The energy of Chicago’s loft party scene inspired a great many musicians and DJs.  Brian J.A. Cullen a.k.a. “Bjak” is no stranger to the sound of deep house, a signature element at the time.  He is a long-standing member of the renowned group of Chicago house DJs known as Soul Foundation Kollective. This alliance, and their control over several Chicago venues and a number of tours, helped cut his teeth as a DJ, and ever since he has been moving dance floors worldwide with sets of percussive, soulful house music.

Throughout his career, Bjak’s sets have been diverse and the trend continues unabated. Never fitting a particular mold, he seamlessly incorporates disparate elements of classic dance music—even the occasional dub or Pixies tune—with a sound that’s unmistakably deep, vocal-fused house. With a range that includes Latin grooves to percussion-laden warehouse stompers, a Bjak set works the dancefloor by taking listeners far outside the box.

Bjak’s attention to the deeper side of these genres helped him craft a vision that culminated into WAXaddict Records, a Chicago-based, online record store that specialized in known TOP-CHOICE house music and cutting-edge techno, alongside ultra-rare disco and classic electronica. A physical store in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood matched the diversity of online offerings. Years on the business side of the music industry led Bjak to renew his focus on production efforts, and he channeled this energy into studio work, resulting in oft-praised vinyl-only releases on Eargasmic Recordings including, Thoughts from Chicago, Vol. 2, in 2008 and RealDEEP EP, in 2009.

Bjak tracks employ atmospheric grooves, dubbed-out vocals, and bouncing basslines, layered over relentless percussion. His music has been discussed in the same breath as legends like Larry Heard and Kerri Chandler, with strong ties to the sounds of Prescription and Strictly Rhythm, but Bjak feels his approach is a subtle update to the loft party vibe he has cultivated for well over a decade.

During this cultivation, he recognized the lack of deep house offerings and knew that creating such an outlet was the logical next step. In 2008, with fellow Foundation member, Julio Bishop, Bjak launched RealDEEP Recordings, which provides him and his growing roster with a platform for the loft party sound they champion. The label’s releases have seen much acclaim, and Bjak is encouraged about upcoming projects.

Beyond RealDEEP, Bjak has been adding new and interesting layers to his already diverse sound. His recent involvement with the band, Velophone, infuses indie and traditional rock elements with downtempo grooves and sultry vocals. Singer Janet Cruz and Bjak share songwriting duties for the group, and the pair provides live guitar, bass, and keyboard accompaniment atop digital percussion, resulting in a neo-soul-meets-house-music jam band aesthetic.

After sowing the seeds of success through Soul Foundation DJ gigs and WAXaddict, Bjak has fused his influential histories, finding a musical and spiritual home at RealDEEP Recordings.

]]> http://www.realdeeprecordings.com/2009/07/04/bjak/feed/ 0 http://www.realdeeprecordings.com/2009/07/03/julio-bishop/ http://www.realdeeprecordings.com/2009/07/03/julio-bishop/#comments Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:21:54 +0000 admin http://realdeeprecordings.com/?p=62

Every DJ knows that capturing a crowd is difficult, but Chicago’s Julio Bishop makes it seem effortless. For almost 2 decades, Bishop has worked dancefloors at home and around the world, blending quality house music with relative ease.

It’s no wonder it comes easy to Bishop—he grew up playing piano and violin in a house that saw world-renowned musicians visiting often. His father was instrumental in bringing diverse sounds, like the Buena Vista Social Club, to Chicago as a committee member for the Pan-American Festival. As long as he can remember, the Bishop household in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood was filled with records ranging from Afro-Cuban jazz and salsa to American standards and disco.

By 8^th grade, Julio knew these sounds had to combined, and drew inspiration from the sounds coming out of Chicago’s WBMX and WGCI. Turntables were a logical next step and Bishop was soon developing his penchant for deep, rhythmic house music. His skills and attention to the dancefloor helped him thrive during the deep house heyday of the 80s and 90s in Chicago and led him to the Soul Foundation Kollective, a group of like-minded DJs that pushed the sound of loft-party deep house at every event. With this infamous Chicago DJ crew, Bishop has held residencies at some of Chicago’s hottest clubs and lounges while touring the U.S., Europe, and Latin America.

Over the years, his ability to blur the lines between the influential sounds of Chicago, Detroit, and New York, has persevered.  Bishop’s DJ outings are often fueled by stompy kicks, sexy vocals, and vibrant basslines, taking the listener deeper with an array of strings, horns, and warm pads before turning up the heat on the crowd.

