PROFESSOR OZ Paris' Professor Oz began his musical odyssey in Paris as an original member of the Aleem Project from 1995-98. Oz eventually left Paris for Vienna and met his new neighbor Sugar B (Dub Club), as well as, Richard Dorfmeister of Tosca (G-Stone / !K7). He produced several tracks while in Vienna, including "Waves And Sun" from the album "One", which was subsequently remixed into the classic Dub track, "African Waves" by the legendary Dr. Richard (of Kruder & Dorfmeister). The Professor later released the album, "Professor Oz & Microlive" featuring the renowned MC Sugar B. >>Soundcloud
SUGAR B Sugar B AKA Martin Forster started as singer of the fabled Moreaus w/ Peter Kruder (Peace Orchestra), Rodney Hunter (Uptight) and DJ DSL. He co-hosts the "Downbeat" radio show, Sound Of Swound w/ DJ Makossa, that airs every Saturday on Austria's FM4. Sugar B has recorded classic Headz & Dub tracks, including the single, "Love You Anyway" & his debut LP "I+I Produkt". He has performed as "toaster" for Austrian stalwarts Tosca, Kruder & Dorfmeister, Stereotyp, Walkner Moestl and Demon Flowers, as well as, Fauna Flash from Germany's legendary Compost records. He is also the co-founder of the Dub Club, featuring the finest in underground music at Club Flex in Vienna. >>Soundcloud
SHANTI ROOTS Since the mid-nineties, Markus Dohelsky AKA Shanti Roots, has been a fixture in the Viennese Dub and electronic scene. His first album "Subcodex", successfully united Dub, Downtempo and Drum 'n Bass music and featured the classic Headz track, "Holy Smoke". In 2002, Markus followed with the internationally successful 12" "Afrique", released on Vienna Scientists. The track was described as "a true floor-rocker manifesto" with support provided by Scheibosan, who adds an extra portion of Funk into the mix. Several Shanti Roots tracks have followed, including releases on the well-known Ecco Chamber "Black Coffee" compilation series, and remixes on Germany's Jubilee Records. >>Soundcloud
SCHEIBOSAN Beginning in 1998, Austria's Scheibosan became the distinguished taste maker and compiler of the six volume CD compilation series: Black Coffee, which featured a who's who of "Headz" artists and provided "an exquisite basis by blending Dub, R&B, Funk into Soul, Acid Jazz, Break beatzzz and Electro", released on the influential Viennese label, Ecco Chamber. Over the past several years, Scheibosan has been producing music with Shanti Roots. Scheibosan has also released tracks on renowned labels Dub Club/G-Stone, Jubilee Records and Vienna Scientists. His latest project with Shanti Roots includes Brazilian vocalist Joyce Muniz (G-Stone & Klein Records). >>Soundcloud
LAZY The L.A. band, Lazy, was founded by two former members of the internationally recognized, Supreme Beings Of Leisure, Rick Torres & Kiran Shahani. along with vocalist, Jailyn Matthews. Lazy mixes a blend of electronica with pop sensibilities. The All Music Guide describes Lazy as a "blend of modern Electronica with retro pop sounds, throw in some exotic touches and a filigree of turntablism". Their distinct sound has been featured in various films, television and even a Super Bowl ad for Miller Genuine Draft. Rick & Kiran, also co-wrote songs for Kiran's group, Bitter:Sweet (Quango Records). Kiran's latest project is Button:Pusher on Nettwerk Records. Rick is currently working on his latest project "The Smart Set", and his track "Love Never Dies" is featured in the recent Fisker Karma Hybrid car commercial). >>Soundcloud
SIN The original incarnation of SIN was co-founded in 1989 by Mona Moore, Andy Orel and Richard Dorfmeister. They released their first 12", "Where Shall I Turn?" in 1990. In 1993, "Dorfmeister left Vienna to get things going in the DJ-world, whereas Moore and Orel were quite comfortable with their comparably old-school band/songwriting approach." Mona and Andy continued Sin as a duo releasing several successful albums on the Viennese label, Abuse Industries. Sin's music has also been remixed by "Headz" pioneers, Pulsinger & Tunakan, Waldeck, Freedom Satellite, Abe Duque and the first remix by Kruder & Dorfmeister, which was later released on the highly influential, "K & D Sessions". Mixmag writes that the music of Sin "moves through the sultry vibes of bad porn movies, underpinning the action with low slung but highly polished Viennese beats. High class stuff, but dirty all the same." >>Discogs
XPLODING PLASTIX Norway's Jens Petter Nilsen and Hallvard Hagen make up Xploding Plastix. Beatservice, pronounces XP's music as "a genre-bending assemblage, with animated fluctuations, successfully integrated. Frantic, exuberant accretion of brittle, bustling rhythms and melodies, introducing an urgent funk punch; a flickering sensuousness and enveloping rhythmic pulse." XP's first single was released on the influential Pork Recordings and they followed with their stellar full-length album: "Amateur Girlfriends Go Proskirt Agents". DJ Magazine says, "Xploding Plastix steps confidently, not to mention beautifully, between the realms of Jazz, Electronica, Classical and acoustic Folk. Class!" NME describes their live performance as "a big, disorienting future-jazz racket, splicing DJ Food's mad drums, Aphex Twin's time signatures and The Herbaliser's moodiest, cinematic bits. Awesome." >>Soundcloud
