It’s been over a year since Jeremy Harding called the one they call Di Genius to set up an interview for me. Stephen McGregor is, of course, the son of famed artiste Freddy McGregor, but he built his own lane producing some of the most innovative dancehall of this millennium, taking over his fathers Big Ship studio and turning it into a hit factory. His style melded perfectly with upandcomer Mavado – whose “Weh Dem A Do“- made me start checking compulsively for Stephen’s productions around 05/06. I have great video of him and his crew going off to unreleased Shadetek riddims and talking about why he keeps an open bible on his mixing desk- but until I get around to editing that shit- enjoy the interview tracked out by question below and stay locked for interviews with Ward21, Natalie Storm + more.
When your working on new projects – do you distinguish between what will be big in the Jamaican market vs the foreign market?
Wa Dem A Do- which is the first riddim you built that I heard in NY- has this crazy cinematic density- but since then it seems like you have been hitting on all bases- why move away from the sound you built?
Who are contemporary producers that you look up to? I hear neptunes and early timbaland, but who else are you checking for?
Are there young producers or other producers that you work with, or is it just vocalists that you keep in your camp?
Whats the deal with the Island Pop sound that is dominating the radio right now in JA?
What do you think about the fact that anyone with a computer can download a cracked copy of Fruity Loops and start building riddims ?
How much do you think radio payolla affects what tunes get big or make it onto rotation?
You’ve pretty consistently had your riddims on the charts for the last couple years- how many riddims are you building a week, and how many of those ever get voiced?
Can you describe the process from building a riddim to finishing a riddim pack goes?
Is there anything outside of hip-hop and dancehall that you check for? Are you listening to trance and house directly or just hearing their influence through rap?
Do you think your work ethic seperates you from other producers, or young musicians?
Some artists claim not to listen to the radio or other media- but you say you like to keep up with whatevers new?
What’s your process when you start to build a new riddim?
Besides Jeremy (who manages Stephen)- whose the team at bigship and Di Genuis recordings?
Given your success as a producer- why push to voice more of your own riddims?
My first release of 2012/debut on wax – DUBIOUS PREY, Vinyl 12″, Sticks N Stones Recordings. Vinyl ships this Friday and can be ordered through BOOMKAT, JUNO, CATAPULT, CHEMICAL… digital edition with killer remixes will be available in February.
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President Obama in Arizona, January 12, 2011 Official White House Photo
The Embassy is the name of my weekly WFMU radio show. We broadcast at 91.1 FM in New York and 90.1 in the Hudson Valley, and of course we on the internets. You can stream last night’s show and check here for the playlist. ]]>
photograph by John Carluccio
I was quiet for most of 2011 when it comes to releasing original music. To be honest, I was a bit hard on myself. I’m finally getting out of that muck, and feeling ready now. I’m planning to put out several releases this year, on Dutty Artz as well as branching out to other labels.
Please find details for my first release of 2012 below. Titled Dubious Prey, it comes out on limited vinyl January 30th, then a digital release with additional remixes shortly follows. London label Sticks N Stones is releasing it… SNS a small new label owned and operated by my friend Aramac, and distributed by ST Holdings. Artwork, tracklisting, YouTube and SoundCloud previews – all below.
artist: Lamin Fofana
title: Dubious Prey
label: Sticks N Stones Recordings (Distributed by S.T. Holdings, UK)
date: 30th January for vinyl / 27th February for digital
Vinyl
A – Brokedown City
A2 – Dubious Prey
B – Brokedown City (Aramac Remix)
Lamin Fofana ‘Dubious Prey’ EP 12″ Vinyl Preview – Out January 30 by Sticks “N” Stones
Digital
1. Dubious Prey
2. Brokedown City
3. Brokedown City (Aramac Remix)
4. Brokedown City (Svpreme Fiend Mix)
5. Brokedown City (Mayster & Contakt Rebuild)
6. Brokedown City (La Ola Criminal Remix)
Yesterday, XLR8R premiered the first cut from Dubious Prey, “Brokedown City”
NYC-via-Sierra Leone DJ/producer and Dutty Artz affiliate Lamin Fofana is set to release a new EP, Dubious Prey, the follow-up to his 2010 debut EP, What Elijah Said. The new EP features two originals, including this one, “Brokedown City,” a dark but still active piece of techno with a steady four-on-the-floor. The song’s notably tropical percussion is buffeted by potent synth lines, which bleed in and out of the song, and a barely audible vocal sample that occasionally slips into the mix…
Head over there for the DOWNLOAD.
