Afro Monk

Emissions! I can’t contain myself with excitement for this all-around extraordinary festival. The vibes that you feel while at any Camp ? and/or Irie Cartel event are unparalleled. These guys are on the forefront of West Coast Bass Culture and they’re passionate about making it happen, and making it happen right! The crew welcomes any and all creative exploration, collaboration, participation, synchronization. So it’s no wonder that their gatherings are all-sensory interactive experiences.

My first Emissions was in 2011 in beautiful Tuolumne, CA… we came, we partied and howled at the moon, we got snowed out, and we conquered that shit. It was actually magnificent feeling the forces of nature make themselves known to us; it went from pleasantly sizzling hot to torrential blizzard in a matter of two days. But the point is, we came together under the snowfall and continued to have a blast! Not many groups of people can collectively do that. Then last year, Emissions was held in the sweeping valleys and timber-laden forest of Angels Camp. It was magical! There was a sense of pure bliss and beauty in the air that you couldn’t resist noticing and soaking in. This year, I can’t tell you how I’m excited that the gathering will be held in my all-time favorite venue of Belden Town, which is nestled in the stunning Feather River Canyon in the Sierra Nevadas. We’ll soon be shaking our booties in the sun, some floating in the refreshing water, some swaying in hammocks…. Perfection!

Let’s get to the music. DJ Shadow, at a festival?! Double yes. I can’t wait to see his All Basses Covered DJ Set; I feel that it will be completely different than when I last saw him in his awe-inspiring Shadowsphere. The Polish Ambassador always brightens my day with his retro sound that at times is reminiscent of old-school video game sounds. Lately he’s been exploring some lusher, earthy sounds that I love with Ecozoic. And there’s really no denying that he is the funkiest of diplomats with his bright onzies! We’ve got Ill.Gates, guaranteed to blow your mind with heavy bass frequencies. Minnesota will always be one of my favorites, I can never get enough of his textured tunes and his live performances are top-notch! I can’t wait to get weird in the paint with NastyNasty, his sets are always exciting and playful. G Jones has been killing it lately and I can’t wait to see what he brings to the table at Emissions. I am always brought to another dimension, one of elation, while experiencing Phutureprimitive live, so I am thrilled about his appearance on the bill. Other acts that I’m absolutely stoked on are M!NT (CO homie), Guttstar, Trevor Kelly (got the chance to kick it with him last weekend during Bicycle Day and had a great time and loved his sets),  Bedrockk (also CO homies), Psymbionic, MiHKAL, Hypha, Zapper & Datgirl, Smasheltooth, Foobz (also had the pleasure of chilling with him last weekend), Zebuel (friend and pioneer of the Tahoe bass scene here), Boggan (awesome friend from Reno), and Benito.

So what are you waiting for, grab your ticket and come join us in the woods for Emissions! It is an insanely reasonable gathering and you will return home a new person. Time to feel the music. Get your Emissions tickets here! See you there

Also, stay tuned for a ticket giveaway!

Oh Camp ?, words cannot describe the fun I have had getting down on your dusty dance floor. Whether it be on the playa, or at their festival, Emissions, or at all night parties in the bay, their shows and gatherings have been the backdrop of some of the best nights of my life. What always not only impresses me, but totally wins me over, is their tendency to book a ton of truly up and coming artists. And not just a few thrown at the bottom of the billing with a shitty time slot, but awesome quantities of them. Youngins’, innovators, the potential next big thing, Camp ? is paying attention and trying to get them on a sound system near you. I can not express how important this is to me. There are so many incredible producers getting zero bookings while the same mediocre DJ’s and producers play at every other show or festival. Yes, I understand that is where the money lies (In NAMES. People love them big names.) and although the electronic music scene often times promotes the facade of being some kind of ultra conscious, society defying movement, money is still the driving factor of many of these parties. But whatever, that notion just makes me appreciate communities like Camp ? and their party philosophy even more. With that being said, I love and support Camp ? in any way I personally can and here is a chance for you to do the same (and score some amazing tuneage while you’re at it!)

