Electronic Music Life with James Locksmith

In this episode of Electronic Music Life pandemic archive series, I’m speaking with Dubai based, Beirut born and raised, artist, resident DJ, of Ballroom Blitz club Beirut, partner and PR director of Jazzy, Soulful House Lebanese label Feedasoul Records, Jad Yazbek aka LEDWARF.

Jad and I met in the pandemic summer of 2020 for the first time, after the devastating Beirut explosion on August 4. During this time he had moved to Dubai for a new chapter and was looking for better opportunities to start a new life. Since then he has established himself with many club nights and parties in Dubai and continued his residencies in Beirut. While also running duties with Feedasoul Records one of the most forward thinking independent dance and electronic house labels in the SWANA region, that has amassed tastemakers and music lovers across the globe.

We met again at the end of November 2020 for the podcast and discussed the growth and awareness of House, soul, jazz, Black music in the SWANA region and how that has been an organic focus in defining their label. We also spoke about understanding a difference between Lebanese people being resilient vs being oppressed and how to remain present even in the face of adversity.

FOLLOW LEDWARF:

https://www.instagram.com/jadyaz/

https://www.instagram.com/feedasoulrecords/

In this episode, I’m speaking with a London born and raised DJ, radio host, A&R guy, curator, consultant Raj Chaudhuri (aka Raji Rags) who is considered in his hometown and around the globe as a key tastemaker from electronic music, hip hop, house and techno. You may recognise him from NTS Radio or previously Head of Music for Boiler Room. He has worked on releases by the likes of Objekt, Hudson Mohawke, Flying Lotus,, Nosaj Thing and Marcel Dettmann to name a few. Raj has established himself as one of the most pivotal figures not only in the London music landscape, also across many cities and as a trusted DJ.

Taken from my archive of pandemic interviews, this conversation took place in November 2020. Raji and I spoke about A&R, record releases and making use of your time productively during the pandemic. We discussed our love for hip hop from at a young age, the choice of a music career against the conventional career and being recognised musically across multiple genres, globally.

FOLLOW RAGI RAGS:

https://linktr.ee/RajiRags

https://www.instagram.com/rajirags/

In this episode, I’m speaking with Brooklyn, New York based artist, DJ, music supervisor, NIARA STERLING. Niara and I met briefly for the first time in Brooklyn in 2019, where we played at Natasha Diggs and D Prosper’s Soul In The Horn party together. There was something about her that captivated me through her music selections and the way her set weaved together. I was able to identify a sense of wisdom and self awareness. I wanted to learn more about her and with that I discovered someone spiritual and with a clear vision of her purpose through her music, her craft, business and personal life. Which was no surprise. We spoke in November of 2020 and since then I’ve witnessed more growth and touching more people’s lives through her mission. I enjoyed going back to this conversation and now publishing it for inspiration and recalibration. For me personally it reminded me of why I started this podcast. Niara and I spoke about: the art of multiplicity, wearing multiple hats as a creator and a self starter. Honoring your boundaries, priorities, values and self-care. The power of community support and building. Her loving relationship with her mother, their “peddlin’ hack and herbal medicines.

FOLLOW NIARA STERLING:

https://www.niarasterling.com/

https://www.instagram.com/niarasterling/

https://soundcloud.com/niarasterling

From the Electronic Music Life archive, James Locksmith speaks with dear friend, writer, editor, music historian, DJ, co-founding member of the Beirut Groove Collective - NATALIE SHOOTER. Natalie was based in Beirut just over a decade, before moving back to the UK, running parties with DJ’s Enersto Chahoud, her husband and event partner and DJ, journalist and filmmaker Jackson Allers. Together they are the Beirut Groove Collective, a traveling club night that was formed in Beirut in 2010 to bring awareness to lost gems of the Arab world, North Africa and bring homage to UK Northern soul, weird Italo disco, rare US funk, soul Jazz and other obscurities in between.

Recorded in November 2020 they spoke about Natalie’s involvement in the Global Dance Cultures of the 1970s and 1980s: "Disco Heterotopias' book" which includes a chapter by her and Ernesto Chahoud on disco music and the nightlife scene in Lebanon during the civil war, tracing the story of early disco singles by Elias and Ziad Rahbani and Ihsan Al Mounzer, Raja Zahr and Mohammed Jamal. It also features interviews with Ziad Rahbani and Jacqueline 'Monroe' to name a few. They also spoke about the rise of community radio in the SWANA region, dancing on zoom and clubbing culture during the pandemic. And Natalie's contribution as a journalist in the SWANA region, from her early Time Out Beirut days to features on Belly Dance Disco on Al Jazeera in 2021.