The Soul Foundation history continues to influence Bishop and was a catalyst to the creation of RealDEEP Recordings with fellow member, Brian ‘Bjak’ Cullen.  The label is the platform that Bishop and Cullen will use to revive the elements of 90s era loft party house music they feel has been lost in today’s deep house releases.

The 2009 release schedule for RealDEEP includes Bishop’s first production efforts, expected near end of summer 2009.. After years of training on the piano and violin as well as a history behind the decks, he is poised to play a key role in RealDEEP’s updated approach to the loft party house sound. Bishop’s production mirrors his deck control, presenting an urgent sound of eerie, jack-your-body tech-house before a backdrop of jazz-inspired instrumentation.

At the moment, he and Bjak plan to release digitally on a monthly basis before delving into vinyl output. In the works are a European tour featuring Bishop, Bjak, and Eargasmic Records honcho, Daryl Cura, and rotating residencies in Chicago and Los Angeles. Bishop currently splits his time between the studio and his current residency at Sushi Samba, a well-known downtown hotspot.

Often, bands are formed when like-minded musicians come together out of a love for a particular style of music. They often share a fondness for a specific genre and find themselves with similar goals and aims regarding the sound they want to manufacture. But, on the rare occasion, an unlikely group of musicians with vastly different musical backgrounds, tastes and interests find themselves together with instruments in hand & open minds, and a powerful & unique fusion takes place.

Sounding something like a cross between Cocteau Twins & Mazzy Starr meets Jazzanova, VELOPHONE members Janet Cruz, Brian Cullen & Jono Eiland admit that, although uncommon, the band’s “3 man” structure and “Jack of All Trades” mentality make its stage presence as unconventional as its sound. While the band was originally formed with Janet Cruz on Lead Vocals and Acoustic Guitar, Brian Cullen on Beats & Bass Guitar, and Jono Eiland on Lead Guitar, you’ll regularly hear them switching between instruments as well, from song to song, further coloring outside the lines of your typical band.

Equally sharing songwriting duties for the group, each member has a chance to showcase their distinct sound. Janet’s folk-influenced yet sultry vocals along side her sweeping talents as a songwriter and acoustic, solo performing artist at college coffee shops and bars greatly contrasts Brian’s background behind the studio producing electronic music and DJing under flashing lights in front of sweaty mobs. In turn, Jono’s Rhythm and Blues and Jam Band inspired riffs are another seemingly disparate pieceheight=”188″ /> of this puzzle, but in the end, something unexpected and unusual happens. When indelible grooves are King and sorrow is Queen, sounds collide, and you find VELOPHONE.

After splashing the scene with a handful of live gigs throughout their home base of L.A., at such venues as Molly Malone’s, Room 5 & The East West Player’s Club, the band is currently taking time away from their live performances to focus all their attention in the studio, where they are in the process of cutting their first full length album. Although the release date is not scheduled until the end of 2010, the single “We’re All The Same” from their upcoming album can now be found on all major download sites as an exclusive promotion, licensed by RealDEEP Recordings. Complete with the original mix as well as 4-additional dance-floor friendly re-mixes by artists Cesar Ramirez, D.O.T.S, and Daryl Cura, this special promotional release is not to be missed!

James’ parents eventually convinced Don’s parents to do the same, in part due to the fact that he was constantly hanging out and monopolizing the turntables; funny how some things never change.

Don was influenced by many of the people around him who most would consider the first generation of house, sneaking out of his mother’s house to witness the now legendary Mendel Catholic parties where he would see future legends including Ron Hardy, Eric More, and Wayne Jackson.

After attending college Don returned to Chicago, NYE 99 where he was introduced to the new and more sophisticated sounds of House through close friends and mentors Hector Lopez and Brian Borden.

Under the guidance of Brian Borden, and Hector Lopez, Don honed his skills at Harry’s Velvet Lounge, Martini Ranch, Morseland, and other venues across the city.

It wasn’t long afterward that he landed his first residency at Uptown Lounge, formerly the Saxony. This would be the first time you would hear House this far north since the days of AKA’s, and COD’s. This residency lasted for 3 years and has had an influence on many who were lucky to be part of that experience.

While at Uptown Lounge re:search has played along side a long list of DJ’s including Lego, Terry “Frique” Allen, Darrell Woodson, Greg Norword, FLX, Shani, Josh Werner, Uncle Milty, Craig Alexander, Hector Lopez, Brian Borden, Just Joey, Gene Hunt, and Andre Harris, just to name a few.

