tisdag 29 december 2009

The Music That Made The Diffrence

I use to find the b-sides on many of my records as my favorites. One in particular that I have saved to this day is The Box Tops "Happy days" (www.boxtops.com).




This song is very short but it contains the same idea I have about music today. There´s a wierd but very catchy groove in this song that gives me the same satisfaction 35 years later.

Reggae music changed my life, I think it was this version of "The Swanlake" that opened my mind for it.




But is was mostlikely the basslines at Gröna Lund when Bob Marley & The Wailers played 1977 that built my foundation of music.

Can anyone remember if he did play "Natural mystic"?

(www.sweconpos.com)

And where did I end up then?

In the eighties when I was picked on for listening too Kraftwerk,Heaven 17,Jah Thomas,Aswad,Big Youth,Dub or instrumental reggae, I noticed that I was listening to grooves and fx.
Maybe it was my love for cartoons and animated movies that made me listen to sound engineers who gave birth to dub or edits.

(My first record that I purchased was Aswad "A new chapter of dub", I didn´t know this was an instrumental record and today I rate it as my favorite album of all time.)

Dubmusic was like an adventure, if the dubversion was good then certainly the vocal was classic !




And what a terrible era it was or was it,the 80´s ?!?

I had been influenced by friends who was Punkrockers,I´ve been smelling the smoke of cigarrs meanwhile Blues,Jazz and other contemporary sounds filled the air but I was always in the hunt for more.

From Bill Hayley & The Comets, The Monkeys, Willie Dixon, J.B.Lenoir,Ray Charles, The Parliament,Third World,Bob Marley,Jah Shaka,King Tubby,James Brown,Miles Davis, Hashim,Herbie Hancock,Trouble Funk and Grandmaster Flash. There was no end was there ?

The missunderstood sound of syntherziers and drummachines made a almost vulgar entry to the world of music. This was in the end of the 70´s and it was heard in early Electro and creative Popmusic.

Even to this day I rate the Roland Juno Series, Jupiter,Oberheim,Kurtzweil and Oscar as some of my favorite sources of sounds.




Drummachines like the Linn 9000 and Roland 808 was about to take my taste into other directions.







In my opinion most MC´s or Rappers sounded poor, there was to little character compared to the Jamaican MC´s. They where also called DJ´s.




There was loads of songs with rap, and many to this day classic but it would take
many years before I felt seriously about a MC (Master Of Cermony). Or should I say someone who said something that ment something.







Music became more and more something a DJ would control, but now it was a totally diffrent one than the traditional DJ. The new DJ made music while playing a set and it involved scratchin´.




With this came the search for "Breaks", a section where the song breaks into a part where the drummer goes off. As a DJ you needed two of each record to keep the break alive.

I consider it a gift to been able to collect The Ultimate Breaks And Beats on the recordcompany Streetbeats.



If it wasn´t for the DJ how would we know about music?

Even myself I had some great moments in a club,rave or just by listening
to radio.



The only thing that I don´t really understand is all the categories of
music in general. As far as my taste in music or the tunnes played by Dj´s they usually have a foundation of a groove or rhythm together with a bassline.

Some songs contains soundscapes others vocals in certain tone or key.
Sometimes music sounds sad or happy.

Maybe a poor example but I find songs from diffrent cultures havin´pretty
much the same atmosphere when for an example the message is "love".



Even the "blues" come in certain colours and some people say that you never
played the blues if you haven´t had a toothache.




I feel sorry for the people who never gave dancemusic in general a chance.



Like when we who started collecting breaks stripped down the rest of the elements,
and found ourself listening to a new genre.
The beauty in House and Techno that continued the pulse of us humans since birth.
Usually when a DJ play music he plays dance music. The tempo or bpm just guides
you thru the emmotions and vibes that the recording presents during that moment.

Dance music is usually instrumental,wich opens up more space to expand in a
individualls mind during dancing.

tisdag 22 december 2009

The Beginning Of The End part.1


It was 1975 on my 5th birthday when I got my first turntable.
To this day I wonder what my mum was thinking, I doubt we
could afford it and little should she understand what happened
in my head when I put on “The Apache” for the first time.


In the late 70´s and beginning of the 80´s we lived in a place called
Märsta. I met a friend there who would be by my side for a long time, Floyd Dixon.
He had a thing for break-dancing and a crush on graffiti.

I use to listen to radio a lot and there was one station MRS with Rinkeby International
who use drop Funk, Reggae and Hiphop.

Many thanks to: Kennet “Kenny Black” Seremet,
Miss Funky Fly, Brother Memo, Glenn C, MC II Fresh, DJ Rock Ski and Jeff.


(Also one show that came thru on Kiss FM when this still was pirate I guess.
It was Miss Lady B dropping some serious roots.)

I was lost in the overdose of music from early age aswell with my sports and fishing.
But it would not take long before I tried to “shake” a leg or two over The Sugar Hill Gang
grooves that came out of the stereo.

We use to travel into the centre of Stockholm and link up at various Hiphop jams.
These where great places to connect with people who shared the same ideas and
beliefs. If there was anyone who needs be mentioned that made an impression on me
it would be: Dj Rock-Ski, Crazy-Eric, Cherno Jah, IC-Rockers, Dizzy & Ziggy.



We had our heroes who had showed their skills earlier well to impress us; Ayodele “ Rock Ski” Shekoni, Krister Linder and Cherno Jah was three people who I met and felt strongly about.



We where like a “Crew” without knowing this and sometimes I miss theese times.

The B-Boys; DC, Patrik Helge and Floyd Dixon


My family moved 30 minutes closer to Stockholm to a town named Upplands-Väsby
about when I was 13 and this would change things in general.

Here I met a friend, Claudio-Ortiz-Delano (older brother to Alexi) who had a pair of 1200´s, and from the day when I touched them it was a new beginning of something else.

The makin of mixtapes, an era that helped me to gain respect around the streets.

The summer of 86´ me and Floyd together with a very inspiring friend Jackiat went to
Denmark to see more closely how Hiphop culture had changed the youth
and their communities.

I met loads of exellent graffiti artist and MC´s, but the person who would change
my ideas for the next 20 years or so was Dj Soulshock.



The blackbook and music took more and more of my time. It wasn´t until one day
when the police knocked on our door and asked me to come down to the office.

I was convicted for what I thought was art or as it is known; graffiti.

Anyone could imagine how it feels when you become a criminal for the first time and
everything turns upside down.

My mum and my brothers moved away from the “city life” and I was left by myself
around 1987.

Studies took more of my time and today looking back why didn´t anyone tell
me there was a school for media and communications ?

(I can´t remember myself enjoying any of the studies of electronics and communications.)

The first two years by myself my life was only music and work, the turnaround came
when Akilles “Acke” French called me and asked if I wanted to start a club with Ayodele “Rock Ski” Shekoni who also introduced me to musicproduction.


Our first club was called Soulnights, a club playin various music with influences
from Funk, Reggae, Hiphop and Soul.

It was held at club Melody with owner Peter Ahlm. Live music arranged by the hardest workin man Harry Byrne even today one of my big sources of inspirations.

On my way to town by train I use to meet people who tagged the trains. And it was
here where I met Cari Lekebusch for the first time checkin out a blackbook.

I had made mixtapes for many years and they where played and sold without my knowledge
around Stockholm and later on even worldwide.

We had linked up with “The Mc Carty Brothers” during the summers playing basketball.
Ben and John was the first people who shared the same interest in Hiphop music and we decided to make a Hiphop band.

Sons Of Soul would be something I to this day are very proud about.


We won a record deal with the legendary label SweMix and little did I know about how tings would change. Arranged by Alex Strehl and held at legendary Fryshuset (youthcentre) with
Jungle Brothers on stage as main act.



1989 I went abroad for the first time and New York was my final stop.

I hanged with pimps, hustlers and interviewed Hiphop artist like; Biz Markie, Graig C,
Chill Rob G and Kool Keith of the mighty Ultramagnetic MC´s (who stoled those tapes?).

