Vadim vibrations: Interview with DJ Vadim
Vadim Peare has recorded under the aliases Andre Gurov, Little Aida but primarily as DJ Vadim, the self-made master in turntablism, a sound innovator who fuses soul, funk, grime, jazz, reggae, hip hop and electronics to enlighten us with that very recognizable Vadim vibration.
The purchase of a sampler kicked off your production quest in 1992. Abstract Hallucinating Gases and Headz Ain't Ready (1995), your own Jazz Fudge label and a Ninja Tune sign-up soon followed. Which impact did this have on your life?
Well it has been huge. I never would have imagined that
1 - this would be my job, i would make a living with it
2 - I would still be doing it 20 years later.
So in that sense the impact has been huge.
You have produced music for DJ Krush, Stevie Wonder, Kraftwerk, Erykah Badu, Alice Russell, Paul Weller, Prince, CL Smooth, Amp Fiddler, Public Enemy, The Roots, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Dialated Peoples, The Roots, The Herbaliser, Killa Kela, The Cure, Foreign Beggars, and many more. It seems like you never cease to collaborate with MCs, poets and singers?
For me music is music. I do not separate music into boxes like hip hop, soul etc... it's s great to collaborate with a large variety of people. Their background doesn't matter. All that matters is the passion and vision for music. A quest for something new and exciting.
You have been described as the John Coltrane of hip hop. Was jazz one of your early musical influences?
Hip hop was my first love, jazz came later. For me jazz is about the 40's -late 60's. What's crazy about jazz is how so many people from the establishment were disturbed by it, calling it 'jungle music' and all kinds of derogatory names.. and yet for many people nowadays, jazz is what you hear at Starbucks or in a hotel elevator.... Perhaps within 50 years Rick Ross will be to what jazz is now...!
When touring with old school group The Russian Percussion One Self, the renowned hip hop trio with outstanding female MC Yarah Bravo and MC Blu Rum 13, was formed. Could you explain the message of One Self's debut album Children of Possibility (2005)?
The Russian Percussion was just a live band I put together for when I was touring. It was really just a concept. After being on tour with the Herbaliser in the 90's I noticed how much more responsive people are to a live band so I thought, hey I should do the same. I got Mr Thing(world DMC champ 99), Killer Kela(incredible beat box), John Ellis(keyboards - cinematic orchestra), and at first Blu Rum 13(who was kid koalas mc) and then Yarah Bravo. This was as you can see the cradle from which One Self was born. I came up with the title Children of Possibility and for a while that's what we were being called - C.O.P. They were stories from us being on tour for 3 years: the experiences and feelings of what we were going through at that time...
Which elements of working with a live band attract you?
It's not so much about a band but about working with anyone who is passionate about music. Since I am not classically trained in piano or drums etc, it's easier to work with people who can play!!!
Your soulful Don’t Be Scared album(2012, BBE) expresses types of fears. Why did you choose this theme?
The title came at the last minute, and the album was going to be called many other things before.... but in the end it felt like it worked best with where I am and it's music and also the times we are living in right now. I always felt the importance of social commentary in music. I always gravitate towards that so... that's the reason why artists like Bob Marley or Bob Dylan or Public Enemy always struck a chord with me because we do live in a very unfair world. One where most of us live with very corrupt governments who are preoccupied with filling their pockets and using their tools such as the police to maintain their equilibrium and laws to keep the rich getting richer...
The title is partly about these social affairs and all these supposed threats we are facing from Al Qaeda to Islam, from bird flu to communism to ... it's all part of a system.
Apart from that, the fear I'm talking about is a human fear of one self. One that we all have. Especially as adults. Everyday people will say - I don't want to do that or this or I don't like that or I don't want to go there. It's like we become conditioned as adults and go cozy. You would never hear an 8- year old kid saying those things. In a way I think we are restricting ourselves from developing because of that fear. Perhaps that's why the human brain stops developing around the age of 18 or 20. Because we limit ourselves.
Which one of your own albums are you still most fond of?
I am a perfectionist so when I listen to past albums, I always find holes them. Oh I wish I had done this or that. But I guess that's the charm of music - its errors or the missing stuff. Personally I am more into the new stuff than the old stuff. I like the aesthetics but I think the very early creations lack a lot .
Exploring the world seems to be one of your passions, as can be noticed by the incorporation of ethnic sound samples in your productions. Which aspects of traveling stimulate your creativity and self development?
Just going to unpredictable places and being smacked in the ears by exciting sounds and grooves. Things I had never heard of before. That' s important as a musician - constantly being excited and invigorated.
Creativity clearly has no limits. How are your photography projects evolving?
Hahah - you detective.
It' s something I have gotten into the last few years and it's coming along great i should take way more but just always run out of time. Perhaps one day I will do an exhibition of some photos!
Any other dreams for the future you would like to share with us?
Dreams like Martin Luther King?! Little colored kids playing with white kids... well all of those but personally I would love to open a restaurant. perhaps a cafe, a boutique /clothes shop...
Links:
loads of music on the links blow - exclusives, dj mixes etc...:
www.djvadim.com
www.twitter.com/djvadim
www.facebook.com/djvadim
www.mixcloud.com/djvadim
www.soundcloud.com/dj-vadim
www.electricsoundcompany.com
www.djvadim.com/dont-be-scared-tour
El Mac's premium picture perfect
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| Mac and Retna Miami |
El Mac started painting with acrylics in the mid ’90s, realistically rendering human faces and figures. After being blown away by the Subway Art book he started experimenting with graffiti(1994). A perfectionist at heart, he always desired to create perfect, super tight works of art. Having to paint quickly in the dark was a fruitful lesson for this portraitist.
Painting from photographs and from life, El Mac has been described as a photorealistic painter. His detailed representations of a large variety of individuals look perfect, meticulously lifelike, moving your inner sensations in each and every way.
This technical master who uses iced spray cans to create an energetic rippled effect, desires to affect people in the same way he's inspired by paintings, to connect with the public and to change how others think.
His aesthetic preferences have evolved over the years, growing more appreciation for abstraction.
El Mac often collaborates with Retna, who's in charge of the typography while Mac paints the figures. Interacting with another artist balances Mac's introverted and extroverted sides. The duo painted an enormous mural for Primary Flight Art Basel Miami Beach(2007- 2009), held an exhibition at the Robert Berman Gallery(2009) and released a book entitled Alianza: Mac & Retna which documents their individual and collaborative works in three sections.
Mac's classical influences were illustrated by his interpretation of the Flemish Primitives at the Groeningen Museum in Bruges(2003).
With solo shows in San Francisco (2009, Fifty24SF Gallery), New York(2010, Joshua Liner Gallery) and sponsored murals for the Pasadena Museum(2011), the MARCO(2010) and the Cisneros-Fontanals Art Foundation(2012, Havana Biennial), more canvases and public work are to be looked forward to.
There’s always more to learn, more to discover, and MacGregor will definitely do it in his own unique way.
http://elmac.net
Publication:
Alianza: Mac & Retna, 2009, Upper Playground/Gingko Press,
ISBN: 978-1-58423-359-6
C2C's funkiness
French turntable crew C2C (Coups2Cross) was formed in 1998 by high school friends 20SYL, Atom, Pfel and Greem. This incredibly funky DJ collective from Nantes won the DMC World Team Championship four times in a row.(from 2003 to 2006)
Founder 20Syl and Greem joined forces in the Hocus Pocus project while Atom and Pfel created Beat Torrent.
After a break C2C’s first six-track Down The Road EP (2012, Casablanca Records) and their album Tetra(2012) were released, accompanied by a live tour.
This turntablist quartet enthusiastically mixes jazzy, soul, blues electro, pop and hip hop with self recorded vocal and instrumental samples. No wonder they recently won the 2013 European Border Breakers Awards.
http://www.c2cmusic.fr
Jean Grae's Dust Ruffle
South African-born rapper Jean Grae released Dust Ruffle, an album consisting of ten unreleased songs recorded between 2004 and 2010.
She calls it an interesting retrospective project. Indeed the album does once more illustrate her lyrical gift, soul-searching and artistic growth.
The album, featuring Planet Asia and Sadat X on Haters Anthem, can be found on Grae’s Bandcamp page.
Snapshots of one of the most genuine female emcees' life journey!
Tracklist:
1 - Neckface
2 - Mean Jean (B Day edition)
3 - What Cha Gonna Do
4 - What The Hell
5 - Admire Quagmire
6 - Haters Anthem Remix ft Planet Asia and Sadat X
7 - The Setup
8 - Lights Off
9 - The Climb
10 - SupaLuv (Acoustic Rehearsal)
Uptown XO Colour de Grey
Diamond District member Uptown XO's album Colour de Grey album will be available from January 29th 2013.
