Awake All Hours – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of INSIGHTS, I am joined by Dis Fig, who’s genre bending blend of  industrial, dub and ambient has formed an  impressive catalogue of solo and collaborative efforts, notably her 2019 debut album ‘PURGE’, as well as ’In Blue’ with dub legend The Bug and her staggering new album entitled ‘Orchards of a Futile Heaven’, which sees her monumental vocals and power electronics combine with the crushing doom of formidable avant-metal giants The Body. It gives me great pleasure to welcome Felicia Chen to the show!

Over the course of this interview, Felicia discusses formative experiences and influences ranging from karaoke, choir and MTV to Cantopop, Rancid and Destiny’s Child, as well as discovering the club music that would go on to influence her DJ style including Digital Mysticz, footwork, Jersey club and layering genres to create new forms. Next, Felicia reflects on the making of her debut album ‘PURGE’ five years on, working with The Bug and the making of ‘In Blue’, collaborating remotely and discovering a sound together, before discussing collaborating with The Body, the making of 'Orchards Of A Futile Heaven', bringing her vocals to the forefront and the album’s themes and imagery, concluding by highlighting some favourite music selections, future projects and forthcoming tour.

Clips of ‘To Walk a Higher Path’ and ‘Orchards of a Futile Heaven ’ by Dis Fig & The Body from the album ‘Orchards of a Futile Heaven on Thrill Jockey Records are used in this podcast.

SUPPORT DIS FIG:
Bandcamp: https://disfig.bandcamp.com/album/orchards-of-a-futile-heaven
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dis_fig/
Buy Music Club: https://www.buymusic.club/list/awakeallhours-insights-033-dis-fig

SUPPORT AWAKE ALL HOURS:
Patreon: www.patreon.com/awakeallhours
Instagram: www.instagram.com/awake.allhours/

In this episode of INSIGHTS, I am joined by the singular and brilliant DJ Haram, who’s eclectic DJ and production style leaves almost no corner of the globe unturned, with influences from strains of US and UK club sounds, rap, noise, Arabic and Middle Eastern music to name a few. Highlights in her discography include 2022’s incendiary album ‘Nothing To Declare’ as 700 Bliss, her collaboration with Moor Mother, as well as her latest EP on Hyperdub, ‘Handplay’, which came out in December last year. Embarking on a series of live shows and building towards her debut solo album, I am honoured to be joined by Zubeyda Muzeyyen.

Over the course of this interview, Zubeyda discusses her early years and the influence of Middle Eastern wedding music and Turkish psych on her as a multi-disciplinary artist, settling in Brooklyn following the Covid-19 pandemic, reflecting on the difficulties and enduring effect of lockdown, representing the underground on her Monday Night Raw show on The Lot Radio, her approach to production and collaborations with Billy Woods / Armand Hammer and Moor Mother as 700 Bliss, signing to Hyperdub and exploring the themes of borders and a global passport on ‘Nothing To Declare’, embracing vulnerability on her 'Handplay' EP and forthcoming debut album, concluding by highlighting some favourite music selections and future projects.

Clips of ‘Handplay’ and ‘No Funeral’ by DJ Haram from the ‘Handplay’ EP on Hyperdub are used in this podcast.

SUPPORT DJ HARAM:
Bandcamp: https://djharam.bandcamp.com/album/handplay-ep
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djharam/
Buy Music Club: https://www.buymusic.club/list/awakeallhours-insights-032-dj-haram

SUPPORT AWAKE ALL HOURS:
Patreon: www.patreon.com/awakeallhours
Instagram: www.instagram.com/awake.allhours/

In this episode of INISIGHTS, I am joined by Naledi Holtman a.k.a Gonubie & Rare Software, a Cape Town-based DJ, interdisciplinary artist and classically trained musician and flautist, who takes her name and inspiration from the river and area in South Africa’s Eastern Cape where her mother was raised. Naledi’s album ‘Signals At Both Ears’, released in September last year, is a breathtaking and expertly-composed piece of ambient music that holds a freshness and distinct identity, whilst evoking some of genres classic works.

