AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2012
10
E V E RY B A S S C O V E R E D M U S I C I FA S H I O N I A R T
FREE
DUSKY ANDYC
ROYALT
DAVIDWALKER FROM CROYDON TO CUBA
ARTINTHEDANCEHALL TOYC & ZULU
+
ART FASHION REVIEWS CLUB LISTINGS WWW.TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
10
Photo: ASHES 57
THE DROP
A U G U S T | S E P T E M B E R 2 01 2
10
E V E RY B A S S C O V E R E D
FREE
M U S I C I FA S H I O N I A R T
DUSKY ANDYC
ROYALT
DAVIDWALKER FROM CROYDON TO CUBA
ARTINTHEDANCEHALL TOYC & ZULU
+
ART FASHION REVIEWS CLUB LISTINGS WWW.TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
10
TRAP MAGAZINE AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2012 WWW.TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
REGULARS
FEATURES
HYPE LATEST NEWS AND HYPEST HAPPENINGS
06
SEE NO EVIL
11
MONKI
09
RISE UP JUS NOW / TOYC & ZULU
24
URBAN NERDS
13
NEED FOR MIRRORS TRAP MIX 27
FASHION
14
DUSKY
29
TRAP X THE DAILY STREET
19
ART: DAVID WALKER
32
FIFTY FIFTY
20
MALA
34
BOSS SELECTIONS DJ’S TOP TENS PLUS IN-DEPTH CHARTS
22
ART: ART IN THE DANCEHALL
40
FASHION SHOOT UNDERCOVER
44
ANDY C
52
REVIEWS THE LATEST MUSIC & GAMES
57
ROYAL T
54
BASSPOINTS THE HOTTEST EVENTS ON PLANET BASS
64
29
34
40
52
54
FACEBOOK: Search ‘Trap Magazine’ TWITTER: @trapmagazine EMAIL: info@trapmagazine.co.uk
EDITOR: Jon Cook CREATIVE DIRECTOR/DESIGN: Andy Hayes FASHION EDITOR: Kasha Malyckyj SALES & ADVERTISING: Iain Blackburn MARKETING & DISTRIBUTION: Justin Iriajen SOCIAL NETWORKING: Amy Stiff WEB: Daddison. COVER: Mala by Ashes57. PICTURES: ASHES57, Elise Rose, Shifteye. WORDS: Jon Cook, Kasha Malyckyj, Jason Gardener, Monki, Sam Bates, Gwyn Thomas de Chroustchoff, Sean Kelly, Jeryl Wilton, Amy Stiff, Sophie Thomas, Oli Grant, Tim Rayner, Adam Scotland, James Rompini.
THANK YOU: Dane @ Two Plates, All @ Urban Nerds, Adam @ Backdrop, Ben @ Run, Rob, Tom & Ollie @ The Blast, All @ Team Love, Ross @ Motion, Leo @ Darling, Johnny @ Outlook, Scott & Ollie @ Fabric, Andy @ The Bank, Louis, Rich & Syd @50/50, Carly @ Everything, Cheba & Sam @ WOC, Steve & Diccon @ Chemical, Chris @ Cable, Chris & Joe @ Idle Hands, Danny Keston, Sofi Nowell, Daisy & Christian @ UNOONE and everybody else we forgot.
006
TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
HYPE 10
IN:MOTION MOVING FORWARD Back for a third successive year, the In:Motion series kicks off on Friday 28 September at Bristol’s enormous Motion venue, promising another exceptional three months of music from many of electronic music’s biggest names and brands. Now firmly established as one of the finest series of its kind anywhere in the world, we can’t wait for another season of incredible parties in our own back yard.
FWD>> 11TH BIRTHDAY / RINSE AT THE TATE
Running every weekend through to New Year’s Eve (with a few weeks off in December), this year’s In:Motion will see everyone from Just Jack to Hospitality, Hessle Audio to Cocoon, and Trouble Vision to Tokyo Dub calling the vast warehouses and intimate spaces of Motion home for the night.
On Saturday 18 August one of the most influential nights in the evolution of UK bass-driven music will celebrate its eleventh birthday in an as-yet unnamed East London warehouse. Spanning the years from 2001 to 2012, FWD>> will invite 12 DJs to rep the sounds of the year they made their respective name. We don’t know who they are, but like you, we’re pretty sure we can guess a good few. If our instincts are correct, you really don’t want to miss this.
With live shows from Grimes and even Public Enemy (yes, Public Enemy), In:Motion has clearly stepped up its game for 2012. We’re hugely excited to be hosting our own Warehouse at the October and December Shit The Bed raves – for more info on this and all the events, check the freshly launched website and grab your tickets nice and early before they’re gone!
On the same day, RinseFM will be contributing to the Tate Modern’s young people’s Undercurrent Festival. The station will be taking over the Tate’s Tanks from 19.00 to 22.00, with some of the station’s stellar names taking part in a audio-visual event that promises to ‘explore iconic countercultural music genres’. Sounds deep.
www.bristolinmotion.com
MUSIC TO EAT The guys behind London label
LAZER TIME After taking dancehall to the
NASTY GIRL A firm favourite of the Trap
BRIS FEST On 22 September, the team
Audio Doughnuts have been pretty
world with their 2009 debut, Major
ladies, online US fashion
behind Bristol’s Brisfest finally get
busy recently, kicking off The
Lazer return this autumn with a
emporium Nasty Girl has just
what they’ve wanted for several
Upfront Project at Lightbox and
brand new album. With Switch
launched its debut denim
years – a festival held on the grassy
dropping their first vinyl release
leaving Diplo to full production
range. The first drop includes a
grounds of Ashton Court
since 2010. The hotly rated
duties, the LP is entitled ‘Free
skinny printed jacket that we
overlooking the city. With 11 stages
Pusherman’s ‘Donuts’ EP is out
The Universe’ and is out on
just love.
and over 300 acts offering much
now on all formats. Go check.
5 November.
Available at
more than just music, we’re wishing
audiodoughnuts.com
majorlazer.com
nastygirl.com
the team every success.
TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
0 07
CARNIVAL SEASON RBMA BRINGS THE BASS E ve ryb o d y k n o w s th a t Au gu s t me a n s o n e th i n g – No ttin g H ill Ca rn iva l. Wh a t yo u mi gh t n o t k n o w i s th a t up in No ttin gh a m, th e y h a ve th e i r o w n ca r n i va l th e we e k e n d b e fo re . Th o s e cl e ve r ma r k e te r s a t Re d Bu l l do n ’t mis s a trick , a n d f o l l o w i n g th e s u cce s s o f th e i r en o rmo u s s ta ge s a t b o th th e No tti n g Hi l l a n d St P a u l s ca rn iva ls o ve r re ce n t ye a r s , th i s ye a r th e y’r e ca r ti n g th e ir s w a n k y s ta ge a n d A-l i s t r o s te r o f DJ s u p to No tts on Sa tu rd ay 18 Au gus t. Re d ligh t, Lu n ice , Ea r l Ga te s h e a d , Th e He a tw a ve a n d ma n y mo re w ill b e b r i n gi n g th e b a s s to Th e Fo r e s t Re cre a tio n Gro u n d , a n d l i k e a l l th e b e s t th i n gs i n l i f e , th e w h o le w e e k e n d wi l l b e f r e e to e n te r. Me a n w h ile , d o w n u n d e r th e We s tw a y i n We s t Lo n d o n , th is ye a r RBMA h a s l i n k e d a ga i n w i th Ma j o r La ze r f o r wh a t w ill b e th e h o tte s t ca r n i va l s p o t f o r th e th i r d ye a r r u n n in g o n Mo n d a y 27 Au gu s t. Th e Ma j o r La ze r so u n d s ys te m w ill b e i n f u l l e ff e ct, w i th Me l e , Do c Da ne e k a , Lil Silva , Mixp a k b o s s Dr e Sk u l l a n d o n e a n d on ly Se a n ‘Da ’ P a u l ( Du tty Ye h !) s u p p o r ti n g.
EXCHANGE In these times of economic doom, we’re more used to telling you about legendary venues closing their doors, than announcing the opening of new ones. Thankfully, good news is still out there, and this month that’s the opening of The Exchange – a brand new venue for Bristol’s ever-burgeoning club scene. Massive things are planned for the autumn and winter, with some tantalising parties lined-up. We’ll see you at the Lobster Boy dance in September and probably quite a few times more over the coming months!
As in p re vio u s ye a rs , yo u ’l l n e e d to a p p l y o n l i n e f o r f r e e ti ck e ts to th i s – ge t online a t 10a m on 16 Augus t, or mis s o u t.
www.redbull.co.uk/carnival
WAREHOUSE PROJECT
BACK TO THE PROGRAM
The original autumn clubbing
Celebrating two decades at the
www.exchangebristol.com
JORDAN VII The last year has seen Nike
NOTTS PROPERTY Nottingham has a street-art
series returns to Manchester on
top of their game, Ram Records
re-issuing a massive variety of
heritage to be proud of, and this
28 September, with another
have just launched a brand-new
classic Jordans. Fans of the iconic
August many of the city’s street-art
astonishing set of parties. Bugged
label, Program. Enabling the label to
shoes have never had it so good,
exponents are uniting for the Notts
Out, Richie Hawtin, RinseFm,
push breaking talent that might be
and with the White/Red IVs having
Property graffiti festival. Kicking off
RBMA, Hot Creations... the
lost amongst Ram’s A-list roster of
only just dropped, brand Jordan
on 4 August and with events
season’s schedule reads like a
producers, the first release comes
rolls up again in September with the
throughout the month, check their
promoter’s dream.
from Frankee and drops 26 August.
re-release of the classic Jordan
thewarehouseproject.com
ramrecords.com
VII Raptors.
facebook for more info. facebook.com/property.notts
008
TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
THE UPFRONT PROJECT The South-London nightlife boom continues apace with the recent launch of The Upfront Project at Vauxhall’s freshly rejuvenated Lightbox. Promising the finest in forward-thinking electronic music, from house and techno to garage, funky and the more expressive end of dubstep and hip-hop, the series is curated by the team behind the excellent Audio Doughnuts record label and events. Launched at the tail-end of July, August’s line-ups include Trap favourites Two Inch Punch, Cooly G, Appleblim, Jam City, 2562, Deadboy and many more, as the series looks to quickly establish itself as one of the capital’s most essential Friday nights. As anyone who’s attend a party at Lightbox will know, the venue’s walls and ceiling are smothered in wall-to-wall LED lighting, setting the club firmly apart from the crowd. Combined with the weekly line-ups promised by The Upfront Project, and early-bird tickets costing just a fiver, this new series looks set to boldly make its mark on the capital’s clubbing.
DETONATE Nottingham promoters Detonate are getting ready for the autumn/winter season, with a massive set of events in store from September to December at six of the city’s best venues. After running things in the midlands city for well over a decade, this autumn Detonate will be flexing its muscles and
linking up with some of the biggest names in bass music – Hospitality, Basslaced, Butterz, Nottingham’s number-one reggae sound Highness Soundsystem and your very own Trap Magazine. Line-ups should be up by the time you read this, so get on over to the Detonate website for more info and the chance to win guestlist to the entire autumn season!
www.detonateevents.com
TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
009
FM’s leading lady and Zoo Music boss Monki gives Trap another glimpse into her world…
I LOVE…
Breach launches his new label Naked Naked with his own 'You Won’t Find Love Again'. Initially, Naked Naked will see releases from Breach himself alongside collaborations with the likes of Midland and Dark Sky. Breach describes the label as 'House music with a soul and a healthy dose of bass'. 'You Won't Find Love Again' certainly gives you that and has been a key tune on my show for the last few weeks. Go check it out!.
ONE TO WATCH PEDRO 123
NIGHTS
CATCH ME AT:
CONCRETE
26 / 27 AUGUST NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL
Portsmouth isn't really known for its underground club nights, but Concrete is starting to put Pompey on the map. Past line-ups include Disclosure, Shadow Child, Boddika, Dismantle and plenty more. The boys behind Concrete have already started to broaden their horizons and have been busy running boat parties in Ibiza this summer. Hold tight for their return; they'll be back for a special second birthday bash very soon!
Once a year, West London's streets are blessed with good music, huge parties and unlimited amounts of Red Stripe and jerk chicken. What could possibly be better? This year’s no different, and once again everyone’s eager to battle through the crowds to make it to the Major Lazer Soundsystem Party under that famous bridge. What a line-up!
BEKUZ
I first met Pedro 123, aka Ben Grant, a couple of years ago in the hallways of Rinse. Rinse was holding its first music academy and the young Mr Pedro played me a couple of his tunes. Even then, I could already hear the potential. Fast forward to 2012 and now you can spot his name bouncing about the London scene and across Europe!
Bekuz is a small, intimate night held in Derry, Ireland that began back in 2010. The capacity may be small, but this night has built a strong following by delivering the right music, good DJs and a great vibe every time. Joy Orbison, Paul Woolford, Eats Everything, Melé and myself have all been previous guests. Highly recommended.
28 AUGUST - DEVIATION CARNIVAL SESSION There’s so much happening on Carnival weekend, I had to squeeze in one more party! Radio 1's Benji B will be returning to Carnival with his Deviation night on Monday 27 August. Running from 6pm to 2am at Paradise in West London, with a serious line-up that includes Benji, Zinc, Toddla T, Oneman, Semtex, Martelo, Radi Dadi and loads more.
