Supperclub London Play House

Playhouse The Masked Ball at Supperclub, London

Grant Nelson, Martin Ikin and Audiowhores

Friday, 8 March 2013

A superior night full of some serious sounds in a venue full of beautiful pretty things was on the menu, presented by Lucarelli founder of Deep Red Records and boss-man at Playhouse. Established nearly three years ago and mapping parties all over the UK and Europe, a connoisseur in all things house – Lucarelli definitely has the right cocktail for a hot night. The Supperclub has always been one of my favourite places to go to seriously get my dress and groove on and this night was no exception. A location setting the scene of beds, a roll-top bath and Playhouse bunnies, this was a night definitely not to be missed.

Grant Nelson

Martin Ikin from Soul Purpose, warmed things up for house music supremo and a god-father of all things two-step Grant Nelson. I have so much to say about this man, but I haven’t got 20 years to roll off all his musical accolades. He’s done what very few producers in the world and in the genre of dance music has failed to do – success in four genres, Drum & Bass to Happy Hardcore and UK Garage through to House.  And lets not forget the pseudonyms he’s created under, too many to name but a few you will be familiar with; M-Gee, Wishdokta,Bump & Flex, N‘n’G, Nu Rhythmix, G.O.D. (who knew?) the list goes on and on.

Grey Goose Party Masquerade Girls

Wasting no time in spiking up the temperature, Nelson dropped classic after classic. This British equivalent to Masters At Work had everyone rocking to house hits far back as ’06. Hitting highs with Solu Music’s Fade and getting down with Aaliyah’s More Than A Woman remix kept every one jolly and in a lip-syncing good-vibe, and if that wasn’t enough out came that Jodeci track. Everything came out nice and ripe for this night and the tunes were flowing as much as the champagne. Obviously loving every minute of the vibes Grant got into his set and I have to say Mr Nelson got moves! An amazing set for the masked marauders and the next time I attend a Grant Nelson set I’ll forego my high heels for trainers so I can seriously get down.

For the finale Audiowhores duo, Graham Lord and Adam Unsworth rocked the rest of the night. The Manchester-based boys currently remixing for heavyweight labels Defected, Peppermint Jam and MN2S to name a few and their own hybrid Tempogroove, have put these guys in forefront of the scene as what’s hot. Citing influences of MAW, Knee Deep and Full Intention they have built their empire on taking house music in a new direction with massive remixes for Roland Clarke, Barbara Tucker, Kathy Brown and Alex Mills smashing the dancefloors just for starters.

Real Life Bunny

Mixing all things deep was on order here as the boys kept the crowd moving. Big vocals and catchy disco synths are the signature style of Audiowhores and it was a definite crowd-pleaser in their track selection, Dennis Ferrer’s classic Church Lady obviously going down a storm. These guys could have kept on playing until day-break as it seemed no one wanted to leave… such was the vibes.

Review by Sandra Swaybe-Barrett

Playhouse Parties

Grant Nelson

Audiowhores

Audiowhores – Graham Lord and Adam Unsworth

Ferno and Mestivan

Fact London Presents 1605
SubTerrania at Egg, London
Date: Saturday, 26 January 2013

The SubTerrania family kicked of their premiere super club debut of the new year with hard unrelenting beats at Egg on Saturday. Aptly located in terrace room these boys (and girl) rocked each set as if they were hold up is some basement locker in Detroit. Dirty, sweaty, sexy sounds pumped through a very moist atmosphere as revelers rolled back and forth, coming up for air and darting back again so as not to miss the hypnotic sounds.

Jamie Funk

Eddie Rok

Warming things up, the nice and funky, Eddie Rok delivered an addictive set which kept the room stomping. Mixing coercive, melodramatic rhythms with a sharp sub-bass Rok executed a faultless set. Hot on his heels deep tech supremo and member of super-quartet Kameleon, Jamie Funk graced the decks showcasing what makes him first class producer as well as DJ. Having garnered support from heavyweights Luciano and Alex Kidd, his musical accolades are set to climb. Showing off his musical roots and inspiration of all things tech house, Funk kept the crowd elated and still up for more.

Mark Pharaoh

With near two decades of DJing talent under his belt Mark Pharaoh is no stranger to pleasing crowds. Citing his parental musical influences of Northern Soul and Motown, its not hard to see where the boy from  Barrow-In-Furness-boy-done-good, gets his knack for a groove from. Making a name for himself in the mid-nineties heavily influenced by DJ’s Carl Cox, Grahame Park and David Morales his skills and talents took him to the adopted home of house music, Ibiza. After a break Pharaoh was back on the decks with his groove on and dropping some seriously deep tracks in his set. Teasing clubbers with the odd classic track from the past, there’s no denying the musical prowess of this DJ who keeps them coming back for more.

