Sunday, 22 June 2014

"Label Spotlight" featuring YOVERSION RECORDS!

If you are into your proper straight up house music, then there have been numerous labels over the years to cover your tastes in this forever lasting sound...  A staple diet that is served up in numerous clubs around the world week in week out, it forms the foundations that new sub-genres and trends in the underground are built on!

Whether you are new to the sounds of house or a veteran, there will always be room for a classic tune that fits perfectly in the mix, next to the latest fresh sounds of today.  There are numerous classic house labels that have been around for years but also some great new additions that are worth your attention and Yoversion Records is certainly one of the those!!

Our resident, Disko Trooper, was asked to do guest mix recently for the label's 9th edition of their podcast, so we though we would catch up with DJ/producer and label boss, John Jones, to get the low down on his project and how things have been going...


Hi John, how's it going?  Tell us a bit about the idea and inspiration behind your label - Yoversion Records.

Heya Ben, thanks for doing this feature on the label. Its great to have like-minded positive people trying to push things forward for small labels like our own. Together as a community we can make a positive contribution to getting some really talented producers' music out there for people to enjoy. That's what house music is all about, heh!

I started up the label last year as a channel to push forward music that I was feeling to the house music community and hopefully beyond! Plus it's a great platform to establish myself as an artist individually. Being your own boss...... that's something that everyone always wants!

If you were to describe the label's sound, what 5 words would you use?

House Music Pure and Simple

What is your favourite release on the label?  And which has been the most successful so far?

My favourite release has been our very first release 'Soul Central - On The Edge'. Both Andy & Timmy are good friends of mine and it was a dream to get an outfit of their calibre to kick off the label in style. You must check the video.... One of the funniest things I've seen... It's Top Draw!



The most successful I think has been this excellent remix of Anthony Atcherley Ft. Jamie Lewis - Why Do You Cry (Frater & Stent Remix) which has featured on Hed Kandi's latest Deep House Compilation.



We are also pretty excited about our latest release Richie Barthez Ft. Leroy Macs - Want You Back due for release on 7th July 2014!

You are onto the 9th edition of the Yoversion podcast...  Tell us how that podcast came about?

I have always listened to podcasts as they are a brilliant channel to source and learn new music, so I thought with the amount of material I get sent on a weekly basis, it would be enjoyable to create one of my own. Plus i'ts a great way to generate a database, showcase new material and build relationships with, whilst entertaining your catchment audience. We have had some amazing guest mixes so far and I've been able to tap into contacts that I have built up over the years of being in the scene. I think it makes for some good listening! On top of that..... Its good fun! The next show is a milestone 10th Podcast..... what should we do to celebrate!????



Also, I know we've discussed this previously but I like the fact you include a full playlist on your podcast, so the listener can track down their favourite tunes.  Is that an important part for you?

Yes and no. I have gone with it because it's great for producers to be able to showcase their music and these days in a crampt and compact world of mass production, I think i'ts beneficial to have as much information as possible about a track available, so that it has a chance of achieving its potential within the market.

However, I am kinda still old school in thought that material is too readily available these days via the wonder of the interweb. Gone are the days of searching down records and the buzz you got from finally locating them. That was part of the game and the harder you worked the more it shaped your individuality.

Although I've always posted the podcast tracklistings via our website, it's only recently I've started posting the tracklisting on our Soundcloud link..... and I'm still undecided on whether to keep doing this. I guess what im saying is that I'm happy to make the info available...... but I do not believe in spoon feeding.

One of my other favourite podcasts for house music is the Defected one run by Sam Divine...  Do you have any favourites?

Funnily enough I also listen to the Defected Podcast. From when Aaron Ross started it through to Copyright and now my good friend Sam Divine who is doing a sterling job. I think they give a great representation of good housic music across the spectrum. I also listen to Luciano's Cadenza and Noir's Podcast.


Lastly, you've been around for years on the dj circuit, so give us a brief update on what you are up to at the moment?  And what have been your stand out gigs this year?

Yes, obviously people tend to generally associate me with my long-standing residency with Hed Kandi & Ministry of Sound, so I've been busy on the touring front on that side of things of late with some brilliant gigs at Gibson Club (Frankfurt, Germany) and Prive (Tallinn, Estonia). But our schedule for Yoversion has been fantastic this year so far with an amazing trip to Canada for gigs in Vancouver & Calgary. We have also had very special shows in Slovakia & the brilliant Marquee Fest in Middlesbrough (UK)

Added to that we have our yearly summer shows coming up at Cafe Mambo (Ibiza) plus more events scheduled back in Slovakia, Seoul and Jordan this summer is shaping up to be quite a healthy one for sure

For all the latest on Yoversion Records and John Jones, check out at the following links:



Monday, 16 June 2014

Influences... Daft Punk!

I know this may seem like an obvious influence to point out, seeing as loads of people reference these French guys but there really is no getting away from the fact that DAFT PUNK really set the standards back in 1997 with the debut album, Homework!!

Not only were each of the tunes great, from the loopy techno, to the building swirly house and then the down right slow, groovy and funky numbers, the accompanying videos were just as good!!  How cool was that video for "Around The World"?! or the one for "Da Funk"?!  I remember seeing them and being hypnotised, not only by the groove of the music but also the repetitiveness and oddness of these videos.



Adding to the complete package, at a time when underground house needed some inspiration after the vast amounts of commercially friendly vocal/handbag house music that had been doing the rounds for several years, the Daft Punk duo avoided getting their faces in the press, preferring to let their music be the center of our attention.


This ploy has lasted for the rest of their career and lead to the introduction of their famous helmets in 2001 with the upcoming release of their second album Discovery.  It took on a slicker and distinctly synthpop-oriented style, with a heavy use of samples from the late 70s to early 80s. The album was a success in the UK and reached No. 2 in the charts.  Standout singles included: "One More Time", "Digital Love", "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" and  "Face to Face".