Two very musical parents gave birth to Jamaal Walton, who experienced a life struggle against poverty. He first sang in a church choir, played the piano and trumpet to continue his musical expression with open mics where he met Oddisee, YU, Slimcat and Gadget.
The self-made MC worked together with several mc's and created diverse projects and mix tapes. When Oddisee formed Diamond District with XO and YU, the In The Ruff album(2009) and a tour soon followed. In 2011 this DC native released his 8th project entitled Monumental vol.2.
Uptown XO's debut was produced by A.B. The Pro and is packed with introspective reflections.
Tracklist
1. Grey Poupon (feat. Messiah)
2. Spread Love
3. Everyday (feat. A.B. the Pro)
4. Finding My Way
5. Salaam
6. Soul Value
7. Reflection Eternal (feat. Doe Cigapom & Benji)
8. Poor Man’s Copyright
9. They Say
10. XO Skeleton
11. Evolution (feat. A.B. the Pro)
12. Needs and Wants
13. If I Should Die (feat. Danni)
14. Grey Area (feat. U St. Face)
Nosaj Thing Home
LA producer and DJ Jason Chung made a therapeutic second album, more quiet, symphonic, melodramatic and somber than his 2009 electronic debut Drift.
Blonde Redhead vocalist Kazu Makino lent his voice to the Eclipse/ Blue track whilst Toro Y Moi produced his most angel like sound in Try.
Tracklist:
- Home
- Eclipse/Blue
- Safe
- Glue
- Distance
- Tell
- Snap
- Prelude
- Try
- Phase III
- Light 3
http://www.nosajthing.com
The Trevor Nelson Collection
Trevor Nelson presents his selection of sixty Rand B classics, recorded between 1979 and 2010.
The Soul Show host shares his passion for tracks as Lucy Pearl's Don’t Mess With My Man, Luther Vandross’ Never Too Much, Mary J Blige's Real Love, TLC's Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg, Aloe Blacc’s I Need a Dollar and Montell Jordan’s This Is How We Do It.
Three discs of sing-along party music!
http://trevornelson.com
Oh No Disrupted Ads
The Michael Jackson(1979) who's known as producer Oh No and Madlib's younger brother, is enlightening us with another hip hop release. He enlisted Blu, Gangrene, Souls of Mischief, MED, Rapsody, Psalm One, Ron Artiste, Tristate, Midaz, Declaime, Georgia Anne Muldrow to provide lyrics on previously unreleased instrumentals.
Disrupted Ads is his fourth solo album after Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms(2006), Dr. No's Oxperiment(2007), Dr. No's Ethiopium(2009).
Oh No's new album Disrupted Ads will be released on January 29th via Kash Roc Entertainment.
Tracklist:
1. Intro Doctor Visit
2. Creepers
3. Jones's ft. Blu and MED
4. Wet Em Up
5. Same Shit ft. Rapsody and Psalm One
6. Boom
7. The Difference
8. Punchdrunkpatterns ft. Tristate and Midaz
9. Perfect Cylinders
10. Cleansing
11. Animals ft. Ron Artiste' (Chali2na & Roc C)
12. The Magmas
13. Rollin Up ft. Gangrene (Oh No & Alchemist)
14. Drifters
15. Improvement ft. Declaime and Georgia Anne Muldrow)
16. Outro
17. Controlled Riots ft. Souls of Mischief (BONUS TRACK)
Ill Bill The Grimy Awards
Ill Bill's new album The Grimy Awards will be available on January 29th 2013. An impressive list of collaborators such as H.R., A-Trak, El-P, Jedi Mind Tricks, O.C., Cormega, Meyhem Lauren, Q-Unique, Shabazz the Disciple and Lil Fame in combination with productions by DJ Premier, DJ Muggs, Pete Rock, Large Professor, Psycho Les, El-P, Ayatollah and MoSS are bound to prick up the ears.
Brooklyn MC William Braunstein(1972)'s third turned out to be a personal, provocative album.
