dego 4hero mix on BTSradio

http://www.btsradio.com/html/dego-2000bl...o-mix.html

downloading now, not checked it yet..............

will check this out

new dego cd out now....

http://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/381655-01.htm

I checked the mix last night, was good listening to it, something different to the usual. I'm going to have to check that Silhhouette Brown cd out soon. There's a Dego interview on his 200black site, I think there's a link from the 4hero forum, and for anyone interested on K-mag there is a week in the life of marc mac which is quite interesting - new manix material, possibly!!!!!

From hip hop to future soul to old skool jungle, spend an eclectic seven days with Mark Mac from 4hero.



Wednesday

Like every weekday morning I'm woken up to the sound of my daughter Shanyna (2) or my son Kamal (5), jumping on the bed turning on the TV full blast and singing along to Pepa Pig.

I really want to just go back to sleep but I start to feel guilty seeing my wife rushing around getting them ready for school. For 20 plus years I've been jumping out of bed and heading straight to the studio or to a gig, now the kids are part of my life I simply try to pace things out more... let the phone ring sometimes.

So after the school run (avoiding confrontation with the mafia mums blocking the school gate with their mini 4x4s), I head straight down the M1 motorway to get over to East London. I'm meeting up with Chris Energy, a record dealer and a former producer on Reinforced Records.

It's not all socializing cos we got some heavy work to do, his basement is full top to bottom with records and I need to search through to pick out some old skool drum & bass for a book project I am working on.

So five hours of digging and chatting and my hands are frozen, there is no heat in the basement and it's freezing. We're joined by Reinforced Gus and Tony, they muck in. Chis has some decks set up so we play through the music and discuss D&B politics. I'm frozen, got to call it a day but I got hold of some great stuff. Head back home and I'm just in time to catch the kids before they to go off to bed.





Thursday

Today is mastering day; I got so much music in my head and I just wanna get in the studio and make beats and songs but the 'other' stuff has to be done.

I'm compiling and re-mastering six albums from our back catalogue at Reinforced for digital releases. I have to head over to the storage space to get hold of some old Digital Audio Tapes, this is what most producers used for their pre master recordings.

I get hold of a giant box of DATs and head to the studio. So I listen through, pick out tracks, digitally master and compile albums for iTunes and stuff. These DATs sound great and although I'm a big vinyl fan I must admit that the original masters will transfer and probably sound better than the vinyl when it comes to jungle and drum & bass of that era.

Some of the vinyl cuts back in the early 90s were pretty bad. This is hours of work but I need to finish this tonight so I can set up an overnight upload. So, that's pretty much my day over. I just get a little time to catch up on episodes of Heroes and Fringe.





Friday

I intend to start the day with a quick run through my emails, Facebook and so on... Three hours later I'm still on the laptop 'networking'!

It does work though and you can make things happen, meet some great artists and get some good e-promo done. For example, today I'm putting a beat tape together for a few artists that I've met through MySpace and Facebook.

Then there's the digital promo mail. Since the A&R days at Reinforced I've always tried to give some time to check out demos and new music. I haven't got time to reply to all the emails and give my opinion on all the demos but I always check and if there is a great track then I try to let the artist know.

Another usual part of the morning (now afternoon) is going over all the week's goings on with Decoy, my project co-ordinator; we're on the phone for about an hour.

Last week I bought an Akai MPD24, it's basically a MIDI drum pad and controller, today I get to try it out in my little home studio setup but first I got to make a little trip to a new second hand record spot that a friend found out about in Luton.

I spend a couple hours sussing the place out having a chat with the store owner and digging through some 70s progressive rock albums. On the way home I make a quick stop at my local council dumping yard to see if any old records have turned up, they know me there and hang on to any vinyl for me to look through.

So that's how it is, finally in a studio, got an arm full of vinyl, a new studio toy, gonna be a long night.





Saturday

I normally keep Saturdays free for doing radio stuff like mixes and podcasts but these days I travel a lot more for DJ events. Today is free but tomorrow I'm playing at the Jay Dilla party so I need to do some digital digging to find some less known or new productions that may have surfaced from Dilla over the last few months and, trust me, it's much easier to dig on the net that it is to go through the records in the garage.

I knock out a podcast and head into London to check out Record & Tape Exchange in Camden. I'm still looking for old skool vinyl for my book project and anything else that looks 'cool and cheap'. I've spent far too much money on music over the years and today I also have to budget for a trip to Toys R Us.

I find a track called Deep In Your Eyes by Open Skies and it has a picture cover, an old skool track on Reinforced from 1994, yes! Believe it or not some of these records are getting so rare and I haven't even got a copy of many of the older releases on my own label! I reckon I got the promos but not the finished copies, nice result but I still have to pay good money for it... crazy.

Got to head back up, it's getting dark and I have to get the kids and take them to Toys R Us. We all have fun in Toys R Us, even me, I'm checking out the Ben 10 toys. The rest of the day is spent with the family.





Sunday

Big day today: Arsenal takes on Chelsea and tonight is the J Dilla Changed My Life party at The Scala in London. This event has become a yearly tribute to the late Jay Dee and has got bigger and bigger every year.

I know my place In the DJ line-up and what I gotta do. Dilla had some real bangers but also had a very deep and soulful side and that's what I normally try to express with my sets at this event, so I'm looking forward to tonight.

But first the football, we have a pressing matter to attend to at the Bridge... Err, OK, let's forget about the footy today, it isn't happening for us, it isn't a crisis but we've hit a form pot hole... so to speak. Onwards and upwards.

Fast forward to tonight. I'm playing early, about 8.30pm, nuff DJs and little time because the event finishes at midnight. In the past this event was held at Cargo but we're going for bigger capacity this time. Rod 'Spin Doctor' (the promoter/DJ) is trying to expand and it's a good move, we can raise more money for the Charity (Lupus UK) and the Dilla Foundation.

I head down the motorway, running late... pick up Decoy and head to Kings Cross. Luckily there is a parking spot outside the venue. Get in the doors and the place is packed. Kidkanevil is on the decks and the crowd is hyped. I do my thing and everyone puts in a good performance: Spin, Morgan Spacek, Sarah Love, Shortee on the mic, a nice night of back to back Dilla.

I do an interview back stage and enjoy the rest of the night. I'm pretty glad it's an early finish because I got a long studio day tomorrow.





Monday

Yeah, it feels good to have a nice party the night before and wake up feeling fresh the next morning. Yesterday's party at Scala finished at midnight so I was home around 2am. If it was a late night/early morning gig I would probably have to cancel the session. Trouble is I find the sound too loud in a lot of clubs these days and your ears don't work the next day.

Studio day. I've been in studios for over twenty years but I still get excited on recording days. I've got to finish off an exclusive 4hero track for Amnesty International, the project is called PEACE and features exclusives from artists all over the world.

The drums and vocals were recorded a few weeks back so I have to record the strings, bass and all the other instruments. I sketch out the string in MIDI format just so I can hear the vibe and then record bass guitar and percussion.

My drummer is in LA so I'm gonna play percussion and all the other instruments today, no samples today, it's all going down live. I don't consider myself as a great player /instrumentalist but I can edit and program audio to make the takes work! If it was important parts to play then I would get in session players.

I'm going for that 1970s almost hippy-like sound on this one and I have a collection of vintage synths, amps and processors so it's gonna be authentic.

The string section are turning up at 3pm, strings go down smoothly and that's not always the case, trust me.

Most of the day is spent recording and editing. I have no phone line and no internet in lab, just use my Blackberry and iTouch to connect to the occasional free Wi-Fi spot transmitting from the nearby University.

Time flies and before I know it it's 11pm, the kids would have already gone to bed at home so I've missed them today. At this time of the day it's madness to attempt to mix down a track. My ears are fatigued now so I guess I got to call it a day.




Tuesday

Up early and ready for my Wii Fit routine... not. Sill got aches and pains from whiplash I got last year, anyway my bloody neck hurts.

So the plan today is to mix down and finalise the track for Amnesty International. I get to the studio about midday, the mix doesn't take too long and I master it at the same time.

So it's back home to the office where I can upload the master file. I'm happy I got that out the way because I wanna start work on a little home studio album.

I've been thinking about doing a new Manix album, I want to dig out all the old floppy discs, my Atari 1040 and Akai S950. I don't want to make a 'new' 180bpm Manix album, I wanna keep it under 150bpm and go back to that old Reinforced hardcore sound.

So I start getting the sounds together and before I know it I am one track into a new album. My kids come in running up the stairs (my boy loves the old skool sound) and start dancing... it's funny, my wife asks "is that an old Manix track?"

Anyway, I didn't spend much time with kids yesterday so my home studio turns into a play room for a while before it's time to get them off to bed. Anyhow... from hip hop to future soul to old skool jungle, that's my eclectic week.

From Dego's 2000black blog:


okp question time????

1 response
by admin, February 18 2010 1 response

this is an interview with okayplayer board members instigated by Mdcl !!!

(imcvspl)
* List of influences
London pirate radio stations and soundsystem’s in the 80’s.i didnt go to music school(wish i had in hindsight) instead i attended all dayers and blues dances.where reggae was played next to hip hop and house next to funk.so thankyou LWR,Funkadelic,Rock2Rock,Mastermind roadshow etc etc.
my crew Akwasi,Kaidi Tatham and Matt Lord also help me by teaching me music techniques and exercises.
Football(please do not call it soccer or mistake it for that superbowl tingy).i LOVE it. its a big influence its my escape from the heartache and pressures of the day.probably the only time my mind is clear.

