Beast interviews...Ellis Odyssey and Ollie (Nautz & Toppa):

The time has come for Beast to interview two of his newest DJ additions to the Minotaur court. Ellis Odyssey and Ollie (one half of the DJ duo Nautz & Toppa with Tom Whitakker) both of whom will be playing B2B at the Beast’s next May 13^th night. More details and tickets about Beast’s coveted event can be found here: http://hdfst.uk/E36511.

Ellis and Ollie met at college on a music production course, friendship was forged and a DJ alliance was decreed. They have been Dj’ing B2B since and are keen to transmit a sense of euphoria and escape to all those who listen and dance to them – this DJ passion caught Beast’s attention immediately. Ellis and Ollie explain that they have practiced their Dj’ing religiously and have dedicated that same passion throughout whether in a club or in their front room whilst drinking tea.

Ellis Odyssey

Beast is forever intrigued as to what makes someone suddenly want to DJ. Ellis explains that he got into serious DJ’ing when the tax man issued Ellis with a tax rebate and he was able to afford some Pioneer CDJ 1000 mk3’s and a DJM 800 mixer – Beast is surprised that tax rebates even happen. Where Beast comes from tax payments are only made in blood. Both Ollie and Ellis have lovingly collected and produced their only music too. Ellis collects and plays on vinyl as he was brought up hearing the rich sounds that only a vinyl record can transmit. Ollie tells Beast that he dedicates his dj’ing to creating a sense of euphoria and escape with his dance crowd – he’s fascinated by creating an essential musical connection between the DJ and the Crowd and will be re-creating that with Ellis at Minotaur Sound night on May 13^th.

Ollie has played at Apex and Nightowl and supported the likes of Dante, Darius Syrossian and Sidney Charles. Catch him at upcoming Home and Nozstock Festivals this year.

Ollie and Tom (Nautz & Toppa)

Beast is happy – so many wannabe DJ’s come forth, they play for a practice session and end up not connecting with the crowd – this is just plain selfish and Beast ends up chopping off their heads in retaliation. Beast teases out the secret to becoming a DJ – not just any DJ but a DJ that people can look up to and allow them to be lead on a musical journey. Ellis and Ollie explain that they are not in a position to give any advice to those wanting to DJ - but the only thing that they can say is that you must play what moves you, to dance and enjoy – it’s what the crowd will pick up the most. Also to get out there as much as you can, go to parties, meet people and keep collecting and writing music. Beast’s furry chin starts to quiver at Ellis and Ollie’s humility before he catches himself and swiftly returns to his dark Beastly self by downing a tankard of mead and belching loudly.

Ellis Odyssey and Ollie (Nautz and Toppa) will be energising the main Techno Minotaur room playing B2B on May 13th together with Lee Williams, Kuba Drypher, G Rowe and Denis Horvat.

Tune in to Nautz & Toppa SoundCloud’s here: https://soundcloud.com/nautzandtoppa

Launch Night Review!

So, following Launch Night delights and smiles and as we continue finding glitter in our clothes, our dancing shoes and inside our horns. We asked one Minotaur Sound happy customer, Mr Ben Meek, to provide us with a review of the immersive side of night. Here is what he had to tell us...


"...I entered the lair like a thief, sticking to the shadows, exercising the barest minimum of movement lest I be caught and dragged to the cells to await the legendary beast. I was excited but something seemed off, I was on The Island, but I had not imagined the fabled labyrinth to be in Bristol city centre.



The Island, Bristol transforms into a Labyrinth

Maybe it was my mind at fault, I’m struggling to remember how I even ended up here, my memory is hazy, the colours seem brighter here too. People flitted around me, obviously part of some kind of cult, worshiping The Minotaur. Already they appeared giddy with anticipation. They sweated and sparkled in the sparse lighting, whilst all around a tribal rhythm pulsed and pounded fuelling their, no doubt depraved, desires.



