William Holland is a musician, DJ and record producer from Bewdley, Worcestershire. He is based in Colombia.

(left to right: Aaron Gleen, The Deacon of Speakin, Evelyn Champagne King, Freddie Fox, DJ Seano)

(left to right: DJ Seano, B+, Jazz De La Paz, Quantic)

This Saturday we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing legendary singer/songstress Ms. Evelyn Champagne King.

Then we hopped in the Soundwaves jet and took a quick 2-hour trip to Colombia, courtesy of my man Quantic.

We also had Ms. Jasmine De La Paz of Tru Thoughts stop on over and bless us with a few new gems from Belleruche and Hidden Orchestra (both releases available here).

Oh yeah…and Quantic blows the lids off of everyone’s domes when he plays 2 covers that will leave your jaw sitting upon the tongues of your Adidas.

This one’s gonna be on repeat for a WHILE.

PLAYLIST

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1. Evelyn Champagne King – I’m In Love

2. Evelyn Champagne King – Get Loose

3. Evelyn Champagne King Soundwaves Interview (14-minute snippet..catch the full audio here)

4. The Soulphonics & Ruby Velle – Feet On The Ground

5. Al Johnson w/ Jean Carn – I’m Back For More

6. Barry White – Playing Your Game, Baby

7. Belleruche – Churro

8. Hidden Orchestra – Out of Nowhere

9. Quantic – Portada del Mar

10. The Lions – Cumbia del Lion

11. Shafiq Husayn – Dust & Kisses

12. Avante Juventude – Conjunto Os Anjos

13. Lancelot Layne – Yo Tink It Sorf

14. Quantic – Dre Cumbia

15. Quantic – T.R.O.Y. Cumbia

16. Ana Tijoux – 1977

17. Systema Solar – Crees Que Soy Sexy?

18. Prince Fatty – Gin and Juice

19. Rail-Band – Nanthan

20. Anibal Velasquez – Cumbia del Guatada

21. Quantic – Echate Pa’lla

22. Grupo Socavon – Memoria de Justino

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As any fan of independant or non-mainstream music will know, there are certain artists who should be household names/worldwide superstars, yet for some reason remain relatively unknown to the masses. The perfect example of this phenomenon is UK soul singer Alice Russell. With a total of 4 critically acclaimed albums under her belt, and some very high profile collaborations it is uncomprehensible to those in the know why she isn’t storming the charts and selling huge amounts of records.

Alice discovered her joy of singing, as many an artist does, whilst participating in local church choirs. Her choir singing, along with an affection for classic soul artists such as Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin set the seed for what was to become a very successful independent career. Her first big break came when she was asked to perform on tracks by latin/house/soul band Bah Samba and then she came to the attention of Will Holland and began collaborations with both Quantic and his Quantic Soul Orchestra. Fast forward a few years and the talented songstress was releasing her first album, 2004′s Under The Munka Moon, on the Brighton-based Tru-Thoughts label. The album was a collection of collaborations, singles and remixes with established artists such as Quantic and Nature Boy.

Her association with the Tru-Thoughts label continued and a year later she released her first studio album, and my personal favourite,  My Favourite Letters. The album was co-written and produced by labelmate and friend TM Juke, who would go on to accompany Alice on tours of the UK, Europe and Australia. The album featured soul/funk classics such as ‘A Fly In The Hand’, ‘Humankind’ and personal highlight ‘Munkaroo’ and further cemented Alice’s reputation as one of the best and most promising independent UK artists to emerge in a very long time.

Whilst continually touring around the world Alice released her third album, and last on the Tru-Thoughts label, Under The Munka Moon II (2006). Much the same as her first album, it featured a host of remixes, collaborations and cover versions, including a cover of The White Stripes ‘Seven Nation Army’ and a remix of fan favourite ‘Hurry On Now’. During this time Alice and TM Juke continued to write and record in the studio and Alice still managed to find time to collaborate with other like-mindedartists and Tru-Thoughts labelmates.

Her most recent work is 2008′s Pot Of Gold. Again the album is a collaborative effort with TM Juke (and the rest of her band) and features a host of new material plus a cover of Gnarls Barkley’s ‘Crazy’ and another version of ‘Hurry On Now’. Unlike her previous 3 releases this album was not released through the Tru-Thoughts label but rather the the independent Sparkle Street label. Next up for Alice is the release of her highly anticipated Pot Of Gold: Remixes album (released on Oct 5th) and several live dates around the UK and Europe, which I already have my ticket for!

