Zebra & Howard // Mahogany Mix 008
Swiss duo Zebra & Howard have dropped a succession of absolutely superb mixes in the past, but it’s been a little quiet on their front recently so we started speaking about kicking off the mixes in 2012 with an exclusive Mahogany mix, and oh boy did they deliver!
The pair have answered some questions as well so click play and read on…
- The Dead Rose Music Company – Keep the Faith
- Tiger Skin – Unreal Thing (Original Mix)
- LeSale – Make me Feel so Good (Original Mix)
- Adana Twins, Dr. Dru – Juicy Fruit (Original Mix)
- Discodromo, Hard Ton – Build a House (Tensnake Remix)
- Audiojack – Get Serious (Original Mix)
- Maxxi Soundsystem, Royston – Open Your Eyes (Original Mix)
- Terry Walker, Jozif – Twilight (Casino Times Remix)
- Jonas Rathsman – Feeling You (Original Mix)
- Lula Circus – Miami Vice (Original Mix)
- Ruben & Ra – Street Machine
- NY’s Finest, Victor Simonelli – Can You Feel Me (Club Mix)
- Jazzler (Dixxie Yure) – She Has (El Txef A Remix)
1. Who is Zebra & Howard, where are you both based and when did it all begin?
Zebra & Howard are Cedric Marti and Jan Skalski. We are both from Switzerland and met in Geneva for the first time, about 3 years ago. We both studied there and got to know each other by attending the same classes.
We soon found out that we both like the same kind of electronic music and as Geneva offers a lot of venues with good DJs we partly got inspired by some of the acts we had seen there. We both had been experimenting with programmes like Ableton for some time before but we had never played in bars or clubs. One day a friend offered us to play in Zurich and we decided to give it a try. We had a lot of fun that night and that’s how it basically began.
2. Where do you both stand when it comes to analog vs. digital — are you the record store or Beatport generation?
We both like going to record stores and get inspired by digging and discovering new records and sounds. We do the same on the internet and usually get the tracks there.
When we listen to a mix or dj set we attribute more importance to how it is mixed than where the tracks are bought or what device is used. The whole thing must be coherent, which means that there must be some sort of logic continuation with one track following the other. But most important of all, you have to be able to enjoy what you are hearing.
3. Talk to us about the mix you created for us
The mix we did for you is a compilation of some tracks we have been listening to lately. It has some disco, soul and house influences.
Some of the tracks contained I’ve discovered during my recent stay in New York, like NY’s finest and Victor Simonellis 1993 track ‘Do You Feel Me’ or the mor recent Lula Circus’ ‘Miami Vice’. The Miami Vice EP came out this fall on Brooklyn based label Stranjjur which is led by some guys who initially limited themselves to organizing parties in New York and introducing amongst others artist such as MANIK (Hot Natured) and Pezzner (Freerange, Crosstown Rebels) to their hometown. As a consequence the EP now also features remixes by both MANIK and Pezzner to which it is also worth listening to.
Other tracks are from emerging European producers, such as British youngster Maxxi Soundsystem, whose moves we have been observing since his debut ‘Criticize’, or Göteborg based Jonas Rathsman, who started out together with DJ Nibc as the duo ‘Stuffa’.
Finally, and since we both started out by playing disco and nu disco records, we’ve got some these in it too, like e.g. Tensnake’s remix of ’Build a House’.
Star Dust // Mahogany Mix 007
Stuttgart’s Star Dust has been pushing out some very tasty mixes in recent months via his SoundCloud page and the German producer and lover of all things electric has created the seventh in the series of exclusive Mahogany mixes and this one features some gorgeous remixes, progressive originals and some tropical bass-filled beats.
Star Dust // Mahogany Mix 007
6th Borough Project – Intro
Jamie Woon – Shouda (Manik Remix)
6th Borough Project – Iznae
Philip Bader, Nicone & Sascha Braemer – Dantze Girl
Pezzner & Aki Bergen feat. Terry Grant Aki Bergen’s Future Jazz Band – Tarareando
Nicone, Sascha Braemer & Narra – Caje
6th Borough Project – Find a way
Till Von Sein Feat. Tigerskin & Meggy – Non Existent Love
Zepp 001 – Dearly Beloved
Axel Boman – The Best Ever Made Ever
Moodymann – Rectif
Tell us about your Mahogany mix
I’ve compiled the tracks in one night and just had to start. To me it’s important that music always sounds harmonious and I think I succeeded… it’s also my first ever guest mix!
When and how did you get interested in electronic music?