The Minotaur says hello to DJ Kieran Holden

Undaunted, I pressed on through gangs of nymphs and satyrs. I felt flushed and elated, just the thrill of the chase I guessed. I entered a cavernous room where the music was loudest, one of The Minotaur’s acolytes pressed a glowing rod into my hand, looking down I was shocked to discover that my clothes had been torn from my upper body and I was covered in a sparkling powder, glistening under the flashing multi-coloured lights. I needed air.




A Minotaur Sound Nymph


Panic growing I fled out into a corridor when I heard a spectral voice beckoning me onwards. I crept forward, following the call until, too late! “I need a virgin” I heard called, “who will be our virgin?” My blood froze, this could only mean one thing. Sacrifice. Before I knew it I was in front of the chamber, a small cell bedecked with shining curtains and filled with the most deranged of the beast’s followers. Before I could cry out I felt a push from behind and I fell, stumbling into the arms of the howling crowd.






Into the Cell of Fables with Micro-Rave





How long I was in that chamber, I cannot tell. I cannot recount with clarity what happened to me in that room. I only know that I left my old self behind when I finally emerged, a drooling convert. Ready to do the minotaur’s bidding without hesitation. I danced wildly, I drank with abandon, I became one with the maddening drums, I offered myself up to the wanton lusts of that crowd and I regret nothing, for I finally understood. The Minotaur was no monster, nor indeed a physical being at all. It was us, we were the beast. The Minotaur was in us all along."






Illy Noize captivates his Minotaur Sound fans

Illy Noize - Minotaur Sound Headline DJ Interview!

We have our most anticipated interview yet with our upcoming headline Illy Noize! Illy caught our ear last year when we heard one of his spectacular mixes and rather than wait for someone to bring him over to the UK, The Minotaur Sound team decided to take matters into our own hooves, set up Minotaur Sound and bring him over to the UK for his debut. Have a listen to Illy's Minotaur Sound teaser mix here and read on to find out more about him:

Minotaur Sound: "So Illy, tell us who are your biggest influences and why?"

Illy Noize

Illy: "Hey guys, thank you for having this interview with me. My musical influences reach from raw funk and soul to rock and experimental electronic music. I am very open minded when it comes to music and I enjoy it everywhere I can. But when I should name some all-time heroes of mine, it comes down to Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Donna Summer and all these great artists under the Mo-Town Label roster. I like that live feeling in a record. When you hear the little mistakes in the recording that makes it special. I always try to recap this feeling when I work in the studio. Also for DJ sets I think it's important. I don't like surgical sets. It has to be vibrant and swinging. Yes I think this is the influence for me in music"

Minotaur Sound: "Amazing! And this influence really does show strong in your music. How about you tell us a lesser known fact about yourself?"

Illy: "Haha! A fun fact about me...whenever I go on tour to DJ in another City I always forget my toothbrush. So every time I come to a new City, I have to buy a new one. I have quite a good collection of toothbrushes from a lot of City's I've been at."

Minotaur Sound: "We'll have your toothbrush at the ready when you come to Bristol then! So tell us about the first time when you started to DJ - how did you get introduced to it?"

Joyfriend Record Label

Illy: "I started to DJ in 1999 as a hobby. Started to collect vinyl and practicing at home. Can't say exactly why but I always was into music. Didn't know much about DJ live at this stage but was fascinated by the technique and the way it was done. The turntables and the feel of the records and of course going to the record store was a bit thing for me back in the days. Today I try to buy as much Vinyl as possible but have stopped playing Vinyl at clubs which is a bit sad. I always was into this soulful house and techno music. Not much of a minimal or dark techno guy. I like happy music so to say, always melodic. Then after one year of training I sent some demos to clubs around my hometown. In 2005 I became resident in a club in Leipzig and in 2009 in the Charles Bronson Club in Halle made by Monkey Safari. I started producing music slightly late. In 2013 I released my first records. Until 2015 I released on 7 labels and started to run my own Label Joyfriend with some friends in Halle.

Minotaur Sound: "Illy we are so honoured to have you headline at our upcoming Launch and so very excited to hear what you will play for your UK fans. See you on the 20th Feb!"

The beastie approves of his limited edition lair ware

Check out our beautiful limited edition tees! Beautifully designed by our resident Graphic Designers Lun and Claire. You can purchase them on our big cartel site here. Be quick as we only made 50 of them.

