Where Do We Go?

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A question posed by this week's featured artist in the spotlight, Leontre. A member of the Gully Bank Musik family, Leontre is an emerging young talent with, it seems, nothing but good things awaiting her in terms of success in the music industry. Not only is Leontre an accomplished singer with a unique and instantly recognizable voice, she is also the writer of her own (and perhaps, in the future, others') songs.

'Where Do You Go?' is one of three tracks from Leontre's debut Gully Bank Musik release, the other two tracks being 'Nuh Try' and her duet with Duane Stephenson, 'Sweet Slumber'. I've been blessed with another track from her called 'Jamaica', which always draws a positive response whenever I give it a bounce on the show.

This remarkable (not least because of her tender age) talent has what appears to be an effervescent personality (as evidenced on Twitter) and is, I'm sure, a breath of fresh air in the too often stuffy and stale music industry. Maybe I'm too soft, but it gladdens my heart to see (and hear) young talent like Leontre and last week's spotlight Zshatwa doing their thang.

They are proof positive that new music doesn't have to forego quality of penmanship or production values in the vain pursuit of 'commercial success'. They are not commodities to be put on an eye-level shelf one week and in the bargain bin the next. No, these are artists in the truest sense of the word whose works are to be admired, even treasured and live beyond the artists' 'careers'.

Track list:

Saturday 20/03/10 Pt. 1 - Soul

Every Way But Loose - Oneness Of Juju
Set It Off - Harlequin Fours
Mysterious - Twilight 22
The Girl Is Fine (So Fine) - Fatback Band
Life's Just A Ballgame - Womack & Womack
Tribute (Right On) - The Pasadenas
Right Here feat. Belle - C Swing
Letter To My Heart - Obenewa
Concious Mind - Cleveland Watkiss

Saturday 20/03/10 Pt. 2 - Reggae

Warning - Assassin
Knock It - Capleton
Riches - RDX
Money This Year - Tornado
Ring Di Alarm - Christopher Martin
Do It Back - Konshens
What I Want - Wayne Wonder
Only Jah - Bugle
Hungry Days - Popcaan
Hypocrite Fren - Suhverto
Nuh Trus Fren - Aidonia
Dem A Wicked - Elephant Man
Remedy - Jahvinci
Light It Up - Khago & Treson
Hypocrite - I Octane
This Is Real - I Octane
Where Do You Go? - Leontre
Life Of The People - Doniki
Rasta - Doniki

Saturday 20/03/10 Pt. 3 - Hip Hop

Aquarius - Mystro
Eddie - Cons
Running Thru The Rain feat. K9 & Ric - Klashnekoff
Beast Mode - Pyro Barz
Maintain - Mystro
Heat feat. Mystro - C Swing
My Thang feat. KRS-1 - C Swing
No Distractions - Virginia Slim
Da Truth feat. Samara & Nadine - Floriginul
Voices Of The Voiceless feat. Immortal Technique - Low Key
Something Wonderful - Low Key
Emotions - Ty
Turn It Up feat. Pete Rock - Sadat X
Wednesday - Saukrates
Time Will Tell feat. Raekwon - Styles P

One Love, Spy!

DMCA takedown

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I have had two of my blog posts removed (but not yet deleted) for copyright infringement. However, I haven't had any details with regard to whom I infringed upon or with which material. I can only presume its a track (or tracks) within the recordings of my radio show (and if so, I suspect I know the source of the complaint), therefore, until further notice I shall no longer post recordings of the show while I sort this out.

I would like to point out that I wasn't aware that podcasts of my legitimate radio broadcasts (http://www.jam1online.com is registered with the UK Radio Authority) could be considered as copyright infringements. I know that ignorance is no excuse in the eyes of the law, but I genuinely didn't know that I was doing anything wrong/illegal.

I will continue to post track lists and, now that I've started, the spotlight feature of artists whose work gets played in my shows, but for now at least if you want to hear the shows you'll have to listen to them live.

I apologise to whoever it was that entered the complaint and hope the swift action of Blogger/Google, combined with this explanation will go toward alleviating your distress.

