Well where do I start. Things are changing in club world at the moment with the move to the minimal sound pretty much taking over. There is a fine line between minimal and minimal party. For me Im really feeling the more worldly side of minimal that artists like Zombie Disco Squad, Radioclit, Douster, Renaissance Man, and Afrojack are making. Recently I received an email from EDU K that contained a whole bunch of his new works. I went friggin crazy. I was not expecting a style change of this magnitude. Every single tune was banana’s and exactly what I am hunting down at the moment. He has nailed this sound to a T. I was so freaked out I just had to talk to him about this new direction and whats causing the stir world wide. He has also been rad enough to let me post three of my favourite tunes he sent through. Read the interview and be blown away by the music. This man is always at the forefront so listen up.
Mu-Gen: Ok so we have all been following you a while now and have watched you transition your style over the years through all sorts of genres. From baile to rock to rave and now this whole new “world minimal” thing you got going on… Can you fill us in on what motivates you to change your sound so often? And how is it so on point all the time?
Edu K: Hahaha, I dunno about it being’ “so on point”, hehe but, when it comes 2 changin’ all the time like there’s no tomorrow, haha, I have always been like that, from day one. I dunno what it is, maybe some kind of disease, hehe, but, when I start feelin’ the itch I can’t do nothin’ but follow my heart n’ dive head on in a whole new universe – that’s what keeps it fresh n’ fun 4 me – I’d fuckin’ die if I would have 2 keep doin’ the same stuff on n’ on. I’m also very curious so, I’m always excited by a new challenge! But I get inspired by all kinds of different stuff 2, not just music. Sometimes it’s a line inna movie, sometimes it’s comic books, sometimes it’s something I heard on the streets, sometimes it’s the TV n’ on n’ on. There’s so much happenin’ all the time that it’s hard not be 2 to be runnin’ around with ideas burnin’ in the back of your mind every minute of the day, hehe!
Mu-Gen: Can you describe what it is your playing/making now? And how the hell do you do it(-ie- what u using)?
Edu K: Hahhaa, I dunno..i think tags are very limiting. If there’s like a true need 4 that everybody should have their own, hehe! This kind of music has been called different names thru the years – at first the godfathers, Zombie Disco Squad (along with Radioclit), called it Zulu house, then Mowgli and Solo called it Midget ( minimal fidget), you are calling it World Minimal, hehe. But, in therms of sounds n’ shit it’s a mix of the minimal thing, with very stripped arrangements n’ reverb drenched skinny percussive synths with the house groove n’ feeling and the bangin’ drums of Africa n’ Brasil spiced with the fidget punch minus the traditional rave sound it brought back 2 fashion in its heyday. I think we’re all goin’ thru a huge Electro/Fidget hangover, hehe – peeps are lookin’ for different sounds n’, of course, a lil’ less noise in the club 4 a change, hehe! As in what I use to do it, my main tool is Reason runnin’ thru a PC, hahaha!
Mu-Gen: The world seems so much more accepting and connected (internet) to different dance music cultures these days. What countries modern dance culture are you following?
Edu K: Well, yes indeed - I, as a Brasilian producer/dj with an international carrer thanx 2 the internet, can’t deny that the world connection thru the net is mind blowin’ but, at the same time the flipside is that everything n’ everybody is lookin’ more n’ more the same – the local factor has lost a lil’ bit of its flame! The downside of globalization might as well be the risin’ of a certain lack of individualism, generally speakin’. But, yeah, at the same time it’s the most amazing thing – I can find out about a new act, like Finnish duo Femme En Fourrure (you can check ‘em on my myspace top friends) n’ right away get in touch with them, exchange trax n’ start playin’ their music on my next set, ages before it gets released n’ shit – getting’ peeps 2 know new acts n’ keepin’ the whole DJing process as fresh as fuck! N’ there’s soooo much amazing music beein’ done these days that I have 2 restrain myself from the computer cuz, if not, I’ll spend my whole days n’ nites searchin’ n’ listenin’ 2 new music, hahah – what a nerd-o! But, in therms of countries I be followin’ I think I’d say the good ‘ol UK – but let’s not forget that so many dudes over there makin’ the IT music we love so much right now are Italian, hee, like Mowgli n’ Solo. But also, there’s incredible music comin’ from the US nowadays – take Harvard Bass, Noise Floor Crew, Lady Foursquare, Local Hero, Angel Alanis, the whole Dirtybird crew n’ youngsters like Mom & Dad as an example. But Finland is huge n’ risin’ 2 – Renaissance Man won’t let me lie! But, let’s not forget the Dutch House scene 2 – I think , at least 45% of the producer/DJs I play, like Afrojack, Gregor Salto, JoeySuki and Bassjackers comes from there, hehe! Actually, answerin’ this question really shows that I’m playin stuff from all over the world, actually! Hahaha!
