As some of you may or may not know, The longest running drum n bass event in Africa, Homegrown, has launched an exciting new concept for their December 3rd event. https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=318053031544882
The concept being they are hosting a competition to find the most suitable DJ for the late night set between 2:30 - 3:45 after the legendary lords of the underworld Counterstrike.
This leads me to my main reason for this post, mono_sono!
I've known him for some time (in his various guises) But as long as I've known him he has never been one to conform to commercial popularity or should I rather say hype. Not that it might stop him from liking certain music, but generally he is obsessed with a more complex or intriguing type of music that aims to push boundaries or perceptions.
And the music he makes and plays is not very much different to that which he listen's too.
His background has a lot to do with this, having moved to Pretoria from Cape Town he has had time to hone his craft without much outside influence besides for his own choice. The pure fact that he is not as spoilt as we may be with our ripe DNB scene here in Cape Town has allowed him to focus on the sounds that he see's fit for listening. And in the case of his entry for the HG Mix Comp, DANCING!
And dancing is what I did while listening to his mix. When I first read the track listing I knew I was gonna be in for one heck of a jam session!!! Setting himself apart from all the other entry's, which for the most part were dominated by people who ignored the rules of not playing 'Top 40' tunes that are generally reserved for earlier in the night, he dropped a set that was completely different from any of the other DJ's.
Laced with jungle rhythm and groove infested bass from the first moment I pressed play I began to pray that his mix would be the crowned winner.
Here's a mix that the GREAT Mala gave out when he was down in the Cape (May 2011). Any one got track ID's can post them up. I do believe that this mix is NOT on the net so I decided to upload it.
Cotti - Producer, DJ, and MC - has been shredding dance floors since the very early ages of bass music and is definitely one of our favourite Selectas in the scene. Dont bother listening if you don't have a sub.
Interview:
1) What’s your main music influences?
I would say that other good music is a massive influence in one sense plus the fact that music just seems to flow so natural with me and where I spend alot of time, in the studio, I can just fling ideas down casually which really helps if know what I mean.
2) How did you get into the dubstep scene?
Well I started around 2005 when I first met Dj Chef and Loefah(DMZ). Chef was the first main DJ to really support my music and at the time I was making alot of Grime which was quite big in London at the time and kinda fitted with the Dubstep sound to a certain extent. I continued to make beats and pass the music on to the likes of Skream, Benga, Mala, Pinch, Kode 9 etc who all supported my music back then.
3) At what age did you start producing?
I first started producing when I was around 19 years old but was Mc'in before that, my dad is a musician so I got him to show me Cubase and I was away from there to be honest.
4) There's been a lot of talk about the evolution of dubstep and what it's doing to the genre... So what are your views on the evolution?
Bro if asking “do I like the noisy stuff” then generally NO I don’t, although there are a few of the Harder tunes I can appreciate, the scene does seem to be going in one direction at the moment but I honestly believe it will pass and people will actually get back into real music so to speak.
I believe that things will come back around in dubstep once people educate them selves rather that following the masses.
5) Tell us more about your MCing.
Bro I’m down with the vocal side of things as well as the production & engineering and all the rest of it :D
I cant lie bro, when I make a tune I really love, most of the time ill sit there and just make up some lyrics or vocals to match which means I do end up vocalling alot of my own material as you can see on the Dubstep Album I just released on iTunes in April, I have quite a few vocals on there, with tracks like "Mash a set" & "Skankers" ft CrazyD.
Cotti
6) Is there anything special that you are working on at the moment?
Yes, I am working on 2 other Albums as we speak, both will also be released on my label via iTunes, 1st is another Dubstep comp ft Producers from SumtingNew As Well as others Like Quest, Silkie, El-b just to name a few. The other is another Album but it will be of mixed Genre ie Dubstep, Grime, HipHop, Reggea, House, etc so keep your eyes peeled for those later this year hopefully.
7) Was it tough for you to break through into the music scene?
Yes it was very tough, I spent years putting work into music from around 2000/2001 but it was only around 2004 I started to see any benefits if u know what I mean, alot of the time though its more to do with being in the right place at the right time and obviously being a good producer.
8) Career wise, where do you see yourself when you’re older? And what do you do besides making music?
Well I’ll like to retire in Jamaica with my family and still run my Label's "SumtingNew" & "Bassface". I’d like to hopefully set up another business out there and include my family. Besides making music I’m a father which takes up alot of time now...erm I don’t watch TV hardly at all unless I get a new movie lol tbh I spend ALOT of time making music or running the label, my close friend said to me the other day "Wow Cotti every time I come to check you, you got lots of new tracks, all vocalled and everything" lol
9) I know you have worked with the likes of Cluekid and Coki - and that’s just to name a few - but out of all the Producers and DJ's you’ve worked with, who did you get along with best and who did you most of all enjoy working with?
