Some of you might have noticed a lot of people on Twitter and Facebook talking about saving Plastic People in London, I wrote this appeal on the Laid Back blog, but I wanted to share it with you guys as well, just in case you only follow my personal blog.
It is not often I ask people to get involved with certain things, but this time I am almost begging you guys to take a couple of minutes out of your time and to get involved and to help us prevent the closing down of Plastic People from happening. You can do so by JOINING THIS FACEBOOK GROUP!
I can only write this post from my own perspective, so if you feel like you want to know more, there are plenty of great blog posts from more “old school” Plastic People goers like Laurent Fintoni and Wrong Tom, and appeals from top UK music bloggers such as Amelia from Put Me On It.
I moved to London in September 2005 and up until that point, I had never really found a group of people that could truly relate to my undying passion for music. I struggled for about 2,5 years in London until I finally found a place where there were like minded people to myself, people who had the same passion for music, and that place was Plastic People.
It was at Plastic People I had my first romance with electronic/beat based music, it was at Plastic People I had the privilege to meet artists such as Mr Beatnick, Floating Points, Bullion, Sound Species, 8Bitch, Simbad, Emanative (to name a very few), see amazing sets from the likes of Theo Parrish and Four Tet, and attend breath taking and booty shaking nights such as CDR and FWD.
This legendary venue as not only hosted fantastic events and presented some of the most influential artists/producers of the past 5 years I have been in London, but it has also nurtured, helped develop and pushed many of the artists that both me and you guys hold close to our hearts, artists who inspire us and who makes us want to achieve better as artists/writers/musicians/promoters/organisers/etc on a daily basis.
It is the only place in London were I feel like I can go, and I know that almost nobody (if anybody) will care about what I am wearing, what I do for a living, what country I come from, what colour my skin is, what religion I practise, you name it… The vast majority of people who go to Plastic People go there for one reason, the music.
There has not been a single occasion where I have brought somebody to that venue and they haven’t been received with a friendly and positive attitude, as well as leaving with a memory for life ( and I would recommend any of you to go there if it will still exist).
FWD with Zinc and Skream+Benga
If you think this matter doesn’t involve you since you don’t live in London, you are wrong. Because if you love independent music, if you love the art behind music and the people who make music, and you are for a place and a community that not only presents top quality music but helps develop, encourage, nurture and push new raw talent, then this issue is something that directly involves you!
So please, make your voices heard. Join the Facebook group today and get involved. We truly need every single one of you on this.
Thank you so much and much love to you all xxx
Hello my friends,
I hope you are well and that you have managed to escape the nasty flues that seem to be getting around no matter where you live. Thank you so much for joining the Little Miss Sunshiine party, it has been a great experience and I am very happy to be celebrating 10 shows over at Laid Back.
The thought behind this special edition show was not only to celebrate 10 shows, but also a way for me to say thank you to all of you who have been supporting me and motivating me to continue to do them, and to strive to become better with every episode. I am so thankful and feel so lucky to have such amazing listeners like you guys! And just like you all keep me motivated and inspired, the guests on my show do the same thing.
I want to thank each and every person who took the time out of their busy schedules to be part of this show.
Please find a more detailed introduction to every guest below, and don’t sleep on any of them, they are all truly remarkable people!
GUESTS:
Agent J: Manchester based Agent J is the mastermind behind the great website and radio Groovement, a show that is broadcasted on Sundays on Unity Radio, as well as the organised of some wicked parties up in Manchester. Our paths crossed earlier this year, and this guy never seems to stop to amaze me with the quality guests (Daedelus and Gaslampkiller, Paul White, Alex Nut and Illum Sphere , Ras G, Speech Debelle etc), and music that he presents. He has a big heart, wonderful smile, and great taste and passion for music. I was delighted to hear that he decided to join the celebrations by selection an assume track from Kutiman.
