FMB MIXTAPE 224 | YRAKI

Posted on November 2, 2023 by Feel My Bicep

FMB MIXTAPE 224 | YRAKI

FMB MIXTAPE 224 | YRAKI (iTUNES)

FMB MIXTAPE 224 | YRAKI (320 DOWNLOAD)

We have London-based artist and producer, Yraki, on the mixtape this week. He released his debut EP ‘Argento’ last year, but first up, we asked him more about the mix and what he’s been up to recently.

I’ve been working on a lot of new club-oriented music, which this mix represents as well as more experimental / ambient stuff. I’ve also been soundtracking some cool multimedia projects and started sharing my Max for Live devices, which are getting a really good response also from big name producers. Recently, I released a remix for Barker and Baumecker’s “Strung” on nd_baumecker’s Freundinenn label, a highlight for me as a long-time fan of their work since I discovered Ostgut Ton!

I’ve recorded this mix at my place, borrowing some standard decks from a friend for a few days. Most of the tracks I used had been pre-edited in Ableton as I enjoy making subtle structural tweaks to them – always with respect for the original artists – I just change things that I think will make them fit better in the mix.

Ever since I got into music, I’ve always been djing from hip-hop to techno but with my new alias, I’ve predominantly focused on live performances featuring my own productions (mostly ambient / electronica). Anyway, I never stopped loving djing, probably it’s because I stumble upon so much incredible music from fellow artists every day, and I’m always itching to spin it in a club setting. This mix is a reflection of what you can expect from my DJ sets, traversing heavy-bass tracks, transitions to softer melodies, and more unpredictable and less dance-centric tunes.

What are you up to next?

I’ve been involved in diverse projects, including bespoke composition, sound design, mixing, and mastering. Excitingly, I’m nearing the completion of my first ambient/electronica album, alongside a fresh left-field club EP planned for release in 2024.

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FMB MIXTAPE 223 | BEN SLEIA

Posted on October 26, 2023 by Feel My Bicep

FMB MIXTAPE 223 | BEN SLEIA

FMB MIXTAPE 223 | BEN SLEIA (iTUNES)

FMB MIXTAPE 223 | BEN SLEIA (320 DOWNLOAD)

We have French-born Ben Sleia on the mixtape this week. She has since spent years living in the UK with a residency at Liverpool’s 24 Kitchen St before blessing the dancefloors of Berlin! We asked more about the mix and what she’s been up to recently…

I’ve been travelling a fair bit these past few months, for work, fun, and also to just relax. September was quite busy gig wise which was great, and I was able to play a couple of back to backs with some friends. That was particularly fun as that’s not something I’ve had the opportunity to do much these past few years. Apart from that I’ve been doing an intensive German course alongside working full time, and I was also lucky enough to get a place in an Ableton course ran by Femme Bass Mafia (a FLINTA collective from Berlin which focuses on knowledge sharing and platforming artists from their community, check them out) to finally learn how to make music. It’s been an intense few months to be honest but I’m feeling super inspired lately! And I’m loving being able to explore a new creative side by making music myself. It’s a hard process but it also feels very rewarding.

I recorded the mix in my flat in Berlin on my home set up which is 2 XDJs 700 and 1 Xone 23. I’ve been finding this set up kind of limiting recently and I would love to upgrade, but actually being limited probably makes me more focused on what I’m doing.

I think the main thing I wanted to achieve with this mix was to show who I am musically. As a music listener, I am always drawn to artists who manage to showcase all the different facets of their personality through their music, be it as producers or as DJs, and this is something I’m also trying to do constantly. I listen to a lot of different kinds of music, and I’m always looking for ways to connect the dots between all my influences to represent who I am. This is exactly what I did for this mix; I did not want to limit myself as to what genre, style, atmosphere, or anything else I could go for, but rather create something new with all the tracks I picked together.

And what’s next?