Sub Terrania head honcho’s Mestivan and Mauro Ferno made their presence felt with some seriously deep and dark tech house. These feisty Lisbon local boys took their love for the music and the scene and turned it into not just a brand, but a way of life for their followers.  Dropping the beats down real low and tribal is the signature of these two. Regulars to EGG and firmly established in EC1 in clubs such Aquarium, they have played all over Europe including Ibiza and as far as Brazil. When back on home turf you can catch them spinning with the rest of the Sub Terrania family at one of their famous after-party gigs at Cable or on S-Dance Radio.

Samantha Blackburn

This is one lady that holds her own with the big boys, Samantha Blackburn if you don’t know who she is you better get to know… she’s been rocking most of 2012. The South African-born artist unmistakably showcases her love of beats in her sets and is not afraid to experiment.  The Get Diverted resident has warmed-up for the likes of Paul Woolford and Mr C and in 2011 she teamed up with Chloe Fontaine (Passionfm), to create Byrdz promoting and showcasing female DJ’s. Her eclectic look and sound is one to watch for this year as Miss Blackburn comes up with the good stuff.

Sub Terrania 
Photographs by Avrora Art

 Event reviewed by Sandra Swaybe-Barrett

The latest offering from the recent launch of Makin Moves residency at the Bedroom Bar in Shoreditch, saw the promotion of the labels’ first release ‘Just Fine’ featuring Shea Soul, with the singer providing a once-only performance and singing her other tracks Tricks and Perfectly. Home-grown Croydon talent and BRIT school performer Shea, cites her musical influences from Lauren Hill to Ella Fitzgerald. It’s clear to see why – the influences with vocals that are fresh as a summer’s breeze on the Just Fine track give a slight nod to the vocals of Fitzgerald.

Incredibly soulful and unique in the very British sense Shea has managed to find her own sound amongst the Lianne La Hava’s and Jesse Ware’s on the music scene. Cutting her musical teeth on the UK  dance scene with celebrated UK garage producer MJ Cole, she has gone on to work with the UK’s finest Toddla T, Shy FX and Attacca Pesante but to name a few. The collaboration with Pesante led to her most well-known hit to date, ‘Make It Funky For Me’. Her talent is undeniable and I have no doubt that her song writing/songstress abilities will be in demand in the near future.

After her performance she answered a few questions on her influences, her music and where she’s heading for the future:

Hi Shea tell me about how you got interested in music and song writing?

I did both things from a very young age – I would write, learning comical songs for my siblings and I would often make up songs for my friends and myself to sing in the playground. I think as I got older, I realised that it was something I was actually good at and began to pursue it more & more.

Who and what are your main musical inspirations?

I’m inspired by every kind of music. I even absorb the sound of music played in the background of TV commercials, radios playing in sweet shops, to the music I play at home. I would say the artists that have probably influenced me most would have to be Lauryn Hill with her vocal tone and Ella Fitzgerald with her voice control, Stevie Wonder & Michael Jackson with their diverse writing styles. I’m pretty much influenced by everything I hear even if it’s the opposite of what I want to.

You’re a Brit School Graduate which has showcased the likes of Leona Lewis and Jessie J, what are the advantages and disadvantages for you coming from such a well-acclaimed academy?

BRIT school for me was a place that gave me lots of great memories and a few cool experiences, but not one that shaped my life. Having such acclaimed artists come from there it’s expected that all of its students will become instant stars or at least rub shoulders with them. The music industry is far more complicated than that, going to a prestigious school gives no guarantees to what may or may not come next. However, I had the opportunity to learn through creativity at BRIT which is very much encouraged; it definitely added some colour to my journey.

How did your first break come about (meeting MJ Cole etc)?

My brother worked for MJ Cole’s manager at the time and handed him a demo of mine. He liked my voice and invited me into the studio. It was the first time I’d written for anyone established and I was absolutely thrilled when it got released. It was an exciting time.

How would you describe your sound?

I would call my sound a retro, soul/jazz infusion…

Do you have a wishlist of whom you’d love to work/sing with?

I’d love to write and record with John Legend. I think if I could perform with anyone though it would have to be Stevie Wonder, he is such a legend!

How did the collaboration with Matt (Langrish-Smith) and the team at Makin Moves come about?

Matt heard the track Just Fine which I featured on with SMI. He really liked it and approached my manager to ask if he could put it out on his label. Of course I was thrilled and it went from there.

What are your future plans and projects coming up and for the New Year?

My first solo single ‘Where Did You Go’ will be released early in the new year. There’ll be lots of gigs Ieading up to performing tracks from my forthcoming album ‘Grey Skies & Rainbow Fingernails’. Keep posted to my website and Facebook page for details.

Shea’s new single ‘Where Did You Go’ is out 28 January 2013 0n This Area7.

