We all have them but who are these 'Top Friends'? Here's a bit about mine.
Joe Pesci - Joe is an actor, probably most of you have seen his work, goodfellas, casino, home alone etc In his movies he's a savage fuckin headcase! Once rumoured to have charged round to robbie williams U.S. home to have a pop because some of his guest were blocking his drive. He's only a small guy but I wouldn't block his drive, would you? We gotta love the pesci!!!
Mike Bandoni - Er that be me!
Natasha Watts - The lead vocalist in my band FUNKSHONE and a good friend of mine. You are looking at the next Marva Whitney guys, a very powerful and soulful voice and one you will soon be hearing alot more of.
Malachi Trout - Head dude at Skyline, herbaliser member, one half of production duo Flying Fish and quite possibly one of the nicest people in the music business. He's passionate about what he does and is also a very good friend, one of my best if it be told. We should clone him, but he does need timetabling occasionally!
Skyline Recordings - Home of the FUNKSHONE sound recording! This is Malachi's label. He releases all our 45s and an album too in October of this year. Quality live funk and cut and paste records of the highest order. Everything they do just got to be funky! Check out 'Mr Matatwe' and 'Sing it loud' by Flying fish, these tunes will rock your dancefloor hard!
DeeJay Random - My brother. 4 times UK DMC finalist and all round battle DJ you can google this fella and be there for days! Can be found rubbing shoulders with the likes of DJ Pogo and the enforcers, Diversion Tactics, scratch perverts and general US hip hop royalty when they visit the UK. He's just become a Dad (and I an Uncle) so things are on the boil right now but watch out for his sets, he also does a radio show called 'Kings of Bork' google it!
Scott - My Best friend. He's like abrother to me; he argues the toss and tries to take charge alot!! lol Scott and I have been mates for about 20 years and also have an unhealthy passion for the funk and Puma Clyde trainers (mate, you need help!). Loves his funk, beer and generally tearing the gaff up! He is hi octane, high maintenance, highly amusing and the most loyal of all Gods subjects!
Nino Auricchio - Nino and I work together to produce Funkshone and is the king of recording techniques and all things involving synthesis. He's a Jarre fan but I don't hold it against him. Nino also plays keys in the band and is also a generall alround bloody nice bloke!
Dev Paradox - The most prolific producer the huan race has ever seen! He releases about 100 tings a year and gigs more than the rolling stones. His methods and his equipment are unique and his recordings outstanding. Most recently has been working with Herbie Hancock and Bill Laswell on a unique project that you should ALL check out. He now resides in Lithuania. I met Dev about 10 years ago as we worked for the same label.
Grudgemonkey - Funkshone Bass player. Think Jaco, Think Marcus miller, think headhunters, think oh my god, how is he playing that! Like most owls he is nocturnal but rare glimpses of him can be caught during the day; QPR home matches will often be attended by the grudgemonkey. Word of warning, do not argue with this man, you will lose and then he will out play you with a rendition of "excuses bom bom bom"...
Breakestra - Incredible authentic funk band from the bay area of Los Angeles. I can't think of a band I'd rather see more when it comes to gigs. They are also very decent folks with what appears to be no egos! All of their records are amazing and quite frankly, the world needs to hear and see more of Breakestra than it does currently. Check em!
Afronaught - AKA Orin Walters and probably plenty of other acts! He was the man behind Bugz in The Attic and the first person I met in music business; he put a couple of 12" out of my stuff back in the day (1994-1998 Monkey funk records I was called "Now and Then" alongside producer Paul Douglas). I have so much to thank him for, he got me started and helped me to realise there was milage to be had in the music game.
Kool Herc - The Godfather of hip hop. He started it all and handed the torch to all the other folks that spread the word of the sub culture we call hip hop. God keep this man safe ; )
Jazzman Gerald - Good friend of Malachi and a dealer of funk 45s. albums, reissues and other DJ gems. Thanks the lord for Jazzman records, nice, nice, nice tunes!!!!!!!!!
DJ Pogo - one of the UK's finest Djs and also a key figure in hip hop in this country. A great bloke and a supporter of all things funky and good. Currently in Brazil but I see him from time to time. Has put together some great breaks and funk comps and continues to educate and appreciate across the globe. He is currently running the Brazillian DMC DJ comp
Coalesced - One of my side projects alongside DR James Warren. We fuse deep melodies and at times, filmic scores with electronic elements. Breaks, prog house, ambient. We don't give a monkeys, as long as it sounds good, has emotion and gets people thinking and talking and dancing. We've had a few releases (and remixes coming out of our ears!), however, we are gonna quieten down on the remix front in order to work on an album. You can find Coalesced tunes in i-tunes and Beatport and the like.
Jimmy Dynamite -all round funny Japanese bloke that collects and supports funk and soul, has a thing for w***ing apparently, gets hammered and DJ's in and around London; he has some of the most incredible 45s you are likely to hear.. You all gotta meet him!!! oh, and he also calls Keb Darge Grandpa!
Keb Darge - a UK Funk king. digs alot of rare and unheard tunes and then makes sure we get to hear them too. Keb and all that he stands for is important in music. It might just be your record that someone like Keb revives in 20 years time so pay attention!! One half of KAY DEE records (alongside Kenny Dope Gonzales) he releases and at times produces funk and soul records. His most famous comps are probably the legendary Deep funk comps. Killer. Oh, and he also keeps sticking a balloon up his nose to 'Equal out the pressure' in his sinuses. This guy flys more than Batman. Scottish and likes martial arts too and is pretty good at it, you have been warned!