Don’s style is dynamic as well as eclectic pulling from Disco, Tech House, RareGroove, and Deep House to create his own vibrant and energetic sound.

Looking forward and moving into the realm of producer, Don has put out original tracks and remixes for Deep Hype Sounds, RealDEEP, SPTrax, and his own imprint futurediscoscience.

DJ’s and music lovers around the world have looked to Chicago for over 30yrs as the world’s epicenter of House Music. It’s a city that has produced some of the finest DJ’s & musicians the world has ever known, a tradition still alive and well today. Look no further than Pilsen on Chicago’s near South Side and you’ll find one of Chicago’s own home-bread and most exceptional & understated musical talents, Cesar Ramirez, carrying the torch.

To most native Chicagoans, 26th & California is considered a rough neighborhood and best known for the nearby county jail, but to Cesar, it’s considered ‘home’ and the block that first introduced him to DJ’s & House music in 1981. Only 5 yrs old at the time, Cesar ground his parents to a halt when he found himself in front of a stage manned by some local “south-side” “Hotmix” DJ’s at the local fair. He was immediately intoxicated by the unprecedented sounds of such songs as “Moskow Disco”, “Go Bang” & “A Little Bit Of Jazz” before the term “House Music” had even been conceived. Having started playing the drums at the tender age of seven, this music inspired his senses and left a deep impression, which years later was re-ignited.

Studying and playing music for over 25 years now, Cesar has grown to become a genuinely multifaceted artist. With experience playing in bands ranging in style from Punk Rock to Latin Jazz to Heavy Metal, Cesar’s resume is prolific. A talented percussionist, keyboardist, guitarist and bass player, it was a blessing to us all that in 1997, Cesar decided to re-dedicate his time and talents to House music.

Cesar’s tunes have since become synonymous with the deep house sound that Chicago & the Midwest have long been best known for. He says that he was fortunate enough to have grown up with some of House’s greatest legends in the hood all around him and even within his own family. With a cousin like Johnny Fiasco, it’s hard not to have been inspired by House Music. But, he admits he owes his heaviest bout of gratitude to his older brother and his box of mix tapes, scavenged from flea markets and taped off Chicago’s now infamous radio stations, where they would tune in every Sat. night on WBMX and Friday nights on 88.1 WCRX.

Cesar’s first release in 2001 was a co-production with cousin, Johnny Fiasco presenting “Bizi Beats Vol.1” on 83 West. Following this was his first full-length release entitled the “Turning Point EP” on Attic Space Recordings. In addition to his other original productions, which appear on such labels as RealDEEP Recordings, 83 West, Attic Space, and Smooth Agent Recordings, Cesar is also widely known for a slew of now highly collectable disco edits under the monikers “Cesario” and “Dicky Moe”. In addition, he has appeared as a guest guitarist & studio musician on labels like Om, LowDown & Ultrasound Recordings.

While Cesar’s skills behind the decks are unrivaled as a Classic, Deep Disco and Deep House DJ, it is a rare treat indeed to find him out playing these days in the clubs or on the circuit. For now, he says, he is more interested in concentrating his efforts in the studio than playing for a dancefloor. “My time may come again as a DJ”, he says, “but for now, I’m excited to be back in the studio making music that stands apart from the crowd”. Although he admits with the rising number of offers at his feet, that if presented with the right gig and the right crowd, he may be tempted to make a return. Let’s all hope, for all our sakes, that he does! But, for now, keep an eye out for a multitude of upcoming projects from this gifted musician on labels such as RealDEEP Recordings & All About Music. When you think of the deep house sounds that have built the reputation that Chicago has earned, Cesar’s music runs with the best and stands the test of time.

]]> http://www.realdeeprecordings.com/2009/07/02/cesar-ramirez/feed/ 0 http://www.realdeeprecordings.com/2009/07/02/apple-jazz/ http://www.realdeeprecordings.com/2009/07/02/apple-jazz/#comments Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:10:44 +0000 admin http://www.realdeeprecordings.com/?p=306 Nyiko Maphosa Aka “Apple Jazz” is holding down the deep house sound in South Africa.  He is sure to continue to startle us as he has from the very beginning as with his first remix, the now-classic scratch on “Jazz partner”. His fusions, clamped to the beat of his unique, thundering kick drum, define his sound at every turn.

Through DJ-ing and the local scene, Apple Jazz found himself intrigued with the production element of dance music and soon began to create his own grooves.  The Apple Jazz sound, or the “one man mix”, as Nyiko calls it, is quickly becoming house music history.