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Our friend Daniel Perlin (a.k.a. N-Ron, but you’ll soon know him as Merlin) is throwing a crazy end of year houseparty at a space in downtown Brooklyn – Please join us in celebrating the amazing year that was 2011 and the arrival of 2012! Help us push away the spirit of apocalypse… He’s gone and invited the incredible Ripley, yrs truly, and some special guests. MORE details after Saul Williams, c. the year two thousand:
Click here to view the embedded video.
Saul Williams – Penny For A Thought
APOCALYPSE LATER
DECEMBER 31, 10 PM
170 TILLARY ST. BKLYN
LOADING DOCK
with DJ’s Merlin, Ripley, Lamin Fofana, + Special Guests.
1 night only, we are taking over The Loading Dock at 170 Tillary Street. This is a sacred space, to be treated with a proper party! To scare away the oncoming doom, we have everything, well, almost everything we need:
LIGHTS- The most fabulous light system ever. It moves to the beat. It has switches for on and off!
FOG- Yes. Fog. Even Kurtz could hide in our fog!
DRINK- We have some. Bring more!
BUBBLE MACHINE- 2012 in with style. Bubble style.
HOT TUB- What more do we have to say. We have a brand spankin new hot tub in the and indoor/outdoor space. Never leave the boat. But you should know how to swim.
We recommend a donation. you can also bring drinks. You can also do both!
Please be prepared to dance in 2012! Apocalypse Later will only work when the ritual is complete!
Thanks, we all look forward to hearing from you, seeing you and celebrating 2012 in fine style.
xo
dp and the crew!
Radio last night was lively, with large exclusives from Traxman and DJ Matabaya, upcoming soca power from Poirier, the overlooked Luciano remix of a Salif Keita & Cesaria Evora song, and an overall energized future lean like Jay Electronica’s crushingly expansive Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge). Lets’s get open! Here’s lookin’ at you, two thousand one two! Streaming:
tracklist
Salif Keita ft Cesaria Evora Yamore (Luciano remix)
Jay Electronica Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge) What the Fuck is Jay Electronica
Jon Kwest Drunken Monk (Get the Fuck Out)
Popcaan Dem A Talk (bottle party riddim)
Traxman In Yo Lyfe remix EXCLUSIVE
Poirier Who Got Di Riddim Soca Road EP
DJ Matabaya feat DJ Kuimba Kassubody Funana Remix DZC Deejays Summer Storm UNRELEASED MUDD UP EXCLUSIVE FAST ACCORDIONS YES PLEASE & MORE
Ce’Cile Material World Yes, Material Girl.
Popcaan ? sorry no metadata on dis one
Sinden High Demand ft Jesse Boykins III (Brenmar remix)
DJ Funeral Nitemare Last Breath EP
Exuma Mama Loi, Papa Loi Exuma
Conjunto Los Rumberos Cumbia del Puerto The Original Sound of Cumbia: The History of Colombian Cumbia & Porro as Told By the Phonograph 1948-79
Luzmila Carpio Bartolino Sisaman Rough Guide to Bolivia
Mavado Cyaa Hold Me Again Tenement Yard Riddim
Low Income Tomorrowland, a project studio run by artist & musician Jace Clayton (DJ /rupture) seeks a bright and resourceful studio assistant to work closely with Clayton on a number of installation, performance, and software-based art projects for 2012.
For more info, check out the New York Foundation for the Arts listing.
In our world, “art project” is a code name for “crazy shit.” 2012 gonna be fun.
]]>DJ Kiva will be dropping this freshness November 10th at Le Poisson Roug with Africa Hitech, and he will be rocking Webster Hall with Matt Shadetek November 12th.