LINKS:

Ofiicial Site

Myspace

YouTube

Directed by Tim Van Dammen Blur & Sharpen
D.O.P Tim Flower

http://www.opensouls.co.nz/
http://www.myspace.com/opensoulsspace

Standing In The Rain

Alice Russell – Hurry On Now (Vocal Remix)

http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=7490367-d6b

Alice Russell – Hurry On Now (Instrumental)

http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=7490381-736

This was a great interview, and Ms. Russell was an absolute sweetheart. Not to mention, she absolutely ripped the stage in half with her live performance.

Rare is the occasion when an artists sounds even better live than on the record. However, Ms. Russell truly is a rare gem.

All hail Queen Alice!! Hope you enjoy the video!!

PART 1

PART 2

]]> http://metro.co.uk/2008/10/16/belleruche-and-plastic-little-47562/ Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:22:05 +0000 metrowebukmetro http://metro.co.uk/2008/10/16/belleruche-and-plastic-little-47562/ People who are familiar with Belleruche and Plastic Little may be surprised to find these two acts sharing a bill at New Bohemia. Signed to Tru Thoughts Recordings, Belleruche are a jazzy trio who produce songs in a similar style to those played by labelmates The Quantic Soul Orchestra.

Plastic Little, on the other hand, are a rap crew from Philly who like to shock with their potty-mouthed lyrics.

Plastic Little

Rather than inspiring booze binges and naked tussles, Belleruche’s music is soothingly sedate. Guitarist Ricky Fabulous, turntablist DJ Modest and vocalist Kathrin deBoer are influenced by vintage soul and jazz singers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Nina Simone, as well as artists such as Fingathing, Coldcut, Cut Chemist and DJ Shadow. Tonight, they play songs from The Express, a new album (which was released on Monday) that brings together various different styles and gives deBoer the opportunity to shine.

After Belleruche, rappers Jayson Musson, Michael Stern, Jon Folmar and Naeem Juwan perform tracks from Plastic Little’s album Welcome To The Jang House, released last month. Expect a dance-floor riot to follow as they showcase electro, hip hop and pop bangers such as the Thriller-sampling single Cheap Thrills, which they produced with Hervé.

Friday, New Bohemia, The Faversham, 1-5 Springfield Mount, Leeds, 10pm to 3am, £6, £5 before 11pm. Tel: 0113 243 1481. http://www.belleruche.com http://www.myspace.com/plasticlittlerap

If you dig the following you’ll dig Soul Xmas with Hypnotic…

Hot 8 Brass Band
Mos Def
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
Quantic Soul Orchestra

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a eight man brass ensemble from Chicago, of which 7 are the sons of Sun Ra Arkestra trumpeter Kelan Phil Cohran, the 8th member of the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble might not be connected by blood but is definitely part of the family. The creation of Hypnotic in 1999 represented the sons return to their instruments after a time of quitting music in their teenage rebellion years.

The ensemble is four trumpeters, two trombonists, a drummer and a sousaphone player:

Smoove (Trumpet),
June Baji (Trumpet),
Hudah (Trumpet),
Jafar Baji (Trumpet),
360 (Drums),
Elcid (Trombone),
Clef (Trombone),
L.T (Souxaphone).

This is the real deal folks – music the way it was ment to be. From the heart, from the lungs. These guys don’t need to plug in to be heard. As they say themeselves, they could play on a boat in the dark – they’re powered from within. Check the links if you don’t believe us!

Spanky Wilson & Quantic Soul Orchestra: Don’t Joke With A Hungry Man

Petit retard dans le planning, mais croyez moi ce lundi n’était vraiment pas à moi.

Je m’excuse donc et vous envoie cette petite turie qui passera tout aussi bien en ce grincheux mardi matin. Un bon titre de la très belle Spanky Wilson qui bottera votre petit cul et égaillera à coup sûr votre semaine de rayons de soleil et d’Amour.

Enjoy, pray for the sun, love…

…and just ‘up the sound for that fucking break and this awesome sax’ solo !!!

Spanky Wilson – Sunshine of your Love

Bonux : ’cause life must always bounce like this groove and be delicious like that sweet voice !!!

Quantic Soul Orchestra & Spanky Wilson – Don’t joke with a Hungry Man

Support & Buy freshest artists

‘Bonjour, y’all,’ drawls the charismatic Philadelphian, who leads Will Holland and his band through a blistering, sweaty workout of their collaborative album I’m Thankful, plus her well-known covers of Bill Withers’s Kissing My Love and Cream’s Sunshine Of Your Love (the rousing finale).

Wilson goodhumouredly claims: ‘I’m killin’ my old ass’ trying to keep up with the energetic Quantic musicians; in fact, it often looks the other way round.