On the weekend of 18 August, over 30 of the world’s greatest street artists will again descend on Bristol to turn some of the city’s ugliest streets beautiful. Following on from the huge success of 2011’s inaugural event, this year’s See No Evil will be bigger, better and brighter than before, with more artists, more music and more after parties. The focus of the weekend is the eye-popping selection of artworks around the city’s Nelson Street area some huge and unmissable, some tucked away around corners and in doorways, and which this year will be painted by artists including Insa, Eine, Nick Walker, Roa (whose piece for 2012 is already up and pictured here) and the man curating the show, Inkie. At Saturday’s ‘Block Party’, Trap will be hosting the Speak No Evil stage, and you’ll also find us getting the weekend started on Friday 17 August hosting the Tunnel at Mad Luv’s official warm-up party. Expect Buggsy, Aspects and more on our stage on Saturday, while the likes of Futureboogie, Behling & Simpson and Crazy P keep things moving elsewhere across the four other stages of music. Plus, the huge unused Westgate Building just adjacent to Nelson Street will again be holding a trio of unique parties with amazing line-ups from Thursday 16 August through to the early hours of Sunday morning, while local heroes Portishead will be helping blur the lines between music, film and art at the rather high-brow, yet intriguing, ‘Mail, Maps & Motion’ audio-visual spectacular at Watershed.
WI N
EVIL SEE NO TRAP & DNESS! GOO
Trap has teamed up with See No Evil to offer you the chance to win a bundle of goodness. One person will win an exclusive See No Evil print and teeshirt, plus tickets to all three Westgate shows, a year’s subscription to Trap and one of our brand-new teeshirts. Simply email competitions@trapmagazine.co.uk with your name, DoB and postcode before Wednesday 13 August for your chance to win. A winner will be chosen at random and contacted on Thursday 14 August.
TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
011
Urban Nerds are back with another special page for Trap. Here’s what’s popping off on Planet Nerd over the coming months‌
www.urban-nerds.com
With the first glimpses of sunshine arriving after what can only be described as one of the shittest summers on record, we’re now fully in Carnival mode here at the Urban Nerds HQ. On 25 August, we head back to the Scala nightclub, Kings Cross, to provide three rooms of bass pressure at our yearly Carnival warm-up event. Keep an eye out for some exclusive mixes from Terror Danjah, The Heatwave, Champion and more.
COMPETITIO
If you want to catch the Urban Nerds over the next few months then check the list of our forthcoming events below, and don’t forget to keep up to date with everything Urban Nerds at our website. www.urban-nerds.com
N
WINNER!
We’re happy to announce the winner of our carnival T-shirt design competition that we ran in the last issue of Trap. From among the many great entries, we finally selected the design to the left from young graphic designer Andrew Burton, who’ll see his design printed as part of the next exclusive limited-edition Urban Nerds clothing run. Check out more of his work here: www.aburtondesign.co.uk.
25 AUGUST
U RBAN N ERDS CARN IVAL SPECIAL AT SCALA - LON DON
URBAN NERDS CARNIVAL WARM UP 4"563%": 5) "6(645 t 1. ". 4$"-" 1&/50/7*--& 30"% ,*/( 4 $3044 -0/%0/ / /-
300. URBAN NERDS
300. 5)& )&"58"7& 13&4&/54
BREAKAGE & MC WREC MALA & COKI (DMZ) ,0%& t+"$,."45&3 536&5*(&3 ."3$64/"45: 4)"/5*& 3"55643"5564 *$
5)&)&"58"7& -*.*5&%b 3"(("58*/4 &"3-:#*3% 5*$,&54 UNCLE DUGS 5&3303%"/+") '0/5* #64),*/ CHAMPION
300. MERK CHICKEN
46/4)*1 .$3# t"-36** t8)*5&5:40/t%0;:t$0--"14& t/"5*7& .03&5#"
'03*/'0 5*$,&54
63#"/ /&3%4 $0. $"3/*7"-
1 SEPTEM BER
U RBAN N ERDS BOAT PARTY AT OUTLOOK FESTIVAL PU LA, CROATIA 2 SEPTEM BER
U RBAN N ERDS & 502 RECORDS H OST A STAGE AT OUTLOOK FESTIVAL - PU LA, CROATIA 13 OCTOBER
U RBAN N ERDS & TH E BLAST TH E EXCHAN GE, BRISTOL TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
013
FA S H I
ON 10
yj M a lyc k : K as h a Wo r d s er n e d r a on G & Jas
ASHISH FOR TOPSHOP SPORTS COLLECTION www.topshop.com
Celebr ating a season packed with s por t, Ashish Gupta’s latest collection f or Topshop is a clear winner. Typical of the designer ’s tr ademar k comic style, this r ange pays homage to the under dog with slogans such as ‘Loser ’ and ‘2nd place’ emblazoned on classic spor ty shapes. Usually mor e aesthetic than athletic, we’ll be legging it eager ly to our near est Topshop f or the multi-f lag sweat set.
TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
GRIND LONDON www.grindlondon.com
Guys, if you don’t know about Grind London yet, then get to know. Self-proclaimed ‘Badman Attire’, the brand made its name with a range of capsule printed tees, and recently stepped things up with the ‘Hot Like Toast’ Summer collection. Adding a small selection of well-designed shirts and shorts, which mix quality fabrics with on-trend prints, Grind has definitely set the bar high for future collections. We can’t wait to see what the brand has up its sleeve for Autumn.
LOVE MY CUSTOM Top of our wish list right now is a handful of these amazing letter rings from jewellery brand Love My Custom. Already making power moves with the likes of Rita Ora and Kelly Rowland seen wearing in the line, LMC has a tasty selection of statement fashion pieces, as well as an extensive customised range.
SHIMMY SHIMMY Dancehall blog Shimmy Shimmy has added some brand-new designs to its roster of bashment-based teeshirts. We love the combination of on-point graphics with iconic dancehall imagery. You’ll find us rocking the ‘Chat To Mi Back’ tee at carnival this year.
015
TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
FA S H I O N 10
017
TOOMUCHPOSSE! London collective toomuchposse comes good w ith the launch of its latest collection. Staying tr ue to their tr adition of giving a centr al r ole to the classic ‘TooMuch’ logo, the r ange pays homage to the capital on a selection of monochr ome pr inted tees with r ed accents and simple hats with leather shield styling. Too much indeed.
FEATURING: CONOR HARRINGTON // L'ATLAS // INKIE // NYCHOS // FLYING FORTRESS // INSA // EINE // SEIZE // M CITY // REMI ROUGH // MARK BODE // PIXEL PANCHO // CANTWO // CHU // LUCY MC LAUCHLAN // SATONE // NICK WALKER // MARK LYKEN // ROA // MR JAGO // CHINA MIKE // SICK BOY // LIMITED PRESS // TCF CREW // KFT CREW // VICTORIA TOPPING // KUILDOOSH // CHEBA // LOKEY // FLX // JODY // DONES // SILENT HOBO // ZASE // STAE // SHADE PLUS MORE TBC
THURS 16TH AUG - A TASTE OF BRISTOL 2012 LIVITY SOUND // EATS EVERYTHING // YOUNG ECHO COLLECTIVE OUTBOXX // CEDRIC MAISON
FRI 17TH AUG - FUTUREBOOGIE RECORDINGS PRESENT ERIC DUNCAN NYC, BEHLING & SIMPSON, CHRISTOPHE & LUKAS, FUTUREBOOGIE
SAT 18TH AUG - BRISTOL SOUNDCLASH SMITH & MIGHTY // DJ KRUST // LAMINATE RADIO // BOCA 45 // FEEL THE REAL
BLOCK PARTY SAT AUG 18TH CRAZY P SOUNDSYSTEM // BRASSROOTS // MR THING ASPECTS // PRINCE FATTY // BUGGSY
NIKEY & NITRO // FEEL THE REAL // IDLE HANDS // AMO // JUST JACK // SIP THE JUICE // 2 KINGS // BEHLING & SIMPSON // AWKWARD & BEN ONE // PARDON MY FRENCH // FUTUREBOOGIE // LYNX & KRISSY KRISS // ARSEQUAKE // SHAPES // CRAZYLEGS // NICK HARRIS // DIRTYTALK // FIREMAN SAM // BUNJY // BOOGIE CARTEL // BEDMO DISCO //SHANTI & GOLESWORTHY // BEN DUBISSON & DAVE SMEATON // KELLY TWINS // FALLING UP SAM MOLE // BILLY DISNEY VS T SEX // FUNK FROM THE TRUNK // EWAN HOOZAMI CONTRABAND SESSIONS // CHARLIE CHESTER // BLISS ZION BRISTOL B BOY CONVENTION
16th-19TH AUG 2012 NELSON ST BRISTOL WWW.SEENOEVILBRISTOL.CO.UK
After just a small dose of summer, it's not long before the autumn season hits us. Stores are already receiving AW12 deliveries from bigger brands, when wrapping up warm is the last thing most of us are thinking about. That said, in Britain we're never far away from a cold spell, so it's worth casting your eye forward to what the coming season has to oer.
EBBETS FIELD FLANNELS
For more, head over to www.thedailystreet.co.uk
The rise of all things 'heritage' has seen many classic names re-emerge over the last few years, with mixed results. Ebbets Field is a brand right on the money when it comes to historically inspired athletic clothing. The varsity jackets are replicas of those worn by teams in the 30s, 40s and 50s, with great vintage branding, while the fitted woollen ball caps offer something more mature for those sick of 5panels and snapbacks. Only just starting to appear in UK stores, we see Ebbets Field making a big noise this autumn. www.ebbets.com
FucknFilthy - FF2012
Carhartt Work In Progress
Home-grown teeshirt brands are ten a penny these days, so when something worth a little more comes to our attention, it makes a big impression. With roots in Ireland, but now running out of Manchester, FucknFilthy is the work of young creative Joshua Gordon. The new collection features strong graphic tees in a range of styles, accompanied by adjustable speckled wool caps and custom-cut pins. www.fucknďŹ lthy.com
- Fall/Winter 2012
Carhartt is a winter staple and, in recent years, its Work In Progress arm has really started to shine, providing welldesigned lifestyle pieces backed by the expert manufacturing that Carhartt workwear is known for. The Fall/Winter season is where the brand really comes into its own, with the return of classic parkas and hundreds of layering options for shirts, sweats and knits. www.carhartt-wip.co.uk
TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
019
Trap welcomes back Bristol skateboarding institution fifty fifty for another rundown on the latest happenings in their world...
WWW.5050STORE.COM
NEWS 18 August see this year’s installment of the infamous Dean Lane fun day. It’s one of the rawest skate fun days anywhere in the UK these days for sure. Featuring best-trick jams, product toss and live bands, this is a must.
On 8 and 9 September, we’ll be linking up with DC to host the Gurt Big 3 jam at the Lloyds Big 3. If it rains like it did last year, we’ll move it on to the new M32 DIY spot. This year, the jam will be over a weekend and we’ve invited all the leading UK pros to throw themselves down Lloyds for some serious cash money for Best Trick.
The M32 DIY spot has been coming along nicely over the past couple of months. Our good friends over at Vans and Spitfire have helped out with some cash to extend the spot, and there’ll be an edit of it online pretty soon, so keep your eyes peeled. Props to the crew who’ve put in a lot of hard work building the spot; it’s amazing.
Our youngest rider Ollie Lock giving the centre ledge spot a nice nose-grind pop.
fresh to death
This issue, we focus on two of our favourite hardware brands and bring you Nike’s latest must-have shoe.
NIKE KOSTON PRO
5BORO NYC
Fresh from the August drop of Nike’s ever-growing SB line, this month’s colour-up of the Erik Koston Pro is a black suede upper with a dark gum sole unit.
This is a brand that started way back just before we did and are one we’ve always stocked and supported.
The shoe features some pretty special technology in the sole, using a drop-in Lunarlon foot bed on a cup sole, which gives more protection but still has the same board-feel as a vulcanized sole. A great skate shoe, with some interesting colourways promised for later this year.
5boro is a 100% skater owned and operated company hailing from NYC, that’s always produced amazing quality goods with tight graphics from the likes of NY graff writer Grotesk. Since the release of their last must-see DVD ‘Join Or Die’, the brand has gained a lot more exposure and released a sick series of graphics on boards and apparel to accompany it.
POLAR Polar hails out of Sweden and is the brainchild of longtime Euro ripper Pontus Alv who, along with recently added UK representative Jerome Campbell and a few other Euro killers, annihilates all forms of street terrain. Watch the polar promo to bear witness to this. Polar use a whole bunch of artists, including Pontus himself and his dad Torsten Alv. The brand has a very unique look, using fine-art and illustrations alongside logo-based graphics. Our featured representative Ollie Lock has just gained flo from Polar’s UK distributor too. Power moves. TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
0 21
DJ Die is a jungle and drum & bass legend. But there’s a lot more to him than just that... Read on for the tracks that he’ll love forever.
GOING IN DEEP
dj DIE
KLEEER – ‘TONIGHT’ Laid back, sophisticated computer funk from 1984. Vocoder vocals, slap bass and the sickest keyboard sounds make this the perfect fit!
DILLINJA – ‘HARDNOISE’ This track has got the ultimate sound for jungle / drum and bass. Hard and lashing, yet warm and analogue at the same time.