I was introduced to Kool DJ Alert and saw people at recordlabels,many of these things
thanks to Carsten “The Killa” Willer and Funkenklein.



It was the absolute best way to get behind the scenes to get and idea about what and where
Hiphop was goin also for the first time ever get the view over what a drug named Crack was doin to a bigger scale of people.

It was almost after blood,sweet and tears when we finally had a album ready.
The selftitled Sons Of Soul album hit the streets 1991 early year and we went
on tour. Before this we released two 12-inches “Madness”/ “Another day is gone”.


To this day I don´t know how many members we where but here´s the list:
Floyd Dixon, Ben “Big Ben” Mc Carty, John Mc Carty, Adam “ADL” Nilsson and
Robert “Lam-Ez” Åsard
.

Sons Of Soul, Cherno Jah, ADL, Majik-E, 3 Pieces Of A Puzzle, Infinitive Mass became the beginning, an era of new Swedish talents and today we have Hiphop acts like: The Latin Kings, PH 3, Bluez, Feven ,Petter , Ayo and Ken to name a few.


When workin at SweMix with Robert “Mopz Below” Broman and Stonebridge I met Dj Renegade, JM Fax, Dragon Fly, Kayo Shekoni, Emil Hellman, B True, Da Yeene, JJ ,
Denniz Pop and Titiyo.

All people who influenced me into House (Acid), Techno and dance music in general.

I remember when we had a permanent night at The Ritz and Steve Blame stood infront
of me and interviewing me for MTV about our club. I didn´t even know that until later
when friends called me saying: -You on MTV !

During different happenings I got introduced to the UK scene of underground music.
Longsy D, Rebel MC, Faze One and A Guy Called Gerald just to drop a few names.

The beginning of the 90´s was an exellent era of music worldwide I guess.
Jazz made an new entry thru modern music and it also put a very cool vibe around design and lifestyle.


Konkreet Jungle would be our Mecca and again a place for change.
This club was a collective of producers, dj´s and friends.


I was again asked to join Lion and Pierre Mocka who found a venue who looked
for the right concept. We had a misty start but eventually when all pieces came in right
place. It was here where Addis Black Widow also made their entry.

If there was a “rat pack” ever in Stockholm the following names would have been in that:
Dj Rock Ski, Leafnuts, Damon Frost, Bebop, Desmond Foster, Langsam and Camille Esquerre.


We where and had a soundsystem til it got stolen and it was built by Johannes Blomé.

It was now when I heard what would later become Jungle or Drum and Bass.
Some called it “Ragga Techno” others “Jungle Techno” and I was in flames.

Almost first flight over to UK and with a little the help from ZTV I managed to get a
the chance to do some material for TV. The fist office I visited was the Renk Records
and I was introduced to Junior and M-Beat. Also thru contacts I met Rude Boy Keith
( part of Kings Of The Jungle with Dextrous) he took me thru the suburbs of London
and I was goin from clubs to raves meeting up with everybody involved in the scene.

We even chased The Ragga Twins by car just to say hi !

The Wax and Rollers Express presented heavy sounds with the latest dubplate pressure to name a few.

I went to Leicester to link up with Dj SS and we met loads of times since then.

The Beginning Of The End Part.2

I was also supposed to research about the beats culture coming from the labels like Mo´Wax but I never even got an answer to my calls, strange.
Acid-jazz was the name of Jazz that worked on dancefloors and this mixture with Drum and Bass made me travel and do guest appearances at legendary Giant Step in New York and
The Mambo Inn in London.


Thanks: Gerry, Rita, Dj Swingsett and Lion.



There has always been a big problem with venues around Stockholm and it is sad
to say that racial, both against music and people are common

It was hard times in the mid 90´s for our movement of people who joined us on the
journey of music. Venues closed down, bad rumours where spread that I stopped Dj and
even the gunshots outside Sture Compagniet gave a bitter taste.