Follow Natalie Shooter:

https://www.instagram.com/natshooter/

https://www.instagram.com/beirutgroovecollective/

From the Electronic Music Life archive, James Locksmith speaks with Sudanese/Egyptian/Iranian music artist, vocalist, rapper, based out of Sudan and very often described as Sudan’s siren to R&B, hip hop and neo-soul, NADINE EL ROUBI. Nadine enjoys exploring various genres, from hip-hop to Rnb, and neo-soul to pop; with lyrics that touch upon themes such as self-love and identity. In addition to being a solo artist, Nadine was part of The C!rcle, a Sudanse diaspora rap group based across three continents and like this she continues exploring collaborative and community building through her music. Since this conversation in November 2020, Nadine has released a ton of new music and while championing the Sudanese scene at every opportunity, she has also made a considerable splash in Egypt in 2021. Her charisma is infectious, her self-awareness and vulnerability is courageous. 18 months later she continues to be one of the most unique and inspiring voices in the SWANA region.

FOLLOW NADINE ELROUBI:

https://www.instagram.com/nadineelroubi/

https://linktr.ee/nadineelroubi

In this episode of Electronic Music Life with James Locksmith, is with one of Melbourne’s busiest, hardworking DJ’s, radio presenter and event curator, Danielle Rizk aka Mz Rizk. Danielle has DJ’d across the globe, shared festival stages, club gigs with some of the biggest names, including curation for some of the most important music and arts events in Australia. Her weekly radio show on PBS “Radio Boogie Beat Suite” is highly respected internationally, her work with Youth Culture, new music, Australia’s music industry, Arabic music and culture, plays a huge role. James and Danielle discuss the importance of youth music projects, Lebanese hospitality and inclusion in Australia’s music industry.

FOLLOW MZ RIZK:

https://www.instagram.com/mzrizk/

In this episode of Electronic Music Life with James Locksmith, is with Daniela Cannizzaro, the brainchild of Ceremonia Tribe, one of Barcelona’s one of the city's most forward thinking and conscious electronic music events to emerge in recent years. Born in Rome, Daniela has been a communications consultant for some of the biggest agencies throughout London, Paris, Rome, Milan, Dubai, including Burning Man Spain projects. Daniela’s Cerimonia Tribe journey began almost simultaneously while commencing healing from a list of physical and emotional traumas that began to manifest in both her personal and professional life. Cerimonia Tribe became a catalyst and vehicle to transformation and as Daniela healed, Cerimonia Tribe grew from strength to strength as a result. Daniela shares her story with James, about developing resilience, bouncing back from adversity, the challenges of workplace politics and the importance of focussing on oneself.

FOLLOW DANIELA CANNIZZARO:

https://www.instagram.com/daniela_cerimonia/

In this episode of Electronic Music Life with James Locksmith, is one of the most distinctive and recognisable voices of today’s generation, front man, founding member, lead vocalist of the legendary New Zealand band Fat Freddy’s Drop, Dallas Tamaira aka Joe Dukie. Freddy’s have toured the world many times for over 20 years, repeatedly bringing the authentic NZ dub reggae soul to loving audiences and fans. Dallas Tamaira, has been the lead vocalist since the bands inception along with DJ Fitchie. During 2020, he released a solo project that brought him closer to his family, his home in New Zealand and discovered a new deeper appreciation for the powerful women in his life. Dallas discusses the role of powerful women in his life, Maori spirituality, authenticity and self-acceptance.

FOLLOW DALLAS TAMAIRA AKA JOE DUKIE:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dallas_Tamaira

https://www.facebook.com/Dukietown/

https://www.instagram.com/dallas_tamaira/

https://www.instagram.com/fatfreddysdropnz/

In this episode of Electronic Music Life with James Locksmith is with one of the UK’s most impactful and influential electronic music artists, Zed Bias. One half of Phuturistix, Bias, aka Maddslinky, for over twenty years, his productions have explored the more progressive, new alternative sounds that have influenced 2-step garage, broken beat and he has been hailed as one of the crucial elements of dubstep, pushing boundaries and groundbreaking. Bias has worked with a list of artists, released over ten albums, continues to the world, work with new emerging artists and remix duties. In recent years Bias took to transforming his health to continue touring schedules, making music and for fatherhood. Bias shares his road to health transformation and how he continues to remain relevant.

FOLLOW ZED BIAS:

https://www.instagram.com/zed_bias/

In this episode of Electronic Music Life with James Locksmith is with Los Angeles based multi-instrumentalist, composer, songwriter and music producer, Dexter Story. Story’s accomplishments cross over various areas of the music industry since the age of fourteen. He has worked in multiple facets of music, from marketing director for Priority, Def Jam and Bad Boy Records to talent buyer at LA’s legendary club Temple Bar. Story has now released albums on labels such as Kindred Spirits, Soundway Records and Brownswood.  After graduating from UC Berkeley, he has performed and collaborated with a diverse array of artists, from Carlos Niño, Sun Ra’s Creative Partners, Madlib’s Yesterday’s New Quintet, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Mark De Clive Lowe, Steve Spacek, Daedalus, Kamasi Washington, Gaslamp Killer, Les Nubians, Dayme Arocena among others. Dexter Story discusses an epiphany moment in his life and career, the power of self-talk, cultural relativism, context and using self-reflection to overcome fear and challenges.

FOLLOW DEXTER STORY:

https://www.instagram.com/dexterstory/

https://www.dexterstory.com/