The disc jockey duo Many Hands, based between Berlin and the UK, present Basement Soul episode 34 on Scientific Sound Asia. Scientific Sound Asia is an English-language electronic music radio station, promoter and music-news platform connecting audiences across Asia and internationally.
Many Hands is the project and intellectual property of musically absorbed, wide-ranging DJs Jona J and Kava. Jona J's real name is Jona Jefferies, and he was born in Barcelona before being raised in Spain and the UK.
He began DJing in the free-party and rave scene of south-west England during the early 1990s. After moving to Ibiza, he was drawn to the island's Balearic sound and hedonistic style, and has returned both as a raver and DJ.
Following his time in Ibiza, Jona moved to Bass City, Bristol, where its inner-city outlook and sound-system culture shaped several years spent honing his craft. After being welcomed into Berlin's international music community and playing venues across the city, he returned to the United Kingdom in 2020.
Jona released Nocturnal with his old friend Lewis Hopkin of Stardelta Mastering as Sapience on Tom Middleton's Sound Of The Cosmos label. The release received radio support from DJs including Gilles Peterson, Mala and Laurent Garnier.
Originally raised as a Kiwi, Kava has made Berlin his home for more than ten years. His musical introduction came through Wellington's melodic music scene, with regular exposure to Soul, Bashment, Hip Hop, Disco, House, Techno and Drum and Bass.
In New Zealand, Kava sold vinyl records and hosted shows on several radio stations. After moving to Berlin, he became an early resident on a monthly radio show with Rodi Kirk of Scratch 22.
The programme, Float Some and Jet Some, ran for a considerable period on the now-defunct Berlin Community Radio. Kava also played at venues across the German capital.
Jona and Kava met near OYE Records in Berlin through a close ally and immediately recognised a musical connection. That meeting led to Many Hands, an eclectic basement session in the heart of Berlin and the basis for Basement Soul.
Jona J and Kava work across the rhythmic and harmonic cultural spectrum. Disco, Soul, Latin music and Afrobeat sit alongside MPCs and drum machines, Jamaican sounds from New York, West African synthesis and funky European records.
The pair can be quirky or bashy, but their selections are made for dancers. Basement Soul brings that approach into a programme that moves between records from different musical settings.
Many Hands Basement Soul 34 episode opens with Jean-Luc Ponty's Plastic Idols, a Jazz recording released through Warner Music Group and X5 Music Group. Fresh & Low's Seven Miles Up follows on Re:Fresh Musik, bringing Deep House into the opening stretch.
Max Essa's DJ Shikisai Ddc Remix of The Cowboy Rembrandt appears via Jansen Jardin before Olefonken's Sun City on Snorkel Records. Fabrizio Fattori's Leg Pulling then turns to Disco on Best Record Italy.
Dwight Druick's Georgy Porgy on Bobinason makes room for Cleo Sol's One Love, released by Forever Living Originals. Mike Salta and Mortale's Behind The Rainbow (Ode To José) on NuNorthern Soul introduces Organic House after the R&B selection.
Expositions' Tomate Tu Tiempo, issued by Balearic Social Records, brings a Balearic direction to the middle of the set. Danny Russell's Candle Burns and Moton Records Inc's US Lover lead towards Roger Bain's instrumental Stand Up & Rock Your Body on Soundway Records.
Jarc's Brooklyn Baby on Jarc Sounds brings Indie Dance into focus, followed by Nathan Haines and Verna Francis' Restless Soul Peaktime Mix of Earth Is The Place on Chillifunk Records. Phlash's Participate, featuring Marcus Begg and released through Loaded Records, moves into House Music.
4 Hero's Bugz In The Attic Co-operative Mix of Hold It Down on Talkin' Loud brings Broken Beat into the programme before Peverelist's Und_92 on Punch Drunk Records adds Breaks. Tek 9's Winking on AKO Beatz and Gardna's Mr Benn Remix of Good Time Not A Long Time, featuring Omar and released by Gardna Music, take the set through drum n bass and Drum and Bass before Jill Scott's Crown Royal, Electric Wire Hustle's Perception and Doom & The Beat Guy's Change The Beat! close the programme with R&B and Future/Soul references.
Many Hands Basement Soul Episode 34
Jean Luc Ponty - Plastic Idols
Rela & Beka - 9mm
Kawuku Sound - Youth Feat. Spyda Mc
Fresh & Low - Seven Miles Up
Loose Ends - Hangin' On A String (Frankie Knuckles Classic Club Reprise)
Max Essa - The Cowboy Rembrandt (DJ Shikisai Ddc Remix)
Olefonken - Sun City
Fabrizio Fattori - Leg Pulling
Dwight Druick - Georgy Porgy
Cleo Sol - One Love
Mike Salta & Mortale - Behind The Rainbow (Ode To José)
Expositions - Tomate Tu Tiempo
Danny Russell - Candle Burns
Moton Records Inc - US Lover
Roger Bain - Stand Up & Rock Your Body (Instrumental)
Jarc - Brooklyn Baby
Nathan Haines Feat. Verna Francis - Earth Is The Place (Restless Soul Peaktime Mix)
Phlash - Participate Feat. Marcus Begg
4 Hero - Hold It Down (Bugz In The Attic Co-operative Mix)
Peverelist - Und_92
Tek 9 - Winking
Gardna - Good Time Not A Long Time Feat. Omar (Mr Benn Remix)
Jill Scott - Crown Royal
Electric Wire Hustle - Perception
Doom & The Beat Guy - Change The Beat!
Listen on Mixcloud here.