STEFAN OBERMAIER Stefan Obermaier grew up in Salzburg and was "breast fed with his fathers collection of old Funk, Soul & Jazz recordings." He eventually turned to producing the rhythms associated with the legendary Viennese Downbeat scene, and relocated to the Austrian capitol. It didn't take long for him to get acquainted with Jürgen Drimal, head of the infamous Vienna Scientists record label. Stefan has also remixed tracks by Mozart, vocalist Mark Murphy, & Germany's Razoof (Stereo Deluxe). Play.FM pronounced Stefan as "one of the hottest newcomers" and that "he more than matched those expectations with his first track "Inna Fat Dub Combo." He released the LP This Vibe, and his track "Bah Mea" is featured on Vienna Scientists Vol. 5. Recently, Stefan has been collaborating with the legendary Richard Dorfmeister on several remixes. >>Soundcloud
SEE-I See-I of Washington D.C., feature brothers, Rootz and Zeebo Steele, who are internationally renowned for their vocal stylings fronting the Downtempo group, Thievery Corporation. The band, See-I, have been performing for more than 20 years, and "offer up bass-and-drum heavy, world conscious, dub-laced tracks". They are particularly recognized for their music collaborations with Thievery Corporation (and producer, Desmond Williams) on the seminal dub tracks: "38.45 (A Thievery Number)", "Assault On Babylon" and "Focus on Sight". Re:Up magazine points out See-I's "overall ability to blend the sacred trinity of Dub, Hip-Hop and Downtempo" that really makes them stand out. See-I regularly perform live at the Eighteenth Street Lounge in D.C., and tour with members of Thievery & Fort Knox Five. Their self-titled debut "The King", and remix album "How Could You" are out now! >>Soundcloud
ARCHITEKTUR Since 2000, Architektur has played Downbeat and Dub in cities from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to Vienna, Austria. The Wire Magazine described Architektur's debut album, Travelogue, as 'Meat Beat Manifesto collides with Shorty Rogers', and Austinist proclaimed the album as the soundtrack to the Mothership: "Stroll down the promenade and gaze out into the depths of space as the eerie 1920s big band drowns in molten reverb before the leering percussion tears you away". He has also composed award winning scores, including a Telly, Chris & EMPixx award! Architektur also founded Lounge Productions, Burning Bowl Records, and hosts the "Downtempo" radio program, Passport [WRUW 91.1FM]. Passport Radio features exclusive interviews with members of Gotan Project, Thievery Corporation, Bitter:Sweet, Compost & G-Stone Recordings, among others. The album "Musik For Film" was compiled by Architektur, and was ranked among the best "Downtempo" albums of 2008, "Big up to Architektur, the man behind the great 'Musik for Film' compilation...this cd is a must-have for every downbeat/chilled dub fan...great stuff!!" - FM Brussels. He is also the co-curator of the incomparable, "Top 101 Downtempo Albums of All-Time" - "A load of great albums to reacquaint myself with" - Martin James [Melody Maker | The Guardian | Muzik]. >>Soundcloud
ALL INDIA RADIO The music of Australia's All India Radio offers an eclectic mix of ambient electronics, indie guitar pop and cinematic soundscapes and textures. Since 1999, All India Radio has been fronted by founder, Martin Kennedy and recently signed with Chicago's Minty Fresh Records. AIR also completed their first U.S. tour in support of their release, "Echo Other", performing in cities from New York & Chicago to Seattle & San Francisco. The tour was highlighted by a performance at Hollywood's infamous Knitting Factory. Spin Magazine describes their music as, "Lonesome sagebrush guitar meets swirling deep-space technology, suggesting a futuristic spaghetti western." While Calmscape portray AIR's music as "an explosion of gracious cinematic sound. Quite impressive, reminiscent of Blue States meeting Tosca." >>Soundcloud
JAMIE SAFT Jamie Saft's multi-instrumentalist capabilities and production skills have been associated with everyone from John Zorn & Masada, Marc Ribot's Los Cubanos Postisos to The Beastie Boys, Laurie Anderson, and The B-52's. All About Jazz writes that Jamie "presents a stylistic versatility that blends elements of reggae, dub, metal, blues and surf rock with more sophisticated forms of jazz. His multi-instrumentalist capabilities are intertwined with his affinity for vintage instruments such as the Fender Rhodes, Mellotron, Mini-Moog and other analog synthesizers", proclaiming that the Queens native "demonstrates an unfettered imagination and sense of invention that, truly dominate." Jamie has composed a number of original film scores, including an Oscar nominated film, and the winner of the 2006 Sundance Grand Jury prize. His music can be heard on John Zorn's label, Tzadik. >>Soundcloud
