks, so that the proper versions sound a billion time better when you see me live or buy the record.

How important is it for you?
To cut a long story short, I got my publishing deal thanks to a Fluokids post. So I guess I like the internet !

How do you see it evolving in the coming years?
More and more internet. Thousands of internets, with lolcats and FLAC files instead of porn and mp3s.

And the music industry?
I just make music.

As an artist, what would be the best online music service of all your needs?
A brain washing service to gain fans would be definitely more efficient than Myspace.

What do you except from a label in 2009?
To help me becoming the new Madonna ?

Favorite digital and physical format and why? Recommended music site (shop, blogs…)
40 minutes long 10-trackers albums on CD. I love the crystal clear sound. I buy records to label’s online shops, or on Amazon’s Market Place. I download stuffs from Bleep, Beatport etc… and Soulseek. And I read Fluokids, Icanhaschezburger and Thisiswhyyourefat.

MONDKOPF

What are you up to at the moment?
I’m reading comics in a park in Toulouse. I might have three remixes to finish off.

As an artist how do you use & see the web today? How important is it for you?
It’s like a time machine to travel through music history, and even in its future (when albums are leaked before their official release date). I like the spirit of sharing, i just started http://mondkopf.tumblr.com

How do you see it evolving in the coming years?
Looking to today struggles on the use and regulation of the web, and our political leaders being so out-of-context, it’s hard to know what might happen.

And the music industry?
I have no clue but the major companies should know that they are done.

As an artist, what would be the best online music service of all your needs?
Internet will create those needs.

What do you except from a label in 2009?
Enthousiasm and cutting-edge.

Favorite digital and physical format and why? Recommended music site (shop, blogs…)
MP3 320kbps, laser-disc (not to confuse with compact-disc), keytarsandviolins.blogspot.com, aerophonesonaeroplanes.blogspot.com, blogotheque.net (concerts à emporter) & fluokids.blogspot.com.

SPITZER

What are you up to at the moment?
We are just back form the Nuits sonores festival and we are now waiting for the release of our first EP previously called “Roller Coaster”. It should be out this autumn on InFiné (Rone, Apparat, Clara Moto…) and we’re gonna probably have some gigs then.

As an artist how do you use & see the web today?
Obviously it’s the new communication support and more and more people use it to buy their favorite music.
Everybody’s on myspace and the music crosses the world in few seconds which is a good thing.
We are not afraid of the Web.

How important is it for you?
It’s a way to get in touch with fans and promoters and we only use it as a tool.
We are not Nerds at all but we’ve understood how useful it is.

How do you see it evolving in the coming years?
CD stores will close and Internet will be the world music retailer but myspace will probably not be free any more.

And the music industry?
Musicians won’t make any money with their records so the live acts will be something crucial to make a living with music. It’s a good thing.
Physical supports will be for promotional use and maybe labels will think about a new way to sale discs to the real fans who really want something physical (with graphics, pix, vidéo…).

As an artist, what would be the best online music service of all your needs?
We think Beatport works great…nothing more.

What do you expect from a label in 2009?
A label is now something you want to be affliated with because of its artists, its image and its popularity and we think that the economic model of major is not good anymore. Independant labels are more focused on artists’ point of view than money and we’ve chosen to workin with Infiné because their artistic vision perfectly fits our music.

Favorite digital and physical format and why? Recommended music site (shop, blogs…)
MP3 is a soooo bad format. That’s why we still buy CDS because of their good sound quality.
We really like the blog of our friend Mary Ann from Modular, ladecadanse.blogspot.com, full of good good music and well written.

ROVE DOGS

What are you up to at the moment?
I’m still working on my own label ” SILICON SQUARE GARDEN” wich I created in 2007…I released several 12′ of PLAY PAUL, ROVE DOGS and GOLDEN BUG + GOLDEN BUG’S first album that we licensed to Gomma records…We also have been remixed by Trevor Jackson, Pete herbert, Database and Krmpck…I’ll be releasing some new Rove dogs originals after this summer.
Recently, I’ve been doing some edits for Mindless Boogie. I’ve done their last 12’ with an edit of Eberhard shoener with Sting on vocals it’s called “ Why don’t you dub ? “ and it received an early support from Trevor, Optimo, the revenge…
I’ve been so much enjoying doing edits, i’ve opened “ Small time cuts records” a sub-divison of Silicon Square gardeen, which will be only releasing re-edits..The fist volume was sold out in two weeks…
I also host a party in Paris with my wife, it’s called “ OPTMISTIC SQUARE DISCO” : We already received TREVOR JACKSON, GUCCI SOUNDSYSTEM, SERGE SANTIAGO, GREG WILSON, HOLY GHOST, DISCO BLOODBATH,PETE HERBERT, AEROPLANE…

As an artist how do you use & see the web today?
I see the web as a giant megastore. I love to do my shopping on line. Back in the day, we had to travel to find some special items in the Us or in UK….but today everything is so easy to find…
I also like the social networks because it helps you to stay in touch with your old friends that are no longer in your close entourage.
As an artist, i use the web to make my promo, it’s very useful to get some precious comments about your work from the guys that you respect.
Web is connecting all the independent scene as a family, I like that !

How important is it for you ?
Unfortunatly, I can’t live without an internet connection…and i’m not really proud about this fact

How do you see it evolving in the coming years ?
I think that more and more stuff are going to be created to make us loose more time and money…It’s important to stay focus on the real world…
It’s hard to see how the future will be, but it seems like music, money, friendship and family are getting unmaterialized and it makes me freak out..

