Afrolicious Turns 2!

Afrolicious, the weekly dance party in San Francisco hosted by Six Degrees Records blogger and all-around renaissance guy Oz McGuire, aka Señor Oz, and Pleasuremaker is having a 2-night celebration tonight and tomorrow at the Elbo Room. Along with resident drummers B Lee and Elrod, the Afrolicious crew will be joined by DJ Nickodemus and Nappy G along with DJ Smash. If you live in the Bay Area come thru! More info on the Afrolicious blog! Enjoy the videos from February when DJ Smash made a surprise appearance and dj set.




Artists in the Street - Interview w/Nappy G, Pleasuremaker, and Señor Oz
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Kush Arora - The Dread Bass Chronicles

Free Download - Kush Arora - Poison PIll featuring MC Zulu
Listen/Buy The Dread Bass Chronicles



Kush Arora has been sculpting his own special take on bass heavy, Indian influenced dance-hall/ dubstep here in San Francisco and beyond for the past decade. He is a member of the Surya Dub Crew which has consistently been at the center of dread bass, dubstep, and electronica culture, winning best club night in SF two years in a row. Kush has just released his new one,“The Dread Bass Chronicles” which features an impressive supporting cast of fine MC’s like Warrior Queen, Juakali, MC Zulu and Bongo Chilli- and he's been nice enough to let us share a track with you all. Jamaica and India come crashing together on this tune, cemented by the all mighty "thump" of body rocking bass.

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Midival Punditz & Karsh Kale make the cover of Rolling Stone India

We are super proud of our boyz, Midival Punditz and Karsh Kale, on the cover of Rolling Stone India, May 2009.
Full story coming soon. In the mean time get the free download of the Midival Punditz song Drifting from their brand new release Hello Hello.
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Invisible System: Hode Baba

Free Download - Invisible System - Hode Baba

Buy Invisible System

In the spirit of believing that you can never really get enough Ethiopian Dub, today we are featuring a track from a new project called Invisible System. While Nick Page's Dub Colossus record has justifiably been receiving much acclaim, Dan Harper (the man behind Invisible System) was actually recording his fusion of Ethiopian Dub/Dance & Electronica before Real World's A Town Called Addis. In fact, Harper was instrumental in helping Page connect with the many wonderful Ethiopian musicians that he collaborated with on Dub Colossus as well as co-writing and engineering parts of that project.

Harper's Ethiopian roots run deep. He spent eight years in the country doing aid work and encountering all of the frustrations that come with the red tape involved with such ventures. He has set up a mobile recording facility called Worm Hole Studios where he has developed a philosophy of allowing the local talent to improvise and to be as creative as possible. This is very much a project that reflects the diverse talent of the region and doesn't want to trivialize it by turning it into little exotic samples. Invisible System lets Ethiopia's talent shine bright and once again points out how much incredible music continues to flow from this part of the world.

More info here

Invisible System Myspace page

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Ancient Astronauts: Risin' High (feat. Raashan Ahmad)

Free Download - Ancient Astronauts: Risin' High (feat. Raashan Ahmad)




I was very happy a few years ago to discover the German based label, Switchstance Recordings. Started by a group of talented young DJ/producers who also happen to be snow board freaks, the Switchstance sound can be very favorably compared with the output from labels like Fort Knox Recordings, ESL and Stereo Deluxe. You can always be sure that a Switchstance release is going to feature funky breaks, creative production and a dash of Latin, African or Indian global goodness, thrown in for good measure. These are tracks that kill on the dance floor but also stand up to actual repeated listening at home. The label lives up to its motto "Dope Beats for Dope Peeps"

Many years ago at the annual music industry schmooze fest, MIDEM, I met and struck up an industry friendship with label manager Tom Strauch which has resulted in a couple of great Issa Bagayogo remixes from Switstance artists Kabanjak and Deela. This week, I was excited to hear that the Switchstance vibe will be getting spread even further around the world, as Thievery Corporation's label ESL will be releasing the new project from label stalwarts, Ancient Astronauts. Already having remixed acts like, Fort Knox Five, Up Bustle & Out, Ladybug Mecca of Digable Planets, Zion I, and Dr. Rubberfunk, the Ancient Astronauts have linked up with a variety of new sonic collaborators to record their debut album, We Are To Answer! Contributors include Bootie Brown and Imani of legendary hip hop group The Pharcyde, Azeem, Tippa Irie, Bajka, Phat Old Mamas, Ulf Stricker, Raashan Ahmad and Entropik.

We're happy to be offering a "sneak peak" track from this project which will be out June 9th and encourage you to dig deeper into the output from this funky little label.A -Read the full Post-

"Updates from Alice Russell"

Hello there!

It's been a crazy couple of months touring around with my band of merry men; Oz, Nz then some French shows. Wine n cheese access enjoyed by all! I think the band should start an 'Eats n Treats' journal for each place we visit - we have had so many culinary delights. Yum!..."If music be the food of love, play on"...hmmm so maybe if food be the music of love ...anyway, where was I? Ahhh shows!

