Tag: producers

Drop Shop – A workshop & live techno mix from Markus Wormstorm & friends

The brainchild of South African electronic music stalwart, Markus Wormstorm, Drop Shop is a week-long incubator that brings together established and more up-and-coming producers to create a thirty-minute mix of original techno. “It started with this feature film which I was commissioned to do called ‘Sounds of Animals Fighting’ which takes place in South Africa and São Paulo, Brazil. To enrich my creative process I thought I’d set up a system through which I could collaborate with an artist from São Paulo and get to make some stuff in the studio with them and then use this music in the film. When I started putting it together I thought why don’t we go further and get a whole bunch of electronic producers together.” explains Markus.

Meeting in April 2018, the week featured Narch, Maxime Alexander, Felix Laband, D_Know, Whosane and Paulo Tessuto from São Paulo. The latter is known for his Carlos Capslock squat parties thrown in São Paulo as well as his record label MEMNTGN. He has established himself on the Brazilian and Berlin underground, playing the likes of Mezcaleria Lupita, Tresor, Golden Gate, Sisyphos, Chalet, SchwuZ. Describing them as ‘X-Men-like’, each with their own speciality, the week saw each producer bring two original loops which were then remixed and developed by the rest of the team. A stark contrast to the usual conditions in which electronic producers usually work, alone with minimal input from outside sources, Drop Shop saw them crammed together in a room packed with synths and drum machines at Honeymoon Studios working on tracks together and playing these live together as a unit. “When we got together each day was dedicated to a certain amount of tracks, we’d sit down and play each other what we did for a loop and then I’d choose which parts we’d use and then we’d come up with a sequence to play it live.”

From Narch’s bass-heavy Arp Odyssey to Felix Laband’s mysterious vocal samples, D_Know’s driving rhythms, the creative melodies of Maxime Alexander and the curious rhythms of Paulo Tessuto, the various elements were brought together by Markus. Ensuring that everything flowed together rather than clashing. Jamming and recording the tracks live meant that the group was able to record more than 8 tracks over the course of 3 days, which ultimately resulted in a 30-minute mix of original techno that drifts from dark and driving to melodic and uplifting. With a raw sound, it’s clear the mix was made live on machines rather than produced within the neat confines of a computer.

Aiming to continue the concept for the next few years, Markus hopes to bring in producers from other countries. “Maybe Argentina, Mexico, something from the east, Japan would be amazing. People come, play some shows and we make some music with them. What would we be great is if they, in turn, could do Drop Shops there.”

14 June 2018
SubWav’s Wiretribe compilation showcases Joburg’s electronica

‘Wiretribe’ is Joburg-based leftfield electronica label Subterranean Wavelength’s (SubWav) debut label compilation. Featuring exclusive unreleased contributions from the label’s roster, the compilation is an introduction to the artists and their unique sounds, and captures the colourful variety of electronica emerging from the Joburg scene at the moment.

Founded by Micr.Pluto, Edward Kgosidintsi and Tribal Rebul Ludi, Subterranean Wavelength initially wasn’t meant to be a label, but organically grew into one from the compilation series of the same name, the first volume of which dropped in 2014. Featuring Hlasko, Watermark High, Obligations & Hawkword, it was a showcase of Joburg’s beat scene in its infancy, part of the reason for starting the compilation. A desire to release music beyond compilations resulted in the formation of the label in 2016.

Whereas the ‘Subterranean Wavelength’ series of compilations was a showcase of the beat scene in general, ‘Wiretribe’ focuses on the SubWav roster. “Everyone on ‘Wiretribe’ are people who we are actively working with on the label. Who are signed to the label, either with our bookings or as artists,” explains Micr.Pluto. As such, ‘Wiretribe’ is a showcase of what the SubWav family has to offer. “We have a bit of everything because we’ve got rappers, vocalists, beat makers, producers. I’d say most the vocalists we work with are on the super experimental tip. Our beat makers are on that tip. I don’t think we have an artist that has a mundane output with their music, everyone is actively pushing boundaries in their sound, trying out new shit, experimenting all the time,” Micr.Pluto continues.

While SubWav’s artists cover a range of styles, the fact that they all hail from the same label is evidence of how well the compilation flows. From the bouncy opening track ‘Glitch Memories’ by Daev Martian x Tribal Rebel Ludi to the dubby ‘Listen’ by Eye – On Feather x Nandi Ndlovu, the beats of Micr.Pluto and Kajama’s soulful experimentations, there is an underlying laid-back vibe to the Subterranean Wavelength.

Outside of the releases the label also hosts its SubWav Live which focuses on the live aspect of the beat scene. “The concept is to uplift that in Joburg and place an emphasis on that specifically. We also make sure we have live sets and DJs around that to keep the party vibrant,” says Micr.Pluto.

Apart from ‘Wiretribe’, Subterranean Wavelength is looking to release a number of projects including a solo project from Kajama’s ‘Nongoma’ (a project from Eye-On Feather) as well as a new project from Micr.Pluto, alongside a newly signed vocalist.