And the music industry ?
I believe that the situation is gonna be worse and worse until we reach the breakin point. Just like Ecology.
Artists and earth are treated the same way.
One day, the autorities will set up some very very hard and drastic measures to make us change our way of life.
Human is only making some changes when he is threatened

As an artist, what would be the best online music service of all your needs ?
I think that we need to create a service which sells some Hi-res music…some .wav or .aiff
Playing Mp3’s in a club, it’s a health problem. Actually, you’re not allowed to smoke but killing your ears is fully authorized…:-)
I think that major companies should be working on a hi-resolution platform to sell their music and save their future.
Mp3 is the enemy. It’s killing our sound enginneers, it’s killing clubbin and it’s also killing objective listening to music.

What do you expect from a label in 2009 ?
As labels, we need to keep the vinyl alive. Independent music was raised with the 12’ format. Even if you go on itunes , small labels are still selling their material as EP’s or Lp’s !!!
I think that we all have to work together , exchange more remixes etc.. More unity , more productions.
When electronic music came in France , it was really underground, derrick may, juan atkins etc, they were all playing into illegal parties in warehouses…
Today we are back to those basics, independent music is no longer a good business and I believe it’s really great news for creation.
Output recordings is my inspiration, Trevor Jackson gave us the best exemple of how music must be provided, with class and modernism. The loss of Output is a real loss and it leaves a very large failure in our movement and we’re ll responsible for that.
I just hope that Soul Jazz records will stay alive because they are the best music teachers for the younger generations. Soul jazz compilations will be the soundtrack of the education i’ll be givin to my kids !!
I also want to give a big shout out to Carlos from Whatever we want records, he invented the cooperative music label. It could be the future of independent music. I really want to meet that guy

Favorite digital and physical format and why? Recommended music site (shop, blogs…)
Vinyl for music and Hd projector for movies. It’s the only luxury i’m into but it’s the way I like to feel the Art.
Unfortunatly, loads of clubs are using dying turntables so I manage to encode my vinyls on a hi-res to cd’s…
I like to buy my records on Phonica, Piccadilly, Rough Trade. Here in paris, we have “12 inch records” which is a really good spot for edits and nu-disco stuff.
Downloading Mp3’s is not my thing but I do listen to everything on a few blogs : Alainfinkelkrautrock, So 2003, Mimikaki, mylifeisacid, lovefingers and beats in space….

DANGER

What are you up to at the moment?
I’m working on my album for a big part of the summer

 As an artist how do you use & see the web today?
I’m one of these guys who uses internet for everything, as a kind of nerd. And I think that some percentage of my public is quite the same.

How important is it for you?
It’s a fantastic way for auto promotion ▲, but you have to find the right way, because everybody now want to be seen and to become a ☆ .

How do you see it evolving in the coming years?
In the future all the artists will have their own label, ‘cause now it costs nothing to produce music.

And the music industry?
It’s mutating but you can be sure that this moment of « liberty » is just a short parenthesis, ‘cause majors are losing a lot of $¥€
Internet is a great opportunity for musicians and artists, thanks to myspace, to facebook, and to all the Networking websites, but you have to be present at the right moment ‘cause those websites have all an expiration date

As an artist, what would be the best online music service of all your needs?
Lot of things already exist, I think the most interesting thing is to develop its own music service .

What do you except from a label in 2009?
I think the most important are the image and the network of the label.

Favorite digital and physical format and why? Recommended music site (shop, blogs…)
I like vinyls for the object itself, but I’m from the CD’s and MP3 generation, I like the uncompressed formats, even if the MP3 as the vinyl has a vintage charm due to the technical restrictions. Google and youtube => I don’t have a favorite music one.

✎

bye, thanks.

BREAKBOT

What are you up to at the moment?
I am finishing my first EP on ed banger records, it will be released this year.

As an artist how do you use & see the web today?
It is a tremendous source of inspiration. Blogs, peer-2-peer, myspace, amazon, and a few websites definitely changed my perception of music.

How important is it for you?
It is very important. For example, without internet I wouldn’t have been able to the work I’m doing today : producing music. Myspace helped me a lot for that.

How do you see it evolving in the coming years?
It is definitely going to change a lot of things in the entertainment business. In fact it already did. A lot of people are trying to find new ways to sell their music and movies.

And the music industry?
It’s not a secret that records don’t sell anymore, people have to concentrate more on live shows and new concepts to make a living out of their work. It can be quite a good thing for creativity, I suppose.

As an artist, what would be the best online music service of all your needs?
A website with free bass lines, free cheesy guitar licks and free kick-ass vocals.

What do you except from a label in 2009?
To support good music !

Favorite digital and physical format and why? Recommended music site (shop, blogs…)
I buy a lot of CDs cause I like to have the object and it is easier to rip than a vinyl.

Visit Diesel:U:Music Fairtilizer profile
Visit Diesel:U:Music website

Edges part 1

Fairtilizer — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:32:53 +0000

The soundtrack of a new generation of french producers (part 1). Nine rare or unreleased tracks from Gentlemen Drivers, Discodeine, Dilemn, Digikid84, Stereoheroes, Spa, Chateau Marmont & Donovan. Interview below:

GENTLEMEN DRIVERS

What are you up to at the moment?
Working on our first EP and remixes.

As an artist how do you use & see the web today?
One of the best thing that happened to music. A great tool to concentrate all artists activities.

How important is it for you?
It is the main way to communicate with other artists and fans. It s also the best tool to show what you want people to see with your music.

How do you see it evolving in the coming years?
We are only at the beginning of the era. Internet is no longer stuck in computers. You can now have it on cell phones, tomorrow, you’ll have it in your cars. It is becoming the major way to listen to music if it s not already the case.

And the music industry
It will have to fit in this new frame to exist.