Theatrics come courtesy of Stephen Large, literally pounding on his Hammond, and QSO’s Latin-style, horn-drenched interlude is a pulse-raising treat. But, really, this is Wilson’s show: her belting delivery and raw emotion mean all eyes are on her.

Extras:None.

En support act, The Shadow Orchestra. Apparemment c’est assez tendance d’avoir orchestra dans le nom de son groupe : The Cinematic, Quantic soul, Baobab… Si vous en connaissez d’autres, je suis preneur, évitez quand même London Symphonic, c’est trop facile !

Leur formation live est plutôt originale :
Chris Bangs: Cello and laptop, Chris Warren: Electric Guitar, Kat Arney: Harp, Dave Oliver: Drums.

Le son est très planant, instrumental, la harpe apporte une petite touche magique. Le violoncelle aurait mérité un peu plus de son, c’est vraiment dommage car son maître se donnait apparemment vraiment beaucoup de mal…

Après cette mise en bouche qui nous a mené dans la stratosphère, remettons vite les pieds sur terre car il va falloir danser avec Quantic Soul Orchestra, la formation étendue live de Quantic… Caliente !

Formation d’ailleurs en rodage ce soir là, vu l’état de stress du meneur face à ses nouveaux musiciens un poil trop pro-actifs à son goût… T’inquiète Will, tout s’est très bien passé ! Au chant, Noelle Scaggs met le feu à la salle avec soul et scat. Le vieux pianiste péruvien a du mal à s’arrêter… beaucoup de percussions, des cuivres, c’est vivant et tout chaud, ça change pas mal des ibooks qui crachent bêtement du beat.

Will Holland aka Quantic

Noelle Scaggs

Qui me donne le nom du pianiste ?

Boule à facette de compétition

Vos devoirs pour la semaine prochaine : écouter Tropidelico et sourire de toutes vos dents pendant que vos pieds se mettent à bouger tous seuls ! Ca devrait faire venir le soleil…

La salle : Koko
La date : 27/03/2008 (oui bon ok j’ai un peu de retard…)
Les photos : Pia, qui ferait bien de s’acheter un gros appareil pour passer tranquillement devant tout le monde…

This record was an request, here it is, but because it was a request here are only the infos from ubiquity records. By the way, secured.in had some server problems, they´re back again with almost all links now, I fixed the few which still were not working, everything is back.

This 2nd album from Quantic’s live band Quantic Soul Orchestra, the 1st to be domestically released on Ubiquity, follows hot on the heels of the widely acclaimed Quantic “Mishaps Happening” album.

“Putting something back” is Will Holland’s reason for starting The Quantic Soul Orchestra. After releasing electronic/studio-based albums as Quantic he wanted to work on a strictly live project, to “put the funk back in it”, and to pay homage to a genre that continues to heavily influence his releases. QSO is his chance to record and produce an album with creative and like minded musicians. The Orchestra make killer funk with enough bottom-end to burn any dance floor, and the album features several tracks with the super powerful vocals of Alice Russell.

Drop any idea that this may be retro indulgence, QSO tracks are rough, raw, and real, flaunting a deep funk sound that is buoyed by great songs, heavy bass lines, cracking drums, and a full horn section. From the driving “Pushin’ On”, the Latin-tinged version of “Feelin’ Good”, Brazilian-influenced “Paintings and Journeys”, and the infectious “Hold On Tight” this is essential listening. “Get A Move On” was recorded especially for Mr Scruff, a big Quantic fan.

In the USA Quantic’s “Mishaps Happening” album ended up in many “Best of” lists for 2004, was a #1 record for two weeks at KCRW (and #1 for two weeks on CMJ’s Specialty Radio Top 40 chart), tracks were featured on CSI Miami, the Pepsi iTunes ad campaign (during Super Bowl), and was given thumbs up by everyone from Vibe to XLR8R. QSO have played The Big Chill, Glastonbury, Isle of Wight, and many other festivals in Europe – we hope to see the band on these shores soon.

keep pushin on!

Last year’s collaboration with revered soul artist Spanky Wilson had critics in raptures. Now, Holland uses his relocation to Colombia to explore Latin grooves.

Tropidélico is an adventurous blend of established QSO soul/funk with descarga, montuno, bugalú and cumbia rhythms riding on top. In keeping with the QSO ethic, it feels raw and all the more vibrant for it.

US rapper J-Live pops up on She Said What?, while The Rebirth’s Noelle Scaggs pours soulful vocals over Hugo Candelario’s hypnotic marimba playing on Lead Us To The End.

And throughout, the intoxicating blend of hard bass lines, skittering congas and rafter-shaking horns makes this an accomplished celebration of all things Latin and funky.