Real Talk: Jimmy Edgar

‘Real Talk’ is a series of artist-penned essays that appears on XLR8R from time to time.

Next week, Jimmy Edgar will issue Fabriclive 79, his contribution to the vaunted mix series and the latest chapter of what’s become a rather lengthy career in dance music. Although he certainly got an early start than many of his contemporaries (being raised in Detroit has its advantages), there’s nonetheless something to be said for Edgar’s ability to stay active—and relevant—for such an extended period. Following a lengthy stint in Berlin, Edgar has now settled in Los Angeles, and continues to operate the Ultramajic label with some help from his friend and collaborator Machinedrum. Even after well over a decade in the game, Edgar shows no signs of slowing down, so we asked him to put together some thoughts on how and why he’s managed to stick around so long.

Longevity is one of the most relevant topics today. We are living in extremely fast times; how can an artist manage to keep up with this pace of life? What sacrifices do we have to make to keep up with the times? I can only shed some light from my personal experiences and perhaps a bit from things I have seen, from colleagues of mine.

[quote align=”none”]I find it very curious that it’s 2015 and a lot of people are cutting the bullshit out of their lives.[/quote]I just turned 31 and this means I have been DJing and producing for over 19 years, traveling internationally as a DJ for 14 years, and working hard for 40 years. I am exaggerating on the last part of course, yet when I joke about that, what I really mean is that I have made a career out of working probably twice as much as any normal job. The only fact I can surmise from this is that I love what I do. I have spent most of my life dedicated to studio production and this is where my heart is. Over the past 10 years, I have concentrated more on the DJ aspect of what I do because I find it challenging, fun, spontaneous, and more relaxed (compared to other kinds of live performances that I once did).

Photos by Vitali Gelwich

Success is all about perspective. I believe to have any sort of success you have to love what you do. If you don’t, then the answer is plain and simple: look for something that gives you chills. As an example, people ask me how I find the time to make music when I am traveling so much. The answer is pretty easy; I miss it so much when I am away that I spend all my off time working on new music. It’s good for me to take a break so I can recollect my ideas, because otherwise, I would be in the studio 24/7, literally. Again, success is all about perspective, but if you are achieving realistic goals and believing in yourself, I think you’re doing pretty well.

One thing I heard when I was younger was “you can do anything you want if you believe in yourself.” That phrase was embedded in my head, and even though I didn’t totally believe it, I still knew there was some kind of truth in it. There is a real disconnect about that phrase that I think most people don’t understand initially. It is true though—if you look at “belief,” “passion,” “dedication,” and “focus” as some kind of tetrahedron of manifestation, something you can embody and BECOME, then you are dipping into the metaphysical ideas of making magic happen. I have always been interested in metaphysics and the fundamental ideas of some of these practices make sense to me. For instance, I learned hypnosis and became certified in multiple levels of NLP (neuro-lingustic programming); at the time, I wasn’t aware how much it would apply to my work as an artist. The fact remains that belief is one of the main components in the equation. The question is: how are you able to genuinely believe in yourself? It’s something everyone has to discover on their own.

[quote align=”none”] You simply cannot fake it online anymore; the new generations are too keen and clever and can see through it. You have to be yourself and do what you love.[/quote]I find it very curious that it’s 2015 and a lot of people are cutting the bullshit out of their lives. They’re realizing that their time is more deserving of things they love and positive energy. It’s interesting how social media has opened this. We are very sensitive to negativity these days, and I think the days of the internet trolls are extremely numbered. We are starting to take more responsibility for the space that we create, even in the virtual world. We are realizing that even the internet domain counts for something. The most common New Years resolution I have been hearing is that my friends are focusing on the things that they love. You simply cannot fake it online anymore; the new generations are too keen and clever and can see through it. You have to be yourself and do what you love.

Think about the reasons why people get burned out and quit doing amazing things. Longevity will only last as long as your own fuel persists, and what is better fuel for the fire than your own love and passion? All you have to do is allow it through. Let it be your meditation.