As an artist, what would be the best online music service of all your needs?
Fairtilizer!

What do you except from a label in 2009?
To help you realize your project as you see it and to defend it !

Favorite digital and physical format and why? Recommended music site (shop, blogs…)
We are not so picky about the format. Obviously we prefer the sound of a cd or vynil on a good player but today we listen more on computers and I pods.

We have a few blogs we really like.
Besides that we don’t spend a lot of time on digging new blogs, there are so many things on the web that sometimes it can lead to very bad stuffs. That’s what we try to avoid !

DISCODEINE

What are you up to at the moment?
Finishing our lp, naked.

As an artist how do you use & see the web today?
Very briefly.

How important is it for you?
Quite important. Mailing can be a hobby.

How do you see it evolving in the coming years?
More chaotic, thus more police controlled.

And the music industry?
They’ll probably complain a bit more, which is still a lot.

As an artist, what would be the best online music service of all your needs?
alainfinkielkraytrockblogspot. « something for everyone »

What do you except from a label in 2009?
Money orders, clothes, analog synths, holydays in Sicily.

Favorite digital and physical format and why? Recommended music site (shop, blogs…)
Very low quality MP3s (at 192 k, it does not sound the same ,really), 10 inch vynils with nice covers, white 80’s Scotch blank tapes. Phonica records in London, such a good shop, it’s almost virtual.

DILEMN
What are you up to at the moment?
I am finishing a Dyebox remix for Boxon Records,and I have to finish 2 or 3 remixes more before returning to my album

As an artist how do you use & see the web today?
Since the beginning of Myspace, many artist found a platform to promote themselves , and to make listen their music in the world.

How important is it for you?
It’s a fantastic way to contact artists or label what you like . I released my track “Ghetto Town” on Turbo rec, asking them to have a look on this track on my page, and 2 days after Turbo answered me to reserve the track for them…wow , it was awesome for me.i released and signed many others track s like this. I try to do a cleverly use of it.sometimes to inform me from the lastest releases, or for looking some plugs , but being careful to not lose my time on things without interest.

How important is it for you?
Try to guess with what i was saying before

How do you see it evolving in the coming years?
I don’t really know, maybe like a big source of information for industrials who want to sell things that people don t need .brrrr..but fortunatly there is a lots of good things too, so i hope that we will preserve the human side of it; to not become robots.

And the music industry?
Maybe we ll see in a few years different new ways to sell and diffuse the music , to play records, to make live sets, technology is always evolving.

As an artist, what would be the best online music service of all your needs?
I don t want a lot of these kind of site to make listen my music, i try to use Myspace as good as possible , and that s enought for me.

What do you except from a label in 2009?
Boldness, honesty and originality,

Recommended music site (shop, blogs…)
Wave files because i do only live sets with my prodution, so it s only format i use to play ! I recommend my future album (maybe it s a bit early) which will release end of 2009 or begining of 2010 to wait it you can ever listen some tracks on my space page =)

DIGIKID84

What are you up to at the moment?
I’m makin’ a lot of music those days. I got so much of project actually! I can’t tell you more for now, but it’s gonna be really cool!

As an artist how do you use & see the web today?
To be honest with you, I’m really enjoying the Internet! It’s like a huge source of inspiration. I can listen to all the new stuff every day, be informed, and get inspired (or not lol). According to me, it’s the best way to be informed and to spread music.

How important is it for you?
I’m using it to spread my music all around the world actually, thanks to Myspace or Facebook. And I also made some Digital releases recently. So, I can say that it’s quite important for me!

How do you see it evolving in the coming years?
I think it’s going to be simply the biggest media ever. For example, unfortunately, CD’s are goin’ to be quickly replaced by MP3’s, that’s a fact. In the future we’ll have to go only on the Internet to buy some music. Maybe it’s a dangerous thing, for now I don’t know. But honestly it looks a little bit scary lol.

And the music industry ?
As I said, I think we’re about to begin a new era, the Digital Era! That’s why I’m goin’ by the name of Digikid ha ha! No Seriously, I think the industry is going to change in a strange way. Today, being in a Major Label is not as prestigious as it used to be. And I think it’s going to be more and more difficult for everybody.

As an artist, what would be the best online music service of all your needs?
The one who offers the most complete data base. Where you can find old and new stuff! From 80’s funk to the new Hip Hop bangers. And where you can buy CD’s, Vinyl, Cassettes and MP3’s. No discrimination lol!

What do you except from a label in 2009?
You know, I’m not expecting anything special, just doing my own music and travelling all around the world. Of course, catching a good deal is always the best thing an artist can get. And, for me, a good deal is just about being free and going to all the part of the world to play your music! Today, I think that labels can help the artists to spread their music more easily.

Favorite digital and physical format and why? Recommended music site (shop, blogs…)
We all got good memories with physical formats, like CD’s, Cassettes or Vinyl of course. So those are definitely my favorites. There’s a real atmosphere with physical format, it’s something real, something you can touch and feel! Of course, I’m using MP3’s and other digital stuff like that, but I’ll always prefer the old way. Sometimes you have to be the Old School you know lol!
I’m not into blog things that much, but yeah, I got some good addresses for you! You really have to check one in particular, it’s called Stereotree ( HYPERLINK “http://www.stereotree.blogspot.com” www.stereotree.blogspot.com)! it’s one of the best French webzine! It is about the best French underground HipHop/Electronic artists, but they are also talking about new musical movements like Electro Soul or Nu Hip Hop and even Mainstream stuff .They’re always making some good projects. It’s really dope! And I’m also mad about of Street Tease. Check these out!

