Musical duo Many Hands, the Berlin pairing of Jona J and Kava, present episode 08 of Basement Soul 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 is the varied DJ partnership of Jona J and Kava. Jona Jefferies was born in Barcelona, raised in Spain and the UK, and began his career as a DJ in the DIY 1990s free party and rave scene in south-west England.
After moving to Ibiza, Jona was drawn to its Balearic sound and hedonistic style, becoming a regular visitor. He later lived in Bristol, known as Bass City, where he absorbed the city's urban outlook and commitment to sound system culture.
At the time of publication, Jona was based in Berlin and performed at venues across the city. With Lewis Hopkin of Stardelta Mastering, he recorded as Sapience for Tom Middleton's Sound Of The Cosmos label, and their release Nocturnal received attention and airplay from Gilles Peterson, Mala and Laurent Garnier.
Although Jona had primarily performed in Europe, he had also expanded his work to numerous events in Asia. Kava, a DJ from New Zealand, had made Berlin his home for the previous decade.
Having started his DJ career in Wellington, Kava encountered Soul, Bashment, Hip Hop, Disco, House, Techno, and Drum and Bass. In New Zealand, he played vinyl across the country and hosted numerous radio shows on different stations.
His work has taken him from local raves and underground clubs to international music festivals from Brazil to Asia. His selections and mixing have also supported appearances opening for Fat Freddy's Drop, Dave Clarke and DJ Marky.
After relocating to Berlin, Kava held a monthly residency with Rodi Kirk of Scratch 22 on the show Float Some and Jet Some. The programme aired on the now-closed Berlin Community Radio, alongside his appearances at events throughout the city.
Jona and Kava met through a mutual friend at OYE Records in Berlin and soon found a shared vocal harmony in their musical tastes. Their collaboration became Many Hands, a basement session in Berlin that combines dance music, defrag and soothing selections, giving Basement Soul its name.
Jona J and Kava draw on rhythmic and harmonic cultures, bringing Disco, Soul, Latin and Afrobeat together with MPCs and drum machines. They cite Jamaicans in New York, West Africans using synthesizers and funky Euro-freaks among their inspirations, with sets that range from quirky to energetic and stay focused on the dance floor.
Many Hands Basement Soul 08 episode opens with Flowers' For Real (Onur Engin Edit) on svona, bringing Jazz- and Funk/Soul-rooted electronic detail into the opening. Theo Parrish follows with Chemistry on Sound Signature, moving into Deep House.
Electric Wire Hustle's We Don't Want on Rudekat Records brings a Reggae element before The Emotions' I Like It on Stax adds R&B. Brief Encounter's We Want to Play on Athens Of The North introduces Nu-Disco, while The Younger Generation's We Rap More Mellow on Z Records returns to Deep House.
Aby Ngana Diop's Dieuleul-Dieuleul, released through Awesome Tapes From Africa, extends the Nu-Disco thread. Tabou Combo's Let's Do The Groove then leads to Pellegrino's Genti del Mediterraneo on Early Sounds Recordings and its Dance Music character.
Phil Asher's Move Yaself, featuring James Messiah and released on Fifty Fathoms Deep, precedes Andrés' What's It Gonna Be on Mahogani Music and Chaos In The CBD's Digital Master. Al Wootton's Selah on TRULE then brings raw, deep and hypnotic Techno into the programme.
Borrowed CS's Brainstorm, featuring Mara TK, provides the next turn before Maurice Fulton's Revenge Of The Orange on Discfunction arrives in House Music. Ikonika's Mr Cake on Hyperdub holds that house direction in place.
DVA featuring Fatima's Just Vybe (Soule: Power MIx) on Hyperdub sets up TRG's Broken Heart (Martyns DCM remix) on Hessle Audio, which shifts towards Bass Music. Hidden Agenda's Pressin' On on Metalheadz and DJ Krust's Brief Encounters on Wonder Palace Music close with Drum and Bass.
Many Hands Basement Soul Show 08
Flowers - For Real (Onur Engin Edit)
Theo Parrish - Chemistry
Electric Wire Hustle - We Don't Want
The Emotions - I like It
Brief Encounter - We Want To Play
The Younger Generation - We Rap More Mellow
Aby Ngana Diop - Dieleul Dieleul
Tabou Combo - Let's Do The Groove
Pellegrino - Genti Del Mediterraneo
Phil Asher - Move Yaself (ft. James Messiah)
Andres - Whats It Gonna Be
Chaos In The CBD - Digital Master
Al Wootton - Selah
Borrowed Cs - Brainstorm (ft. Mara TK)
Maurice Fulton - Revenge Of The Orange
Ikonika - Mr Cake
DVA ft. Fatima - Just Vybe (Soule: Power MIx)
TRG - Broken Heart (Martyns DCM remix)
Hidden Agenda - Pressin' On
DJ Krust - Brief Encounters
Listen On Mixcloud Here.