Azer: This tall fella is a DJ and Graphic Designer from Gent. He runs his own show here on Laid Back called Plastix (check the schedule for times) and I really wanted to have him on my show because I met him when I was in Brussels for the first time, and I remember walking with Julius in the sunshine as he was telling me Azer’s story. I will not repeat it, but it was for some reason a very special moment for me, and after hearing him spin at the Release Party, as well as hearing his show here on LDBK, seeing him do his video podcasts and reading his activities on twitter, I wanted to introduce him to some of my listeners that might not tune in to his show regularly. So make sure you check out Plastix, and a big shout out to Azer for attending my birthday bash.
Black Classical: If you like good music, especially jazz (like me), then the Black Classical blog is definitely something I would recommend you to check out. Not only do they have some of the most amazing mixes Ive heard musically up there, but, the blog is run by this very sweet person called Greg. Greg was the one who lost his voice and couldn’t record an intro. However, he did pick a song by Horace Silver, from the great LP . And he also gave me the honour of posting a fabulous guest mix of his on my blog that you can download and listen to when you want.
Blast Kid: Blast Kid runs one of my favourite shows here on Laid Back, Pulsations (check the schedule for times). I am very happy to have him on the birthday show because his selections always make me smile. I wish there was more fuss made about his shows because that kid knows his music, and I always end up discovering some new artists or track when I listen to his selections. So I am hoping that you guys will start tuning in to his show too, and hopefully we will see more fuss being made about them in the new year!
Blue Daisy: One of the people I think you should keep a close eye on for 2010 is Blue Daisy, an incredibly talented producer and beat maker from London. I got to know him through common friends on Twitter, and I had the pleasure of seeing one of his sets this past weekend. Safe to say that he completely blew me away, and I feel so honoured to have the exclusive track, Jagos Castle, included in the show. It is people and artists like him that reminds me on a daily basis why I fell in love with music in the first place, and you can tell that his passion and dedication shines through his work.
Dooks: Dooks, or Papa, is another talented producer and beat maker from the LDN. I got to know him this past summer, yet again through Twitter, and had the pleasure to finally meet him two weeks ago. I was very happily surprised by his pick, the Robert Mitchell 3io, since I don’t know many people who like them.
Emilie: Words cannot describe how much I appreciate the love and support you guys show me and just like most of you, Emilie is a listener who has been showing me just that since day one. I bumped into her when I was visiting Brussels for the first time, and her kindness completely blew me away. It is a privilege to have her on the show, not only because she is such a sweet person (with a great taste in music I might add) but also because she makes me smile and her positive comments keep me motivated.
JtotheC: This is my brotha from another mother haha… I know he is known under quite a few names, but for me he is known as JC, an overly talented and unique individual who brightens up the darkest of days with his remarkable persona and positive attitude. I can’t think of JC and not smile. I don’t think I have ever met a person with more energy than this guy. Oh, and if you haven’t checked out his EP, “A Man & His Funk”, I think it is about time you do so!
Julius: What can I say? Without him, there would be no Little Miss Sunshiine. I can’t thank Julius enough for giving me the opportunity to become a part of Laid Back, and for having enough faith in me to let me do my own show. The support and encouragement he has shown me since day one is something that I will always be grateful for. I can’t imagine my life without him, or Laid Back for that matter. So thank you so much for everything Julius, it is safe to say you have changed my life for the better.
Kato: I got to know Kato by pure accident after having attended an event that he allegedly was at as well, and I wasn’t sure if we had met or not, so I decided to contact him. During the process I found out that he was running this great website called Work Ethic. He is a hard worker with a lot of passion for good music and talent, qualities that I personally can relate to a lot, and that was one of the main reasons I asked him to join the party.
Lyrical: Stockholm based emcee, producer, record label manager, lecturer, and many other things, Lyrical is one busy man reppin’ Nothing But Skills, The Rah Rah and of course, the country that I grew up in, Sweden. This guy is another true talent that makes me proud of having a Swedish passport. He is a true inspiration, and I expect many great things from him and his crew in the years to come!
