Julien Dyne is a multi-talented artist – a top New Zealand drummer, producer and visual artist.
Best known for his work as the drummer for Opensouls and Tyra and the Tornadoes, Julien has also worked with the likes of Verse Two, Nathan Haines, Fat Freddy’s Drop and Ladi6. Since his selection for the Red Bull Music Academy in Rome in 2004 Julien has been working with international artists and forging his own unique sound as a producer.
Julien spent two weeks in Cologne in 2007 where he recorded, collaborated and co-produced with legendary musicians and producers including the Mizell brothers (Motown/ Jackson 5, Donald Byrd, Bobbi Humphrey), Om'mas Keith (Sa- Ra), Steve Spacek, Mark Pritchard (Harmonic 313), Andreya Triana, Black Spade, Theo Parrish, Roman Rosic, Skymark and Sophie Loizou.
Pins and Digits is Julien’s long awaited debut album, following the critical acclaim of his first release Phantom Limbo EP (2007). Phantom Limbo EP introduced Julien as a producer and served as a platform for him to showcase his sizable percussion and production skills – he expertly moulds together produced beats and live instrumentation to create a sound which encompasses hip hop and funk, afrobeat and jazz. The Sunday Star Times described the EP as “the most convincing local hybrid of jazz, funk and hip-hop I’ve heard in a very long time.” Lead single 'Maddingos' was nominated for a bnet award 2007, and remains a local anthem for DJs.
Pins and Digits features guests spots from some of New Zealand’s most talented musicians including Jonathan Crayford, Paul Dyne, Lewis McCallum, Jeremy Toy (opensouls), John Bell, Isaac Aesili, Steph Brown and stand out tracks from the fresh vocal talents of Mara TK (Electric Wire Hustle) and Parks (Ladi6). Stylistically Pins and Digits combines the big bass, brass and beats aesthetic of the Phantom Limbo EP with futuristic keyboards and synthesised sounds.
1. Layer (feat. Mara TK) 2. Fallin' Down (feat. Parks) 3. Incredulous 4. Incredulous (Frank Booker Uptown Edit) 5. Layer (feat. Mara TK) (Instrumental) 6. Fallin' Down (feat. Parks) (Instrumental)
This September sees renowned Drum and Bass Duo The Upbeats tour New Zealand to release their highly anticipated studio album Big Skeleton.
Big Skeleton is the third studio album of The Upbeats that showcases their signature driving electronic beats with the fusions of DnB that they are known and loved for. Gracing the album are NZ DnB heavyweights State of Mind and the emerging and inspiring vocals of Jess Chambers (The Woolshed Sessions) and Ned Worboys (Harbour City Electric).
The Upbeats are of a truly international standard and their popularity has spread far and wide. Spending most of the time between countries the duo constantly tour throughout New Zealand, Australia, Europe and North America, and they have even been flown to Russia to perform for a weekend! These tours have seen them support that genre’s big players including Grooverider, Andy C, Roni Size, Pendulum, Concord Dawn, Shapeshifter and Bad Company to name a few.
They have also had releases on DnB scene leading labels such as Bad Taste, BC Presents, Virus Recordings, Project Human, Soul:R and Subtitles.
The Upbeats long awaited next release Big Skeleton is out in New Zealand on 14 September 2009 with debut single “Bones feat. Ned Worboys” out now!
1. Big Skeleton 2. Ki Ki Kai Kai 3. Planet Earth 4. Bones 5. Bury Your Head 6. Under The Sky 7. Carousel 8. Macabre 9. The Unearthly 10. Ghost Radio 11. Noises 12. Laser Crypt 13. The City That Sleeps 14. Through The Night
The long awaited debut solo album “As the market crashed” by underground Australian producer MonkeyMarc will be released on December 1st through Omelette Records.
“As the Market Crashed” is the result of years spent listening, absorbing and producing forwardthinking music. Recorded entirely on solar power in his converted shipping container studio in Melbourne, mixed in Paris at Sumroom Studios and mastered in London at Transition, this album takes influence from a worldly palette exposing the listener to a diverse and eclectic musical journey unlike any Australian artist yet.
With influences reaching into the crates of hip hop, dub and dubstep this release is as much an ode to the past as it is an optimistic exploration into the future. With sounds reminiscent of early Dj Shadow, Dj Spooky, J Dilla and Flying Lotus, it is also equally influenced from further afield with more dub aesthetic acts like African Head Charge, Tackhead, Burial and Kode 9.
Underpinning the album is a strong message for social and environmental change, drawing upon samples that cover the global financial crises, the inequality of political systems and the world’s addiction to fossil fuels. These vocal insights add a dynamic layer to the massive futuristic basslines which go head to head with brooding instrumental beats and crusty old samples in a truly organic and original style.
The first half of the album draws heavily from a hip hop aesthetic. There are elements of blues, jazz and world music scattered across instrumental beats that take the listener on journeys to far and distant lands. The second half of the album ventures into deeper dub orientated territories relying on massive bass lines and shimmering stepped out rhythms. Samples of records from yesteryear come drifting in and out creating diverse and thought provoking music. This album is a truly unique contribution to the Australian electronic music scene.
The first single off the album “What can I do?” is a clever mix of old blues, grimy beats and funked up keys sure to get even the most relucent listener busting a move. What can I do? will be available for electronic download from October 26th in original and a remixed version by DJ Delay (Berlin).
MonkeyMarc’s full album “As the Market Crashed” will be out through Omelette Records and available online through www.monkeymarc.com from December 1st 2009.
The new video for the single "Where Did We Go Wrong" by Chasm & Vida-Sunshyne. From the album, Move, available everywhere October 23rd via Obese Records.
Tattoo Candy is an annual publication, featuring tattoos by the best artists across Australia and New Zealand. A comprehensive 180 page book, it's jam-packed with the best, full-colour pics from the best of the best, and is categorised into sections alphabetically, making it quick and easy to use. A must-have reference for the professional tattoo artist, and an excellent resource for the enthusiast, Tattoo Candy is available at a news outlet near you.
From an eager teenager taping shows from underground radio, to a DJ of world standing, the last five years have seen Australian spinner DJ Perplex soar. Set for the release of volume 2 in his ultra-fly ‘Digital Killed The Vinyl Star’ Mixtape series, Perplex has also been enlisted as the spokesperson for new Nintendo DS game ‘DJ Star’.
Having made a name for himself by taking out the Australian DMC title in 3 consecutive years, then going on to claim 7th place at the world finals in London late 2008, Perplex has established himself as an in-demand DJ, regularly playing the hottest clubs and festivals across Australia, Asia and Europe.
More than just playing record after record, Perplex’s highly evolved Turntablist skills play an integral part in his DJ show, as he mixes Electro, with Soul, Funk, Hip Hop and Baltimore, with layers of atmospheric undercurrents. The result is a genre-bridging mash-up style that is as original in its delivery as it is eclectic.