Errrm Im not to sure tbh, it was good experience working with Coki, Cluekid & Kromestar but over the last year I have been working alot with Crazy D who I get on very well with, a lot of people don’t even realise that he produces but we have a co production out right now on iTunes track entitled "Believe me not" ft in Mrk1 Ibiza Mix which is getting alot of love right now.
10) Dubstep is getting very big in South Africa, do you see yourself coming to Cape Town and playing anytime soon?
Man I’d love to travel to Africa to share my music, probably more than any other country, if any promoters are reading this then please book me lol. Africa is one place I have not been to yet but would really love to.
11) Latest stuff to look out for?
Recently I have landed a show every Sunday 5-7pm(GMT) on Sub.fm which im doing along with Dj Enme & Dj Raggs who are both part of SumtingNew plus the rest of the camp will be appearing on rotation so that we all get chance to show what we’re made of.
Also you can find the "SumtingNew Dubstep Album" is out now on iTunes as well as "Teenwolf/Juggernog by me & Coki which is on 12" and digital platforms.
Last but not least SumtingNew have started to put on our own Dubstep nights in London & Uk, the second edition will feature Myself b2b Chef, Quest(Deepmedi) El-b b2b Caski not to mention SumtingNew Dj' Enme, Raggs, Euby, Standard Procedure, Substeppers & mc's CrazyD & KillaP
Here's a taster of what you can expect from Audiophile021 at Oppikoppi on the 6th of August. The man will be making an appearance at Step Up this Saturday which will most definitely be a banger! You can find Audiophile021 on Facebook here.
Echo Park — Fibreoptic (12th & Flinch Remix)
Dream — Trigga Finger
Nero — Promises (Nero & Skrillex Remix)
Pxlfst — Tweaky
16 Bit — Boston Cream MTA
Terror Danjah & Ruby Lee Ryder — Full Attention (Skream Special)
Stinkahbell — Malicious Software (Terrorhythm)
Emalkay — The World (Trolley Snatcha Remix)
EXCLUSIVE!
Joker — My Trance Girl
SHOWJACKER: TARGE MENAGE
Whitehead Brothers — Your Love Is A 187
Ralph Tresvant — Sensitivity
Ginuwine — Pony
BENGA'S BANGERS & SKREAM'S SLAMMERS
The Others — First Flight
Coki — Mad Man
Subzee D — Void
Dismantle — Dimension
Kutz — Gs27
Dream — This Isn't House
Subzee D — Judge Dredd
Dubson — Kr4 Cro
Benga — Any Steppers
Encore — Wind Up (2000f and J Kamata Remix) – Island
Synkro — Look at Yourself – Dub
Verse — No Solution – Dub
Loefah & Pinch — Broken – Tectonic
Mala — Eyes VIP – DMZ
Emalkay — Massive – Dub Police
Matt-U — Straightened Up – Dub
Rusko — Lez Go – Mad Decent
The Others — Say To You – Dub Police
Chase & Status — Flashing Lights ft Sub Focus & Takura – Mercury
Boards of Canada — Base Free – Warp
Jah Cure — Farmers Pleasure (Lovin This) ft First Born (LD Remix) – Vizion Sounds Records
Coki — Badness – Dub
Benga — Steppin’ Up – Dub
P-Money — Left The Room (Skreamix) – Dub
Benga — Goin’ Up – Dub
Skream — Demented – Dub
Funtcase — Make Our Day VIP – Dub
D1 — Flood of Emotions ft Jenna G – Dubpolice
Here's something from Trolley Snatcha, a UK DJ/Producer doing big things in the industry! This mix is a must for those interested in the UK scene, some big tunes.
Carnival Court's Wednesday Dubstep nights are the shit!
After complete boredom at home I decided to go for a beer at a pub near by, alone. Half way through I pulled out my semi-smart phone and checked facebook. I saw a status saying: "come listen to some dubstep @carnival court... (next to longstreet cafe)" - it was a sign!
It was quite a cool party with LOTS of potential. Its free, they've got foosball and a pool table, balcony etc! The music is perfect for a party, a good mixture of dubs were used - which was nice to hear.
I first heard this track in a mix by Synamatix called “Music Is Crack”. One of my favourite mixes in my collection. I came across it during Oneman’s set at Fiction and again in a mix by Appleblim & Ramadanman (Apple Pips) which can be found here.
Friday I finally got to see local producer/DJ Grimehouse (aka Straight Jack) perform at Dakota in Claremont. Pushing out his own material and getting the crowd going mad, much respect! You can catch him at RubADub on the 14th of may alongside some huge names! I will definitely be there for that one! Checkout the event page here.
On Saturday SKisM showed Cape Town why he’s one of the best in the business. I at first wasn’t a believer but he’s set BLEW ME AWAY!