Tracklist:
- What Does It All Mean? Prod. by Ill Bill
- Paul Baloff prod. by Moss
- I Don’t Know How Long It’s Gonna Last (Interlude)
- Acceptance Speech ft. A-Trak prod. by Junior Makhno
- Truth prod. by Pete Rock
- Exploding Octopus prod. by Ill Bill
- Forty Deuce Hebrew ft. HR of Bad Brains prod. By Ill Bill
- How To Survive The Apocalypse prod. by Psycho Les
- Vio-Lence ft. Shabazz The Disciple & Lil Fame Of M.O.P. prod. by DJ Skizz
- Acid Reflux prod. by Large Professor
- L’amour East ft. Meyhem Lauren & Q-Unique prod. by Ayatollah
- Power Ft. OC & Cormega prod. By DJ Muggs
- When I Die Ft. Tia Thomas prod. by Pete Rock
- Severed Heads Of State Ft. El-P prod. by El-P
- 120% Darkside Justice ft. Jedi Mind Tricks prod. by C-Lance
- Canarsie High prod. by Large Professor
- World Premier prod. by DJ Premier
Opposites attract: Miranda Donovan
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| Copyright Miranda Donovan 2012 |
Miranda Donovan(1979) grew up in The Netherlands, followed art courses in London and France and is currently residing in London.
Whilst living near Marseille she met a graffiti artist who contaminated her with those addictive graffiti germs. Back in London Donovan began experimenting with graffiti.
While her earlier work was mainly marked by textured brickwork, obtained by applying a cement mixture on board to build a carved out brick wall relief, a tactile surface for the contrasting painting, nowadays urban and homely symbols are omnipresent.
Donovan has been known for her bright color palette, transforming meticulously painted traditional interiors or Ruisdael-like landscapes with neon paint dashes.
One of Donovan’s artistic ideas seems to be that opposites as decay and poverty versus wealth, luxury and magnificence attract each other. Her gallery work illustrates her personal social beliefs in a humorous way.
Nothing’s what it seems, reality and fiction can easily be confused when not thinking critically...
The social work of Haas & Hahn
Dutchmen Jeroen Koolhaas(1977) and Dre Urhahn(1973) are known as the artistic duo Haas & Hahn.
Graphic designer Koolhaas previously worked as an illustrator for the New Yorker while Urhahn worked as a journalist, copywriter and art-director.
Since working together on Firmeza Total(2005), a documentary about hip hop in Brazilian favelas, they have been joining artistic forces in social art projects.
Haas & Hahn's Firmeza Foundation(2007) organizes inspiring community art projects to encourage crime news manipulated citizens to deal with their negative perceptions of certain deprived neighborhoods. With the help of local youth enormous murals are created to improve the look of a slum village and enhance it's inhabitants sense of pride.
In 2008 the duo worked eight months on Rio Cruzeiro, a 2000m² carp-filled river painting in Vila Cruzeiro and one day on a fantasy wall with the help of fifty Brazilian children in Terra Encantada. Their Brazilian quest continued with the painting on Praca Cantao, a 7000m² square.
At Art Basel Miami 2010 they created an installation with eighty painted canvasses.
A 2011 Knight Arts grant allowed them to reside in Philadelphia for a year to reinvent the Germantown Avenue blocks with bright colors and patterns to provoke a sense of unity. The same year they participated in a group exhibition held at the Smithsonian.
Lectures, documentaries, video clips, audio and photo installations complete the urban concept of these two social workers.
www.jeruniverse.com
http://www.favelapainting.com/haas-hahn
Ruff Sqwad White Label Classics
No Hats No Hoods released Ruff Sqwad‘s White Label Classics, featuring previously unreleased instrumentals.
This well known East London grime initiating crew arose in 2001, composed of founder Tinchy Stryder(1986), accredited grime producer and sound engineer Rapid(1983), producers Dirty Danger(1984)and Dizzee Rascal's cousin Slix(1982), Shifty Rydos and Mad Max. In 2006 Mad Max was replaced by Fuda Guy. From 2004 until 2010 DJ Scholar joined the group, whose place was taken in by Tinchy Stryder's personal DJ Sir Spyro(1984).
Thanks to their mix tapes grime became a new genre. Other early grime contributions came from N.A.S.T.Y. Crew, More Fire Crew and Aftershock.
Ruff Sqwad's first studio album Guns and Roses Volume. 1(2005) was a success upon its release. Both the independently released debut album and their second full length Guns and Roses Volume. 2(2006) have been cited to be the best full-length grime albums of all time.
