Disc jockey duo Many Hands (Berlin/UK) present Basement Soul show 39 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 was born in Barcelona, grew up between Spain and the UK, and 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 its music scene as both a raver and a DJ.
After leaving Ibiza, Jona relocated to Bristol, where he immersed himself in the city’s sound system culture and spent 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.
Hailing from New Zealand, Kava has resided in Berlin for more than a decade. His musical exploration began in Wellington's dynamic music community, where he encountered 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 of the monthly radio show Float Some and Jet Some, which he co-hosted with Rodi Kirk from Scratch 22 on Berlin Community Radio before the station ceased operations.
Through his work in Berlin, Kava gained recognition and played at various locations within the city's music scene. These experiences established his standing in Berlin.
Jona and Kava met through a shared acquaintance close to OYE Records in Berlin, where they quickly discovered their musical connection. That connection led to Many Hands and its distinctive Berlin basement dance event, Basement Soul.
Jona J and Kava’s sets span Disco, Soul, Latin and Afrobeat alongside MPCs, drum machines and synthesised beats. Their selections draw from New York’s Jamaican influence and West African rhythms.
Many Hands’ Basement Soul episode 39 opens with Children Of Zeus’s No Love Song on First Word Records, bringing a Nu-Disco touch to the programme. Lwanda Gogwana’s All OK on Brownswood Recordings adds African character before Shared Soul’s Computer Love moves into R&B.
Inkswel’s Astral Love, featuring Dwight Trible, Planet Self and Michele Manzo, brings Electro to the selection through Atjazz Record Company. Maisha’s live version of Osiris adds Jazz Music, while Kamaal Williams’s Snitches Brew on Black Focus introduces Rap/Hip Hop before Theo Parrish’s Hennyweed Buckdance on Sound Signature reaches Deep House.
Vinicio Adames’s Escape on TrueClass Records shifts the pace into Electronica, followed by Common’s New Wave featuring Laetitia Sadier on MCA Records and its Conscious perspective. HMD’s If I returns to R&B on Brownswood Recordings, while Igor Jadranin’s No Skip To The Beat on LW Recordings supplies a Mainstage contrast.
Inkswel’s Fallin, featuring Andrew Ashong, brings Funk into the middle of the set. Q-Tip’s Manwomanboogie on Universal Motown follows with Hip Hop, before Beringei’s Without You, featuring William Florelle, returns to Electronica through WotNot Music.
Jon Sable’s Ascension Island on In Dust We Trust establishes the programme’s House Music run. Calibre, DRS and Mark Ernestus’s Bad on Signature then brings 140 / Deep Dubstep / Grime into focus before Chaos In The CBD and Jon Sable’s Mahia Madness returns to House Music on In Dust We Trust.
F.M. Inc.’s Dub Me Anytime on Nuff Tuff Music extends the House Music direction into the final stretch. Roy Ayers’s I Am Your Mind (Pepe Braddock’s Asynchronous Adventures), The Brand New Heavies’ Never Give Up (Live In Japan 92) and Madlib’s Hangout (Phone Off) close the selection with the breadth associated with Basement Soul.
Many Hands Basement Soul episode 39
Children Of Zeus - No Love Song
Iwanda Gogwana - All Ok
Zara Mcfarlane Feat. Dennis Bovel - East Of The River Nile (Alt Dub Mix)
Shared Soul - Computer Love
Inkswel Feat. Dwight Trible, Planet Self, Michele Manzo - Astral Love
Maisha - Osiris (Live Version)
Kamaal Williams - Snitches Brew
Theo Parrish - Hennyweed Buckdance
Vinicio Adames - Escape
Common - New Wave Feat. Laetitia Sadier
Hmd - If I
Igor Jadranin - No Skip To The Beat
Inkswel Feat. Andrew Ashong - Fallin
Q Tip - Manwomanboogie
Beringei Feat. William Florelle - Without You
John Sable - Ascension Island
Calibre & Drs V Mark Ernestus - Bad
Chaos In The Cbd & Johnsable - Mahia Madness
F.M. Inc - Dub Me Anytime
Roy Ayers - I Am Your Mind (Pepe Braddocks Asynchronus Adventures)
The Brand New Heavies - Never Give Up (Live In Japan 92)
Madlib - Hangout (Phone Off)
Listen on Mixcloud here.