STEREOHEROES

What are you up to at the moment?
Right now, we are touring Asia and we are answering this interview from Bangkok. It’s so amazing here. Regarding music production, we are finishing a few remixes (missil, underhall, suck shaft) and we are working on a full E.P. with South African M.C. Spoek Mathambo and U.S.A M.C. Cerebral Vortex. Should be ready soon but no infos yet on where it will be released.

As an artist how do you use & see the web today?
We feel as more artists as computer geeks. We spend so much time online promoting our sound and discovering other’s. With internet you really can share your music with the entire world and you can easily find new exciting tunes and inspiration from everywhere on the planet. We use every music community website we can find.

How important is it for you?
We can say we exist thanks to the web. Our entire (short) career been built through blogs and online magazines. Websites been the first (and still quite the only) medias to feature us and push us. It’s still the best way for us to share our work. How could Thai people know our sound and book us here if myspace (and other websites) didn’t exist ?

How do you see it evolving in the coming years?
We don’t know … we can see myspace decline now after it helped so many artists. New websites are poping out. There is no way to know how everything will evolve. Who could have predicted what’s happening now just 10 years ago ?

And the music industry ?
This is the big question too. We are not sure even them know how they will end … Online music seems like a growing business while less and less people are going to the physical stores so they will have to continue to adapt. But who wants to pay for music nowadays while there is so much exciting free music we don’t even have time to listen to it all ?

As an artist, what would be the best online music service of all your needs?
It exists, it’s ‘fairtilizer’ or ’soundcloud’. We can post our music, share it, discuss it it’s so user friendly, the coding is amazing .. what would we need more ?

What do you expect from a label in 2009?
We expect it does a good promotion of the artists. We feel like we are more a part of the entertainment business and gigs are what make us survive and keep on doing music right now.
We still don’t have a record label though … so we don’t really know what to expect

Favorite digital and physical format and why? Recommended music site (shop, blogs…)
Digital : the good old MP3 … simple to use, universal and sounding good. Physical : the GOOD old vynil … it sounds so warm and it’s such a beautiful thing (are we too oldschool ?). For the music sites, we buy our music on Beatport like almost everyone else. And we crawl the blogs via hypem. Those are the two websites to know.

SPA

What are you up to at the moment?
Kundera, Kenneth Anger and Roberto Cacciapaglia, three contributors in different domains, each of them at the edge of their art…back in the 70’s

As an artist how do you use & see the web today?
The extent of this media is weaker than most people think. Beyond all strategies always lie human ideas, and natural harmony is a perfect heuristic. So basically the web remains a tool.

How important is it for you?
As fore mentioned, not that important.

How do you see it evolving in the coming years?
It is just a media, there is more to expect in the way people listen to the music, maybe people will experience the need to listen back to a full album, even without singles. The web brings everything, but you don’t need to know everything to find your way, you need a meaningful experience. Or maybe do you want to get lost?

And the music industry?
Hard to say, probably still alive but with other issues than the ones we currently figure out.

As an artist, what would be the best online music service of all your needs?
I don’t know really, the internet brings everything already, so it’s up to you to pick up things of serious matter.

What do you except from a label in 2009?
Good exposition and occasionally good ideas. But certainly not a corporation.

Favorite digital and physical format and why? Recommended music site (shop, blogs…)
A good track on a poor radio remains good allegedly, I focus more on the energy than the Hi-Fi. Furthermore, accidents caused by a scratching vinyl or a warmed tape modulate the sound, which is always interesting.
Norman Records
La dame blanche
France Musik blog
Mutant Sounds blog

CHATEAU MARMONT

What are you up to at the moment?
We are working on news songs, we plan to release our second ep in september. so it’s all about drugs and synths.

As an artist how do you use & see the web today?
Like most of the artists we guess, checking and upgrading our myspace, facebook and twitter profiles daily, looking for some remixes on blogs for our djset, listening to some new stuffs… internet is like a parallel dimension with no rules.

How important is it for you?
We don’t realize the importance of it. it’s now part of our life, of the process. the web is an instrument like others. just one of the strongest.

How do you see it evolving in the coming years?
Until 2012 and the apocalypse, it won’t really change. maybe more intrusion in our private lifes.

And the music industry?
If we had the answer; we would be very rich !

As an artist, what would be the best online music service of all your needs?
Are you collecting the best ideas from everywhere to start your own service… very smart !

What do you except from a label in 2009?
Vision, involvement, loyalty, passion.

Favorite digital and physical format and why? Recommended music site (shop, blogs…)
blogs : beats in space, alainfinkielkrautrock, robots in heat…..
shop : escort-annonce

DONOVAN

What are you up to at the moment?
So many stuff, we have our next CD/EP coming out in September, on Citizen, it will be 6 original tracks + 4 remixes from Blackstrobe, Mixhell, Acid Jacks and our pal Dinamics.
The videoclip of BANG (one of the track) will also be out soon.
We made some remixes for Bob Sinclar, Something a la Mode and few others.
We’ll be on tour with Vitalic from September to December.
Right now, we are mixing the forthcoming album of G.RIZO a singer, on International deejays gigolos. And of course we still produce tracks as often as we can.

As an artist how do you use & see the web today?
The web today, is one of the greatest mean of promoting our music.
It allows us to be in touch with listeners, artists, labels, etc
It keeps us updated to the music news, new releases etc.
I think that most of the artist, not only in electronic music, should see the web 2.0 as a great mean to broadcast their music, not necessarily to sell it.

How do you see it evolving in the coming years?
It will grow more and more, for sure.
I guess internet surfers will be more involved in the development of it.

