Selector, Music Maker & Writer: Crossing the I's and dotting the T's...
 
Raised on a diet of Soul, Jazz, Hip Hop, Punk and Reggae, turntables were a natural progression for this Bristol born DJ and Producer Owain K (Owain Kimber). After discovering the sounds of bootleg mixtapes and Techno as a youngster in the 90s, he's never been one for sitting still.

Owain K

The A&R of the untouchable Groovin Records picks out some of his current favourites.

Alex De Ponti

Lunar Disko

Originally hailing from Tel Aviv, David Elimelech has a unique understanding and sensitivity towards all things Chicago, Detroit and New York House. Now residing in Berlin after being part of the UZURI Recordings & Bookings family, David focuses on building his vinyl collection and filling it with rarities.



David Elimelech

Inspired by the deep passion for true underground music Luca and Stefano met in a
records shop in the early 2000s to dj and produce. After a few years working behind the
scenes studying music and listening to their inspirational artists, in 2007 they founded
their own project Souldynamic, the fusion of the true love for soul music and the dynamic
sound of the the underground beats of our days. In the latest years they worked for and
remixed, Louie Vega, Melba Moore, Dennis Ferrer, Josh Milan and plenty others. 
Since then they have travelled all over Europe and part of the world, leaving their small
home town in the heart of Italy to collaborate with some of the most influential heads in
the house music scene, sharing the dj booth with some of the coolest artists in the
House Music scene. 
In their early careers they also appeared as guest djs in some of the finest clubs in
Europe such as Basic (Naples), Sound Department (Taranto IT), Room 26 (Rome), EGG
(London), Kee Club (Hong Kong), Cavo Paradiso (Mykonos), Drop (Hong Kong), Ce la
Vi (Singapore), Urban Klub (Italy), Supperclub (Amsterdam), Duel:Beat (Naples), Bault
(Amsterdam), Warehouse (Birmingham) just to name a few.
The Italian guys performed for Boiler Room in Naples in July 2016 and to enter in their
new decade of career the dynamic duo launched their own records label Excedo.

Souldynamic

Kalita Records is an independent record label based in London, UK, specialising in unearthing and re-releasing great music that deserves to be heard by all. Kalita's primary focus is on soul, disco and West African sounds from around the world.
 
Kalita Records prides itself on two things: the quality of its musical output, and its focus on the musicians behind the music they release. They only release music that they truly believe in and often include informational add-ons like liner notes, photographs and interviews with the artists to give more context to the music.
 
Enjoy some of their favourite new and recent releases, plus a few of Kalita's own thrown in too. Groove on.

Kalita Records

Mother Tounge is an independent Record Label, Vinyl pressing plant, Distribution and Online Shop under one roof, based in Verona, Italy.
 
Here they put together a selection recent favourites that have come through their pressing plant.
 
<a href="https://www.mothertonguerecords.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.mothertonguerecords.com/</a>

Mother Tongue Records

On the continent of electronic music, Johannes Paluka has travelled far and wide, collapsing musical boundaries with enviable ease. Under the moniker of Iron Curtis, the Berlin-based creates his complex, hauntingly beautiful productions from a range of eclectic styles and influences. 
 
Be it House, Acid or soulful Techno – his sound moves in the equilibrium of reduced, but never minimal. Flashes of kitsch brighten the dark universe of Iron Curtis, but fail to interfere with the melancholy subtext. 
 
As far as leftfield electronic music is concerned and as long as he sees a chance to break a few genre rules here or there, Iron Curtis is brimming with ideas.

Iron Curtis

Warm seashores and night rides in old white vintage Mercedes Benzs.

System Olympia

Lakuti is a South African-born Berlin-based DJ, booking agent, label boss, promoter and general industry all-rounder.

She plays at some of the worlds best clubs and events such as Panorama Bar, Rex Club, Concrete and has also played at venues such as Fabric, and festivals such as Dimensions Festival, Dekmantel, Freerotation, and many more.

She also runs the prestigous Uzuri booking agency and record label which counts the likes of Joey Anderson, Levon Vincent, XDB, Hanna, Ash Lauryn , Stefan Ringer , MuscleCars, Analog Soul + more  on its roster.
 
Find the full Uzuri Roster here - http://uzurirecordings.com.
 