Buy Shea Soul on Makin Moves from Amazon UK (£0.69)

Review & Interview by: Sandra Swaybe-Barrett

Buy from Amazon UK (£0.69)

Reviewed by: Sandra Swaybe-Barrett

The first release on the Makin Moves edm label. This track firmly cements the direction of the label, deeply incorporating the exciting London house-scene with an infusion of new soul/jazz that typify any dance party. The breezy breath-taking vocals of Shea Soul, compliments the melodic-heavy bass line making this track effortlessly likeable.

Producer Leon ‘SMI’ Vandol is part of a movement of new skool innovators taking the industry by storm and in their own hands. Having already collaborated with the UK’s underground’s better known artists Doneo and Nivine, SMI is firmly in control. With light piano touches flattering the synth cello and bass is a perfect accompaniment to Shea’s vocals.

A great track has a touch of Studio Apartment without blatantly plagiarising them. Radio edit and Youself remixes by David Harness, add that extra tempo that moves the track along nicely without subtracting its light and airy vibe. Turning up the dial is Jihad Muhammad with his very own Bang On the Drum remix, adding compression-heavy filters and snares for that deep in the club feel. Taking this track out its comfortable light-house feel and into subterranean depths. Definitely one for the flight case.

Paul Oakenfold at Slinky’s 15th Birthday at The O2, Bournemouth, UK

Slinky celebrated their 15th Birthday in true Slinky style by appointing Planet Perfecto‘s Paul Oakenfold as their headlining act, along with Perfecto Records warm up act, Federation and the irrefutable dons of dance music John O’Callaghan and Marcus Schossow.

Sit back and enjoy this awesome video production made by Standard Cut Media for Slinky.

The irrefutable champion of techno presented an impressive line-up for his 50th birthday celebrations. In his 11th year as a resident of Space and 12 million worldwide listeners to his Global radio show, the humble boy from Barbados has every reason to celebrate. Fresh from his previous celebrations at Sands Bar which he part owns the day before, the three-decks maestro showcased his special birthday guests before gracing the crowd with his presence.

Upstairs on the roof the Pukka Up team brought its boat party, free-spirited vibe to the outside terrace. DJ Oz on the decks pumping out its hi octane mildly commercial techno-house kept the boat party ravers very satisfied. Lucca warmed up proceedings in the main room as one of a handful successful female DJs; she was described as the most famous Czech DJ in 2003. Making a name for herself over the last decade, she regularly plays the festivals and clubs of central Europe. When not content with having her producer’s hat on and managing her label Acapulco Records, she spinning tunes for one the fans of her music Carl Cox. Doing it for the girls Lucca spun high octane, high energy minimal tech keeping everyone on their toes.

In El Salon, Vinyl Frontier mixed and scratched their way through 70’s disco hits such as Tom Browne’s Jamaica Funk mashed up with Summer Time’s Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince all vinyl no CDJ or Mac in sight. While the El Salon kept it soulful and funky, the Terraza room had the god-father of and UK’s finest Drum and Bass export, Andy C spinning up a storm with the latest hard break-beat sounds with the help of MC GQ. Momentum kept pace with dubstep supremo and one third of Magnetic Man trio, Artwork along with mc veteran Dynamite MC.

Completing the graveyard shift was my soulful/deep house favourites, Masters At Work playing their only date in the white isle this year.  After being apart since 2007, Louis Vega and Kenny ‘Dope’ Gonzalez reunited also to celebrate 20 years together. I have seen them many times this year, together and apart and this has got to be the most memorable set I’ve heard. These purveyors of many genres of house brought a superior quality that many new school DJs wish to aspire to. An impromptu appearance by Barbara Tucker got everyone reacting. Singing a freestyle edit of Deep Inside followed by Beautiful People was simply amazing. I’ve heard all their sets before and I’m always impressed because its the quality they bring to each one, but this was exceptional.

In the main room was the moment I was waiting for, Mr Carl Cox one of the nicest guys in the business did not disappoint. With an amazing introduction the voice courtesy of Grace Jones, was just a taster of what an amazing set it was going to be. This man’s amazing ability to synchronize his sets and then take it to the next level is infamous as his ability to bring you up with the lightest of synths like picking a delicate flower and then drop you back down with deep and dark techno was all on show. Turning bedroom bedlam into an art form there’s no debating as Cox effortlessly crosses the genre lines in experimentation (D&B through to dubstep) making it the acceptable norm – he was the first to do so.

True to form when Cox is breaking a sweat behind those decks, you better believe his followers are too. Like a magician over his magical domain, his enthusiasm for getting the masses in an ardent fervour was legendary to witness as everyone vibed off each other and vibed off his ambience. White sheets were tented over the crowds to dance under, sparklers distributed and lit, dancers and lasers offering the best in reveler participation. Anywhere else and it wouldn’t be Space, Ibiza. If you’ve never been to see Carl Cox, if you’ve never been to a techno night, make sure it’s a Carl Cox one, watch him do his thing… As he’s sure to get you dancing and possibly converted.