I introduce to you, The Campilation, an 18 track compilation released on the ever killing it, MalLabel music, to raise funds for Camp ?’s 2013 Burning Man camp. The compilation is home to tracks from a range of artists and styles, including some more established names such as Minnesota, Stylust Beats, Love and Light, and Sugarpill, as well as a collection of other very talented producers. I’ll admit my devout obsession to glitch hop has been dwindling over the last year so it was so refreshing to hear some great stuff from the genre, especially from two of my favorite, and in my opinion, highly underrated artists, Kll Smth and Mad Zach. The variation in style makes it hard to choose a favorite, but Guttstar, an amazing producer who if you aren’t familiar with, you should be, really brought it to the table with his atmospheric yet bangin track, “Where Do Dead Stars Go?”.  I also may or may not have listened to G Jones’s “West Cliff” 4-5 times before changing to the next song. But we all already know how I feel about him ;)

Whether you’re planning on attending this year’s Burning Man or not, know that by buying this album you are supporting a truly great organization of bass loving humans. And if you are hoping to make it to the playa this year, know that your financial support will be going to one of the most poppin camps in all of Black Rock City. Regardless of the philanthropic aspect, this is a great release for all kinds of bass music lovers and I hope you all love it as much as I do.

Love and Low Frequencies,
Molly

Purchase The Campilation 

I’m aware that this is much delayed, but this release is much in need of an AfroMonk writeup. Minnesota’s Altered States EP is unbelievably catchy, textured, & bassy. I can’t get enough of his synth lines, sample choices, and overall finesse with frequencies. To The Floor is now my go-to party jam. I can’t quite comprehend how Christian is so able to diversify his sound in the most successful and tasteful manner. Too often does such an endeavor go awry. Minnesota is always pushing the envelope and providing us with new ear candy constantly, but at the same time sticks to his roots and what he knows is good. Somehow his musical taste coincides perfectly with mine…. I don’t have to try to like his stuff, it just happens naturally. Sometimes I’ll play stuff and have to think about if I like it or not – nope, not with this guy’s work.

I love how humble the kid is, too. Oh ya know, like touring with Zion I is no big thing. And having phone conversations with Lorin. Normal everday stuff right? One Facebook status that comes to mind was something along the lines of, “Guys, chill out. Stop giving me shit about my DJ name… I’m from Minnesota and couldn’t think of anything else good at the moment, and I didn’t think I was gonna get this big” (to which ChrisB. responded, “Yeah me too man”). Haha.

I was one of the few that had the pleasure of seeing Minnesota at the EP release party, thrown by Camp ?. If you’ve been to Emissions before or their Burning Man camp, you know damn well that these guys aren’t messin around; they know how to throw a PARTY.  This one was at the Old Spaghetti Factory warehouse in Oakland… It was intimate, cozy yet raging, and very conducive to having one hell of a time! Minnesota killed it of course. Just like he crushed it at Ego Trip at Burning Man, at Mezzanine in SF, everywhere the guy goes! So if you can, get to one of his shows on this tour (Sebastopol tonight), or just get to SnowGlobe, it’s gonna go offfff! Afro Monk and I will both be there raging!

 

Download Minnesota’s Altered States EP for FREE here!

This week’s Fire Friday Mix comes from the one and only Scott Nyce out of Dover, Delaware. Scott is a DJ legend of sorts around here and it has been a pleasure to get to know him and share the stage with him recently. He has a lot of passion for music and helping build the scene around here. Like myself (and prob just about every other DJ), he doesn’t seem to get much sleep, so you can catch him doing online ustream sets in the middle of the night at least once a week lately. This double-genre studio mix of dubstep and dnb goes hard and will surely help you kick your day in the face!

You can catch Scott Nyce live this summer along with myself, Drivepilot, Minnesota, Dirty Talk, Voodoo Farm, Bassdread, and HMAZZ at Dewey Beach Delaware’s first ever Electronic Dance Music Festival on Friday July 29, 2011. All of the details here: Dewey Beach EDM Fest.  So stoked about this show! Can’t go wrong with a rave at the beach :p

Bio:

Scott Nyce was born in Newark, NJ and later moved to Delaware as a child. He has been a Drum and Bass DJ since 1997 and continues to be highly regarded as an institution in “The Delaware Underground.” As a small child, he was attracted to almost all things underground, obscure, and dark. Scott has been driven by a plethora of musical influences and discovered EDM shortly before turning 15. As he spent the next two years quietly jumping from party to party, trainspotting DJs and observing EDM culture, he became saturated in electronic music. At 16, he discovered the early sounds of Breakbeat Hardcore; the earliest form of Drum and Bass/Jungle. At 17, he decided to buy a pair of turntables, teach himself how to spin, and eventually throw his own parties locally. In about a year and half, Scott was being booked for shows in the Tri-State area and Canada. He has opened up and performed next to artists such as Ray Keith, DJ SS, Dieselboy, Storm(UK), and many others.
In the early part of 2000, Scott began producing everything from EDM to Ambient film scores. He continues to do so today. As a DJ, Scott has performed at events both big and small. He’s played everything from house parties to rental halls, beach parties and parking garages to major music and arts festivals. To date, he has branched out into other genres such as Dubstep, Glitch-Hop/Crunk, Electro, and Tribal House.

Scott Nyce – The Obscene Gardener Of Filth

TRACKLISTING:
1.The Headunit’s Shadow – Building Bass With A Grain Of Mash(intro)
2.Broken Note- Zound
3.Broken Note vs. Machine Code – Knuckle Dust
4.Kane Dubstep – Always Will(The Psychotic Murmur)
5.Addergebroed – Out Of Control
6.Triage – Pitbull
7.Bong – Nosnam
8.Doctor P – Big Boss (H3 Refix)
9.Rrrump – Chubby Decker(J. Rabbit Remix)
10.Jogo – Bunny Rabbit
11.Point Blank – West Side
12.Ajapai feat.Adroa – Decimation
13.Lonestar – Counter
14.Yohanne Simon feat.Nyree – Scream My Name(Balkansky Remix)
15. DZ- Untitled Facemelter
16.Dieselboy – Invid(Hulk VIP)
17.Encode&Davip-Vamonos
18.Encode-Magic Points
19.Fourward-Stuck
20.The Sect – Cyberman
21.Break Feat.Calyx&TeeBee – Don’t Look Down
22.Commix – Satellite Type 2(NRanges&Uberman Remix)
23.Flame – Ghostpunk
24.Hedj&Blokhe4d – Spirit
25.Xilent – Outer Inside
26.Telekenesis – Hate
27.Noisia – Friendly Intentions
28. Xilent – Step One
29.Hybris – Keeping Me
30.Alcrani – Earthbound

Make sure to follow Scott on Facebook so you don’t miss out on all of the late night u-stream sets: Facebook – Scott Nyce

Much love and respect!

-EA (EA@afromonk.com)

soundcloud.com/djeamusic

Emissions 2011

Camp Questions Mark & Irie Cartel present EMISSIONS! It’s not very often I post about events on the site but ohh man this ONE is truly worth covering. Emissions is on it’s 3rd year and wow this years line up is mind blowing. This festival is approximately two hours outside of San Francisco. There will be camping at the beautiful location for all three days.

Now lets get straight to the punch, MUSIC! The line up for this festival is one of the diverse line ups I have seen compared to all the major festivals. Diversity doesn’t mean that there’s only some medium grade level headliners mixed in with some local talent. This truly means that some of the biggest names in all spectrum’s of bass music. It is still taking me back how I will be playing at this event as well. This will be the first time I’ll be in San Francisco and couldn’t have asked to play a better event for my first visit. I think the best part of this festival as well is the unity that will take place at this event. There are so many names on the line up that I’ve worked with directly, have booked myself, communicated on regular online, and/or close friends with already. This past year at SXSW it was a dream to be part of the crew that we were rolling around with and I feel this will be no different. At the end of the day we all are here to share the music but what makes this community so special is how closely networked and friendly everyone is. There so many people on here that are playing that I haven’t met in person and looking forward to finally giving a good amount of people some big hugs.  Can’t wait to kick it with all the homies out in Cali!

Now let’s list the two rounds of artist announced. I have bolded some of my recommendations for this. To be fair it’ll probably be quite bias to my personal taste and close friends of mine. Hey I was honest at least right?! Got to support the homies!