While the growth of the label is an indication of the growth of leftfield electronica locally, Micr.Pluto believes there are positive and negative aspects to this growth. “I’ve actually seen crowds swell and get really huge for the beat scene type movement. But I also feel like it’s kind of evolved into something different in a sense. It ended up merging with everything and everyone is jumping on the bandwagon of the beat stuff. In a sense I feel like it hasn’t grown to have its own crowd, it’s own market. It’s still got a long way to go to where people can host parties or throw events that are purely based on leftfield electronica or experimental beats, there’s always gotta be something thrown in there to make it accessible, but [we’re] getting there.”

4 May 2018
Off The Meds: Swedish tech house with a South African touch

Adrian Lux, Carli Löf and Måns Glaeser, the producer’s behind Off The Meds, have been active in the industry for the last decade, working and touring collectively and as solo artists. They have made a name for themselves through major releases as well as writing and production credits on a number of Swedish and European releases. Joined by South African photographer-cum-vocalist Kamohelo Khoaripe the four have released their debut EP ‘The Meds Are Kicking In’ a year after the successful release of their bouncy single ‘Geraas’.

Recorded in 2016, after a chance encounter between Kamohelo and Måns Glaeser at a studio afterparty, ‘Geraas’ was picked up and released by the label Play It Down in 2017. This prompted the four to formally band together as Off The Meds, a name which Adrian came up with after returning from New York and describes the fun mentality of the group.

Released independently with the group’s label Off The Records, the four-track ‘The Meds Are Kicking In’ EP features the chant-driven vocals of Kamohelo underlayed by high-energy tech house. “It’s pretty much everyday life.” explains Kamohelo of the lyrics. “My childhood memories, situations in South Africa. Happy times. Maybe it’s a song I used to sing in daycare and then I just mash it up with modern stuff. There’s one song that’s like [influenced by] football commentary.”

Cover design by Mzwakhe Ndlovu

With three producers, each with a passion for synthesizers and music gear, the productions on the release are born in the machine and feature minimal samples. Speaking of the energy and sound they were trying to achieve Kamohelo says, “Every song is influenced by each and every gig we played [last year]. Every time we got back from a festival we recorded a song. So it’s the vibe we got from people, [and] we’re just giving [that] back.”

Scandinavian summer will see Off The Meds hit the festival and rave circuit once again, while their next release might come towards the end of 2018. “We’ve been making a lot of music. We might release in December when winter comes this side. We might release another EP and then next year release an album, or keep on releasing EPs because we have enough material to release more EPs.”

While they have no plans to visit South Africa anytime soon, a tour isn’t off the cards. “I’m trying to get the guys to come [to South Africa] because I was there in December for a month and I played a few songs for some of my mates and some radio people, and they liked it. So if we get a gig we will go down.”

26 February 2018
Christian Tiger School on wax

It’s been just over five years since Christian Tiger School burst onto the scene with their memorable first single ‘Carlton Banks‘. Since then the duo have grown as musicians and producers, with their sound changing along with it, and their live show expanding to include Rueben Crowie on drums. Having played at Sónar in Barcelona, SXSW in Austin, Texas, Primavera in Spain, and CMJ in New York City, they’re making an impression both locally and abroad.

Over the years their sound has evolved from being rooted in beats and jazz to being more influenced by the likes of house and techno. This is especially evident on their latest release, ‘If You Want To‘. “We were definitely interested and intrigued by the length and structure of techno and house and not necessarily as much looking into hip hop or the beat scene,” explains one half of Christian Tiger School, Luc Veermeer,. “There are a lot of layers that go gradually in and out, it’s the same chord the whole time being held throughout the song and the same bassline. This is something we took from house and techno, filtering a pad or filtering the bassline, making it short or long or only the lows being played. To take away the repetitiveness of it and make it seem like a transition. We definitely tried to make it gritty.”

‘If You Want To’ is not only a step in a new direction for Christian Tiger School, but also their first physical release, with Berlin-based label Lissoms releasing it on vinyl. Featuring remixes by Lissoms label head Edmondson as well as Georgian producer Gacha Bakradze and artwork by Niall Greaves, putting together the release has been an easier process than expected for the duo. “It’s almost been too simple. Everything’s been presented and it’s worked out really easily. Given the fact that it is our first physical release it’s been great. We’ve had more trouble posting an EP online, never mind getting a 12” pressed,” says the other half of the duo, Sebastiano Zanasi.

Starting off 2018 with a physical release, Christian Tiger School are looking to follow it up with the release of an EP in the first quarter of the year, while their collaboration with the experimental British jazz drummer Moses Boyd is looking to be released in April. During the South African winter, Christian Tiger School will be in Europe on tour and looking to spend some time in London after their tour is complete to immerse themselves in the scene there. “We’re always really sad when we have to leave and things always seem to kind of happen before we get there or just after we leave so we want to try and take full advantage of being there and stay there for a while,” Luc states. “Yeah for sure, things usually tend to unfold or happen as we’re leaving so we definitely want to spend more time and network and spend some time immersed in the music we’re really into and try and build a bit of a reputation there,” adds Sebastiano.

Listen to and order ‘If You Want To’ on Bandcamp:

https://lissomsxyz.bandcamp.com/album/if-you-want-to

9 January 2018