Find Uzuri Recordings  on Bandcamp - https://uzurirecordings.bandcamp.com/

Lakuti

LADYMONIX is a Baltimore-native producer and DJ based in Detroit, who is known for turning out dance floors with her deep disco and house sets.

She recently released her 4th ep, 'Club Nowhere' and lent an exclusive track to the latest Detroit Love Vol. 3 compilation, curated by Waajeed on Planet E. She's also released remixes, edits and original works on her own Detroit based label, Frizner Electric. 

Ladymonix

Patrice Scott's roots in the Detroit music scene go a long way back. At the age of just 11 he lived down the road from early DJ group Direct Drive and it was at these block parties that Scott decided that this is what he wanted to do. That his inspiration should be so deeply rooted in live music and the dance floor environment makes sense - he has become known as one of the most innovative and dynamic club DJs from the Motor City with his own deep and textured house & techno sound.
 
In 2006 Scott launched his own imprint, Sistrum Recordings, which has since released a long series of records to ongoing critical acclaim. Notable contributions to the labels have come from artists including Alton Milller, Javonntte, XDB, Specter and Patrice himself. As well as Sistrum, Patrice Scott has released on a variety of all-star deep house labels such as Uzuri, NDATL, Styrax, Finale Sessions and Still Music.
 
Patrice Scott remains one of the scenes most ambitious and interesting figures with a relentless focus on unique music, the dance floor environment and collaborating with a compelling selection of American and European artists.
 
<a href="/artist/patrice-scott">Explore Patrice Scott's discography</a> 
<a href="/label/sistrum">Explore Sistrum Recordings' discography</a>

Patrice Scott

French DJ and Producer, Life Recorder draws on inspiration rooted in Detroit and Chicago deep house and techno. Based in the city of Marseille, he has released projects on a variety of labels including: Bokhari, Argumento, Grounded in Humanity, Hizou Deep Rooted, Sound Reflection or Keith Worthy's Aesthetic Audio Detroit imprint. In 2020 he joined Alex & Steph Attias's Visions Recordings with the Time Moods Ep.
 
Although he has become known for his production abilities, Life Recorder initially came from the DJ culture where he was able to show his skills and ability to mix together deep house and techno atmospheres travelling to old and new territories. More recently, Life Recorder took a new step and created his own label called Life Notes Recordings. He hopes to continue pushing his vision of music and DJing with his new creative explorations

Life Recorder 

Named after a 1990 Robert Owens classic house tune, Visions label was established by Alex Attias in 1999. Joined by his brother Stephane Attias in 2016 , they are producing and releasing various styles of soulful music from jazz , soul funk , disco to house and beyond. Both vintage and electronic with an edge keeping it underground and deep.  

Visions Recordings

Delfonic started his professional DJ career in 2004 and has played a countless number of clubs, shacks and parties in Berlin and throughout Europe. His residency history has led him to play sets alongside internationally acclaimed DJ's including Kaytranada, Coldcut, Amon Tobin, Bonobo, FaltyDL, Jazzanova, Flying Lotus and many more.
 
As A&R / label manager at wordandsound.net, he offers young and fresh labels and artists a platform for their creative output.

Delfonic

Lyon, France-based producer Saint Paul, co-founder of the Moonrise Hill Material crew which includes the likes of Folamour, Kaffe Creme and Ethyene, picks out a selection of timeless releases that continue to excite him. The half-Ivorian, half-French artist deftly combines influences from his African roots, jazz, hip hop and funk on recent releases on the Salin, and Moonrise Hill Material labels.
 
<a href="https://www.soundshelter.net/artist/saint-paul" target="_blank" ref="noopener noreferer">Check out Saint Paul's Discography</a>

Saint Paul

In no order, some top picks of the locked down 2020, some new finds from the past few years and a few classics I never grow tired of. 
 
<a href="https://repeatconcrete.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener noreferer" target="_blank">https://repeatconcrete.bandcamp.com/</a>

Rings Around Saturn

One of the foundation DJs of Detroit's deep house scene, since 1982 Norm Talley helped to establish and cement the deep end of Detroit's dance culture.
 