RubADub is making history here in Cape Town keeping up with their rivals Step Up – I’ve got massive love for both of them!
16bit - FRZR9000
Jakes - Hooded claw (/Claw VIP)
Skream - Come to Murder
Skream - Meta-lick
Jakes - Boom Boom Bass (Gangoon Dubz Remix) (holy fffuuuu-)
Jakes - Hold ya head
Magnetic man - The Bug
Joker - The vision (!!!)
Jakes - Rhythm 2011
Mrk1 - Dirty Dubstep Music
?? - ?? (Need this, fucking big D:)
?? - ??
Skream - Heavy Hittah (BIG!)
?? - ??
Kano - Spaceship (Trolley Snatcha Remix)
Giant - Iron Man
Eddie K & Minus - Dark ages
?? - ??
Eddie K & Minus - Serial Killer
Jakes & Joker - 3K lane VIP
Jakes & Joker - 3K lane 1999
Dismantle - Clone
Noah D - You know
I love the little write-up on the GetDarker.com blog:
“Hench badass Jakes done exactly what he does, and thats put soundsystems into the red, not through choice, but from the pressure of the crowd pulling serious bass faces. A blazing set from Jakes.”
It turns out that you can catch the 6 hour video of the whole party on youtube.
DJ line-up:
Killa & Instinct
Tunnidge
Cyrus b2b Darkside
Jakes
Distance
Hijak
Lost & Shiverz
I’m off tomorrow so I guess I can spare 6 hours… :P
Kathleen "Katie" Brien better known as Katy B is a 21 year old British Singer-Songwriter who has an amazing voice and a degree in Popular Music at Goldsmiths University of London to back it up.
Before known as Katy B she went by the name Baby Katy featuring on tracks such as “Tell Me” by DJ NG feat. Mc Versatile and “As I” by Geeneus. She was just 16 years old at the time, finding her way into the underground music world of London.
Now all grown up, Katy B is doing some killer tracks with Magnetic Man, for example “Perfect Stranger” which I honestly can’t get enough of and also the mellower but equally good track, “Cross Over”. For me she really shows how her voice varies and not just a mono toned vocalist.
Katy has been criss-crossing over a wide variety of genres, taking on Dubstep, House, Drum & Bass and UK Funky. Her much anticipated album “On a Mission” was released in 2010 with so many different yet fresh styles of music coming through to make up an album that you could dance to or simply just relax and have a good listen. Tracks that got my attention are “Katy On a Mission” which was produced by the legendary Dubstep DJ Benga, “Lights On” featuring Miss Dynamite with that UK Funky feel and “Louder” a song that you just can’t help but get up and dance too.
Katy B definitely blew up last year with her own style, clever collaborations and showing off a new fresher breed of up and coming artists. So yes I am clearly a big fan of her work. Lets see what she has to offer us this year, hopefully she will be doing some more tracks with the likes of Benga, Skream and Artwork (Magnetic Man). All we can do is wait and see what happens but this Beauty is truly on a mission of note.
The crew spent this Saturday past at a house party (a 21st) in the heart of TTF territory, I had a surprize waiting for me. Couldn’t believe I didn’t see it coming!
The food was cool, the girls hot, the alcohol free and normal music. So whatever, the party was good. During the night my I found an old buddy from the TTF crew. 13. He told me he had a small suprize for me… he used his thumb and index finger and made the shape of a 4g banky -or at least that’s what I thought- and said: “That small”.
So about 2 hours later the DJ packed up and 13 got on the decks. That party went from cool to the best house party I’ve been to in a while! I thought it was quite a big suprize! 13 dropped a sick set, starting off with Dubstep and ending with Drum & Bass. The mixing was very good and the song selection was perfect for a house party.
I love seeing that kind of growth in the scene. Respekt TTF.
If you were wondering about Jamie xx like I was, here’s what’s up (wadup)…
Jamie is originally from The xx, an English indie pop band, formed in London.
So “I'm New Here” is the thirteenth album by American soul artist Gil Scott-Heron, released early 2010. It is Scott-Heron's first album of original material in sixteen years, following a period of personal and legal troubles with drug addiction. A remix of the album, titled “We’re New Here”, was produced by Jamie xx of The xx and released early 2011. Both the same recording label.
Jamie xx has produced one of my top tracks for 2010/11: Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie xx - 'NY Is Killing Me'. His other productions have been amazing!
Follow Jamie on Facebook for videos and news here.
Hyphen and Niskerone are setting the standards EXTREMELY high in the Drum n Bass (and Dubstep) DJing scene in South Africa. Awesome mixing, awesome tunage!!
Niskerone is the resident DJ at ICFTJ at Fiction. You can catch him their every thursday at Fiction
The party was SICK last night. Bad ass crowd! Fiction is soooo where its at i just wish it was a bit BIGGER. We are very lucky to have quailty parties such as ICFTJ, Step Up, Homegrown and RubaDub on a regular basis. The international acts that these guys pull in are huge!
