Odyssey Recordings is a recently established label based in the West Midlands that will be showcasing all forms of electronic music. With a solid background of music ranging from classical orchestral, jazz, soul, jungle, drum & bass, Asian and hip hop behind it and an upcoming event that is looking to be a big night, we spoke to owner John Nar (DJ Sid/Narkotix) and manager Chaand Bhagotra (Mr Moon) for the low down.

Tell us a little bit about yourselves…
We’re a pair of DJs/producers who have been following drum & bass and electronic music genres through our time. I’ve been following the scene since the early 90’s i.e. Quest/Fibre Optic/Pandemonium, following through the progression in to World dance, Dreamscapes, Progression Sessions (Good Looking Records).

 

I started mixing at the age of 19 buying records from the historic local music store Ruby Red Records. My style originates from jungle through to atmospheric, jazzy and chilled out drum & bass. I am currently producing music for my label and organizing Odyssey events.

 

Mr Moon is one of the new breeds of DJ and producer who grew up with a strong musical background playing the violin. He focuses on the more eclectic, alternate sounds of drum & bass and underground music, being influenced strongly by varying styles of techno, house, break-beat, hip hop and classical music.  

What inspired you to start Odyssey Recordings?
I came up with the concept Odyssey Of The Mind in the early 90’s jungle/drum & bass era and since then the musical journey has been an interesting one leading to work with so many music lovers and finding a team of artists to showcase this journey through music, hence the name Odyssey.

 

Over the last year working with different artists and on local radio, the passion and love for music that I found in some of the local DJs intrigued me. The drum & bass scene had become a little stagnate and flat, leaving behind its musical taste and started to be seen as a little closed minded at times.

 

This really inspired me to get things rolling because the emergence of local DJs who had more adventurous minds musically became more exciting and started to turn heads. There is a buzz for great music and the passion we have is the driving force behind it.

Tell us a little about the ethos behind the label?
In recent times we have seen the falsity of many of the social, moral, economic and political structures we have been programmed to believe for centuries, this has left a nation dazed, confused and uneasy.

 

In the light of such confusion, it is not surprising that the NU:GENeration is looking for a different way of life, something out of the norm to give sense to all the mayhem in the news and their lives.

 

There are always cycles within drum & bass, there is noise, dark stuff, the atmospheric, jazz thing… One thing about this music is that you can fuse so many other styles into it. This is what we are about. Variety is the spice of life.

What makes it different to what’s already out there?
However you look at it, currently a lot of new artists in the drum & bass scene are confined in their musical limits and are missing out on a vast amount of great music while our DJ’s have more adventurous minds and tend to be whole lot more interesting.

 

Odyssey Recordings choose to avoid the trappings to many expressions of electronic music and demonstrating the nifty art of doing your own thing. With warm emotive electronics, easy, muscular rhythms and strange, understated soundscapes. We want to represent something that you can listen to in every different situation.

Can you tell us about the artist’s that you have on the label?
As well as myself (Narkotix) and Mr Moon, Odyssey Recordings consists of: Kesa (Kasa Singh), a producer/musician who has released a track called Elements on Ray Keith’s label, Emotive Records. Sanz, also a producer who regularly has his work showcased on Nihal’s radio show on BBC Asian network. Charlene McKenzie, an upcoming vocalist we noticed at an open mic night, her voice instantly grabbed us and knew we had found a gem for the label.

 

Cyte (Simon Hill) and Squeekz (Beth Thompson) are both upcoming DJ/producers of the more melodic and deeper d&b sounds. Slamdunk (Chris Dunkley) is a talented DJ & producer who’s very skilled in his craft. Inna Fix (Leigh Pachecho) plays the guitar, drums and also writes music. Mr Brown (James Brown) is an up and coming dubstep DJ but recently started to delve into different d&b styles. Stixx (Andrew Howe) is aso a d&b DJ/producer.

 

 

Our master vocalist and host, MC Brink (Jak Cosnett) is a true lyricist using lyrics as the key to his performance, elevating the art of what an MC does. Essjayy (Steven Wright) deals with graphic design and visuals. We also have an Australian artist Severity Zero (Leo De Oliveira) with forthcoming tracks to be released on the label. We have a tight little family, everyone has their attributes and we’re all working together.

When considering new talent, what do you look for?
Scanning through the existing community of artist and DJs from the drum & bass scene, Odyssey have already begun to develop a refined network hoping to strengthen the underground music scene as a whole.

 

We are looking for artists who might be on a totally different flavour from one week to the next and to provide the new generation of DJs and producers a chance to break in to the ever difficult music scene with their eccentric sounds.

 

I have such a wide variety of music tastes and I am open to all kinds of thought out styles whether it is techno, break-beat or whatever. We intend to give an educated insight into the urban dance scene in the UK and beyond.

Where can producers send their demos?
Artists can send demos to odysseyrecordings@hotmail.co.uk

What is your biggest goal for your label?
We intend to set up an imprint called Odyssey Recordings specializing in more electronically-inclined ambience of sound.

 

It seems like bad elements in the dance music industry have taught us to pigeon hole for too long and maybe if there were not categories, all the clashing opinions I have encountered between other people over the years would have been more easily understood.

 

It may take a while, but at the end of the day, those who simply love what we can do only benefit from less conflict and more good music. This way different parts of the dance scene will be able to work much more closely to further its goals, rather than rejecting new and innovative music just because it doesn’t fit into its pre-stamped package.

 

So look out for Odyssey, we are going to continue to provide more good music, whilst at the same time capturing a vibe that everybody is crying out for, as well as being able to push and support local talent. Basically we want to give the clubs and music lovers a taste of what is to come in the future.

You have an event coming up soon, what can we expect?
Yes we have an event coming up on Saturday 24th March 2012 at the Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton. The night is called NU:Gen (NU:Generation) showcasing electronic beats 170bpm.

 

Performing will be Odyssey residents and guests alongside established artists Big Bud and MC Conrad. There will also be visuals from Essjayy graphics and a live P.A. of our debut single Odyssey by Narkotix feat Charlene McKenzie in vocals. Also on the bill is Sun and Bass 2011 DJ competition winner SRX, another local talent and CrazyB, an up and coming DJ from Luton.

 

Our type of music is part of the future. There are a lot of different styles being showcased at the event from atmospheric to deep, funky sounds.

Do you have any forthcoming releases?
Yes, we have our debut release by myself, Narkotix feat. Charlene McKenzie entitled Odyssey. Our other artist Sanz and Cyte & Squeekz have been working on new material, soon to be the finished article and released later this year.

What else are you planning for Odyssey in 2012?
Moving forward we wish to collaborate with new up and coming artists and promoters. We will also be launching a new website very soon. This will act as a central platform for the public to have full access to Odyssey Recordings work. I am also hoping to have an online streaming radio for the masses. Our ideas are limitless…

Any last words?
Odyssey Of The Mind…
Chance Favours The Prepared Mind…
Let your mind conceive and you will achieve…

 

 

 

Words: Laura Charalambous

Related Links:

• Label Profile: Odyssey Recordings
• On Point Music Site Relaunch
• On Point Music Site Relaunch
• Alphabet's Heaven Drops Trippy Beats Debut
• Breakneck Documentary

Like it? Share it!
Sign up for more with the Kmag weekly newsletter.