His productions have appeared on esteemed labels such as Third Ear, Sushitech, and Mixmode, as well as Omar-S' powerhouse FXHE, who dropped his first album, 'Norm-A-Lize', to critical acclaim. His relationship with Omar-S is currently deepening with two singles on FXHE, including a reissue of his classic track 'Detroit 2 Step' and tour as Omar's main support DJ.
 
Norm's style traces the entire spectrum of Detroit music from disco, vocal house, and deepest transmissions to nasty techno only Motown could produce, all delivered with raw emotional intensity that keeps his DJ sets in high demand worldwide.

Norm Talley

Detroit resident Rebecca Goldberg picks out 30 essential Detroit records currently in her bag - playable in the most versatile DJ sets.

Goldberg has self-released music and multimedia projects as well as several vinyl releases on Detroit Underground (www.detund.com) and Cryovac Recordings. She has written and performed original scores for two classic films, Le Voyage Dans La Lune and Gojira, including performances at David Lynch's members-only club, Silencio, in Paris and Armageddon Beachparty in Detroit, respectively.

Rebecca Goldberg

There are few underground heroes who can boast such an impressive resume as Kai Alce.
 
Growing up between Detroit and New York gave him a first class education in house music, which he took to the city of Atlanta where he has been working steadily ever since on just about every facet of music that he can.
Raised between Detroit and New York and now resident in Atlanta, Kai is one of America's premier house DJs and runs one of it's greatest labels - NDATL. 
 
The label has assembled a catalog that includes such deep luminaries as Larry Heard, DJ Spinna, Theo Parrish & Moodymann, Abacus, Robert Owens, and Donnie amongst others. He has also collaborated with artists such as Jovonn, Omar-S, Ron Trent, Phil Asher, and Byron The Aquarius, and had tracks and remixes appear on such notable labels as Track Mode, Sound Signature, Mahogani, and Prescription.
 
<a href="/artist/kai-alce">Explore Kai Alce discography</a>

Kai Alce

Idriss D is a DJ, a producer, a label-head, an artist manager and a record store owner. His prowess and his perseverance has led him to widespread acclaim and to gigs at some of the most renowned venues in the European DJ scene.

Beyond his busy DJ schedule, Idriss runs the Memento imprint and the dbArtists agency, featuring artists including Carl Craig, Luciano, and The Analogue Cops, and Lino Pugliese.

Idriss D 

"Deep", perhaps the word most associated with the career of Fred P, and for once, an accurate portrayal. Fifteen albums, innumerable releases and decades of Djing into his career, the New York-turned-Berlin resident continues to push further into his own sound, craft, and mind. For those fortunate enough to be present for one of Fred's cathartic, physical and spiritual DJ sets, the dancefloor is not just a place for enjoyment, but for potential.

Fred P

Recently crowned one of DJ magazine's "10 Detroit Producers Keeping the Sound of the Motor City Alive", Detroit born-and-raised Brian Kage has released well-received techno and house music on Omar S's record label FXHE, Carl Craig's Planet-E, PokerFlat, Echospace, and his own label, Michigander. Kage is also the co-founder of Beretta Music where he first discovered talents such as Seth Troxler, Ryan Crosson, Luke Hess, and more. 
 
Brian also runs the Kage Mastering where he has mixed, mastered, and engineered tracks for the likes of Delano Smith, Omar S, Ataxia, John F.M., Monty Luke, and many more. 
 
A vital part of Detroit's rich techno history, Brian Kage is one of the artists and producers providing the score for the Motor City's continuing rebirth.

Brian Kage

Dan Curtin's musical quest began amidst the inception of the techno and house phenomenon of the early 1990s. From his hometown of Cleveland, Dan experimented with a vast number of styles, producing innovative sounds of every variety: from Chicago to Detroit to the East Coast.

Curtin's impressive discography - with over 70 singles and 9 album - is spread across essential labels such as Peacefrog, Strictly Rhythm, Soma, Bosconi, and Dolly Dubs, as well as his own Metamorphic Recordings. Now based in Berlin, Dan is just as innovative and fresh as he has ever been.

Dan Curtin

Titonton Duvante is one of the most innovative producers to emerge from America's Midwest techno scene. Alongside the likes of Charles Noel and Todd Sines, he's spent his career creating a trippy, jazzy and minimal style of dance music, finding a home on labels such as Planet E, 7th City and Metamorphic. 