Lack of Afro - AKA Adam Gibbons is signed to freestyle records. He produces mainly cut and paste funk, and does it very well. His singles and album to date are highly respected and he is now taking the whole project live with an incredible line up. I have worked with Adam in the early days of the Lack of Afro Band and also on a couple of remixes. Watch out for him on your telly and in the clubs!
G Spot - The lovely and talented Miss Corrina Greyson works tirelessly with her crew to put on quality soul and funk events across London town. As a vocalist she has worked with the likes of New mastersounds, Stoned soul picnic, mammas gun and countles other respected dudes and dudettes in the scene. Her other half is also the incredible drummer for the Neil cowley Trio who are the UK's finest Jazz legends. Get the albums and go to a G spot event, they're ace!
One Life Studios - I first met Simon, the studio manager, as a result of a remix project Lack of Afro and I worked on for above the clouds records -Nicole Willis and The Soul Investigators. Great studio, lovely vibe, secure location and Excellent deals on studio time. If you are looking for a great place to record that has quality output at an affordable price, you can't go wrong with one life, give him a nudge on myspace and book some time there.
Maxie - Max beesley, actor, musician and chef! Incredible session dude and songwriter with credits like you wouldn't believe. I've not met Max yet but I am in his top friends for no other reason than the music i reakon; the rest of his top buddies are chicks! I would like to meet him someday and have a jam as I know he plays killer percussion and vibes. You can see him on the telly alot of the time and he can also be found on stage with Robbie Williams (I wonder if he was with robbie when Joe Pesci popped over?) and countless other music legends.
Bugz in The Attic - Orin and many others form this Broken Beat think tank. The first guys on this scene. They have produced some incredible records and have played some killer live shows across the globe. With the likes of Daz I cue and Kaidi Tatham you can expect nothing but 1st class musicianship and production; the headhunters of the modern era! go buy some Bugz in the Attic tunes and feel the sheer quality!
Kenny Dope Gonzales - One half of Masters at work (iconic house and dance music producers and DJ's-Grammy nominated!) and another fine DJ and music educator/producer. He runs Kaydee records alongside Keb Darge, has fingers in MANY pies, all of which have quality output across many genres. Kenny was the first head to show an interest in Funkshone. I nearly signed with Kaydee but it didn't work out. I think we were looking for different things but none the less, we both appreciate what is fine in music. Check out Kaydee, Kenny dope productions and masters at work to hear some of the finest music from house through disco funk and all in between. If you meet him you will again encounter a very friendly, extremely well mannered guy!
The Neil Cowley Trio - Incredible UK jazz band. A 3 pice that makes more noise than a big brother contestant in a blender. Winner of a UK jazz award and sellout act not dissimilar to EST. Great music that really gets the cogs of the mind going. These guys are deep, melodic, funky yet sophisticated. ANY Neil Cowley record is a good one. I cannot wait to see them live again. A gig that involved the Breakestra and the Neil Cowley trio in the same venue would probably render me speechless for weeks!!!!!!!! if I win the lottery.....
Craig Charles Funk & Soul - The main man himself alongside demus music production guys Simon and Hermeet champion the sounds that are funk and soul. They support everyone from James brown down to the bedroom cut and paste producers in order to bring you 3 hours of gems from the world of funk and soul. A staunch supporter of FUNKSHONE they play our records from time to time and have also had us live on the show (an experience we hope to repeat in October for our album.... that's the bit where you comment on the blog Simon and invite us back on the show lol). Saturdays from 6pm-9pm on BBC 6 MUSIC, check it!
Cake - Off shoot of the neil cowley trio gang. A new label promoting all the right stuff. Im still learning about this one so go and check this!
DJ Bizzniz - UK hop hop royalty alongside DJ Pogo and Cut Master Swift they form the Enforcers (DJ crew). Considering Hip Hop is supossedly full of bad boys and heavies, these guys are the nicest folk you could hope to meet. Billy is a killer Scratch and battle DJ and like the others has an incredible collection. I have worked with him once at Fabric for the allstar beatdown a few years back. Genuinely nice and very talented bloke, look out for his DJ sets and go and learn and hear something new
Skeme Richards - Again I have not met Skeme yet. He is a big fan of FUNKSHONE and one of the Rock Steady Crew's official DJ's. He can be found most weeks in Philly or NYC putting on jams alongside DJ Cash Money or touring his wares internationally. A strong believer in the breakbeat, hip hop and funk scenes respectively, we ALL need support like this. He also has a monster of a sneaker collection, check him out!
Smoove - A UK cut and paste king! with a pedegree as long as your arm and a gig list the size of your and my arms put together, you are bound to hear or see him at some point in your life! He like me was once signed to Acid Jazz records but has remixed and released on many a quality label over the years. His DJ sets rock and he's a bit mental too! From the north, Newcastle, it's always a pleasure to see him when I'm up there. He is also and incredibly nice person and a great host. Go and check his tunes. Like fruit pastels; you have to chew em! With Smooves beats; you gotta groove!
Shep - One time Freestyle Records controlling force and prolific DJ, he now works for Big Chill. He is making quality records; mash ups and re-edits of all sorts of quality tunes. Check his page and his DJ sets. Shep occasionally gives me DJ work and his gigs are full of woman that love to dance!!! Nice up and F***** up are just two of the regular events he hosts and either are definately worth checking out as his guests are usually high calibre DJs too!
So that's my top mates for now. Perhaps they'll change from time to time but now you know where WE fit into things. These people are all important and may well have provided the perfect backdrop to events in your life without you even knowing it; still, I guess that's just ONE of the joys of music....