What do you expect from a label in 2009?
To support its artist all the way, not only to allow them to sell music, but also to understand their view, their aim, to develop the identity of the artist, to give them opportunities to grow.

Favorite digital and physical format and why? Recommended music site (shop, blogs…)
Beatport, myspace, hypem, discogs and Fairtilizer of course

Visit Diesel:U:Music Fairtilizer profile
Visit Diesel:U:Music website

Chinese Man: interview & album preview & playlist

admin — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:18:15 +0000

Who are they? Where are they? And more particularly what are they? If you really wonder, listen to Chinese Man “The Groove Sessions vol.2″ and their exclusive playlist for Fairtilizer and read the interview below:

What’s your new release about?
High Ku : The Groove Sessions Vol.2 is the second compilation of the Chinese Man Record’s label. This new CD contains some solo experiments by Sly (one of the 3 member of Chinese Man – He Said, 7th Street, Elysean Fields- ), a detour in the sticky underground of the Bay Area featuring some of the best “Fresh Coast” MCs (Post trauma feat. Cyph4, Batteries not Included feat. Plex and Lush One, Our Time feat Franco) and brand new productions of the Chinese Man (Jumpin’ in Havan, Ordinary Man, Calling Bombay…). In this new opus, we play with many influences, Hip Hop, Folk, Indian Music samples… We also have decided to release exclusive and unreleased remixes featuring Femi Kuti and the famous Baile Funk producer DJ Sandrinho.

Are you on other projects ?
High Ku : Yes, we are currently hitting the road with a new live show where machines, video, 3D and turntables intersect to give a new life to our productions. We worked on a complete re-orchestration of our productions and created a space for live improvisation where we consider each turntable, sampler or keyboard as real instruments ! We tour mostly in France but also in Asia (Korea, Thailand, Indonesia) and european countries (Belgium, Switzerland, UK…). It’s a real pleasure to offer our audience an enthusiastic live show and we hope we’ll be able to travel more and more to spread our music and our “zen spirit”.

What do you listen to these days?
Sly : Refused, The Mars Volta, Alela Diane, General Elektriks, Buraka Sum Sistema, Ratatat and 90’s US Hip Hop

Influences and family?
Sly : First Ninja Tune and Mo’ Wax releases, DJ Shadow, Quannum, DJ Krush, Portishead, 90’s Us Hip Hop producers (DJ Premier, Large Professor, Rockwilder, Swiss Beats…) and so much more for the influences… Femi kuti, DDC and Tha Trikaz (french beatmakers), General Elektriks and The Chinese Man records crew for the (musical) family…

How do you see the French hiphop scene?
Sly : The mainstream French scene is very rich (there’s a LOT of artists) but… it sucks ! (it’s just my opinion of course)
For me, it’s just a pathetic copy of US commercial rap (50 Cent, Flo Rida, T.I and stuff like that)… There’s a lack of creativity, no freshness, everybody get the same sound, the same flow, the same stupid lyrics… It’s just booooooooring… Of course there’s a lot of interresting bands in the underground/alternative scene… I think Hip Hop is so much better when it takes distance with the “clichés” of rap music and takes artistic risks… But I’m optimist and I’m pretty sure that the audience gonna get bored of all this crap and will search more originality and creativity someday !

You’re releasing an album in a difficult moment for the music industry: how do you see the future for it?
Zé Mateo : The music industry had great years… mostly for majors ! Today it seems harder for new artists to exist but there is a new place for indies. We try to make the music we like without waiting for any results or without huge marketing efforts. A human size adventure seems more appropriate in these days and that’s the way we try to do it with our indie record label (Chinese Man Records).

And the future of Chinese Man?
Zé Mateo : We will follow our path and we are planning to release our first “real” album in 2010/2011. But we never know, we are just disciples and only the Chinese Man will decide.

As an artist, what services do you expect from internet?
Zé Mateo : Internet is an additional diffusion and sharing media for us. Like most of recent indie labels and bands, Internet really helped us to obtain a wider visibility at the begining. Now, we see Internet as a promotion tool and we try to create a strong link with the audience who likes us and likes what we are doing. It’s also the perfect medium to share about artists, videos, tracks we like… and create a wide community of Chinese Man’s disciples.

We are in a world with a lot of different models when it comes to music (free streaming, digital stores, mobile, collector edition vinyls etc.): what kind of service should be brought to the table? Digital or physical, is there a place for both?
Zé Mateo : There is definitely a place for digital and physical. Both CD releases went really well on digital. But the label Chinese Man Records is above all a vinyl label. Chinese Man Records has been created to release vinyls… cd and digital releases came when the public asked for it.
High Ku : Digital, and physical audience are not the same. For us, it remains really important to provide vinyls for DJs and the audience who still prefer this special sound.

Typical tasty Chinese Man joke to end?
- “Do you like fishsticks ?”
- “Yes, I do !”
- “So you’re a gayfish”

Official video: 7th Street

Chinese Man : 7th street (official)
envoyé par Believe. – Clip, interview et concert.

Visit Believe Digital Fairtilizer profile
Visit Chinese Man Myspace
Visit Chinese Man website

Exclusive Chinese Man playlist (tracklisting) :

- GENERAL ELEKTRIKS “Take Back The Instant”
- LILLY WOOD AND THE PRICK “L.E.S artistes (Santogold cover)”
- KLAXONS “No Diggity (Blackstreet cover)”
- SOUTH PARK ” Gay Fish”
- RATATAT “Notorious B.I.G – Party and Bullshit REMIX”
- PRGz “Hood Celebrity (Spruce Lee mix)”
- SHARON JONES “100 Days, 100 Nights”
- SEU JORGE “América do Norte”
- CUT CHEMIST “The Garden”
- GENERAL ELEKTRIKS “Little lady”

Krazy Baldhead: influences mix

admin — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:17:50 +0000

Krazy Baldhead’s new album “The B Suite” comes out this Monday on Ed Banger Records. Go cope it, and while you’re at it download his “Influences mix”, another Fairtilizer exclusive! Bonus interview below.

