13th October 2016
Big up to Fabio Monesi for rocking the house a couple weeks back on 30/09/2016! We've just about recovered and put together a video capturing the vibe of the event, check it ou below! We also caught up with the man behind Wilson records on his approach to DJing, producing and running his label.
Hey Fabio, how's it going? Tell us, when and why you got into DJing and production?
I started DJing very early, at the age of 13 I was already playing in clubs in Milan. At the time it was possible thanks to the Saturday afternoon parties where young people could go to real clubs. I started making music around 2009 when I understood that the only way to play outside Milan was by releasing records. A few years later, the idea of starting a label became stronger and stronger, so in 2012, after a trip to London, I finally launched Wilson Records.
You were born in Milan but you have been based in London for some time. Some of your releases have been dedicated to the city. What inspires you about this place?
London is a unique town. I learned that everything is possible in London. You just have to work hard at it. People are very open minded and the connections between people are spontaneous, they just happen. This city gave me a lot, I had to give something back!
You are known to use a variety of vintage and analogue gear for production, what attracts you to these instruments rather than other ways of creating your sound?
It’s very simple. Analogue machines have personalities, computers don’t. The approach is totally different and so is the final result.
Similarly, where does your dedication to vinyl as a format come from?
As I said, I started playing as DJ very early, vinyl records were still very popular at the time and they were the main format. I learned how to play mixing vinyl records, so I kept buying them.
Your label, Wilson Records, is vinyl only. Tell us about the imprint’s ethos and how the artists on the roster contribute to that.
When I release an artist it’s because I love their music - it’s very simple. In order for me to love their music, it has to be made in a certain way. It’s something very personal, I have to feel an emotion and it usually takes half a second for me to do so. Releasing music on vinyl is not a trend. It’s loyalty to the roots.
You have also released under the Hissman moniker. How does this persona differ from your given name?
I started making music under this moniker around 2014, when my passion for different sonorities was getting stronger and stronger inside me. It was born as a secondary and secret project but with the time, I started looking more into that experimental direction. I don’t like to focus myself into one sound, I like to change and I like to release everything I feel in a certain moment.
Finally, what can we expect from yourself and the label in the near future?
The upcoming Wilson Limited 04 will see the light very soon. I’m very happy with this project as it was born with the sole intention of supporting physical record stores and I have to say it’s working very well. I’m working on a new EP on Wilson and Perseus Traxx will be the man behind Hardmoon London 10. I can’t say more!
** Videographer and photographer: Antonio De Paola and James Mole from Light Leak Studios. Follow Light Leak Studios on Facebook or email lightleaker2013@gmail.com for any photoshoot or videography enquiries.
6th October 2016
Amsterdam-based duo Beesmunt Soundsystem step up for this week’s premiere with a peak time track on San Francisco’s label Honey Soundsystem.
Following their two emphatic releases on the South London label Church in 2016, their third offering of the year shows continued consistency. Our pick from the EP, the A1 ’Sensual Works’, is a raw track with an infectious synth loop that patiently unfolds into deeper realms. Reminiscent of Levon Vincent's stripped back approach, surely this technoid bomb will will elevate the energy levels on any discernible dance floor.
The rest of the EP is just as good and could very well be their finest work to date! Check the rest of the tracks and reserve your copy ahead of its official release on the 12th of October here.
As ever, our entire back catalogue of exclusive premieres is available to listen to on our Soundcloud:
4th October 2016
Youandewan on the controls this month for the latest addition to the Phonica Mix Series!
Ewan Smith has been consistently forging his own tender brand of deep house since 2009. Thanks to some first-class remixes and some skilled original productions on well-regarded labels such as AUS Music, Hypercolour, secretsundaze or Simple, the Berlin via Yorkshire DJ and producer is compiling an increasingly impressive discography.
At times melancholic, at times uplifting, Ewan's delicate and emotive moods have a unique personality that patiently catches your ear. In a similar fashion, Youandewan has managed to maneuver himself into an enviable underground position in the last few years, slowly but surely cementing his place on every step of his career.
With an album on AUS Music on the horizon, the Brit producer is about to unleash his most mature and elaborated work to date. Classy selections and thoughtful programming clearly reflect his evolution on this month's podcast. Listen to Youandeawan's mix and check out the short interview below.
As usual, you can also check previous editions of our mix series on our soundcloud. Enjoy!
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Hey Ewan, how is everything in Berlin?
Yeo! All good, cheers. Just enjoyed another sweet summer here and now getting ready to settle in for the winter.
You moved there a while ago, has the city and its healthy local scene influenced you as an artist?
Been here almost 3 years now, which is nuts because it's flown by. Having the luxury of quality events on most weekends deffo has its benefits. Just being able to listen to lots of classy tunes is always good for inspiration.
What was your approach to this mix? Did you have a particular vibe to get across? What inspired your selections?
I just wanted to put together something that resembles my DJ sets. There's plenty old and new tunes in there of a similar vibe that I think work nicely together.
Your album ‘There Is No Right Time’ is expected to land in October 2016. Did the format affect the musical direction? Was the process of writing the album different to how you would craft an EP?
Deffo. I'm into quite a lot of bands and electronica, too, so I never really intended on producing a 'clubby' lp. I had a mood and vibe in mind that I think I captured eventually.
It was quite a stressful process, but it came together in the end.
What were the main tools you used to produce the album? As an artist what is your relationship with music technology?
