The latest offering from 64 bar music is a mix of tracks produced from artists based in Cardiff and Melbourne and is the first in the Represents series
The first part of the mix comes from the people of Cardiff, with all tracks at the elected tempo of 114. The second half of the mix is 128bpm, the producers from Melbourne choosing the classic techno tempo for their work.
“The Represents concept was born at a Soundcloud meetup last year”, said Kovas from 64 bar music.
“It’s an extension of the 64barchallenge mixes originally completed by the members of the NinjaTune forum. The only differnence is the locations of the producers. “
Rebecca Coates aka Becy10 co-ordinated the project in Australia. The 10 tracks from Melbourne can loosely be described as progressive, dark techno.
The Cardiff mix is also largely electronic, and features tracks from seven different beatmakers.
An EP of selected tracks will be available from http://64barmusic.bandcamp.com/ on May 1.
Thanks to Bobby Corridor and Melbourne’s unknown DJ for mixing this.
Kovas live in Cardiff
Wales‘ electronic music scene is so buoyant right now, that Cardiff Arts Institute were able to run a three day festival over the bank holiday weekend, exclusively filled with people based from Wales on the stage.
64barmusic had their slice of the action on the Sunday evening, and here is the result>> http://www.mixcloud.com/sixtyfourbarmusic/kovas_64barmusic_liveat_electric_sheep/<<
Kovas said: “I’ve not been playing out much these past couple of years, so I was rather up for this. Playing a set of exclusivly 64bar beats made it all the more interesting for me personally.
“The fact that I was able to go exaclty where I wanted with it, I.E. be as experimental as I liked was another reason I wanted to do it. The last couple of residencies I had slowly but surely saw me watering down what I was able to play.
“This is an organic set of some 25 or so 64bar tracks. It’s pretty diverse and sounded boomin on the CAI sound system.
64barmusic will put out their sixth album in the summer. It’s called the 64barchallenge volume six and will be mixed by DJ Food and DJ kovas.
Also on the menu are the Cardiff and Melbourne Representz mixes, due in July.
Cardiff Representz contributor AudioDriod has been busy crafting bukem-esque beats, and at the second Feed the DJ welcomed the peeps from the Cardiff Soundcloud meetup, with Audiodroid and Derek C , aka el loco escosse becoming guest feeders for DJ Flipside.
Now, bear in mind Flipside had never heard these tracsk before, he had zero preparation time and had to just play from instinct.
Audiodroid’s mix is 100% self produced. It’s a nod to the Logical Progression era of Drum and Bass. Melodic and layered, sparse and broken.
Audiodroid gave us the back story: “I started this journey when I was 17 – Served Chilled in Bristol and a very good friend – DJ Escher, we used to hang out all the time and then lost touch, it took us a long time to get back in touch! We don’t write together but the influences I got and the way I went were vital to how I created me as Audiodroid.
“I love the current Electro-House scene, some Dubstep and Drum & Bass but my primary influences are Jungle and Dirty Dutch but to be honest anything goes, hehehe!
To hear my tracks played at the current “FtDJ” was amazing and really eye-opening, I never realised how my tracks would go down in public!”
Mix no2 of the evening came from Derek C. It’s a ride through house rhythms and can be characterised as Detroit in a suit, very deep – very dapper. Many of the beats in the mix are made by Derek, with some of his favourite artists checked in for good measure.
Derek C is at www.soundcloud.com/derekc and he said it’s hard to sum up his sound “ it depends what mood I’m in,” he joked.
“I’m influenced by house and electronica
“I move through IDM through Detroit techno all the way through to traditional jazz. I’ll listen to anything that sounds good, Ill take what I like and work with it.
“I’ve got some latin influences from my Venezuelan wife, so that gives me a better feeling for rhythms.
“You just have to watch them dance to understand.”
Derek C Fed the DJ a variety of down tempo, house and techno and, “a few tracks of my own,” he said.
His production is tight, but how and what does he use to make the magic?
“The what is easy. I use Logic Pro 9 and ever since I bought the Novation SL2 midi controller, it’s freed up my creativity.
So two dope mixes expertly put together, on the fly – with no preparation. Not an easy task, and this week is was DJ Flipside who had the challenge.
He said: “The experience was enlightening. I’m a dj who, on a regular basis plays what the club wants me to play (within reason).
“To have a selection of tunes made by the audience was really refreshing and inspirational both in a djing and production context.
“It makes you lose any comfort zone you ever had and focus purely on the music which makes for really fresh sounds.”
Flipside put it together with Tracktor scratch pro .Kontrol x1, and Shure carts.
Both Derek C and AudioDroid feature on the forthcoming Cardiff Representz mix from 64barmusic, check here for more details
There hasn’t been much going on on this blog for 50 days.
That’s because we’ve been busy working on a series of mixes for your delectation.
In the coming weeks there will be the big reveal of the Cardiff and Melbourne Represents mixes.
Big.
So, sorry for not blogging to our normal levels, but hey.. this project is about the beats after all.
Lookout
James Bennetts is the drummer with Million Way, a energetic live electro house trio. He’ll be making beats for the Cardiff Representz mix, landing in the summer, so 64bar caught up with him after a block-rocking gig in Cardiff’s 10 FT Tall.
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