a young persons guide to electronic music
Orlando Voorn, Intonation Vol 4: Orlando Voorn brings us a very musical selection of house and techno music.
Nomadico, KMS 061: Nomadico mixes up records from the KMS label.
Slam & Harri, Atlantis Mix part 1, part 2 and part 3: a two hour rollercoaster from Harri, Orde and Stuart.
RA.220 Harri + Domenic: another great set from Harri with Domenic.
Last but not least: Jeff Mills, All Tomorrows: Jeff Mills lays down an hour-long session of sci-fi techno music.
Los Hermanos’ main man Gerald Mitchell launches Los Hermanos TV.
Here’s the list of interviews we’ve done with Underground Resistance:
As Mark Flash mentioned before, Mark Flash, De’Sean Jones and Raphael Merriweathers Jr. are teaming up for a new live high tech jazz trio called Satori 3. Electronic Directory catches up with UR and Tunnel 7 man Raphael Merriweathers Jr. to talk about the Satori 3 project, his forthcoming collaborations, and Underground Resistance.
Underground Resistance artist Abdul Qadim Haqq is set to release his first artbook / compilation album early 2009, entitled "The Technanomicron Volume 1". He talks to Electronic Directory about his new Technanomicron project.
Mark Flash Biography
You know the story. A man spends his life working in the factories with a dream that his son will have more than he had and be able to reap the benefits of his struggling. Along the way, the child gets encouragement from family and friends. Then, just before everything comes together, things fall apart, and the young man must reach within himself to take that next step on his own. If you know this story, then you’ll know the story of Mark Flash.
You see, Flash’s father was a traveling musician, a good one too. As Mark grew up, he became intimate with not only a number of different instruments, but a wide range of musical styles. His influences ranged from the jazz of Return to Forever and Miles Davis, to the funk of the Isley Brothers, James Brown and Brass Construction, to the latin sounds of Tito Puente and Joao Donato. His father’s band eventually came to Detroit looking to get a deal with Motown Records. Problem was, Motown had just left for Los Angeles.
Little Mark and his sister were sent to live with his aunt in Bronx. By then, the seed had been planted. Mark knew where he needed to be. When other kids were running the streets, he was trying to figure out how to get into the clubs. There were DJs in the neighborhood that would let the younger kids who knew what was up hang out with them, watch them practice spinning at home. And, from time to time, some DJs would let Mark handle their records, carry them into the clubs. All this didn’t escape his aunt. In 1980, on his 13th birthday, she bought him his first set of turntables. There, on the corner of Knickerbocker and Madison, was the birth of … DJ Mark Love. Not that it got easy from then on. In fact, Mark taught himself the meaning of struggle as he began the process of spinning at small parties, trying to build himself up, only to have fate knock him back down. He was robbed. It was time for a change. Calling up his parents, he made the move back to Detroit. Joining forces with a more established DJ, Rafael Cerrano, Mark was reborn as DJ Mirage, playing the Freestyle and Electro-Club music that would soon become the sound of Detroit’s southwest side. Mirage and Cerrano would sponsor parties and pass out mix tapes, building themselves up as a force to be reckoned with anywhere.
After parting ways in the mid-80′s, Mark was determined not to stop. He had considerable help. With his brother as partner and his father as major support, Mirage Entertainment was created. Mirage Entertainment was one of the biggest promotion companies in the area, bringing a multitude of artists to the Detroit area. For a number of reasons, it was around this time that Mark Flash came into existence. For one, the way he dressed. Mark was never interested in dressing down. Even when he was casual, he’d wear something to make himself stand out, not as a gimmick, but because he liked it. Second, due to the work required in promotions, he was a busy man. He seemed to be everywhere at once, yet extremely hard to find. Mark Flash was a not a name he chose, but one that was given to him by fans, and it stuck. Then tragedy struck. Flash’s father passed away, and there is no way to describe the impact it had on Mark. Mirage Entertainment folded and Mark Flash disappeared. There was no way he could spin without becoming overwhelmed by memories, and Mark was looking to put some distance between himself and Mark Flash. By becoming Markus Loveless-Truck Driver, he started a whole new life. Only … … driving trucks was no way to honor the musical legacy his father gave to him. Beyond that, the music was something that had been a part of his life as far back as he could remember. And then there was his newborn daughter. How could he not pass on the love of music to her? So Mark Flash came back, this time with a vengeance.
Starting with underground parties and raves, the word began to spread that Mark Flash was a name to be feared if you were a DJ, loved if you were a party or club goer. Thanks to a tip from a longtime friend, DJ Rolando of the techno terrorists, Underground Resistance, Flash began flexing his musicianship as a behind the scenes producer for the house music label, Soul City. This brought him to the attention of the Upstart Records crew where he joined as an artist. Merging house, techno, and funk, Mark Flash is coming back stronger than ever before. As one of the few DJ/ Producers who can legitimately play an instrument and read music, he’s not looking to bore you with pseudo-intellectualism. He wants to make you move. He defines his production style as "…loud and funky."
Mark Flash has since joined forces with Gerald Mitchell and Ray 7 which make up, Los Hermanos. Travelling internationally, he has shown the world that there’s more to him than just the typical DJ. With skills in keyboards and percussion, Mark Flash puts on a unique show utilizing his talents to form a musical hybrid.
