Saturday, April 25, 2009

BENNY PAGE





BENNY PAGE
www.digitalsoundboy.com
http://www.myspace.com/bennypage1

They say that cream always rises to the top but for 25-year-old Benny Page, the ascent to drum and bass stardom has been meteoric by anyone's standards. Having imprinted his name in the mind of the late John Peel with one of his first-ever releases back in 2004, the Reading-born producer is now firmly established as the protégé of drum and bass legend Shy FX on his Digital Soundboy label. And with a string of dancefloor hits now behind him including the massive “Turn Down the Lights”, everything is now in place for Benny to follow in the footsteps of his illustrious mentor and take the world by storm.

Like any artist, music has always been a passion for Mr Page (which, in case you were wondering, is his real name). His father's varied tastes were a massive influence as Benny grew up, leading him to take up both the drums and guitar at the age of 12, but it wasn't long before he began to discover the growing British underground sound. Inspired by early Jungle releases such as A Zone's “Calling all the People” and “Worries in the Dance” by Nu Blood, Benny began making beats using a sequencer on his Dad's PC at the age of 15 and a year later began a two-year music technology course. As his appearances at his part-time job became rarer due to production-induced ‘sickness', Benny's ear-catching rolling style of beats developed. By 2002, he was ready to let the rest of the world hear his unique sound and it was South London-based label Cutterz Choice who first noticed his talent. Impresario Spoona brought his first tune “Chainsaws” to wax a year later and Benny followed this up with a number of releases in 2004 including a remix of Aphrodite's “Stalker” and the anthem “Sneaker Pimp”, which brought his name to international attention thanks to its appearances on John Peel's Radio 1 playlist.

With that kind of backing behind him, his name soon became in demand across the drum and bass fraternity, leading to various link-ups with more established names including Nicky Blackmarket and Dj Bailey. But it all changed forever after Shy FX heard DJ Bailey playing some of Benny's tunes – a phone call later and he was signed to his Digital Soundboy label at the start of 2006. Since then, Benny has released two tracks, “Turn Down the Lights” and “Rub a Dub”, which both made serious inroads into the drum and bass charts. He has also become a star attraction on the DJ circuit, despite only taking up mixing four years ago, and recently completed a three-week tour of the US with Shy FX. But while Benny is happy with his dramatic rise to the pinnacle of his craft, he is determined that he will not rest on his laurels.

He may have made his name thanks to a trademark sound that is guaranteed to get any club dancing, but you can expect to see a more varied approach in the future t include hip hop and dubstep.


MP3 YT - England Story [ Benny page remix ]

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

BONKERS!

I stumbled across my old pal Dizzee Rascal this morning while peepin' the newest viral videos on the web. This one is going to be a hawt one. BONKERS!



Want a dubstep version? I thought you would. Here ya go. 



Monday, April 20, 2009

Futurecop!



Futurecop! tunes have been circulating my ipod regularly for at least the last year and it's surprising that more people haven't discovered these guys yet. Their two man live ableton sets bring a melodic 80's sound to the party that not many other DJ's are doing right now.



On top of the cool live sets, Futurecop! have a rad original sound going with their own productions. Here's a couple of their tracks that I've recently been stoked on, be sure to go pick up one of their disks if your a fan of this sound.

Futurecop!-Transformers
Futurecop!-N.A.S.A.

MAJOR LAZER




its 420 ya'll! enjoy.

Heres what Im most stoked about this 420.

The first official leak from the Major Lazer LP. Ive been anticipating this project for so long! BIG IT UP!

Courtesy of MAD DECENT


Major Lazer - Hold The Line (dj edit)

Major Lazer - Hold The Line (inst)

Thursday, April 9, 2009

South Rakkas!


South Rakkas Crew (SRC) was founded by producer Dennis 'Dow Jones' Shaw in late 2002. After managing Riprock n Alex G Entertainment, Orlando's premier 'Pop' production house, Dow Jones teamed up with Alex G creating what is proving to be one of the hottest Dancehall music production teamstoday.