AL GREEN – ‘SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL’ This song is so intimate. I’m learning to play this on the guitar, so I can serenade.
THE CLASH – ‘THE MAGNIFICENT 7’ Anyone who knows me knows I love The Clash. Recorded in NYC in 1981, this track features singer Joe Strummer trying his hand at rapping and could arguably be the first UK hip-hop record.
YOUNG AND COMPANY – ‘I LIKE WHAT YOUR DOING TO ME’ I love my disco boogie funk soul vibes. This was featured on our Laminate Radio 'Born In The Year Of The Boogie' mixtape; it’s a get-the-party-rocking kinda tune. Feel good, positive vibes all the way.
THE SPECIALS – ‘MESSAGE TO YOU RUDY’ The specials are another one of my favourite bands. I had the opportunity of seeing them live in Ibiza a couple years back, which was amazing. The song tells all the rude boys to stop messing around and think of your future.
LTJ BUKEM – ‘MUSIC’ I’ve seen this in so many people’s top 10s and it's going in mine for the simple reason that it changed my life!
MAN PARRISH – ‘BOOGIE DOWN BRONX’ This track take me back to when i was 13. Living in Bristol I was the only white kid in an Indian breakdance crew. We would go on missions to WestonSuper-Mare for battles. We were living the dream!
MR FINGERS – ‘CAN YOU FEEL IT’ Had to pick a classic house track, and what better one than this. A deeply soulful groove that I could listen to for forever and a day.
CYANTIFIC CYANTIFIC MUSIC
PJAM BEAT CAMP
HUXLEY HYPERCOLOUR
1. DIMENSION – ‘DIGITAL WORLD
1. ZED BIAS & TERROR DANJAH –
(CYANTIFIC MUSIC)
‘ICEBERG HISTORY’ (HARDRIVE)
2. TNGHT – ‘HIGHER GROUND’
2. BOK BOK - ‘SILO PASS’ (SPYRO
(WARP/LUCKY ME)
RMX) (NIGHT SLUGS)
3. CYANTIFIC – ‘THE TOMORROW
3. PJAM – ‘REDEYE’ (HARDRIVE)
PEOPLE’ (CYANTIFIC MUSIC)
4. CHAMPION – ‘CRYSTAL METH’
4. FLOSSTRADAMUS – ‘ROLLUP’
(BUTTERZ)
(BAAUER RMX) (FOOL'S GOLD)
5. SWIFTA BEATA - ‘MOVE’
5. BINGO PLAYERS – ‘RATTLE’
(HARDRIVE)
(CYANTIFIC RMX)’ (MOS)
6. DEXPLICIT - ‘DINOSAUR’ (DXP)
6. DIMENSION FT CYANTIFIC –
7. TERROR DANJAH FT RIKO - ‘DARK
‘DETROIT’ (CYANTIFIC MUSIC)
CRAWLER’ (HYPERDUB)
7. JESSIE WARE – ‘WILDEST
8. AIDEN GRIMSHAW - ‘IS THIS
MOMENTS’ (T. WILLIAMS RMX) (PMR)
LOVE’ (TRC MIX) (DUB)
8. WILKINSON – ‘HEARTBEAT’ (RAM)
9. PJAM - ‘TURBO’ (BEATCAMP)
1. J.CUB FT BIBI – ‘CRYING OVER YOU’ (RNDM VOX MIX) (SAINTS & SONNETS) 2. FOUR TET – ‘128 HARPS’ (ANTHONY NAPLES MIX) (TEXT) 3. ELIPHINO – ‘VRYBDY’ (SOMETHINKSOUNDS) 4. ALDEN TYRELL FT MIKE DUNN – ‘TOUCH THE SKY’ (GERD'S DOUBLE G MIX) (JACK FOR DAZE SERIES) 5. HUXLEY – ‘NO MATTER WHAT’ (TSUBA) 6. HOT SINCE 82 – ‘KNEE DEEP IN LOUISE’ (MODA BLACK) 7. FRANCK ROGER – ‘SPREAD LOVE’ (CIRCUS COMPANY) 8. KARIZMA – ‘THE POWER’ (DJ SPINNA ACID MIX) (R2 RECORDS LTD) 9. SHENODA – ‘FLEX’ (LOSING SUKI) 10. GREGORY PORTER – ‘1960 WHAT’ (OPOLOPO KICK & BASS RERUB) (TOKIO DAWN)
9. ENEI & KASRA – ‘SO REAL’
10. ZINC - ‘‘GOIN' IN’ (ROYAL T RMX)’
(MEFJUS RMX) (CRITICAL)
(RINSE)
10. JULIO BASHMORE – ‘AU SEVE’ (BROADWALK)
REGGAE ROAST REGGAE ROAST KOWTON IDLE HANDS 1. ALEX COULTON – ‘BOUNCE’ (YTIVIL DNOUS) 2. MIKE HUCKABY – ‘BASELINE 87’ (SUSHITECH) 3. JULIO BASHMORE – ‘AU SEVE’ (BOARDWALK) 4. A MADE UP SOUND – ‘ARCHIVE II (CLONE BASEMENT SERIES) 5. SKUDGE – ‘FINGERS’ (NON-PLUS) 6. KOWTON – ‘DUB BISOUS’ (PALE FIRE) 7. JUNIPER – ‘SELENIC’ (SMALLVILLE) 8. KM & MM – ‘BIRDS FLYING IN THE SUN’ (TRILOGY TAPES) 9. JOE – ‘MB’ (HEMLOCK) 10. BLAWAN– ‘6 TO 6’ (BLACK SUN)
1. REGGAE ROAST FT EARL 16 – ‘OCCUPY THE SESSION’ (REGGAE ROAST) 2. RUSKO + ROD AZLAN – ‘RUB A DUB SHAKEDOWN’ (MAD DECENT) 3. DUBMATIX – ‘‘ROCK & A HARD PLACE’’ 4. RUBEN DA SILVA – ‘SENSI SKANK’ (REGGAE ROAST) 5. MUNGO'S HI FI FT. MR WILLIAMS – ‘COMPUER AGE’ (SCOTCH BONNET) 6. VYBEZ KARTEL – ‘SLOW MOTION’ (DON CORLEON) 7. MILLION STYLEZ – ‘MISS FATTY FATTY’ (DON CORLEON) 8. EARL 16 – ‘REGGAE MUSIC’ (REGGAE ROAST) 9. JOHNNY OSBOURNE – ‘FALLY RANKING’ (V.I.V.E.K RMX) (GREENSLEEVES) 10. EARLYWORM – ‘CRAWLING FROM THE ROOTS’ (WHITE LABEL)
SOAP DODGERS WHEEL & DEAL 1. SOAP DODGERS – ‘STROBES’ (WHEEL & DEAL) 2. RUSTIE FT ALUNAGEORGE – ‘AFTER LIGHT’ (WARP) 3. SHADOW CHILD – ‘STRING THING’ (DIRTYBIRD) 4. OBEY CUTY – NEVA KNEW’ (BAAUER RMX) (BYRSLF) 5. SWINDLE –‘DO THE JAZZ’ (DMZ) 6. JUSTIN MARTIN & ARDALAN – 'LEZGO' VIP’ ( DIRTYBIRD) 7. THE OTHERS – ‘BAD TASTE’ (DUB) 8. BAAUER – ‘HARLEM SHAKE’ (MAD DECENT) 9. SOAP DODGERS – ‘UNLEASHED’ (WHEEL & DEAL) 10. DISMANTLE – ‘DOTS’ (DIGITAL SOUNDBOY)
03
AFTER A SHORT BREAK, TRAP’S RISE UP MIX SERIES RETURNS WITH TWO SUPER-HOT DUOS WE JUST KNOW ARE GOING TO BE MASSIVE. BOTH CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM THE ALL-NEW TRAP WEBSITE, AND BOTH ARE PURE FIRE.
MY NAME IS...
JUS NOW WE ARE... Interface and Laza Beam. But when our powers are combined, we become Jus Now. YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW US FOR... Maybe Skream & Benga and Heatwave playing our track ‘Cut Meh Loose’. Individually, as Interface I’ve released D&B on labels such as Clearskyz and Shogun. Laza Beam is a well-known producer in Trinidad and has remixed L-Vis 1990 and Major Lazer.
OUR MUSICAL GUILTY PLEASURE IS... I could write all day about this; we have too many... Right now, I’m feeling Carly Rae Jepson, ‘Call Me Maybe’! YOU MAY BE SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT... You can't hum whilst holding your nose.
WE’D DESCRIBE THE MUSIC WE MAKE AS... A carnival in your headphones! Our sound fuses traditional Trinidadian rhythms and sounds with UK bass-weight and forward thinking production.
THE BEST ADVICE WE’VE EVER HAD IS... Don't be a sheep, be a shepherd.
WHEN WE’RE NOT WORKING, YOU’LL FIND US... Standing on one leg, just for the fun of it.
IN 12 MONTH’S TIME... All going well, we’ll have released our debut album and be touring the summer festivals with an incredible high energy stage show...
WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER, WE DREAMED OF BEING... Older, wiser, fitter, happier and more productive. 0 24
IF WE WEREN’T DOING MUSIC, WE’D... Probably be pretty emotionally unstable.
TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
@saminterface
@lazabeam14
TOYC AND ZULU MAKE BASS-HEAVY 4/4 BANGERS. THEIR RECENT EP FOR ZOO MUSIC SHOWED JUST HOW MUCH POTENTIAL THESE TWO YOUNG PRODUCERS HOLD. DOWNLOAD TOYC & ZULU’S EXCLUSIVE RISE UP #004 MIX FROM THE TRAP WEBSITE FROM 1 SEPTEMBER.
04
MY NAME IS...
TOYC & ZULU YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW US FOR... Our own individual productions, the occasional remix and our latest joint EP, ‘Needs To Be Said, released on Zoo Music. WE’D DESCRIBE THE MUSIC WE MAKE AS... Music to make as many people as possible dance! WHEN WE’RE NOT WORKING, YOU’LL FIND US... Laughing at something on YouTube, or on the way to the pub. WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER, WE DREAMED OF BEING... We both wanted to be skaters and spent so many endless hours watching skateboard videos. IF WE WEREN’T DOING MUSIC, WE’D... Most likely be doing a lot better at university!
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE WORLD TO US IS... To know when to have a laugh and not take everything too seriously. OUR MUSICAL GUILTY PLEASURE IS... Obviously ‘£1 Fish’ man! But, who isn't guilty of that? YOU MAY BE SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT... We've only actually known each other in person for less than a year! THE BEST ADVICE WE’VE EVER HAD IS... Just do your own thing and don't look at what everyone else is doing around you. IN 12 MONTH’S TIME... We'll hopefully not still be stuck in the cupboard of a studio we use! @iamtoyc
@zuluproducer TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
025
}
]
]
Auuuggust August s
SSeptember Septem e t mber berr be
Fri ri 17th 17 Back Back c II the he 90’s 0s Mark Altern8) Ma Archer cher r (Ex Al Altern8) e Ben n Daley Daley le
Fri rii 7th 7th h Sip Sip the he Juice Ju e x Dance Dan n Off nce O Crew C S at 8 th th Sat 8th Housework Housew Ho use ork ork GINDER T E ORGAN THE ORG G DER
Sat Sat 18th 18 1 th h No Evil Afterparty See N Afterp fterp pa arty y Braiden ra aiden n
The Birthday T Bank Bank nk 2nd d Bir B thd day W Weekender ee end e der 14th Fri 14 4th h Ful Recordings Fu Cycle Cy Cyc cle l & V Re Rec ecordings ec ord s Krust Bryan Frost Krus rust & Die D / Br ryan G & Jumping Ju JJack ack Fros ost t
Fri 24th 24th Wuk uk Up! p! MC DON C DAPPA DAPP PPA DO ON Henry Hen y Heatw Henr Hea atw twave ve
Sat 15th S at 15 1 th STOKES THE UNDERGROUND T U E O ND D SOUND SO D OF O S TOKES O S CROFT RO T 28th Fri 28 Fr th th Up! Wuk uk Up p! HENRY MR RB BENN E & HENR EN Y HEATWAVE H HEA AT TW WAV AVE VE Sat S at 29th 29th h Style In Fine S ty yl yle O s JJay Oris ay aka ka D Darqw a wan arq a
26th Su Sun un u n 26 th ‘’The Bank’ Holiday ’Th ’The The B an ank’ n Holid nk Ho ay ay Special Sp S c all Pinch Peverelist P nch Pi nch c & PPeverelis v relist
]
{
Sat 25th Sat at 25 2 th In Fine Style ne S tyle y e Matt (Tuff Matt Ma t ‘’Jam’ ‘’J ’JJam’ a ’ Lamont am t (T amon u f Jam) Jam m) Ben B Daley/Shanti/EFA Be Daley/Shanti/EF a y/Shanti//E A
84 S Stokes tokes okes Cro Croft, oft, t B Bristol r tol B ris BS1 S1 3 3QY QY | Tel: 0117 0117 9 923 23 25 65 5 | www.thebankofstokescroft.com www w .theb thebankofs o st to okescro sc ft.c com | ffacebook.com/thebankofstokescroft acebook.c bo com/theb m/t th bank kofs ofstokescro o sc ft
[
TRAP MIX 001 NEED FOR MIRRORS
TRACKLISTING 1. NEED FOR MIRRORS – ‘FABRIC’ (ZOLTAR) 2. NEED FOR MIRRORS – ‘TRAMP’ (DIGITAL SOUNDBOY) 3. DRS FT. ENEI – ‘COUNT TO TEN’ (SOULR) 4. NEED FOR MIRRORS – ‘INTERZONE’ (ZOLTAR) 5. MARCUS INTALEX – ‘CABAL’ (DUB) 6. VICIOUS CIRCLE – ‘EMMAS DILEMA’ (SIREN) 7. SUPANOVA & RUFFSTUFF – ‘NEW HORIZONS’ (V RECORDS) 8. NEED FOR MIRRORS – ‘DOMO’ (SYMMETRY) 9. BREAK – ‘LOVE SO TRUE’ (SYMMETRY) 10. OCTANE, DLR & BREAK – ‘MURMUR’ (DISPATCH) 11. FOREIGN CONCEPT– ‘JAIPUR’ (VILLEM REMIX) (INGREDIENTS)
If you know your drum & bass, you’ll know all about Need For Mirrors. If you don’t, and you’re one of those that dismisses the genre wholesale as a barrage of noise and egomaniacal MCs, then get online now and download this exquisite lesson in just how good D&B can be.
