The DJ duo Many Hands present Basement Soul 12 on Scientific Sound Asia. Scientific Sound Asia is an English-language electronic music radio station, DJ agency, promoter and music-news platform serving expatriate and local audiences across Asia.
Many Hands is the creative collaboration of DJs Jona J and Kava. Jona Jefferies was born in Barcelona and raised between Spain and the UK, and began his DJ career in the independent 1990s free-party and rave scene of south-west England.
After moving to Ibiza, he was captivated by its Balearic sound and vibrant culture, and has returned regularly. He later settled in Bristol, where he embraced the city’s urban energy and sound-system culture.
Jona has performed widely across Berlin’s music scene, appearing at numerous venues throughout the city, before returning to the UK. His track Nocturnal, made with long-time friend Lewis Hopkin of Stardelta Mastering as Sapience, was released on Tom Middleton’s Sound Of The Cosmos label and received airplay from Gilles Peterson, Mala and Laurent Garnier.
Kava, originally from New Zealand, has called Berlin home for over a decade. His work as a DJ began in Wellington, where he was immersed in Soul, Bashment, Hip Hop, Disco, House Music, Techno and Drum and Bass.
In New Zealand, Kava championed vinyl culture and hosted numerous radio shows. After relocating to Berlin, he co-hosted Float Some and Jet Some, a monthly show with Rodi Kirk of Scratch 22 on the now-closed Berlin Community Radio.
His time on air and performances across Berlin developed his craft, earning him recognition throughout the city’s music community. The two DJs met through a mutual contact near Berlin’s OYE Records, where they found a shared musical synergy.
That connection led to Many Hands, an eclectic music session held in Berlin’s Basement Soul scene. Jona J and Kava’s sets combine Disco, Soul, Latin and Afrobeat with MPCs, drum machines, Jamaican beats from New York and West African rhythms on synthesisers.
Their sound can be quirky or intense, while remaining directed towards the dance floor. Many Hands Basement Soul 12 episode begins with Ladi6’s Guru, before Jabru’s Church featuring Joel Culpepper on Purple City introduces Nu-Disco movement.
Mara TK’s Run on OnGravity Records brings in Deep House, followed by Jodeci’s Love U 4 Life on Geffen and its R&B vocal. Mark Pritchard’s Wind It Up featuring Om’mas Keith, released by Hyperdub, adds an Alternative turn before N-Gynn’s ZWEII Edit and Tao’s Eenie Meenie in Mark Seven’s Playground Dub.
Prince Fatty’s Sunshine featuring Omar and Fatlip in Mr Benn’s edit leads into Fela Kuti and Roy Ayers’ 2000 Blacks Got To Be Free on Barclay, a jazz-funk meeting point. Any Gram’s Open Bar then gives way to Pink Rhythm’s Melodies of Love on Beggars Banquet and Lucy Pearl’s Lucy Pearl’s Way, returning the selection to R&B and Disco.
Groove Chronicles’ Stone Cold on DPR Recordings introduces UK Garage before Nu Era’s Closer to Mars on Omniverse Records brings Peak Time Techno into view. Galaxy 2 Galaxy’s live version of Hi Tech Jazz on Underground Resistance follows with Techno urgency and jazz-informed detail.
Peverelist’s Left Hand on Idle Hands moves into Breaks, while Ossia’s Mob Psychology on Berceuse Heroique adds a shadowed Dub edge. DJ N4 and Bufiman’s Wind Spell in the N4 Hypnonormal Dub and Horsepower Productions’ TP on Sneaker Social Club keep the later stretch stripped back and percussive.
Apiento’s Down The Road featuring Harriet Brown eases the pressure before DJ Nature’s Bedtime Skit on Golf Channel Recordings closes with House Music. The final pairing gives the session a measured finish after its movement through vocal material, broken rhythms, garage pressure and darker club tools.
Many Hands Basement Soul Show 12
Ladi6 - Guru
Jabru - Church feat Joel Culpetter
Mara TK - Run
J Albert - Strictly J
Jeedeci - Love U 4 Life
Mark Pritchard - Wind It Up feat Om'mas Keith
N-Gynn - ZWEII Edit
Tao - Eenie Meenie (Mark Seven Playground Dub)
Prince Fatty - Sunshine feat Omar & Fatlip (Mr Benn Edit)
Fela & Roy Ayers - 2000 Blacks Got To Be Free
Any Gram - Open Bar
Pink Rhythm - Melodies Of Love
Lucy Pearl - Lucy Pearl's Way
Groove Chronicles - Stone Cold
Nu Era - Close To Mars
Galaxy 2 Galaxy - Hi Tech Jazz (Live Version)
Peverelist - Left Hand
Ossia - Mob Psychology
DJ N4 & Bufiman - Wind Spell (N4 Hypnonormal Dub)
Horsepower Productions - TP
Apiento - Down The Road feat Harriet Brown
DJ Nature - Bedtime Skit
Listen On Mixcloud Here.