Afro Monk

Freddy Todd has been experimenting with music since he could walk and is on a serious mission to emit some fresh resonations into your eardrums. Well, mission success. In his newest (and highly anticipated) release, Dopesauce, he collaborates with rhyme master Black Mic to produce five quality bangers that will please music enthusiasts across the spectrum. Having been a hip hop lover for years and more recently evolved into a bass aficionado, I am a huge fan of this work which seamlessly combines the two. The release is laced with heavy bass, drippy synth lines, and gripping hip hop; and also features rappers Fat Ray, Joe Mousepad, and Scorpion. The track “Dopesauce” has to be one of the fattest tracks I have heard in a while, I seriously can’t stop blasting it! Also a deserved shout to Ill.So.Naj for contributing the radical album art.

Drink up some of that “Swagger Syrup” – you won’t be disappointed.Cop the rap infused lazer-bass album here on Addictech via Daly City Records. Next I’m hoping to hear some SplaTTerboX, comprised of dynamic duo Freddy Todd and GRiZ.

Mindelixir is a name that many of you should be familiar with. Bill is a great friend and has been making some serious waves on the East coast. He recently just put out a full LP on Daly City Records and has been hustling harder than everyone I know. Besides working hour after hour in the studio he manages a team of minions in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mindelixir has been a rising power in the bass community and not be be underestimated. At the end of this month marks his one year anniversary of his legendary Bass Church monthly event. Bass Church is one the largest monthly events if not largest bass events in the States.

This is Mindelixir’s second full length EP and boy does it roll deep in diversity yet keeps the same organic flow and style. Ever since I’ve listened to it for my first time I’ve been impressed. 1492 instantly became my favorite track after a full listen. It has a unique melodic sound that appeals to my personal taste. I recently told Bill that it was my favorite and how I even throw it into sets sometimes. It was funny to hear that he said he’s never even played it out but our live styles are quite vastly different. The other track that really stands out and took me by surprise was A Man and a Woman. The track features a vocal sample that balances it heavy bass lines. If there was any track off this album that I can see being rinsed out it’s definitely A Man and a Woman. The rest of the tracks work off each other to create a journey into the mind of Mindelixir.

The one thing that I want to emphasize the most about this release is how much intrigue time and attention to detail this release has. Bill is a hard worker and puts his all into writing an album. While he is known for being one of the most explosive DJs out there his original work showcases the soul and work he puts into his music.

This marks one of his last releases that solely has been written in Reason. Expect his sound to evolve even more as he transitions to Ableton and the world of VSTs. There is much more ahead from Mindelixir as he continues to build his following, monthly event, and production. Expect to see his name a lot more and coming to a city near you as he can be found at many of the East coast festivals and other major events. His live sets are truly the highlight of any evening.

Nothing but respect and love goes out to my great friend, Mindelixir! I can’t wait till the next time we cross paths which might be sooner than later. You  can always expect a great time whenever Bill is around!

Tracklist
1. 1492
2. Doomsday Ticket
3. Aruba
4. Bassfunk
5. Captivation
6. Dubfunk
7. Galvanic Response
8. Nomura’s Invasion
9. Roadblock
10. Water hoarding
11. A Man and a Woman
12. Game Over
13. Gutfunk
14. Jabber Hockey
15. Collective Paranoia

BUY: Mindelixir – Doomsday Ticket

Mochipet is at it again with another crushing remix this time with purple drank style… Four Loko! This tune is one of the crunkest tunes out right now hahaha. Big ups to Dave on this and bringing in such a unique style to music. I assure you at the right time this tune will get the club hypeeeed. Talking about Mochipet slaying crowds… At the end of January getting to join Mochi in Dallas for a show at The Lizard Lounge. It’s always a blast and tons of random occurrences playing with Dave. Be sure to grab your copy of this tune. Trust me. lol.

