Shonky

Apollonia Q&A

When does the world tour: Tour à Tour Start?Apollonia50

It starts in October with a New York show. Dates can be found on our facebook – /ApolloniaMusic

You have described yourselves as, “black music and white soul”. What does this statement mean for you?

That means that there is different influences, with some black music, new wave, funk, pop, a mixture of cultures… Early house. This is what we mean.

Your excellent debut album: ‘Tour à Tour’ is due to be released October 20. Can you talk us through how you produced one of the tracks on it – Do you each have a defined role in the studio, or is more simply a team effort?

The way we work is, we are sitting the three of us together. We record a live session all together, and there is no  us each doing different parts in different places and sending files to each other. When we do a track, we are always the three of us together. We can sometimes start with a sample, or Dan can play the mpc, Shonky can jam on the drum machine, Dyed make a bass. It depends. The most important thing is we are all working together and we see how the energy takes us.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/tour-a-tour/id913621514

Haight Street, is one of the most atmospheric tracks on the album. Where did the influence behind that come from?

San Francisco 90s house music, I (Dan) was living in San Diego in the 90s. I would bring back a lot of music from there, it is one of the main influences and Dyed and Shonky were probably one of the first guys who had been touched by this music.

What do you look for in signing a track to your label?

Great music, music that we like and music that represents who we are, this is the goal of Apollonia. We go from new artists, our own productions and some represses of music that really influenced us. Because today to have a label is more to show who we are, than a business.

https://soundcloud.com/apolloniamusic/sets/apo013-david-k-middle-aged-romance-ep

How would you compare Paris to Berlin?

Nothing compares. Berlin is very peaceful, has a high level of intellectual music and great clubs, but food is not very important. Paris has a different vibe, it is stressful city, but quality is at every corner. Music is great too, but the vibe is different.

Can you tell us about your main influences, either in Dance music or outside of it?

We have many – Prince being the obvious one.

http://www.lola-ed.com/labels/apollonia
https://www.facebook.com/ApolloniaMusic
http://instagram.com/Apolloniamusic
https://twitter.com/ApolloniaMusic

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Reviews:128

The Originals
Down To Love Town: Expanded Edition
Big Break Records/ Motown

originalsAlways a pleasure to hear Freddy Gorman’s impassioned vocal adorn the horn punctuated rhythms and strings highlighted by The Originals on this re-issue of their 1977 album. Positively fizzing with Disco energy while also containing irresistible melodies via the full version of the title track (co-produced by Frank Wilson) this is uplifting, soulful music that remains a personal favourite, never mind its seductive percussion fuelled instrumentation. The Originals were originally studio back-up singers who worked on tracks like: ‘For Once In My Life’ and ‘War’ to provide you with some context in the sixties. But this album certainly proves the group’s cool when required and equal state of ecstasy where needed by the next decade. Credit is also due to the production talents of Michael Sutton who lends the music a warm touch while providing the dancefloor with the contemporary punch that still works perfectly today. Two ballads on offer too, both of which have the heartfelt sincerity you’d expect from the band, while the album ends on the sassy funkiness of, ‘Been Decided’. As always with this series from BBR invaluable sleeve notes are present, in this case from Justin Cober-Lake.

http://www.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=4746

Robert Dietz & Tuccillo
Kushtraxx EP
Holic Trax

HT11_02I like this. No messin’ it aims straight for the jugular right from the word go. Limited to a 5oo coloured vinyl release i.e. be quick the EP boasts three tracks plus two Shonky edits. It’s fast, heavy sounding House music that you just know is going to be epic played LOUD. Opening with Juice and its succession of punchy percussion, aided by pulverising bass and  twisted synth lines, this aims squarely at the dancefloor, and scores alongside the Shonky Edit (digital only). We Can’t Stop, comes next with a slightly less frantic trip into bass and moody sound effects, and again is accompanied by a spot-on edit from Shonky. Ishine Ushine, completes with further adventures in bass rattling, although time accompanied by funkier breaks, warmer chords and voices.

release: August 21

http://holic-music.com
http://robertdietz.net
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tuccillo/116324391801231?sk=timeline

https://soundcloud.com/holic-1/holictrax011

Esa & Mervin Granger
Anwaarding EP
More Music

esaGreat EP from Esa & Mervin Granger who inject a genuine inspiration from the Nu Groove school of thought into their well crafted music. Starting with Visum which cross wires Detroit and classic Chicago House together with 2014 to produce a refreshingly tense, yet emotionally charged sound. Complimented by an Africaine 808 remix that comes complete with cool, jazzy inflections and a tech shuffle. The stunning Anwar 491 is up next delving deeper into cinematic atmosphere’s and depth of feeling with taught Techno bass and an almost melancholy ambience, which is time remixed by Dief & Baker’s bubbling Acid referencing version to complete this first rate release.