One Love, Spy!

I used to be called a frog...

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...which is quite appropriate given the croakiness of my voice right now, as evidenced in the recordings below. Why a frog? Cruel, but not inaccurate, siblings is the answer to that one. Apparently, as an infant I resembled one of Kermits cousins (or perhaps his nephew, Robin) and things haven't improved much since :(

Anyway, I'm sure you're familiar with the routine by now, so instead of rambling on about the recording, this week, and from now on, I will devote the text to spotlighting one (or more, if I feel like it) of the artists featured in the show. I'll state now, before I go any further, that none of the artists that get the spotlight from me have in any way attempted to coerce me (or even asked me) to put them there. This is purely my personal props to folks that I feel deserve it. So, with that out of the way let's get started.

I'll begin with Zshatwa (think of the French for threesome and you'll get the pronunciation), who I first encountered on her MySpace page. I really liked her voice and the way she was using it, so I decided that I'd try to keep tabs on her. I followed her links to her YouTube and Twitter pages and it was via the latter that I saw the link to her free mixtape, 'The Fresh Campaign'.

The tracks I've been playing from that set include 'Dreams', 'Young Chick' and, in the show below, the remix of 'California Boy feat. Jay Rock & Dom Kennedy'. I think she has the right combination of youthfulness and maturity in her songs and performances to make it big this year, given the push her talent deserves. However, with the 'industry' in disarray as it is, and the charts (pop or otherwise) looking more and more like a circus parade, I don't know if the people with real influence will give her a bligh. We shall see eventually, but in the meantime, if you're feeling her work even half as much as I am, please feel free to spread the word about her.

And as it's due out this Monday (15/03/10) I can't go without mentioning Ty's new single 'Emotions' taken from the forthcoming (19/04/10) album 'Special Kind Of Fool' - more on that as soon as I have a copy of it, I can't wait :)

Track list:

Saturday 13/03/10 Pt. 1 - Soul

Always There - Ronnie Laws
Shante - Mass Production
Life On Mars - Dexter Wansel
Main Thing feat. Kim Marsh - Shot
Read My Mind - Tashan
Letter To My Heart - Obenewa
Morning Blues feat. Michelle Escoffrey - C Swing
California Boy remix feat. Jay Rock & Dom Kennedy - Zshatwa
Window Seat - Erykah Badu
Sakhile - Sakhile
Tokyo - Brothers Johnson

Saturday 13/03/10 Pt. 2 - Reggae

Hungry Days - Popcaan
Dem Sell We Out - Popcaan
Nuh Trus Fren - Aidonia
Dem A Wicked - Elephant Man
Remedy - Jahvinci
Rumour - Jahvinci
Pan Mi - Natel
Ohy Deh Gal - Vybez Kartel
Lift Up & Shift - Beenie Man
Bare Things - Cee Gee
Me Yuh Need - Versatile & D'Angel
I'll Be There - Lutan Fyah
Money Worries - Anthony B & George Nooks
The Best Of My Love - Bryan Art
Magical - Courtney John
Win Some - Courtney John
Love Songs - Tony Curtis, Mitch & Ghost
Not Going Crazy - Buju Banton
Hard Times - Buju Banton

Saturday 13/03/10 Pt. 3 - Hip Hop

Blown - Ashy L Bowz
My Thang feat. KRS-1 - C Swing
The Score feat. Planet Asia - FaShawn
Beast Mode - Pyro Barz
Running Thru The Rain feat. K9 & Ric - Klashnekoff
Case Closed - Ruffstylz
Crillionaires - Q Unique, Ill Bill & Slaine
The Search - Drake & Saukrates
Something Wonderful - Low Key
Emotions - Ty
Once Upon A Time - Fallacy
Get A Grip - Fallacy
Warning Shots - Rah Digga
Decisions - Ashy L Bowz
You - Q Tip
Hip Hop - Charlie Sloth, Skinnyman & Rodney P

One Love, Spy!