* Equipment list
In NYC im rocking a small set up that includes a minimoog,moog prodigy,korg polysix,roland juno 106 and a super jupiter.Lordamercy custom mic pre amp.apogee duet,Logic 6,8 and 9(dont ask why all three).
In storage in London or in friends possession i have an oberheim obxa,roland jx3p,paraphonic 505,tb303,fender rhodes,arp omni & solina,moog source,polymoog,bass guitar,various efx pedals and percussion.

* Impressions on the ’scene’ in 2010
‘Scene’ what scene?i am not in touch with what is current.everytime i do try to see whats up i just hear folks complaining or get recommended something i end up turning my nose at.the last 2 or 3 years have not had many highlights in general.i have learned to just focus on my own groove and continue with it regardless of if it is hip or not. in fact i rather like being unfashionable.all that said i am eagerly awaiting theo parrish & bill beaver’s ‘cant keep running away’ and luvbugz ‘better’.

–
(bizzz)
What inspires Dego in his writing lyrics?
i moan and whinge about everything.so you probably noticed that 75% of my lyrics is complaining about something or other.i used to drop some peace loving cosmic vibes but my cynical nature usually gets the better of me.

–

(convoe)
1.) If you could work with any mainstream artist and give them a single for their album who would it be? and why?
Sean Paul.why because unlike your modern day rappers he knows how to ride a riddem besides he is a Jamaican brother.Also J-Lo but my motives here would be all wrong.lol…shit ive probably blown any small chance of that gig.

2.) Why was there such a delay for this Silhouette Brown album?
the delays boiled down to 3 main reasons. the label we were signed to folded and i moved to NYC and we all had other projects on the go.then again is this a delay i think we are right on time people might get sick of a new lp every 18months,no? i dont know!you tell me.

3.) What will be the next single off the project?
i am awaiting a remix of ‘We Used to Run Steady’ that will be available for free.not really concentrating on single’s just trying get people into the lp as a whole.

4.) As great as your music is … Why do you think it’s harder for the mainstream audiences to digest your music?
Well this question is not for my music in particular i think it should be directed towards ‘good music’.
when people are fed a diet of beans on toast all their lives,how the hell are they going to digest and appreciate some fine well balanced diet? what i am saying is there is no balance nowadays, growing up the top 30 chart was incredible looking back.straight up bubble gum pop stood next to social commentary from The Specials the way out there sounds of Art of Noise and the groove of D-Train.the shit is so elementary now that its embarrassing. to sell worldwide you have to win ‘pop idol’ ffs. as for all this style over substance…. ok i better stop before i rant.time i go listen to some Underground Resistance,Micachu & MF Doom.

5.) If you could go back in time and find yourself (a young Dego) knowing what you know now …. what would you say to yourself?
DO NOT ask her out dego she is scraggly come on man look a her.she ugly inside and out…..lol.
No i would say stop hiding behind all these pseudonyms and triple check your quality control.

–

(E_Rhythmz)
Who’s your favorite female artist to work with AND will this (Q&A) be on your website? I want to make sure it’s legit, ya mean?
Alma and Bembe are my favourites for getting the job done and hitting the harmonies 1st take.a new favourite is Obenewa she is on point and a joker in the studio.
i had no plans to put this on my site but to satisfy you i will post it on my blog page.

–
(3d1gg4)
what’s the album (not yours of course) you listened to the most in your life ?
i used to listen to johnny hammond ’shifting gears’ lp religously.i will not have a bad word said against that lp or the Mizell brothers. i will fight anyone to the death if they dare question this.do you hear me?TO THE DEATH i said
–

(kayru99)
any plans to put together a live band to perform in the States?
Silhouette Brown will tour this April in the states.so far its nyc,d.c,chicago,atlanta and san fran. im really more comfortable as a producer in the studio controlling all the elements thats why there have not been too many live occassions.

Do either you or Marc Mac plan on releasing anymore “beat tapes”?
Beat tapes?!what beat tapes?….by the way http://www.btsradio.com

–
(Leroy Bumpkin)
What happened to Deborah Jordan? Was it a matter of y’all just in different directions musically? With the first SB being such a success, I was surprised she wasn’t a part of TWO.
Deborah Jordan is doing her thing she put out her solo lp in 2008 i think. it was not a matter of different musical directions as the music goes in our(K&D) direction.full stop.I moved to nyc and i didnt have the time to be flying back an forth to record vocals.plus i wanted a richer sounding voice on ‘two’.

What’s up w/ the hip hop album you’re doing? I want to know more about that.
well i used to have a lot of requests to do a follow up to ’simply’ but i got fed up of the producer led thing so i found a rapper and got to work.Some folks just dont have the same work ethics as me so it got shelved.i wanted to find a new rapper but im too fussy with flows and as a producer i like to give pointers because ‘i gotta kick something that means something’ but some rappers dont wanna be questioned or wish to experiment.so fuck em..lol……having said all that Spec Boogie and i have some shit bubbling.