release: August 25

https://www.facebook.com/esamervin

Satin Jackets
Foreign Affair EP
Eskimo Recordings

satinLove this. But then it’s hard not to. Hinting at somewhere in-between Disco and Balearic but landing in ethereal, blissful territory this gorgeous production from Satin Jackets combines gentle melodies alongside a romantic punch on the suitably named Sunrise In Paradise. Next, Gelee Royale follows with a more mid-tempo swagger containing funky 80’s styled bass and chiming keys amid haunting synths, with the engaging breathiness of, Fall Apart (feat. Patrick Baker) ending not so much on a high but a delightful low.

release: August 18

http://satin-jackets.com
http://www.eskimorecordings.com

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reviews:46

 

Jamie Jones
feat. Art Department
Our Time In Liberty
Crosstown Rebels

What else needs to be said of Jamie Jones meteoric rise? Nothing, apart from that you need to listen to this. Powered by dark, brooding stabs this pulls no punches whatsoever combining not only a sense of urgency via Kenny Glasgow’s hot vocal: I Know It’s The time, but also by a devastating succession of deep, pulsating beats and rumbling basslines which make it feel never less than anthemic. In one word then: HUGE. Russ Yallop continues the prediction by running the classic chord progression over yet more outstanding atmospheres, which only serve to enhance the experience still further. In other words: equally HUGE. 9

release: April 30

http://soundcloud.com/jamie-jones

http://soundcloud.com/russ-yallop

http://www.crosstownrebels.com/

 

Dog Days
Dog Days EP
Gruuv Records

Great release from Audiojacks’ Gruuv Records however I’ll try to spare you the references as the first track is called, 92. Of course it’s time related but who cares – that much – as this has a funky JB snare break sounding irresistible over fuzzy pads and timely voices. Uplifting, and yet very tastefully deep. Pol_On provides the Edit with an impressive alternative take on the bass plus thumping toms coupled with inspired cinematic strings, and with such an unhinged arrangement this can really only be described as excellent. Next is the fiery, Mia which lifts the tempo and atmosphere while hitting more 90’s notes in the course of refocusing your memory to youthful times – see jealous. Rodriguez Jr. provides exemplary remixes that only heighten the dancefloor appeal with excellent percussion fuelled by big-time keys and MK styled vocals. Perfect. 9

release: May 1

http://soundcloud.com/gruuv/sets/gruuv-016-ep-dog-days-pol_on/

http://www.facebook.com/gruuv

 

Jay Bliss
The Art Of Doing Nothing
Initials

Alex Jones and Ste Roberts (also of Hypercolour) along with Dave Elkabas have formed the Initials imprint and the deceptive, The Art Of Doing Nothing is their second release. Jay Bliss, having previously released on Bang Bang and Dynamic, gets straight down to business with low-slung bass and old school sensibilities pitted against moody organ and an edgy vocal loop. An easy formula for sure but one that works a treat – the bassline is extremely hypnotic. Second track, X continues the text with deeper tones and evolving keys feel just that bit more poignant. Petre Inspirescu then reinterprets X over the course of fourteen minutes and astonishingly there is never a dull moment in all of its electronic sequence. Added to the digital release is bonus, Atonement which isn’t as sombre as it suggests and certainly re invigorates you with pulsating rhythms and excitable keys. 8

release: April 26

http://soundcloud.com/initials-1/sets/initials002-jay-bliss-the-art/

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Initials/277052469028075

 

Dan Ghenacia & Shonky
Close To The Edge
Apollonia

The labels second release from two of its talking heads’ is somewhat of a killer combining energised dancefloor sensibilities with breezy melodic appeal. It’s all about the drums, the bass and the voice here, and this cool combination of all three feels instantly infectious along with a hefty sprinkling of funky guitar – indeed, you can just picture the smiling faces on the dancefloor. The Mole then turns it all upside down with a feverish remix transforming the elements into something moodier, darker but no less intoxicating. 8

release:  April 30

http://www.lola-ed.com/artists/dan-ghenacia

http://www.lola-ed.com/artists/shonky

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