After hours grooving…
01. Kauai Beauty by Billy Gonsalves & His Paradise Serenaders
Growing up in Hawaii, I was very fortunate to watch my uncle Billy sing and perform with my aunt Lawaina as she jammed out on the keyboard at family parties. This track in particular has a really cool steel guitar sound that most 60’s-70’s Hawaiian music used at that time. Which sounds amazing paired with their soothing Hawaiian vocals.
02. DJ Premier Rare Play Volume 1
When I started DJing, I began as a hip-hop DJ back in early 2000’s and was greatly influenced by DJ Premier. The way he creates beats and sampling on the MPC is amazing. And his scratching and turntable-tricks are pretty sick too.
03. Brown Sugar full album by D’Angelo
Also when I first started to DJ, I usually used to play a lot of neo-soul music as well. Thanks to one of my cousins who always used to listen to this type of genre, it caught my ears especially when he played this one D’Angelo album for me. This album has a lot of soul and super sexy vocals. Its groovy baselines make me want to relax, chill, and groove out on a Sunday afternoon.
04. Venus (Sunshine People) by Cheeks
One of the first classic house tracks that got me into house music. This track is very disco and groovy with a funky beat. I also like the filter melodies that come in as well.
05. Gorecki (Bill Hamel Remix) by Lamb
Back around mid 2000’s, I started to evolve in music and play more deep progressive house. I like the tribal sounding drums with the long anticipated build. And the piano lines of the track are awesome as well as the vocals. Such a deep, driven, and moody track.
06. These Are The Days by Quivver
This track is what really stood out the most to me back in 2004. It takes you on a beautiful journey with the way the producer used pads and atmospheric sounds blending it in with melodies and an amazing alternative vocal. I also love how chunky and driven the baseline is. Definitely a timeless track from that era.
07. Lay On Me by Inland Knights
I like how funky this track is. Its great that they use marimba on this track as one of the main instruments. The break down is definitely to die for and the vocals over it are incredibly beautiful.
08. Attack of the Disco Bubbles by Mario Fabriani
Such a awesome disco house track, especially with its sexy female vocals and piano lines. And who could forget all of those sick bubble sounds?
09. Ghetto and Gardens Full Album by Justin Martin
Before listening to this album, I thought in my mind that it was just going to be ghetto and bassy. But after listening, it blew my mind. How he was able to mesh his sound with all the beautiful orchestrated and dramatic instrumentals. The coolest thing is that I can listen to these tracks at home relaxing as well as play them out at the clubs. And it always gets people moving.
10. Universal by Demarzo, Jacsun
I really love the rolling funky bassline with the use of the percussion in this track. Also the way they incorporated the hip hop side of things by using the Notorious BIG vocal from the track Hypnotize.
Russell Trent – Island Vibes (Asylum Confidential)
Hawaii’s Asylum Confidential label returns with a brand new single from local talent Russell Trent featuring remixes from Shea Delany & Hot Plate. Asylum Confidential is the imprint born from the world reknowned Asylum Afterhours club on Honolulu, a destination venue that has featured for the last 4 years in DJ Mag’s Top 100 clubs in the world. Now the label reaches it’s 10th release with it’s continued mission of releasing house and techno that reflects the club, its residents and the international guests that grace its stage each week. That 10th release falls to Honolulu local, Russell Trent, a DJ & Producer who has spent the last decade immersed in Hawaii’s electronic music scene. Coming from a family well known in the island’s traditional music culture, Trent has very much found his own path to become a respected musical talent, releasing on labels such as Waska and EMBY Records and holding a residency at the aforementioned Asylum Afterhours. The ‘Island Vibes’ EP kicks off with ‘Manipulating Minds’, a spacious and inviting slice of synth led house that draws on interwoven acidic lines and warm chords to open the package in some style. ‘Bring It Back’ sees Trent venture into slightly deeper territory with a bass driven yet subtle affair that showcases his understated use of melody. Title track ‘Island Vibes’ completes the original cuts with a piece of house music peppered with muted keys and delicate piano lines. The package is completed with two remixes. First up Colarado based DJ/producer and Pet Project Recordings owner Shea Delany steps up to rework ‘Get Down’, turning in an emotive cut that blends tight vocal stabs with a wash of pads and live sounding drums to great effect. Finally Chicago production duo Hot Plate take apart ‘Manipulating Minds’ and rebuild it around a tough bass line tempered by the warm stabs and keys of the original, quality stuff. Asylum Confidential have dropped another solid EP that gives an insight to the underground sound of the islands, enjoy!
Russell Trent – Island Vibes (Asylum Confidential) Release: July 14th 2015
