London clubland is back in effect. After a minor lull in January, London's nightcrawlers and promoters are rested and rearing to go. It's always the way: there are two great nights tonight (Saturday), which to do full justice to, would require being split in two: first up is Ninja Tune's new night, You Don't Know at Big Chill House. This is exciting for me because I have a huge amount of respect for Ninja Tune as a label - independent, underground and essential - and also because a close friend Raj Pannu is headlining the bill.
Raj is a HUGELY talented DJ and all round music agitator, capable of coming up with thought provoking, entertaining A-V performances, scratching up hip hop and sesame street records like QBert or rocking a four hour deep house/techno set. i don't say this lightly, as someone who has been obsessed by DJing and clubs, since the late 1980s, but Raj is THE most talented DJ I have ever seen. And to top it all he is one of the most humble, decent people you are likely to meet.
Meanwhile, the ICA hosts Dirty Canvas, London's only grime-supporting night, tonight. As I discussed with BIG BWOY producer, Terror Danjah any emerging sound and underground music needs a club to ferment ideas and disseminate the gospel of the music. grime doesn't have this, bar Dirty Canvas, and is struggling as a result. In short the Met Police, venues and club promoters need to understand this is not GUNMAN music, and stop equating race with crime. Eight years after the MacPherson Inquiry into Stephen Lawrence's tragic death, the Met Police seem to me to be as institutionally racist, as ever.
Anyways, that's enough ranting from me
Here's an interview with Terror Danjah (Aftershock), that appeared in Metro (London), last Thursday
CLUBS
Dirty Canvas
You could be forgiven for thinking grime the distinctive, bristling strain of homegrown hip-hop that emerged from East London in the early noughties, has disappeared into thin air: club nights playing grime are scarce, major labels appear to be avoiding it, and the press seems to have forgotten that a couple of years ago they were declaring it as British music's ‘next big thing’.
However, grime hasn't vanished, it's simply returned to its underground roots and is developing, as a key component of a wider urban music movement and talent conveyor belt that has already delivered artists such as Dizzee Rascal, Kano, Sadie Ama and Sway.
And Saturday’s Dirty Canvas provides a great opportunity to see the next wave of up and coming talent as it hosts a showcase from the record label most synonymous with grime, Aftershock.
‘Aftershock's been running since 2003 and we showcase artists from the urban scene: at first we were associated with grime but we have branched out into dancehall, UK garage and R'n'B,’ explains 27-year-old Terror Danjah, the label's co-founder and leading producer. ‘We put out one of Sadie Ama's first singles with Kano, So Sure in 2005 and it crossed into all avenues – it was played by DJs like Ronnie Herel and Trevor Nelson, who wouldn't usually play my records, and got her where she is now.’
‘That's why I believe our label can push this music to the mainstream and make people understand it, because we're not just coming out with the grimey sound but diverse artists that appeal to most people,’ continues Danjah. ‘I want to produce R'n'B, dancehall and even indie and rock, and cross it over to the kids who understand our music.’
And the next step towards achieving this goal is the release of Aftershock's compilation album, Shock To The System (March 19), featuring Bruza, Gemma Fox and Tinnie Tempah; friends such as Kano, Wiley, Sadie and Shola Ama, the Ragga Twins, Gappy Ranks and D Double E. It reflects Aftershock isn’t just about grime and takes in funky house, drum’n’bass and UK flavoured R’n’B, aka R'n'G (Rhythm’n’Grime).
The entire Aftershock camp, including Bruza, Gemma Fox and Terror Danjah will be providing a sneak preview at Dirty Canvas, alongside the label’s rising stars Tinnie Tempah and Mz Bratt. Many of Aftershock’s illustrious friends, such as Sadie and Shola Ama, Wiley and Sway are expected to appear also.
Danjah, who’s produced for Kano, Sway and Roll Deep, is committed to helping the movement grow and evolve. ‘I will never turn my back on the scene - we need to broaden it to show it's not just kids behind the PCs and PlayStations, and show there's creativity in it,' he states. ‘I'm trying to push Aftershock to be the next 679 Recordings or XL, an independent with a little bit of power.’
www.a-shockmusic.com
Sat, Dirty Canvas, ICA, The Mall SW1, 9pm to 2am, £7.50. Tel: 020 7930 3647. www.ica.org.uk Tube: Charing Cross
