Disc jockey duo Many Hands (Berlin/UK) have made their playlist for Basement Soul show 40 available on Scientific Sound Asia. Scientific Sound Asia is an English-language electronic music radio station, promoter, DJ agency and music-news platform connecting audiences across Asia and internationally.
Many Hands is an artistic endeavour led by the versatile DJs Jona J and Kava. Jona Jefferies, who was born in Barcelona and grew up between Spain and the UK, has strong connections in the music industry.
Starting his DJ career in the free party and rave scene of southwest England in the early nineties, Jona later moved to Ibiza, where he was drawn to the island's Balearic sound and hedonistic lifestyle. He continued to visit Ibiza frequently, enjoying the music scene both as a raver and a DJ.
After leaving Ibiza, Jona relocated to Bristol, where he immersed himself in the city’s sound system culture, dedicating several years to honing his craft. Embracing diversity, he subsequently joined Berlin’s global music scene, showcasing his talent at various venues before coming back to the UK in 2020.
Jona collaborated with Lewis Hopkin of Stardelta Mastering as 'Sapience' for Tom Middleton’s Sound Of The Cosmos label on the release Nocturnal. The track received radio airplay from Gilles Peterson, Mala, and Laurent Garnier.
Hailing from New Zealand, Kava has resided in Berlin for more than a decade. His musical exploration commenced in Wellington's dynamic music community, shaped by various genres such as Soul, Bashment, Hip Hop, Disco, House, Techno, and Drum and Bass.
During Kava's initial years in New Zealand, he sold vinyl records and presented radio programmes. After moving to Berlin, he became a regular host on the monthly radio show, Float Some and Jet Some, which he co-hosted with Rodi Kirk from Scratch 22 on Berlin Community Radio, which has now ceased operations.
By working in Berlin, Kava received acknowledgement and showcased his talent at various locations, establishing his standing within the city's music scene. His work there brought him into contact with the city’s varied musical community.
Jona and Kava met each other through a shared acquaintance close to OYE Records in Berlin, where they quickly discovered their musical connection. This harmony resulted in the creation of Many Hands, a distinctive dance event known as "Basement Soul," hosted in a basement in Berlin.
Jona J & Kava’s sets cover a rich spectrum, from Disco, Soul, Latin, and Afrobeat to MPCs, drum machines, and synthesised beats. Their selections draw from New York’s Jamaican influence to West African rhythms.
Many Hands’ Basement Soul show 40 opens with OZO’s Times-A-Changing on DJM Records, bringing Dub into B.J. Smith and Huw Costin’s Sun When You Come on NuNorthern Soul, an Organic House selection. Jona Jefferies’ Es Camp on Apersonal Music adds Deep House, before DJ Pippi and Willie Graff’s Lunares on Leng Records shifts towards Indie Dance.
Betty Chung’s Bang Bang on EMI (Hong Kong) Ltd. introduces Nu-Disco, while Maya’s Lait De Coco (Dub) on Favorite Recordings keeps the pace within Dance Music. Fifth Of Heaven’s Just A Little More on Mix Out Records Ltd. and End To End’s Money Talks on Backatcha Records draw on R&B and Soul, including UK Street Soul, before Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth’s Go With The Flow on Elektra Records brings Hip Hop into the sequence.
Tony Valor Sounds Orchestra’s Ma-Mo-Ah (Take II) on Brunswick Records leads to The Vendetta Suite’s Warehouse Rock on Hell Yeah Recordings, where Melodic House and Techno enters the programme. Tayham Mensah and Lord & Ranks’ Private Life on Mother Tongue Records precedes Maureen’s Tu Me Tues (Dance Mix) on Casablanca, a move into House Music.
Expositions’ Energía Mística (Leo Mas & Fabrice RMX) on Balearic Social Records sets up Ost & Kjex’s Maurice Fulton remix of Have You Seen The Moon in Dallas on Planet Noise, returning to Indie Dance. Max Essa’s Eddie C Dubwise In Der Wedding remix of Jules Y Cynthia on Is It Balearic? Recordings brings a Balearic character, while Marian Tone featuring Aischa Oz’s On Your Way on Dezi-Belle Records introduces Rap/Hip Hop.
Noah Slee’s Kai Alce remix of Radar on Best’s Friends returns to Deep House before El-B’s El-Brand (VIP Mix) on DPR (Dat Pressure Records) brings in UK Garage. Maddslinky’s Future Chicano on Sirkus moves into Dubstep, then Gilberto Gil’s Bat Macumba on Philips supplies the Brazilian and MPB reference, with Brazilian vocals and Brazilian 70s-era context.
Neşe Karaböcek’s Yali Yali on Kervan Plakçılık brings Turkish Funk and synth-pop detail to the later House section, followed by Nacht Und Nebel’s Beats Of Love on S.T.D. Records. Róisín Murphy’s extended mix of Something More on Skint Records keeps the dancefloor focus before Powerline’s Journey on Elite Records closes with Disco.
Many Hands Basement Soul episode 40
OZO - Times‑A‑Changing [DJM Records]
B.J. Smith & Huw Costin - Sun When You Come [NuNorthern Soul]
Jona Jefferies - Es Camp [Apersonal Music]
DJ Pippi & Willie Graff - Lunares [Leng Records]
Betty Chung - Bang Bang [EMI (Hong Kong) Ltd.]
Maya - Lait De Coco (Dub) [Favorite Recordings]
Fifth Of Heaven - Just A Little More [Mix Out Records Ltd]
End To End - Money Talks [Backatcha Records]
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - Go With The Flow [Elektra Records]
Tony Valor Sounds Orchestra - Ma‑Mo‑Ah (Take II) [Brunswick Records]
The Vendetta Suite - Warehouse Rock [Hell Yeah Recordings]
Tayham Mensah & Lord & Ranks - Private Life [Mother Tongue Records]
Maureen - Tu Me Tues (Dance Mix) [Casablanca]
Expositions - Energía Mística (Leo Mas & Fabrice RMX) [Balearic Social Records]
Ost & Kjex - Have You Seen The Moon in Dallas (Maurice Fulton Remix) [Planet Noise]
Max Essa - Jules Y Cynthia (Eddie C Dubwise In Der Wedding Remix) [Is It Balearic? Recordings]
Marian Tone Feat. Aischa Oz - On Your Way [Dezi‑Belle Records]
Noah Slee - Radar (Kai Alce Remix) [Best’s Friends]
El‑B - El‑Brand (VIP Mix) [DPR (Dat Pressure Records)]
Maddslinky - Future Chicano [Sirkus]
Gilberto Gil - Bat Macumba [Philips]
Neşe Karaböcek - Yali Yali [Kervan Plakçılık]
Nacht Und Nebel - Beats Of Love [S.T.D. Records]
Róisín Murphy - Something More (Extended Mix) [Skint Records]
Powerline - Journey [Elite Records]
Listen on Mixcloud here.