Berlin and UK DJ duo Many Hands present Basement Soul show 16 on Scientific Sound Asia. Scientific Sound Asia is an Asian electronic music radio station, DJ agency, promoter and music-news platform connecting audiences across Asia and internationally.
Many Hands, the project of DJs Jona J and Kava, brings together two distinct musical backgrounds. Jona Jefferies, born in Barcelona and raised in Spain and the UK, began his career during the 1990s free-party and rave movement in south-west England.
Later drawn to Ibiza’s Balearic beats and club culture, he became a regular visitor as both a DJ and music enthusiast. After his time in Ibiza, Jona moved to Bristol, where the city’s urban character and sound-system roots shaped him.
Having performed across Berlin’s music scene, Jona returned to the UK in early 2020. His track Nocturnal, produced with Lewis Hopkin of Stardelta Mastering as Sapience, was released on Tom Middleton’s Sound Of The Cosmos label and received airplay from Gilles Peterson, Mala and Laurent Garnier.
Kava, originally from New Zealand, had been based in Berlin for the previous decade. His DJing began in Wellington, where he encountered Soul, Bashment, Hip Hop, Disco, House, Techno and Drum and Bass.
Known for promoting vinyl culture and hosting radio shows across New Zealand, Kava moved to Berlin to extend his musical reach. On arrival, he became a resident on Float Some and Jet Some, a monthly programme with Rodi Kirk of Scratch 22 on the now-closed Berlin Community Radio.
Over the years, Kava performed at Berlin venues and developed a presence in the city’s electronic music scene. Jona J and Kava met through a mutual connection near OYE Records in Berlin and recognised a shared musical outlook.
That meeting led to Many Hands and their Berlin underground dance session, Basement Soul. Jona J and Kava’s sets explore a vast musical spectrum, combining Disco, Soul, Latin and Afrobeat with MPCs, drum machines, New York’s Jamaican influences and West African rhythms on synths.
Many Hands opens Basement Soul Show 16 with two tracks from Isaac Aesili, moving from “Last Minute” into the future-soul of “Wild” with Ladi6. Aesili’s Hidden Truths draws together soul, jazz, funk, R&B and electronic production, making the opening a natural entry point into the show’s wider Soul palette.
McKay and J.Period bring Hip Hop into the programme before Byron The Aquarius, CJ Fly and XL Middleton widen the groove through jazz-funk, rap and boogie influences. Edseven follows with Colonel Red, keeping the first half rooted in warm basslines and vocal-led material rather than one fixed club style.
Space Garage, Coastlines and Sasso open the set out further before The Mauskovic Dance Band with L'Eclair push towards leftfield funk and psychedelic rhythm. The Earons and Manu Dibango then add another layer of Funk, African influence and rare-groove energy before Awida carries the selection deeper into global dance music.
Loleatta Holloway’s Yvonne Turner dub instrumental introduces a tougher post-disco edge before Esnard Boisdur’s Africaine 808 remix shifts the focus towards Afro-Caribbean percussion. Smith & Mighty then bring Dub and Bristol bass culture firmly into the mix with “Love Is The Key,” a steppas version featuring Dan Rachet.
Alfanso continues the dub thread before Marc Mac’s “Ah-Free-Ka” reconnects the closing stretch with hip hop and broken-beat roots. The Sentinel and Soundbwoy Killah keep the bass pressure high before Soft Boi closes a set that moves freely between soul, funk, hip hop, dub, Afro-influenced material and experimental electronics.
Across Basement Soul Show 16, Many Hands keeps the programme broad without losing its soulful centre. Hip hop and soul shape the opening, funk and global grooves dominate the middle, and dub and bass-heavy electronics take over much of the closing section.
Many Hands Basement Soul Show 16
Isaac Aesili - Last Minute
Isaac Aesili - Wild (feat. Ladi6)
Mckay - Rising Tide (Easton Rocks Hip-Hop Mix)
J.Period feat. Zion I - Vibes & Stuff (Abstract Exclusive)
Byron The Aquarius - Bonita Patron feat Quasi
CJ Fly - Rudebwoy feat. Joey Bada$$
XL Middleton - PTL (feat. Zackey Force Funk)
Edseven - Freaky (Meet Me Halfway) feat. Colonel Red
Space Garage - Space Garage (Extended Venom Mix)
Coastlines - East Dry River
Sasso - Four
The Mauskovic Dance Band & L'Eclair - Homo Sapiens
The Earons - Land Of Hunger (Love Creation's Touch Of Acid Edit)
Manu Dibango - Pata Piya
Awida - Cielo Dance
Loleatta Holloway - Can't Let You Go (Yvonne Turner Dub Instrumental)
Esnard Boisdur - Mizik Bel (Africaine 808 Remix)
Smith & Mighty - Love Is The Key feat Dan Rachet (Steppas Mix)
Alfanso - Dub Feels Nice (Version 4)
Marc Mac - Ah-Free-Ka
The Sentinel - Heavy Vibes
Soundbwoy Killah - Under The Influence
Soft Boi - Fais Moi La Guerre
Listen On Mixcloud Here.