MeLo-X: I had the pleasure of meeting Melo for the first time this summer when he was performing at a Brownswood Bubblers party at Cargo. This Brooklyn based emcee, DJ and producer blew me away with his great live performance. We ended up crashing the Brainfeeder party after his show, and I will never forget running up and down central London trying to find some special headband he was looking for. Safe to say the rest is pretty much history, and the night I met him will always be one of the best nights of 2009 for me.
Nikkintu: If you have picked up the latest issue of the Anattitude Magazine, you might have spotted Nikkintu on the pictures made by the female photographer Texas. I was introduced to her music by her fellow friend and producer, Melo-X. Based in Brooklyn as well, Nikkintu is an artist who’s undeniable style of hiphop is infused with political fervor and a spiritual self -expression. It was a pleasure to have her involved in the show, and I hope you all check out and download her latest EP “History of Dreams”.
Powercut: I bumped into Powercut a couple of years ago when I was visiting some friends in Bristol. We ended up at a club called Timbuk2 and when we got downstairs, I remember being amazed by the great music that was playing. I went up to the DJ booth to see if the guy had a mix CD or anything I could have, and the DJ dropping all the funkiest music I had heard in years just happened to be Powercut. Always bringing the freshest and funkiest sounds where ever he goes, he is also part of the DJ collective, Funk From The Trunk, and they run top quality nights and events in Bristol by the same name.
Throwing Snow: With a BA in Astro Physics and a Masters in Music, Throwing Snow is indeed a very ambitious, passionate and incredibly talented guy. Apart from being an artist, DJ and a producer, he runs the label A Future Without, as well as doing a million other things (sorry, he is involved with so much that I can’t keep track of all his projects!). It was an absolute delight to have him part of the show, especially since he picked a tune from one of my favourite artists from this year, Floating Points.
8Bitch: If I may quote her on this one, 8Bitch is more than a woman. This crazy little Eastern European born chick makes my heart skip a beat and I adore her. She is a DJ, producer, vocalist, writer and … (wait for it!) DJ Hero character! Her talent shines through and I feel very privileged to have such a source of inspiration like her in my life. And let’s be honest, her intro on my show was a classic!
Some friends & fam who’s music was included in the show and who I think you need to check out as well:
- Ahu
- Bullion
- Illum Sphere
- Kidkanevil
- Mr Beatnick
- Rustie
And that was all for now my friends. I hope you enjoyed the show and don’t forget to tune in to LMS #11!
Much love to you all! xxx
No offence to Shafiq Husayn, but my girl Fatima makes this song. Its the best song off the album, and I was disappointed to see that she wasn’t included in the “real” version of this video. So screw the official one, you have seen it on too many music blogs. Instead, enjoy this unofficial official one, staring the one and only, and oh so incredible and talented, Fatima!
I have been spending the last 3 days gathering my thoughts on what to write here. After a difficult couple of months, I really felt like I had some happy and loving things to share with you. And then I heard the news about Domu and I was left a bit speechless and incredibly sad. Before I share my thoughts and feelings about this, I want to share what he had to say on his blog earlier today and I hope you take the time and read it:
The End
It’s over. I can’t go into the personal reasons, but of course will leave you some explanation as to how I got here. It feels a bit like walking away from a life of crime or the Mafia. I am Carlito, I have finally made the break from the old dangerous way of making a living. I just hope Benny from the Bronx doesn’t shoot me as I am boarding the last train out of here. The point is that I am no longer Domu. He is a character, always has been, and as of Friday 13th November 2009, he no longer exists. Neither does Umod, Sonar Circle, Bakura, Yotoko, Rima, Zoltar, Blue Monkeys, Realside or any of the other names I put out music under. I am cancelling all my gigs and not taking any more. My hotmail is closed, my Twitter is closed and my Facebook is closed. If any of you want to talk to me and know me well enough to have my mobile number then that is still the same, and please feel free to call any time. My other email address I mail from occasionally is still open to tie up any loose ends.
