Influences... JAMES HOLDEN!

This time Gilly, one half of Rough Cut and one of the brains behind East Project, shares with us another of his big influences of the past 10 years...  And this time, he's going all techno on us!!

"One of my biggest influences and love in the world of techno has to be James Holden...!"

"I remember a friend telling me to listen to the album he released back in 2006 - The Idiots Are Winning. This album blew me away and since then I have loved seeing him!"




"We had one mix we always used to listen to before we went out. It was a James Holden Kiss 100 Transitions guest mix for John Digweed's show. This truly shows how good the man is..."

Click link to listen to mix

James Holden Kiss 100 Mix (2009)

"We have had the pleasure of meeting him and seeing him many, many times over the years from clubs – warehouses – festivals. Each time amazing us with his sets...

A couple of standout sets have to be at TDK Festival and The End. Neither of these clubs exist anymore, so it feels even more special we got to see him at them!"

"His label Border Community has some amazing releases on and definitely worth checking out and we recently caught him at Field Day, where he played a Live set, which was extra special!"

Check out his record label/community on the link below:

Label - Border Community

There will always be DJs and producers that influence everyone differently but there is no denying the talents of James Holden...  Whether it's behind a mixing desk or in a DJ booth, the man knows how to produce those moments when you just go wow!

Influences... Richy Ahmed!

"Richy Ahmed is at the forefront of a new breed of British DJs, who are re-defining house music taking cues from disco, techno, funk and hip-hop"

Certainly, one of my big influences over the past 4 years and somebody who has really helped define what East Project was all about is Richy Ahmed.

My first encounter with Richy behind the decks was on the dancefloor of a London MuMu party on the 20th November 2010.  We originally decided to go to the night, as Nicola (my now better half) and I are big fans of Geddes and Simon Baker.  At the event, both played really good sets but Richy Ahmed really stood out!

The sound which he brought along was so different and right up the style of music I was missing. I felt the music scene at that time was going through a transition and that year Hot Creations just blew up...

That NYE we saw his once more, this time playing at Mulletover at Great Suffolk Street and he blew us away again!!

This was when I attempted to track him down and play for East Project.  Once we manged to get in contact, we finally booked him to DJ at East Project in June 2011 and that was when I knew the direction my night should take.  He totally changed my sound and what I was playing at the time...

The mix that defines it him perfectly for me is this one:

Production wise, for me the following 2 tracks are the ones that have stood the test of time and still sound fresh today:

And finally this one, shows that he is still on form today!!

Enjoy!!

Gilly (1/2 of Rough Cut) x

INFLUENCES... The Magician!

Hailing from Belgium.  Born Stephen Fasano.  And formally part of Aeroplane (another great influence of mine)...  Let me introduce to you The Magician!

"His background is shrouded in mystery, his powers are supernatural and his reputation is whispered about among men. He goes by different names, but folks just call him The Magician."  So his biography tells us...  If you have not heard of this guy, then where have you been?

There is no need to look any further than his Soundcloud page to understand why he is rated so highly, not only by myself...

Posting up Magic "mix" Tapes since 2011 (he has done 39 so far), each time he tries to bring something just a little bit different to the table than his previous mix.  His sound is firmly based in the 4/4 world but the tempo often changes.  He is equally able to play you a more uplifting beat that really gets your feet moving, to slowing it right down with more funky/groovy joints.

Whether it's including flashes of old school sounding pianos or more modern tech stabs, along with a regular use of vocal tracks, Magic Tapes are not afraid to look into the past for their influence, in order to help shape the future!

One of his most recent mixes (and a personal favourite of mine) - MAGIC TAPE 38 - has been listened to over 128,000 times...

And if you needed any more proof, check these out...  The figures don't lie!

Over 100,000 followers on Facebook

Over 93,000 followers on Soundcloud

Over 18,500 followers on Twitter

& almost 5000 followers on Instagram

Not only is he content with providing such fluid, yet diverse and enjoyable mixes, the guy can also produce a decent tune when he wants to!!  Generally across the board, his style ranges from house to disco/nudisco.

Whether it is on remix duties (such as his remix of Clean Bandit at the top of this post) or weather it's his own original material, The Magician is guaranteed to leave you spell bound (sorry, it had to be done!).

Not only that, when he's feeling generous, he likes to give his music away for FREE (who doesn't like a free tune?!):



Whether you agree or not, in my world and certainly over the past few years, this guy has been a great influence.  His ability to mix up his sounds (production and DJ wise) and yet make himself sound fresh and relevant each time, has to be applauded in my eyes.

Feel free to let me know your thoughts!

Love,

Disko Trooper xx

Sources:

Resident Adviser

Soundcloud

Facebook

East Project Influences... GREG WILSON!

