Introducing Josh Ramadan... And East Project @ The Horse & Groom!

With only a few weeks until we start up our East Project parties again in London, we thought we would introduce to the world a new up-and-coming DJ, who we think has got what it takes to make it in this crazy underground dance music industry of ours...  Introducing Josh Ramadan!!

Please introduce yourself...

Hi Josh Ramadan here from Essex.

Tell us about your mix for the DEEP:TECH and East Project Radio show and how you decided to approach it?  What was the aim?

I decided to go a bit slower and deeper with this latest mix. I wanted to keep it deep tech/tech house and the aim was to take the listener on a journey.

You're booked to play the East Project event on Friday 11th May at the Horse & Groom...  Do you have anything planned for your set?

That’s correct can’t wait for it! I have a few bangers lined up that I’ve wanted to play for a while all of which will help get the party off to a flying start.

Are you into producing as well as DJing?  If not, is it an area you would like to get into?

I am producing also I would say currently I’m in the learning phase at the moment. My aim for 2018 is to have a number of tracks completed with the potential of releasing them on a label.

Who are your big influences musically?

My biggest influences would have to be the likes of Carl cox, Adam beyer and Richy Ahmed as all of them worked their way up from nothing to where they are today. This encourages me to do the same in the future.

FOLLOW JOSH ON:

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Talking A&R with LA SAM... And his remix of Billy Rath - Cuerno (Out Monday 26th March)!

Hi Sam. We featured you on the blog last summer when you recorded a mix for our EP Podcast series and just after you joined the team as A&R…  How has the past 9 months or so been for you working with us?

It is crazy that it has been that long because it feels nowhere near that. It has been an absolute blast I feel I have really broadened my horizons with joining the label team, especially when East Project was where it all began for me in terms of my first gig so it’s great to be working more closely in growing the label.

There has been a real buzz about the label lately and so many great upcoming talent releasing with us. The likes of Ben Sterling, K&K and Louis Robinson all happy to release on label has really helped and happy to say I was able to get them on board! A special mention to Tom Laidlaw as well who got in contact with me and released his first EP with us.

The biggest thing for me was helping artists that are trying to break through in this industry because I have been there myself and it is seriously the most rewarding feeling I have had by helping someone else.

With a really successful first release for 2018, there is a real sense that this could be a big year for the label, why do you think that is?

I think it is a combination of things. As a team me, Ben and Adam always work hard to brainstorm releases and who we can bring onto the label to help grow it. We always post a lot on socials as well. Another thing is our attitude with no egos, it is always about the quality of the music not the stature of the artist. If a producer has 0 followers on Soundcloud but their music is spot on for the label we will release it. Same goes if an artist has 10,000 followers but music doesn’t suit our sound then we won’t.

We also don’t have a fixed kind of sound, we release what we think sounds good, whether that’s minimal, deep house, tech house, techno etc if we like it we will release it. Then to round it off we have had so much support from Lindsey Matthews, Billy Rath, Ying Yang, Jo Poole, Matt Fear…. The list goes on. Without support there wouldn’t be so much hype around the label.

When you are out looking for new music or if anyone sends you a promo, what do they need to do to catch your attention?

I feel that approaching me in a kind genuine way is the best way. I don’t need anything specific, just you know a simple hello and little intro goes a long and a polite please and thank you. Manners go a long way for me. In terms of what I want to hear is always something different for example with Tom Laidlaw’s Jungle Move EP he had samples from a rainforest, which I thought was so cool and the groove of the track was perfect.

Are you looking for anything specific from a track/artists?

It has to sound clean. I feel a lot of artists sound clips that haven’t mixed down their tracks properly are presenting themselves in a bad way. A master isn’t crucial but a clean sounding well layered track is!

Looking at this upcoming EP from Billy Rath and specifically your remix of lead track “Cuerno”, what were you hoping to achieve with your version of the original?

When I got the parts, the vocal was a big factor for me. So when writing the track I based it around that and made a hook. I wanted to make something that had groove and energy with progression with a deep bass and that’s how it ended.

Did it come out as planned?

Yeah, I was really happy with how it turned out always want my productions to be as perfect as possible!

Finally, feel free to use this question as your chance to promote the DJs, producers, events that you are really feeling at the moment!

Ok! I feel Jacky deserves a mention! I have known him for some time now and he is taking his Jacky & Friends brand to Fabric! Which is huge for him. From being a part time DJ when I met him to where he is now is a perfect testament to hard work and dedication. Also, George Privatti for me is an unsung hero from Elrow. His productions have been solid lately and his December 2017 set over on Soundcloud is full of so many heavy tracks that make you wanna dance.

For more info on LA SAM, go to:

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EP PODCAST031 - LA SAM

Next up in the East Project podcast series we have a superb mix from our main man LA SAM!!

Please introduce yourself:

Hey my name is LA SAM, the name can be misleading that I am from LA but that is not the case so wanna get that out the way first. I am a DJ from Essex that started as a double act with my friend Lewis but it never worked out so just kept the name. I have been DJ'ing nearly 4 years by November it will be, which is actually the anniversary for playing for you guys the first time. My style is Tech house, techno and deep house mainly. But I do have a liking for Nu disco, more emotional tech house commonly known as "Deep Tech" and 80's music a long with the old kinda hip hop not the stuff that is going about now, back in the day Tupac and Biggie Smalls for example. I have also been producing for 3 years and very proud of my releases so far.

