Hi friends!
Four years ago, at what was probably the last party I attended at Café Berlin before everything closed, I had the chance to dance to a very curated set of disco and house records that really resonated with my own musical taste.
In this edition, I am super happy to introduce you to one of my favorite DJs in Spain today.
This month’s Guest Selector is:
Sama Yax
Mexican-born, Bilbao native, and now based in Barcelona, Sama’s eclectic origins complement the diverse musical styles of the records she loves to collect: house, soulful, acid house, disco, Latin, afrobeat, Brazilian music, and jazz.
As a resident of the iconic Barcelona club Nitsa and a member of the Discos Paradiso family, her influence on the music scene spreads nationwide (BBK Live, Soundit, Brunch Electronik, Rit/Mo, Ameba Parkfest, Razzmatazz, Cafe Berlin, Siroco, Mondo Club) and internationally (Passos Manuel in Porto, Lux Fragile in Lisbon, Renate in Berlin, and KinKin Club in Guadalajara, Mexico).
Currently, she hosts her own party, Mentha, which has welcomed international guests such as Shanti Celeste, CC:Disco! and MVRIA.
You can follow Sama Yax on Instagram and listen to her DJ sets on SoundCloud
Check out her amazing selections for the week:
The System EP - The System (Music From Memory, 2016)
#Synth-pop #Experimental #Ambient
Sama Yax: In 2016, the label Music From Memory re-released these tracks from the little-known UK band The System in EP format. These tracks belong to the only album the band released, titled Logic, in 1983, which was forgotten due to poor distribution and lack of promotion. The band's leader was Bob Lamb, who, from what I know, was a drummer and producer in the '70s and owned Romantic Records, the label for The System's only album and a subsequent EP. What fascinates me most about this EP is its sound, ahead of its time, with "Vampirella" connecting to a Detroit or Balearic sound that would emerge a decade later. "Almost Grown" is undoubtedly my favorite track on this EP, mixing New Wave with powerful drumming, a touch of AOR, and a distant Dream Pop vibe.
Pretty Face - Stinger J (Chance Records, 1987)
#Boogie #Disco #Soul
Sama Yax: This track, re-released in 2020, has been a classic for me in many sets, and I have a special fondness for it. Originally released in 1987, the year I was born, Stinger J was the alias of Detroit producer Kevin McCord, who worked with Alicia Myers on her classic hit "I Want To Thank You" and with Oliver Cheatham on "Get Down Saturday Night," among others. The vocals for both the hit and its B-side are by Jonathan Haywood. What makes this track stand out and why many collectors consider it a special gem is how it sublimely fuses Soul, Disco, Garage, and Detroit House, almost creating its own genre with just one track. An interesting fact about this track is that despite coming from a mainstream producer, McCord decided to self-release it to create a great track rooted in his Detroit origins. It didn't gain much support at the time, and the project fell by the wayside, but it has aged like fine wine.
Everything You See Is Me - Rasa (Govinda Records, 1978)
#Jazz-Funk #Soul
Sama Yax: Anyone who knows me knows this is one of those fetish gems, one of my favorite records for everything it is. From its history, the year, the cover, the titles, and who gave it to me (thanks, Chez Ed <3) make it very special to me. This 1978 album released by Govinda Records was recorded by two 16-year-old brothers. Anyone who hears it would say it's a good AOR album, and it is, but this album was the first of its kind as it was recorded for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Chris and London McDaniels attended a Krishna Consciousness event one fateful afternoon and met the movement's leaders, who soon discovered the brothers made music and asked them to produce a catchy pop album to promote the ideas among English-speaking audiences. The result was this great album, now a cult classic.
Love or (I Heard You Like Heartbreak) - Prequel (Rhythm Section International, 2021)
#Deep House
Sama Yax: If I had made a current album, I would love it to be Love or (I Heard You Like Heartbreak) by Prequel. This 2021 album, released by Rhythm Section International, is a meditation on love in all its complexities, dissecting and exploring this concept over 12 tracks. What makes this album so special and worthy of this list is how it perfectly incorporates influences from Soul, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Brazilian music through a multitude of perfectly fitting samples and amazing collaborations from the Australian scene, such as Horatio Luna on bass, Josh Kelly on sax, Cazeaux O.S.L.O on vocals, Javier Fredes on percussion, and Tamil Rogeon on violin/viola. Additionally, it is imbued with a deep longing through melancholic deep house. It is a 50-minute musical journey through the highs and lows of love and loss, accompanied by a series of videos that delve deeper into these concepts.
Transa - Caetano Veloso (Philips, 1972)
#MPB #Tropicália #Samba #Bossa Nova
Sama Yax: I think this album needs no introduction, and the reasons it is on this list are more than justified. Since I was a child, my mother played Caetano Veloso for me, and as I delved into the history of Brazilian music and Tropicália, this album took a very special place. The two main reasons this album moves me are its modern beauty, linking avant-garde and tradition despite being over 50 years old, and its ode to freedom, justice, migration, and hope, as this is the second album Caetano recorded in his exile in London. Transa is a "wildcard term" that means a pact, agreement, even in romantic relationships. This "Transa" is seen even in the mix of both languages, as he sings naturally in English and Portuguese, coexisting perfectly. I think it's a necessary ode in these times when it seems that the right is dictating once again at a dizzying pace.
That was all for this week. I hope you liked the selections :D
Enjoy the weekend and tune in next Friday for more music!
Stay groovy,
Dudier