12. SEVEN FT. ALYS BE – ‘CAME TO PLAY’ (NEED FOR MIRRORS RMX) (BLACK BOX) 13. NEED FOR MIRRORS – ‘VIMANA’ (PLAYAZ) 14. GEORGE KURTZ – ‘MONITOR YOUR THOUGHTS’ (NEED FOR MIRRORS RMX) (REBEL INSTINCT)
Deep, textured, vibe-ridden grooves are what the duo of Mosus and HLZ combine to unleash as Need For Mirrors. One a Kiwi, one an Italian, both now live in London and have spent the last 18 months conquering their scene. With tracks snapped up by every credible D&B imprint out there, and their own label Zoltar firing hard, Need For Mirrors aren’t just hot, they’re burning. Trap is proud to invite Need For Mirrors to kick off our brand new mix series. Download it now from www.trapmagazine.co.uk
15. NEED FOR MIRRORS FT. EDWARD OBERON – ‘LIMITS OF CONTROL’ (CLEARSKYZ) 16. MUTE & MAKO – ‘ESSENTIAL FORMS’ (KLUTE RMX) (MARS) 17. PHILTH – ‘ONE PERFECT MOMENT’ (PEER PRESSURE) 18. NEED FOR MIRRORS – ‘SILENT RUNNER’ (DUB) 19. NEED FOR MIRRORS & VICIOUS CIRCLE – ‘SEA SLUG’ (DUB) 20. NEED FOR MIRRORS – ‘WAR ON DRUGS’ (DUB) 21. SKEPTICAL & DUB PHIZIX FT. T MAN – ‘RUN IT LIKE THE PRESIDENT’ (SAMURAI)
TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
0 27
h WORDS:
o Sophie Thomas
s
e
& Techno 4 Life
030
TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
H
ow does it come to be that a DJ duo whose first album got taken on for release by progressive trance and house record label Anjunadeep appears featured in a magazine like Trap? In what world does it make sense that Jamie Jones is championing the very same tracks in his global DJ sets that Loefah is slipping in to his weekly Rinse FM shows? Why would an electronic music duo “hoping to becoming regulars in years to come” within the Ibiza clubbing network give a damn about chatting to a magazine with Mala on its front cover? For fear of spiraling into rhetoric question chaos, please meet Dusky, and please read on to find out why all of this strangely makes so much sense. Alfie Granger-Howell and Nick Harriman of Dusky are selfproclaimed enthusiasts of music eclecticism. The disconnect between the London-based duo releasing ‘Stick By This’ on international trance powerhouse Above & Beyond’s Anjunadeep imprint, and the fact those tracks are now getting remixed by the likes of Midland, Tevo Howard and Synkro, is almost unfathomable. However, when you consider that the duo is influenced so strongly by R&S’s back catalogue, whose output famously connects UK bass and straight-up experimental electronica, it’s clear to see that cross-pollination between genres comes easily to Dusky. A brief mention of the duo’s current listening libraries and it’s clear to see just how deep their interest in music goes. “I’ve been listening to some pretty weird experimental music lately,” explains Alfie. “Some sound art and some contemporary classical stuff. Although the end product is totally different, taking this approach to construction is quite useful as an inspirational tool when it comes to our productions.” “I’ve been listening to lots of jazz recently,” contrasts Nick. “Specifically, Pat Metheney. That’s been coming through, as we’ve been using more varied harmony in the tracks we’ve been making.” It’s clear that the confines of musical genre go undetected with Dusky, which is arguably why their output can hold the concentration of electronic music fans of all ages and various tastes. The duo’s artistic backgrounds and unique approach to music consumption mean they take inspiration from the fundamentals, rather than the ever-changing facades o industry-celebrated electronic music. “We’ve worked with each other for a long time on various projects, so it’s a very fluid, organic process,” explains Alfie. “Nick comes from more of a music production background, as opposed to the composition one that I have, so he tends to spend a bit more time on the overall mix and on the sonic details of the track, while I tend to spend a bit more time on the melodic aspects.” One level of a track that proves irresistible to any bass music fan is the vocal, and the intense skill behind the way Dusky approach this very human aspect of electronic music is what has their output straddling the worlds of UK bass, house and techno so naturally. While the skipping percussion and affirmative fist-pump-friendly bassline of the recently released ‘Flo Jam’ on Dogmatik may appeal to old 4/4 house
sensibilities, it’s the sexy, syncopated and beautifully warped Aaliyah sample that roots the track in the sounds of early garage and dubstep. “Yeah,” agrees Alfie, “vocals are so instantly recognizable and can carry so much emotion or convey something so primeval that we always try to use them. We spend a huge amount of time digging, sampling, warping and chopping up to get the vocals we use.” This hark-back approach to sourcing, reworking and allowing vocals to lead the electronic score is no doubt due to Dusky’s long-term love affair with 2step and UK garage. Growing up in London at the turn of the Millennium, Dusky are entrenched in the most UK-centric era of dance music. However deep, minimal or techy their tracks become, you can’t help but latch on to that turbulent, rugged inner-city groove within them that makes all music coming out of the capital so instinctively bass driven. But how did UK underground electronic music manage to create such an impression on the duo as teenagers? “Radio had a huge effect,” reminisces Nick. “You had a choice of a hundred different pirate stations to listen to at that time, and it was a big part of our lives; hearing adverts for the raves, getting hyped for the weekend, phoning shout outs to your mates who you knew would be locked in…” Fast forward over a decade and it’s partly down to national mainstream radio that Dusky find themselves in the situation they’re in now - making a living in the underground dance music industry. From earning Pete Tong’s Essential New Tune accolade for aforementioned Anjunadeep released ‘Someone Like You’, to interview introductions on Toddla T’s BBC Radio 1 show and continued support from the likes of Rob Da Bank and Zane Lowe, support has been unprecedented considering how little was known of the duo this time last year. Would Dusky say that radio is as important to them now as artists and music fans, as it was ten years ago? “We love radio,” proclaims Alfie. “There are some really great stations out there that have introduced us to music we would otherwise never have heard. The shows on Rinse and some of the Radio 1 shows, for example, are a great way of hearing exclusive stuff before it’s played anywhere else. So yeah, it’s really important to us. It’s been a lot of fun guesting on people’s shows recently, too.” With UK radio stations lapping up whatever Dusky throw at them, Ibiza boat parties and DC10 dates this summer, an upcoming release on new label School, as well as the star-studded remix EP of 2011’s ‘Stick By This’, the second half of 2012 is looking promising for the duo. “We’d love to be able to summarise 2012 by saying it was the year Dusky emerged from its cocoon and became a beautiful garden butterfly with the words ‘HOUSE & TECHNO 4 LIFE’ tattooed on its wings.” Alfie concludes. House and techno it may be, but that subtle bass touch is what makes Dusky’s output so fresh and keeps us coming back for more. @duskym usi c
RADIO IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US, IT’ S INTRODUCED US TO MUSIC WE WOULD OTHERWISE NEVER HAVE HEARD.
TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
0 31
DAVID WALKER
British artist David Walker paints portraits. With a difference. Exclusively employing spray paint and never using brushes, Walker’s deeply layered style is as arresting as it is beautiful. Offsetting the delicate lines of his female subjects with frantic scrawls and colour-clashing abstractions, Walker’s artworks energetically leap out from the walls or canvases they adorn. Regularly exhibiting around the world, Walker is just one of the dozens of world-class street-art talent you can see painting at the See No Evil event in Bristol on the weekend of 18 and 19 August. www.arto fdavi dwalker.com www.ko pai nt.com
TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
033
LIFE IS FOR LIVING M A L A
Words: Jon Cook Photos: Ashes57
There are few more important figures in the history of British bass-driven music than Mala. One half of Digital Mystikz and co-founder of the DMZ nights, Mala is one of the Croydon originals who built a sound that would go on to conquer the world. Mala’s sub-bass saturated, deeply tribal grooves helped lay the template for what would come to be known as dubstep, and despite the fame and success that has come his way in the intervening decade, the south-London born producer has never faltered from a path of distilled integrity. With his long dreadlocks and commitment to cutting dubplates for every set, Mala evokes and embodies the spirit and passion of soundsystem culture for a whole new generation. Since his first release with Coki as Digital Mystikz for the Big Apple label back in 2004 and the subsequent establishment of the DMZ label and later his own Deep Medi Muzik imprint, Mala’s sound has always been something to feel as much as to hear, striking deep into your chest and stirring your soul with its hypnotic, meditative roll. With such passion and unwavering focus on his craft, Mala has built a near fanatical fan base, happy to spend hundreds of pounds on his early vinyl releases and chattering constantly on message boards about his unreleased dubs and future projects. As such, when news broke earlier this year that Mala had been in Cuba recording with musicians for his first album project proper, that chatter went into overdrive at the prospect. Renowned as much for the intricate percussion that decorates and drives every one of his productions as for the depth of his basslines, the prospect of Mala working with the famously gifted musicians for which Cuba is famed had everyone salivating and quite rightly so. With that album, entitled ‘Mala In Cuba’, set for release in September on Giles Peterson’s Brownswood label, we at Trap knew the time had come to track Mala down for a front-cover feature we’ve wanted since our very first issue. Now living in Belgium with his expectant long-term partner and two-year-old son, we ventured over to St Pancras to meet Mala from the Eurostar as he arrived back in the capital to play at that evening’s ill-fated Bloc at the London Pleasure Gardens. With just a few hours before his set with Coki later that night, we leap into the waiting car of Trap’s favourite photographer and personal friend of Mala, Ashes57, and venture out into the Friday afternoon rush hour towards East London. After numerous stops for photographs and with the traffic intensifying, Mala jumps in the back of the car; we stick our Dictaphone on and begin one of the deepest, most eloquent interviews we’ve yet had the pleasure to print.
“
I’ve never really called my music dubstep.