The next big thing for me is the launch of my new project: Bruits. In reality, I was already working under ‘Bruits’ for a long time as it was the name of my first radio residency on Melodic Distraction Radio (RIP) all those years ago, and it was also the name of my subsequent radio residency on Refuge Worldwide. I’m now taking it further and to the club as I’m launching our first event on November 25th 2023 at Zur Klappe (in Berlin) for which I’ve invited MELANIN to play, who is this incredible DJ based in Paris who plays the flute over her mixing, as well as my friends Impurity and Blume. I’m really excited to be back in the curator seat, and these events are actually only the first phase of this project. In the new year, I’m hoping to take it out of the club and around with me, but I’ll give more information about this later on. I’m very excited about it all anyway!

Tracklist:

Azemad – Halal Rage

Simo Cell – blow the conch

Verraco – jajaja

Toma Kami – Quad

Howie Lee – Flea

RAVL – Outrenoir

uu008 – a1

Diessa – Boiling Over (feat. Grove) – Original Version

Sepehr – At The Gates Of Heaven

Hojo – 16 O’s feat. Novelist

Pete Cannon & Denham Audio – Off Me Pickle (lmAjors cOMPLETELY pICKLED mIX)

DJ Zinc – 138 Trek (POLO LILLI 145 Edit)

Ma Sha – Myrtle Warp

From The Depths – Neutral Buoyancy

Dawn Razor & Confluence – Decollerate

Joey Beltram – Energy Flash (Original Mix)

Mani Festo – Plunk

Ayesha – Buzzz

Fango – Rectum

Klahrk & Stolen Velour – Fight Me

Jokes Kultüros – Split

Daniel 58 – Dirk Nowitzonski

Bell Curve – Quicksand

 

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FMB MIXTAPE 222 | 1-800 GIRLS

Posted on October 12, 2023 by Feel My Bicep

FMB MIXTAPE 222 | 1-800 GIRLS

FMB MIXTAPE 222 | 1-800 GIRLS (iTUNES)

FMB MIXTAPE 222 | 1-800 GIRLS (320 DOWNLOAD)

This week’s mixtape guest is London-based producer & DJ, 1-800 GIRLS. He’s a multi-instrumentalist having previously performed in live bands, before most recently self-releasing his new single “Looking Back”. You know the drill, we caught up with him to find out more about the mix…

So I’ve spent the last year or so focusing on building a live set, I moved out of London and up to Scotland into the hills in the middle of nowhere so I could focus on it.. so it’s been quite a long and slow process. The first gigs are at the end of October/early Nov so it’s in the final stages now though!

It’s a pretty emotional one and quite personal, a combination of old and new songs I wrote especially for the set – the first tracks ‘Looking Back’ & ‘Because Of You’ are out around the same time as the debut gigs at the end of the month – quite a few of the others forthcoming that can be heard in this mix too (no titles being revealed just yet though).

I recorded the mix at home on my living room set up, nothing too fancy just a couple of cdjs and some hifi speakers.

It was very much put together around alot of my unreleased stuff, so it’s sort of sad and sexy like most of my tracks. Genre wise I think it’s pretty eclectic but sonically I think it all sits within the same realm of emotive electronic sounds. Lots of stuff from family and friends in there too :).

Up next?

Next up is the live shows, the first of which is 24th October in Bristol, followed by a date in London on the 2nd November. There should be a run in the new year as well – hopefully with some visuals to align with the next release. Have quite a few new EP’s scheduled for the new year too which is exciting!

Tracklist:

Lord Of The Isles & Ellen Renton – For a Burning World

Jennifur – When We Looked At Each Other

1-800 GIRLS – ???

1-800 GIRLS – By Your Side

Yunè Pinku – Heartbeat

Babystar – Miles (Babystar Version)

1-800 GIRLS – ???

Jasper Tygner – So Unknown (Feat Dj Boring)

1-800 GIRLS ???

Cameo Blush – Ultimate Grey

1tbsp – Material Boy

1-800 GIRLS – ???