Remember on time when I had to bring in Goldie & Aswad the backway
cause the bouncers didn´t wanna let em in !

I had been spinning for a few years close to this venue at Köket och en Bar.
Thanks to Stephan Grieder (Svek Records) me and Damon Frost had a little groovy little bar jumpin

During daytime I was in a recordstore called Disc where I was left empty handed
with financial problems that later was discovered not being my problems at all.
But is was too late, I had taken loans trying to save what was left.
Many thanks: Mette Uccer

I took the backcatalouge to another recordstore, Planet Rhythm and it was here where I met
Cari Lekebusch again. He had his Hybrid Productions office and studio in the basement.
Adam Beyer and Jesper Dahlbäck was also workin in this store that sold House,Techno and with me on board even Drum and Bass.
The owner Glen Wilson probably to this day is pissed on me cause I payed all invoices
to my knowledge and to my contacts before the closing of Planet Rhythm.
Many thanks: Chris Parkinson

Fastfood was my and our sanctuary.

It was born during a time when Lollipop did is entry out by Lida.
A massive festival where we saw Fabio, LTJ Bukem alongside Ray Keith in Sweden for
the first time.

Johan Ressle had contacted me knowing my deep interest in dancemusic. We decided
to check this “fantastic” venue out.
The address sounded weird and my first intuition was right it was a “fastfood” restaurant.
Since I knew that the selection we both represented it would be worth a try any ways.


I asked Jonas “J” Sissokho to be part of the mission as a front figure and we decided
to involve new and upcoming Dj´s.
We made a strong and consisting crew with the following people:
Norman Bates, Steel and Bruce Leenus ( legendary dj who always helped us).


A club was born with one night playin drum and bass and Johan Ressle dropping
the deepest of housemusic.

A good sound and total remake of the venue had us presenting artist like:
Doc Scott, The Architex and J-Majik.

Seba and I knew each others already from time and we played often side by side at clubs or made music.


Around 1997 I was invited by my close friend Aasmo “Dj Alimo” Soivio to dj
in Helsinki and Finland. His Beats And Styles imprint was successful with their
nights mixin up with local dj´s and topnames from abroad.

He also introduced me to the great scen in Estonia where I met another great
source of inspiration Raul Saaremeets.


My last attempt to get the music to surface was at Gamla Stans Bryggerier.


The idea was to present as many of the people who I knew wouldn´t let me down.
We had some marvelous nights with guest´s as: Johan Ressle, Subject 13, Rob Playford,
Stanley (the soulman), Way Past Cool, Peter Major (Opolopo), Fabio and the late Kemistry with Storm.

I´ve done the whole 360 degress race and today I sometimes wonder is it worth it?

I have lost friends (some tragically in accidents) others just walked on.
There´s faces that I never will forget both from dancefloors and on the way home.
Time and space have made me met fantastic artist like; Gil Scott Heron, Weldon Irvine,
Gangstarr (Keith),Janne Shaffer, Steve Coleman, Chaka Khan, Ray Baretto, War
, Tiger,Cutty Ranks, Cleveland Watkiss, Larry Heard and all of the above and even more.


Where live music was needed I consulted every thing from; Art Ensemble Of Chicago,The Roots, The Blackalicious, Metalheadz and friends like Peanut Planet(Seba, Lotek and MC Sandor).




Many thanks:



Some of the amazing people before oldschool; Micke Goulos , Thomas Gylling and a mohikan brother Dj Sydney deserves some great respect also.

To all the African Centres who hosted great parties and people like Ahmadu Jarr , Melvyn Price, Henry Gibson, Marque Gilmore and even Billy who let the drum talk.


Blessings to all the dancers and vibe providers.

To my mum who got me that turntable.

To Dj Rock Ski who twisted my neck into musicproduction.

Internet for givin me the chance to spread my mixes and these words.

http://krazythedj.podomatic.com/

http://sharpneck-sound-lounge.podomatic.com/

Seba for givin me a go for oldtime sake again.

For you who came down all the way here.

Much Love. K