”
M A L A “I got contacted by Giles Peterson at the end of 2010,” Mala begins when asked to explain how a dubstep producer from South London ended up in Cuba working on an album for one of world music’s chief exponents. “He’d been working on a project called ‘Havana Cultura’, where he’d been going to Cuba to work with Cuban musicians. He’d made a couple of compilations in previous years, but this time he wanted to go back and do something different. For some reason he decided he’d take me out there with him to make an album...” You say ‘for some reason’, but did you not already have a working relationship with Giles, or know him personally? “No; I’d met Giles a couple of years before, just through music, but nothing too in depth. I did ask him, ‘Out of everybody you could take to Cuba, why me?’ He said he’d always admired the percussion in my tunes, the sense of groove, and with my Jamaican roots – my dad is from Jamaica - he thought it would be an interesting combination. “I didn’t jump at the chance, I’m quite cautious with things. I’ve been offered all sorts of opportunities over the years, business wise and musically, but I’m not always interested, it doesn’t always feel right. But this seemed like a genuine offer and something I was curious about. So, cautiously, I said ‘Yeah’. There was no real concept other than to go to Cuba and see what happened. The plan was to go first in January 2011, for an educational, a field day for me; where I’d go to Cuba and learn about Cuban culture and music. I was very honest with Giles and told him ‘I don’t know anything about Cuba or Cuban music.’ “That first trip ended up being the creation of the concept. That was to work with Roberto Fonseca and his band, and to record a number of traditional Cuban rhythms; from Cha Cha Cha to Merengue to Conga to Mambo. Roberto was on the piano with his drummer, a conga player and someone on the double bass – that was the main band. I came home with 60GB of music from that first trip; the band playing Cuban rhythms for me at 140bpm. I asked them to write some crazy time signatures too, just out of curiosity really. These guys are phenomenal; they spend two minutes practicing the rhythm on the tempo and that’s it, they’re ready to record a five-minute jam.” As someone that had never been to Cuba before and knew little of its culture, what were your impressions of the place? “The spirit of the people, the history of the nation and the country had such an effect on me. It’s such a different place to anywhere else in the world I’ve been. The first thing I noticed is, they’re not plagued with consumerism – you don’t go into a shop and see Hello or OK magazine and some idiot talking about what diet they’re doing. None of that nonsense, no celebrity culture, no consumerism. It just doesn’t exist there. It’s very refreshing and it creates a different mentality in the people.” And do you feel that mentality rubbed off on you and the album? It’s different to anything you’ve done before... “In many ways it is, working with live musicians and being asked to create music and an album for somebody. Writing an album has always been something I didn’t really want to get involved in, because it’s quite stressful on one’s mind.” It becomes like a job? “No. It doesn’t become like a job, getting up, putting on a shirt and tie to go sit in an office and do something you hate every day. It’s definitely not a job like that. But it does become and take a different discipline, which I had to work at. It wasn’t an easy task, creating music never is for me, though. Writing music was easier for me ten years ago than now, maybe that’s due to acquiring knowledge over time and experience; we feel we gain knowledge of things, so should be a better level than where we were in the past, you know? When I make music, I want make
something that’s both interesting and challenging for myself, I don’t want to make the same record twice. So yeah, it was hard work and it was definitely the biggest challenge I’ve faced so far musically.” You stretched yourself? “Of course, man. I tore myself to bits. You get to a point where you can’t stand yourself, you hate yourself, lose all self confidence. It took me a year to write and there were definitely times when I couldn’t listen to it and left it for a couple of months. And the thing is with writing music; it’s like a maze. You’ve got all these different shapes and layers and colours and ideas and emotions and you try to make sense of it in some abstract way. You try to piece it together, and then there’s this maze created of how you’ve got to the place you’re at with your piece of music. So if you then go away from it, you have to get back into your maze. Doing that with just one track for me is very challenging, but to do that with an album’s worth of music, and for the album to be coherent and not just a collection of tracks; like ‘Return To Space’, that was just me releasing six records that I’d made over a period of years. It wasn’t really an album as such. But this was something that’s meant to be a listening from start to finish. I don’t think it’s a concept album, but the concept is that this is my interpretation and expression of what I experienced while in Cuba, not just the music but the country and the people too.” And the genre that you’ve employed through which to express that – would you call it dubstep? “I’ve never really called my music dubstep. Obviously, what I’ve done has been called that, people say that is what I do. The reason why I’ve always refrained from calling my music anything is because I find it mentally limiting. If I tell myself I’m this or that type of producer, then, when I sit down in the studio, sometimes thoughts manifest and that’s what you end up becoming. I write music according to how I feel, to what’s going on in my environment, and my environment isn’t dubstep. “So while as much as it’s great, everything that’s been said about DMZ and Deep Medi, I’m very grateful and feel very privileged and honoured that people regard us in the way that they do, when it comes to this genre of music, but I don’t like to limit myself to any one genre. Even though the music I make fits a certain sound or tempo. “It’s interesting, because I listen to someone like Jah Shaka for example. Now I’m sure someone like him is open-minded when it comes to music, like a lot of musicians are. For me, I like to listen to music that feels conscious, especially when there’s words involved. But when it comes to instrumental music, there are no boundaries, because we interpret sound and frequency as an abstract; you take it how it is for you, it doesn’t necessarily mean anything in particular. But when you go and hear Jah Shaka play, he’s not gonna be playing a drum & bass set or a house set; he plays his sound. And this is how I sort of see my sound.” You’ve just mentioned Jah Shaka, and your dad is Jamaican – has soundsystem culture been the big influence on you that it appears to have been? “No, not really. I didn’t grow up listening to that stuff. If anything, I tell my dad about soundsystems. My mum and dad listened to a lot of different music, I didn’t grow up around that, my dad’s not Rasta or anything like that, he’s not a sound man. So I heard as much Michael Jackson, Dire Straits or Whitney Houston as anything. It wasn’t until I started listening to jungle in the early 90s and finding my own direction musically that I stumbled across these things. Obviously, every home plays Bob Marley at some point, but finding Lee Perry, Augustus Pablo and King Tubby – they were things that I discovered on my own. And from those things you find out about the UK soundsystems; Jah Shaka, Channel One, Aba Shanti-I. This was all my own doing. TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
0 37
M A L A “I’m the oldest of my brothers, I have an older sister but she wasn’t into the music like me, so I didn’t get any music from her. I was like the discoverer, you know, and that’s how I felt about writing music; it’s not a set thing. It’s not even about finishing music for me; it’s a continuous journey that happens whether you’re creating or listening to music. It’s about exploring frequencies and new vibrations. When you explore, you discover and for me that’s where the joy is in writing music; that discovery of something you’ve never come across before. And that’s why I don’t want to limit myself by saying I’m this or that guy, making this or that genre. I don’t limit myself.”
“Well, I think everything happens that way. Whether you’re in a relationship, or you’re talking about music, art and photography. If people don’t take it on themselves to maintain integrity and discipline in their work and they start allowing themselves to be influenced from within the scene that they are in, things always will change. “I don’t want to say that it’s bad the way things are now you know, because one man’s pot of gold is another man’s trash can, but I feel I’m still able to do what I’ve always done. That’s not to say it’s easy because most people want to live comfortably and music is a world that will offer you every type of temptation – from money to drugs to women. Seriously, the higher up the ladder you go, the more popular you get and all those things are there for you. For free. So it takes one’s character or nature to resist. Everyone makes their choices in life. And you have to live with your choices. So sometimes you have to be careful what you choose, because sometimes the grass isn’t always greener.”
Music is much more than just a sound to you, then? It’s a feeling? “I’m not a musician; you ask me to hum the note of C to you, I’ll be humming a B-flat. I don’t understand music in that way, I just feel it. And to me, you don’t need to understand it; if you feel it, you feel it and that’s all that’s important. Don’t get me wrong; if you have a musical understanding in terms of theory, it will enhance your creation. Just because you understand something, that doesn’t take away the feeling. For me, I was never educated that way in music; I was always playing football when I was a youngster, that’s all I was interested in. I was at Millwall for seven years, that’s what I was gonna do. And then I got into listening to jungle and the next minute I know me Pokes and Coki are MCing at jungle raves when we’re like 14 years old! From there, we met Loefah when I was about 15 and we all just linked up on this music vibe. There were so many parties we used to go to together, the four of us. So when the whole DMZ thing came about, it just became an extension of what we were doing in our bedrooms.” But you weren’t playing jungle by the time you started DMZ... it was a new sound completely. What was the music of the day missing to you that made you feel you wanted to create something new?
It’s about exploring frequencies and new vibrations. When you explore, you discover.
“It wasn’t that I felt like there was anything necessarily missing. I’d been listening to jungle for a long time. The Metalheadz thing came around, that was sick – the parties in Camden, the Grand Jams at Hanover Grand. They were ridiculous man. It was just underground, good soundsystems, hardcore music. I used to listen to a lot of house music as well, from about 1995, I used to buy a lot of house records. And I used to really like all the late-90s garage stuff too, but then that all got a bit off-key, too much business got involved, people stopped making certain types of tunes and everything got a bit more mainstream. I just think there wasn’t really anything that had gripped me like jungle music had gripped me. “So when I looked at the music I was making then, it kind of made sense, cause there was the jungle influence, the roots and reggae, the dub influence, there was house going on, the early garage stuff. When I started writing music, all I knew was the bassline had to be big, because of the music I’d grown up with. But I wasn’t feeling drum & bass at that stage, I’d stopped following the scene a long time before. “I really don’t know how it came about if I’m honest with you – just right time, right place, right frequency. It just naturally felt right to really strip it down; everything felt at that time like it was getting faster and building up and up. At that point, I wasn’t looking to rave it up in my bedroom after a day at work, so the music really was a meditation. I’d come in, exercise on the tunes, release my shit, the stress from the day. That was just the sound that came out.” At those early DMZ dances, the music really was that mash-up and hybrid of influences that you’ve discussed. But that’s something dubstep has lost now as it’s become more and more commercial... TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
0 38
“
And the younger generation of dubstep producers? Deep Medi isn’t afraid to sign up new artists that are pushing the sound you still believe in, but it’s so easy to dismiss the newer dubstep sound that’s pushed elsewhere as a barrage of soulless noise. Do you ever feel disheartened by what the genre has come to mean to so many?
”
“If I don’t really like something, I’m not gonna give my energy to it. So it doesn’t really dishearten me; people say, ‘It’s so noisy, bro this, bro that.’ I’m sure you could just be putting your energy somewhere else if you’re not really feeling it. But yeah, Deep Medi, we’ve got a lot of stuff coming out - we had the Goth Trad album earlier this year, VIVEK still going strong, Commodo, Swindle’s got another release coming, he’s making some great music; he really is a musician. Still now, I feel very grateful and privileged to have these musicians around me; they’ve given me a lot of energy over the years to keep doing what I’m doing. A lot of the guys are younger than me; it’s nice to have that as you get older; it’s not that you lose the fire, but the fire burns differently.
“I was 23 when I released my first record and we started DMZ. The fire we had, that’s the reason we did it; we didn’t wanna sign no records to no labels, weren’t interested in nobody doing nothing for us. We used to distribute the records ourselves, going round London with a box of records and dropping them off to the shops in person. That was the fire I had then, so it’s nice to be around it again now. It all goes round, it’s all energy and it’s about giving and taking.” But you still have fire for the future though? What does it hold for Mala? “After this Cuba project... You know when you do something or see something that you never saw before, and you just can’t ever not see it that way again? It’s been that kind of thing for me. As I said, it tore me open, and I had to rebuild myself so to speak. I can never go back to how I was before; I’ve definitely got new ideas for what I want to do for a future project, which I never had before. I definitely want to write another album after this one; just for the sheer headache, and for the adventure, man. It’s been a crazy year, obviously I have family as well, so juggling family life and being on the road and running a label, making your own tunes, it’s mental, but life is for living.” ‘Mala I n Cu ba’ is out 1 0 Septem ber o n Brownswoo d. www.malai n cu ba.co m
ART IN THE DANCEHALL
As you should all be well aware, this summer marks the fiftieth anniversary of Jamaica’s independence from the UK. We’ve already seen all sorts of celebrations popping off across the country, drawing attention to the immense contribution that the Caribbean island has made to the cultural fabric of the UK. As part of the festivities, Art In The Dancehall aims to celebrate the relationship between soundsystem culture and art by showcasing some of the most iconic illustration and design from the last 30-plus years of dancehall history. Curated by the excellent ShimmyShimmy blog and Al Fingers, and in association with PUMA YARD and Jamaica50, the exhibition runs from 27 July to 12 August at Brick Lane’s PUMA YARD, following a two-week showing up in Birmingham. Featuring some of the genre’s most memorable cover and poster art, plus new artworks from fresh young international talent, we suggest you check it out. Here, we present some of our favourite images from the exhibition. www.arti nth edan cehall.co m
www.sh i m mysh i m my.co.u k
www.pu ma.co m/yard TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
0 41
TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
042
TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
04 3
CAMOUFLAGE DOESN'T HAVE TO MEAN HIDDEN... Photography Elise Rose
Styled by Kasha Malyckyj
Hair and Make up: Grace Kingsley
Models: James and Taz
james WEARS:
T Shirt Who? £19.19
www.whoclothing.com
Hat Butter at FIFTYFIFTY £35.00
TAZ WEARS:
Vintage jacket from a selection at Urban Outfitters
www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk Top H&M ££29.99
Creepers Underground Shoe
www.underground-england.co.uk Socks Huf
www.hufsf.com
TAZ WEARS:
T Shirt Dress Topshop Boutique £40
www.topshop.com
Hat American AppareL
www.americanapparel.com Shoes ASOS £50
www.asos.com
James wearS:
Shirt Horace ÂŁ75
www.horace.tv
Taz wears:
Tank top CVLT Nation at You’re Not Human £34
www.yourenothuman.com
Leggings Actual Pain at You’re Not Human £35 Beanie Witchcraft at You’re Not Human £15 Shoes as beforE
James wears:
SHIRT ASOS £25
T Shirt Witchcraft at You’re Not Human £23
James wears:
Jacket Stylist’s Own Shirt Rip n Dip at
fiftyfifty£75
www.5050store.com Jeans model’s own Shoes Vans
www.vans.co.uk
Taz wears:
Dress H&M £29.99 Jacket as before Shoes ASOS £45
It’s great getting that nervous energy again before a gig.