Hi KB, what are you up to at the moment?
Hi! Obviously I’m quite into the promo for my forthcoming album. But
also finishing the live act that comes along. It’s gonna be tasty!

How did you get into music?

I started music very young, maybe 6 or 7, going to a music school,
studying piano until I was old enough to join the percussion classes.
I stayed there for about 10 years and had some great times. Then did a

bit of jazz piano, played in several garage bands. I’ve always had
music around me. I started making beats in 98 and made it a full-time
thing in 2002, 2 years before signing with Ed Banger.

What is Krazy Baldhead about?
Musically, I got lots of influences, but I would say the main one
is hiphop, production wise. I listen to a lot of jazz, some rock, some

70’s shit, and obviously some electro. I actually like stuff that’s
not formated, that can go in any direction. I think my personnality is
quite similar: I’m rather easy going and curious about many things,
but a little too sophisticated at the same time.

Tell us about your new album.

I conceived my new (and first) album as a suite of 4 movements. I was
inspired by classical music for that. I thought that since this format has

been the standard for centuries, it should still work now. So at the
beginning, it was more “ok, let’s try to see how it goes”. Then I
really got into it and eventually managed to make something that made
sense. At least to me.
In it, you can expect anything to happen really, it goes in many
directions. It’s not a club thing at all, rather something you would
listen to at home or on your ipod. There are some violents moments,
and some very quiet ones. iIts like a trip really.

And even if you’re not convinced yet, just get it for the fabulous
artwork by So-Me.

How’s the scene in Paris?

Well, I haven’t been out much lately, especially with the production
of this record, and because I spend my week-ends most of the

time away from Paris. Tough question really, I can’t remember seeing
anything really worth it lately. So I would say that the scene is
poor…though I can’t really believe what I’m saying!

Places to go to when on holiday in your city?
Paris is obviously a cool place for food and culture. So restaurants
and museums sound like a good program. And obviously a bit of partying
too: a few drinks at some little bar with some firends, diner at a
restaurant and then spending the night at the Social Club or at the
Bataclan.

How is internet important for you today and how do you see it evolving
in the coming years?
The internet is obviously very important for me: it allows quick
communication or collaborations. And it’s a great tool for promotion
and to make yourself known.
I think it’s going to be more and more present in our day to day life.
It’s already the case with cellphones that can go online. More free
services, more cool stuff that you were wondering how you’ve been
living without for so many years.

We are in a world with a lot of different models on the net regarding
music (free streaming, digital stores, mobile, collector’s edition vinyls etc.):

What kind of service should be brought to the table?
I think a service that could really compare what people listen to
would be great: it would scan your music, compare it with people that
have some stuff in common with you and would make you suggestions.
there used to be something similar a few years ago, but it’s down now.
I loved this site.

As an artist how do you use the web today, what would be the
ultimate one stop place for all your digital needs (private and
public)?
It would be a simple white site with just one text field where I could
type whatever I have in mind and it would give me answers on where to
find it. Hold on, i think this place already exists…

What are you currently listening to?
iIm listening to some Bill Evans right now, for a change. I love his

playing. But maybe I would recommend
people to check the stuff Miles Davis did in the 70s, stuff like
Pangaea, Jack Johnson. There’s so much to get inspired from in these
records!

Typical tasty Krazy Baldhead joke to end?

No way, I’m not going to make a joke.
Nah, I was joking.

Visit Krazy Baldhead private tracks and playlists, to promote upcoming full-length projects by Chin Chin (March 2009) and Cage (June 2009). Follow the links at the end of the post to learn more about these tools. While you’re at it, download the new Cage single “Nothing Left To Say” and a “Don’t You See” by Chin Chin!

We quickly caught up with Jesse Ferguson at Definitive Jux and asked 3 internet-related questions. Bonus Q&A below.

How important is the digital side of things for Definitive Jux?

Digital is incredibly important to us, we’ve tried to position ourselves on the front end of digital trends. It’s an important revenue source for us, and growing all the time.

What would be the ultimate online services to promote/sell music?

No overhead, no middle man, direct transaction between artist/label and fan.

Where do you see this whole internet going in the future?

I see the whole internet moving away from the whole vacuum tube and telephone cord thing, and becoming more like in the ether. You know, out there, in the world, like a web that covers the whole wide world, like internets that are a whole world wide web. And we want to be able to sell music to all of them.

Learn more on private tracks.
Learn more on private playlists.
Visit Definitive Jux’ Fairtilizer profile.
Visit the Definitive Jux website.

ill studio: exclusive playlist and interview

admin — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:31:39 +0000

To celebrate the end of the Art Of Music exhibition at Colette in Paris, Thomas Subreville of the infamous fine arts entrepreneurs/activists iLL Studio made us this great mix to chill during the weekend. He also answered our questions, check out the interview below!

Hi Thomas, how are you doing?

All good, eating cashew nuts, drinking red wine and listening to the playlist I just did for you guys…it couldn’t be better.

What’s going on in Ill Studio’s world right now?