Third time lucky

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I finally got the digital recording done this week, which is just as well because I forgot to take the tape off pause... doh!

Anyway, now that I've got that covered (famous last words) all I need to do is grow an extra pair of arms and eyes in the back of my head and I'll be sorted. As you can see from the pictures, the computer screen (and keyboard) is behind me when I'm on the decks/mic, so I can't type my tweets and keep an eye on my tunes at the same time. Mind you, it would still be pretty difficult if everything was in front of me but as things are its impossible.

So why am I typing out tweets during my show anyway? Well, its because I want people to know what I'm playing so that they can 'tune in' if they like what they see. It makes the job of compiling the track lists (below) much easier too. Plus I can interact live with my audience which is also a fun thing to do even if it is a distraction. Perhaps I should hire a secretary...

As usual, I hope you enjoy listening to the show and please feel free to leave any comments, criticisms or suggestions.

Track list:

Saturday 06/03/10 Pt. 1 - Soul

Movin' - Brass Construction
Give Me Your Love - Active Force
Step Out Of My Dreams - The Strangers
Morning Blues feat. Michelle Escoffrey - C Swing
California Boy remix feat. Dom Kennedy - Zshatwa
Therapy - Obenewa
Back To Your Heart - Raheem Devaughn
Window Seat - Erykah Badu
Right Here - C Swing
Something Special - Zo!
Sistah - Marva King

Saturday 06/03/10 Pt. 2 - Reggae

Yes Mamma - Little John
Agony - Pinchers
Rich Man, Poor Man - Michael Prophet
Praising Rastafari - Ras O Meek
Hail The Man - Doniki
Don't Touch The President - Bunny Wailer
Ready To Go - Courtney John
My Lady - Danglin
Sweet Slumber - Leontre & Duane Stephenson
Caan Cool - Khago
Life Of The People - Doniki
Jamaica - Leontre

Saturday 06/03/10 Pt. 3 - Hip Hop

Ring The Alarm - Fu-Schnickens
Love Me Sensi - Chip Fu
Running Thru The Rain feat. K9 & Ric - Klashnekoff
Keep Looking - Mae Day
Heat feat. Mystro - C Swing
Hip Hop - Charlie Sloth, Skinnyman & Rodney P
Something Wonderful - Low Key
Once Upon A Time - Fallacy
Prisoner - Agallah
Long Story Short - Daniel Joseph
The Score feat. Planet Asia - FaShawn
Emotions - Ty
Da Truth feat. Samara & Nadine - Floriginul
No Other Dudes - Amanda The Dutchess
Epidemic feat. Jean Grae - Apani B

One Love, Spy!

Take Two

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Back again with recordings of last Saturday's show as promised, well almost as promised. Unfortunately, things didn't quite go to plan during the day and I ended up behind schedule when preparing for my show, so I didn't have time to set up the digital recording as I'd hoped. Therefore, these recordings were again captured on tape and transferred to the PC in real time.

Looking back on last week's post, I noticed that I neglected to add a track listing (I'll probably go back and fix that later) and so I've included a track listing for each section of the show below - the tracks marked with an asterisk were spliced where the tapes turned over.

I hope you enjoy listening to the show, please feel free to leave any comments, criticisms or suggestions.

Track list:

Saturday 27/02/10 Pt. 1 - Soul

Ascension - Maxwell
Lady - D'Angelo
You Are In My System - The System
Love Thang - Brittany Bosco
Green Eyes - Obenewa
Let's Just Be Friends - Kyra Simone
By Your Side - Sade
Not Runnin' Back - NaKisha
Rings - 100 Akres
Young Chick* - Zshatwa
Body Language - BJ

Saturday 27/02/10 Pt. 2 - Reggae

Rasta - Doniki
Praising Rastafari - Ras O Meek
Stronger - Anthony B
Mek Dem Come - Nitty Gritty
Haitians - Capleton
Free Buju - Sizzla
Youth A Move Cold Fi Di Money - Chuck Fenda
Nuh Try - Leontre
Dance The Night Away - Danglin
Win Some - Courtney John
Love Like This - Sophia Squire
Since You've Been Gone - Danglin
See You Again* - Beres Hammond
Never Lost My Way - Ginjah

