64 bar goes global with Olympic mix

64 bar music calling on beat-makers from around the world to participate in Olympic sized production project.

With the world’s largest sporting occasion coming up this summer  64 bar music are putting together a soundtrack for the games that reflects the passion of sport and its inherent link with the joy of music.

“We wanted to mark the Olympics with a mix that defined how people were moved by sport, and what the Olympics means to them,” said label head Pete Griffin.

“The music that is made will reflect the feelings we have when we watch sport. It might be joy through victory, or the melancholy taste of defeat.

“There could be the essence of hope in the music, a sense of pride, of determination, or of drive.

The 64 bar music concept began in 2009, and since then, the label has self released seven albums, three EP’s and an album on big-hitting indie label Ninja Tune.

They have released music from artists based in China, Canada, Chilie, The US, Australia, Germany, Belgium, France, the UK and more, and with over 150 countries participating in the games in London and Cardiff this project is their most ambitious yet.

“We’re calling for submissions today,’ said Griffin. “Tunes have to be sent in by the end of the closing ceremony on August 12, 2012.

“There is no restriction on style or tempo, but tracks must be 64 bars in length,” he added.

Use this link http://soundcloud.com/64barmusic/dropbox to submit a track, or get in touch with 64 bar music directly through the website’s contact page http://64barmusic.drupalgardens.com/contact

The mix album will be released on August 19, 2012 via the labels page, http://www.64barmusic.co.uk

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Represents Vol 1 – Cardiff vs Melbourne out now

Click this to listen on Mixcloud

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.

New episode of 64 Bar Orchestra, now on Seeks Music

The 64 Bar Orchestra is a collection of beats by the producers from the 64 bar project. This show features exclusives soon released on Disfigured Dubz from Echo Park, Brand New Music from DJ Food, and a 20 minute excerpt taken from the fifth 64 bar challenge mix.
There’s an interview with beat maker Pete Sasqwax and a taster of the 64 bar music album Boundaries, released in January on Ninjatune.

Click the image to listen

Boom – Boundaries now live on Ninja Shop

We’re happy to report that Boundaries, is now available from the Ninja Tune shop, via this link

Here’s the accompanying press release:

Boundaries represents some of the strongest tracks submitted to the 64 Bar Challenge mix album project. It’s a showcase of beats by producers from the US, Canada, Chile, Russia, Australia, and all over Europe and the UK. The moods shift from brooding, dark electronica all the way through haunting beauty and then scenes of brilliant, bright light.
The 64 Bar Challenge was a production project undertaken by the users of the Ninja Tune forum. Each producer made a beat 64 bars in length at an elected tempo, and a DJ put it all together. There were six mix albums spanning 2009-2011, with the concluding mix put together with precision by DJ Food.

Highlights include “All Told” by Echo Park, a slice of sunshine from the LA born producer who recently signed to Skream‘s Label Disfigured Dubz. The brilliant Proof of Concept lends two tracks to the album. “How to Ruin Everything” is a melodic piece of music that warms the soul. Other stand out tracks include Algo’s beat “Dark Fracture”, which does what it says in the title. it’s a macabre, twisted track with hints of pure evil. And a hip hop inspired slice of synth lead music from DJ Food as he re works Bobby Corridors’ “What?” track.

The project has been put together by DJ Kovas, real name Peter Griffin, a DJ and producer based in Cardiff, Wales. He began putting the project together in 2009 after pitching the idea to the Ninja Tune forum. He produces dark and moody beats under the moniker of DJ Kovas. Search Google for Timeframe 2009, his self released debut mix album.

His current residency is at Buffalo in Cardiff, running a night called Feed the DJ, where clubgoers provide 15 of their favourite tunes, and he has to make an on the fly mix for them. He currently has a radio show on seeksmusic.com called The 64 Bar Orchestra.

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64barmusic, live @ Electric Sheep Festival

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 Repz producers cut loose

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!”

Check the mix here

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.

Check his mix here

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

Melbourne Representz

Artists from Melbourne will collaborate on a project dubbed Melbourne Representz, coming June 2011.

The project comes from the production house that conceived the 64barchallenge mix series, where contributors submit a track at an elected tempo, 64 bars in length. It’s then up to a DJ to piece it all together to form a coherent mix.

And now Melbourne becomes the second city to embrace the concept, after artists in Cardiff kick-started the concept last week.

Already signed up for the gig is Becy.  She has submitted tracks for both the fourth and fifth 64barchallenge mixes, and revealed why she wanted to play her part in organising the mix.

She said: Representz is a creation of an entirely new piece of work, collaboratively, cross-genres not a track, not a set, but something else.

“It’s a unique way to meet and interact with new people.

And Becy, who released on Vim records earlier this year explained how the creative process differs because of the rules of the project. “You can have an intense little nugget of creativity without the long process of creating a track, so it can be a bit spontaneous.”

Other names who’ve committed to the project include Ehsan Gelsi, Evan Sparks, Kultrun ,Enclave, Funkedub, John King, Pat Stormont, Komplex, all well known names in Melbourne.

To vote for a tempo, use the poll below. Voting closes on March 1, 2011 and the mix is expected in June.

If you’re in Melbourne, and would like to get involved in this project, leave a comment and we’ll be in touch real soon

64barmusic launches new Representz series

Musicians from Cardiff will be the first to take up the challenge of showcasing their city in 64barmusic’s new Representz series.

The idea is an extension of the established 64barchallenge mix series and will follow the same production rules where each artist will submit a track 64bars in length, at an agreed tempo.

The project was confirmed at a Soundcloud meetup in Cardiff on Wednesday, February 9, 2011, where a group of around ten Soundclouders gathered at Buffalo Lounge.

“Making projects like this happen is precisely what these Soundcloud meetups #scmeetup are for,” said Kovas, the man behind 6barmusic.

“It brings the local musicians together, gets us out of the home studio and gives us a chance to set up and collaboratively work on something new.”

Soundcloud meetups , (search for #scmeetup) are informal gatherings organised by users, for users. They are a great way to meet fellow SoundClouders in real life, exchange ideas, ask questions and get to know their fellow local musicians

For those who don’t know, Soundcloud is a premier social media site specifically focused on musicians. It’s a cloud service where users create, record and share the sounds the produce anywhere to friends, family and the world.

Peanut Turner arranged the Cardiff #scmeetup said: “Soundcloud is THE social network for musicians, enabling them to collaborate and share ideas from anywhere in the world. To be involved in such a universal event will really help to put Cardiff on the map musically, and the Representz series of mixes will allow musicians from all over the country to showcase their regional talents.”

Kovas added: “It’d be nice to push this idea out to other cities around the world. If anyone wants to get in touch from their city, then get in touch through the contact form on www.64barmusic.co.uk

64barmusic-Cardiff001 has a provisional release date of June 2011.

Musicians, bands or produers who want to get involved, fill out the contact form here

To vote on a tempo, use the poll below, voting will close on March 1, 2011