At the age of 18 I began working at the Red Room club in Stuttgart. The club had a huge impact on me and it’s since then that I’ve been interested and involved in electronic music. At the moment I prefer to play slow motion, mid-tempo and all types of house.
For about a year and a half I’ve been releasing mixes and I also play in a club called Climax Institutes in Stuttgart as well as being resident at Traumraum Crew.
Aside from dance music on a whole, who are major music influences for you?
My major influences have to Steely Dan from the 70′s and Depeche Mode from the 80′s but I also love a lot of jazz and indie music to get my mind relaxed.
The musical tastes are diverse like Mahogany’s!
Pion // Mahogany Mix 006
We’re overjoyed with how the Mahogany mixes are taking off with a total of six under our belt from incredible producers from all over the world including the US (Casual Encounters), Lithuania (Downtown Party Network), Toronto (Jeremy Glenn) and Germany (elpierro & Hannes Fischer) and now it’s Pion representing Serbia!
Pion caught our attention with his deep, deep house original productions – something that I consider a true way into my heart – so we had to get him on board our guest mix series and fortunately he had enough time before Christmas to create one.
It’s just over 50 minutes of pure deep house music bliss including his own track Past Summer early on and tracks from the likes of Huxley and Moodymanc.
It’s been my cycling mix this week and helped the 12km become enjoyable!
Pion // Mahogany Mix 006
Lewie Day – 500 shades
BLM – Garage is Back
Pion – Past Summer
Huxley – Like One (Chris Lattner remix)
Gorge – Ona (Solomun Remix)
Criss Lattner - Jazz Fusic
Moodymanc – Black Paint
Adam Port – Weekend
tONKPROJEC feat. Marie K – It’s Time To Introduce You (Pion Remix)
1. Tell us about the Mahogany Mix
Tracks that I placed in my Mahogany mix are some of the favourites that I’ve played over the last couple months. I think they’re all colourful songs with a different vibe.
2. Who are your top dance/electronic/house music influences?
With regard to house/dance music which I’ve been listening to for more than 13 years, it would be impossible to only select few artists but I like many different styles and most important to me is a really good vibe. There are a lot of great producers in the scene right now.
3. What are you planning musically for 2012?
Well in 2012… I’ll try to release a lot of good tunes and EPs. That is a plan for now. There are some fresh tunes an remix’s ready to be released in January and February. Also I’ll be a resident DJ in some clubs here in Belgrade where I can represent good club music from here and abroad.
Hannes Fischer // Mahogany Mix 005
Germany’s Hannes Fischer only just featured as our Producer of the Week for his fantastic originals and bootlegs and he’s kindly found the time to create an exclusive Mahogany mix. Have a listen, read some words from the man below and keep an eye for him in 2012!
Hannes Fischer // Mahogany Mix 005
01. Ferrein – Tomorrow (Live Teaser)
02. Kolombo – Waiting For (Original Mix)
03. Andre Obin – Soft Rain (Patrice Baumel Future Mix)
04. Little Dragon & Tycho – Little Man (Slow-Mo Edit)
05. Zola Jesus – Hikikomori
06. Four Tet – Angel Echoes (Caribou Remix)
07. Radiohead – Lotus Flower (Jaques Green Remix)
08. Nicolas Jaar – Don’t Break My Love
09. The Weeknd – Rolling Stone (Hannes Fischer Edit)
10. Life In A Box – Tree Of Life
Tell us a bit about your Mahogany Mix
I used mainly tracks that I had on my ipod before, I listen to them every day, when I’m outside, walking around, on the subway and so on. But there are some new tracks, too. Most of the tracks were released over this year so it’s probably some kind of “favourites of 2011″ podcast for me, but yeah, it’s just a small part of the great tracks from this year. It’s probably not the average dj-mix but worth a listen for sure!
What’s your method of approach when starting a new remix?
When I’m doing a remix, it’s actually always the same way, I hear a song, on a blog for example and I know in the first moment I want to work with this track. I take the original song and start building loops that sound good to me. I love to change sounds like pitching or slowing them down. When I find something I think I can work with, I start to build the beats and put everything together in the end. that’s it.
What’s next for Hannes Fischer?
Future plans? I think I will just do, what I do at the moment. Discovering good music and their creators, meeting new people, enjoying life. This year I felt like in a spiral, rushing to the center, it’s kind of crazy but I love how everything is going faster and faster everyday. In the next month I will concentrate on producing and djing only, I have the time now and I want to use it, it’s totally worth it.
