Selections: B. Traits
In our new regular feature, Selections, we invite DJs, producers and label heads to dig into their digital crates and share recent additions to their Bandcamp collections. This week, Canadian-born, DJ, producer, broadcaster, and global scene champion, B. Traits, steps up with 10 tracks spanning from ambient electronics to club-focused cuts
Record stores and clubs around the world are shut, and opportunities to find new music out in the wild have been ripped from under our feet as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. While hearing new music played out by your favourite DJs will have to be put on hold due to these unprecedented circumstances, it’s never been easier, or more important, to support the artists and labels putting out EPs, albums and compilations in the midst of all the madness.
With tour cancellations and festival postponements leaving many members of the international electronic music community out of pocket, Bandcamp has become an even more vital platform for supporting the music you love, with 80% of all sales from the online music store going directly to artists and labels. Last month, the platform announced it would be waiving its revenue share for all sales for one day, and on 20th March, took no cut from purchases made. In total, $4.3 million was spent on music over the course of 24 hours, all going straight to the creators. On 1st of May, it waived its revenue share again for 24 hours, raising $7 million for artists and labels. With two more Bandcamp days lined up for 5th June and 3rd July, it’s time to start adding releases to your Wishlist to grab on the day to ensure all of your spending goes directly to the artists and labels you love!
In our new regular series. Selections, we’re inviting DJs, producers and label heads to dig into their digital crates and share recent additions to their Bandcamp collections. In lieu of opportunities to discover new records on the dancefloor, Selections – along with radio shows and mixes – will give you the chance to nab new sounds from the crates of tastemakers, and support the artists behind them while you’re at it. Win-win, right?
This week, DJ, producer, label-owner, and former BBC Radio 1 resident, B. Traits, steps up with a set of genre-spanning selections. The Canadian-born artist has long since championed a rich and progressive global underground as B. Traits, extending her work from the dancefloor to drug education documentaries, and last year launched a new, ambient-leaning label featuring guided meditations, Paciphonic. More recently, B. Traits is focused on a new alias: Baby T. “Exploring the middle ground between fast techno and jungle,” B’s new project is a nod towards her desire as an artist for complete freedom, endless musical directions and enthusiasm for different projects and sounds. Her first release for Samurai Music, released earlier this year, delves deep into dark and intense electronics. It’s a reclamation of her original alias, Baby Traits, which she abbreviated to B. Traits for a name more androgynous to navigate the jungle scene. “I played faster back then: hardcore, drum & bass and jungle - and that’s where I’m going back to with Baby T,” she explains. “but this time I’m not 18, and I have zero fucks to give.”
B’s Bandcamp selections highlight the current sounds she's been collecting not just for sets, but also to enjoy at home away from the club. Check out her picks below.
"Good music with good intentions. This stunning compilation has been on replay over the last few weeks, featuring many of my favourite producers; Mike Parker, Dozzy, Cat Barbieri, Peter VH + many more. The 56 track charity compilation was put together by Neel in light of the COVID-19 situation, all proceeds go to The Red Cross. My personal fav is Forest Drive West’s contribution."
"I stumbled upon this one somehow, the first release from brand new label Somov and this track by the label creator Ignez. I dig it."
"Magnificently executed percussive-loopy-hypnotic-MILLSy-techno from the Brussels crew C12"
"He’s still one of the best. Consistently releasing quality music since I first discovered him when I was just beginning my journey into music. This LP includes many familiar sounds I’ve heard throughout dBridge’s DJ sets over the years, its so nice to be able to finally have these to listen to in full!"
"Taking it back a little with this one, but as a whole album its a perfect nostalgia rollercoaster. This album brings together a selection of tracks originally recorded at the time of HIA’s first album ‘Colourform’. It’s a nice variety of feel good bleeps and the perfect listening tool for my recent BBQs."
"Dom & Roland had originally produced this way back in like the late 90’s and he’d kept it to himself for years! I totally missed that he finally released this record as ‘Dubs From The Dungeons DDD04' in 2017 so was pleasantly surprised when doing a Baby T Bandcamp round up to find it!!!"
"Aggressive bassines and Amens + X-men spin backs. The most recent addition to the Baby T playlist."
"The latest compilation by the Samurai camp featuring a heavy selection of excellent records that didn’t quite make the cut for the original releases. Tracks still in heavy rotation in many of the crews DJ sets, so rather than hogging them, they put together this Bandcamp exclusive release. DUBS"
"Kangding Ray’s STOCK series has been a perfect selection of music that I feel appropriately soundtracks this time in culture. Psychedelism meets introspection."
"Music to simply dissolve to. A beautiful, peaceful album to appreciate from start to finish for a moment of calm."
