The musical ensemble Many Hands, based in Berlin, released the tracklist for their Basement Soul Show 10 on Scientific Sound Asia, originally aired on Friday, 17 January 2020. 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 joint creation of DJs Jona J and Kava. Jona Jefferies was born in Barcelona, raised between Spain and the UK, and began his DJ career in the DIY 90s free-party and rave scene in south-west England.
He later moved to Ibiza, captivated by its Balearic sound and hedonistic atmosphere, a pull that has kept him returning. After his time in Ibiza, Jona settled in Bristol, where he was influenced by the city’s urban spirit and sound system culture.
Jona has been a regular fixture in Berlin’s international music community, performing across a range of venues in the city, and later returned to the UK with family in mind. His release Nocturnal, a collaboration with Lewis Hopkin of Stardelta Mastering as Sapience, was issued on Tom Middleton’s Sound Of The Cosmos label and received airplay from Gilles Peterson, Mala and Laurent Garnier.
Kava, originally from New Zealand, has made Berlin his home for the past decade. His DJ journey began in Wellington, where he was immersed in Soul, Bashment, Hip Hop, Disco, House, Techno and Drum and Bass.
In New Zealand, Kava helped spread vinyl culture and hosted numerous radio shows. His DJ career has taken him around the world, from raves and basement clubs to festivals in Brazil and Asia.
Known for his extensive musical knowledge and deft mixing style, Kava has opened for Fat Freddy’s Drop, Dave Clark and DJ Marky. In Berlin, he co-hosted Float Some and Jet Some, a monthly radio show with Rodi Kirk of Scratch 22 fame, on the now-closed Berlin Community Radio.
That radio work also gave Kava room to hone his skills across Berlin’s music scene. The two DJs met through a mutual friend near Berlin’s OYE Records.
They recognised a shared musical chemistry that led to the formation of Many Hands, an eclectic music session in Berlin’s Basement Soul scene. Jona J and Kava’s sets span a broad spectrum of styles, blending Disco, Soul, Latin and Afrobeat with MPCs, drum machines, New York Jamaican influences and West African synth rhythms.
Their performances are sometimes quirky and sometimes intense, but are always aimed at the dancers. The programme moves between a wide range of recordings while retaining the duo’s focus on soulful and rhythm-led selections.
Many Hands’ Basement Soul Show 10 recording opens with Massive Attack’s Mark Pritchard remix of Lately, before IWABO’s Reggae Down on Kalita and Mr. K’s Stuff on Razor-N-Tape Records bring in Nu-Disco textures. MMYYKK’s Better (For the Love), released independently, then introduces an R&B-inflected turn.
The Gondwana Orchestra featuring Dwight Trible follows with Love Is Everywhere on Gondwana Records, bringing Jazz into the sequence. Roy Ayers’ The Boogie Back on Playoff Records, Afrodesia’s Meet In Tunis on Periodica Records and Basa Basa’s Homowo on Vintage Voudou move through Disco and World music.
Andromeda Orchestra’s Ray Mang Special Extended Mix of Don’t Stop on Faze Action Records returns to Nu-Disco, with its extended arrangement providing a patient lift. Bon Voyage’s High Power (North Street Funkay Vocal) on F*CLR Music brings Hip-House into view before Rapscallion’s A Dis Yah Secret Friend, released independently, adds Broken Beat.
The Deal’s live recording of Obrigado at Meco Beach Festival Liboa sits ahead of Azymuth’s Ron Trent remix of Fênix on Far Out Recordings. That remix introduces House Music, while François N’Gwa’s N’Kene on Into The Deep Treasury brings African Music into the programme.
Apiento’s Things You Do For Love on World Building shifts the focus towards Electronica. Norm Talley’s Foundation on FXHE Records and Fantastic Man’s Solar Surfing on Kitjen keep the later stretch rooted in House Music.
Trujillo’s Panague leads into D Ivan’s Extended Dub Edit of Fire, leaving space for the final change in mood. Micky Milan closes with Quando Tu Dancas on Faze Action Records, finishing the set with Indie Dance.
Many Hands Basement Soul Show 10 17th of January 2020
Massive Attack - Lately (Mark Pritchard Remix)
IWABO - Reggae Down
Mr K - Stuff
MMYYKK - Better (For the Love)
The Gondwana Orchestra Feat Dwight Trible - Love Is Everywhere
Roy Ayers – The Boogie Back
Afrodesia - Meet In Tunis
Basa Basa - Homowo
Andromeda Orchestra - Don't Stop (Ray Mang Special Extended Mix)
Bon Voyage - High Power (North Street Funkay Vocal)
Rapscallion - A Dis Yah Secret Friend
The Deal - Obrigado (Live at Meco Beach Festival Liboa)
Azymuth - Fênix (Ron Trent Remix)
François N’Gwa - N'Kene
Apiento - Things You Do For Love
Norm Talley - Foundation
Fantastic Man - Solar Surfing
Trujillo - Panague
D Ivan - Fire (Extended Dub Edit)
Micky Milan - Quando Tu Dancas
Listen On Mixcloud Here.