Mu-Gen: Paz from the blog is obviously obsessed with new dance crazes and he wants to know, is there a native dance for your new sound?
Edu K: hahahah! Not yet, as far as I’m concerned but, it’d defs be some hypno-afro-tribal shit, haha!But, hey, speakin’ of Paz, where the hell is my Uncle Chop Chop tee, ya bastardz, HUAHUAHUAHAUHAUHAU! (edit–T-shirt was my bad…. I’ll go back and check if it’s still there)
Mu-Gen: Im obviously a big fan and look to people like you for inspiration on new ideas… Who are you looking at?
Edu K: Whoa, it’s such an honor 2 hear that from u – the 1st time I saw u guys tearin’ shit up on Slap N’ Dash’s set that nite in Melbs, it totally fuckin’ blew my mind! It made me think n’ rethink everything in a new way. It’s really inspirin’ 2 see the different ways peeps approach production, cuttin’, editin’ n’ all of that! N’, with me it’s like a rush : my body starts burnin’ n’ my head starts runnin’,hehe! I get dizzy with nu ideas, haha – n’ that was the case that nite n’ also with Scatter’s Rhys’ remix – which prompted me 4 weeks!!! But, in that same Oz tour, my last one, I had the epiphany which changed the direction of my sound 4 good when I saw Teki Latex Djing in Sidney!!!! The guys is THE fuckin’ prophet! Of course ZDS n’ Radioclit are the recent prime movers but Teki really took it a million notches up with the whole Sound Pellegrino sound n’ shit. To be honest I wasn’t very happy with my own music n’ with the whole fidget thing durin’ that tour n’, Andy Campion, my good ol’ friend n’ manager, kept pestering me about tracky house, hehe, n’ showin’ me sum stuff I didn’t know before like Smith N’ Hack n’ some other mins shit, hehe! N’ when I saw Teki DJin’ at one of Andy’s parties it all came together – with a BANG, hahaha! So, I came back 2 Brasil with my head so full of ideas that I ditched my whole old set n’ built a new one with that nu sound in a couple of days n’ from there on all my nu trax n’ remixes followed that direction 2. The good thing is that, with digi releases these days everything is soooo fast that I already have something out representin’ this nu phase with the Tee ‘Ski & Shab Ruffcut Ooww Barr Boo remix – n’ there’s plenty more comin’ out in the next couple of months!
Mu-Gen: What are you working on at the moment? And whats coming out?
Edu K: Maaann, shit loads of stuff! I finally got around 2 craftin some originals in the nu tip n’ now that that door is opened there’s no stopin’, hehe – I have 7 trax done already n’ many many more poppin’ up on a daily basis. But also, I’m knee deep in remix work, haha. I have like 10 to finish til’ next couple of weeks n’ more comin’ in everyday, ahaha! I guess you can expect a whole batch of Edu K Eps pretty soon n’ I’m workin’ on remixes 4 Mary Velo, Yolanda Be Cool, Missill, Killa Queenz, Superpose, Chenobyl , Two Fresh n’ my gal MC Gaff E! Next ones 2 hit a digi-store near you, ahaha, are Paul Whitehead’s Bad Boy, Shab Ruffcut’s Twist and For What and Koochie’s Loosing My Mind.
Mu-Gen: Finally can you give me a top ten of this new sound were talking about.. What are you feeling?
Edu K: Whoa, maaan, it would have 2 be a Top 100, hahaha but, here we go:
1 Worthy & Yankee Zulu – Concumbia
2 Harvard Bass – 81
3 Benny Rodriques & Kapuchon – The Other Finger
4 Chuckie & Silvio Ecomo – Moombah (Afrojack Remix)
5 Wongo – The Wombat Woddle
6 Femme Em Fourrure – Pull Out
7 Renaissance Man – Dubbo
8 Mom & Dad – Judas
9 Righi & Dan – Havana Loca (Juan Magan & Marcos Rodrigues Remix)
10 Giorgio Giordano – Amazzonia (JoeySuki Remix)
11 Daniele Petronelli – CBM64 (Emrah Celik Remix)
Now for the music. The three tunes below are all party, all minimal world or what ever the hell you want to call it, and all must drops for your sets. There is one remix and two completely exclusive originals. I’m obsessed with this sound and Edu’s ability to produce whateva the hell he wants regardless of genre. Not gonna say much more except download and enjoy some free heat from one rad as fuck dude.
TEE ‘SKI & SHAB RUFFCUT / Ooww Barr Boo (EDU K’s Vanilla Chewie Mix)
EDU K / Broken Tap
EDU K / Ja, Mann
Well that was way epic….. If you want to find out more info on Edu K you should jump to his MYSPACE. Or if you are a twitt head and want to find out how much vodka he consumed at a gig then follow him on his TWITTER. And of course you can give the brother some $$$ for Vodka by purchasing his joints at BEATPORT.
