Musical duo Many Hands present Basement Soul 09 on Scientific Sound Asia, sharing a 25-track selection from their Berlin basement session. Scientific Sound Asia is an English-language electronic music radio station, DJ agency, promoter and music-news platform connecting audiences across Asia and internationally.
Many Hands is the creative partnership of versatile DJs Jona J and Kava. Jona Jefferies was born in Barcelona, raised in Spain and the UK, and began his musical path in the 1990s DIY free-party and rave scene of south-west England.
He later moved to Ibiza, drawn by its Balearic sound and hedonistic atmosphere, and returned frequently over the years. After Ibiza, Jona relocated to Bristol, known as “Bass City”, where he absorbed the city’s urban culture and sound-system tradition.
Based in Berlin at the time of the programme, Jona performed across the city’s venues and contributed to its international music community. His track Nocturnal, made with long-time friend Lewis Hopkin of Stardelta Mastering as Sapience, was released on Tom Middleton’s Sound Of The Cosmos label.
The track received radio support from respected DJs including Gilles Peterson, Mala and Laurent Garnier. Alongside performances throughout Europe, Jona also played at notable events in Asia.
Kava is originally from New Zealand and had lived in Berlin for more than a decade at the time of this programme. His musical grounding began in Wellington, where he encountered Soul, Bashment, Hip Hop, Disco, House Music, Techno and Drum and Bass.
In New Zealand, Kava helped spread vinyl culture and hosted numerous radio shows. Kava’s musical career has taken him around the world, from local raves and basement clubs to music festivals, including appearances throughout Asia and Brazil.
Known for his musical depth and distinctive mixing style, he has opened for Fat Freddy’s Drop, Dave Clark and DJ Marky. In Berlin, Kava became a resident DJ on Float Some and Jet Some, a monthly programme co-hosted with Rodi Kirk of Scratch 22 fame on the now-closed Berlin Community Radio.
His radio work and performances brought recognition across Berlin’s music scene. The two DJs met near Berlin’s OYE Records through a mutual friend and immediately recognised their shared musical affinity.
That meeting led to Many Hands, an eclectic session held in a Berlin basement that presents the duo’s Basement Soul format. Jona J and Kava draw on styles ranging from Disco and Soul to Latin Music and Afrobeat, alongside MPCs, drum machines, Jamaican influences from New York and West African synthesiser rhythms.
Their sets can be quirky or bass-heavy, with selections shaped for dancers. The programme also brings together global musical references rather than restricting itself to one style or tempo.
Many Hands’ Basement Soul 09 episode opens with Funki Porcini’s Pork Albumen on Ninja Tune, setting a Downtempo and Breaks-leaning tone before Dave Valentin’s What A Wonderful World on Arista/Legacy brings in Jazz. Leo’s Sunshipp follows with Give Me The Sunshine on CKP, bringing Soul warmth before DJ Mitsu The Beats’ Cultivate on Jazzy Sport adds jazzy Hip-Hop detail.
Lexx’s Too Hot on Lexx Music and Jackie Mittoo’s Midnight In Accra (Remix) on Quartz Records establish the programme’s Reggae stretch. Gafacci’s Like Water featuring Amarae carries the Afrobeat energy noted in the selection, while Mala’s Calle F brings a Dubstep weight before Stray’s Movements on Exit Records returns to Drum and Bass.
Cappo’s Kitted Out on Boot Records introduces a Trap-cut edge, followed by Dwele’s A.N.G.E.L. on Virgin Records and its R&B phrasing. Victor Uwaifo And His Titibitis’ All Correct on Polydor then brings Highlife into the sequence, before Lexx’s Jungle City on Big Bear and Kongas’ Runaway Love move through Disco.
Trio Esperança’s Nao Aguento Voce on Wagram Music introduces a Brazilian passage with a lighter vocal character. KH’s Question on EAMS turns towards Deep House, while Mount Liberation Unlimited’s Climb Me Up (Dance Version) on Studio Barnhus adds Indie Dance momentum.
Band Aid’s A Tour In Italy (Dub Version) on Italian Records gives the middle of the show an Italo Disco turn. Ivan ‘Mamão’ Conti’s Poison Fruit on Far Out Recordings and Trinidadian Deep’s The People on Neroli then connect Disco and Deep House textures before Domu’s Decisions on Sonar’s Ghost introduces Drum n Bass.
Children Of Zeus’ Vibrations (Zed Bias Remix) on First Word Records brings in UK Garage, with 4 Hero’s Loveless featuring Ursula Rucker on End Recordings returning to Breaks. Peshay’s Switch on Blue (Island) supplies another Drum and Bass lift, and Cooly G’s Love (Refix Dub) closes the programme with a Dub finish.
Many Hands 'Basement Soul' Show 09 3rd of January 2020.
Funki Porcini - Pork Albumen
Dave Valentin - What A Wonderful World
Leo's Sunshipp - Give Me The Sunshine
DJ Mitsu The Beats - Cultivate
Lexx - Too Hot
Jackie Mittoo - Midnight In Accra (Remix)
Gafacci - Like Water Feat. Amarae
Mala - Calle F
Stray - Movements
Cappo - Kitted Out
Dwele - A.N.G.E.L.
Victor Uwaifo And His Titibitis - All Correct
Lexx - Jungle City
Kongas - Runaway Love
Trio Esperança - Nao Aguento Voce
KH - Question
Mount Liberation Unlimited - Climb Me Up (Dance Version)
Band Aid - A Tour In Italy (Dub Version)
Ivan 'Mamão' Conti - Poison Fruit
Trinidadian Deep - The People
Domu - Decisions
Children Of Zeus - Vibrations (Zed Bias Remix)
4 Hero - Loveless Feat. Ursula Rucker
Peshay - Switch
Cooly G - Love (Refix Dub)
Listen On Mixcloud Here.