As a member of Underground Resistance [UR-078], Flash has taken on multiple projects, from remixes, new releases, mix cd’s, collaborations with other producers, performing at local/ international events as well as charity benefits…just to name a few.
Paying more "dues" than most, Mark Flash is not to be played with. After all he’s been through, he’s not about to back down from the musical game. "Some folks think I’m new, but I’m not. I don’t care what your name is, you coming after me, you better be ready. I get up there, ignite it, and let it burn."
Electronic Directory represents Underground Resistance, featuring interview with Esteban Adame, half of ICAN.
Esteban Adame Biography
Esteban Adame started his musical career at age 15, Djing at local house parties in and around Los Angeles. He would soon be introduced to underground music. There he was turned on to the house and techno sounds that intrigued him at the time. Soon he found himself producing his own beats and would eventually be inspired by the keyboard solos that he heard on several of his records and wanted to do the same. He began his formal training in music at the age of 19 and took a hiatus from DJ’ing and producing. At 21 he just focused on his instrument, the Piano. Since the age of 23 Esteban has played with and accompanied some of the top Latin, Jazz and Soul acts in Los Angeles and abroad.
We are going to continue to do a series of featured label – Underground Resistance, the new one with Cornelius Harris, who is also known as Atlantis.
About Alter Ego Management & Booking
Alter Ego was founded by Cornelius Harris, a long time participant/sometimes artist in multiple Detroit scenes from hip hop to rock, jazz to funk, techno to even video. Alter Ego Management and Booking was formed to serve both the artists represented and the fans of those artists. Founded in Detroit, there was a commitment to seeing the success of clients in a city that, while loaded with talent, lacked the supporting industries to benefit from that talent. As a jack of all trades, he understood that working in such an environment mandated familiarity with many different people with many different skills in many different places in order for his clients to achieve the types of outcomes they were looking for.
Today Alter Ego boasts a lineup consisting of not only established talent, but up and coming artists as well. Alter Ego has also played a significant role in managing not only artists, but specific projects, from video production to licensing to contract negotiation. So while the clients benefit from the work being done, their Alter Ego operates in the background, making sure that they’re set up for success.
DJ Mark Flash – Brasilia EP [Underground Resistance]
![[ UR-078 ]](http://www.electronicdir.jp/wp-content/uploads/imgs/jkt_ur-078.jpg)
Mark Flash drops a stomping great piece of Detroit party-funk – mashing a South American groove with the emotive UR chords into an unstoppable whole. It reminds me a bit of Los Hermanos/Ican but it then goes a bit further. Supermassive.
Tracklisting:
Get "Brasilia EP" here:
Related Links:
Erell Ranson – Sense Of Our Life [MySelf]
Erell Ranson launches his own label with this expansive piece of truly deep techno. I was very surprised by this because it brings me back to the days of ‘Rhythim Is Rhythim’. Your only difficulty is choosing between the shiny original and the Mayday-inflected Arne Weinberg remix.
Tracklisting:
Get "Sense Of Our Life" here:
Related Links:
Pedro Cali – Retrofuturism (part one) [Melodika]
![[ Melodika 004 ]](http://www.electronicdir.jp/wp-content/uploads/imgs/jkt_meldika-004.jpg)
Ahh Melodika finally comes back here with this great release from Pedro Cali. ‘Crazy Bounce’ is an interesting, subtle yet strong track with his funky beats and synths that lives up to its name. Both ‘My Sweet Angel’ and ‘I Am As I Am’ are very sweety and emotional tracks with familiar Motor city flavours and particular atmosphere.
Tracklisting:
Get "Retrofuturism (part one)" here:
Related Links:
Soul Designer – Evolutionism (part two) [Third Ear]
![[ 3EEP-093-2 ]](http://www.electronicdir.jp/wp-content/uploads/imgs/jkt_xecd-1089.jpg)
Sublime. ‘Scaraboogie’ is a pure electronic boogie for all forward-thinking funk citizens. On the flip ‘Children Of Galapagos’ is an epic hi-tech jazz masterpiece that shows Fabrice Lig on top form. This is really really special for me.
Tracklisting:
Get "Evolutionism (part two)" here:
Related Links:
Nomadico Biography
Underground Resistance DJ and Producer Dex aka Nomadico began his musical journey in East Los Angeles. He learned the art of DJing in backyard house parties, small clubs, warehouses and various events in the deserts and mountains around Southern California. Detroit Techno became his calling after years of studying electronic music, fusion, latin funk and technology.
In 2002, Dex journeyed to Detroit and studied techno theory with the Underground Resistance crew. Dex has worked hard in the studio, mixing and editing tracks for UR, Los Hermanos, Orlando Voorn and DJ 3000. His talents behind the turntables have taken him throughout Japan, Europe and South America as a tour DJ and member of UR’s Timeline band.
Since 2005, Dex has been based in Brooklyn, NY while keeping close ties with UR headquarters in Detroit. He’s helped bring UR to NYC’s best techno venues including The Bunker, Club LOVE, NuBlu, APT and 2007′s "The Beach Party" along NYC’s East River. He has the distinction of being the first member of UR to play in mainland China.