Back in the USA

So off we went to the U.S for the whole of March, sadly leaving Jack, Ben and Dan behind. But TM Juke, Mikee and me hooked up with the Park Boys from San Francisco to make up our Anglo-American band, kicking off with the crew in Washington DC, Bohemian Caverns, then going all over, stopping off for a week at SXSW and ending the tour in Portland. Thank you to all who came out and gave us the love!! There were so many places where it was our first time playing there and I really didn't know if we would have any friends. But out you came and gave us the energy to give it right back at ya!!! We played in some amazing venues! Not forgetting hooking up with Nat Geo TV channel after meeting them at our Washington show, to make a lil’ 6 song film in the legendary venue Antones, Austin.


Recording with David Byrne!

Alice Russell with David ByrneSo an amazing month! And to pop some icing on the cake, I got an email form David Byrne (Talking Heads) asking if I wanted to sing on a project he has been working on. He had already recorded songs with Sharon Jones, Roshine Murphy, Tori Amos to name a few, so I was very excited to be asked amongst theses lovely singing ladies and to get to work with Mr. David Byrne. So I wrote back straight away YES PLEASE!! And we hooked up for a recording session in London. It was amazing to meet a man who's music and live shows I have adored from afar! I'm a lucky lady! Read the BBC article about it here.


The Jazz Cafe - sold out...TWICE!!

After the U.S tour we arrived back to a warm welcome of two home-coming and sold out shows at the Jazz Cafe!!! You guys were amazing, as it was Monday and Tuesday early shows, but there you all were dancing n shaking it! Yeeha!!! We also had the delight of the killer horns and the lovely ladies joining us for these two shows making it twelve of us on stage! Energy was at an all time high plus we got to have a go at covering one of mine n TM Dukeey’s favourite Rick James tracks 'Give It To Me!". Need I say more??

We recorded both shows last week at The Jazz Cafe and the songs are currently being mixed, a selection of which will be available to members of my website in just 2 weeks time. If you aren't a member already there's only two weeks to sign up until the songs go live. You will be informed as soon as the tracks have been added to your lockers!!!

I'm writing this from my hotel room in Istanbul and please excuse me now as I got 30 mins before we're on stage! I best get my frock and a spot of lippy on!

Big love to you all and thank you so much for your support!!!

xxxxxxxxxxx alice

Alice Russell Homepage

Listen/Buy Alice Russell Pot of Gold


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Maga Bo Mini Documentaries: Ghislain Poirier & Diplo

An Interview with Ghislain Poirier from Maga Bo on Vimeo.


An Interview with Diplo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from Maga Bo on Vimeo.


Some visual treats for you today. Our buddy Maga Bo has taken it upon himself to produce a great series of mini documentaries, focusing on some of the most interesting "movers & shakers" currently operating on the global/dance scene. The fact that these video pieces are so tremendously enjoyable can be directly attributed to the fact that these are smart, articulate and talented musicians who are being interviewed by one of their peers who completely understands the scene and knows how to focus on the issues that most "journalists" don't cover.

Ghislain Poirier & Diplo are both talented musical omnivores who have produced fascinating bodies of work that are inspired by and incorporate styles of music from all over the planet. Both of these guys are relatively young in the game and know how to positively levitate a dance floor with their diverse DJ sets. They walk a very fine line between getting props for spreading the gospel of styles of music like dancehall, hip-hop, kuduro and baile funk to a wide, predominately "white" audience and being accused of "appropriating" these musics for their own gain. It is a testament to both artists that they are completely aware that the paths they have chosen are fraught with critical land mines and they just don't give a damn, choosing instead to just put their head's down and making block rocking music. Maga Bo gets them talking about some of these issues, as well as how they feel about slapping the tag, "Ghetto" in front of all of these new hybrids and what it's like to travel to the third world to collaborate musically.

As far as I'm concerned, the musical landscape would be a much more interesting and vital place if we had a few more artist/producers like these two and this is a fascinating chance to find out a little more about where they are coming from. Here's hoping Maga Bo keeps this video series alive for a good long time.