Two decades on from his first releases, Titonton's productions and DJ sets are still killing dancefloors over the worlds. Here's his top 10 vinyl chart for February.

Titonton Duvante

A regular booking at techno meccas Berghain, Rex, and Tresor, as well as an esteemed producer for labels such as Machine, Deeply Rooted, and Modularz - Croatian selector and producer, Insolate gives her top 10 vinyl releases of February.

Insolate

Curator, Producer and DJ, Deepak Sharma has been entrenched in techno for over a decade. The brainchild and mastermind behind Hidden Recordings gives us his top 10 records of the moment.

Deepak Sharma

Lakuti is a South African-born Berlin-based DJ, booking agent, label boss, promoter and general industry all-rounder. 
 
She plays at some of the worlds best clubs and events such as Panorama Bar, Rex Club, Concrete and has also played at venues such as Fabric, and festivals such as Dimensions Festival, Dekmantel, Freerotation, and many more. 
 
She also runs the prestigous Uzuri booking agency and record label which counts the likes of Joey Anderson, Levon Vincent, XDB, Hanna, and Stump Valley on its roster.
 
<a href="/collection/uzuri-agency-labels">Explore the Uzuri Agency & Label discography</a>

Following the release of his awesome new EP, "<a href="https://www.soundshelter.net/levon-vincent/the-synthesizer-cake-ep/713721.html">The Synthesizer Cake</a>", The Golden Ratio DJ compiles a chart of his favourite recent records.
 
<a href="/artist/levon-vincent">Explore Levon Vincent's discography</a> 
<a href="/label/novel-sound">Explore Novel Sound's discography</a>

Levon Vincent

New York-based Lauren Murada is a dancer turned DJ who loves to bring out ones inner freak under the discoball. Always armed with a bag of wax, her sets are disco-laden with funk, rock, soul and italo records to keep that fire burning. 
 
Lauren is a resident at New York's Good Room with L&L&L Record Club. The Brooklyn-based collective comprised of Lauren Goulet, Laura Marin and Lauren Murada has them spreading the gospel of disco everywhere they go. L&L&L Record Cub have a monthly show on The Lot Radio. Lauren also throws a bi-monthly party called Love Games at Good Room with Finn Jones.
 
<a href="https://soundcloud.com/lauren-murada" target="_blank">Listen to Lauren's mixes on SoundCloud</a>

Lauren Murada

DJ, producer, label owner, and record shop owner - Lisbon's Jorge Caiado does it all.
 
He's been mentored by Chez Damier (Jorge runs two labels inside Damier's Balance catalogue), remixed for Secretsundaze, Terrence Parker and Orlando Voorn, and he runs one of Europe's premier underground record stores, Carpets & Snares in Lisbon.
 
Moved by the same passion whether he's in the studio, in the booth or simply talking to you about music, Jorge transpires the aura of a true music lover.
 
"This a list of 12 recent records all from Portuguese artists and/or labels that in way are related or close to Carpet & Snares Records. It's a more like a statement chart to show how good music is coming out of an exciting group of people working hard everyday to push the scene here forward. Much love and respect to all of you."
 
<a href="/artist/jorge+caiado">Explore Jorge Caiado's discography</a>

Jorge Caiado

There are few underground heroes who can boast such an impressive resume as Kai Alce.
 
Growing up between Detroit and New York gave him a first class education in house music, which he took to the city of Atlanta where he has been working steadily ever since on just about every facet of music that he can.
Raised between Detroit and New York and now resident in Atlanta, Kai is one of America's premier house DJs and runs one of it's greatest labels - NDATL. 
 
The label has assembled a catalog that includes such deep luminaries as Larry Heard, DJ Spinna, Theo Parrish & Moodymann, Abacus, Robert Owens, and Donnie amongst others. He has also collaborated with artists such as Jovonn, Omar-S, Ron Trent, Phil Asher, and Byron The Aquarius, and had tracks and remixes appear on such notable labels as Track Mode, Sound Signature, Mahogani, and Prescription.
 