Quite a lot of good things are going on… We just moved into a new studio space and we have a lot of interesting projects on our plate right now. 2008 has been pretty hectic. We’ve worked on loads of varied projects. Whether we design a t-shirt line for Supreme and Christophe Lemaire, art direct a catalogue for Nike or magazines, draw up some types for Trudon and The New York Times or work on some personal projects, we always do it with the same approach, and that’s very important. This balance of different clients and personal work is exactly what ill-studio is all about… being able to mix up all our experiences and inspirations together and inject them into various projects. We don’t come from a specific professional background… we just spit out all the cultures we’ve been digesting all our lives through different creative mediums and media. So the goal for 2009 is to make ill-studio evolve whilst keeping this freedom of action under control.

Please could you introduce the people you are working with on Art Of Music?

Art Of Music is kind of a “side project”. I pretty much did everything by myself from developing the concept to managing the creative process and of course working on more boring things like finding some money and organizing the shipping. But yeah, I got a precious helping hand from my ill-studio partner Leonard Vernhet and also Anders Jandér aka Museum Studio from Stockholm and Philippe from //DIY who helped with the release of the t-shirts we just did with you guys and of course all the illustrators, graphic designers and artists who designed the posters.

What are you currently listening to?

Good question. I used to be really into the last records coming out but I actually got sick of it and pretty much stopped listening to music for a while. I got into music again a few years ago when looking at record covers and discovered a whole lot of music styles that were fitting with our graphic universe and naturally with our approach of things. Krautrock, Cosmic Disco, Prog, horror and sci-fi movie soundtracks, Space Rock, some Balearic tracks…mostly 70’s and 80’s ‘spacey’ tunes. I’ve noticed that a lot of graphic designers and artists are also into these music styles… probably because of the fantastic visual universe that goes with it. I think the only disc from 2008 I’ve been listening to this year was Gang Gang Dance but I’m sure there is plenty of other good ones out there.

How important is the internet for you as an artist?

Super important for many reasons. Internet gives you access to an inexhaustible source of inspiration. I’m not talking about artists websites but all the really random stuff you can find on it. Apart from the obvious ease of communication it offers, the internet has brought a new type of aesthetic to explore. We haven’t been educated our whole life with internet though and most of culture doesn’t come from the internet which makes us keep other sources of inspiration.

Where do you see this whole internet thing going?

Well it is hard to say… Internet changed everything within a 10 year period, from our daily lives to the main business models of the last decades. It allows everyone to access the same information at the same time and to put themselves forward which is definitely a good evolution… there’s no monopoly anymore, it is like the 00’s version of the “do it yourself”. On another note the internet compresses time and distance so much that it makes everything very ephemeral and people converge to the same point way quicker than before. I hope the internet is going to evolve in a messy way instead of turning into a world where everyone follows the same thing.

We are in a world with a lot of different models on the net: what kind of services should be brought to the table?

Downloadable food.

Anything to add?

Yes, speaking of the internet… aside from our website www.ill-studio.com, we also have a blog where we post a lot of internet findings…science related stuff, random junk and inspirations, www.justeuneillusion.org. It is not really new but we just forgot to tell people about it.

Playlist:

Vangelis “Suffocation”

City Center “Profondo Rosso”

Haruomi Hosono “Platonic”

Carlos Peron “Dropouts”

Kowalski “ultradeterminanten“ A.L.T. Edit

Hypnosis “End Title”

Jean-Michel Jarre “Arpegiator”

Visage “Frequency 7”

Zaza “Zauberstab”

Hennings & Pohlmann “Die Klapperschlange”

Pool “Jamaica Running”

Units “High Pressure Days”

Pluta Connexion “Data Transfer”

Onyx “Octagon”

R. Cioni “Fog”

VISIT the iLL studio website
VISIT justeuneillusion.org
MORE INFO ON The Art Of Music

Amir (of Kon & Amir): best albums of 2008 and interview

admin — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:52:29 +0000

Kon & Amir, you know the name. Respected djs, legendary crate-diggers, unique artists. After touring the world in 2008 (notably in Japan and South Korea), they’re back in the lab working on a new mix as well as the third installment of the Off Tracks series, this time focusing on Brooklyn. We got the chance to have Amir give us his top 10 albums of 2008 list, listen to a track off each of them now.

Bonus: Amir interview!

What are you currently up to?

I run the label and magazine Waxpoetics and we’re trying to get a bunch of projects ready for the new year.
On the artist side, Me and my partner Kon just finished a mix for a clothing company called 101 Apparel out in California. They’re doing a special Kon & Amir t-shirt and we’re doing a mix to go along with it. Both will be out in the summer. Then we’ll go into the next BBE release “Off Track Vol.3″ which . We’re also trying to build a tour in Europe for the summer, when the albums drops.

How was 2008 for you? What were the highlights?

2008 was great for me cause I had the chance to go to Korea for the first time of my life. I went there in May for a b-boy contest that the country of South Korea put together. I went out there for a week and it was amazing. I also got to go to Japan to deejay with Kon for the first time. That was like THE highlight. Another highlight was going out and standing in line for 4 hours to vote for Barack Obama, you know. These were highlights not only for 2008, but also for my life!

What about 2009? What are you looking forward to?

I’m looking to tour Europe heavily for the new album. I’m also looking to see us being featured in more ads, be able to travel more to deejay, and for our new album to make a lot more noise than the previous two.

Speaking of albums, what are 5 albums you can’t live without?

Just off the top of the head…

Stevie Wonder – Innervisions
Marvin Gaye – I Want You
Miles Davis – Kind Of Blue
Eric Dolphy – Outward Bound
ATribe Calles Quest – Low End Theory

Being a crate-digger, what’s your take on the future of vinyls? Are they gonna survive the times?

Yeah, I mean vinyls are surviving CDs. CD sales are dropping tremendously and some people are buying more vinyls than CDs. Vinyl is not outselling CDs but vinyl hasn’t really gone anywhere, it’s just become more of a specialty item.