SRC gave the world Riddims like: Clappas, Red Alert, Bionic Ras, Chinkuzi, etc. They have produced Dancehall music's biggest artists including Beenie Man, Elephant Man, Bounty Killer, Capleton, Lady Saw, Mr. Vegas, Ce'Cile, Mr.Easy, Sizzla, T.O.K., and the list goes on. They have become known as Dancehall's most innovative producers, bringing a fresh new sound which the
top European DJ's have titled Electro-Dancehall. Dow Jones has another alias, “King of the cut,” given to him by some of Jamaica's biggest producers, for South Rakka's ability to 'chop up', and rearrange songs creating new and exiting mixes.






Although the team is based in Orlando Florida, they hail from Southern Canada. Growing up in Toronto, and Mississauga Ontario has given them an edge, explains Dow Jones. “I was born in Jamaica but grew up in Canada. Alex G and myself grew up in a very multicultural environment. We have been exposed to many genres of music. At different times in my life I was into Top 40, Reggae, Pop, Hip Hop, Disco, House, Dancehall, Base, Freestyle, Dance, R&B, Jungle, New Wave, Rave, Rock, Salsa, Meringue, Electro., etc., and I know Alex G has a much more extensive knowledge of music than myself. This is what gives us our sound.”

And this 'sound' has earned them high accolades in the remix world as well, and from a very eclectic list of artists, including: Bob Marley, Duran Duran, DJ Shadow, Lily Allen, Beck, T.O.K, Mr. Vegas, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Bounty Killer, T-Pain, R. Kelly, Twista, Good Charlotte, Shakira, Alicia Keys, and Chris Brown.

The team worked together in Canada, but struggled with the compromises they had to make due to the industries lack of interest in domestic urban music. Alex G moved to Florida to do some production work for Base music rappers 95 South and a then unknown Pop group called NSYNC. Dow Jones quickly followed and although he had always dabbled in Dancehall, was producing Latin Rap before his relocation.

SRC has already produced and released 7 albums; 4 being 'Riddim Albums' and 3 exclusively to Japan. In the works are: an artist album for hot new Jamaican singer/sing jay Sandy Smith, an EP and possible SRC album for Diplo's Mad Decents label and Ninja Tunes next Solid Steel Mix
CD/Compilation.

Mp3

Killa Queenz - Bitches (South Rakkas Crew Remix)


The Bug - Poison Dart (South Rakkas Crew Remix)

Friday, April 3, 2009

RUSKO


These days everybody's talking about Rusko, whose name has become synonymous with the "other" side of the dubstep coin - colorful, fun and vibetastik. Becoming known far beyond the dubstep community he's now remixed everything from Katy Perry to Kid Cudi & Crookers smash "Day & Night", torn the roof of Fabric with label mate Caspa, and recently taken to performing sets live with a bass guitar and homemade talkbox.


Thank goodness for us, we wont have to wait long to see it for ourselves - Rusko is touching down for the second time in Edmonton this Sunday...With his live performance and hype man MC Rod Azlan in tow to provide the vocals we can expect an unparalleled energy as they boom they're way around the stage...and into out hearts!


Rusko w/ MC Rod Azlan performs Sunday April 05 @ Starlite Room, Tickets $15 in advance available at foosh, blackbyrd, FS [wem] and online at www.ticketmaster.ca

Heres a freebee for ya'll, for more check out his Myspace for more music.


MP3: Marco Del Horno - Samurai [Rusko “Safe Sex” Remix]

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

BIG UP MAD DECENT - DJ DEGREE REMIX!





Was just brought to my attention my remix of of "hands up thumbs down" by blaqstarr has been getting some mad decent play.

MP3: BLAQSTARR "Hand Up Thumbs Down" [DJ DEGREE Remix] featured in MAD DECENT SXSW podcast video!!!!

much love to the mad decent fam!


Mad Decent SXSW 2009 Video Podcast from Mad Decent on Vimeo.