19 Nov
I obsessed with good music. In more recent moments in my life, i’ve come to believe that some of the best music being created is coming from South Africa. Therefore, i’ve been obsessed with South African music, particularly that of the house variety. Imagine my excitement when my man DrewCool sent me his latest mixtape, “Mzansi Unearthed!” It’s full of music that promotes feelings of euphoria and moment from the head all the way to the feet. Check it out below and enjoy.
- Much Love
26 Sep
I recently teamed up with DJ Underdog on a mixtape project called “Serengeti Crossing.” The mix features tracks from Liquideep, Janelle Monae, Osunlade, and remixes by DJ Underdog! The music is soulful, percussion heavy, spiritually uplifting, and dance worthy! This project foretells some of the awesome adventures We’re planning for the near future, so stay tuned!
Cover Design by Underdog
27 Aug
Peace & Blessings. Happy Mixtape Monday!!! Today, i’m playing an Afro-House mix by DJ Satelite (via Akwaaba). Play it LOUD or download it from Akwaaba’s Soundcloud page!
– Much Love
6 Aug
“Nu-Bein Vibrations” is a spirit-musical journey. It celebrates sounds that encourage us to reach outside of our current comfort zones to embrace that which is “new,” fresh, and positive. As we submit our minds to this process our body-intelligence will kick in and cause the re-awakening of musical taste buds that yearn only for that which is good for the entire self. It will challenge the self which floats within the comfortable boundaries set by those who profit from our acceptance of their dangerously low standards.
The delectable dance tunes in this short mix contribute to a process of raising one’s spiritual energy to the highest attainable level. It facilitates in the transformation from humans to Nu-Beins (or New Beings) who choose to vibrate only at frequencies that contribute positivity and beauty to this world we currently inhabit.
Enjoy this Journey. Embrace the evolution.
– Much Love
(click on the picture to listen)
2 Jul
Happy Mixtape Monday! This week Haveplentymusic has teamed up with DJ PsyOn to provide some “Fresh Sonic Produce” that will surely flavor your week. Give it a listen, then check out Haveplentymusic on Facebook, and Soundcloud.
Much Love
(click on the picture to listen)
24 Feb
The world today is filled with talented DJs, musicians, and producers. Many of them make use of the various digital tools available to them to spread their music. To a certified Soundcloud junkie like me, much of the world’s music begins to sound the same after a while. However, some artists have that “it” factor that allows their sound to catch my attention. DJ & producer, Punchuashen, is one of those people.
Hailing from Pretoria, South Africa, Punchuashen remembers when local tastemakers like Oskido and DJ Fresh were making names for themselves in the late 1990s by developing the house music scene and making the local music a commodity. Back then, there were no Soul Candi’s or any other major companies to promote South African house music. And for Punchuashen, something else was not quite right. The Kwaito was a little too slow while the house, which lacked diversity, was too fast. Although Punch appreciated and liked those styles, he wanted something “really funky.”
After a short professional career in tennis, Punch moved to the United States and began making music. At first, his main tool was his PlayStation Music Generator, but a friend gave him the popular digital audio work station, Reason. Within a year, the athlete-turned-tennis-coach really began making his funky house music and developing his brand of music.
To understand Punch’s style, one must be aware of his main inspiration, the drum. Percussion that he has heard in his lifetime – at churches and club, in house music, the Kuduro blaring from Angolan taxis, routines performed by drum majors, etc. – had a profound influence on him and sparked in him, the desire to make his own songs. Having been exposed Percussion in a variety of formats and settings, Punch begins each of his tracks with strong percussion, hoping that that alone is sufficient means for him express his feelings. If his songs don’t begin with a good drum rhythm, then he’s lost what he’s trying to convey through his music. That is where a lot of South African musicians have been able to distinguish themselves from the rest of the world. According to Punch, they have been successful at developing a sound that is “very ethnic and very urban at the same time.” That is the source of his inspiration: “i want to recreate that i same feeling i had [when] hearing something on the radio at night when i was recording back in the day on cassette… That feeling is hard to explain to somebody.”
Even if that something is difficult to explain, tracks like “Dreams” convey a particular energy to listeners that distinguishes Punchuashen from the millions of other Soundcloud song-makers. “Dreams” begins with a percussion loop that imprints his personal stamp on the audio waves with kicks that reverberate through all solid and spiritual matter in one’s body and mind. After a brief introduction to the rhythm, poet Oneil Abercrombie interrupts (almost literally) with a well thought and beautifully delivered soliloquy about personal shortcomings. In a world that demands each individual to submit to its havoc, Oneil has been “been plotting, planning, scheming, dreaming, dying for some resistance,” but is stopped by and trapped in her own manifestation of a prison cell. As she delivers these, and other thought-provoking lines, Punch accentuates them and re-interprets them using his music.
“Dreams” is but one display of Punchuashen’s current talent and his potential. Listening to “Feeling In My Soul” which features vocalist Laila Davids, and “Visions,” would cause one to believe that they’re listening to a world-renowned musician/producer. The diversity of sound across his releases and the movement within each track demonstrate that Punchuashen has a knack for creating sounds, which will earn him the respect We give to the people to whom he looks up. What makes his music even better, is the humbleness and pure love that Punch embeds in his sound. He admits that he’s still got much to learn and fine tune (who doesn’t?) with regard to incorporating more sounds into his already rich catalog and improving his technical skills.
There are many ways that you can keep up with Punchuashen, even as he fine-tunes is already superb production. You can peep his latest tracks on Souncloud and get information about his gigs and projects on his website. The Facebookers and Tweeters can also get his real time updates.
21 Nov
So, i’ve been on a lot of House mixes recently. I’ve been searching for some good Reggae, hip hop, and (nu/neo) soul mixes, and hope to have some in the near future. But for now, more House!
This week’s selection is some deep & soulful goodness mixed by DJ V-King who’s holding it down in Ireland. Give his mix a listen and show his some love if you’re feeling this mix!
Bless
7 Nov
Greetings of Peace! I’ve got two DOPE mixes that you need to keep on repeat in the coming days. Check them out and enjoy your week.
Much Love
DeLaoza, “Sunset Elite Mix”
DJ Reyna, “Grown Grooves: Episode 1″
31 Oct
17 Oct
Peace & Blessings!
This week i can’t help but feature TWO great mixes that i’ve been playing like mad in recent days! Check them out and enjoy.
DJ Kitty Amor, “House Es Amor Vol. 2″
Farai, “DEEPAFRICA”