–

(E_Rhythmz)

Like who’s that young woman on Simple Sacrifice?
that would be Nadine Charles she is one of the many gems in London waiting to be unleashed.she is online, links are at my site under ‘about’.

–

(Howisya)
1. I noticed that you and Marc Mac don’t share a single writing credit on the whole of the Play With The Changes album. Was this album recorded separately and released together as a group a la Outkast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below? If not, what is your collaborative process like? (This last question is polite bullshit as it’s pretty obvious to even a sometimey 4hero fan that they don’t work together anymore, but it’d be nice to get an official answer to this first question.)
Mark and i have not produced together since ‘two pages’.although i did play keys on a couple things but not lp stuff. it is not consciously done just turned out like this.even Jacobs Optical Stairway and most of Tom & Jerry were separate.we was meant to do something on the last lp but he lives outside London and i dont drive a car and you know how lazy musicians can get.lol…..you know it’s a little like a marriage where the kids have grown up & left home, suddenly you realise that she wants to time travel to the 7th dimension and you just wants to stay home & make model train sets. And while you would like her to be oven ready with a nice cassoulet,she would like to leave all the cookbooks on the kitchen table with a note with ‘Have a nice life. See you at Sheila’s (daughter) wedding’

2. Did you make a conscious decision to move away from the earlier (4hero) sound into a more neo-soul, R&B, mellow jazz direction?
excuse me.i dont make mellow jazz thankyou.well 4hero after getting signed to mercury/talkin loud knew it needed songs as it quickly became apparent that the label was not gonna have us as a priority.besides it was a challenge for us and great to learn how to produce the way of people we had followed all our lives.so whilst we made ‘cooking up your brain’ we went home and listened to clifford coulter ‘loves to hot to hide’…you get me?

–
(dillinjah)
Jacob’s Optical Stairway: talk about it. Specifically, what went into making that record?
Outta their (4hero) discography to date, I think that record is the one that is most criminally slept on.

Playing that 15 years later, it still sounds ahead of the times.

aah man that was a long time ago.i will try to remember what i can.firstly we loved detroit techno and was fortunate to become friends with a lot of the artists,carl craig,mad mike,kevin saunderson,claude young,juan atkins(who is on the lp) etc .now R&S records approached us to do it and we felt it would be great to be the first D&B artist on the roster alongside the techno greats.
we wanted to to make techno,slighty cinematic drum & bass. it was made pretty fast because it was an enjoyable process. it was my first time using a vocoder and rocking a minimoog.we used a fostex 16track which helped with the sound.you cant beat the sound of tape.there was a fair bit of jd 800 going on too.hold on lemme find the lp so i can refresh my memory.brb….ok right then, madness.lol.i love the fact it was made free of any chains.
we used to do weekends of lab coat sessions.processing sounds retreating drum breaks.made our shit distinctive.i should get back into that.

ok thanks for the questions,and a big NO thanks to mashi.i dont really do this stuff but it was cool.
support good music when ever and where ever possible.

easy

d e g o

Cheers ML - interesting read

4.) As great as your music is … Why do you think it’s harder for the mainstream audiences to digest your music?
Well this question is not for my music in particular i think it should be directed towards ‘good music’.
when people are fed a diet of beans on toast all their lives,how the hell are they going to digest and appreciate some fine well balanced diet?

@ Cordani

Interesting read this

(dillinjah)
Jacob’s Optical Stairway: talk about it. Specifically, what went into making that record?
Outta their (4hero) discography to date, I think that record is the one that is most criminally slept on.

Playing that 15 years later, it still sounds ahead of the times.

aah man that was a long time ago.i will try to remember what i can.firstly we loved detroit techno and was fortunate to become friends with a lot of the artists,carl craig,mad mike,kevin saunderson,claude young,juan atkins(who is on the lp) etc .now R&S records approached us to do it and we felt it would be great to be the first D&B artist on the roster alongside the techno greats.
we wanted to to make techno,slighty cinematic drum & bass. it was made pretty fast because it was an enjoyable process. it was my first time using a vocoder and rocking a minimoog.we used a fostex 16track which helped with the sound.you cant beat the sound of tape.there was a fair bit of jd 800 going on too.hold on lemme find the lp so i can refresh my memory.brb….ok right then, madness.lol.i love the fact it was made free of any chains.
we used to do weekends of lab coat sessions.processing sounds retreating drum breaks.made our shit distinctive.i should get back into that.

THIS!!! AND THEN SOME!

That album is my favorite 4Hero recording in history. Absolutely, mind blowing imo. I still play it out any chance I get! TIMELESS!

Bump for Cycom

Great read, thanks mate!