THE WAZ EXPERIENCE From 1987 - 1994, The Waz Experience performed in the "cosmic scene" between Torino, Innsbruck & Munich. It was during this period that Martin Wazac AKA Waz Exp got involved with the "Headz" movement that started to become so popular in Austria. In 1997, he relocated to Vienna and released tracks on notable Downbeat labels Vienna Scientists, Musicpark, Molar and Spray Records. Martin also contributed to the compilation series Vienna Vibrations and the politically motivated, Electronic Resistance. Waz Experience has also worked with artists, MC Sultan (now known as dZihan & Kamien) and Sin. He co-founded the Dubware Soundsystem, an Austrian collective of musicians "containing groovy Dub and House feelings, all served with a touch of oriental and unusual instruments." Waz also remixed "The Smoker" available on Architektur's debut album, "Travelogue". >>Soundcloud
OHM OHM features Austrian's Jürgen Nussbaum & Chris Eibl from Molar Records in Germany. Jürgen, Chris and brother, Martin Nussbaum, are collectively known as members of the genre defining electronic group, UKO, who were released on Vienna's influential Klein Records. Listening to music from this trio has been described by Soul Seduction as "walking on the moon to a Barry White soundtrack", featuring "Dubwise minimalist soundscapes that swoon in slow motion...Jazz meets Dub, the electronic meets the soulful, digital meets analogue." UKO have been an integral part of the Vienna electronic music community and have collaborated with Downbeat luminaries Tosca (G-Stone/!K7), the Sofa Surfers (Klein), Quantic (Tru Thoughts), as well as, Vienna Scientists' own Freedom Satellite and The Menheads. >>Soundcloud
CANARTIC Austin based Jon Coats and Randall Peterson formed Canartic, along with bass player Gerard Smith, in 2002 while collaborating at Peterson's Javahut Studio. Canartic 'utilize Dub & Downtempo styles as guides to collage electronic shapes around simple grooves and then injected with a dose of Psychedelia, courtesy of heavily processed guitar'. The Sea of Tranquility describe Canartic's sound as "plenty of slow, psychedelic jams that call to mind The Orb on bovine testosterone, Bill Laswell on downs and turntable guitarist Andre LaFosse takin' it real chill". Canartic's CD, "Bouncing Radar Beams Off The Moon" was released on the collective's own Dank Disk label and has been described by The Wire magazine as " the missing link between King Tubby and Hendrix's "Third Stone From The Sun". Canartic also remixed "Mantra" available on Architektur's album, "Travelogue". Canartic's third LP "Modulotion" is out now! >>Soundcloud
KARL STIRNER Viennese born Karl Stirner, "studied Zither, composition, people, survival strategies and circumstances." Karl composes stage music, including "Das Schauspielhaus" in 1991/92 and currently writes radio plays, film scripts & scores. He is also known to incorporate traditional Viennese music along with electronic and Jazz elements in his compositions. Karl Stirner was co-author and MC of the radio program "Sodawossa und Kitarrn" on Austrian Radio 1476. Since 2002, Karl has been working as a composer and musician at the historic Burgtheater in Vienna. Most recently, Karl has also been composing music with Sebastian Seidl. >>Soundcloud
SUNDAE CLUB The co-founders of UK's Sundae Club perform under the pseudonyms, Hamstall Ridware & Dr C.D. Mille. Their keyboard inspired music features the sound of the Mellotron, Theremin & Fairlight, among other vintage electronic instruments. The BBC declare that Sundae Club "produce highly innovative tracks full of wit, imagination and a distinctive style. With an imaginative blend of vintage synths, wacky samples and modern beats, Sundae Club reach the parts other desserts can't", and finished as the number one ranked album by the BBC in 2004. They have been described as "both absolutely barking mad...in the nicest possible way," while producing "a thoroughly English-sounding record" in the vein of Lemon Jelly. They have performed live along side the Afro Celt Sound System, Zion Train, and Ian Hunter, among others. Their recent album "British Summer Time" is available now! >>Soundcloud
ALEX JöCHTL The renowned Alex Jöchtl mastered "Musik For Film" and Architektur's "Travelogue" at The Castle Mastering suite in Linz, Austria. Since 1992, Alex has mastered countless artists, including records by Austrian Downbeat, Hip Hop and NuJazz luminaries Karl Moestl, Texta and Parov Stelar, as well as, releases on Austrian labels, Etage Noir & Ecco Chamber Records. Miooow Booking Cooperative in Vienna describes Alex as an "electronic music zealot" who is also a member of the bands, WUK and Audiobomber, as well as, engineer for several bands including the Parov Stelar Band.