I have two brand new producer crushes and have already asked one of them to remix a track from out next EP. I wonder if anyone still reads this bad boy, but here are some gems from the underground of Disco House.
This guy is completely unknown to the internet world and deserves so much more exposure. He's from the Bay Area, so promoters GET AT HIM. God I fucking love this track.
Yes, I know it's quite shocking that there is a post on this blog. But don't get too excited, because it's just self-promotion. Once I find myself in a place when I'm ready to download torrents of music and actually go through it, this blog will be revived. Until then, here's a sample from our new EP:
It's here. Thank you all so much for your support. We're really tryna make moves this summer, and thus the blogging has taken the backseat. In the meantime, enjoy:
One of the songs on this son-bitch has been over 2 years in the making. After hours of toil, we are extremely proud to release our newest EP. We are fed up with the lack of class among the world, so we shall fill this heinous gap one Disco House track at a time. Hope you have as much fun dancing to it as we had making the album art. God bless Piracy.
No Way Out (David Tort Remix) - Spirit Catcher (GOLDEN BANANA)
Definitely one of the greatest Tech House tracks you can get right now. Difficult to describe, all I can say is that it's incredible.
Roger More (Phonat Re-Edit) - LL Ton J (Silver Banana)
Disco House rules. I also happen to be on a huge Bond movie kick (literally just finished Thunderballs before this post, how sick is that underwater fight), so the title makes me happy.
Clockworks - Canblaster
Some Funky flavors from France, of all places. Canblaster doesn't really stick to a genre, he just sticks to consistently killing it.
Dynamite (Original Mix) - Alesso
Another BIG House track from this guy (he was the Golden Banana of yesterday's post), another Big Room House smasher that is getting played out by the Swedes.
If you read Apes With Barrels, you'll know that we have an unhealthy a proud obsession with French House. Anything with that disco flavor gets us more excited than the first time gLAdiator laid eyes on Mila Kunis. That's why when we discovered J Paul Getto, we just had to lock them down for an interview. We're on a mission to expose the underground scene of disco house producers to the world, so without further ado, we are proud to present our interview with J Paul Getto.
Apes with Barrels: It's Friday night, so, naturally, you're gonna start it off at your trusty discount liquor store. What do you buy?
Tony: Hennessy and a bottle of OJ.
Maurice: I normally just look at Tony's bottle of Hennessy and get drunk.
AwB: Are you satisfied with your purchase on Saturday morning?
T: You mean Saturday afternoon?
M: Since I really don't drink, I am a light weight, the glare at the Hennessy doesn't give me a rough morning. So I am pretty satisfied.
AwB: Tell us about how you guys discovered electronic music. At what point did you guys fall in love with Disco House?
T: I lived in Italy in the early 90s so I was easily exposed to early House, it was all over the radio and was very hard to get away from. I was just starting to DJ and was hooked instantly. I was listening to early NY hip hop as well and I was very intrigued by how the beats were made and how they were using old music and re-presenting it in a new form. I was especially into De La Soul. Their producer at the time (Prince Paul) used samples for every element in his tracks. When I started hearing sampled based House music, it became my favorite type of music to play out and I probably spent every dollar I had on those type of records.
M: I really don't know if there was a time I discovered it. As far as I can remember I have always loved music. My earliest memory of it was when my cousin was playing house music he got from England when he used to travel. That was in the early 90’s. Most of the music I liked, I had come to find, that it was sampled.
AwB: Favorite DJ you've ever seen live?
T: That's a tough one. The first that comes to mind is Ian Pooley. Amazing producer and great live DJ.
Maurice: I don’t think I really have one. Each DJ has his/her place in my world. But I certainly consider Tiesto as being in one of my top 5. ;)
T: Oh man...
AwB: It seems that Disco House is popular among smaller producers with very few, like a Louis La Roche, breaking out. Do you think that the genre has any hope of gaining more prominence, especially with the arrival of Duck Sauce?
T: As you know, there is always trends in electronic music. Trends come and go. As of right now, smaller producers are making this music and the bigger ones that were once doing it, are digging through their crates again. We think that this genre will never go away. We all got distracted a bit! We are just doing what we love most.
M: I concur.
AwB: What do you guys use to produce and DJ?
T: We produce with Ableton Live 8 Suite along with various plug-ins. DJ with Serato and Technics 1200s. I'm still trying to convince Maurice to switch from CDJs...
AwB: How and where do you dig for samples?
T: Digging for samples has become a lot easier with YouTube! When we find something we like, we order the vinyl and sample it. The low end on vinyl using Shure needles is pretty amazing. We also just go to random vinyl shops (not many left) and buy $1/$2 records and go through them. We also use voicemails that are insanely funny.
AwB: Tell us about Swivel Hips.
T: The Swivel Hips project was something that was started around 2003 with another person I use to make music with. We made two white label 12s with it. We started using the name again in late 2009 the Shorties EP and Headlines EP. We got a lot of attention from a bunch of big name producers like MSTRKRFT and Armand Van Helden. Unfortunately, I had separate myself from the Swivel Hips name due to some issues with my old label even though I made 95% of the tracks!
M: For those who are starting out as a duo, I strongly recommend that you fill out paperwork. Don’t go into a business without that. It could save a friendship and your end of the deal. Now see, if Tony screws me over, I get his house.
T: I get his girlfriend.
AwB: What 3 other artists out there right now would you like to collaborate with?
T: (this won't come as a big surprise) Alan Braxe, Fred Falke and Stuart Price. We actually want to just watch them work!
AwB: 5 tracks everyone should listen to right now?
Nightriders - Hey
Geisha Twins - Love Situation (Go Go Bizkitt! Remix)
Ridney, Ghost of Venice & The Phantom's Revenge - Looking For You
His Majesty Andre - Diamonds
Armand Van Helden - Gandhi Khan
AwB: What can we expect in the near future from J Paul Getto?
