Selections: Ifeoluwa

In this series, Selections, we invite DJs, producers and label heads to dig into their digital crates and share the contents of their Bandcamp collections. While hearing new music played out by your favourite selectors remains largely on hold as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s never been easier, or more important, to support the artists and imprints releasing tracks, albums, EPs and comps in the midst of all the madness. In lieu of opportunities to discover new records on the dancefloor, Selections will give you the chance to nab sounds from the crates of tastemakers, and support the people behind them while you’re at it. Win-win, right?

This week, INTERVENTION and ipaadi label founder, writer and DJ, Ifeoluwa, spotlights some recent favourites, including releases on SVBKVLT, early reflex, Rama and ZULI’s Irsh and NAAFI. Speaking about their Selections, Ifeoluwa says: “It’s no secret I love sad, bass heavy, super dramatic, leftfield (yes, it’s a real thing) club and techno, so picking just 10 was really difficult. If you’ve listened to my Rinse France shows, you’ll know there’s always a global focus to my shows, but firmly always dancefloor oriented. So here are my 10 selections that will hopefully make you cry and throw it back.”

Ifeoluwa, aka Yewande Adeniran, launched their new label ipaadi today (11th June) with an EP from Giant Swan’s Robin Stewart, which you can buy here. Described by Stewart as a “a weird love letter to ‘maximal minimalism’”, ‘Albatross’ was recorded in 2017 using one drum machine. The resulting EP is one of tense, industrial experiments, with each track teetering just on the edge of eruption. Fans of Giant Swan will find a lot to love, with the vibrating balance of immersion and frenzy making for a release that is at once hypnotic and electrifying.

Last year, marking four years of INTERVENTION, a party and workshop series for aspiring DJs and producers, Ifeoluwa expanded the platform to release a compilation in aid of Studio 306 and Nafsiyat, two London-based initiatives providing mental health support for Black people and POC. You can find that here. 

They also recently announced a new digital archive project for underground dance and experimental music, asking followers on Twitter to submit “their favourite DJs, producers and composers, both established and newcomers, sesh stories, best night outs, photos and any memorabilia. From any year!” – You can get in touch via dancemusicarchives@gmail.com.

In the meantime, dig into Ifeoluwa’s Selections below.

“Theatrical, full of suspense, emotional and dark - the second album by Yen Tech on Shanghai label SVBKVLT ticks all my boxes. It’s one of those releases where you can appreciate the bangers but also tracks like ‘Leech’ and ‘Kernel’. But then ‘Arsenal’ feels like if all the screamo kids decided to make dance music but with wickedly fierce futuristic sound design throughout. I’m basically waiting for the clubs to safely open so I can play this one loud and scare all the melts.”

“If you’re into club, the genre and the venue we dance at, you HAVE to check out the latest comp from Early Reflex. It’s run by Italian DJ & producer Alec Pace so you know its going to be good. The label is just over a year old but already one of my favourites. This comp features a worldwide consort of up and coming artists including Splash Pattern, E-Talking, Lithe and Sobolik. There’s some breaks, big synth lines, drums b2b drums all packed with lots of feels.”

“This is a release I keep coming back to. Muqata’a, who is a Palestinian instrumental hip-hop artist, uses glitchy, noisy electronics alongside sampling classical Arabic music but also various Israeli military check points. He takes pride in his heritage, melting together the past and present in consistently interesting ways. This is one of those releases where I notice something new each time which leads to a completely different interpretation."
 

"Swak Catalog is based in Cape Town and run by two mega wavey producers Aryu Jassika and Jumping Back Slash. Not only do they release their own bangers, their compilations have showcased South African artists including remixes and OG tracks of faves Desire Marea and Odous. These two tracks are described as 'a tribute to tears in the club and silent screaming in the Uber' and 'K-Hole Dramapiano for the kids'. I couldn’t have said it better myself lads."

“This one isn’t coming out until August but I highly recommend you add it to your basket! Space Afrika’s releases are something special, unique and inspiring. ‘hybtwibt?’ Really changed the game of what we can expect from artists wanting to explore themselves and the world. I cried, and trust me you would too. It’s beautiful. The follow up 'Honest Labour' is a continuation of that genuine love.”

“Irsh was started by Rama and ZULI as a way to connect, collab and just generally have a good time in Cairo, ‘did you mean: irish?’ is basically the pair showing us the super talented people they’ve come across during this time. It’s genreless and describing it as experimental or forward thinking wouldn’t do it justice either but it’s both of these things. Turning expectations of the genres each track on its side but it’s never boring. Even for a writer this comp is hard to describe beyond ‘proper sick mate’.”

“We are truly blessed to have A.G. One of the most talented DJs, radio presenters and producers, her sound is bass heavy, drawing from the different London sounds but is fresh. ‘do little’ has that future garage vibe that made us all lose our shit in about 10 years ago now (mad init?) but it’s a much slicker continuation with a touch of grime on ‘always, you’ & ‘attention seeker’ is for the chirpsing cuties. I’m well excited to see A. G shell it down when the clubs open!”

“This is one of the releases you hear one track on the pre-order page and you buy it. XOLOT are a Mexican-French audio / visual artists & duo. Okay so this one is hard to summarise because it sounds like dream pop at first then submerged abstract club before finally settling into almost deconstructed (lol) grime.”

“Holy shit (sorry mum), I lost myself the first time I heard this. It’s a match made in heaven. Manuka Honey on NAAFI is dark, enticing and forces you to move your body. It has latin and rave elements, but in an unsettling manner. ‘Ssling’ is the sound of summer we all deserve. It’s mad to think this is their debut EP! You need to stop everything you’re doing and listen to this right now.”

"If you’ve heard any of my sets before, you know I’m a huge fan of Hakuna Kulala. For me this is the perfect diaspora sound. Their releases don’t shy away from their heritage but also don’t remain complacent with where the dance music scene is at. Don Zilla’s debut album does this perfectly. 'Ekizikiza Mubwengula' is incredible. It’s rowdyyyyyy, like 4am in the club rowdy, but it has so many different sounds, beeps, crashes, rumbling bass that it consumes. So yeah check this one out."