Many Hands DJ duo present Basement Soul episode 25 on Scientific Sound Asia. Scientific Sound Asia is an Asian electronic music radio station, promoter and music-news platform connecting audiences across Asia and internationally.
Many Hands is the project of musically absorbed, wide-ranging DJs Jona J and Kava. Jona, whose real name is Jonathan Jefferies, was born in Barcelona and raised in Spain and the United Kingdom.
He started as a disc jockey in the flourishing free-party and rave scene of south-west England in the early nineties. After relocating to Ibiza, he was drawn to its Balearic sound and hedonistic style, and has frequented the island as both a raver and DJ since then.
Following his time in Ibiza, Jona moved to bass city Bristol, where its inner-city outlook and sound-system culture shaped him over several years spent honing his craft. After being well received within Berlin's international musical community and playing venues across the city, he returned to the United Kingdom earlier in 2020.
Jona's release Nocturnal, made with his old friend Lewis Hopkin of Stardelta Mastering as Sapience, appeared on Tom Middleton's Sound Of The Cosmos label. The collective effort received radio plays from Gilles Peterson, Mala and Laurent Garnier.
Originally raised as a Kiwi, Kava has lived in Berlin for over 10 years. His musical introduction came through Wellington's melodic music scene, with frequent injections of Soul, Bashment, Hip Hop, Disco, House, Techno and Drum n Bass.
In New Zealand, Kava sold vinyl records and hosted shows on several radio stations. After moving to Berlin, he became a resident from the outset on the now-defunct monthly Float Some and Jet Some programme with Rodi Kirk of Scratch 22 fame on the former Berlin Community Radio.
He also played at numerous venues across the German capital. Jona and Kava met through a close ally near OYE Records in Berlin, where they immediately recognised a musical affinity.
That meeting led to Many Hands, an eclectic dance, defrag and alleviating music session held in a Berlin basement, hence the name Basement Soul. Jona J and Kava play across the rhythmic and harmonic cultural spectrum.
Disco, Soul, Latin and Afrobeat meet MPCs and drum machines, Jamaicans in New York, West Africans with synthesisers and funky Euro-freaks. Their selections can be quirky or bashy, but are made for dancers.
Many Hands' Basement Soul episode 25 opens with Rare Silk's Storm before Photek's Neptune brings a taut Drum n Bass cut from Metalheadz. Sun Palace's Rude Movements on Alim then introduces a Nu-Disco feel.
Gee Dee's Ocean Walk on Superior Elevation sustains that Nu-Disco direction, while Boof's Aci Is With Her A turns towards House Music via Running Back. Natalie Slade's There Is A Light In Everything, released by Eglo Records, brings the sequence back to Nu-Disco.
My Friend Dario's Calamari Fritti on Hell Yeah Recordings shifts the tone into Electronica, followed by Sasac's The Chase for Chalice Records. Charanga 76's Music Trance on History returns to House Music with a more dancefloor-focused pulse.
Gavsborg's Quality Time With Frankie Bubbler on Equiknoxx Music brings Bass / Club pressure into the middle of the show. Grooveman Spot's Fork Power, released through Jazzy Sport, follows with Broken Beat rhythms.
Andrew Weatherall's Kiyadub 45 on Byrd Out takes the set into Dub territory. Domenique Dumont's La Basse et les Shakers on Antinote restores an Electronica-led approach before The System's You're In My System (Atmospheric Vocal Mix) on Ibadan moves into Deep House.
Symptoms Of Love's Sunset Years on Planet Trip Records closes the club-facing run with House Music. Jaylib's The Mission (Instrumental) on Stones Throw Records provides a final Trap selection, ending the programme with an instrumental change of pace.
Many Hands Basement Soul episode 25
Rare Silk - Storm (YouTube live version)
Photek - Neptune
Sun Palace - Rude Movements
Ulla - Space Lady
Gee Dee - Ocean Walk
Boof - Aci Is With Her A
Natalie Slade - There Is A Light In Everything
My Friend Dario - Calamari Fritti
Sasac - The Chase
Charanga 76 - Music Trance
Cottam - 001 Side A
Gavsborg - Quality Time With Frankie Bubbler
Grooveman Spot - Fork Power
Andrew Weatherall - Kiyadub 45
Blay Ambolley - Simi Rapp (Red Axes & ASAF Samuel rmx)
Domenique Dumont - La Basse et les Shakers
The System - You’re In My System (Atmospheric Vocal Mix)
Symptoms Of Love - Sunset Years
Jaylib - The Mission (Instrumental)
Listen on Mixcloud here.