Call it ghettopop, call it bongo dance, call it the tropical world clash showdown, the Radioclit sound system is now three years old, and with full on DJ and production schedules, the heat is on.
It was in 2005 through their monthly residency at Vice magazine's Old Blue Last pub, and the sessions that could follow any of those nights back at their Hackney studio, that they began to get known throughout the world. Those nights will go down in club history, the first of their kind to showcase the ghetto sounds of Baltimore projects, the dirty south or Rio favelas in Europe. Whether it was David Banner slamming through the crowd, Sinden or Diplo blowing up the spot, or Amanda Blank showing the world why she’s one of the most important mcs spitting today, they were alerting London to some of the heaviest talent to emerge for an age. And together with Switch, Sinden, Diplo, M.I.A, Buraka Som Sistema, Bonde Do Role, Ed Banger and Institubes, there’s now a fervently innovative worldwide scene with arms linked, and Radioclit as an essential part of that chain.
Radioclit had initially been hatched into the world as an internet radio show, strictly for the good times, they’d wanted to do pirate radio but couldn’t afford the equipment, didn’t know how to do it, totally didn’t need the hassle. And then eventually the mix cds began emerging, in 2004 You Godda Lick It, and for 2005 Careful Clit Clit. All distributed freely and spreading the news that Radioclit was in town. Later were the legendary podcasts (20 000 members religously tuned in), and together with a reputation brewing as a ridoinkolous dj prospect, the Radioclit manifesto was emerging with some definition. That manifesto at the time, to leave every club they entered without a goddamn roof. And that’s exactly what they managed to do; loading up one of the first Hollertronix nights in Paris with Diplo, MIA, Feadz and Roots Manuva, and gave France it’s first taste of grime ever in 2005 with Jammer, D Double E and Ears.
Now Radioclit has turned into a world famous production team, Johan Karlberg and Etienne Tron have associated their names with the hottest artists on the planet; Switch and Sinden's label Counterfeet has showcased their talents through the Mature Macho Machine Ep and more recently the 'Divine Gosa' EP which has been hammered by everybody from Erol Alkan, Feadz, Annie Mac, Pete Tong, Brodinski and countless others.
Radioclit recently worked on production for Trim (Roll Deep) , Santogold, M.I.A, Buraka Som Sistema, Soko, Tv On The Radio, Ears, TTC, Yo Majesty etc... And then there’s those three kids out of Brazil, Bonde Do Role. The Radioclit remix of 'Marina Gasolina' killed it in the clubs for an age, with 2manydjs finishing their sets with it on the regular. On Bonde Do Roles debut album 'With Lazers' two Radioclit produced tracks are standing proud as lynchpins, with the NME fully powering their cause.
But probably most unexpected, is the work they’ve set into motion with Esau Mwamwaya. Singing in a traditional Malawian style, his ecstatically epic bumps of African vocal harmonies are wrapped up in coils of Radioclit’s synth waves. And they’ve done it again, and spread the love by linking him up with a M.I.A collab. Esau has popped in to the fray at a time, when Johan and Etienne have already begun to steer the dj-ing out in another direction. They used to have one ear in the hood, another checking out Abba . Two steps ahead of the game, they’ve naturally shifted away from the obvious urban club bangers, toward a deeper version of their take on African/World music. They've been citing the tropical teachings of Malcolm McLaren’s Duck Rock and Bob Sinclar’s constant experiments with Afrohouse as primary inspirations. Whether it’s drawing for some hyper-future-electro synth shit, or deep traditional world percussion, it’s all thrown together with an infinite knowledge of what a good mix should be about: a sense of rhythm, of climax, of shamanic trance. To showcase that new sounds Radioclit just established a new London monthly residency at Notting Hill Arts Club called 'Secousse'. their 6 hours tropical sets and decorations are being exported worldwide, with Paris recently getting the 'Secousse' treatment.
The way it’s headed, We’ll soon all lick the hallucinogenic back of a Sonoran Desert toad, and Johan and Etienne will keep the crew frenziedly dancing with the local witchdoctors 'till Sun comes upon us. Not letting heads rest. With ambitions to find more artists and roll out a fully realised album projects. Definitely no time for laziness. 2008. Year of the Radioclit. Hold tight.
Releases:
Secousse 12" with Crookers remix, Qoso remix, Mumdance remix, Bablee remix (Mental Groove records) - Deluxe vinyl edition in Sept!!!
Mature Macho Machine 12" (Counterfeet records)
Divine Gosa 12" (Counterfeet records)
Hard Working Class vol.1 CD (Radioclit records)
Radioclit VS No Surrender - 'Godda get it' EP
Official Remixes:
Confetti 'Sound of C' (Skelt records)
Stacs of Stamina 'Roll' (Werk records)
One-Two 'Oh Hot Brain' (Fine records)
Terry Poison 'Buzz On The Bell' feat Marvelous Macc Mello (Ekler o Shock records)
Bonde Do Role 'Gasolina' (Mad Decent records)
Bonde Do Role 'Melo Do Tabaco' (Mad Decent records)
Little Ones 'Pot Brewin' (EMI)
Mika 'Lollipop' (Casablanca)
Alphabeat 'Fantastic 6' (EMI)
Shitdisco 'OK' (Fierce Panda records)
Brodinski 'Bad Runner' (Mental Groove)
One-Two 'Annie Mall' (Fine rec / Jive)
Matt & Kim 'No More Long Years' (Iheartcomix records)
Production:
Bonde Do Role 'With Lazers' album, Domino Records ('Geremia', 'Divine gosa' tracks)
Marvelous Macc Mello 'Drop That Beat' (unsigned)
Trim (ex Roll Deep Crew) - 'I Can C U' & 'Thief In The Night' (Soul Food vol.3), Turbulence 'Notorious' remix (Soul Food vol.1)
Esau Mwamwaya - untitled forthcoming album (Radioclit Records)
Yo Majesty - Grinding and Shaking
Santogold feat M.I.A 'Get It Up' (Downtown records)
Mix cds:
U Gotta Lick It' 2004
Careful Clit Clit' 2005
Ghettopop podcasts serie (1 to 23) 2006-2007
Resident Advisor podcast mix 2007
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