Saturday 27/02/10 Pt. 3 - Hip Hop

Belly Full - Genesis Elijah
Power - Genesis Elijah
Optimus Grime - Lee Brasco
3008 - Ras Kass
First Lesson - Juice Aleem
Time Will Tell feat. Raekwon - Styles P
Here We Go feat. Twista - Drake
Da Truth feat. Samara & Nadine - Floriginul
Hot Off Da Press - Floriginul
Phresh - Pseudo
Get A Grip* - Fallacy
Emotions - Ty
Follow Me - Ashy L Bowz
Decisions - Ashy L Bowz
Work It Out - Gudo
Our Dreams - Ghostface, Method Man & Raekwon

One Love, Spy!

Loud

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I didn't realise just how LOUD I speak until I listened back to Saturday's show. I only wish I'd recorded one sooner. I did attempt to actually, the week before, but as I tried to listen to it the computer crashed and the recording was lost. So this time around I recorded the show the old fashioned way on to compact cassette and transferred that to the computer.

It was during the transfer that I heard just how loud my voice is compared to the music I'm playing. I only hope it doesn't spoil your enjoyment of the music too much. At least I know now and have already turned down the gain on the mic pre, so hopefully next week's show will sound a bit better.

Anyway, the reason that I recorded the show in the first place was so that I could upload it here as a podcast for those of you who might have missed it or want to listen to it again. Unfortunately, because of the old school recording method, there are a few gaps here and there; i.e. when the tape flipped to the other side and when I forgot to take it off pause after the ad break, but I'm sure you'll get the gist of it.

Next week I'll try recording the show direct to the computer again but this time I'll record to tape too as a back up. Hopefully, the computer won't crash this time and I can present the pod casts without the flaky edits to cover (erase) the gaps caused by the tape leader, we shall see.
For convenience sake, I've split the file into three; 1st hour - Soul, 2nd hour - Reggae and 3rd hour - Hip Hop. So please have a listen and, if you enjoy them, feel free to spread the word.

Track list:

Saturday 20/02/10 Pt. 1 - Soul

Since I Fell For You - The Good Girls
Irresistible Love - Gary 'GT' Taylor
Find A Way - Dwele
Green Eyes - Obenewa
Jump Up In The Air And Stay There - Erykah Badu
Window Seat - Erykah Badu
The Cell - Erykah Badu
Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin - Inner City
Dreams - Zshatwa
It Kills Me - Melanie Fiona
Inner City Blues - Marvin Gaye

Saturday 20/02/10 Pt. 2 - Reggae

Free Buju - Sizzla
Haitians - Capleton
Dem Gone - Chuckleberry
Nuh Try - Leontre
2010 - Jah Cure
Coming Right Back - Pressure
Be Careful - Professor
Nobody Knows - Tarrus Riley
Let Peace Reign - Tarrus Riley
Ready To Go - Courtney John
Love Me - Murray Man
Full Control - Sugar Minott
Sweet Slumber - Leontre & Duane Stephenson

Saturday 20/02/10 Pt. 3 - Hip Hop

Green Power - Slept On Fam
Blown - Ashy L Bowz
Down To My Last - Ashy L Bowz
Decisions - Ashy L Bowz
Get A Grip - Fallacy
Whoz Afraid - Fredi Kruga
Say Something - Wretch 32
You're Strong - Mr Drastick
Emotions - Ty
She's Gone feat. Phonte - Tanya Morgan
Hot Off Da Press - Floriginul
The Search - Drake & Saukrates
Hot Like Summer feat. Andreena Mill - Saukrates
The Ghetto - JoellOrtiz & Novel
Emergency Broadcast - Drag On

One Love, Spy!

Random Access Memory

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What it was to be young. Going to the jams at Scrubs entertained by the likes of Derek B (R.I.P.), MC Duke, the young but obviously talented London Posse, etc. And there was me, blagging my way onto the stage to a) avoid the inevitable rain (this is England, after all) and b) garner what knowledge, information and contacts I could from the event's host, Tim Westwood.

I remember when Westwood was leaving Kiss to join Capital, I contacted him and asked him to recommend me as his replacement. I should probably mention that at this point in my DJ 'career' I had absolutely no experience of being on the radio nor had I played in any clubs (either as a resident or guest). Indeed, my only experience (outside of selecting and operating for a local 'party' sound) was doing demo tapes in my bedroom.

However, despite all that Westwood did mention me to Gordon Mac and even gave me a contact number for him (long since lost and probably way out of date now anyway). Gordon didn’t take me on and I felt gutted, but Westwood made me aware of another station that he listened to who were doing good things at the time and encouraged me to get in touch with them instead.

That station was Faze 1, a relatively young station with equally relatively young DJ's that was just beginning to make it's mark, especially in South and East London and they had a different way of taking on new presenters. Unlike the 'send us your demo tape and if we can be bothered and/or you know someone here already and/or your face fits' school of employment (not that you’d get paid, but you know what I mean) that most 'pirate' stations used, at Faze 1 you were expected to do a live audition in the club that was associated with the station.

So I turned up at Club Mendoza one Friday evening with a bag full of tunes and nerves in equal measure and, once they accepted that I was supposed to be there that night and let me in, I was almost immediately slung into the DJ booth. Now remember, this is Friday night in Brixton and the club is in full operation. I was given the mic and told to present a show just as if I was on the radio. Talk about a baptism of fire.

If you know me, you'll know that my memory isn't my strongest asset and never has been (as far as I recall) but I do remember that the first record I played and, more pertinently for me, announced was James Brown's 'Get On The Good Foot'. I said something about it being the original Hip Hop record and followed it up with a couple of tracks that were current at the time. Of course, I can't remember what the tunes were now (the clue's in the beginning of this paragraph) but I do remember the crowd were rocking away and I was ejected from the booth with even more vigour than when I was manhandled into it!

The rest, as they say, is Mystory (I never was any good at History) and, I guess, the moral of the story (mine or his) is to take your chance(s) in life and go for it  because you never know where it might take you.

One Love, Spy!

P.S. While I'm being random, I'd just like to add that I think Alicia Keys is a wonderful human being and a very talented artist to boot!

P.P.S. Don't forget to help Haiti: Donate now!

Dilemma

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If you heard my show a couple of weeks ago, you will have spotted my mistake when playing 'Meet Me At The Top' by Serius Jones. Initially, I accredited the track to Snoop Dogg (although I corrected my error swiftly) not because they sound similar either vocally or musically but because I had Snoop on the brain.

Let me explain. For the last five or six weeks I've had a couple of new Snoop tracks (one of which came with a 'clean' version) that I was going to play on my show. However, when it comes to it, I've always baulked in favour of tracks from lesser known (or at least less commercially successful) artists.

The dilemma is this; I want to promote music that most (if not all) mainstream media ignores or, worse still, deliberately stifles. Not just to be different, but because I genuinely feel that the music deserves to be heard by a wider public. Thanks to the name he's established for himself, Snoop (and others like him) has already got a large fan base and doesn't lack promotion.

However, whilst many people will happily listen to new, independent music all day, every day, probably the majority of people like to listen to what and/or who they already know. So the decision I have to make is do I accept that I'll only ever have a small core of regular listeners who are down with supporting new and emerging talent, or do I throw in a significant amount of established artists' works in an attempt to expose the independent stuff to a potentially wider audience?

Furthermore, just because Snoop et al get played within the mainstream media doesn't mean that he doesn't deserve my support too, does it?

Although three hours sounds like a long time it goes by in a flash, especially when you consider that at least 10% of that time is taken up with advertising, and remember that the remit for my existing show is to play music from a mixture of different genres. So trying to fit in Hip Hop from independent artists and established ones is a difficult task.

I'd be interested in hearing your opinions on this one, after all the show is for you.

One Love, Spy!