Not content with producing 2 amazing albums, Daft Punk decided to show a different side to the personally and this time only spent 6 weeks producing their 3rd studio album - Human After All, released in 2005!


This not only came at a time when everyone was realising that producing could be something done by all, quickly and in the comfort of their own home but also showed that music did not need to be perfect, in order to still sound good.

The album received mixed reviews from the press and fans but time has shown that it actually perfectly pre-empted the change in mood among the underground scene and desire for the dancefloor to hear beats that sounded a little rougher, rockier and with a more electronic feel, paving the way for acts such as Justice, Digitalism and Simian Mobile Disco!




Having played out all over the world as DJs, along with smaller scale live club based performances, in 2006 and 2007, die hard Daft Punk fans got what they had been waiting - a big scale tour!

Daft Punk brought the material from their 3 albums to life via live mixed/mashed-up versions of themselves, all whilst stood at the controls of a huge futuristic pyramid, that had a light show to die for!!  To say they set the standard for stage production with the current crop of EDM artists, would be an understatement...


Finally, after releasing the soundtrack to the film Tron: Legacy in 2010 (which had them working with full orchestras and sounded great, as always!!), they came back in 2013 with their 4th studio Album - Random Access Memories.

Although their previous album received mixed reviews, their latest one really divided the camp, with some fans loving the new direction they took and others calling it boring and very "un-Daft Punk like"...  In my eyes, I loved it!!

Unlike previously where fans felt Daft Punk were setting the trend, with this album, they have perfectly encapsulated the current trends!  The disco sound from the 70s/80s had been making a revival on the underground scene for the past few years, whilst a fare amount of the clubbing world have felt the need to get away from all these over produced, big stage shows and go back to original sounds of good quality music!

And Random Access Memories provided this by the bucket load!!


Either way, whether you like their 4th album or not, there is simply no denying how influential Daft Punk have been over the years!!

Disko Trooper x

Thursday, 5 June 2014

Wonderful FREE world of Soundcloud!

It's been a little while since we last sorted out the East Project faithful with our recommendations for some of the best FREE music that can be found on Soundcloud, so here goes...

Hope you enjoy!!

Tough Love - Run for Cover

Harry Wolfman - Fred Pea


My Crazy Girlfiend - Crazy Stupid Love (Static Revenger Deep Mix)


Fleetwood Mac - The Chain (Chinonegro Edit)


Lisa Moorish - Just The Way It Is (Waifs & Strays 2014 Remix)


Hey Sam & Butters - DOPE SH!T (L.O.O.P, Anderson Beher Remix)


Flymo & Replay - f yo b


Malia & Boris Blank - Tears Run Dry (The Dimitry from Paris Dub)

Friday, 30 May 2014

What's HOT in June?!

As we say goodby to an always hectic May, due to the 2 bank holiday weekends, we welcome in June and know that summer is definitely round the corner...  With the warm days and brighter evening causing us to spend our time drinking on an outdoor terrace or by the bank's of the Thames, so the party scene also shifts, with our attention focused on the up and coming festivals and variety of daytime events (we even just had our own at Cargo)!

With all this in mind, what are our picks for the HOT nights that you should be at in June!?!?

Monday, 26 May 2014

The BIG SIX for May!

So, what have been the tracks rocking the East Project office stereo this month?!?

Jonas Rathsman - Hope I'm Wrong [French Express]


Volac - Drug Dealer [CUFF]


Pharrell - Frontin (Yam Who? Rework)


Clouded Judgement - Waiting To Love You (CJ Unreleased Edit)


Rough Cut - Every Little Step (Bootleg)


Katy B - Still (Richy Ahmed Remix)

Tuesday, 20 May 2014

East Project Episode 10 Feat. Flutters... Interview & Podcast!

After the success of Episode No.9 we thought what better way to follow that up, than by inviting a couple of talented Spanish DJs/Producers, who decided to join forces as Flutters and share their love of deep house music!?

It’s normally in places such as the W Hotel Barcelona or Bfor Ibiza where you can catch Jose Franco and Mauro B performing their their unique style of house, so we are grateful that they took the time out to put this mix together for us...

Turn it up and enjoy!!


Interview:

So guys, I know you both dj individually but how did the Flutters idea come together?


We have always coincided in the same taste of music, so one day we were out partying and we started thinking about names for a group....  after the third drink it came to us... Flutters!!  haha

How does your production process work?  Do you spend time in the studio together or collaborate whilst in your own studios?

We both have our own studio, but we try to work together in all the possible ways because we live in different cities.  We also make masters for other artists.

How would you describe your sound?

Deep & Indie

Where and when was your best clubbing experience?

Last summer on a boat in Ibiza and every Friday on the 26th floor in the W Hotel Barcelona, which is a unique experience!!

What are your plans with the summer coming up?

This summer we are releasing two original tracks for Karera in Germany and for the label Adult Music of Ibiza.  Remixes for Pacha Recordings and Beachside Records from Miami.  Finally we will be playing in the best beach club in Barcelona and in Bfor Ibiza.



Last Question…  Barcelona or Real Madrid?

We haven't got much time for football, but we love for Barça to win.


For more info:

Thursday, 15 May 2014

FREE Daytime Session @ Cargo... DJs/Producers preview!!

So, with East Project's first foray into the daytime party scene almost upon us, we thought this would be a good opportunity to highlight the fact that some of our guest and resident DJs are not only good on the ones and twos, but they are also great producers!!

Check out some of their work below (which can all be purchased from Beatport)...

Rob Made:


Tainted Souls:


Flymo & Replay:


Rough Cut: