The DJ duo Many Hands present Basement Soul show 18 on Scientific Sound Asia. 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 a project by the versatile DJs Jona J and Kava that brings together a range of influences. Jona, whose full name is Jona Jefferies, was born in Barcelona and raised between Spain and the UK.
He began his DJ career in the 1990s free-party and rave scene in south-west England. After relocating to Ibiza, he became captivated by the island’s Balearic rhythms and hedonistic atmosphere, frequently returning as both a DJ and an enthusiastic participant.
Jona later moved to Bristol, where he developed his style within the city’s sound-system culture. After gaining traction in Berlin’s international music scene and performing at numerous venues, he returned to the UK in early 2020.
His track Nocturnal, produced with Lewis Hopkin of Stardelta Mastering under the name Sapience, was released on Tom Middleton’s Sound Of The Cosmos label. The release earned recognition from DJs including Gilles Peterson, Mala and Laurent Garnier.
Kava, originally from New Zealand, has been based in Berlin for over a decade. His musical background began in Wellington, where he explored Soul, Bashment, Hip Hop, Disco, House, Techno and Drum and Bass.
A pivotal figure in New Zealand’s vinyl culture, Kava also hosted numerous radio shows across the country. In Berlin, he initially held a residency on Float Some and Jet Some, a monthly show co-hosted with Rodi Kirk of Scratch 22 fame on the now-closed Berlin Community Radio.
This experience, alongside performances at many Berlin venues, strengthened his role in the local music scene. The two DJs connected through a mutual friend at Berlin’s OYE Records and quickly discovered a shared creative vision.
That connection led to Many Hands, an eclectic music session held in Berlin’s Basement Soul scene. Jona J and Kava blend Disco, Soul, Latin, Hip Hop, Funk, Drum and Bass and Afrobeat with MPCs, drum machines, New York Jamaican influences and West African synth beats.
Their sets are made for dancers while drawing on their wide musical backgrounds. Many Hands’ Basement Soul show 18 recording opens with Ivan ‘Mamão’ Conti’s vibrant Jemburi, before The Trinidad Steel Band’s L’Homme A La Grosse Tete brings steelpan rhythms and Derrick Cross’s Never Too Much adds Reggae.
Samu’s Stroke It leads into the show’s House material, while Dick Khoza’s Chapita brings Soul and Funk elements. Velvet Season & The Hearts Of Gold’s groovy Love Directions on Resista then moves into Disco, followed by DJ Rocca & Leo Almunia’s Ever Changing Bubbles (Deep88 Balearic Mix).
Loose Ends’ Gonna Make You Mine, from EMI Catalogue, introduces the programme’s Hip Hop selection. Begin’s Day Pulse on Love International Recordings and My Friend Dario’s Tora on Hell Yeah Recordings bring Indie Dance and Nu-Disco into the sequence.
René & Angela’s Love You More (Mr K (NEW) Vocal Edit) on Most Excellent Unlimited returns to Soul, before Duncan Gray’s Lewi’s Dub on Tici Taci and Bufiman’s Pantasy on Dekmantel extend the dancefloor focus. Who’s Who’s Hypnodance (Love Creation Long Edit) provides another House turn, carrying the set from timeless R&B towards its electronic selections.
Reggie Dokes’s She Knows on Rhythm Section International introduces Deep House, while Psychic Mirrors’ Island Girl on Cosmic Chronic Records brings Boogie-Funk into view. Dept. Of Sunshine’s Space Tropics (Rapp-sody) (Instrumental) adds Dub before Jex Opolis’s Earth Boy on Dekmantel shifts the sound towards Electro.
Omar S’s The Sound Of Neptune on FXHE Records, Nick J. Smith’s Gets Me High on Clandestino and Trinidadian Deep’s Natty Dread on Visions Recordings keep the Deep House current moving, before MAMA’s Unmask Me (Ashley Beedle Vocal Mix) on Batty Bass brings Afro House. Pev & Hodge’s Bells (System Mix), Sapience’s Tropical Headz and Son Of Scientist’s Spartan Riddim on First Word Records close through Dubstep, a link to Jona’s Sapience work and Broken Beat, leaving space for the show’s Jazz-Funk, Balearic and Synth Pop references.
Many Hands Basement Soul Show 18 15th of May 2020
Ivan 'Mamão' Conti - Jemburi
The Trinidad Steel Band - L'Homme A La Grosse Tete
Derrick Cross - Never Too Much
Samu - Stroke It
Dick Khoza - Chapita
Velvet Season And The Hearts Of Gold - Love Directions
DJ Rocca & Leo Almunia - Ever Changing Bubbles (Deep88 Balearic Mix)
Loose Ends - Gonna Make You Mine
Begin - Day Pulse
My Friend Dario - Tora
Rene & Angela - Love You More (Mr K (NEW) Vocal Edit)
Duncan Gray - Lewi's Dub
Bufiman - Pantasy
Who's Who - Hypnodance (Love Creation Long Edit)
Reggie Dokes - She Knows
Psychic Mirrors - Island Girl
Dept. Of Sunshine - Space Tropics (Rapp-sody) (Instrumental)
Jex Opolis - Earth Boy
Omar S - The Sound Of Neptune
Nick J. Smith - Gets Me High
Joaquin Joe Claussell - With More Love (GTR Version)
Trinidadian Deep - Natty Dread
MAMA - Unmask Me (Ashley Beedle Vocal Mix)
Pev & Hodge - Bells (System Mix)
Sapience - Tropical Headz
Son Of Scientist - Spartan Riddim
Listen on Mixcloud here.