T: We are in the process of setting up a new label "Fogbank Recordings" and our first release should be ready in late March. We have at least a dozen tracks ready to go and some amazing collabs coming up!
Cinematic art, no? I believe the director is a true auteur. Kind of like how Eric Prydz is an autuer. Let's celebrate one of the greatest producers with a semi-dedicated post.
-M
Niton (Club Mix) - Eric Prydz (Golden Banana)
So epic, and I'm such a sucker for this vocal track. Yes, they're cheeeeeeeez, but I can't help but love it.
Niton (Original Mix) - Pryda
Basically the Pryda remix. Everything that makes the above track Eric Prydz, this is Pryda, especially in length.
Illusions (Original Mix) - Pryda (Golden Banana)
The super epic Progressive House that only Pryda can make. He's two steps ahead of the scene at all times.
Vega (Original Mix) - Pryda
The prettiest in the bunch, also somewhat relaxed. It's all about how he gives and takes away, sort of makes him like God.
Now for non Prydz tracks:
Stars On 45 (Olav Basoski Remix) - Stars On 45 (GOOOOOLDEN BANANA)
This has got to be the top Disco House jam out right now. It's like a bigger room version of Barabara Streisand. EVERYONE PLAY THIS!
Also, I forgot to add AwB artwork, so if you want to prove to me telepathically that you're the biggest apes fan out there, you'll add it yourself. Nerd.
Not really a character, but rather a game. It's another doozie, so I'm offering +1,000 Bastille Love and Admiration points for this one. Who's up to it?
I've got one of these Blue Raspberry monstrosities in my fridge for tonight, along with some Beast Premium. DJing a Eurotrash Themed party along with other Risky Fresh DJs. The parties at this venue have a reputation for people fucking in the room. I'm glad I can facilitate something so beautiful. COLLEGE WOOO!
Not too long ago, we received an email. I quote: "Hey, There's this guy named Yella Finesse. He makes REALLY GOOD french house music. i think you should check him out and do a post on him.! =). you wont regret it..."
It's not too often that we receive emails from readers promoting other artists (especially fucking French House artists, those two words are the key to my heart), usually it's something more like this:
"Hey, totes love your blog! I read it all the time, serial. Check out my new remix of Katy Gaga! Feel free to post!"
I hate those emails.
But enough about us, let's get to this fantastic new discovery, who happened to be so fantastic that we interviewed him. Without further ado, we are proud to present our interview with Yella Finesse:
Apes with Barrels: If given the opportunity, how would you wine & dine Etienne De Crecy?
Yella Finesse: I would probably take him to McDonalds for a burger or something...lol
AwB: How do you feel about House music today, in all of its forms? Specifically, which trends excite you and which do you wish would just go away?
YF: House music today isn't as strong as it used to be back in the 90's, but believe me its coming back strong over these next few years. The new lineup of producers are just sick, and they're trying to bring back that classic feel that had House so big back in the day. My personal favorite's are nu-disco (of course), french house, and funky house. I really wish deep house would kill itself...smh.
YF: Hahaha!!! The dumbest/ funniest video I've seen in a while. The first jump had me dying!!! Pretty funny video...
AwB: Will French House ever return in a big way? I’ve been waiting, but I’m starting to lose hope.
YF: Of course it will man!!! We're just waiting for that major "One More Time" type of track to show up and blow up the charts. (hopefully i deliver...haha)
AwB: How did you get into House music, and specifically French House?
YF: I got into house right after i heard One More Time (Daft) for the first time. I was 10 years old at the time, and the track had me and my family going crazy. I just started producing about 2 years ago however, after a failed rap career...lol.
AwB: Care to explain the name Yella Finesse?
YF: The name Yella (yellow) is actually a nickname given to me by my family. Everyone else in my family is dark or brown skinned, and i happened to be the only one who came out light skinned. And Finesse just means perfection in french. And there you have it, Yella Finesse.
AwB: Who’s you current favorite French House DJ/Producer? Favorite other DJ/Producer?
YF: Go Go Bizkitt! hands down. He's proven that he can put out great tracks consistently. Haven't heard one track from him that i don't love. My favorite of all time is, and always will be, Mr. Bangalter. In my eyes he gave us the very gift of French House.
AwB: What instruments do you play, if any?
YF: I play the piano and saxophone. I should start playing the drums. Yup, I'm about to start the drums. :)
AwB: Technical questions. What do you use to produce? Do you play live?
YF: I actually use FL Studio and a small M-Audio keyboard i got from a friend up the street...hahah... I rarely use the keyboard though (got a pretty slow laptop).
AwB: Do you ever see yourself producing/working in other genres (including non-electronic)? If so what potential interests do you have?
YF: Ive been listening to a lot of dubstep tracks lately. I love the grimey sound, so i might experiment with that a little bit in the future.
AwB: How/where do you dig for samples?
YF: I usually look around on youtube when im bored, or check out some 70's/80's music blog sites. Sadly I'm not one of those lucky producers who's parents have a crate load of retro records, so the internet is my playground.
AwB: List five tracks that everyone on this blog should hear right now. Go.
Well there you have it. French House lives. And I've just finished listening to the above tracks he recommended, and I've got to say they're killer. Now let's get to some of Yella's excellent work, shall we:
So someone has maliciously fucked with my computer over the weekend and I'm stuck without computorial assistance for my finals. But it's ok because all the worries in your mind, let em go and start advancin:
-J
Download Links for these tracks will come soon:
Fred Falke brings it hardcore:
EDIT: I decided to add a few more!
I Really love this one. Incredible couldn't ask for anything better, especially that last drop:
Not as Crazy about this one, but decided to include it.