During this cultivation process, Apple Jazz formed a strong bond w/ crew member Arnold Tempo and they have now joined forces in the studio to create the group Black Jazz.  They’re first release is soon to drop on RealDEEP Recordings.

Brian Gardner may have discovered his passion for DJing by accident, but his success is far from accidental. As a veteran of the Chicago House music scene for more than 15 years, Gardner has emerged as a versatile DJ and producer who manipulates everything from soulful, jazzy jack to the harder beats of industrial and techno. More recently, Gardner has stepped into the role as one of the booking directors for Chicago’s Music-101.com, where he brings in an array of top-tier House talent while promoting the underground vibrancy that makes the city’s house scene glow.

Gardner’s love for underground House stems back to his childhood days in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. While the “Hot Mix 5″ DJs on the historic WBMX 102.7 dial sparked his passion for the music, it was involvement in the rave scene of the early 1990’s that first introduced him to the full spectrum of underground, electronic sound. When some friends asked if he could look after a set of turntables for them in 1993, Gardner saw it as an open call to experiment with beat matching and mixing. With his friends never reclaiming the tables, he delved deeper into his newfound passion, buying records and playing numerous house parties across the city.

In the mid 1990s, Gardner elevated his underground status by joining the ranks of Chicago’s Soul Foundation Kollective, where he and fellow House cohorts including Traxx, Jevon Jackson, Frique, Brenda D and John Simmons created an electronic blueprint of house music history. The legendary Soul Foundation parties allowed Gardner to step into his own as both a performer on the decks and promoter of the events. In 1998, he took on the role of House buyer of Chicago’s Hot Jams records while earning playing time at premiere underground venues including Smart Bar, Boom Boom Room and Mad Bar, to name a few. His success on and behind the scenes landed him the position as manager and house buyer for WAXaddict records in 2002.

Gardner currently juggles multiple hats of being DJing, producing, promoting and booking events. In (2000) he joined the ranks of Chicago’s visible Music 101 promotions team where he works as a production manager for bookings, event coordinator and web site administrator. On the DJ tip, he and production partner/wife Brenda D have held their three-year, Friday night house residency, Bootlegged, at Chicago’s Moonshine. Gardner himself commands presence on a weekly basis throughout the city, bringing a fresh flavor to the typical four-by-four beat.

“Acid, deep, jackin’, old school-I’m not limiting myself to any one genre of House,” Gardner says. More recently, his style has taken him the route of “deep boompty house,” which are slower beats characterized by big vocals. “I’m not interested in putting people to sleep,” he says of his performance style. “Good music is just good music.”

Gardner releases his first nationally distributed C.D. in fall 2007 on the San Francisco-based Loveslap! Recordings label. The mix C.D. features his mix of the label’s back-catalogued cuts.

“You always have to recreate yourself-you can’t get stuck in your niche,” Gardner says of his evolving career. “It’s an exciting time for House music in Chicago.”

Brenda’s move to Chicago in 1996 saw her joining the ranks the city’s esteemed Soul Foundation Kollective, which included heavy house hitters such as Traxx, Frique, Jevon Jackson, Brian Gardner and John Simmons, to name a few. Brenda quickly absorbed their creative influences and landed her first gig at Chicago’s Mad Bar in 1999. Soon, she earned a monthly residency at the club and began playing at other underground venues, including Smart Bar, Karma & many others.

In 2004 she and production partner/husband Brian Gardner established their Friday night residency, “Bootlegged” at Moonshine. With help from fellow Soul Foundation member Jevon Jackson, the night has become a weekly underground staple of Chicago’s house music scene for the past four years.

“DJing and performing are my passions”, says Brenda, who considers her track selection a brand of “forward-thinking house”. Her rolling, rhythmic beats create a sonic canopy of sound that resounds with hard energy while maintaining a sense of femininity.

Local press has also taken notice of Brenda’s style. “Chicago Scene” magazine featured Brenda D. as one of Chicago’s best female DJs in its April 2007 issue. “I can’t imagine being anywhere else or doing anything else”, she says of her House music craft.

DOTS (aka Dust On The Stylus) is an enigmatic non-musician, producer, deejay, and remixer who fuses psychedelic pop influences with modern day electronic music. The DOTS sound knows no boundaries and aims to bridge the gap between experimentation and more traditional pop structure. Mixing together a colorful swirl of electronica, rock music, and noise, the music DOTS creates successfully bypasses the limitations of being labeled as any one specific genre, but rather accepts them all as being equally influential to his unique style.