KONGKAST #102 – Drum n’ Bass label showcase ft. Mako & Utopia Music (UK)

This week KONGKAST presents you an ultra special showcase mix from one of our favorite new labels – the Bristol based UTOPIA MUSIC (UK) – represented by label owner/Dj/producer MAKO.

Since our first encounter with Mako in 2006, after a smashing gig for the Hong Kong headz, Kongkretebass has become an early supporter of his music and his cause. With tunes like “In The Raw” and “Connexion”

getting regular air play at our local gigs and on Kongkast, not to mention the success these tracks celebrated with airplay on BBC’s Radio One shows.

The Utopia Music label has evolved from a vision with the hugely successful Bristol club night/ charity event called ‘Utopia’, hosting the scene’s high profile deejays/producers all for a good cause.

Utopia Music’s debut in September earlier this year features Break – Natural Progression as well as Mako & Mute – In The Raw (D Bridge Remix) on the flip side. With a debut release already supported by LTJ Bukem, Doc Scott, Fierce, Makoto, Bailey, Loxy, Total Science, SpectraSoul, DJ Lee, Flight, Instra:mental, Survival just to name a few, Utopia Music looks promising to be making a lot of noise in the coming years! So keep your eyes peeled for more big releases from this fresh label.

Many thanks to Mako / Utopia Music (UK) for this exclusive set for KONGKAST #102. Read more about his story below.

Get on the download… crank up the volume and enjoy!

You can find track list and d/l link for this Kongkast episode below…

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Directly download enhanced m4a File (with track markers and pictures) – here

Directly download MP3 File – here

TRACKLIST//

KONGKAST #102 – feat. Utopia Music / Mako (UK)

(artist – title – label)

1.  PLK – DREAMWARE (Renegage Hardware dub)

2.  MUTE AND MAKO – CONNEXION (LINDEN REMIX) (Utopia Music dub)

3.  VILLEM – RED MATTER (dub)

4.  VILLEM – PROVIDE (longed-out cheese mission mix) (Utopia Music dub)

5.  SURVIVAL AND MAKO – FREEDOM FROM DUALITY (Utopia Music dub)

6.  MAKO – LESS REST (charleston banks equaliser mix) (dub)

7.  MAKO AND ANDYSKOPES – IN THE RAW (DBRIDGE REMIX) (Utopia Music 001)

8.  MADCAP – SACRED SPIRIT (Utopia Music dub)

9.  VILLEM – INFLATED TEAR (MADCAP REMIX) (Good Looking Records dub)

1. BREAK – NATURAL PROGRESSION (Utopia Music 001)

2. SURVIVAL – TRAVELLER (Utopia Music 002)

3. MAKO AND THE SECT – ASCENSION (dub)

4. BREAK – MINIMAL (dub)

5. MUTE AND MAKO – CONNEXION (THE SECT REMIX) (Utopia Music 002)

6. MUTE AND MAKO – JUST LIKE THAT (which is this mix) (dub)

About UTOPIA MUSIC / Mako (UK):

What’s your story?

We did a charity night called Utopia in 2007 with the help of local boys Dissident. It was a great success and the night was surrounded by a feeling of overwhelming love for each other. The label started from this point and now I’m under an ongoing influence by a beautiful family of friends all making music. I believe more people could hear the sonic winds coming from this direction . I could help that process. D Bridge, Fierce, Break and Squire of Dnaudio/Resolute amongst other lovelies, have been massively helpful in helping me with my vision.

Inspirations:

Kittens, Pre 99 Dillinja bass and beats, pre-1999 Photek beats. ?Mother nature.

Weapons of choice:

Kittens and french mountain studio sessions with my brothers Mute.

Sampling, Valve compression and mackie desk crunching.

Proudest moment to date:

The next few hours i’ll try and describe was amazing for me…I had finished making a tune with Andsyskopes (of Good Looking fame) called ‘In the Raw’, then played it to Fierce when I got back from London, Fierce then gave it to Bailey within a few minutes, then we listened to the Radio One Xtra show later that night sitting on Fierce’s sofa with Dave Blade from the Sect listening to Bailey play it and giving it a rewind. Fabio playing ‘Connexion’ by me and the brothers Mute on Radio 1 comes a close second. Both of these tunes will be able to be downloaded for free when anyone becomes part of the website family (www.utopiamusic.org). D Bridge has remixed ‘In the Raw’ for the first release and the Sect have just finished doing a great job of remixing ‘Connexion’. Linden has done a VIP mix too which will also be available as a download.

What’s best way to get on in life?

Accept. A lot of people mistake the attitude of acceptance for one of fatalism ‘What will be will be; there’s nothing I can do about it’.

That is the mind of stagnation. Life is dynamic and changing. The way of accepting life is to take life as it comes – but take it. Let anything and everything be your source of absorption. If we deeply absorb ourselves, then all thinking is forgotten and we feel how beautiful life can be. Awaken to the truth, how and where do not matter. I think having animals around helps too. I believe my cats are Zen masters, perfectors of stillness and living in the moment. I also think we have a responsibillity to ourselves and each other to reduce our negative and destructive emotions. By that I don’t mean by doing more recycling, or protesting wars. I just believe we could be more loving to ourselves and each other on a day-to-day localised level. Our emotional affect on each other is a very basic and underlying principal of everything that goes on in the world. If that principle was born out of love rather than anger or hate, then the world could feel more alive to us all.

What’s your poison?

Can I have two please? Fruity bud and homemade cake.

What’s your ideal night out?

I never go out, i’m hermit boy…its just me and the family, the studio and the kittens at the moment If I do venture out its to try out demos of beats on soundsystems or visiting the Mute guys in France where snowboarding and studio sessions are the order of most moments.

What does the future hold?

Utopia Music, the record label, will be landing in the late autumn of 09, with the first release being Break – Natural Progression and a D Bridge remix of ‘In the Raw’, promo’s on teh 3rd, full release on the 23rd. Following that we have Survival, The Sect, Madcap (also part of the Good Looking family) and PLK, recent signed to Renegade Hardware, flexing his Utopian vibes. More collaborations with these artists will follow, and my own personal journey with making beats will also continue.

Utopia Music’s Myspace/Website:

http://www.myspace.com/utopiamusicuk

http://utopiamusic.org/ ****

**UTOPIA MUSIC 001 [UM001]

Break – Natural Progression b/w Mako & AndySkopes – In The Raw (D Bridge Remix)**

Released: September 2009 Format(s): 12” vinyl / digital Press/PR: Reprise Music Group & nick@reprisemusicgroup.com Distribution: ST Holdings

Tracklist

A: Break – Natural Progression

AA: Mako & Andy Skopes – In The Raw (D Bridge Remix)

DJ support: LTJ Bukem, Doc Scott, Fierce, Makoto, Bailey, Loxy, Total Science, SpectraSoul,

DJ Lee, Flight, Instra:mental, Survival, Invaderz, Squire, Insiders and many moreAlleycat, Big Bud and many more

Watch out for future Utopia releases from Survival, The Sect, Mute, Madcap, PLK and more…

To BUY release, check all good records retailers OR check links below:

Chemical Records - http://www.chemical-records.co.uk/sc/servlet/Info?Track=UM001

Red Eye Records -http://www.redeyerecords.co.uk/products/Break+Mako+And+Andy+Skopes/BreakMakoAndAndySkopes_13151.html

Juno Records - http://www.juno.co.uk/products/372356-01.htm