Check out all of Maga Bo's Video Profiles



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J-Boogie's Dubtronic Science - Dub Versions

Free Download- J-Boogie's Dubtronic Science - Revolution WWIII Dub feat. Lyrics Born & The Mamaz - Buy Album


J-Boogie is a dj, producer, bandleader (and former Six Degrees intern) based in San Francisco. Last summer he dropped Soul Vibrations, his second album under the J-Boogie's Dubtronic Science moniker. On his newest release he's remixed the entire album in a dub style. Along with the mandatory heavy reverb, delay and tape echo of a traditional dub version Boogie has upped the ante by creating entire new songs, movements and arrangements with a deep well of talent including Jazz Mafia, Rich Medina, Lyrics Born and the not-to-be-slept-on newcomer Iggy Mon who lights up the Inferno Dub track. This is dub for the dancefloor!

guest post by Señor Oz

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Basement Freaks - Gypsy Breaks

Free Download - Basement Freaks - Gypsy Breaks
Buy Basement Freaks


Sometimes it feels like the entire, Global Grooves community has gone Balkan/Gypsy crazy. A torrent of fine releases from such artists as Balkan Beat Box, Shantel and Max Pashm as well as countless genre specific compilations have been keeping dance-floors across the world rocking hard. Today we bring you a hard grooving slice of "Roma Funk" from Greek producer George Fotiadis, better known in the dance world as Basement Freaks. The excellent EP is packed with great mixes from folks like Tal M. Klein, Umbo Ganci, Breakbeat Junkie vs. DJP and is currently available for purchase as an exclusive pre-release on Juno and will be available everywhere else on 4/13. -Read the full Post-

Midival Punditz tour U.S.

Midival Punditz - Live in Dehli 2006 w/ Karsh Kale and guests.

The Midival Punditz new album Hello Hello has only been out for a few short weeks, but the accolades are rolling in from press all-over. Check out the San Francisco Chronicle review below.

The Punditz are also returning to the U.S. for a mini-tour.

Thursday, April 9 – S.O.B.s in New York

Saturday, April 11 – Martyr’s in Chicago

Thursday, April 16 – Mighty in San Francisco

Listen/Buy Midival Punditz - Hello Hello

SF Chronicle Review
Midival Punditz, 'Hello Hello'
David Wiegand
Sunday, April 5, 2009

WILD APPLAUSE

If you love global electronica but find that far too much of it is just tonally and technologically formulaic wallpaper, the Indian duo Midival Punditz is back with its second Six Degrees release, "Hello Hello," to prove that the genre can be creatively sound and stylistically engaging. Gaurav Raina and Tapan Raj create an aural rainbow of music, from the dance-trance "Electric Universe"; to the celebration of '80s rock, "Atomizer"; to the duo's take on Led Zeppelin's "Four Sticks"; to the electronic chant of "Naina Laagey"; to poet Ghalib's "Har Ek Baat," blending traditional Indian musicology with modern instruments. Artistically ambitious, "Hello Hello" never settles for the standard template of the multiple genres and styles that meet harmoniously on its 11 tracks.



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Traveler Brings the Global Funk:

The new episode of our weekly internet radio show, Six Degrees Traveler is now up on Apple i-Tunes (under the "Eclectic" or the "Electronica" sections of their radio page) or at http://www.live365.com/stations/sixdegrees.

On this week's program,we feature global funk from around the planet with sweaty grooves, both classic and brand new from India, Africa, Brazil, Jamaica, Latin America and the Middle East. Featured artists include Fela, Fort Knox Five, Mongo Santamaria, Thievery Corporation (remixed by Louis Vega), Alice Russell (remixed by DJ Smash) and many others.

I never had a chance, I was bitten by the "funk bug" at an early age when one of my brother's friends baby sat for me when I was around 8 years old. Somehow that evening we wound up watching a music show on television and my still developing, highly susceptible, unprotected brain was exposed to James Brown in his prime. Suddenly there was "Mr. Dynamite", shouting,grunting, strutting and performing splits while I watched in slack jawed wonderment. I don't remember what song he performed that night but I do remember thinking it was just about the coolest thing I had ever been exposed to. When it was all over and the commercials came on, my baby sitter turned to me and said "pretty good huh?" and all I could do to respond was to silently nod my head in the affirmative. I had been infected by the funk virus directly by "patient zero" himself "The Godfather" himself. The funk is merciless!

Later in my life when I was working at listener sponsored radio station, WORT in Madison Wisconsin, I got screamed at over the phone by a livid female listener because I was playing James Brown's "Hot Pants". It seems she found the recurring line, "woman got to use what she got- ah to get just what she need- ah" incredibly offensive and grounds for having me thrown off the air. "What do you want me to do" I wanted to tell her "The funk is not politically correct". Instead, I simply apologized and told her I'm sure James meant no offense. The funk is an equal opportunity groove thing.


As the years have gone by and my interests have expanded greatly into music from around the world, I have been gratified to find that the musical funk virus has successfully spread to all corners of the globe. Most people are aware of Africa's love affair with funky grooves and it seems that somewhere along the line Fela and James Brown had a pretty substantial mutual admiration society going on, which enriched BOTH of their music output. Less familiar to many world music fans might be the psychedelic funky grooves that can be found in various eras of music from the Middle East, Jamaica, India and of course, all over Latin America. Of course the tradition is alive and thriving to this day and the funky grooves just keep pouring out from around the planet. This week's radio show is just further proof- the funk is timeless.

Check out the full playlist

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