DOWNLOAD: Mochipet & Hottub – Four Loko Purple Drank Remix

Right now Mochipet is all over the place and expect to see a lot more of him in 2011. He’s prepping a new album, Rawr Means I Love You. His label Daly City has been hard at work this past year and expect some major releases from them in 2011. Dave is truly one of a kind. He makes absolutely remarkable and original music, runs one of the most recognizable labels in my opinion, tours all around the world, and overall amazing guy. If there one person I’d say I have the utmost respect for it’s Mochi. He’s a big role model for me and has been a great friend. Everyone has this fixation on Deadmau5 but straight up wait till you get a taste of what Mochipet throws down. Here is a small taste of what’s coming in early 2011.

Mochipet Contest!

I’m proud to announce the album art contest for Mochipet’s new album, Rawr Means I Love You! For more info on the Mochipet contest details.  Peppermill a small netlabel that is helping put the release out through Daly City Records for the release and they are the ones you’ll want to get ahold of for entering. What’s the prize? You have three options:

1. Mochipet will come over and cook you dinner.
2. Mochipet will go to your house and DJ your party.
3. Mochipet will send you a purple custom made dino suit.

Straight up I think I’m going to enter for this. LOL.
Best of luck to everyone and remember it can be in any style, it just has to drop some jaws.

Elfkowitz has been my secret weapon for quite some time now. He is one of those producers you literally hide all the names and come up with funny names for tracks just so those lurkers who stalk your track selections. Ian is a close friend and only wish great success upon him. Truly ever since I brought him into Miami for a small show with Freddy Todd he’s been real cool and sharing his music with me so I can give some feedback. If I post about sick sessions and jamming to fresh new music chances are it’s cause listening to some of Ian’s tunes.

Right now Elfkowitz is making moves and getting the recognition he deserves. Expect his major release, Prolific, on Daly City. It’s coming out exclusively on Additech on January 11th and then full release on iTunes and all that jazz February 15th! Also be on the look out for two his tunes out on an upcoming Mindelixir presents compilation.

UPDATE: BUY Elfkowitz – Prolific EP

There isn’t enough to say how much of a cool cat this guy is. I’ll never forget when picked him up from the airport and he was rocking this tie dye shirt with The Grateful Dead hat on with a giant flower on it. I knew immediately it was homie! We had a great time chillen and throwing done some tunes with Freddy. He is one of the few producers I’ll randomly text just to see what’s up because he always puts out those positive vibes and has the freshest tunes out there.

Elfkowitz sound is simple yet not. His tunes have a certain presence that leaves room to have fun while playing. I know if I ever can tone it down and put the crowd in a trance I’ll bust out with a few of his tunes. The feel and expression shines in every single one of his tunes. As someone who is venturing into the idea of production Ian’s music has a great influence for the sound I’m looking for. If it were up to me I’d play entire sets like this but you know we need some raggers and trust me Ian has some up his sleeve to but you’ll get to check that out much later.

Nothing but LOVE and RESPECT for Ian. Pay your respects to him when you see him. He works real hard and deserves every big up out there! Glad to call him a close friend of mine. I am beyond stoked for our next adventure. We’re going hard in 2011 Dallas!

Check out his X-Mas remix track and a few of his originals!

Mochipet aka Dave is one of the biggest names in the community. He might not realize it but that’s cause he’s the man. The first show I ever organized and threw headlined him. It’s always a pleasure working with him. What a lot of people don’t realize is how long he’s been doing this and how much work he does. Mochi runs Daly City Records which is home to some of the most talented producers around. If anyone ask me what labels I recommend contacting Daly City is always on the list.

Mochi has been on a hot streak with some of the biggest remixes around! He has recently put out a remix for the Big Boi tune, Shutterbug. It’s a true example of Glitch Hop. Everyone constantly ask me what glitch-hop is or thinks it’s just anything The Glitch Mob has done but what people don’t realize is that there’s much more out there and Mochipet is a prime example of some banging glitch-hop in many of his recent tunes. Be sure to pick up this tune and rock it out!

I have the pleasure of opening up for Dave when he comes out here to Dallas. Look out for 2011 tour. He’s working on a new full length that is sure to cause quite a shock through the community. Last I spoke with him, he was saying he doing something totally new and fresh. There’s so much unexplored in the electronic genre and if anyone is going to bring something new to the table it’s Mochi. If you want a small taste of what goes on when he plays out live check out this live mix recorded with the infamous Joey Mousepad & turntablist Freddy Future.

