Current State of Music

An interview with the man behind Aston Microphones, the story which led him to where he is today and the motivation behind the industry leading microphone brand, just ahead of a major innovative announcement on the 2nd May 2020. Links: https://www.astonmics.com/EN

Pt 1 of my chat with Iain Archer

Pt 2 of my interview with Iain Archer...

A good old chat with the dark lord of Steam Punk hip hopppery. We talk about his career, steam punks, balancing being a parent with a life of gigging and all sorts of other stuff. Links: Website: https://www.professorelemental.com/ Bandcamp: https://professorelemental.bandcamp.com/

An enjoyable chat with the nicest guy in music, Tru Thoughts' J Felix. Recorded at Gold Tone Studio, we cover his career, teaching young people music, taking knocks and learning from them. Links: His page on on the Tru Thoughts website: https://tru-thoughts.co.uk/artists/j-felix/ HIs residency at Patterns: https://patternsbrighton.com/j-felix/

This interview blew my mind... and changed the format in which I do these podcasts. Artist, record collector, DJ, producer, very forthright and super motivated to push all aspects of his life forward. Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aroe_heavyartillery/ Art Republics profile and his work for sale: https://www.artrepublic.com/biographies/402-aroe.html

A hugely enjoyable chat with a true raconteur and someone who has lived a life in the music industry. Great company, the only way this could have been more relaxed would be have been to record it in a pub! Lee chats about how the music industry has changed, how BBE has coped/is coping with the changes with many funny stories and opinions weaving it all together. Links: The BBE website: https://www.bbemusic.com/ The BBE show on 1BTN: https://soundcloud.com/1btn/bbe-music-06012020

An interesting chat with singer and top-line writer Laura Vane, talking about her childhood growing up in a musical family, beating expectations, doing the work and dealing with family life and having children and a career. I'm sure there are listeners out there, as well as me, that can relate and will find comfort to hear about the struggles of balancing family life and a creative career. Enjoy. Links: Her website: https://lauravane.com/ Laura and her band The Vipertones: http://lauravaneandthevipertones.com/

See Pt1 for links and other good shit.

A ranging conversation spanning over two hours with an interesting man who has had a bonkers career. Clearly an individual from the off, finding fame of sorts, dealing with the lows, changing it all up and finding a niche which allows him to express himself fully. I tried to edit this down, but found that it he is enjoyable to listen to and I had great fun with this one, so here it is in two parts... Links: His website: https://mrbthegentlemanrhymer.bandzoogle.com/ An interesting article from the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/nov/25/mr-b-gentleman-rhymer-chap-hop Eat My Goal! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz-XiweyDVs

A really special chat with a quiet, thoughtful, talented, creative mind for this episode, as part of Unkle alongside James Lavelle, Rich has craved himself a career in music and shares some really insightful thoughts with me. Links: His website: https://www.richfile.co.uk/ An interesting article from Sound on Sound: https://www.soundonsound.com/people/unkle-recording-never-never-land Rich on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richfile75

A chat with the Ex DMC champion, record collector and musical encyclopedia, one of the few people with access to John Peels archives and all round nice guy. A pleasure to sit with him in the 1BTN bunker where he occasionally hosts the BBE show and find out his story and what he thinks about the current state of music... Links His website: http://www.djmrthing.com/ A Boiler Room set: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBK_ixr32Cw

Possibly my favourite of the mixes for Season One of the Current State of Music podcast, mainly because Lemon Jelly have been massive influence on me and my music, but alsp being able to sit with Fred and chat with him was massive pleasure.

An exclusive mix by 6ft Stereo for The Current State of Music podcast

The 'bed' for Jean Claudes episode of the Current State of Music. Tunes taken from his compilation series, or music purchased from the legendary music shop in Soho, If Music.

The 'bed' created exclusively for the Current State of Music, released for the first time...

Mark Rae Current State of Music Mix by 6ft Stereo by Gold Tone Studio

A bonus section not aired in the original podcast talking about the infamous rave on the beach in Brighton, this is gold!