Over the course of this interview, Naledi begins by discussing her experience of playing at Search Festival in Cape Town and debuting her live set as Gonubie, left turns in creativity and beginning to compose ambient music. Next, we discuss the influences and themes behind ‘Signals At Both Ears’, from Nala Sinephro and Carlos Nino to Harold Budd, finding a home for the album on the New Forest’s Métron Records, exploring the theme of home through art and how sound can evoke the feeling of returning to oneself, constructing a musical world and the parallels between music and architecture. Naledi concludes by discussing the future of the Gonbuie project and highlighting key artists, collectives and parties in the South African Scene, finishing with some current favourite selections - Buy Music Club below. 

Clips of 'Nymph' and 'Crystal Pools' by Gonubie from the album 'Signals At Both Ears' on Métron Records are used at the beginning and end of this podcast. 

SUPPORT GONUBIE:

Bandcamp: https://metronrecords.bandcamp.com/album/signals-at-both-ears
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_raresoftware_/
Buy Music Club: https://www.buymusic.club/list/awakeallhours-insights-028-gonubie

In a genuine race against time, we blitz through a mountain of new music, discussing the latest album's from Krust, Fatima Yamaha, Jasmine Infiniti, Dan Kye, TYGAPAW & A.k.Adrix. We also touch upon DJ Mag's list of nominees for their Best Of British Awards 2020 and list our favourite EP's of the past few weeks - featuring Sansibar, NARA, BufoBufo, Eversines, Itoa, Nazar, Say3, Wordcolour and Lowlife Cartel.

Freddy M Njau aka Slikback is one of the hottest producers in the game right now. Closely affiliated with the collective, label & festival Nyege Nyege, the Kenya-born, Uganda-based DJ and producer sits at electronic music's white-hot cutting edge. We had the privilege of sitting down with this unique talent to talk about life, his '///' and '/// II' projects, production techniques, Nyege Nyege, working with Svbkvlt, his recent RA Podcast, Covid-19 and what lies ahead...

As the UK finds itself in the midst of a second national lockdown, we share our thoughts on what this means for the countries club scene. We also review the new albums from Actress, Verraco, Call Super and Ploy, and pick our favourite 12's to come out over the last few weeks.

For the third edition of our 'Insights' series, we had the pleasure of talking with Timo Deeprhythms - DJ and curator of deeprhtyhms.com, founder of Echocentric Records and co-founder of Coymix Ltd.  We covered a huge amount of ground over the course of an hour or so, discussing the inception of deeprhythms.com, Echocentric Records and Coymix, a highly influential Mono Junk mixtape, Solar Suite's 'Field Of View EP' and the Australian sound, plans for an Echocentric sub-label, advice for aspiring label-owners, producing, as well as Timo's personal experience of the Covid-19 pandemic as a creative and the broader effect on Helsinki’s music scene.

This week, we discuss Arts Council England's distribution of culture recovery grants and analyse some of its backlash. We particularly explore  the response to Resident Advisor's successful application and receipt of £750,000 in funding before going a bit loopy for the new Simo Cell & Abdullah Miniaway project, 'Kill Me Or Negociate'. There's also reviews on the new albums from Autechre and Zenker Brothers and count down our top three EP's from the last couple of weeks.

This week, we discuss the closure of Peckham institution, Canavan's, and the precarious future of beloved Elephant & Castle spot, Corsica Studios, both brought about by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and tighter curfews. However, there's good amongst the bad as we highlight Bristol's wonderfully enticing new bar / club space, Strange Brew, and onsite record shop, Planet Caravan. Finally, we review the new albums from Theo Parrish, Manonmars, Zora Jones and Kebrada and each pick our favourite EP's from the last couple of weeks.

Producer, DJ and owner of no-less than five record labels, as well as Elevate record shop in Berlin, Cinthie Christl is a true underground hero. She has been dedicated to the scene for over 20 years and is one of Berlin's most highly praised house music selectors. At the beginning of August, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Cinthie to discuss growing up in Berlin and Frankfurt, formative musical experiences, throwing free parties, running five record labels, Covid-19 and of course, her fantastic new album on Aus Music, 'Skylines - City Lights'.