On the 16 of April RubaDub's hosting this world renown DJ/Producer and definetly not to be missed if you are into the more harder side of Dubstep.
Next month Step Up will be incharge of making our Dubstep dreams come true by bringing us the great Mala! No solid deatails have been made out to the public as of yet but the man's definetly coming! Mala is one half of the production duo: The Digital Mystikz. Step Up FB page Mala FB Digital Mystiks FB page
If its bass that you like, checkout these two tracks.
In my opinion, this guy has HUGE potential and should be kept an eye on! With some cool tracks in his pouch and some mean mixing skills. When I first heard him on the decks, I immediately knew that he wasn't your average DJ from the Cape. His Facebook says that he's from Kettering, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom but he's staying in cape town now.
I love these remixes, either of tracks from the band "The XX" or remixes from members of the band doing remixes of other tracks. Confusing right... It doesnt matter, just listen :)
Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie xx - 'NY Is Killing Me'
lorence And The Machine - You Got The Love (The XX Remix)
Best Producer:
1st Chase & Status
2nd Netsky
3rd Camo & Krooked
Best Female MC: MC Deeizm
Best Female DJ: DJ Storm
Best Old school MC: Bassman
Best Old School DJ: Kenny Ken
Best International Artist: Netsky
Best Technical DJ: Spor
Best Liquid DJ: Netsky
Best Crowd Hype MC: Skibadee
Best Lyrical MC: Eksman
Best DJ: Andy C
Lifetime Achievement: DJ SS
Behind the Scenes: Eastman (Kool FM)
I read about this on the 6th of March, the night of the event, and been looking for the results everywhere!! Found it on this really interesting blog ;) DnBA TV Live Archives
Choose nickname, no user name or password is required, paste this where it says 'channels': "#TheSublimeShowChatRoom" -without quotes, NO SPACES, leave Auth to services and Audio captcha unclicked. Type in validation code and start chatting.
If you have any problems email me on: drumstepstd@gmail.com or contact customer support on the Bush Radio website listed above.
Many do not know this but DrumStepSTD is actually a small crew of mad friends who go out to as many DnB and Dubstep parties as they can. Our aim is to get as fucked as we possibly can and enjoy the music we love. No one does it harder than us and last night was a true example.
The launch of Devastation last night at Voom Voom was awesome!! The DnB was sooo hard! I really enjoyed myself, the drinks were fairly priced, the sound was LOUD, the crowd was full of energy and there was even a small fight. How dope!
Lets try and sound like the average blogger. And next up was so-and-so and he absolutely blew me away with [insert long intelegent here] and [another intelegent word here] FUCKME I don't even know who was DJing at the time. BIG-UPS to:
Pziezzo Electric
Multicrisis
Counterstrike
Hyphen
Bruce Willis??
and the mc for the night MC Psyke
Everyone should be on the lookout for Bruce Willis?? I missed his set last night but I caught him by chance at fiction a couple of weeks ago. He has some kick-ass tunes!! He's going to be big and soon! Can anyone share a Facebook link?
Anyways I'm going to enjoy this hangover while it lasts. I will update this later with some links, the Devastaion marketing video and some other infomations.
WHATEVZ
Looks like the pictures and videos are not being posted up on Facebook.
Cold Turkey is getting bigger and bigger and BIGGER. If you have not checked it out yet, you are seriously missing out!!
The honest truth is that Dubstep and Drum n Bass has consumed my sole and I'm currently unable to live without it and consider myself as theee biggest fan in South Africa. Yes that’s a very bold statement indeed, but wa'eva. I have good faith in the genres and think they will be around for ever.
I took the opportunity on Friday at a party at Fiction called “Not U2” to have a quick chat with the great Funafuji. I guess I should have taken down some notes as I can't remember much about the “interview”. I asked her about her plans for the future, knowing that she’s graduating this year from med-school, my worries were confirmed. Obviously stuff like that comes first in life. She says (in that cool accent of hers) that she’s not going to be gigging that often anymore but will definitely be making appearances at festivals and focusing on production. Very understandable!
IN MY OPINION, no-one comes close to Funafuji's talent, unique style and pure awesomeness when it comes to the art of DJing Dubstep at the moment. I have realised that our top DnB and Dub DJs have so many years of experience in their respective genres, and that's why they are so good!
What’s going to happen when the top dogs retire? What’s going to happen to the history stored on their vinyl? There are a lot of new guys in the scene, its growing so fast, but is it growing properly? Is money becoming more important than the music?
I would love to see these guys pass on their knowledge to worthy students and keep their legacies alive. Paying to learn how to DJ sucks.
Anyways back to the present!
Here's a mix by Funafuji. I was listening to it while writing this.
