Issue 39 / 2012 Championing the sounds of the underground. TUNING IN... DEJAVU FM
"There's beef on Deja, it's goin' off on the roof!" shouts Kano in his classic grime riddim 'Mic Check', and back in 2005, it came as no surprise that one of the genre's biggest stars to date would pay homage to the pirate sta- tion that played a big part in making him. Déjà Vu started over 16 years ago, showcasing the underground sounds that are born from and thrive in the streets of London. As the Noughties dawned, it became truly renowned as one of the original champions of the sound of grime. One particular set at Deja from 2004, featuring the notori- ous N.A.S.T.Y. crew has gained cult-like status on YouTube for its incendiary lyricism from some familiar faces in what some would say to be the hayday of grime. Having already broken the likes of Kano, Dizzee Rascal, Wiley and Ghetto to name a few, Deja continues to promote the alternative sounds of the metropolis today. DJs like Daddy Nature, head honcho at Urban Nerds, and Phaze One, one half of budding production duo Star One, are pushing the sounds of 2012, from dubstep to future garage to hip hop and every- thing in between. Déjà vu continues to be a crucial voice for the often over- looked inner city youth. of London.
www.dejavufm.com
MINDSET RECORDS CONTINUE TO CROSS GENRES
THE GUESTLIST NETWORK www.guestlist.net
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Since forming in 2008 at the hands of one of the UK's most forward-thinking producers, Indigo, and with the A&R skills of fellow pioneer Synkro, Mindset Records has been persistently carving out its own niche in a scene that's riddled with imitation and mimicry.
As the sound and ethos of dubstep has gone in one di- rection – namely down the route of commercialism and nonsensical noise – Mindset has gone in the other, explor- ing, experimenting with and expanding the capabilities of 140bpm in novel ways.
Past releases by AnD, 16Bit, xxxy and Indigo himself have blurred the lines between dub techno, 2-step and ambi- ent soundscapes, with their trademark ethereal melodies and spacious percussion establishing what has become known as the Mindset sound.
The Fools Gold EP by Bath-based Troy Gunner was ar- guably one of the most unique and indefinable releases of the last 12 months, with its inimitable use of field re- cordings and off-kilter swing, while Synkro's own release employed elements of neo-funk and his emblematic chopped vocal samples to entrancing effect.
Their latest release by Stickman sees Mindset maintain their innovative cross-genre approach with a pair of tough techno tunes, The Verge and If You Stay, alongside melancholy offbeat stepper, Known. With this and future releases from AnD, Szare and Until Silence, the Mind- set boys show no signs of letting up in their unwavering quest for sonic progression.
www.soundcloud.com/mindsetrecordsuk