Premiere: Stream a Track from D’Marc Cantu’s Upcoming 12″ for Drone

Later this month, the increasingly active D’Marc Cantu will issue the third outing on Richard Fearless’ Drone imprint, the “Decay” b/w “Rival” 12″. Ahead of its release, the Ann Arbor-based producer has let loose a stream of the record’s hardware-driven b-side cut. Said to be the result of an unedited session recorded in one take on Cantu’s Volca drum machine, the six-minute “Rival” builds in a methodical fashion, as static-lined hats sneak in behind tuned percussion patterns and deep, pulsing kick drums. As the track pushes along, it begins to grind down further into swelling layers of reverb, though those are eventually reigned back in as “Rival” enters its final phase and Cantu pulls apart the track’s analog rhythms.

D’Marc Cantu’s hypnotic new rhythmic tool can be streamed in full below before the Michigan producer’s “Decay” b/w “Rival” 12″ officially lands on January 26 via Drone.

Erosion Flow “Aiir”

Danish producer Henrik Koefod (a.k.a. Erosion Flow) arrived on the scene in April of last year with a debut self-titled EP for George FitzGerald’s ManMakeMusic label. Now, Koefod is gearing up for an active 2015, a run which today begins with the offering of a free new track, “Aiir.” Similar to the productions heard on the artist’s debut outing (which is still available to stream in full here), “Aiir” is a gritty house number which injects layers of potent soul—and a bouncing synth melody—between its many shuffling rhythmic textures.

Aiir

Check Out a New Mix from Knxwledge

Prolific beatmaker Knxwledge (a.k.a. KNX) has stepped up to deliver a new installment of the Stones Throw label’s ongoing podcast series. Originally intended to serve as episode 88 (the year of the producer’s birth), Knxwledge’s 45-minute StrwbrryMomnts mix arrived a bit late, and so has instead been christened episode “88.8” of the series. From the sound of the mix though, it was certainly worth the wait, finding Knxwledge quickly flipping through a slew of sludgy, jazzy beats and soul-rich hip-hop and R&B refixes. Furthermore, it comes with a note to “expect a Stones Throw release [from Knxwledge] in 2015.” In the meantime, StrwbrryMomnts should hold us over nicely; the mix can be streamed in full below and downloaded from Stones Throw here. And for those who may have missed it the first time around, our 2013 profile of Knxwledge can be read here.

Florian Kupfer Drops New EP via Willie Burns’ WT Records

Helmed by NYC producer/DJ and former XLR8R podcast contributor William T. Burnett (a.k.a. Willie Burns), the WT Records label has released a new EP from Berlin-based artist Florian Kupfer (pictured above). With many of his past releases landing on the consistently active L.I.E.S. imprint, the four-track WT 21 EP marks Kupfer’s debut on WT Records. The new record will sound somewhat familiar to those who have followed Kupfer’s rise, with the EP “starting in familiar territory with his trademarked, blue-eyed-freaky-soul vocals and rough beats” apparing on its a-side, while later on the record finds the producer exploring “strangely sad, blown-out drum workouts and hip-hop-styled beat tracks.”

Out now in both vinyl and digital formats, Kupfer’s new EP for WT Records can be streamed in full below.

Phantasy Sound Readies Daniel Avery Remix Compilation

Erol Alkan‘s Phantasy Sound label has announced that it will release New Energy, a two-disc compilation of Daniel Avery remixes, in early March. Remix 12″s of Avery’s material have been a recurring theme of Phantasy’s release schedule ever since his debut album, Drone Logic, landed in October 2013. Now, the forthcoming package will gather together a number of previously released reworks, including the particularly eye-catching Roman Flügel remix of “All I Need” and Perc‘s pounding take on “Reception,” which sit alongside others from Factory Floor, Silent Servant, KiNK, Audion, Special Request, Danny Daze, and Rødhåd, among others.

The New Energy package will see an official release on March 2; in the meantime, the album’s artwork and full tracklist have been included below.