<a href="/artist/kai+alce">Explore Kai Alce discography</a>

Currently based in Estonia, Steffan Todorovic makes up one half of Gestalt Records, alongside fellow record enthusiast Zeljko Dejanovic. Since the label's conception they've released 4 EPs, gaining noticeable support from industry-peers, such as The Ransom Note, Stamp The Wax and Dark Science Electro. The two also form D516 - a collaborative DJ-moniker, vacillating between dusky dub techno, ambient soundscapes, afro beats, deep jazz and everything in-between.
 
Steffan has also been heavily involved as a promoter in his native Denmark, co-organizing the successful Groovebox club-nights and the highly regarded On Air Festival. He's shared decks with likes of DJ Central, Peggy Gou, Citizenn, DJ Normal 4, Niles Cooper and Asquith.

Steffan Todorovic

James Duncan is a house producer and runs NYC based label Innermoods. Also a trumpet player, he has recorded w/ Metro Area, Morgan Geist, Luke Solomon and The Rapture on "The House of Jealous Lovers" (DFA).

James Duncan

You know thatmanmonkz, even if you don't know thatmanmonkz. The Sheffield producer's MPC-driven soul inflected house style was born out the influence of the mercurial master teachers of Detroit and 90's boom bap. His discography includes solo EP releases on acclaimed and widely respected imprints such as Delusions of Grandeur, Classic Music Company, Kolour LTD and Dirt Crew. Monkz is quite the sought-after remixer too, having reworked tracks for the likes of Amp Fiddler, Kraak & Smaak, Folamour, and Kon. He must've caught someone's attention though, as Traxsource rated him the #10 deep house producer of the year in 2016/17, the year that also saw the release of his debut album Columbusing and its accompanying single hits "For Bae" and "Turn It Out (with Dave Aju)".
 
In addition to producing and deejaying all over the globe, thatmanmonkz also runs a couple of his own labels: the elusive and vinyl-only SWAT; and the internationally renowned Shadeleaf Music, which has seen releases and remixes from the likes of DJ Nature, Kai Alce, Damon Bell, Byron The Aquarius and thatmanmonkz himself.
 
His recent work as part of hip hop duo Madison Washington, and as project producer for the critically acclaimed Pan Amsterdam is seeing him garner new attention from other genres within contemporary electronic music, and, the self confessed studio addict shows no signs of letting up anytime soon...
 
<a href="/artist/thatmanmonkz">Explore thatmanmonkz discography</a>

thatmanmonkz

Norm Talley is a true originator from Detroit. 
 
He was mentored by Ken Collier, the so-called Larry Levan of Detroit, and has been mixing records together since before 1210s even existed. He also forms part of the formidable Detroit Beatdown crew alongside Delano Smith and Mike 'Agent X' Clark, who've kept the house flag flying high in the motor city.
 
As true house heads know, Norms got a ridiculously strong production back catalogue and has released records for prestigous labels such as Omar S's FXHE, Kai Alce's NDATL, and Guy McCreery's Third Ear. We also think he does the best snares and claps in house music.
 
Following on from his old-friend Reggie Dokes' recent contribution, Norm has compiled a chart of his favourite recent records for us. 
 
<a href="/artist/norm-talley">Explore Norm Talley's discography</a>

Some of the records I've bought during Summer 2018 in Dublin, Barcelona, Lisbon and Berlin. 
 
Shout outs to All City, Carpets & Snares, Amor, Discos Paradiso, Subwax and Space Hall.

Si Quick

Without question, Reggie Dokes has been one of the most under the radar producers and DJ in the underground house and techno music scene. Originally from Detroit, he was fortunate to have been exposed to a rich and diverse music scene in the 80's, which inspired him to DJ at the young age of 14. At this stage of his life, DJing was just a hobby that he truly enjoyed, and unfortunately, left the scene all together in 86 to pursue his college education.
 
Upon returning back to Detroit in 1990, he felt that pull back to the music. DJing became his passion again. However, in 2001, this was the year he started his label Psychostasia Recordings. Releasing several EPs, the label has received much attention for its eclectic, soulful and "out-of-the-box" nature or appeal. With an impressive discography, he has managed to release both house and techno on a variety of underground labels world wide. The last two years for his label has been a huge comeback for him, and 2018 plans to be a great year full of releases on his label and DJing world wide.
 
<a href="https://www.soundshelter.net/artist/reggie-dokes">Explore Reggie Dokes' discography</a>