Much love to you Dave and all of Daly City! Can’t wait to rock it in January. Look out for Mochi in a city near you & let your local promoters know Mochipet is doing an album release tour!

ill-esha’s forthcoming release, Circadian Rhythms, is available on Addictech November 20th for pre-release and everywhere else December 20th! There isn’t a doubt in my mind that ill-esha is the Queen of Glitch Hop! Although all her music might not be considered glitch-hop she is one of the main players in the community. She helps run and a mod for the Glitch Hop Forum. She’s a vetern when it comes to underground sounds with over a ten years of  releasing music as a vocalist & producer. She’s been on labels such as Breakbeat Science, BluSaphir, Muti Music and Haunted Audio. She is no stranger to the game and has been banging out tunes in all various styles from Drum and Bass to Glitch.

Out of all the people I’ve met in 2010 she has to be the most positive person out of everyone. She has a huge smile and unbelievable heart. It was a pleasure to have her come out for my 25th birthday party and play an amazing set in my living room. I will never forget my quarter century mark thanks to her and the awesome time I had with her.

This release is just another moment for people to acknowledge a leading star in the community. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that she will only grow into a more recognized face of this era of music. She’s recently relocated from Canada to the Bay area so be sure to jump on the chance to see her live where she hypnotizes the world with her voice and sullen beats.

If in the Bay area check out the Record Release Party on 11/20. It will be held at Public Works and includes performances by: ill-esha, Mochipet, Glitchy and Scratch, B Bravo, Joe Mousepad, and The Slayers Club.

I can’t wait to see her next and give her a big hug because this work is a complete masterpiece! Pick up a FREE remix of one of her latest tunes and check out the preview clips of the upcoming release. It will be out with a special edition thumbdrive version with video and other goodies!

DOWNLOAD: ill-esha – Smoke & Mirrors (Ample Mammal remix)

Tracklisting:
01) Smoke & Mirrors
02) Cold Hands
03) Sullen Sultry
04) Hunting Season
05) Bedbug
06) Stutterfly
07) Cold Hands (Jay Wikid Remix)
08) Sullen Sultry (Samples Remix)

Kraddy (Alpha Pup, Muti)
“She’s got some great production and is one of the few women I know of making beats!”

Shilo Urban (Dancefever5000)
” ill-esha is one of my favorite producers, DJs and vocalists out there. Her recent mix blew the hinges off my mind & pissed off my neighbors.. holding down the far Pacific Northwest with mountains of bass and a forest of talent”

Ben Samples (Daly City, Muti, Fresh2Death, Denver Bass Squad)
” ill-esha’s music just does it for me, she combines the raw power of bass with the sweatiness and sexiness of beautiful melodic leads to make the whole package in dubstep and glitch… and she’s the sexiest producer that isn’t Ben Samples.”

Sugarpill releases his Flow Goggles EP today on Daly City records! I’m so proud to be posting this for a good friend. Sugarpill has been one of my mentors in the DJ and now he’s climbing to the top. This release is huge and if you’ve recently listened to me live you have probably been jamming out to some of these tunes.

Sugarpill aka Evan has a unique diverse sound. He brings such a groovy feel to his beats and stellar control of effects. This man truly goes wild during his live sets and these tracks are a great example of what the glitch elements are all about.

This isn’t the last you’ll hear of Sugarpill. Evan has been working on other big releases that are due out in the future. Be on the look out for all his remixes and collabs with some of the biggest names in the scene.

Congrats on this release my friend! It’s great to see a friend put out a big release like this!

Here is a small preview of two tracks off the EP:

You can purchase the full 5 track EP here: Sugarpill – Flow Goggle EP

Be sure to tune into his weekly radioshow Thursdays on Glitch.fm!

Splatinum
Der Schplatzl 2010
Daly City Records

”Der Schplatl is the serum that binds the DNA of Lil Jon and Daft Punk into a swirling mutation of bass lines and radiant harmonic crescendos.” With a presentation that starts like that how can you go wrong?