It was pretty much made in bedroom studios over the last 3 years. I rented a proper studio for a year with all the trimmings, but it didn't really work out because I just felt pressured to work in there. Working at home deffo has it's pros & cons but it's probs where I'm most creative.
I have a pretty simple set-up with a couple synths and some nice effects racks that I run through Ableton. I've bought and sold quite a lot of stuff as I barely used them.
Your productions are often a quiet storm of subdued energy. Does the album intend to impart a particular emotional narrative to the listener?
It took quite a while to finish because most of the tracks were actually written in winter. So the music probably just resembles my mood during those times.
Club music today often harks back to its own past. What do you think should be the balance between looking backwards for inspiration and being innovative and forward thinking as an artist?
Well, styles will always be regurgitated, it's just probs the artists that combine those quality core ingredients with a bit of originality and flair that stand out. In terms of dance music, there's a noticeable aesthetic difference between tracks from the 80s/90s and a lot of tracks from today. A fair amount of modern electronic music can sometimes be a tad clean and rigid - probs due to modern production methods - so it's no surprise that the older stuff often prevails.
You are part of the AUS family. What's your relationship with the team and how did it all come together?
An old friend of mine started working for the label after I began releasing music, and I think he encouraged Will and co. to listen to my demos. We soon met and played together and got along nicely. I'm grateful to those doods for giving me the opportunity to do an album.
What can we look forward to from you in the near future? Will you be touring the album?
Yeah, I'm doing a lil Australian tour with Andy Hart in Nov, then after that, a few dates in Japan and the US, too, then seeing off the year back in Berlin at Panorama Bar.
I also have a new ep coming out in November and plan to work on another 12 for 2017.
29th September 2016
Spooky J, the mask hiding a man of rhythm. An internationally experienced Jazz percussionist and composer based in Leeds, whose originality and experimentation has spearheaded Blip Discs' darkest, most outlandish and hands-on dispatch to date.
No samples, only original recordings and found-sounds, and Spooky-J's fascinating approach to Doepfer synths, tam-tam, field recorded Avignonese cows, burgled suburbs in Leeds and brush snare... entirely originally recorded tracks seamlessly synthesised and orchestrated. Dancefloor gelignite (more powerful than dynamite)!
Phonica have the privilege of premiering flipside 'Pfer'. We really love the freaky alien soundscapes contrasted with down-tempo jungle beats. It makes us think of what Soichi Terada soundtracking the ritual sacrifice of humans by alien apes that had successfully taken over the planet would sound like... Dayum!
You can pre-order your copy here to avoid missing out. But don't blame us if it doesn't make it past airport security!
As ever, our entire back catalogue of exclusive premieres is available to listen to on Soundcloud:
22nd September 2016
Following his acclaimed debut, "Radio Days", Danish producer Uffe Christensen returns to Tartelet Records whith his second LP “No!”. Every bit as abundant as his first LP, it's a record that scales polyrhythmic percussion, improvised jazz, & billowing ballads.
His new record is cut in the same spirit as the last: a borderless approach to music-making with organic instrumentation at its heart. Genres collide peaceably – off-beat soul with jazz, hip-hop with the heft of house – and are melded smooth with an earthy warmth. Uffe enjoys his place on the perimeter – an outlier searching critically for something closer to a timeless groove. Far from a churn of simple dance floor fodder, the album is a journey through a consummate narrative.
Phonica Records get the scoop on one of the LP's standout tracks - "Lesser Known Values", featuring an irresistible warbling jazz breakdown. Hear for yourself right here:
As Tartelet continue their run of consistently solid EPs & 12"s, it's still these album moments that remain the best gateways into the label's distinctive sound. Alongside Max Graef's debut 'Rivers of the Red Planet' and Glenn Astro's 'Throwback', Uffe's 'No' is a mirror to the Tartelet spirit and sits amongst the imprint's best.
“No!” will be available on 2xLP (with bonus 7”) plus digital download and streaming formats from 14 October but you can pre-order your copy here to make sure you don't miss out.
You can also check out our previous Premieres over on our Soundcloud page:
16th September 2016
The Phonica Podcast is back for its September edition with a dancefloor selection by Sunday's favourite Callumander!
After the summer break, September has been full on so far - especially on the house & techno front! Callum has picked some essential wax that has recently reached our shelves. Remarkable highlights include the new Pepe Bradock on Avatisme, the long-awaited return of german disco don Sound Stream, Willow's second offering on Workshop, Mike Huckaby's timely repress of Baseline 88 or the amazing reissue of Roberto de Simone's ultra rare 'Il Coro Delle Lavandaie'.
Full tracklist down below, click the titles to be redirected to each release page. 'Til next time!
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TRACKLIST:
01. Modaji - Belle Epoque [Utopia]
03. Cale Sexton - Etaggers [Butter Sessions]
04. Pepe Bradock - Yazuke [Avastime]
05. MR K - Trans-Europe Express Pt2 [Mostexcellent Unlimited]
06. Colophon - Mechanism And Motion (Florian Kupfer Remix) [Lowercase Life]
07. Mike Huckaby - Baseline 88 [Synth]
08. Levon Vincent - Birds [Novel Sound]
09. Shan - Caliber [Running Back]
10. Sound Stream - Relief [Sound stream]
11. Jamie 326 - Purple Edit [326 Records]
12. Roberto De Simone - Li Coro Delle Lavandaie [Archeo Recordings]