Greg Wilson has been at the forefront of the UK DJ/mixing scene for years... Even before I was born!! Having heard his name in the past, I never really paid any attention until a few years ago, when I download a mix of his live from the Space Terraza for We Love in 2008. I was automatically hooked!

Greg Wilson Live at We Love... Sundays 2008 - available from here: http://www.welove-music.com/we-love-DJs/Greg-Wilson

That mix was shortly followed by arguably the best Essential Mix of the year for Radio One on 17th January 2009. Mixing in everything from Rufus and Chakah Khan, to the Happy Mondays and 808 State, this mix really turned me on to the idea that no matter how old a record is, if it's good, it will stand the test of time and can fit in to a modern day set and not sound out of place!

ESSENTIAL MIX (by greg wilson for bbc radio 1) by gregwilson

Alongside the many mixes that can be found on Greg's soundcloud page, there are also numerous free edits that people can download and now included in their own DJ sets. A recent revival of some never released before edits and mash-ups that Greg used exclusively for his own DJ sets, are now seeing the light of day, to a great response from his fans.

Edits & Mash-Ups by gregwilson

Now, if all of that wasn't enough, Mr Wilson also finds the time to write and fill his on website with numerous stories from his almost encyclopedic knowledge of the early disco, soul and funk scene (and music in general), alongside his general view points on film, art, literature and anything else that is an influence in his life. To say it's all a good read would be an understatement. Check it out here: http://www.gregwilson.co.uk

Finally,for anyone who hasn't seen this clip of Greg "The First Ever DJ To Mix Live On UK Television" Wilson, this is a MUST!!

INFLUENCES... Aeroplane!!

So, for our next installment of EAST PROJECT INFLUENCES we come to the one (well, there were 2 producers under this name originally) and only..........Aeroplane!!

First coming across their music thanks to a number of great remixes in 2008, their mix of all things disco, indie, pop and house made for a great fun listen. Blending the old with the new, their sound has never stood still and hearing this mixture work so well together truly influenced the way I have listened to music over the past few years!!

Below are a couple of my personal favourite remixes, along with a mix for you to get your ears around:

Friendly Fires - Paris (Aeroplane Remix): This is what my wife and I had at our wedding as our exit song from the church... magical!!


Grace Jones - William's Blood (Aeroplane Remix)


And Aeroplane's latest mix on soundcloud (although, all are worth a listen if you have time):
Aeroplane June 2011 Mix by Aeroplane (Official)

INFLUENCES... The Revenge!!

So for our second instalment of East Project INFLUENCES, I would like to introduce to you Graeme Clark... Otherwise known as to the dance floor massive as "The Revenge" or "6th Borough Project"!!

First checking out his productions a couple of years ago, Graeme has as an ability to mix up styles varying from vocal nudisco sounds to the more straight up house beats without ever loosing focus on the groove. A prolific producer and remixer (along with numerous great edits), his live mixes also have a special way of starting out slowly and smoothly before building till you feel more than just your toe tapping and want to get up and dance!

Here are some links to favourite tunes and mixes that can all be found on his soundcloud... With over 10000 followers, he's not short of attention and with a gig diary bursting at the seems, it certainly wont be long till you witness this DJ/producer on a dance floor near you (maybe he'd make a good guest at East Project one day??).

This is the fist tune I got into from the Revenge and made me look out for other productions... The Revenge - Night Flight:
Night Flight by The Revenge

This is another favourite from when I first started looking out his productions:
The Revenge : Looking Up To You Rework by The Revenge

This is great mix from the one and only Resident Adviser podcast - RA 166:
The Revenge : RA166 Resident Advisor Podcast by The Revenge

And finally, this mix is a little more recent... Get The Curse Mix:
Get The Curse Mix by The Revenge

East Project INFLUENCES...

For the first in my many to come posts on influences, I'm going to go for a fairly big and obvious choice to start with...

This guy, alongside Jamie Jones, has been redefining the way house music is played by introducing us to new tunes and mixes that are overflowing with his vast personal tastes in music. From disco funk to R&B, hip-hop to house and with a smattering of techno, this guy fuses all that the youth of the 80s, 90s and noughties were into and bringing it right back up to date with a modern, slower house vibe.

To say that his record labels have been riding a wave of popularity for the past year and half would be an understatement! Anything the Hot Creations and now Hot Waves labels release seems to hit a nerve with everyone on the dancefloor and is guaranteed to get a party moving wherever their music is played.

All involved at East Project have been influenced by the sounds that this guy plays and it was with great pleasure that we secured Richie Ahmed (Hot Natured artist and resident DJ) to play at our event last Friday @ CAMP... Hopefully more link ups with artists from those labels will happen in the future too!!

But for now, here is one and only LEE FOSS! This mix has been online for less than a week and already has over 2000 plays... Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Lee Foss - Modern Amusement Podcast 01 by Lee Foss