We went for a really simple but impacting design - a labyrinth and mysterious glyphs. Tee detail gives you a limited edition flourish on the sleeve.



Available in top quality Gildan 100% cotton. sizes extra small, small, medium, large and extra large.


Buy your tee now in time for launch night or will be available to purchase on the night.

With thanks to Cass for stunning model shots. Cass will be wearing her tee on launch night.

Donewrong - Minotaur Sound DJ interview!

So, following on in the footsteps of last week's DJ G Rowe interview - we are now onto our second DJ chit chat. The intention is to get inside their heads - what makes them kick? What sets them apart from the rest? Donewrong will be at our Launch Night and here is what he had to say...






Donewrong: "So, biggest musical influences? (scratches chin) - ok, I haven't interviewed this candidly before, so it's good to get it off my chest - I've been into music ever since I was a kid. My parents would strap me to a pair of 1210's and beat the backs of my hands every time I made a mistake. At age 9, they sent me to a Russian Academy where I was whipped and starved until I could beatmatch only by looking at the grooves in the vinyl. A few months later, my fingers were replaced with robotic digits by Sovient KGB Surgeons to increase my fader speed. Outside of that, I am drawn to the sound of mating insects and the noise that super heated plasma makes on contact with the flesh of the guilty.






Minotaur Sound: "errrr...ok, that's quite revealing I guess, how about you tell us a lesser known fact about yourself?"






Donewrong: "I love records so much, I had my skin replaced with vinyl. It has caused some personal issues, but when I get down I scratch myself with a pin and boogie to the music it makes. Incidentally that music is FUNK".






Minotaur Sound: "Donewrong is certainly one of those elusive artsy DJ types who takes his work very seriously and we can now see why".






Here at Minotaur Central, we delved further into why Donewrong does what he does:






Donewrong: "People often ask me, "Donewrong, why did you do that? What possible good could come of it?", and my answer is always the same. I lock eyes with them and shriek at the top of my lungs, slowly lowering the volume until it is barely above a whisper, never once blinking, until they stop bothering me. This technique worked so well with Carl Cox that he dedicated his set to me that fateful night in Bali.






One sunny August, many years ago down the old Ladbroke Road, I introduced Fabio & Grooverider to Jungle music. I can't remember if they liked it or not, never heard from them again.










Another tip I've picked up over the course of my career, is that most DJ's can be sent into a ferocious panic if you replace a third of their records with Charles & Eddies smash hit 'Would I lie to you', apart from Mr. Scruff, he gets off on that jam.








Much like a wild musth elephant, my sets are frisky and threatening. Never take your eyes off me, I could be behind you in an instant, garrote in hand, leering like a gargoyle and shivering with blood lust."






...There you have it. We leave you in the safe vinyl hands of Donewrong - watch him in action on Launch Night.

Minimal -v- Melodic Techno?

What is melodic and minimal techno? To answer that question, you have to understand what Techno actually is. Just type 'Techno definition' into google and there are vast arrays and essays about it, it's meaning, it's origins and it's anatomical component parts. Best described by my youngest daughter as 'it's so repetitive!'. Where time is marked with a bass drum on each quarter note and some random squiggle of a sound (could be a clap or a hi hat or a vocal or any catchy noise) on every second eighth note. Techno hails from the use of the 'Techno Rebels' label (those who have read Alvin Toffler's 'The Third Wave' will understand this) and how true techno tends to have been generated on older analog synthesizers and those wanting to keep vinyl production alive. So that's Techno in a very small nutshell.


So, when someone asked me 'what is melodic techno?' - I typed that into google, only to be stood upon a parapet of the unknown. Curious, I decided to explore this a bit more, so as to come up with a definition that wouldn't have me reaching out for a search engine. Techno stalwarts will know about minimal techno - best heard in places like Berghain or Trouw or anywhere with stark, dimly lit concrete walls and a DJ with a gas mask on. A perfect DJ example would be Pearson Sound (and I quote as I have seen him live) - a series of interesting percussion noises, beats and misplaced sounds that kind of work well in a really surprising way. Add electro glitches, progressive drum beats and noises that would appear to been taken from a sci-fi film and you have minimal techno. I.e. there is little to no melody.