ALIVE
When it comes to electronic music, stars don’t come much brighter than Andy C. Widely regarded as among the greatest DJs of all time, the Ram Records boss has been at the pinnacle of his craft since the early 90s, when, as a 16 year old, his DJ sets and game-changing productions stamped his name on the nascent jungle scene forever. In his 20-plus years in the game, the Essex local has taken the music he loves from the Paradise Club in Hackney to the terraces of Space in Ibiza, and in the process infected thousands with his seemingly infinite enthusiasm for drum & bass. Never one to rest on his laurels, the last year has seen Andy touring the festival and big rave circuit with ALIVE; his own take on the increasingly popular and demanded ‘live’ format. A huge audio-visual show that needs to be seen to be believed, ALIVE sees Andy step things up a level, controlling not just an incredibly complex bespoke DJ set-up (with, naturally, three Technics 1210s at its core) completely live every gig, but also the full visual VJ aspect. With just a couple more shows of the festival season to go before Andy locks himself away in a studio for the autumn to continue the recent re-ignition of his name as a producer, we grabbed the phone and a few rare spare moments of Andy’s time to find out more... TRAP_Hello Andy, everything good with you? Yeah really good man, what’s the day today? Tuesday, yeah, I’m enjoying a couple of days rest, and the weather is actually ok down here in Essex for once! TRAP_It’s not been the best summer... It’s been terrible in the UK, awful. The frustrating thing is, I’ve been going down to Europe every weekend and it’s absolutely sweltering. But I only go in for 12 hours at a time and then fly home. Fingers crossed the rest of the festivals this summer will be dry ones; I’ve not had a dry UK festival yet! TRAP_So, where you off to this weekend? I’m doing BCM in Majorca for MistaJam’s Speakerbox night on Friday, and then off to Russia for Global Gathering in St Petersburg. I finish on the decks in Majorca at 4am and then my flight is at 7.30am. I might be able to get a bit of kip... TRAP_How do you do it? London to Bristol and back in one day kills us! Everyone says I’m nuts, but you just get used to it. Once I get on the decks, I forget about it all and it’s just part of the job. I’m very lucky to have the job that I’ve got, so a little bit of travelling here and there; it’s no price to pay. I’m definitely blessed, I’m not gonna moan about a little bit of travelling. TRAP_This summer, you’ve been lugging your ALIVE show around with you too. The bookings are still flying in for you as a DJ, so why did you feel the need to do the show? There were a lot of performance based live shows coming about, but I wanted to celebrate the DJ, because that’s what I am first and foremost. I wanted to represent D&B with a big show that was focused on the DJ. Also, you need to set yourself personal goals in life. So, from starting off learning how to mix all those years ago, to learning how to make tunes, to learning how to double drop and then going on to three turntables; where do you take it after that?! TRAP_Indeed, you’re more than just a DJ at these shows – you’re controlling the VJ aspect too? Yeah that’s right. We teamed up with the company that do the visual side of things for the Oscars and Cirque De Soleil. We were rehearsing in a warehouse in East London, and they were just like ‘What? Why do you want to do this? It’s too hard!’ And my response was ‘That’s why I want to do it!’ Like DJing, I wanted it to be freestyle. They ended up programming me bespoke software that means I control everything, not just the music but the visuals as well. It became really interesting at that point, and that’s when it all gelled together.
The whole process took over a year, but it’s been really rewarding. The shows have been amazing, and it’s great getting that nervous energy again before a gig; not knowing if it’s gonna work. It’s enabled me to get excited about something entirely new, and learn, and it’s enabled us to go on these huge stages and perform a DJ drum & bass set and really try to expose the music to even more people. TRAP_Beyond the challenge it presents, was it something you felt you had to do? Some might say the ‘Superstar DJ’ days are well behind us now, and a big stage demands something more than just a bobbing head behind a couple of decks... I don’t think they are over. Have you been to any big festival recently, and seen DJs up on their own in front of 60,000 people? I wouldn’t say that’s over. But then, maybe with a show like this, even though it is a D&B DJ set at its heart, the promoters think ‘You know what, I’m gonna put that on the biggest stage. And I’ve now got a show that I can adapt; it’s very modular. I’m back in the studio now and will be all autumn, working on my own tunes, so with the nature of the show I can easily adapt it to accommodate my own tracks and have it all linked in, so it will be an ever-evolving entity. So, after the first year travelling abroad with it to LA, Vegas and Europe, now going into 2013 we can adapt it and take it on and incorporate a performance aspect to it.” TRAP_It’s future proofing you? The show itself is future proof. I’m not future proof! Because, as a DJ and as a producer, you’ve always got to keep on top of the game. But, yeah, the show itself is future proof. TRAP_For anyone who’s not yet seen ALIVE, what shows have you got left this summer? We’re doing Pukkelpop in Belgium in August, and then a festival in France called Corsept, and then we’re rounding it all off at SW4 in London. We’ve got a whole Ram stage there, we’ll be closing that with ALIVE, and that will be it for the festivals for the year. We’re gonna go out with a bang; we’re adding some bits and bobs. That show’s gonna be special. It’s always wicked there; the promoters are fantastic and the vibes are always amazing – I’ve played it the last few years, so am really looking forward to playing there when it’s nice and dark and intense! TRAP_And finally, it’s an obvious question that we’ve got to ask; what is it that makes Andy C feel alive? That moment when you’re DJing and everything is perfect, the connection you have with the crowd. It’s an incredible range of emotions I go through when I’m playing – first of all there’s the excitement at the start the set, then how I start dictates how quickly I get in my comfort zone and start expressing myself. Then, what I always do is focus on little pockets of people in the crowd. Whether that’s two people hanging over the barrier, or a group over in the corner; I think ‘As long as I keep those people dancing, their energy will inspire me and it will inspire the people around them.’ Then sometimes you might look up and they’ve gone to the bar and you’re like ‘Fuck. What have I done wrong?’ I love that connection with the crowd. When you get the connection, the DJing becomes instinctive; it’s automatic, it’s beautiful. That’s the money-shot right there, that’s what I do it for. Those moments, it doesn’t last the whole set, but for half an hour, it’s just pure euphoria in your mind, you’re on autopilot and everything you do works. I’m enjoying myself, the crowd are enjoying themselves and I just look out across the crowd and think this is amazing. That’s when I get the camera out and start taking photos. That’s the vibe, that’s when I feel alive! CATCH ANDY C ALIVE AT SW4 IN LONDON ON 26 AUGUST @AN DYC_RAM TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
0 53
Underground King
t
o talk about progressive grime it is to talk about Royal-T. In recent years, a fresh crop of producers has taken instrumental grime to wider credibility and new levels of popularity. Young Southampton resident Mark ‘Royal-T’ Taylor is at the crest of this wave, consistently turning out fresh takes on the genre, with no two tracks sounding quite the same.
Often imbibing his productions with an overwhelming UK garage influence, while referencing a diverse selection of genres from the 1990s - from rave and jungle to dubstep, breakbeat and even computer game soundtracks - the beauty of Royal-T’s production rests in his ability to retain the frenetic energy that defines grime. And while most other grime producers were making ‘riddims’ they hoped a big MC would vocal for their mixtape, Royal-T was making music that would work in clubs. It’s this that’s enabled his tunes to finder traction across the wider ‘ bass music’ movement. With a forthcoming album and new show on Rinse, striving to be different has obviously paid off in a big way. Trap thought it was time we caught up with Southampton’s biggest grime export… TRAP_EZ! You Cool? What have you been up to lately? I’ve been topping up my tan and raving in Kos in Greece with the Southampton friends dem! Right now, I’m trying to get used to the English weather again, while preparing for my set at Global Gathering. TRAP_The big news is that you have an album coming out on Rinse, how does that feel and what can we expect? It's starting to sink in now. I'm so excited about it. The whole album thing was something I’d wanted for years, ever since I started producing. I always wanted a full grime album of mine in HMV or whatever, and now that's happening. It's full of the Royal-T sound; some bits listeners might have heard floating around on radio and some completely new stuff waiting to be heard.
WORDS:
Fire Man Sam
TRAP_How are you finding your show on the station? I love doing the show; it's opened up a lot for me. It's nice to directly interact with listeners and to get sent and listen to new music all the time. It's made me write a lot more music too, to fill in the gaps. TRAP_You’ve said before that you want grime to be seen as electronic / dance music again, rather than just an MC-based genre. Why do you feel this would help the scene? I've always felt that way really; I think the producers’ focus got lost a few years ago and bringing that back will also bring back the sound. The direction of the scene was looking very grey for a while and with dubstep going global, I think it was only right for grime to come back to the clubs. It's the producers’ job to make this happen. TRAP_You’re part of the new wave of producers innovating in the scene; do you feel the attention has switched back to the guys making the beats recently? Yeah, I think the most important people know what's going on in grime right now and they understand who we all are. It's good to see MCs doing their thing too, though, don't get me wrong. TRAP_Garage is obviously a big influence on you, but what other genres have inspired your sound? I suppose bassline would be one of them and, of course, elements of dubstep and breakbeat, but garage was really the main influence on my production. There is a lot of music I listen to outside of the ‘bass’ genres and I do take a lot of influence from that, I’m a huge fan of anything by the Neptunes and N*E*R*D, for example. TRAP_There are several big collaborations on the album, which is your favourite and why? I would probably have to say the P Money collaboration, just because of where things are now with it. The first time most people would have heard of Royal-T is ‘1UP’, which P Money vocalled, so it's nice a couple years down the line for him to be on the first track on my debut LP. TRAP_How do you feel about the resurgence of events such as Eskimo Dance? Would you like to play there?
The direction of the grime scene was looking very grey for a while.
I think it's good for the genre for things like Eski Dance to be back, just so newer fans can experience a bit of history that they might not have been around for originally. I was probably only in my early teens when the originals happened, so I didn't even get to go myself. It would be cool to play there one time, because it would be nice to be able to showcase what I do on that platform. TRAP_How has DJing affected your production? Every grime producer seems to DJ now‌ I just think it's the right thing to do for artist development. A singer will perform their songs on stage as well as having music available for personal listening, so I guess it's only right for us producers to have something like that too. TRAP_What’s the dream for the coming year and rest of your career? For everyone to enjoy the album, and for me to just to keep rising. Everything's going cool but there's always something I'm working to improve. TRAP_Last shouts? Big up all my supporters, the Butterz gang and the Rinse team. Rinse Presents: Royal-T is out September. Catch him every Wednesday, 1-3pm on Rinse. @ r o ya lt m u s i c
FACEBOOK: CARASELMC / TWITTER: @CARASELMC / WWW.CARASEL.CO.UK
M U S I C R EV I EWS REVIEWED BY: BASSMUSIC BLOG, SAM COLLENETTE, DUB BOY, GEOFF WRIGHT, JON CARTER, SEAN KELLY, OLI MARLOW, GWYN THOMAS, JERYL WILTON, FIREMAN SAM, JUSTIN IRIAJEN, NICK HILLS, OLI GRANT, BELINDA ROWSE.
FABRICLIVE 64 Oneman (Fabric) Like most magazines, Trap’s featured review is usually reserved strictly for artist albums, not compilations or mixes. But then, any FabricLive release is always much more than just another mix, with each instalment’s chosen selector seizing the opportunity to join the esteemed ranks of DJs who’ve contributed to the series and show the world what they’re all about. And that’s exactly what Oneman has done for the sixtyfourth edition of the series. That rare thing in dance music, a DJ who made his name purely through his skills behind the decks rather than his productions, the news of Oneman’s admission to the FabricLive ranks therefore had us pretty excited. Reflecting his current selections, the mix reaches deep into the crossover house sound that has dominated 2012, selectingr beats from Mosca, Pearson Sound, Boddika and Joy Orbison. Fans of Oneman’s skill of drawing for garage classics at exactly the right moment will find pleasure in the inclusion of Ed Case’s ‘Something In Your Eyes’, while the Tuff Jam remix of Ce Ce Peniston’s ladies’ anthem ‘Somebody Else’s Guy’ provides a memorable anachronism among the ultra-current beats that dominate this mix - both proving once more that Oneman isn’t just a DJ’s DJ, but a raver’s one too.
T R ATPRM GA C EO. .CUOK. U K0 5 70 5 7 AA PM A ZGIANZEI.N
M U S I C R E V I E W S 10
058
TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
DRE SKULL ‘Kling Klang Riddim’ (Mixpak)
HUXLEY ‘1Trax Three’ (1Trax) For the third instalment of the 1trax mix series, Huxley follows up tech-house stalwarts Subb Ann and Matt Tolfrey with a smoothed-out selection that would have Circo Loco regulars pumping their fists like their lives depended on it. The mix features tracks from artists such as Nina Kravis and Shenoda, alongside a slew of his own material including ‘Let It Go’ and his remix of ‘Dazed’ by Maya Jane Coles. The subtle deep house rhythm and jazz chords of Nyras ‘Best Of’ add a much needed dose of warmth to proceeding and Julio Bashmore’s remix of ‘Square One’ by Mosca takes things into more broken territory with his trademark 808 subs providing the bass weight. A solid and functional mix that will appeal to fans of deeper, more intoxicated dance floors.
WALTER EGO FT TRIM ‘Set Off’ / ‘In Control’ Ft. Slick Don (Soul Motive) After recent strong releases, Walter Ego drops his first record for Toddla T’s Girls Music label, again showing off a production style that blends genres effortlessly. ‘Set Off’ featuring Trim, sees Walter stray into eski-grime territory, with more than a nod to classics such as ‘Ice Rink’. Trim is on fire here, chatting ferocious lyrics in a dancehall style addressing his doubters. Highly recommended.
Fo llo w in g o n f r o m th e ma s s i ve ‘Lo u d sp e ake r Rid d im’, Dre Sk u l l r e tu r n s w ith a h ar d co re b ash me n t r id d im se t to ma s h u p d an ce s o ve r th e n e xt fe w mo n th s. Th e min ima l ri d d i m p acks w e igh t an d gi ve s th e a r tists, in clu d in g Be e n i e Ma n an d Tif e , p le n ty o f ti me a n d sp ace to d e live r w ick e d vo i ci n gs . Star o f th e mo me n t, P o p ca a n d e live r s a sick cu t w i th 'So We Do I t' to ste al th e r i d d i m. Fi re .
