Right so that’s that then. Dry January is over and there’s only 29 days to completely reverse any health benefits cutting out the sauce may have had. So in the spirit of the majority of Britain, Charlie Sheen and Russell Brand we’ve decided to go back to our old ways and indulge ourselves in the only way we know how: invite one of our favourite previous podcast contributors back for a second bite of the DT cherry.
But who have your brought back, we hear you cry? Sasha, Moby, Disclosure? Nope. We’ve turned to our old mucker Matthew Benjamin, who better known by his one half of Layo & Bushwacka and now Just Be never fails to impress. His first mix for us as a solo artist came back in the spring of 2013 when, with the sun setting on his time as part of one of the world’s most beloved tech house duos and his Just Be project quickly heating up with tracks and remixes for the likes of Crosstown Rebels, Tronic and Get Physical, he turned in a mix of serious distinction.
Now an established tech house tour de force, with his Volcano EP in our heads and on our playlists and a residency at Ibiza hotspot Sankeys on the horizon for the summer, we couldn’t think of a better way of kickstarting our year than commissioning an all vinyl mix from one of the scene’s leading selectors and guess what? We were right. It is the ideal way to start your week, month and year so what are you doing still reading this? Get this on your speakers pronto.
Sum up this podcast in 10 words…
The Essence of my DJing roots – pure yet filthy house.
What’s your personal favourite track on it?
Hard to say – the mix spreads across a few genres and styles, but there is a Chez Damier track on there that I have played loads – it’s on a reissue vinyl so I can’t tell you the name but it’s the track with the amazing female house scat vocal over it….. That has been a highlight for me.
What’s the special ingredient in this mix?
I think that because it is just back to basics, 2 deck, vinyl only mixing, all the music on there has been carefully chosen, and the intention is to create a mood that just keeps building but doesn’t stay the same style – all makes the mix gel nicely.
What’s the best gig you’ve played recently?
Well I have been spoiled recently. I just played The End 20 year anniversary in London in December with Layo, Richie Hawtin and Mr. C, which was great, and I just played main room at Warung with Carl Craig in the south of Brasil – it’s been a few years since I did that show and it was packed to the rafters with music lovers really going for it… It was wonderful.
What have you got coming up?
I am right now flying to Japan to play in Osaka this weekend. I am taking Feb off to finish studio projects and catalog my library of DAT tapes for future releases, I am touring Ecuador, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica in March as well as playing UK shows for Superfreq, Dawn and Move clubs. I am also starting a weekly residency at Sankeys in May playing vinyl 1988 acid house – it’s going to be a great summer. Release wise I have new tracks coming on Leftroom, Crosstown, Tenampa, Chaos Theory, and remixes for Loco Dice, Kerri Chandler, Marshall Jefferson and many more…
And finally, do you have a special message for our readers?
Just Be yourself….. Do what you love and love what you do.
Vinyl Only Tracklist
1. CHEZ EDIT 3
2. HI ACE – TREVOR DEEP JRAND STILETTI ANA – TREE EP
3. SIZZURP OVERDOSE – ANDRE BUTANO AND MIGUEL LOBO
4. FUNK FETISH – AGGREGAT
5. DJEBALI
6. FORMOSSA – ALEJANDRO MOSSO
7. OCTAVE – INCHAIR
8. MELODIE – FOREVER
9. WHITE LABEL – UNKNOWN
10. JACOB CORN AND SAN SODA – THE MUSIC
11. WHITE LABEL UNKNOWN
12. PRESS – DETOUR – OLIN 003
13. DEIGO KRAUSE – UNISON WAX 03 A