CLUB
Osunlade |
Written 30 January |
Thursday 22 January - Friday 23 January, 23:30Batofar, 75013 [map]Osunlade, Eva Gardner
Composer, producer, remixer, DJ, label boss, priest of
Ifá... the man called
Osunlade has many roles. Having worked with some of the brightest stars of music across a huge span of genres, from
Roy Ayers to
Patti Labelle,
Jimmy Abney to
Salif Keita, he has been both an influence upon and a force within modern music in the last decade. After forging his name as one of the most consistent and creative remixers on the deep house scene, Osunlade has recently switched his focus to his own own label, Yoruba Records.
.Osunlade. "It's allowed me to focus completely on what's important to me: the artists, the label and my music. I've spent so many years remixing and contributing to others' careers that I felt like it took away from my own purpose."
.TP. What tracks/labels/producers are you feeling at the minute?
.O. I'm not really into what's happening in the scene at the moment as I've given all of my attention to the projects I'm working on."
And the attention is having an effect: in the last eighteen months Yoruba Records have released some of the most emotional, spiritual house and soul music to grace the scene in a long time. From the sunwashed grooves of
Nomumbah's album "Love Moves" to the insanely addictive afro grooves of
Afefe Iku's "Mirror Dance" via the deep, spiritual soul of Jimmy Abney's "Return To Forever", the label is fast becoming a pedigree of the highest quality.
.TP. You've got some amazing artists signed up at the minute - Afefe Iku, Boddhi Satva, Nomumbah - how do you track these people down?
.O. Literally, the universe brings them my way - I think the common thread of spirituality and emotional appeal from the music brings us together. Some I met in person, others reached out in some other form and it went from there.
.TP. And what's on the horizon for Yoruba Records?
.O. "Palmistry" - a compilation of new dance artists; Quetzal Guerrero "Now" - a latin, fused soul project; Osunlade "Rebirth" - the album of my life to date.
.TP. How does Ifá influence your musical projects?
.O. Ifá isn't separate from my entire life, my existence is about it..it brings me balance and understanding of who I am, was and to become..it's not a religion as most people think or read about, it's a personal journey and connection with the source.
.TP. How does the French reaction to your work compare to, say, the States?
.O. Well, Europe in general embraces my work completely as opposed to the States. France in particular was the first country in Europe that gave me love like no other European country, so it has a special place in my heart. I'm always at home when I'm there and I feel the love.
Hosting tonight's proceedings will be resident eclectician (sure, it's a real word) Eva Gardner.
| What: | Osunlade, Eva Gardner |
| When: | Thursday 22 January - Friday 23 January, 23:30 |
| Where: | Batofar, Face au 11, quai Francois Mauriac 75013 [map] |
| Transport: | Quai de la gare/Bibliotheque Francois Mitterand |
| Cost: | 13EUR |
| Phone: | 01 53 60 17 30 |
| Email: | programmation@batofar.org |
| Web: | www.batofar.org |
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