Event reviewed by Sandra Swaybe-Barrett

A night presented by its creator/director Matt Langrish-Smith, Makin’ Moves showcased the finest artists in the deep house scene right now. The self-penned ‘London’s boy about town’s’ impressive amalgamation of chic location, people and made for a notable premiere. The head boy and partner at Tribe Records, has now branched-out with his own solo promotion company already flexing its muscle heading up Moxa nights around the city.

An attractive line-up was sure not to disappoint under the canopy in Brixton and the weather even managed a break from the rain and a little smile from the sun for this outdoor event.  Playing to an über-cool, trendy crowd who know their deep house when they hear it, the event really got started with the first main headliner N’Dinga Gaba. Making his premiere here in London the Baltimore-based artist brought a little bit of his hometown with him, the diversity of his background was clearly reflected in his set. Gaba’s career spans 20 years in the music industry his musical repertoire spans orchestral through to jazz and break beat through to house.

Racking up a résumé of who’s who in the house scene, Gaba has remixed on labels such as Sole Channel, Code Red Recordings, Shelter Records and collaborating with Louis Vega and DJ Spen. A versatile production of slick soulful sounds with a mere hint of deep beats was the right chemistry for the hazy Sunday afternoon on the Brixton Club House terrace.  A few degrees warmer and the atmosphere could well be mistaken for the somewhere in Ibiza (minus the sea).

Turning up the tempo was Soulmates native Rap Saunders offering the best in underground house in true Soulmates fashion. Firmly established in London, Saunders joined Soulmates team in 2004 while spinning tunes at Blackmarket Records. With a successful monthly residency at AKA, The End they became the people’s choice amongst movers and groovers.

Uplifting tunes laced with hypnotic bass lines too funky not dance to dance to, kept the revelers entranced right up to the last track of the set.

Playing out early evening to dusk was Tribe Records and House FM resident Jamesey. A relative ‘new kid on the block’ compared to some of London’s more established DJ’s, this junior’s skills on the decks and musical prowess is far from the above.  A maturity that appears as if he’s been playing professionally for the best part of two decades is not a bad accolade, as he delivered a crowd-jumping set and the crowd were jumping. With a well-honed ear Jamesey knows what he likes and the crowd like it too. And so it should be, Jamesey got on the decks at the age of 14 as music and DJ’s run in the family, his future looks promising.

When this North London likely lad gets into his set, he gets involved. Ravers unable to control there delight at his melodic heavy set with deep and soulful mixes, chanted his name with glee. The highlight of his set was Lana Del Rey’s, Video Games mixed the deep house way.  Finishing off into the night was met with rapturous applause as the night was taken indoors with label mate At One of Atjazz Records. In all a successful launch with good vibes, great atmosphere, it will be exciting to see what prospects are in store for Making Moves.

Photographs Tony TK Smith

Event reviewed by Sandra Swaybe-Barrett

BUY ‘In Search Of Sunrise 10 (Australia)’ on Amazon UK

Video by Beomchul Kim

Date: Saturday, 7 July 2012

The art-house Corsica Studios in Elephant and Castle was the ideal space and a return home for this renowned Italian club night, Moxa. Celebrating his birthday in true DJ style, the other half of Masters At Work, maverick, Kenny ‘Dope’ Gonzalez, really put it down. This artiste’s long reign in house music was given a temporary time out. Spinning a selection paying homage to his soul and hip-hop roots, he comfortably showed it he’s got game.

Mixing old-school grooves with classic hip-hop was definitely a break from the norm. Any fans wanting to hear MAW classics heard a different kind of Dope and were in no way disappointed. Mashing up Slum Village with Jay Z before breaking into Amerie and Lauryn Hill takes some doing and it was done très bienmuch to the delight of the crowd.Taking the tunes further back in time with unexpected tracks from David Byrne and the Stone Roses categorically getting the thumbs of approval by a chorus of solid ‘yeah’s’ from the crowd. Slickly moving onto a more funk sound, really showcased his musical background. Such versatility in Dope’s musical milieu is a testament to his musical genius and a rare insight into the inspiration behind the MAW sound.

Revelers in cold turkey for the Moxa dose of house ducked and dived in the second room. Experimental big beats and minimal tech were in heavy rotation spun by Luciano Esse and Luke Solomon giving a Joey Beltram-esque feel once inside. An experimental night in the true sense of the word a very good mix which, works successfully for Moxa. It certainly was Kenny Dope’s birthday and he partied like it was his birthday. An appreciative crowd who didn’t mind the contrasts and loved the vibes.

Event reviewed by Sandra Swaybe-Barrett

Photographs by Tony TK Smith

Dont forget to check out their debut album below: