B.TRAITS INTERVIEW

B.Traits - the first Digital Soundgirl - has fired to the limelight through her new record "Fever".  It's a dancefloor killer with something for everybody, and it's out next Monday.  We managed to get a special interview her and talk about radio voices and wearing mens clothing.  Kind of.  LEZGO!




To me, Fever sounds like 4 remixes in one as it hops from style to style.  I love that, as it keeps the crowd interested and you can certainly let the tune play out from beginning to end as an actual song, which isn't that common in electronic music today.  Would you say that reflects your progression as a DJ and/or a reflection of your current DJ sets, genre wise?

B.TRAITS: Definitely!  With my production style, it's a mash-up of all things that inspire and influence me.  As far as my DJ sets go, I play many different styles and genres, anything from 90 bpm up to 170-180 bpm.


Out of your remixes of Fever, which one is your favourite and/or which one would you play out the most?

I honestly don't have a favourite!  They are all really outstanding in their own way.  Each person took it in their own direction and made it special but at the same time, still kept it old school.  I think that's why the package works so well, each remix is completely different but still strong on their own.


Are they any other female artists/DJs we should be keeping an eye on?  Other canadian talent you can point us to?

I'm really liking Grimes at the moment, her voice is amazing.  Kito and Reijalee are wicked, Jubilee, J.Phlip, Maya Jane Coles... There are actually loads of great female DJ's coming up; 2012 is going to be a very exciting year for us ladies.





What's your Radio 1 show gonna be like?  Have you been practicing your microphone voice?

Haha yep!  It's very weird hearing my own voice on the radio.  I'm still trying to get used to it!! I just want to have fun with the show and to make the most of my time at Radio 1.  I am into so many different sounds and styles, my live DJ sets are quite diverse and I really want to represent that on the show.  I'm going to play as much brand new and exclusive stuff as possible, so you'll hear something that you've never heard before.  Again, I just want to have fun with it and bring so much of my personality to the show as I can.

My radio show is going to be on the first Thursday of every month from 9-10pm starting on the 5th of April.

For the gyaldem out there that want a touch of B.Traits style, what clothing labels out there do you dig?  Hellz Bellz and Kid Robot, right?

Yeah those brands are definitely cool but I am absolutely infatuated with menswear right now.  I'm into being comfortable, comfortably stylish.  I don't think fancy women's clothes are all that comfortable and I just like how menswear fits.  I don't get the chance to do it so much ast the moment but I like to design menswear in my spare time, when I'm not 'working'.  I'd really like to do a menswear (for women) collection in the future.   For me, I wear a lot of printed t's that I've designed with Digital Soundboy.  Brands I'm really into right now are Norse Projects, Wood Wood, WTAPS, Neighborhood, even Supreme has some really cute pieces out this year.  I'm also really into brands like The Brooklyn Circus that bring classic vintage ideas back to fashion.


What are your three favourite recent tracks you've been playing out?

My top three tracks at the moment are -

Roska - Oracle
Breakage - Back To The Future ft. Dear Prudence
Zed Bias - Heavy Water Riddim

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Fever ft Elisabeth Troy is out on 25th March on Digital Soundboy.  You can pre-order Fever HERE

www.btraits.com
www.facebook.com/btraits
www.twitter.com/btraits

Get Low interview with Elijah Butterz

The Get Low blog caught up with Butterz label boss and Rinse's young grime upstart Elijah to talk about his upcoming Rinse: 17 Compilation CD alongside partner in crime Skilliam.  It's an interesting insight into the mentality behind composing a mix CD, read it!


How did you go about selecting the tracks?  Did you want to represent the scene as it is right now or make it a more of a classics collection?

The tracks really selected themselves.  They are mainly tracks we have heard from the first loop, draft and idea, and we have seen them become great pieces of music over time and essential parts of our set, and as releases on our label.  They are all tracks made in the last year or so, along with a few recent bits.  The only classic is 'Ghetto Kyote' which is one of our favourite grime tracks ever, that has really stood the test of time.  I think it is pretty much what we will sound like when you hear us play ou too, I think that was important to do that as we don't play out that much.




Did you have any issues with licensing any of the tunes you selected, and did that hamper your choices?

All the tracks were made by our musical friends so it was really straight forward.  We were involved in making a lot of the music happen like Starkey and Trim - This Ain't Me, P Money - Boo You, Royal-T and Terror Danjah's collab, so it was the best place for those to get heard.


Did Rinse let you do your own thing or did they play a part in the music direction and style of the mix?

They gave us the freedom to do what we wanted, I think if they had to tell us what to do, it wouldn't have meant we were the right guys for the job.  We had a few months to think about we were going to do it, so certain tracks we didn't pla much so they remain special on the CD.

What kind of grime mix-tapes have inspired this CD?  Has there been any DJs that have informed your selection and mixing style?  Slimzee is a big reference point for a lot of Grime DJs.

When I started I was lacking inspiration from other Grime DJs if I'm honest, and that has fueled my motivation to get to this point I guess.  Plastician had a CD on the Rinsessions tape pack that I loved, and that is the closest thing I can compare this to.  Most other mixes are with an MC or a crew, or have other genres old and new mixed in.  We kept it grime, 2011/2012.  You will struggle to find anything else like that at the moment.

When we talked to Jackmaster about his Fabric mix he admitted he was very nerveous about putting a mix out there on such a pedestal and getting it scrutinized by so many.  Do you feel similar?

To me it is a documentation of my first two years on Rinse.  If we haven't entertained you at any point over the last two years and you don't like it, then that's fair.  I see it is as for the people that have been entertained, staying up late to listen, downloading the podcasts and coming to the shows and generally supporting the label and its artists.  It won't turn me into a high profile DJ, especially because I don't play across the board music.  As long as those people who have been following enjoy it, I don't care to be honest.  I wish I had a CD from certain eras of DJs I used to follow.  Most of the admiration I have for my DJ peers is just based on memories of sitting indoors listening to them on radio or catching them in a rave.  Having something them on my shelf alongside all my other musical heroes would be a beautiful thing.  So many DJs from pirates in the last 15 years that have been forgotten because of the lack of documenting through CDs and no radio podcasts, even though they played vital roles in all the music scenes we have now developing.

And finally, what's your favourite mix of yours or Skilliam's on the CD?

From the beginning bit to the end.

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ELIJAH & SKILLIAM WEBSITE

BUTTERZ SHOP

BUTTERZ TUMBLR

Remember to cop Ben UFO's Rinse CD too.

KOZEE : EXCLUSIVE interview & mix!

In the first of many, we have an exclusive mix and interview from gyal like KOZEE.

Kozee hails from San Francisco, California.  I met her and became friends whilst I was living in San Francisco. Besides DJing and producing, she also runs a staple Dubstep night in San Francisco called Redline / Makeout Sessions. If you're ever over there, it's well worth checking out.

Here's our interview with Kozee exclusively for Get Low.

Get Low: You remember how we first met? It was at the Argon night at Matador [a club in SF]. I probably made a poor first impression; not about drunkenly mc'ing on the mic over Noah D!

Kozee: Haha yea you were pretty wasted but I enjoyed chatting with you!

GL: First things first, when and how did you first hear Dubstep and what about it made you lock on?

K: When? It was 2005. Didn’t lock on until a few months after I heard it, took a bit of time, I liked Grime a lot more at that point.



GL: Is it only recently that you've been on a production tip? You collaborated with DZ for the track 'Crack' which got banged out by Starkey, Rusko and even Crookers. Big up getting such a response on your first track!

K: Thank you! Yea it’s funny how it happened cos I didn’t like the tune very much, but when we played it out people went mental and then the feeling grew on me.

GL: You've worked with DZ on more than a few tracks. Why is that, what is it like, and what do you like about producing with him? Does his style compliment yours, or does he play more of a mentor role?

K: We do work together, he is my boyfriend and we live together so it’s just what we do. I love working with him because I trust him, and I love his sound, he is very diverse! A lot of you know his sound, and like I said he is very diverse and he is a huge mentor but we have been able to mesh styles very well we do complement each other.



GL: Are you first and foremost a promoter? Was your Redline / Makeout sessions clubnights one of the first Dubstep nights in SF?

K: No, I am first and foremost a DJ. No, Grime City was the first; my respect goes out to them! Redline has been very successful and I am very proud to be a part of that!

GL: You're very established as a Dubstep DJ in SF. How'd you describe your DJ sets? You dance a bit too behind the decks which is entertaining to watch.

K: HAHA! You gotta have fun and show that you love what you do! My sets are dependent on the time I play, I love being diverse and love that Dubstep is so diverse aswell.



GL: I'll get this out of the way. You're part of a strong female presence within Dubstep, with the likes of Mary Anne Hobbs, Ikonika, Kito, Vaccine, & Ultraviolet. In terms of crowds, I went to Croydub the other week and it looked like a nearly 50/50 male : female ratio.
Is it just over analysis bollocks or do you think there's something inherently attractive or accessible about Dubstep to a) promoters, producers etc such as yourself and b) to females generally?  Obviously you're the spokesperson to your entire gender!


K: Yes, there seems to be a more ‘open arms’ feeling towards women, I appreciate that feeling. Women I think find the music very sexy and it def shows because you really feel sub bass in the lower areas which gets to more ‘bumpin & grinding’ … never a bad thing!
Also, can I just say that because of Dubstep I have met some of the MOST amazing women I have ever met throughout my life, it’s such a great thing!



GL: Over here we've got huge venues like Fabric & Matter repping it, Dubstep on the main and pirate radio stations, and the ubiquitousness of anthems such as Skream's La Roux remix in mainstream clubs, (plus a top 10 position on the national music chart with 'Night' by Benga & Coki).
With Rihannia hopping on Dubstep, you seeing a change in mood amongst your fellow country-people? Are people noticing that you might be on to something, as it were?

K: Shoot, I wish Rhianna would holler! Minds and Ideas are def changing here, I mean look at the collabs. Loads of hip hop mcs are teaming with producers, it’s a good look IF it’s done right… I’m all for it!

GL: Let's talk about Dubstep in San Francisco. It took me by surprise the strength of the scene there.

K: I love this city! Honestly, there has to be something in the water, people are so damn creative and have huge hearts! …And shit keeps blowing up bigger. Really proud that we are on the map.



GL: You reckon SF dubstep has a particular flavor that defines it from other regions?


K: It's very diverse but I think we def have that dubby vibe on lock.

GL: Loefah said Dubstep is the new underground hip hop in LA (but probably applicable to the rest of California and the US). What do you think?

K: Eh, maybe. Not much thought on that.

GL: Plastician once told me that Example said to him how nice it was hanging out with Dubstep djs as they all seemed to be mates with each other, especially as he felt that all Drum & Bass djs seem to hate each other behind each others backs! Why do you think that is?

K: Lol no comment.



GL: I definitely felt the friendliness with you lot. You especially, safe for taking me under your wing!

K: Yea man it’s all about welcoming people!

GL: Any info or peeps you want to shout out?

K: Yea my Sugarloaf EP drops Feb 2^nd, it’s a digital release on Badman Digital. I'm in the States until September then I’ll be in UK and Europe touring for a few weeks, should be good! Shouts to DZ, UV, Sam Supa, Konnect (the man that gets shit done!), and the Redline, Goldsweat, Brapdem!, Grime City, Rukkaz, Mallabel, Big Up & Surefire fam.

Pre-order Kozee's Sugarloaf EP here: http://www.junodownload.com/artists/Kozee/releases/

EXCLUSIVE: KOZEE MIX FOR GET LOW

Exclusive to Get Low, Kozee whipped up a mix purely featuring forthcoming tunes from herself.

Exclusive mix: KOZEE Get Lower Mix by getlowcartel

DOWNLOAD HERE

Tracklist

DZ & Kozee feat. Werd2Jah – Spit Fyre – Badman Digital
Kozee – Sugarloaf – Badman Digital
Kozee feat. DZ – Loe Jak - Badman Digital
DZ & Kozee – Sex & Cookies - Badman Digital
Kozee feat. DZ – Gloria forthcoming Hot n Heavy Recordings
DZ & Kozee – Crack VIP - Dub

It's a cracking mix, and a great insight into West Coast Dubstep too. Well worth a listen (or three).

The Garden Rave last Friday was amazing as always.  Despite the rain, we still hit maximum capacity for another incredible night. Photos coming shortly.

DON'T FORGET

Gonna be huge!
- Get Low Cartel Xx