The following material was pulled from the Dubspot blog, which Lamin wrote:
Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist producer and musician DJ KIVA returns with a superb new solo album 1000 Sunrises out October 18 on his Adios Babylon imprint via Destroy All Concepts.
Navigating beauty and pain with deep, mesmeric, off-centered beats, soulful, dub-wise electronic impressions, twirling synthlines, and reinforced sub-bass, 1000 Sunrises is a perfectly balanced album. The six tracks presented here are meticulously and lovingly put together, and they move with an unhurried, reassuring pace. From the opening “Feel It,” with its extra-bouncy thump and unrelenting, catchy synthline to the meditative “Tayyib,” which maintains a solemn and contemplative mood with eerie voices but holds a propulsive groove, and the staggeringly beautiful, mind-expanding title track “1000 Sunrises,” DJ Kiva remains remarkably self-reliant and uncompromising in aesthetic throughout the entire album. Album closer “City Of The Dawn” is the uplifting, post-future, and soulful electronic music you can only get from an experienced and self-assured electronic music producer, whose style and range go far beyond arbitrary and trendy sub-genres. Electronics, melody, dub, and soul come together – same as it never was.
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When we finish up at Kowdo Eshun’s new school lecture Ill be walking down the street to see MPEACH/Mariana release her new video. When I first went to Mariana’s house it was long past lunchtime and she rolled out of bed wearing electric blue tights. Tropical blood.
If your in NY next week come by
please rsvp to VIP RSVP to: mpeach.info@gmail.com
Thanks!
♥
•••
TUESDAY OCTOBER 25TH
ABSTRACTOR, MEX AND THE CITY AND AMYLULITA
PRESENT
MPEACH RELEASE SHOWCASE
@DROM 85 Avenue A, New York, NY (btwn 5th and 6th St.)
$5 Ron Santa Teresa 9pm-11pm
Door 9pm. Showtime 10pm
W/ MPEACH Debut Live Show (Abstractor) – GEKOJONES (Que Bajo?)
DJ CASTOR (Candelation) & party pics by PIAN (pian.me)
“VENGO POR TI”
NEW EP AVAILABLE 10.25.11
on www.abstractor.net & www.nwla.tv
Disingenuous Remixes by Lamin Fofana
>recent remixes from Dutty Artz stalwart Lamin Fofana.
_both remixes out now on Grizzly and Diskotopia
Jay Weed
On The Nile EP
GRIZZLY009
March 2011
http://bit.ly/nk6m5u
>
Visionist
Rock The Flock EP
DSK003
July 2011
http://bit.ly/nOX8Eh
I’ve been on the road lately trying to get my worldwide airmiles up like the Jetlag King- DJ /Rupture. Miles to go before I sleep or even come close on that one, but the result thus far has been getting to play with a lot of ladies and gents I respect and admire and making friends of them along the way. Coming up in a couple weeks here in NYC, Que Bajo?! and Conrazon are collaborating with SOB’s to debut a friend and inspiration of mine by the name of Humberto Pernett. I wanted to take the time explain to you all who this guy is on a personal level as I’ve recently spent a great deal of time with him in Cali for the Petronio Festival and got to know his story.
Pernett’s dad was one of the founders of el Carnaval de Barranquilla. He grew up around amazing musicians his whole life. His aunt Carmencita Pernett was one of the first artists to take cumbia to mexico. Artists born in this type of conditioning? Femi Kuti comes to mind..
Click here to view the embedded video.
I think just by looking at the record cover you can tell dude’s family were some serious party people.
It was inevitable from his upbringing that Pernett would go on to explore los ritmos de la costa. Tambora, cumbia, bullerengue, puya, mapale sound more like the names of root vegetable or ingredients to a sancocho stew than names of rhythms but then all these styles are so distinctly satisfying on the dancefloor that their cohesion only make sense when you think about them that way.
Taking a blessing from his musical godmother, Toto la Momposina, Pernett would go further south to Bogota where he would meet Richard Blair, a UK-born producer and they would go on to form the band Sidestepper whose 3am: In beats we trust album would reverberate worldwide.