RUDY ZYGADLO ‘Tragicomedies’ (Hyperdub) No one expected this. Although well-crafted, Zygadlo’s technicolour bass-and-vocal debut album couldn’t ever have prepared us for the richness and musicality here. A beautifully vibrant mix of electronic sounds with organic-sounding strings and soft keys creates a painstakingly embroidered cushion for his voice, which fills almost every space. Multilayered, digitally-processed, and bloated with feeling, it soars over vast gulfs of emotion and inspiration, evoking Rufus Wainwright, Brian Wilson, and Thom Yorke at various moments. Similarly, with a masterful control of space, cadence and blistering emotion – moments that storm with elation and melodic triumph – the album itself feels like an achievement that could spread far further, and reach more ears than most electronic artists do. ‘Tragicomedies’ deserves to clutch every heart within reach.
RINSE PRESENTS
‘Royal T’ (Rinse) Royal-T first burst onto the grime scene in 2009 with the track ‘1up’, alongside P Money. It seems fitting, therefore, that the opener to his debut album sees the pair link up again to devastating effect. As a producer, Royal-T wears his influences on his sleeve, a trait neatly demonstrated by the funk-drenched ‘Gully Funk’ or the purple-dubstep of ‘Music Box’, and his love of early-noughties UK garage is evident throughout. Collaborations pepper the album (Terror Danjah, Roska, Merky Ace, P Money, Ruby Lee Ryder), yet it remains a cohesive body of work with a clear signature production style. Managing to retain the raw energy, rudeness and impact that characterises the best grime records, yet offering innovation by drawing from wide ranging dance music influences, this is an excellent debut.
ROCKWELL ‘Childhood Memories’ Ft. Kito & Sam Frank (Shogun Audio) Shogun Audio stalwart Rockwell came through at a time when drum & bass needed inspiration, and with each release he continues to push boundaries that little bit further. ‘Childhood Memories’ is a glorious brew of warm fuzzy bass, the inimitable vocodings of Sam Frank and super-tight high-hats; all structured around a punchy half time beat. Unbelievably fresh, this will blow your mind.
TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
M U S I C R E V I E W S 10
0 59
CALYX & TEEBEE ‘Elevate This Sound’ (Ram Records)
MALA
‘Mala In Cuba’ (Brownswood) One of dubstep’s founding fathers drops his first proper album project and the result is nothing short of stunning. As you’ll know from this issue’s cover feature with the man himself, this LP is the product of Mala’s time spent with Roberto Fonseca and his band in Cuba last year, with the recordings he made there providing a unique basis for each track.Taking the traditional rhythms and sounds of Cuban music and working them into the sub-soaked, 140bpm grooves for which he is famed, the album represents a new way of working for Mala and breathes fresh life and credibility into the dubstep template. Imbibing his trademark percussion-rich sonic meditations with the unique source material with which he was blessed, Mala’s use of bass, space and texture makes this an album to feel as much hear. Overwhelmingly brilliant.
As a w ar m-u p f o r th e i r e a ge rl y aw aite d d e b u t LP o n Ra m Re co r d s, Calyx an d Te e Be e o ff e r a tan talisin g p r e vie w o f w h a t to e xp e ct. ‘E le vate Th is So u n d ’ co mb in e s so u lf u l vo ca l s w i th a d e e p , d u b b y b asslin e a n d skip p in g b r e aks, w h i l e ‘H u rti n g’ th u mp s an d gr in d s its w a y o u t o f its o r ch e str al b u ild to o ffe r a r e ally f r e sh tw ist to th e i r sign atu r e so u n d . Br i n g o n the LP !
YT ‘Revolution Time' LP (Sativa) YT, one of the UK's best reggae talents, returns with a superb new album. Packed with productions and collaborations with big names such as Mungos Hi Fi, Solo Banton and Mr Williamz, ‘Revolution Time’ is a great collection of songs that’s engaging from start to finish. From poverty and justice, to love and life, the LP covers a wide range of topics with lyrical excellence that YT delivers with true force.
OM UNIT ‘Aeolian’ (Civil Music) Ai r l ock -ti ghtened ba ss thr ob; a nti -gr a v cha mber boom-ba p; computer-consol e synthesi zer gl ow – thi s i s wha t i nter stel l a r thugs bump i nsi de pi mped-out spa ce ca psul es. Sna tchi ng a estheti c el ements f r om hi p-hop, dubstep a nd D& B, a nd bl a sti ng i t a l l wi th sci -f i a tmospher i cs, J i m Col es ha s cr ea ted a sound tha t’s or i gi na l , a ccompl i shed, a nd supr emel y evoca ti ve. Fr om the gl or i ous synthsca pes of opener ‘U l ysses’, to the i ntense a nd bea uti f ul f r a mi ng of Ta ma r a Bl essa ’s gor geous voca l s i n ‘Da r k Sunr i se’ ( wi th hi nts of Li ttl e Dr a gon a t thei r best) , thi s E P f eel s l i k e the cul mi na ti on of Col es’ j our ney f ur ther a nd f ur ther i nto the cosmi c vor tex of hi s own cr ea ti ve vi si on. Str ong r emi xes of the openi ng tr a ck f r om Swea tson K l a nk , a nd pa r ti cul a r l y Reso, i n hi s hyper k i neti c dr um wor k out, ma k e thi s a r el ea se wor th tr a vel l i ng ga l a xi es f or.
(Convex Industries)
P JAM FT BIG NARSTIE ‘Gas’ EP (Beatcamp)
BIOME ‘Two Way’ EP (Black Box)
Jon Convex, famed for his work as half of Instra:mental, drops another EP reflecting the current passion for accessibly thumping, post-garage techno on UK and European dancefloors, and he does so in fine style. Compared to his past production partner Boddika, this is pleasingly difficult stuff, from the minimal battering of ‘Aversion’, to the awkward muscle of ‘Desolation’. With more easy, breaksy bounce to be found elsewhere, this EP is packed with integrity and grit.
P Jam is one of the original grime producers, responsible for one of the genre’s stone-cold classics, D Double E’s ‘Anger Management’. Back with his own label, Beatcamp, this collaboration sees P Jam link with Big Narstie, combining the talents of two former grime stalwarts who’ve taken some time away from the scene. A sinister synth-ridden instrumental layered over hardhitting 808s provides the backdrop for the eccentric MC to spew his street tales.
The undi sputed k i ng of mena ci ng, nuer of unk i nspi r ed gr owl er s f ur ther cements hi s posi ti on a mong dubstep’s el i te wi th a n E P tha t f l a unts a l l a spects of hi s pr oducti on pa l ette.‘Rea l i ty’ a nd ‘Cha r ged’ l ea n towa r ds pur e, twi sted da ncef l oor da ma ge, but Bi ome f l i ps the scr i pt on both ‘I nner Mi nd’, a n i ntr ospecti ve r ol l er l i tter ed wi th exqui si te pi a no sequences, a nd ‘Two Wa y’, dr i ven by a typi ca l technoi d k i ck pa tter ns a nd j a gged synths. Bi g moves f r om Bi ome.
JON CONVEX ‘Idoru’
TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
M U S I C R E V I E W S 10
0 61
TREVINO ‘Discovery’ EP (Revolve:R)
LV
‘Sebenza’ (Planet Mu) Unparalleled and bravely diverse, Planet Mu is cleaning up this year. ‘Sebenza’ is a dazzling and hyperactive album that links the ideas, rhythms, and voices of the South African traditions of house and kwaito (look it up) with the UK’s garage, funky and house sensibilities. It’s a Johannesburgmeets-London warehouse party hosted by three MCs, who spit bi-lingual 2012 lyrics in an irrepressible multi-style that’ll seem mad if you’ve never heard kwaito. Almost entirely composed of intense dancefloor material nimbly scattered drums; spacey, liquid synths that seem to chase the rhythm; massive amounts of energy - tracks mostly clock in at two or three minutes long: everything is full of movement and attitude. Gloriously new, LV unpretentiously blend far-apart but affinitive sounds with aplomb.
HYLU & JAGO ‘Anansie Riddim’ (Unit 137) Fast gaining a solid reputation as soundsystem operators, producers and engineers, Hylu & Jago from London's Unit 137 crew deliver a masterful EP, confidently reaffirming the lineage between dubstep and reggae. David Boomah and Congo Natty's Nanci both deliver soulful cuts on a great reggae dubstep riddim, that’s backed by Kahn’s atmospheric remix and a Run Tingz Cru jungle rinse out. Really strong work that’s sure to light up dances.
Delving into other territories is not exactly the most original move for a D&B producer these days. Very few, however, do it with as much panache as Marcus Intalex, who reprises his Trevino guise on his latest EP, ‘Discovery’. Offering four brilliant tracks that take in everything from solid 4/4 grooves to early s grime aesthetics and undulating TB-3030 lines, all ridden with enough bass to keep old fans happy while enrapturing new ones.
SPECTRASOUL / ENEI ‘Organiser’ (Foreign Concept Remix) / ‘One Chance’ (Emperor Remix) (Critical) Critical’s latest release comes strictly for the heads, with the label enlisting two of the D&B scene’s rising talents on remix duties. Foreign Concept adds a tough, marching, half-time beat to SpectraSoul’s computer-vocal-led ‘Organiser’. Emperor takes a similar approach to Enei’s ‘One Chance’; introducing a minimalist, half-step drum pattern, before dropping into the swinging bassline that made the original so unique.
COKI ‘Don’t Get It Twisted’ Vol 2 (DMZ) The latest DMZ serves up more insight into the contorted genius of a madman, and Coki, we salute you! Bewildering arrays of mid-range warfare are ever present, particularly on ‘Mid June Madness’, where the discordant synth cacophony attacks you like a swarm of angry wasps. With the beats coming blessed by Coki’s customarily weighty sub-bass architecture, you know you don’t want to miss this one.
CARASEL ‘Progression’ (AFT Records) What does hard work, dedication and unwavering passion for what you do sound like? Well, a bit like this, the debut album from Carasel. After making his name as a drum & bass MC, the Bristolbased mic-man steps up to the mark with an album packed with hip-hop beats, tight rhymes and a remarkable list of guest vocalists. With Evil B (or B-Live to you garage heads) opening proceedings, you know you’re in for something a cut above, a first impression that’s confirmed as you work through the album and its many features. From D&B royalty such as Eksman, Dynamite MC and Stamina, to the fresh talents of Koast and Dr Meaker, this is much more than just a Carasel album, it’s a glorious celebration of some of the UK’s finest underground MCs, spitting over the creative space that Blacksmith’s boom-bap hip-hop beats allow.
TMSV ‘Lost’ / ‘Stress’ (Box Clever) Both l a bel a nd a r ti st ha ve thr i ved si nce TMSV gr a ced the i na ugur a l Box Cl ever r el ea se ba ck i n 2010, a nd the Dutch ma ster r etur ns to dr op mor e soni c depth cha r ges l a ced wi th dense sub pr essur e. H a unti ng voca l s a nd thi nl y vei l ed pi pe tones typi f y a wi stf ul a estheti c on ‘Str ess’, a nd the pr obi ng ba ss f r equenci es a nd dea f eni ng sna r es of ‘Lost’ r esona te deep wi thi n your cor e. Two stunni ng eyes-down stepper s bui l t to l a st.
+ GAMES
R E V I E W S 10
0 62
TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
GAMES REVIEWS WITH CUTLINE
Trap welcomes back Speakerbox signatories Cutline for another round-up of the latest happenings from the world of computer games.
NIKE+KINECT TRAINING SUMO DIGITAL / MICROSOFT (XBOX360) OUT NOVEMBER
EINSTEIN BRAIN TRAINER
With the spirit of the London 2012 Olympics still with us, what better time to think about jumping up off the sofa, strapping on some running shoes and getting a little fitter? Fortunately, for those of you who don’t fancy the idea of leaving your living room (agoraphobes and lazy scallywags alike), the perfect solution is on its way - Nike+ Kinect Training. Claiming “Whatever your level, whatever your goal, with Nike+ Kinect Training you
LIMITED EDITION CLASSIC WHITE PS3
can now experience personal training, at home” this system looks set to offer plenty for the living room athlete to get their teeth into. Complete with real-time feedback, elite level coaching and a personal training program that evolves as you do, Nike+ Kinect Training, set for release in November, will be helping a lot of people shift that holiday weight after Christmas. And at £39.99, it’ll definitely be cheaper than a gym membership too!
ASSASSINS CREED III
BBG Entertainment (iOS) Out Now
Sony Playstation Out Now
Activision (Xbox360, PS3, PC) Out 31st October
Watching the Olympics definitely helped us realise just how unfit we really are. Well, if you can’t drag yourself to the gym or find time in your schedule to become a triathlon gold medallist, you can console yourself with some Einstein Brain Trainer. With daily tests and a million different puzzles, this is easily one of the best ways to pass your spare on-the-move time and it might just help you become a little bit smarter in the process.
As you may well know, at Trap we love limited-edition releases. Usually we’re talking about trainers, but this issue we’re extending it to the new PS3 ‘Classic White’ drop. Taking the 320GB PS3, giving it a lick of paint, throwing in two matching controllers and wrapping it up in a £249.99 bundle that includes a free 90-day subscription to Playstation Plus, this should satisfy those of you with a limited-edition fetish... or a neutral living-room colour scheme.
Assassins Creed III is one of the most eagerly anticipated games of the year. This time, you play as Connor, warrior son of a Native American mother and British father who hacks, slashes and unleashes silent death on a whole new world. Set against the backdrop of the American Revolution and with a brand new game engine driving the action, this is likely to be the hottest game in the Assassins Creed series yet. We can’t wait to play it!
TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
+ GAMES
0 63
R E V I E W S 10
STILL
HOT
RESIDENT EVIL 6 DEMO CAPCOM (XBOX360) AVAILABLE 3 SEPTEMBER Words can’t really describe how excited we are as the Resident Evil series returns for its most ambitious outing to date. Owners of an Xbox360 and Capcom’s adventure-RPG Dragon’s Dogma can get their hands on early access to around 60 minutes of gameplay from the forthcoming behemoth. And with the opening gambit being a zombified US President getting shot in the face; it’s off to a great start. In the demo, you can play as Leon Kennedy, Chris Redfield or Jake Muller. Each has his own unique style and will appeal to different aspects of the Resident Evil series’ fan base. Leon’s mission is packed with classic ‘survival horror’ elements, creaking floorboards, lightning, thunder and ammunition that feels like a rare treat when you find it. Chris goes in guns blazing as he tears up China, blasting his way through. Meanwhile Jake’s demo shows you what an RE6 boss fight might feel like, as you’re overwhelmed by a vicious bulletproof badman with a lust to rip your face off. Three playing styles for the price of one, and with slick graphics and plenty of that Resident Evil swagger, we think this could be the best instalment yet. PS3 users and those without a copy of Dragon’s Dogma can get the demo from 3 September.
SLEEPING DOGS Square Enix (Xbox360, PS3) Out 17th August
TOM CLANCY’S GHOST RECON: FUTURE SOLDIER Ubisoft Seriously engaging stealth-mode fun; fourway sniping is a stroke of gameplay genius.
STILL
Sleeping Dogs puts you in the shoes of Wei Shen, a Hong Kong cop tasked with taking down the Triads. Moving through sprawling environments, every backdrop provides an opportunity to show off your martial arts, gunplay and ‘inventive use of items as weapons’ skills as you punch, kick, shoot and generally batter the living hell out of your opponents with whatever nearby object takes your fancy. This looks like amazing fun, great job Square Enix!
NOT
GAME PREVIEW EVENTS If we weren’t so busy touring we would love to come, but we are, so we can’t.
BASS PO I NTS
10
CLUB LISTINGS
0 64
TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
AUGUST 2012 FRIDAY 17 AUGUST LOUD NOISE 1ST BIRTHDAY @CABLE, LONDON Re d l i gh t, Ad d ison Gr ove, Da r k Sk y, Mickey Pearce, Ne w Yo rk Transit Author ity + mor e.
FIFTYONE.27 W E E K LY F R I D A Y S
THEKLA, BRISTOL
CHURCH @ CORSICA STUDIOS, LONDON Bo k Bo k, Dusk y, Dea dboy + mor e .
THE UPFRONT PROJECT @ LIGHTBOX, LONDON RYAT (l i ve ), I k onik a , Cooly G, Tw o Inch Punch, E l i p h i n o , I fan Da f yyd + mor e.
FRIDAY 24 AUGUST RUN @MOTION, BRISTOL Scratch P e rver ts, Fr iction, Rock w ell, N3gus , Dis tance, DJ H yp e , Di gita l + mor e
PLAYAZ CARNIVAL SPECIAL @ FABRIC, LONDON Ro d i gan , H ype, Ma r k y, Shy FX + more.
SATURDAY 25 AUGUST URBAN NERDS CARNIVAL SPECIAL @ SCALA, LONDON Bre akage , Ma la & Cok i, J a ck ma ster, True Tiger, The He atw ave , U ncle Dugs, Sunship, Terror Danjah, Ragga Tw i n s , Marcus Na sty + ma ny mor e .
RAVEOLOGY @ CUSTARD FACTORY, BIRMINGHAM Ha zard , Gro o ver ider, DJ SS, Sk ibadee, Trigga, Shabba + mo re .
Attracti n g b o th th e fre s h e s t an d mo s t re ve re d tal e n ts fro m th e wo rl d s o f h o u s e , garage , gri me an d te ch n o e ach an d e ve ry we e k, s i n ce l au n ch i n g i n e arl y 2011 Fi ftyo n e .27 h as es tab l i s h e d i ts e l f as o n e o f Bri s to l ’s p re mi e r Fri d ay n i gh t d e s ti n ati o n s fo r th o s e th at kn o w th e i r mu s i c. Te rm ti me i s wh e n yo u ’l l fi n d th e b o at h e avi n g wi th e age r stu d e n ts i n fre s h l y b o u gh t garms , b u t th e h e at d o e s n ’t l e t u p o ve r th e s u mme r mo n th s e i th e r – wi th Di rtyb i rd ’s Sh ad o w Ch i l d an d De ad b o y d ro p p i n g b y i n Au gu s t, an d K arma K i d , Baau e r an d P l as ti ci an b o o ke d i n fo r Se p te mb e r. Watch o u t fo r mo re i n tri gu i n g b o o ki n gs an d s tar n ame s th ro u gh o u t th e au tu mn . w ww. f i f tyo n e27. n et
OUTLOOK / DIMENSIONS 30 AUGUST– 9 SEPTEMBER
F O R T P U N TA C H R I S T O , C R O AT I A
SUNDAY 26 AUGUST SHOGUN AUDIO @ DIGITAL, BRIGHTON Fri cti o n , Sh y FX, Rock w ell + mor e.
DRS ALBUM LAUNCH @ BAND ON THE WALL, MANCHESTER DRS, Marcu s I nta lex, Ca libr e, Dub Phizix + more.
MONDAY 27 AUGUST HOT WUK @EAST VILLAGE, LONDON Th e H e atw ave, Stick y, Sea ni B + more.
FRIDAY 31 AUGUST THE UPFRONT PROJECT @ LIGHTBOX, LONDON Lu ke Vi b e rt, deBr uit, Da r k sta r, Kryptic Minds + more.
CABLE PRESENTS @ CABLE, LONDON E mal kay, Me nsa h, Kito, Ta ik i & Nu Light + more.
No i s s u e o f Trap i s co mp l e te wi th o u t a me n ti o n o f o u r favo u ri te fe s ti val i n th e wo rl d , Ou tl o o k. Ce l e b rati n g e ve ry n o o k an d cran n y o f b as s cu l tu re , Ou tl o o k tran s p o rts h u n d re d s o f a-l i s t arti s ts , mas s i ve s o u n d s ys te ms an d te n th o u s an d o d d o f yo u l o t o u t to Cro ati a fo r an u n b e atab l e fo u r d ay rave i n an ab an d o n e d fo rt. Th i s ye ar, Fat Fre d d y’s Dro p h e ad a l i n e -u p th at, as i s s tan d ard fo r Ou tl o o k, n e e d s to b e s e e n to b e b e l i e ve d . An d i f Ou tl o o k i s a l i ttl e to o l arge fo r yo u an d yo u p re fe r yo u r d an ce mu s i c a l i ttl e d e e p e r, th e we e ke n d s trai gh t afte r wi l l s e e th e i n au gu ral Di me n s i o n s fe s ti val . Wi th Mo o d yman , Carl Crai g, Ni co l as Jaar an d man y mo re go d s o f e l e ctro n i ca b o o ke d to p l ay, we can ’t wai t to s p e n d two we e ke n d s p artyi n g i n th at famo u s o l d fo rt. www.o u tl o ok fes tival .c o m
TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
0 65
BASSPO I NTS
10
CLUB LISTINGS
SEPTEMBER 2012
F O U N D S T R E E T PA RT Y S AT U R D AY 2 9 S E P T E M B E R
EARL STREET, SHOREDITCH
SATURDAY 1 SEPTEMBER CHURCH @CORSICA STUDIOS, LONDON Marce l l u s P i ttman , K o re l e s s , Mi d l an d b 2b P ari ah , Dau wd + mo re .
FRIDAY 7 SEPTEMBER HYPERDUB @FABRIC, LONDON K o d e 9, Te rro r Dan j ah fe at Ri ko Dan , Scratch a DVA, Cooly G, L-Vis 1990 b2b Bok Bok, Th e K e l l y Twi n s + mo re .
SATURDAY 15 SEPTEMBER LOBSTER BOY On Sa tur da y 29 Septe mber, FOUND round off a year of l ovingly pr ogr a mmed, e nvelope-pus hing events with a ma ssive pa r ty in the hips ter heartland of Shoreditch. Closing off E a r l Str eet for an all-day celebration of e lectr onic music, FOU ND have invited not one but two New Yor k house/ga r a ge legends to play in the open air and round off the summer in s tyle. MK a nd Todd E dw a r ds are top of a bill that als o includes th e r a pidly a scending Huxley and Urban Nerds res ident Rattus Rattus. With food stalls and properly stocked bars, and a warehouse after-party happening just around the corner, this is where you’ll find us kissing goodbye to summer.
@THE EXCHANGE, BRISTOL Re d l i gh t, On e man , Ne w Yo rk Tran s i t Au th o ri ty, Mak & P as te man .
WE FEAR SILENCE @CABLE, LONDON P h ae l ah , I ko n i ka, De ad b o y, Fan tas ti c Mr Fo x, RackNRu i n , Ran d o me r + mo re .
FRIDAY 21 SEPTEMBER SOLTEK SESSIONS
w ww. fo und se rie s.c o.uk
@HIDDEN, LONDON Ad d i s o n Gro o ve , Du s ky, J.P h i l i p , Th ro wi n g Sn o w + mo re .
L I C K E D B E AT Z F R I D AY 2 8 S E P T E M B E R CABLE, LONDON
FIFTYONE.27 @ THEKLA, BRISTOL P l as ti ci an – ‘d e cad e n ce s e t’, + re s i d e n ts .
SAT / SUN 22 -23 SEPTEMBER BRISFEST @ASHTON COURT, BRISTOL De La So u l , Jo ke r & Bu ggs y, P h ae l ah , Jake s & TC, Jave o n McCarth y, K ah n b 2b Me e k, DJ Di e , Ro n i Si ze & Dynamite MC, Dub boy, Central Spillz + more.
FANTAZIA @ RAINBOW WAREHOUSE, BIRMINGHAM Shut Up & Dance, SL2, Jumpin Jack Frost, Ratpack + man y mo re .
SATURDAY 29 SEPTEMBER Cable is now firmly established as one of the capital’s best spots to catch every shade of bass-driven music. As well as hosting parties from huge brands such as, Butterz, Shogun and Metalheadz over the last 12 months, Cable has an impressive roster of independent events that bring some of the heaviest names around to the London Bridge venue. Friday 28 September sees Licked Beatz deliver one of the tastiest line-ups you’ll find anywhere. 2012’s man of the moment Loefah tops the bill, while dons like Plastician, Pinch, N-Type, Logan Sama and Jubei will be repping what’s good about each of their respective styles to the fullest. And that’s not even mentioning Flowdan and Danny Brown collaborator Darq E Freaker.... www.c a ble -lond o n.com
JUST JACK @ IN:MOTION, BRISTOL Jami e Jo n e s , Dye d So u n d s ys te m b 2b Dan Gh e n aci a, To d d E d ward s , Mi d l an d , Du s ky + mo re .
PLANET MU @ CORSICA STUDIOS, LONDON Ve n e ti an Sn are s , Bo xcu tte r, I tal Te k + mo re .
MINT FESTIVAL @ MINT, LEEDS Wo l f & Lamb , So u l Cl ap , Jami e Jo n e s , Su rge o n , Be n K l o ck, Mi ch ae l Wo o d s , DJ Marky, H yp e , Jo ke r + mo re .
GET TRAP DELIVERED STRAIGHT T O YO U R D O O R !
AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2012
10
E V E RY B A S S C O V E R E D
FREE
M U S I C I FA S H I O N I A R T
DUSKY ANDYC
ROYALT
DAVIDWALKER ARTINTHEDANCEHALL
FROM CROYDON TO CUBA
TOYC & ZULU
+
ART FASHION REVIEWS CLUB LISTINGS WWW.TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK
*£20 FOR 6 ISSUES *UK PRICE ONLY
COST
MISSED OUT?
A six issue subscription will cost
Current and back issues are subject to availability
only £20.00 in the UK & £35 for
at £5 in the UK & £7 for the rest of the world.
the rest of the world.
All prices include postage and packaging
WWW.TRAPMAGAZINE.CO.UK/SUBSCRIBE
CYANTIFIC DANIEL AVERY DAVID RODIGAN DBRIDGE DC BREAKS DELTA HEAVY DILLINJA DISMANTLE DJ HYPE DJ MARKY DOC SCOTT EMPEROR B2B MEFJUS ENEI EZ FABIO FAKE BLOOD FILTHY DUKES
BOK BOK BOY 8 BIT CASPA CALYX & TEEBEE COOLY G CULTURE SHOCK
GROOVERIDER HALOGENIX HAMILTON HATCHA HAZARD JACKMASTER JAM CITY KASRA KINGDOM KOAN SOUND KODE9 KOWTON L-VIS 1990 LENZMAN LOADSTAR FT. TEXAS
LOEFAH MISTAJAM N-TYPE NORTH BASE NU:TONE ONEMAN PANGAEA PASCAL PEARSON SOUND
PLASTICIAN ROCKWELL SCRATCH PERVERTS SCRATCHA DVA SIGMA SHY FX SUB-ZERO TAXMAN
TERROR DANJAH THE OTHERS TOTAL SCIENCE TRIM (LIVE) TROLLEY SNATCHA WILKINSON ZED BIAS ZERO T