Line Up

ill Gates
Vaski
J Rabbit
SPL
Machinedrum
NastyNasty
The Widdler
The Flying Skulls
Ben Samples
Jantsen
Seied
Abstract Rude
Zeno
Bokator
Carrier fmly NTRLD
Minnesota ft. PRFMR
Psymbionic
Blackheart
Skulltrane
Rastatronics
BOGL
The Pirate of DubPirates
Smasheltooth and Thee Bad Bitch Brigade
Johnny 5
Nebakaneza
Ro Knew
El Diablo
Mycho Pan Cocoa
Zombie J
Octopod
Bad/Media
Fresh Young Minds
Roommate
Love & Light
Gladkill
Goldrush
Siren
Willy Whompa
Ribotto
Adsum (Porkchop & Mikey Fisher)
Megalodon
Ultraviolet
Afro Monk
Free Crush (Konekta & Devi)
Carly D
Dr. Knobz
K Theory
Fire Lieber
Dr. Dylon
The Glitch Report
Hypha
Energy Alchemist
Genie
Erin Jale
Du3
Grizzly J
Christafari
RA SO
Supreme
Digital Bill
Mose
INI
Antibiotik
Pushreset
Rich DDT
Jai Solei
Mr. Kitt
Foobz
Ananda G
John Holiday
My Pet Monster
Caidance
Swaggersaurus Rex
& More!

Please shoot me a message if you’ll be attending this event! I’m always interested in meeting new people. It’s such a blessing to be able to share the music to you all. I hope you all could make it! Be sure to grab your tickets now! Apparently there might be a limited amount of tickets. The price you’re paying for this line up is an insane deal! Not to mention there are still more artist to be announced! WHAT?! Yeah I know right…

More Info

2 Full Stages, 3 Day Camping, Chill/Alt. Area, Massive Sound, Gorgeous NEW Venue (w/water, tree shade, level campgrounds & easy paved entry road), Unique Lineup (new fresh music not @ every other festie…yet) , Art Installations, Artist Walk, Daytime Workshops, & so much more!

Limited Pre-Sale – $95. (Limited 200 available or until May 10th)
Pre-Sale – $110. ( available until May 10/Last Chance to Guarantee Entry))
At the Gate – $130.
*Special Limited Family Packs*-10 for $75.each (LIMITED/get asap if interested)*
RV & BUS Parking Pass – $40.

BUY TICKETS!

18+/ Please No Dogs/ Leave No Trace/ No Bad Attitudes

Sound: By the Wobble Factory & more
Art Deco: Jeremiah Allen Welch
Flyer Design/Image: By Sparkuhl
Stage Deco: RageStageDesign
Fire-safety by Fire University
Fire-breathing by Aries

We get a ton of quality submissions to the website and unfortunately we often don’t have time to give them all a proper a write up with our full time day jobs, DJing gigs, and other various projects. I wanted to take the time to share just a few of the tracks that have come through that I’ve been enjoying as of late.  Make sure to check out their other sick tracks on soundcloud.com too!

Sick drumstep track from Hirshee! I haven’t heard a bad song from this producer yet:

New Remix from Eskmo:

New glitch-hop track from Cory O from the upcoming SpaceWork EP:

Every track that “A Girl and a Gun” is featured on is straight up fire!

New track from Profesher (Billy Blacklight):

Massive dubstep remix from Hot Mess:

If you’re into chill electronic music, def grab the new ep from Stumbleine featuring this beautiful track:

This new remix from Quartus Saul is a banger!

NastyNasty just released this face melter for free download:

This track from Shower Beer Graveyard is def a baby making remix, ha!

The Polish Ambassador has been bangin out sick glitch-hop remixes left and right!

Sick new track from Fractal Sky!

New one from Robokop!

The drop on this FEED ME  remix is redonculous!

Funky new track from the one and only Jobot:

Grab this new free track from Goldrush featuring the vocal stylings of Anneka:

Love this downtempo/glitch “Radiohead” remix from The Polish Ambassador:

Some dope futuristic luvstep right here courtesy of Nicoluminous:

Nice melodic dubstep remix from Carly-D:

This track is bonkers! The samples they used are clutch!

Some sexy spanish vocals on this one!

New track from Minnesota!

Another nice melodic dubstep remix from Akira Kiteshi:

Here’s a nice melodic glitchy track from producer, 1990:

Much love and respect!

-EA (EA@afromonk.com)

soundcloud.com/djeamusic

Just wanted to share a few new tracks that I’m feeling.  I think you’ll dig em too

TKO (Toppsy Krett + Cory O) – God Can’t Save You From Me!