I had started to change, for the worse I am now sure. My confusion was growing, my insecurity and bitterness getting out of hand, a lack of creative direction and focus were leading me somewhere very dark. I have felt so depressed by all of this. Believe me I have searched my soul long and hard this year to find the reasons again why I do this, but I can’t locate them. Too much of ‘me’ is mixed up into all of this, and no one should ever give so much of himself or herself to a job. I once believed in all of it, that I made and played music for a certain type of person, for people who didn’t want to adhere to the ‘normal’ way of life, the free thinker, the independent or open minded type who was bored of the genres, the staples, the blueprints or the formulae. The underground. But I just don’t truly believe I am needed in this battle anymore. It has been passed down to another generation, who are doing it their way, and I have no desire to try and edge in and start proclaiming to be fighting a fight that is no longer mine. I am a 31-year-old man. I can’t claim to be holding a torch up to something that meant so much to me at 15. At 21, maybe. But now, after ten years going full time, I think I have said all I had to say. My creative light has dimmed. Maybe because I started so early, who can tell? But I feel satisfied that this is it.
I have had an amazing time. I’ve travelled the world, drank and partied and made a decent living out of entertaining people throughout all of my 20’s. I met some incredible people in cities I never dreamed I would visit, shared my thoughts and collected wisdom from a huge range of deeply profound and lovely people. But I have also met some real arseholes, and I could feel I was becoming one. Playing records I wasn’t sure I liked to people who had no idea who I was. I had gone cold, cold to the music, to the reactions and to the point of it all. I was changing what I thought I liked, so that I would be liked. I am not a chameleon. I am not Madonna, I can’t stay abreast of the current styles and keep changing with it just to stay in fashion or retain some kind of credible status or career. I have had my moment. If you know me well, you would have sensed a change in me over the last two years. I have always suffered with problems of confidence, but I know that’s not why I am throwing in the towel. I feel like I have to change so much of what I think is ‘me’ to carry on. What I believe in, how to talk to people, how to behave. I just don’t think I can be so arrogant and harsh to stand out anymore. There is so much noise out there that people have to shout louder and louder to be heard. And for what? I am beating myself up over something I no longer believe in for an income that is stressfully patchy and more often than not, very low.
I used to say I owed it to ‘the fight’ to keep going. My belief in that has waned over the last few years too. Yes we needed Coltrane to go against the grain, to sacrifice his well-being and life to create beautiful art. We needed all of them, creative and unique beings burning brightly in our souls, our influences and idols that created the music and the movements that can provide us with sanity, sanctuary and meaning through our confusing lives. But music has lost some of it’s meaning to me as a medium. It’s everywhere; everyone is making it, playing it, giving it away, and trying to make a living. So many people have a voice in it now it is hard to pick out what is cutting edge from what I actually truly feel. I have gotten numb to my life’s biggest passion, and I need to leave it for a while to see if I can ever get it back to how it was.
Some have attributed meaning and understanding to my some of my work. I know it is special to some people, and my message was understood by a few, which I am very grateful to have come to know over the years. I was lucky enough to catch a ride in it for a while, was recognised by some very special and talented people and I earned the respect of my peers and achieved a hell of a lot in a short space of time. There have been huge highs whilst playing music to all sorts of crowds, creating an atmosphere and being in control. I have felt the joy and adrenaline rush of the success, alongside the emptiness and despair of the empty club or the unresponsive floor. Now I recognise I have done all that, I need to put it all behind me and move on, and the only way to do that is to disappear. It has to end sometime, and as I keep saying, everything is finite. I don’t want to lose everything else in my life for this. I just don’t believe in it enough to make that sacrifice. The kids are fighting the battle now. I hope I influenced some of them, I know I have, and that gives me a sense of ease doing this. I haven’t wasted 10 years, I know I have bought joy and hope to many of the disenfranchised, the open-minded, the musical outsider or the devoted dancer. There are people creating things and using technology in a way that I am having to try and catch up to, but I no longer feel the desire to. They are doing it better than I ever could now. It’s their time, and mine has passed. You can either think I am being incredibly brave by admitting it or incredibly weak and stupid for stopping. But it’s just how I feel. I was going wrong in many aspects of my life, and I need to start making a change. I have no idea how long this piece will stay up, but this site won’t be here forever. Please feel free to copy and paste and pass on to preserve it, to let others know why I left, assuming anyone cares.
