Many Hands DJ duo present the first Basement Soul Show on Scientific Sound Asia. Scientific Sound Asia is an Asian electronic music radio station, promoter, DJ agency and music-news platform connecting audiences across Asia and internationally.
Many Hands was conceived by Jona J and Kava, two eclectic DJs with a shared focus on music. Jona Jefferies was born in Barcelona and raised in Spain and the UK, where he embarked on his DJ career in the DIY 1990s free-party and rave scene of south-west England.
He later relocated to Ibiza, where the Balearic sound and the island's hedonistic atmosphere drew him back repeatedly. Jona subsequently settled in Bristol, known as Bass City, living there for many years amid its urban ethos and sound-system culture.
Jona is based in Berlin's international music scene and performs at venues across the city. His release Nocturnal, made with his long-time friend Lewis Hopkin of Stardelta Mastering as Sapience for Tom Middleton's Sound Of The Cosmos label, received support and radio airplay from Gilles Peterson, Mala and Laurent Garnier.
Although Jona has mainly performed in Europe, he had expanded his appearances to several Asian venues by the time of publication. Kava, originally from New Zealand, had been living in Berlin for a decade when this article was published.
He started his DJ career in Wellington's music scene, regularly encountering Soul, Bashment, Hip Hop, Disco, House Music, Techno and Drum and Bass. During his time in New Zealand, Kava distributed records nationwide and hosted radio programmes on several local stations.
His commitment to music led to DJ appearances at local raves, basement clubs, national music festivals, RBMA in São Paulo and venues throughout the Asia-Pacific region. He also opened for Fat Freddy's Drop, Dave Clark and DJ Marky, drawing on a broad knowledge of records and skilful mixing.
After moving to Berlin, Kava co-hosted the monthly radio programme Float Some, Jet Some with Rodi Kirk of Scratch 22 for several years on the now-closed Berlin Community Radio. He also performed as a DJ at locations throughout the city.
Jona and Kava met through a mutual friend outside OYE Records in Berlin, discovered their shared musical background and began DJing together. Their collaboration led to Many Hands, a dance, defrag and healing-music event held in a Berlin basement.
Jona J and Kava play a blend of Disco, Soul, Latin Music and Afrobeat, incorporating MPCs and drum machines. Their music draws on Jamaicans in New York, West Africans using synthesisers and funky Euro-freaks.
Their style is at times eccentric and energetic, while directed towards an enjoyable experience for the audience. Their radio show ranges across Latin Jazz, Afro House, Disco, Frank Harris, Ronnie Laws, Roisin Murphy, Deep House, Nu-Disco, Reggae, Techno, Dub and Funk.
Many Hands Basement Soul Show 01 with Jona Jeffries and Kava opens with Frank Harris w/ Maria Marquez's Down by the Rio before Ronnie Laws' Tidal Wave brings Jazz Music to the selection via Cleopatra Records. Bergo's Kalimba, Djut Boys & Laj's Slateo and Earl Sixteen's Get Up Dance (Jlove Disco dub) extend the early run.
Calm's My Home Town (Mind Fair remix) introduces Nu-Disco through Hell Yeah Recordings, followed by Aaron Broomeld's Boomerang and Rodenion's Beautiful. Roisin Murphy and Crooked Man's Incapable on Skint Records then brings a House Music rhythm into focus.
Theo Parrish's Lost Keys on Sound Signature moves into Deep House, while Flamingo Pier's Hold It returns to Nu-Disco on Future Disco. Patrick Gibin, MDCL and Javonntte's I Like to Show You, NY*AK's After the Sun featuring Franc Syx on Quintessentials, and Hazards of Prophecy's Love & Rum on Tiff's Joints sustain the club-focused passage.
Moon Circuitry featuring Mark de Clive-Lowe's Ge-ology gives way to Steven Julien's Teer, a Breaks cut on Apron Records. Nu Era's Galaxian on Omniverse Records and DJ Sotofett featuring Haugen Inna Di Bu's Dub On Dub keep the latter half moving through spare electronic forms.
Joe Claussell featuring Dayme Arocena's Yambu (Sacred Rhythm Mix) precedes Blay Ambolley's Simi Rapp (Red Axes & ASAF Samuel Remix), which introduces Indie Dance on Multi Culti. Many Hands' Kawuku Sound and Andres' Cafe Con Leche follow, placing the duo's own material alongside a later deep-house selection.
Di Melo's A.E.I.O.U brings Brazilian music into the final stretch through Favorite Recordings. Atmosfear's Dancing In Outer Space (Greymatter rework) closes on Disorient with a house-oriented rework that gives the show its final lift.
Many Hands Basement Soul Show 01
Frank Harris w/ Maria Marquez - Down by the Rio
Ronnie Laws - Tidal Wave
Bergo - Kalimba
Djut Boys & Laj - Slateo
Earl Sixteen - Get Up Dance (Jlove Disco dub)
Calm - My Home Town (Mind Fair remix)
Aaron Broomeld - Boomerang
Rodenion - Beautiful
Roisin Murphy & Crooked Man - Incapable
Theo Parrish - Lost Keys
Flamingo Pier - Hold it
Patrick Gibin, MDCL, Javonntte - I like to Show You
NY*AK - After the Sun Feat. Franc Syx
Hazards Of Prophecy - Love & Rum
Moon Circuitry Feat. Mark De Clive Lowe - Ge-ology
Steven Julien - Teer
Nu Era - Galaxian
DJ Sotofett Feat. Haugen Inna Di Bu - Dub On Dub
Joe Claussell Feat. Dayme Arocena - Yambu (Sacred Rhythm Mix)
Blay Amboley - Simi Rapp (Red Axes & ASAF Samuel Remix)
Many Hands - Kawuku Sound
Andres - Cafe Con Leche
Di Melo - A.E.I.O.U
Atmosfear - Dancing In Outer Space (Greymatter rework)