As someone who listened to the 6 degrees music label early on, and a researcher of world music fusion for quite some time I can say with confidence that the music from that album would go on to inspire a great many producers for years to come. Our global/tropical bass scene has a lot to thank them for. Electronic music, indeed, but at its essence their sound was a less mechanical and rooted deeply in Colombia’s rich musical heritage. It was a clearly defined turning point for Latin music.
Moving on to work on his own projects Pernett has continued folding time and space to create his own blend of psychodelic caribbean sounds. Carving a sound very much his own.
Click here to view the embedded video.
I invite you to listen to his soundcloud where he has over 100 original tracks and remixes uploaded
Change isn’t an overnight thing. The last car in the roller coaster sees the turn before it happens. But from where I’m standing, Pernett is a largely unsung hero who has and is helping shape the future of latin music. He’s someone that we should pay a lot more attention to. He’s so far ahead of the pack that it will probably be another couple years before the world catches up to his sound let alone his performance capabilities. His ableton live set up lets him trigger and effect tracks, while playing gaita or any number of traditional instruments which he can also effect, while singing and dropping some surreal visuals using his filters on his laptop cam. He’s one of those artists that keeps pushing himself to do more. To be more. And you should too. Be there to see him Oct 9th and feel more.
Que Bajo?! & Conrazon Present
Pernett (Colombia)
Oct 9th @ SOB’s $10 /10pm
New York, NY 10014-4810
(212) 243-4940
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Radio last night. Show in Amsterdam tomorrow. One in Paris (on a boat) after that. Full tour schedule here. Follow me for Inception Lite.
This month you’ve got plenty of opportunities to catch up with Jace: A dance party in a boat on the Seine, a special concert in North Africa’s only arthouse cinema, an outdoor getdown in Copenhagen w/ the OG lady DJ known as Mutamassik, a free class on DJ/production with Mad Professor, an audio installation that takes real-time financial data about genetically modified soy from Latin America and the Brabant region’s pig farming and translates it into sound, a dance party on the beautiful Croatian coast, and more…
DJ RUPTURE – SUMMER NEVER ENDS
tour dates
Aug 10 – Mudd Up Book Clubb. Madrid, Spain
Aug 12 – Terraneo Festival . Šibenik, Croatia
Aug 16 – Nørrebroparken in Copenhagen, Denmark. w/ Mutamassik
Aug 17 – free Master Class w/ Rupture + Mad Professor! Culture Box, CPH
Aug 19 – Århus, Denmark. w/ Mutamassik.
Aug 20 – STØJ. Hillerød, Denmark.
Aug 24 – Paradiso . Amsterdam, NL. w/ The Ex
Aug 26 – Le Petit Bain . Paris, France. w/ Axel Krygier
Sept 9 – Cinematheque du Tanger. Tangier, Morocco. w/ Nettle & Imanaren
Sept 12-18 – The Soya Waltz (interactive audio installation) Incubate Festival . Tilburg, Holland
?? negrophonic.com twitter @djrupture
]]>Las Cuatro Palomas Remix by Geko Jones & DJ Reaganomics
NPR premiered this track a few days ago but here it is for download to the world. Built with my long time homie DJ Reaganomics this is a summer banger you can finish out the year with. I should note that I have been looking for a track ID on the vocalist so anyone that can give me a hard confirmation on any of the leads I have its appreciated.
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Tomorrow, I’m kicking off my Sunday morning radio show on WFMU! All summer long, 9am to noon – I’ll be playing music, noise, and whatnots on WFMU 91.1 and 90.1 MHz FM. For the past couple of years, I provided extra oils to keep Rupture’s Mudd Up! wheels greased proper, all the while filling in, co-operating, and board-opping for everyone from Rob Weisberg to Glen Jones, and now I got a three-hour spot on the longest running freeform, independent community radio station in the United States! The show doesn’t have a name, and for now we’re just calling it Lamin. If you have a good name suggestion, let’s hear it! As for a description, let’s just say we’re staying true to WFMU’s commitment to unstructured-format broadcasting. Go here to stream my last Sunday morning broadcast.
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