I have tears in my eyes now. I have so many people to thank for all the personal and professional support they have given me over the years, but I shall do that personally in time. But I want to thank everyone who has bought a song, paid an entrance fee, had a dance or just come up and spoke to me about life, music, the world or whatever. You have given me a dream-like blessed existence for many years. If I have inspired anyone, then I am a happy man. You all have certainly inspired me, and I want to use those years of travelling and sharing to good effect, not this anger and confusion I feel towards it all now. I need to find meaning to the next phase of my life. So I bid you all farewell. I am just too sensitive to keep up the façade of something that doesn’t feel right. I knew it would come someday, maybe some of you that knew me saw it too. I have so much love and respect for my peers and teachers that are carrying on with the struggle, and want the next generation to achieve the best they can for themselves and their art. I am just not a lifer. I’ve traded up, and I’m out.
I’ll leave you all with this. Life isn’t the X-Factor. No one has a God given right to his or her dream or ambitions coming true. I have worked hard and had some great luck. I followed some opportunities, squandered others. I have no regrets, other than not stopping when I knew I should have done this time last year. The only thing you have to guide you through your life is your instinct. Sometimes the right decision isn’t the easiest, but between your conscience and your intuition you will find the answer. Please listen to it. It’s you.
Ok, so I have read this post 4-5 times now. The first I started crying by the end of the second paragraph and after having read it all, I found myself staring out into space with the tears running down my cheeks, and my heart filled with a somewhat empty and sad feeling. I read it once again when I had snapped out of my little moment as some kind of reassurance that I actually had read what I thought I had. And yes, the words were still there, and it kind of hurt a little bit more than the first time because the shock had slightly settled. I left my laptop to make a cup of coffee and to have a think about what he had written, in order to some how try to figure out why I was feeling the way I was.
Im not going to lie, I only discovered Domu a couple of years ago when I moved to London, during the wave when I discovered so many other amazing artists from England. I haven’t followed his career step by step and I am still to this very day discovering music he has put out. His influence and impact on the “underground music scene” (or what ever you wish to call it) throughout the years can not be denied or ignored, however, my sadness that is linked to the news of him quitting has more to do with him rather than his music.
We all have our ups and downs, and life indeed can be a constant struggle from time to time. I can more than appreciate and relate to the hard work he has done all through years even if I havent worked as much (yet). Having read all his posts on the blog, especially from this year, I can see the changes/confusion he mentions in this last post. And even though I know my inner and ‘outer’ struggles can’t be compared to his, I have been able to relate to most, if not all, issues, subjects and questions he has raised.
And that is probably one of the main reasons why I am absolutely devastated by today’s news. Because even though I can’t directly compare my struggles, choices and paths I have taken in my life, I know how it is to be overly passionate about different things, especially music. Even though I am no where near to have achieved the things he has (I am not sure if I ever will), and even though I’ve only really been trying to “do my thing” in regards to music for a short period of time, I know how it is to have to sacrifice certain things in your life to be able to do what you love. I also know how it feels to feel lost, to try to find the reasons and the meaning behind all those sacrifices, and try to figure out if it’s really worth it.