1-800 GIRLS – Looking Back

Tropics – Idle Away (Aleksandir Remix)

Pepe – Goma (Prime Mix)

1-800 GIRLS – Because Of You

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FMB MIXTAPE 221 | OTIK

Posted on October 5, 2023 by Feel My Bicep

 

FMB MIXTAPE 221 | OTIK

FMB MIXTAPE 221 | OTIK (iTUNES)

FMB MIXTAPE 221 | OTIK (320 DOWNLOAD)

This week’s mixtape guest is Otik. Over the last decade, Otik has released multiple records on labels such as Aus Music, Future Classic and Keysound Recordings, as well as having remixed the likes of Flume, Louf and Metronomy. We’re excited to have him join us at Drumsheds later this year, but first, we caught up with Otik to learn more about the mix and what he’s been up to.

I’ve been prepping a big musical project that I’ve been working on for a number of years. It’s something very personal to me so I’m excited but also quite anxious to set it free. As well as this I just got back from Prague this week after playing Lunchmeat Festival; a super immersive and eclectic event held at the national gallery with some amazing live A/V sets and DJs. I had a great time and caught some seriously good performances. Meuko Meuko and Voices From The Lake were some highlights for sure. I also recently started teaching 8-13 year olds music tech at some local schools which has been so fun, challenging and rewarding. It’s so great to have a hand in inspiring kids of that age to get into producing as I never had access to this kind of learning when I was that young.

The mix was recorded at my home in East London using my very limited home Serato set up. It can sometimes be jarring as the tech is so old and a bit flimsy but feels extra satisfying once I get the recording right.

The idea behind the mix was to sort of display a collage of all the different types of music that inspire me as a DJ and producer. The genres seem to go all over the place, but I made a conscious effort to run a thread through all of the tracks to make it sound as seamless as possible.

Up next?

Next I’ll be playing a string of UK shows this month, as well as finally releasing the project I mentioned earlier. I also have a handful of shows in December that I’m so excited for, including the Bicep Curate The Hydra event at Drumsheds that you guys were kind enough to make me a part of, and a large festival in India which will be my first time in the country. Both shows have seriously amazing line ups and I’m so grateful to be a part of them.

Tracklist:

1. Villager – Floating (Unreleased)
2. Yaw Evans – N109
3. Andert Tysma – Children of Trinoom (Otik Edit) (Unreleased)
4. Dwells – Take Off Everything (Nimino Remix)
5. Big Ever – Hollywood
6. The Beat Usagi – Day Dreaming
7. Overmono – Blow Out
8. Sylvere – Ah Oui Ah Oui
9. Chief Keef – Citgo x Ninos (Cellvl ‘Bubble’ Blend)
10. Sewerslvt – Lexapro Delirium
11. Nathan Fake – Degreelessness (Overmono Remix)
12. X Club – Exertion
13. Tom VR – Heart Can Still Somersault (Forthcoming)
14. Otik – Sometimes The Nights Last For Months
15. Barker – Birmingham Screwdriver
16. Burna – Vai
17. Loraine James – Glitch The System
18. Yung Lain – Head Full
19. Otik – Cosmosis (Forthcoming)
20. Onoe Caponoe – Milkyway 1311 (Djrum Remix)
21. Yung Lain – Brainworms (feat. Telkin)

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FMB MIXTAPE 220 | PRIORI

Posted on September 14, 2023 by Feel My Bicep

FMB MIXTAPE 220 | PRIORI

FMB MIXTAPE 220 | PRIORI (iTUNES)

FMB MIXTAPE 220 | PRIORI (320 DOWNLOAD)

On the mix this week we have the Montreal-based Québecois musician, Priori. He released his full-length debut On A Nimbus in 2019, and his more recent Your Own Power in 2021 on his own imprint NAFF, which was cofounded alongside Ex-Terrestrial. First up, we asked more about the mix and what he’s been up to.

Just got back from a long summer of shows in Europe and America. Excited to spend more time home and in the studio.

The mix was recorded on my couch using ableton live. Tried to not overthink it. Just some club tracks I’ve been enjoying lately.

And up next?

Playing at Making Time Festival in Philly and at Nowadays Nonstop in New York soon. Should be a fun weekend. Working on some new music. Reading. Eating hummus.

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