‘The Funk Sessions’ return to Scientific Sound Asia for their seventh show, featuring Yushka, Tesh, Soul Jazz Funksters and Project Magic. Scientific Sound Asia is an electronic music radio station, DJ agency, promoter and music-news platform connecting audiences across Asia and internationally.
Since 2019, the Funk Sessions crew have brought parties dedicated to all things funky to dance floors across Ho Chi Minh City. The DJ and party collective play music ranging from funk classics and old-school Hip Hop to disco, party breaks, ghetto funk and more.
The group comprises international DJs from Australia and the UK, based primarily in Vietnam, who aim to bring added variety to the local dance-music scene. Their collective experience includes club nights, free parties and festivals, as well as supporting established figures from the underground music world.
Their musical approach is heavily influenced by the pioneers of breakbeat. That influence is particularly clear in the Hip Hop, Funky Breaks and ghetto funk they play, while also reaching further through their mixes.
Funk Sessions hold regular events in Ho Chi Minh City at Broma (not a bar), TNR, Indika and Apt852. Other past and present venues include Secret Weekend, Tempo, Arcan, Haus, Banana Mama, Piu Piu, Sky 9, Rogue Saigon, Soma and Saigon Outcast.
Funk Dem Beats is a regular Ho Chi Minh City club event based mainly at TNR, described as everyone’s favourite dive bar. The night brings live musicians and DJs into a rapidly changing jam session that incorporates a wide range of styles.
For this edition, a trio of Funk Dem Beats DJs assembled a selection of funk, Soul, Hip Hop and breaks. Tesh, Project Magic, Soul Jazz Funksters and Yushka each contribute their own perspective to the programme.
Tesh opens with a collection of his own productions, including the bass-heavy melodic beats of All Spooky Wants For Christmas, Monsoon and One More. The Garage-infused All Spooky Wants For Christmas and funk-influenced ATLiens introduce his work.
Project Magic follows with his own Hip Hop beats, moving through Holed Up, He’s A Monster, Magnet fit Detected, Bending Soon and Laugh At Who You Are. He’s A Monster provides a relaxed moment, while the Electro and Jazz-styled Holed Up carries a Drum and Bass feel.
Soul Jazz Funksters then bring a precisely constructed mix of soul records, funky rhythms and covers from across generations. Their contribution combines Funk, Soul, Jazz and breaks with an emphasis on forceful rhythm and melodic detail.
Yushka closes the show with a mash-up of Funk, Breaks and big-beat material. The final selection moves from a mellow mood towards a hands-in-the-air finish.
The Funk Sessions seventh show with Yushka and guests uses an unusual multi-selector format rather than dividing the programme into equal hours, with Tesh opening the show through four of his own productions. “All Spooky Wants For Christmas,” “Monsoon,” “One More” and “ATLiens” form a self-contained opening block before the programme passes to Project Magic.
Project Magic takes the next section with five original tracks, including “Holed Up,” “He’s A Monster” and “Magnet Fit Detected.” “Bending Soon” and “Laugh At Who You Are” complete the second selector block, keeping these productions together rather than treating the episode as a conventional hour-by-hour mix.
Soul Jazz Funksters then take over with the largest selection, moving heavily into Funk, Soul and Jazz Music. Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Freda Payne, Ripple, The Isley Brothers, James Brown and Maceo & The Macks place classic and revivalist funk and soul at the centre of this part of the programme.
Kylie Auldist, The New Mastersounds, The Soul Motivators and Lack of Afro add more contemporary recordings alongside older material, while The Sound Defects bring in jazz breaks with “Ain’t Right.” Mister T. featuring Kate Sousoula Suarez adds a funk-led cut whose Cold Busted release also draws on hip hop, jazz and breakbeat influences.
Yushka handles the final selection, beginning with Fatboy Slim and Roland Clark before moving through The Just Brothers, Mr Scruff and The All Seeing Eye. Asian Dub Foundation closes the episode with “New Way, New Life,” adding Electronica and bass-rooted material to a programme otherwise weighted strongly towards funk and soul.
The Funk Sessions episode 7 11th of May 2021
Teshs Selection
Tesh - All Spooky Wants For Christmas
Tesh - Monsoon
Tesh - One More
Tesh - ATLiens
Project Magics Selection
Project Magic - Holed Up
Project Magic - He’s A Monster
Project Magic - Magnet fit Detected
Project Magic - Bending Soon
Project Magic - Laugh At Who You Are
Soul Jazz Funksters Selection
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - You’ll Be Lonely [Daptone]
Messengers Incorporated - Soulful Proclamation [SMI]
Vera Hamilton - But I Ain't No More (g.s.t.s.k.d.t.s.) [Epic]
Dorothy Black – Miracle Man / Sugar Free Woman
Fulton Street - Young People [Choi Records]
Freda Payne - Unhooked Generation [Invictus]
Soul Snatchers - Show Me Love [Unique Germany]
Ripple - I Don’t Know What It Is, But It Sure Is Funky [GRC]
The Isley Brothers - It’s Your Thing [T-Neck Records]
Kylie Auldist - Looking For You [Tru Thoughts]
The J.Bs - Use Me (Sly Edits)
James Brown - Papa Don’t Take No Mess [Polydor]
The Sound Defects - Ain’t Right [Tone Def Systems]
Mister T. Feat. Kate Sousoula Suarez - Let's Funk [Cold Busted]
The Trammps - Rubberband (Jim Sharp Edit) [Dusty Donuts]
Zemerald - Soul Girl [Artists Union]
The New Master Sounds - Soul Sista Feat. Kim Dawson [Legere]
The Soul Motivators - Free To Believe [Do It Right! Music]
Maceo & The Macks - Cross The Track (We Better Go Back) [People Records]
Lack of Afro - The Basis [INgrooves]
Yushkas Selection
Fatboy Slim & Roland Clark - Sunset 303 (If You Believe) [Back To Mine]
The Just Brothers - Sliced Tomatoes [Music Merchant]
Mr Scruff - Do You Hear? [Ninja Tune]
The all Seeing Eye - The Beat Goes On [Earth Records]
Asian Dub Foundation - New way, new life [FFRR]
Listen on Mixcloud here.