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Also before we end this post, Hannes dropped his Lana Del Ray remix but it was taken down from SoundCloud unfortunately. Luckily we’ve got a copy and easily the best Video Games remix out there in our opinion so wrap your ears around this!
Lana Del Rey – Video Games (Hannes Fischer Remix) – right click, save as to download
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Jeremy Glenn // Mahogany Mix 004
Jeremy Glenn’s track New Life became the soundtrack of the summer for many around the globe including us and as the Toronto-based artist and producer prepares for the New Year, he found the time to create an outstanding exclusive mix for us.
Have a listen, download it and read some words from the Gentleman below.
Jeremy Glenn // Mahogany Mix 004
1) Parkway Rhythm – Working Girl (Club Dub)
2) Laberge – White Lies
3) Moon Boots – Gopher It
4) Toomy Disco – Disco Lights (Original Mix)
5) Foster The People – Helena Beat (SWIM Remix)
6) Cyclist – Bass Face (Hemingway’s Space Party Remix)
7) Holy Ghost – Hold My Breath (Tiger and Woods Remix)
8 ) HEKO – Animal (Wildstyle version)
9) Crazy P – Open For Service (Hot Toddy Remix)
10) Alexis Raphael – Kitchens and Bathrooms (Richy Ahmed vs. Volante Mix)
11) Maxxi Soundsystem – Get Down (Danny Daze Spinin Out Remix)
12) Jeremy Glenn – Party Time
13) Osunlade – Mama’s Groove (Jimpster Slipped Disc Mix)
14) Jonas Rathsman – Love is My Middle Name
1. Tell us a bit about the Mahogany Mix
Initially, I had no real theme for this mix per say but after listening to it quite a bit, I’d say there’s a heavy New York vibe that comes through. NY is responsible for so much great disco and funk music and I think that disco but particularly funk is always at the heart of what I do.
2. What’s your most treasured piece of studio equipment
It might seem simple but I love my MicroKorg. I say “my” but in reality it’s really my friends that I have on a kind of indefinite loan (I hope!). It’s just a fantastic machine; very diverse and easy to create great sounds from. It’s also super compact which makes is great for live shows.
3. What’s next for Jeremy Glenn?
I’m currently working on a bunch of disco edits/remixes (one of which is featured in this mix!) in addition to a first EP with my other project The MAKEOVER and working on a few remixes and collaborations here and there. Look for new collaborations with Mario Basanov and MANIK out soon.
DPN // Mahogany Mix 003
It’s been since July since the last Studio Time Exclusive mix on Mahogany and what better way to kick it back into gear with one of our favourite producing duo of the moment, Downtown Party Network.
The Lithuanian pair have been posted here on Mahogany numerous times with their brilliantly structured and eye-opener mixes and this one is one their best in my opinion!
Downtown Party Network – Mahogany Blog Mix
1. Ralph Myerz – Outrun (Original Mix)
2. Tornado Wallace – Rainbow Road (Original Mix)
3. Craig Stewart – Time & Again (Herb LF DisGoD)
4. Speep D – Mustard (Original Mix)
5. Timewarp – Chk (Original Mix)
6. Mission Control – Outta Limits (Shelter Mix)
7. Noir – Are 1 (Original Mix)
8. Eddi Shkipper – You Think About This (Original Mix)
9. Soul Minority – A Soul Thing (2011 Remastered)
10. Crazy P – Open For Service (Hot Toddy Remix)
11. Pion – Past Summer (Original Mix)
How did Downtown Party Network start and what’s the music scene like in Lithuania?
S: Mario Basanov few years ago said that I have to meet his studio colleague Bradka. So we met and this trip began. Actually it was the time when DJing was not enough. About the music scene so as Moody says, “There’s good shit and bad shit”. Everyday I see more and more good shit 
not plenty but anyway it’s moving.
B: Actually Saulty is responsible for that. He came to the studio to convey his musical ideas. His musical taste was very close to mine so we found creating music together very easy. Like in a whole world in Lithuania is the same – we have lots of shitty production. But in the electronic music scene things are getting better and better everyday. Mario Basanov, Brokenchord, Leon Slomov – just a few to name.
Describe the kind of music that DPN produce.
S: Music which makes you trip – dreams, memories.. anything.. but always good emotions.
B: Sex. Slow… fast… usually bright. We do all our best to make people smile while they dance.
What’s your most treasured piece of music studio equipment?