What are you up to at the moment and what have you go lined up for summer?

This year has been crazy I have had a lot of gigs and really well supported releases. I have a residency with Sugar which is a new London event with a concept of colour and bumpy kind of music to make you move. The first party was nothing short of super and headlining with my friend Ben Sterling on the 2nd one was an honour. Highlights this year include We Are Fstvl b2b with Zach Murray in the Data Transmission tent, playing for Data Transmission at Brighton Music Conference then later doing an impromptu b2b with my mate Dan Hayes at the Arch what a wicked venue that is! Also played at the Source, Studio 338 (Garden) and Basing House. I continue my residency for Sugar on the 5th August at our regular location Floripa which fits our concept perfectly as it's a Brazilian themed Tropical bar and there's lots more in pipeline just can't announce yet.

Producing or DJing, which do you prefer?

Wow tough question both very different art forms. I love both honestly otherwise I wouldn't do both. With Dj'ing you express yourself live in front of a crowd of people, timing is crucial and of course track selection, when you drop a track that they have never heard before, seeing their faces and reactions is just incomparable an amazing feeling. With production you're mostly alone or sometimes with a few mates. It's special because when you sit there after making a break down you can just lose yourself closing your eyes and punching the air imagining it being dropped by a top artist in Ibiza for example really gives you a sense of achievement because you made it from scratch. So I don't prefer either sorry haha!

How would you describe your DJing or production style?  Are they similar and how do they feed into each other?

My style is very much taking people on a journey I don't like sticking to one tempo, I like people to go through all different speeds and emotions when watching me, otherwise for me it gets too repetitive and boring. The music I play will always depend what time I play, the venue and the event. Those elements really influence my track choice before hand and then it's reading the crowd and seeing how they are feeling the first few tracks then you can kinda get a sense of what is going to work but I always take risks and play something a bit unique just to see what their reactions are. My production is 100% similar as I like to play my own tracks out first before sending them to my friends and big artists in the industry to use. I've produced Techno, Tech House and deep house including a track made with my own lyrics called "instead" released on Data Transmissions label Shanghaied which gained great feedback from Joyce Muniz, Felix Da Housecat and Maxine Hardcastle. On top of that Detlef used my remix of Submotion - Ah Human on his Stereo Productions Podcast for Chus & Cebellos which was massive for me, Mat.Joe also recently gave great feedback on it too so it shows I have the potential to do well!

Describe your podcast mix in 5 words:

A Rollercoaster Journey Of Sound.

On the mix you've included 2 tracks from the Clouded Judgement boys, who we have had play at East Project a couple of times and have been building a great name for themselves...  Who else on the London or UK scene should we be keeping an eye out for?

Yeah man great guys they played just before me and Zach Murray at We Are Fstvl this year they are doing really well, their forthcoming EP is great so had to use a few of those tracks. I have a whole host of friends that are making their way up the ladder but I would have to say my fellow Sugar residents Stephen Thomas, Lizzie Grant, James Carter, Louis Robinson, Lewis Murch and Luke Slater all have something to offer and I'm so happy to be part of a strong team so keep an eye out on them! Also close friends Zach Murray who recently got his track "Drum Machine" dropped by MK at Amnesia in Ibiza and Ben Sterling who released a 4 track EP on Josh Butlers Label Origins rcrds.

You have been following East Project from the start from there parties to there label. Tell us about your forthcoming track on the label and coming on board with the team?

Yes my first ever party as a young man been a major influence on coming into the music industry. My fourth coming track Spiritual Calling was definitely based on the hot creations kind of style but also has a rawness about it. The vocal hook sounds like some sort of spirit calling out hence the name. I am very excited about working closer with the team and a new challenge. I want to help unrecognised talent and help grow the reach of a great label and party that has been so crucial to my development.

TRACKLIST:

1. Nex tone - Believe me now

2. Clouded Judgement - Countdown

3. Paul Lightfoot - Bedroom work

4. Clouded Judgement - Small Step

5. Teeda - Relapse (Robin Fett remix)

6. Ben Read & Jacque Saravante - Overdrive (Simeon Belle remix)

7. Ben Read & Jacque Saravante - Wanchu

8. David Penn - Yeah Yeah

9. Ki Creighton, Makanan - High Motions (Waifs & Strays remix)

10. Ben Sterling - Toot Toot

11. wAFF - Karimba

12. Caleb Calloway - The Place

13. Artikal - Jam Pot

14. LA SAM - Grand Master Get Down

15. Latecomer - Fix up

16. Radion Poddubsky - Over Noise (Cassimm remix)

17. Mr. Jefferson, Nobody else - Tick tock break

18. Patrick Topping - Yes Chief

19. Yade - Submarine (Jojo Angel remix)

20. Mark Star - Ultraviolet (Violet Beats mix)

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