Pick Your Tunes #19

 

Brackos is a French DJ from Paris born in 1985.  At the age of 10, he discovered the wonderful world of Disco Funk through various CD compilations, including the famous STAR-FUNK compilations released by Unidisk (Canada) in the early 90’s . By 1999, his passion has completely invaded him and he started to purchase his first turntable as well as classic 80s Funk album on vinyl. His debut will be strongly influenced by other DJs such as Kheops, Mouss or Abdel. He will perfect his mix technique and his own selections while continuing to deepen his musical culture for several years.

In 2006, with the creation of his Myspace account, Brackos is quickly spotted and contacted to mix in Parisian nights. Since 2008, he ‘s regularly booked to blast his explosive Boogie-funk sets showcasing his favorite producers like Kashif, Narada Michael Walden, Leroy Burgess, Nick Martinelli … and Nickee B more recently. Brakos made very good contacts with 80’s artists during all these years, a production should see the day, one day or the other … Something to follow!

In March 2018, Howard Johnson choosed him to do the warm-up and after show of his 2 Parisian dates.

 

1. What’s your favorite tune to cruise at night?

 

A track that makes you want to burn the road! A catchy rhythm, easy to sing… Pure ecstasy! Henry Horne from THS is well known for his boogie monster  “Kinky Girl”, with the band Creations. One of my favorite tracks. A New York sound as I like.

 

2.  What’s your favorite tune to chill?

 

Colorblind – “Crazy” (1984)

 

 I got hooked on this song right away! The piano at the beginning reminds me of George Benson”s classic song “Turn Your Love Around”. A perfect sound to listen to late afternoon on the French Riviera (our French equivalent of California lol !) 

 

3.What’s your favorite tune for a romantic evening?

 

B.B. & Q. Band – “Genie” (1985)

 

Definitely the most difficult choice! I am often considered by my female audience as a “lover”. In each of my playlists, you would find 80% of songs that talk about love! I chose “Genie” because its the perfect tune to close an evening and accompany couples who have just formed.

 

4. What’s your favorite tune to shake your body down to the ground?

 

Master Jam – “Dancin’ All Night” (1982)

 

A sound that I love mixing during my dj sets. If you don’t dance on it or even move, then there’s nothing I can do for you…  This big track was mixed by the great  Nick Martinelli. It was not easy to choose a song in this category,  I could have chose hundred other tracks!

 

5. What’s the tune that gives you instant nostalgia?

 

Passion – “Don’t Stop My Love” (1982)

My anthem! This sound has everything unlocked. I discovered this sound on the mixtape “Total Prelude” by DJ Kheops, released in the summer of 2001. I’ve never stopped listening to it since! This song made me discover Kashif’s productions afterwards … On this awesome song you will find Dr. York (executive producer), François Kevorkian(mixing), Herb Powers Jr. (mastering) and of course the master Kashif (writing).  This song will be featured in Kashif’s album one year later. Dr. York’s version of 1985 is softer, which contrasts with the story of the character …

 

Follow DJ Brackos:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djbrackos/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/djbrackos

Pick Your Tunes #18

 

 

Randy “Hotthobo” Ellis is a co-owner and label manager of Hobo Camp Records and Voltaire Records in California, longtime vinyl DJ/collector, host of the NTS radio program “Mint Condition”, as well as a producer, re-mixer, arranger, event promoter/coordinator and frequent contributor/collaborator to projects like Loose Shus, Chautauqua, Elegant Borzoi and Relish. His DJ sets journeys deep into an abyss of new, classic, and obscure 12″ and 7″ records, with a focus toward high-end boogie, disco, two step, sweet soul, italo, house and modern funk.

 

1. What’s your favorite tune to cruise at night?

 

 Wah Wah Watson  – “Good Friends” (1976)

 

A true cruiser, the guitar licks get you instantly prepped for the ride, and quickly the whole arrangement just builds and falls right into place. The bass is heavy and repetitive enough, but still totally live with licks and feels galore. Wah Wah (born Melvin Ragin) was a seriously in-demand session guitar player, so if you ever want to trip out, check out the long list of classic tunes he played on.

 

2.  What’s your favorite tune to chill?

 

General Lee & The Space Army Band – “We Did It Baby” (1979)

 

“We Did It Baby” sonically replicates the same feeling that I get levitating through clouds in my dreams.  The instrumentation, chords, strings and vocal glide along lushly, and instantly put me at ease. 

 

3.What’s your favorite tune for a romantic evening?

 

Leroy Hutson – “Paradise'” (1982)

 

Saxophones, synth bass and heavy breathing with Leroy’s amazing vocals rounding it out…can’t think of anything much more sensual than that. Chicago soul always seems a step deeper than the rest, Leroy being a perfect example of the Chicago sound throughout his career, with this particular track exemplifing that notion.

 

4. What’s your favorite tune to shake your body down to the ground?

 

Blue Feather – “Let’s Funk Tonight”  12” Mix (1981)

 

his one gets in the groove and just keeps pushing…once it opens up to the solos, it’s certified dancefloor mania, breaking it down for everyone to actually get into a trance and follow wherever they happen to be taken organically…and you can play this one looooong.  When dancing to most songs it’s typical to just grab onto one thing (for me its typically the bass and drum patterns), and just ride that out, but with this track as a dancer you can literally follow any instrument and jump between them. 

 

5. What’s the tune that gives you instant nostalgia?

 

Michael McDonald – “I Keep Forgettin” (1982)

 

Although I vaguely remember this track from my childhood, it always reminds me of the G-Funk classic that sampled it: Warren G – “Regulators” … it dually brings to mind the smooth yacht-rock AOR stuff that dominated the radio in the 80s, and also all the Rap and G-Funk stuff that I listened to in the 90s that either sampled or emulated that sound.  Also I was trained to do live sound by a sound-guy that used this song to test every single system that we set up…his argument was that he knew this song so well that he could pick out any issue on any system, that it was a safe enough song to play in front of any crowd/client, and that anyone from any background or upbringing would probably like it.

 

Follow Randy:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/randy.h.ellis

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/hotthobo

Bandcamp: https://bandcamp.com/hotthobo