Number 7 in my series of Podcasts, talking to artists and music industry people to find out about the Current State of Music and what that means to them. Midfield General is the recording alias of Skint label boss Damian Harris. A prime architect of the sound of big beat, Harris grew up listening first to punk rock, then hip hop, and finally acid house. He then moved to Brighton to study art, eventually taking work as a DJ while promoting clubs around the city. In 1994, his music knowledge landed him a job at Loaded Records, where former Housemartins member Norman Cook - a friend of Harris' since his days working at the Rounder store in Brighton - recorded as Pizzaman. Since then he has DJed around the world, run a very successful record label, left that label and has just recently returned to it. FInd out more at: http://www.skintentertainment.com/

The latest in my podcast series, investigating the Current State of Music. DJ Format found fame in the earlier noughties and a DJ and producer, bringing out albums like "Music for the Mature B-Boy" bringing a fresh cut and paste approach not really heard from a UK producer. Introding Canadian Born rapper Abdominal, his beats and flow felt more like a West Coast American release. Supporting Jurassic 5 at Brixton opened the door for Formats style and gained him widespread coverage from Radio 1 and beyond. Fabric gave him the opportunity to release a DJ mix as part of their coveted Fabriclive series, bringing to the fore his impeccable DJing skills and bringing longevity to his career. Further albums as himself and with the Simonsound cemented his musicianship, from straight up hip hop, to jazz and beyond. Djing regularly around the world, putting together compilation albums, producing new music, Format never stops in his quest for sonic perfection. His latest project is putting out a release which he hopes can generate some funds for a friend with cancer, which you can find more out here: www.youcaring.com/gisellechamberlain-1054141

Number 5 in my series exporing the truth about the current state of music and the music industry. This time, Mark Rae, from his early days as a DJ, through sampling culture. to opening a record shop, starting a label, creating his own music, discovering others, losing it all and still finding the energy to create, Marks tale is a thing of legend. He has literally seen it and done it all, which makes for a really interesting episode amnd a beast to edit down to just over an hour. Coupled with some sublime beats which was a joy to curate, Marks storytelling and his opinions are candid and open and I hope you enjoy this one... You can hear more of Marks work here: https://markrae.bandcamp.com/

Number 4 in my series exploring the truth about the current state of music and the music industry. This time, Fat Cat Records founders Alex and Dave, talking about the now defunct shop, how the label came about and what the future might hold. Find out more: https://fat-cat.co.uk/home

Number 2 in my series exploring the truth about music and the music industry. Jean Claude has a history deep in the London music scene, from his early days as a DJ, back when Dj's were Dj's, through his time as one half of the Amalgamation of Soundz, to owning and running If Music, Londons premier high end vinyl emporium, where he is now the man to speak to about jazz and its many derivatives. He also hosts radio shows on NTS and Soho Radio, as well as putting on nights at the Total Refreshment Centre and spinning at Spiritland. Jean Claude has remained relevant throughout the many changes in the music landscape, so listen in to hear his story and his thoguhts on the Current State of Music... Find out more at ifmusiconline.com There may be some explicit language...

Number 1 in my series exploring the truth about the current state of music and the music industry. This time, talking to the legendary Mr Scruff, a man who devoted his life to records and sound. Mr Scruff aka Andy Carthy is a master of his art, his art being playing beautiful music, skillfully crafted. He plays all night, curates the sound system and all the equipment he uses to give out the purest signals, the way it was recorded. When not inducing rapid footwork the world over, he is busy in his studio creating music which sounds quite unlike anyone else. Legendary releases such as 'Get a Move On' and 'Spandex Man' joyous for the samples used and the way they have been put together, through to the futuristic vision of the Album 'Friendly Bacteria' Scruff has carved his own niche in the music world and happily inhabits it. A really interesting chat with someone who is clearly in love with what they do... Enjoy. Find out more here: http://mrscruff.com/ There may be some explicit language...

Number 3 in my series exploring the truth about the current state of music and the music industry. This month Fred Deakin, of Lemon Jelly and now Professor of Digital Arts at UAL. Fred has been part of club culture and the wiser music scene for most of his life, from putting on club nights and DJing in his university days in Edinburgh, moving to London and doing more of that, then workign on fanzines with his sister, meeting Nick Franglen and making music as Lemon Jelly (and getting nominated for a Mercury Music Prize) Frank Eddie and Flashman, starting and running one of the countries most innovative and sought after design agencies in the form of Airside to his current position as a Professor of Digital Arts at UAL. Fred has tirelessly explored and pushed the bouderies of music, design and interaction and his thoughts on the future are very interesting as well as the prospect of some original music from him... More on Fred at his website http://freddeak.in/ There may be some explicit language...