You think CDs are gonna disappear?

I think CDs are gonna disappear because there is really no need for CDs anymore since you have mp3s and wavs and all that. Plus that technology keeps growing. CDs are taking up room in your house, while you could have a hard drive with like 20′000 songs on it if you want.

Where do you see the music industry going in the next few years? What are gonna be the ways to make money?

Definitely digital will be a huge part of the industry. Not only digital as far as music itself, but also images…any kind of viral mass media that you can provide with your record will be tremendously important. There will also have to be non-traditional ways or extra-added-value ways of selling music. In other words if an artist is able to get invloved in other strings of income that can help promote his record…that’s really how he’s gonna be making money. Also touring is gonna be another way artists will be making money, and it has been the case til now already. Even when the music industry was doing really well, most artists didn’t make money directly off their record sales. Touring is gonna become an even more important source of income.

Amir’s Top 10 Albums of 2008

1. Dam Funk-Rhythm Trax IV-Stones Throw Records

2. TV On The Radio-Dear Science-4AD Records

3. Five Corners Quintet-Hot Corner EP-Ricky-Tick records

4. Madlib-Beat Konducta 5 & 6-Stones Throw records

5. Santaogold-Self-Title-Lizard King Records

6. Million Dollar Disco Orchestra-Better Days-BBE Music

7. Chin Chin-Self-Title-Def Jux Recordings

8. Richie Spice-Gideon Boot-VP Records

9. Adesiji-Self-Title- NY Records

10. Jackson Conti-Suijnho-Mochilla Records

VISIT KON & AMIR’S MYSPACE

donovan: exclusive minimix, top 2008 playlist, and interview

admin — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:22:16 +0000

Parisian based producers Donovan are preparing for the release of their forthcoming funk-fueled release “Breakin’” (featuring G. Rizo). To celebrate they hook you up with an exclusive minimix, a top 2008 playlist and an interview below.

What’s your new release about?
Breakin’ is about funk, house, electro and hip-hop having sex together in a musical orgy, givin’ birth to a baby on speed.
We took sounds that we liked in each of these musical styles: funky bassline, housy kicks, electro synths, and the crazy “80’s hip-hop” flow of G.RIZO.
We put everything in a shaker, and got this track.
Kris Menace liked it, the house feeling, we guess. He decided to release it on his label WORK IT BABY.
With remixes from his “protégé” Charlie Fanclub and another one by Dinamics, a good friend of ours (a former French rap producer).
The EP already got support from Fake Blood, The Presets, Punks Jump up, Dexpistols…

Who is Donovan and how does the project started?
Donovan is a French Electro band from Paris (for a change).
Two friends and almost neighbours in the Chinese district : Nicolas & David.
We’ve been making music together for 2 or 3 years, but we know each other since school.
This project started very early after a party, David making a track and Nicolas singing on it, both a bit sleepy.
Meanwhile we discovered Myspace, we uploaded some tracks, and people liked then etc.

What’s your Fairtilizer’s playlist about?
This playlist is about tracks which pleased us during 2008.
Not necessarily electronic or club tracks.
It wasn’t easy to do a top 10 of 2008, ’cause we are not very into every new stuff, we prefer to stay on the basics.

How do you see today’s French electro scene?

The French scene seems to stay very productive, with a lot of producers/bands from all around France, some are nice, a few are very good.
This scene managed to diversified itself, now you have all the electro/bangers bands, but also some 80’s revival bands, house 90’s revival bands and some newcomers in the techno scene as well. It’s a good way to keep the French electronic scene on the front.
But maybe, there is too maby bands right now. We guess that there will be a kind of purge in the forthcoming years, we’ll try to survive

Influences and family?
Funk is our common influence, David is more into Italo-disco, electronic funk, and me a bit more into Soul. Otherwise, David is fond of Zouk, I prefer hip hop.
In fact, we listen and get influenced by a lot of kinds of music, from techno to rock…

As an artist what services do you expect from the internet? And how is it important to you today?
Internet allowed us to give our music directly to people, feedbacks are instantaneous!
It is also a great mean of communication, marketing etc.
Some people are making money selling t-shirts on it, so it must be efficient.

Digital or physical, is there a place for both?
Well, we think that there is a place for both, even if digital releases are increasing, the vinyl/cd is important. From what we’ve seen, indie labels are changing their way of seeing the vinyl, it seems that they want to make it a collector object more than a music support.
It works, people are purchasing “picture vinyls” even if they do not have turntables.

Smoking or non smoking clubs?
We are a semi-smoker band: David smokes, I don’t.
I find non smoking clubs cooler, David agrees only if Dj’s are allowed to smoke in backstage

The future of Donovan?
Some remixes to come, an EP on CITIZEN coming soon.
Doin’ Music until the end of times: December 21th 2012 ( no kiddin’ check on the internet ).

Do you live off music today?
I’m still a student, and David produce some Hip hop bands, and singers.
But yeah Donovan is almost making us live of music, thanks to some advertising soundtracks we’ve made and the DJ sets.

Playlist tracklisting:

Breakin’-Donovan (Fairtilizer exclusive miniix)
Gecko-Rex the Dog
Simple – Siriusmo
Love lockdown – Kanye west
Curious – Romanthony
XY – Kery James
Miami Atlanta – Pryda
Bande à part – Detect
Ringardos – Mr Oizo / Tellier / Sebastian
777 – Arnaud Rebotini
Are you the one ? – The Presets

Breakin’ Release Party @ SHOWCASE ( Paris ) 17th january 2009
Guestlist “before midnight” : mail to INFO@GIGSPROD.COM