Splatinum deleivers a great album with dance friendly bass music. The physical release includes 16 tracks including two remixes from Mochipet and one from Sleepy Eyes of Death.

I get a real good vibe from this album it’s both funky and bassy. As I quoted above a Daft Punk for the bass underground scene!

Daly City Rec @ Myspace

I recently was contacted by one of the talented members of Splatinum, Andrew Luck. They had some big news to announce! Most of all of you have heard the killer remix Mochipet did for them. Now they are releasing a full length with all remixes by some of the biggest names in the game right now!!! 4/20 is the official release of WE ARE SPLATINUM, 9 track digital release on Daly City Records. They will also put a physical release on Daly City Records, Der Schplatzl 2010. It’s a 16 track compact disc which 7 tracks are unavailable digitally.

It is an honor to have them reach out to me and give me a preview of the remix album. I’ve hand selected one of the tracks from the release to be featured here on afromonk.com to be downloaded for FREE! It was quite a difficult task to pick one out of so many powerful tracks. My final choice was Meat off the Bone (The New Law Remix). Out of all the tracks it had the glitchest vibe and solid bass lines that will have anyone moving to the beat.

I’m not too familiar with The New Law but I dug up some info. They are a downtempo and instrument hip hop duo from Seattle, rising quickly in popularity.  Their live show features heart stopping bass and improvisational sequencing accompanied by live keyboard and saxamaphone. It’s great to see such a big collaboration between Splatinum and The New Law. It’s a perfect blend for the new waves of Glitch Hop.

There will be a special release party for Splatinum’s work in Seattle, WA. The event is FREE!!! It’s an outdoor release party in the middle of downtown Seattle called the Intergalactic Masquerade Dance Party on April 20th, from 6-9PM. Splatinum will be playing and so will Knowa KnowOne, Michael Manahan, and Gel Sol. Be sure to check out more info at Splatinum’s site!

I’ve had the honor of becoming friendly with the Digital Ninja himself, MusSck! He was open enough to do an interview for the website and have to say without a doubt since I’ve entered this game he has be the realest of them all. This man has some serious love and respect! Here is the interview!

You’ve clearly have made an mark on what a lot of people call glitch music. Have you always gone by the alias Mussck? Where did it come about?

When I first started putting music on the net I had a 3 other aliases but like Myng said in the Digital Ninja LP description (MusSck was the diamond in the rough). in 2007 it was spelt (muse-sick) then figure another way how to pronounce it, I chosen this name because i wanted to flip to all sorts of musical genres in a glitchy environment.

When did you start producing music at what age and what sort of medium did you use at that time and how has it evolved into what you do today?

I’ve started making tracks when at 18, I’m still using the same music software which i first started off with (FL Studio) the equipment doesn’t make the music, you do as the individual. During the the years coming up i was thought by people that I call legends in my books;

Myng (Global Vortex / Glitch Hop Temple): 6 years ago I didn’t know how to structure my tracks but he believed and got my tracks played on Global Vortex Radio.

Subtitle (Briefcase Rockers) I sent him a demo before we met in London, during those couple of hours hanging out he taught me how to put soul in my music, now he calls me the Al Green of Glitch Ish ha ha ha.

Daniel Lambert (Global Vortex): I’ve been working with this guy for the last 5 years and learnt so much from him when it comes to trippy sounds and random patterns.

Thavius Beck (Mush): One of my favorite producers who works along as Subtitle as Lab Waste taught me how to put my stamp on remixes.

You have been hard at work with your college and putting things together for them. Can you tell us about what you do on a daily basis?

As soon as I arrive to the studio at the campus I edit loops, chop samples and make beats that’s what all I do in my classes, before the holidays I produced a press kit showcasing all my work including the students in my class from the music technology department to the head of creative studies letting her know that there’s so much we can do instead of remaining behind the scenes, so I am working on her latest project making themes which I can nominated for a college award for best composer at the end of the term.

Clearly you have lots of big releases to date but are there any that stick out to you the most while you were producing them and do you feel a certain vibe when you create music?

Whichever label or crew that I represent for in that current moment in time I put 100% within all my tracks, I am humble dude as well grateful to be in the position that I am in so I have to put in the work for my peeps.

What do you have planned for 2010? I know you have releases coming up on Cosby’s Car Crash Set and recently on Daly City Records. Have any other future plans?

Adopted By A Nes EP going to be release on Briefcase Rockers which should be out around my birthday (May 25th) also to release material on 7 inch hopefully, doing another project at college entitled Team Animation, all of my music is based around Japanese Animation, programs such Ergo Proxy / Death Note / Monster / Ghost In The Shell / Fist Of The North Star / Cowbow Bebop and the list goes on, so I am going to based music around this theme and release it as a part of my assignment, but apart from that I am just taking my digital journey into sound.

You reside in the UK and have talked to you about coming to the States. Is there a US tour coming together? I was disappointed to hear you had chance to come to Miami for WMC but were told to late. When can we expect a Mussck landing in the States?

I could of may it to WMC but there’s always next time, its legendary event so it’ll never die, I’ll be coming to the states in July first stop will be New York City to visit my family as well as peeps like Myng and Powerstrip Circus Crew, then heading down to DC to meet my other peeps B-rice / Jezika / Aligning Minds and HipGnosis.

Trying to save as much money as possible to head over other states but if I can’t make it next time for sure.

You seem to have some great artwork and feel to some of your album art. Do you take a certain theme or idea for having stuff put together on your releases?

Myng, Mochipet & Ill Cosby organize the artwork for the for the material which was going to be release, I am now working close with a good friend of mine in New York name David.Delmonaco who’s going to help me out with my artwork for my college project.

Where do you think music today will be say 5years from now? Do you feel the day and age of vinyl will be lost? What do you currently use to preform? Is there anything you plan or wish to incorporate with your current setup?

The world rotates in 360, things fade and slowly return back from the shadow that’s life for you, my current set up for now is a Rane TTM 57 SL DJ Mixer which I am happy with.

Now let’s get to know the real person behind Mussck. After being introduced to you recently you’ve been nothing but a great friend.

I am a dude that takes the day as it comes my friend, learn new things everyday either to do with music or life in general now I hitting the winter of my 20′s ha ha ha.

What is it that you feel us as humans need to do more when it comes to creating relationship with each other?

Remain loyal and work together on a personal and professional level its all to do with balance, flip different music genres together (music has colours it speaks many different languages)

When you meet someone for the first time what would you say would be a good topic starter or ice breaker that will lead into a great conversation? Would it involve music?

Just introduce yourself and remain true to yourself there’s no point acting like something that you’re not, when it comes to ladies you have to be a good listeners, most of the conversation I have is based around music though ha ha ha

Are there any interest you have besides music that totally captivate you? When you come home from school and not working on music what is it in the world that makes you smile?

Playing old school videos on my roms and watching Manga, just purchase an animation entitled Violence Jack haven’t seen that for years.

You’re located in the UK but is there any place or city that you’d absolutely love to call your home or visit for a short time? Feel free to make a place up and describe it.

The musical floating animated island which lay on the top of mind

If you had to describe love or what you feel as a human drives you to be complete content what would it be for you?

Someone who loves me for who I am.

Biggest influence, person you respect the most, and can call a friend in music?

Biggest influence my father he got me into music back in primary school as i was a troublesome child and had to do extra lesson (R.I.P.) as for friends in music; Myng / Daniel Lambert / Alex Blip / 8bitch / Tidy Kid / Subtitle / Thavius Beck / K-the-I??? Nobuko Hori / B-rice / Jezika / Aligning Minds / HipGnosis all the peeps on soundcloud the list goes on

Who is your top musical influences that really hit you with emotion?

The Soundtrack for Ergo Proxy

Anything you want to say to anyone or message you want to conclude with for your final words?

Shout to my labels: Glitch Hop Temple / Global Vortex / B.E.A.R. / Daly City Records / Car Crash Set and to all the people that showed me love from day one truly means a lot to me

The Random Black Guy at your service

Thank you Mussck it has been a pleasure ever since we’ve been in contact! Wish you the best of luck in the future and see you when you get to the States! Much love brother!