Disc jockey duo Many Hands (Berlin/UK) have made their playlist for Basement Soul show 38 available on Scientific Sound Asia. Scientific Sound Asia is an English-language electronic music radio station, promoter, DJ agency, and music-news platform serving expatriates and local audiences across Asia.
Many Hands is an artistic project led by DJs Jona J and Kava. Jona Jefferies was born in Barcelona, grew up between Spain and the UK, and has established connections within the music industry.
Jona began DJing in the free-party and rave scene of south-west England during the early 1990s, before later moving to Ibiza. There he was drawn to the island's Balearic sound and hedonistic lifestyle, returning frequently to experience its music scene as both a raver and a DJ.
After leaving Ibiza, Jona relocated to Bristol and immersed himself in the city's sound-system culture, spending several years honing his craft. He subsequently joined Berlin's global music scene, playing at various venues before returning 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.
Originally from New Zealand, Kava has lived in Berlin for more than a decade. His musical exploration began in Wellington's music community and was shaped by Soul, Bashment, Hip Hop, Disco, House Music, Techno, and Drum and Bass.
During his early years in New Zealand, Kava sold vinyl records and presented radio programmes. After moving to Berlin, he became a regular host of the monthly radio show Float Some and Jet Some, co-hosting with Rodi Kirk of Scratch 22 on Berlin Community Radio before the station ceased operations.
Working in Berlin brought Kava recognition and opportunities to play at a range of locations. These appearances established his place within the city's music scene.
Jona and Kava met through a shared acquaintance close to OYE Records in Berlin, where they quickly found a musical connection. That connection led to Many Hands and their distinctive Berlin basement dance event, Basement Soul.
Jona J & Kava’s sets span a broad range, from Disco, Soul, Latin Music, and Afrobeat to MPCs, drum machines, and synthesised beats. Their selections draw on New York's Jamaican influence and West African rhythms.
Many Hands favour an eclectic approach that can be quirky or bass-heavy while staying geared to the dancefloor. Basement Soul 38 originally aired on Friday, 9 April.
Basement Soul 38 opens with Dego's 31 Losses 31 Wins on Neroli Records, bringing an ambient and experimental edge to the start. Kenny Larkin's Tedra on Art of Dance Music follows with raw, deep and hypnotic techno.
KeiyaA's Do Yourself a Favor, released through XL Recordings, brings in Nu-Disco before As One's Chiaro on Clear returns to techno. The Boyd Jarvis and Timmy Regisford Reprieved Dub of 52nd Street's You're My Last Chance, issued by Late Night Tales, moves the programme towards house music.
Shelly Thunder's Mr K edit of Jump Around precedes Lollise's Open Window on Lollise Music, an R&B selection. 3 Chairs' System Sauce on Three Chairs and Wet Silk's Let Me Do You Baby on Mixed Signals sustain the house-focused middle section.
Spirit's Mighty Zaf and Phil Asher edit of Spirit gives way to Ezra Collective's The Philosopher, a jazz record released on Enter The Jungle. Celebrity BBQ Sauce Band's self-titled Celebrity BBQ Sauce on Mahogani Music then returns to Nu-Disco.
Julien Dyne and Mara TK's Stained Glass Fresh Frozen is followed by Xtra Brux's Hot Shot on CoOp Presents, which brings a Bass / Club angle. Foul Play's Dubbing You on Sneaker Social Club introduces Drum and Bass to the later stretch.
Deadbeat closes the recorded sequence with Huey Lewis Dub on BLKRTZ, returning to techno territory. El-B and Juiceman's Trash & Ready provides the final selection, keeping the ending rooted in the duo's wide-ranging dancefloor approach.
Many Hands Basement Soul episode 38 9th of April 2021
Dego - 31 Losses 31 Wins
Kenny Larkin - Tedra
Keiyaa - Do Yourself A Favor
As One - Chiaro
52nd Street - You're My Last Chance (Boyd Jarvis & Timmy Regisford Reprieved Dub)
Shelly Thunder - Jump Around (Mr K Edit)
Lollise - Open Window
3 Chairs - System Sauce
Wet Silk - Let Me Do You Baby
Spirit - Spirit (The Mighty Zaf & Phil Asher Edit)
Ezra Collective - The Philosopher
Celebrity BBQ Sauce Band - Celebrity BBQ Sauce
Julien Dyne Ft. Mara Tk - Stained Glass Fresh Frozen
Xtra Brux - Hot Shot
Foul Play - Dubbing You
Deadbeat - Huey Lewis Dub
El-B & Juiceman - Trash & Ready
Listen on Mixcloud here.