CD1
1. Drone Logic (Factory Floor Remix)
2. All I Need (Roman Flügel Remix)
3. Platform Zero (Volte-Face Remix)
4. Naive Response (Ø [Phase] Remix)
5. Spring 27 (Silent Servant Remix)
6. Free Floating (Matt Walsh Remix)
7. Knowing We’ll Be Here (KiNK Remix)
8. New Energy (Beyond The Wizard’s Sleeve Re-Animation)

CD2
1. Drone Logic (Rødhåd Remix)
2. Need Electric (Audion Remix)
3. Reception (Perc Remix)
4. These Nights Never End (Ricardo Tobar Remix)
6. Simulrec (Conforce Remix)
7. Water Jump (Powell Remix)
8. Taste (Special Request Remix)
9. Naive Response (Danny Daze Remix)

Image by Steve Gullick

Girl Unit Returns to Night Slugs with Hysterics EP, Streams New Track

A staple of the Night Slugs arsenal, Girl Unit will return to the label early next month with a new EP under his Hysterics alias. After delivering some of Night Slugs’ biggest early tunes—the anthemic “Wut” in particular—Girl Unit launched the Hysterics project in 2013 with a three-track installment for the label’s Club Constructions EP series. Now, the UK producer will return to the alias for a four-track, self-titled EP which will land on February 3.

Ahead of the record’s release, Girl Unit has shared a full stream of the Hysterics EP’s lead track, “Club Life,” which can be heard below, where the forthcoming record’s complete tracklist has also been included.

1. Club Life
2. HTRX9
3. Eye Mask
4. Empty

Seven Davis Jr. Preps New 12″ for Ninja Tune; Stream It Now

Los Angeles-based producer and vocalist Seven Davis Jr. is set to follow his impressive 2014 run (which landed him on our year-end Best New Aritsts list) with a new single for Ninja Tune, which will eventually be followed by the man’s debut full-length album later this year.

First, the Davis Jr.’s “Wild Hearts” b/w “Let Somebody Love You” single will land on February 9 via the label, offering two “delightfully disheveled, groove-ridden, catchy-as-hell nuggets” from the SoCal artist; ahead of its release, the record’s a-side cut can be streamed in full below. Along with news of the 12″, Ninja Tune has promised that Seven Davis Jr.’s debut LP will alo arrive sometime later this year, though no other details have been shared so far. In the meantime, the LA talent has a slew of UK and European tour dates lined up, all of which can be peeped beneath the player below.

January 17 Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Awards 2015, Koko, London, UK
January 23 Tunnel, Mllan, Italy
January 24 Trädgården Under Bron, Stockholm, Sweden
January 30 Kerk, Ghent, Belgium
February 06 Abandon Silence, Manchester, UK
February 13 Kong, Munich, Germany
February 20 Cosmic Ballroom, Newcastle, UK
February 21 Corsica Studios, London, UK

Image by Eric Coleman

Levon Vincent Teases Upcoming Debut Full-Length

New York-bred and currently Berlin-based producer/DJ Levon Vincent has teased plans to release his debut full-length album “very soon.” Sharing the news via a Facebook post, Vincent revealed that the forthcoming LP will see its release via his own Novel Sound label. In addition, Vincent shared a brief teaser video for the upcoming record which can be watched here. No exact release date has been shared for Vincent’s debut LP (which at this point appears to still be untitled) but, if the artist’s post is any indication, the record will be arriving sooner rather than later.

Asusu Announces New Label, Previews Upcoming EP

Bristol-based producer Craig Stennett (a.k.a. Asusu) serves as one-third of the Livity Sound crew, and since 2011 has racked up seven releases on the celebrated label (which he runs alongside Peverelist and the most recent XLR8R podcast contributor Kowton). Not content with that, Stennett has just announced the creation of his own new label, Impasse, which he has established to “offer a platform for experimentation, both within the framework of techno and house as well as music that falls outside these constraints.”

The label’s first effort will come in the form of the Serra EP from Asusu himself, and will land on February 16. Ahead of its release, the record’s four tracks can be previewed via the player below.

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