S: Probably active monitors “Quested”
B: Most beloved are tube compressor “Avalon VT747SP” and legendary synthesizer ”Roland Juno 106″.
elpierro // Mahogany Mix 002
Ok so we’re excited present the latest Studio Time feature where we have Germany’s elpierro put together an exclusive mix for us.
elpierro // Mahogany Mix 002
Tell us about the mix…
This mix was created at home and includes some of my all-time favourite records. There are some new ones – the opener was produced by a good friend who owns the Frank-Musik label (www.facebook.com/FrankMusicFM) – and also some REAL classics like Ron Trent’s Pop, Dip & Spin. My highlight track is Meanwhile by Audio Werner. It’s so simple and so effective. I love that tune.
The mix is from 112 to 115 BPM and I hope you will all enjoy. It’s created with love!
Tell us a secret…
Berlin is NOT so cool 
Casual Encounters // Mahogany Mix 001
For a good while now we’ve been wanting to get closer to the DJs and Producers that we love and so we’ve created a new and exclusive series on which Mahogany sets out to do just that.
We’re inviting our favourite producers from around the globe to create an exclusive Mahogany guest mix as well as answer some questions in an exclusive Q&A.
All the mixes will be hosted on our SoundCloud page so head over and follow us to make sure you’re always up-to-date.
Without further ado, we’re absolutely delighted to have Casual Encounters as the first producers on board.
Casual Encounters // Mahogany Mix 001
01. Azizy – Outdoors
02. Zoe’s Raygun – Fly Zoe Fly (Raygun Dub)
03. Poolside – Do You Believe? (Cosmic Kids Remix)
04. Tensnake – Congolal (Rework)
05. Sia – Cloud (Plastic Plates Remix)
06. Juan Soto – ISS 2015
07. Flash Mode – Solo Flight
08. Casual Encounters – Million Dollar Smile
09. Mark Seven – Pillow Talk
Who are you and where are you from?
We’re Casual Encounters, which is myself (Shawn Mac) from California, living in Houston at the moment, and Chas Bronz from Wisconsin, currently living in Boston. We’re a duo who produces Disco, House, French house, New Wave, and Funk.
Has Houston influenced your music, if so, how?
Houston really hasn’t influenced us as I’ve been here for a few months only. I was living in Dubai the past few years, and having a great dance music scene there gained a lot of perspective into what we should do, along with the rich culture of music in Boston. Combined living in different places, we’ve gained understanding of a wide range of different styles, and kind of took those experiences and ideas and brought them to the table.
How did Casual Encounters come to be and what’s next?
Casual Encounters came about in January 2010. I had gotten in touch with Chas, as I was a big fan of his work with one of his projects Long Distance Analog. Over a period of time we realized we were on the same page style wise and our ideas clicked, so we decided to form a duo in Jan 2010. The name Casual Encounters has two meanings actually, one being funny for the known reason of what Casual Encounters are, but also cause we both got to know each other online, so it has a dual meaning.
We have a lot of stuff cooking in the oven. We’ve finished three EPs, two of those EPs which have collaborations from our buddy Honom, and disco/house mastermind and close friend Walter Jones. We’re also working on a few remixes at the moment, so in the next few months you’ll be seeing a lot of releases from us.
Tell us about SpaceWalker Recordings…
SpaceWalker Recordings is the label I (Shawn Mac) started with my buddy Szilard Prech (Holic). We came up with the idea late 2009, and since then we’ve just been working really hard to maintain that high standard of music we all enjoy.
Who are your biggest influences in the dance music world?
From the newer generation of disco and house, we’d have to say Sare Havlicek, Walter Jones, Tensnake, Ajello, Joey Negro, Marcello Giordani, Greg Wilson, Lovebirds, FM Attack, and Vincenzo.
And then legends like Zapp & Roger, Hubert Eaves, Paul Hardcastle, Dimitri From Paris, Gap Band, Billy Idol, and Evelyn Champagne King.
What’s your most treasured piece of studio equipment?
1978 Les Paul Deluxe or the Prophet 5. Hard to choose cause both can really give a unique and fantastic sound.
What’s on your studio wish list?
Jupiter 8 is definitely one of the main synths we’d love to own.
Tell us a bit about your Mahogany Blog Guest mix…
For this mix, we did something special. Since it’s summer time, we started off the mix with a relaxing laidback vibe, and slowly builds up to peak dancefloor time. We made sure to have variety in our tracks so that there is at least one track from each sub genre of disco and house, so a larger and diverse audience can enjoy it.
Tell us a secret…
We’ve produced countless tracks together and have done numerous remix, yet we still haven’t met in person. That’s one of the funny and great things about technology, it enables us to connect with like-minded people across long distances.