Have a listen to this for a good minimal techno DJ set example from Pearson Sound and his latest Essential Mix for the BBC. If you can quote a better example then send it over or comment below.


Melodic techno uses the underpinning structure of techno and instead of sounds and interesting noises, overlays it with...wait for it...melody! The binding together of melody makes a Techno track warmer, more intimate and sometimes uplifting. But what is melody? Stupid question, right? Wikipedia describes it as 'a sequence of single notes that is musically satisfying; a tune'. Does that mean that minimal Techno could potentially be dissatisfying?! In the end it's all in the musical eye of the beholder. A lot of current DJ's and producers are able to swing between minimal and melodic, with ease. You might be up for a night of minimal techno because you're just in that mood, maybe you've had a bad day and you want to hit those techno sounds hard in some dark shady corner. On the other hand, you might be heading out with your mates, all is good in the world and the warmth of melodic techno captivates you all into a lovely bonding session of hugs and love (and that's without a single instance of MDMA ever being taken!).


Good examples of melodic techno DJ's are Maceo Plex and Worakls to name but just a few. Melodic techno at it's best could probably be best encapsulated by this Boiler Room DJ set by Maceo Plex.


Do you agree with this description? What is your take? I'm all ears.


Cathy

Bring on the weirdness styling!

Have to say that here at Minotaur Sound central, we are just a tad excitement about what is about to come. We've even started a Pinterest Board to style our Launch Party night.






You can take a look at it by clicking here and check out the Berlin Techno concept. Obviously we don't want to make it a stringent style - we're talking about our fierce Techno loving Minotaur in his sound labyrinth, dark tunnels winding their way down into the bowls of an old Police Station and bringing in some of the best atmospheric music to be heard in Bristol by our DJ creatures. Hairs on the back of your neck prepare to stand up!






We will have plenty of other surprises - we're finding it hard to keep ourselves quiet, suffice to say that you will love it all.

Happy New Year from the horned beast

So 2016 starts with the resounding bang of those magnificent Westminster fireworks and here at Minotaur Sound we say Happy New Year to our lovely Minotaureans. 2016 is going to be a particularly good year for us as it's our Launch Party year and we know how much buzz you are going to get from that one event alone.


We are humbled to see how Tier 1 tickets are flying off the shelves at a much faster rate than anticipated to such an extent that we had to pour more Tier 1's into the pot over Christmas. You lovely peeps - we will deliver a party that will have you wanting to come back for more.


With love from the Minotaur Sound Team xxx

Launch Party Launches! Come hither...

Minotaur Sound launch party at The Island in Bristol. The Minotaur invites you to his sound lair to lose yourself to Berlin techno with his creatures of the night. Prepare for collaborative performances and spectacular installations from the depths of the Minotaur's Lair. This night is not to be missed.




Featuring DJ sets from:




ILLY NOIZE (Joyfriend / My Favorite Freaks)

KIERAN HOLDEN (Tici Taci / Alfresco Disco / Nein)

DONEWRONG

G ROWE




ILLY NOIZE - Flying in from Berlin / Halle we have his debut UK set. He caught our ear when a recording of his amazing set at the legendary Sisyphos club in Berlin last year was excitedly passed round and we've been dying to see him live ever since. With a string of releases under his belt this will be a DJ set to savour!
KIERAN HOLDEN - Part of the Upstairs Downstairs DJ collective in Newquay. With releases on TICI TACI and ALFRESCO DISCO and a remix for NEIN RECORDS under his belt his production credentials are flawless.
DONEWRONG & G ROWE - Bristol scene stalwarts, you've probably danced to these lads many a time so you know you're in safe hands when they're behind the decks.
We have special Minotaur exclusive mixes inbound from all DJs but for now why not buy your tickets by clicking here.

Minotaur Sound is a Go!

Minotaur Sound is a DJ promotions company like no other. Bristol based and currently on the cusp of releasing a launch night date in February 2016. Stand by for further details.