When I feel like that, I usually try to remember the good side about what I am trying to do and achieve. What has kept me going despite wanting to quit so many times is people like you guys who read my blog and keeps me motivated, but also people like Domu, who inspire me not only through their music, but through their character and their personality.
This business scares me from time to time, because it can be so selfish and cruel and dishonest. And Domu has always been one of those few artists that has reassured me that not all people in this industry are two faced, cold hearted blood suckers who are only interested in money and to enhance their careers no matter who they step on or destroy on their way. No matter what anybody says, in my opinion, what he wrote in that post and many other posts in the past, shows courage and honesty, two features that are rare to find not only in the music industry but in people in general.
I wish I would have known what I know today a week ago, because then I would have had the chance to give him a hug and say thank you for everything he has done for me personally without even knowing it. But since I didn’t know, I guess this is the only way to do it…
Dear Dominic,
it makes me very sad to hear that you are giving up music, but not as sad as reading that you seem to have lost the love and passion you once had for it. I can’t even begin to imagine how that feels like and I truly hope, from the bottom of my heart, that you either will find your way back to it or find something else that makes you happy. I want you to know that there are very few artists that have had such a massive influence on the way I perceive life and the world around me like you have. Yes, your music is amazing, but I don’t think it would ever have been as good if you weren’t the person you are. So thank you, for everything.
Much Love,
Orsi
P.s. The offer for coming around for some tea & a little chat still stands! I might even bake a cake. Just thought I’d remind you…
CLICK ON THE IMAGE FOR THE REVOLUTIONARY MESSAGE
Hello my friends!
I just found out that my friend DJ Azer, a very talented and lovely young man from Belgium who I had the pleasure to meet when I was in Brussels for the first time, has a little video podcast going on. He basically invites a couple of friends over and record/film while they spin records together. It made me smile and the music is pretty dope too. Check out the video below and have a look at his other live sessions here.
Oh and dont forget to check out this awesome mix he made for the Release party earlier this month.It will rock your socks off! Enjoy and much love! x
So, if you are in London this Friday, I hope you know that this is where you should be at. The Brownswood fam is putting on yet another great night at East Village and it is def worth checking out! I mean, you can’t go wrong with peeps like Seiji, Mamiko Motto, my girl Ahu and my boys, Lefto & the bPm! So be there, or be square.
Good morning my friends!
How was the weekend? I hope it was good! I personally had one of the best weekends for a very long time. And yeah, I know I said it last time I came back from Brussels, but this time it was a bit different. In a good way though!
I got the chance to join Deejay Kwak live in the radio studio for his show, Back to Niceness on FM Brussel. It was a great experience and it made me feel very tempted to do a live radio show.
We were joined by Yarah Bravo, who also was the headline act at the Anattitude party in the evening. Turns out she is from Lund in Sweden (the neighboring city to Malmö, where I am from) What a small world ey?
The party was great, and I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a strictly hiphop party so much. The girls did a fantastic job putting it together, and I am now really tempted to contact some of the “music girls” here in London/UK to maybe do something similar. I was happy to see that so many of the people I got to meet last time I was in Brussels was there at the party. It made my evening to see them all, so thank you once again for being so loving and friendly!
As always, Lefto was filming throughout the day, so have a look at the video and let me know if you can spot me:
So yeah, THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL WEEKEND AND BIG UP ANATTITUDE & THE SUPAFLY GIRLS FOR PUTTING ON A FANTASTIC EVENING! Oh, and of course, a massive thank you to Julius from Laid Back who let me crash at his place and for being a lovely host. Much Love! xxx
I have had the pleasure to get to know the wonderful Kmeron through twitter. He is a very talented photographer, and I absolutely love the pictures he takes. The images above are a few of Infinitskills, and one of me, but they belong to a set of pictures he took at Release when I was in Brussels (yes we met, he is just as lovely in real life). To see all of his pictures, visit his Flickr page they are brilliant! I could (and have) spend hours and hours looking at them… Enjoy! x