Bossasaurus-Light Pollution

Root – Kush

MODESELKTOR – Let Your Love Grow (Minnesota Remix)

Butch Clancy Dubstep – Electro Flex

Elfkowitz – Golden Fur

Freddy Todd – Grip Platter

Jobot – The After After Party

Profesher (Billy Blacklight) – Psyentific Eyedealism

-EA

EA@afromonk.com

Soundcloud.com/Ericluvsmusic2

Minnesota is a dubstep/glitch producer out of Santa Cruz, California. I think that he understands something very important that a lot of other dubstep producers in the scene right now don’t. Yes, wobbles and heavy bass drops are fun and that’s why we love dubstep in the first place, but it’s important to keep the melody intact and have it be an actual song that people can vibe and/or dance to. Minnesota has some hot releases coming up that do just that.

His track “Space Mountain” is coming out on Gruntworthy on November 26th exclusively through Beatport which will also feature tracks from Stephen Jacobs, +verb, sugarpill, Dr. Knobz, Carly D, and Doug Surreal.

His track “Meow” will be released on Mal Label in early December on a compilation CD along with tracks by Mochipet, Blackheart, Skulltrane, Mycho Pan Cocoa, El Diablo, Helicopter Showdown and Getter. The compilation will be coming out exclusively on beatport.

And, you can pick up his EP which will be released in January through Tycho Records and will feature the fun glitch hop track, “One Love.”

In the mean time you can preview his tracks at soundcloud.com/minnesota, and while you’re at it grab this fun ODB remix he has up for free download.

Gotcha Money (ODB RMX)

-EA
EA@afromonk.com

Soundcloud.com has become my addiction as of late with their dashboard. Every time I log in, there’s fresh new tracks from producers I’m following in my inbox and I can see what they’re listening to, commenting on, and which tracks are their favorites too. I get wrapped up in this for hours every night, needing and wanting more and more. Here’s some solid ones I’ve come across this week. Enjoy and check back to Afromonk.com on the regular cause we find the good stuff!

Ekliptik-Cookies

Nit Grit- This Old Heart

Project Aspect-Put This World on Hold

Minnesota-One Love

Sugarpill-Shine On

Babe I’m Gonna Leave You – Led Zeppelin – Elfkowitz Remix

Who Cares – Fan vs. Man (Love and Light Remix)

Ellie Goulding – Under the Sheets (Stephan Jacobs Remix)

Nosaj Thing – Coat of Arms (Boreta Remix)

-EA
EA@afromonk.com

Alright it’s been awhile since I’ve put together a list of tunes on one single post. There are so many homies of mine that I want to help promote and get their names out there but I’m insanely busy and like to feature everyone with a specific post but you know what there’s too many tracks right now that it’s just best I give respect to the homies like this.

Stephan Jacobs & +verb (one of the biggest tunes right now)

Freddy Todd – His new album is going to BLOW UP when it comes out!

Elfkowitz – This homie is one of the dopest producers and chillest cats. His tunes always put me in a daze.

ill-esha – elysha is the sweetest person I’ve met all year. you can’t help but be happy around her and her music has the same affect =)

Samples – it’s mother effin Ben Samples. enough said.

Mochipet – This dinosaur is destroying it all over the land. This new tune will blast your face off.

MartyParty – Ummm if you don’t know about him I feel sorry for you. New tease from upcoming album.

Minnesota – This guy is going to BLOW up. Take my word for it.

Billy Blacklight – This guy is my favorite producer right now. Give him another couple of months and some more experience and I think he’s going to be huge.

NastyNasty – This man hold my favorite tunes at the moment and I don’t even know what they are called. His unreleased material is SEXY.

The Human Experience – This is the one producer which incorporates what I’m hoping to do when I begin production. Amazing.

BMF Productions – This tune is so big! I dropped this the other night and WOW! Big things ahead.

iONik – This guy right here has some serious love for the community and one hell of a producer. Looking forward to working with him in future!

+verb – this guy is an absolute champion and one of the realest around. he’s going to turn some serious heads. looking forward to seeing him play out finally in 2011!

Sugarpill – This guy is the man period. He’s one of my main mentors and always there for me when I got some questions. Ableton guru & amazing friend.