The grime rap record production team split up in 2010, after which only crew leader Tinchy Stryder continued his mainstream success.
An urban album which simply needs to be bought!
Tracks
1.Anna
2.Misty Cold
3.Lethal Injection
4.Pied Piper
5.Functions on the Low
6.Together
7.Your Love Feels
8.Tings in Boots
9.Down
10.Move 2 Dis
11.Knight Rider
12.An Ting
13.Underground
14.Burial
15.Top 3 Selected
16.Cheque
17.Clio
18.Xtra
19.Good Old Days
20.I'm From a Place
21.No Bass
22.Clio (remix)
Kendrick Lamar shares his personal stories in Good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth's(1987) father was a member of Chicago's Gangster Disciples. The boy lost relatives in the Crips' and Bloods' battle and saw others go to prison.
The album's cover shows a Polaroid of him as a youngster with his father holding a gun. His entire family tried to protect the Good kid from the wild street life. Lamar chose to feed his mind with book knowledge and reflected on the world with masterful storytelling.
Letting it all out in music, growing into a technical lyricist, Dr Dre signed the young MC. His 2011 Section.80 EP was a rousing success.
The result of Lamar's dedication is a genuine self-portrait, a brilliant hip hop album based on honest storytelling about Lamar's living conditions, the Compton crime scene, social anomalies and love.
Not afraid to show his vulnerability, he takes up a victim's fear and emotions.
Human, empathic, responsible, ....
Who's keeping it real? This Good kid!
Tracklist:
1. Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter’s Daughter (Prod. By Tha Bizness)
2. Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe (Prod. By Sounwave)
3. Backseat Freestyle (Prod. By Hit-Boy)
4. The Art of Peer Pressure (Prod. By Tabu)
5. Money Trees (Ft. Jay Rock) (Prod. By DJ Dahi)
6. Poetic Justice (Ft. Drake) (Prod. By Scoop DeVille)
7. good kid [Prod. By Pharrell]
8. m.A.A.d city (Ft. MC Eiht) (Prod. By Sounwave & Terrace Martin)
9. Swimming Pools (Drank) *Extended Version* (Prod. By T-Minus)
10. Sing About Me (Prod. By Skhye Hutch + Sounwave) / I’m Dying Of Thirst (Prod. By Like of Pac Div)
11. Real (Ft. Anna Wise) (Prod. By Terrace Martin)
12. Compton (Ft. Dr. Dre) (Prod. By Just Blaze)
Deluxe:
13. The Recipe (Ft. Dr. Dre) (Prod. By Scoop DeVille)
14. Black Boy Fly (Prod. By Rahki & Dawaun Parker)
15. Now Or Never (Ft. Mary J. Blige) (Prod. By Jack Splash)
16. Collect Calls
17. Swimming Pools (Drank) (Prod. By T-Minus)
http://www.kendricklamar.com
Dels' Black salad
Three years ago Ipswich master of ceremonies Kieren Dickins(1984 ) signed a three album Big Dada deal.
His debut album entitled Gob(2011) was mainly produced by Kwes.
Black Salad, his 2012 five track counting follow-up, also features productions by Kwes, Eli-T, Raisa Kahn and Coby Sey( Kwes' brother).
With a third album to be expected this year, graphic designer Dickins is working hard to succeed in this creative career switch.
Slowly surely his serious sound has become appreciated in the British hip hop scene.
Tracks
1.Black Salad
2.Bird Milk(ft Bila, Kwes production)
3.Not Today(Micachu & Raisa Khan production)
4.Sell by Date
5.You Live in My Head
Bossalinis and Fooliyones
Young one records released Main Attraktionz' debut album Bossalinis and Fooliyones. The beats, made by over a dozen producers, are more enchanting than the rhymes.
However MondreM.A.N. and Squadda B do sound like they are having a blast, leading to an entertaining première.
Tracks
1.Green on Sight
2.Liquor Runs
3.La Piñata
4.LFK
5.Take U There
6.Cloud Life
7.On Tour
8.Sex in the City
9.Do It for the Bay
10.Superstitious
11.24th Hour
12.Wings
13.Rainy Days
14.Love Is Life
15.Bury Me a Millionaire
16.Zoney Nights
17.Cloud Body
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