Musical Duo Many Hands (Berlin) released the tracklist for Basement Soul 06, their sixth Scientific Sound Asia programme. Scientific Sound Asia is an electronic music radio station, promoter, DJ agency and music-news platform connecting audiences across Asia and internationally.
Many Hands is the project of DJ duo Jona J and Kava, who hold its intellectual rights. Jona Jefferies, who was born in Barcelona, grew up between Spain and the UK and began DJing in the DIY free-party and rave scene of south-west England during the 1990s.
Jona later relocated to Ibiza, where the Balearic sound and hedonistic atmosphere made a strong impression and he became a regular visitor. After Ibiza, he moved to Bristol, known as Bass City, and immersed himself in its urban culture and sound-system traditions.
Based in Berlin, Jona plays at venues across the German capital's international music scene. His work with longtime friend Lewis Hopkin of Stardelta Mastering as Sapience, including Nocturnal for Tom Middleton's Sound Of The Cosmos label, received airplay from respected DJs such as Gilles Peterson, Mala and Laurent Garnier.
Although Jona has performed mainly in Europe, he has also played a significant number of events in Asia. Kava is a New Zealand-born DJ who has made Berlin his home for more than a decade.
Kava was introduced to DJing while exploring Wellington's music scene, where he encountered Soul, Bashment, Hip Hop, Disco, House Music, Techno and Drum and Bass. In New Zealand, he shared vinyl music around the country and hosted numerous radio shows on different stations.
His involvement in music led to showcasing his DJ skills worldwide, from small underground parties to major events in several countries. His selections and skilful mixing have supported appearances alongside Fat Freddys Drop, Dave Clark and DJ Marky.
After moving to Berlin, Kava co-hosted the monthly Float Some and Jet Some radio programme with Rodi Kirk of Scratch 22 on the now-closed Berlin Community Radio. He also developed his practice through events across the city.
Introduced by a mutual friend at OYE Records in Berlin, Jona and Kava discovered a shared vocal harmony and began playing music together. Their collaboration became Many Hands, a basement session in central Berlin combining dance, defrag and soothing sounds, hence the Basement Soul name.
Jona J and Kava draw on a broad range of rhythmic and harmonic cultural influences. They combine Latin Music and Afrobeat with Disco and Soul, alongside traditional music and technology including MPCs and drum machines.
Their music brings together Jamaican, West African and European styles in a quirky, energetic dancefloor approach. This episode's tracklist includes Jazz Fusion, Soul, House, Ambient, Electronic, Folk Rock, Pop, Disco and Rock.
Many Hands Basement Soul 06 radio episode opens with Mark de Clive-Lowe’s contemporary Jazz Music cut “Bushido 1.” Reggie follows with the Wallace Morris North Street Vocal Mix of “Made Of Love,” introducing Nu Disco before Space Ghost supplies the first Deep House selection.
Clannad’s “I See Red” adds folk rock before Lena D’Água brings the programme into House Music. Antoine Rocky-Horror follows with the electro-boogie track “Sophia,” while Cottam returns the mix to deep house.
Swindle and Eva Lazarus introduce Hip Hop through “Talk A Lot,” followed by Two Thou’s “Clavinet Discourse.” Joe then adds Breaks with “Rio Lea,” while Kashiel’s “San Pelegrino” moves into Electronica.
PLO Man brings Techno into the middle of the episode before Diamond Jackson and Glenn Davis provide two further deep house tracks. Ge-ology adds another house selection, followed by Goya’s Psychemagik edit in the Indie Dance category.
The Superbs introduce Disco, while Richard Bush And Orbit featuring Melissa Bell follow with the boogie track “Solar Flight.” Whilst adds Dance Music before Jim Morrison and The Doors close the episode with Caste’s Funk re-edit of “Ghost Song.”
Basement Soul Episode 06 by Many Hands
Mark de Clive-Lowe - Bushido 1 [Ropeadope]
Reggie - Made Of Love (Wallace Morris North Street Vocal Mix) [Ramrock Records]
Space Ghost - Ocean Odyssey [Tartelet Records]
Clannad - I See Red [RCA]
Lena D'Água - Jardim Zoológico [Edições Valentim de Carvalho, S.A.]
Antoine Rocky-Horror - Sophia [Cosmic Chronic]
Cottam - Untitled [Cottam]
Swindle feat. Eva Lazarus - Talk A Lot [Brownswood Recordings]
Two Thou - Clavinet Discourse [Uzuri Recordings]
Joe - Rio Lea [Cómeme]
Kashiel - San Pelegrino [SoundCloud]
PLO Man - TX-I [Acting Press]
Diamond Jackson - Maybe So [Arcane]
Glenn Davis - Namida [F*CLR]
Ge-ology - Re-Fingered With Love [Dekmantel]
Goya - House At The Sea (Psychemagik Edit) [Leng Records]
The Superbs - Party Together [Peoples Potential Unlimited]
Richard Bush And Orbit feat. Melissa Bell - Solar Flight [4th & Broadway]
Whilst - Goyas Skull [Optimo Music]
Jim Morrison & The Doors - Ghost Song (Caste Re-Edit) [SoundCloud]
Listen On Mixcloud Here.