Here’s the X-mas Party we’ve all been waiting for. So in the words of James Brown, “get up, get into it, get involved!” With a mega three band lineup of Dru Chen, The Do Yo Thangs (ft. members of Sex On Toast & Saskwatch), and Mitch Power And The Soul Assassins (ft. members of Deep Street Soul), this one-off exclusive performance is sure to get you sweatin’, movin’ and groovin’.
Ahead of the party of the season, we have a chat to Dru Chen, Hugh Rabinovici of The Do Yo Thangs, and Mitch Power about the event and why it is they love soul so much.
What do you love most about funk and soul?
Hugh:It’s ludicrous ability to reduce you to tears or seduce you to the d-floor. I often feel a substantially healthier human being for receiving a regular aural dosage of funk soul.
Mitch: The way it makes you get up and move. There’s something about funk and soul done right that makes it impossible to sit still.
Dru: Everything! It’s head and heart music. Head because there’s so much to think about, what with the complex syncopated rhythms, extended jazz-inflicted chords, idiosyncratic, spiritual and self-empowerment lyrical themes. Heart because if you don’t feel it, you won’t get it.
Why do you think this genre is received so well on a global scale?
Hugh:Funk soul appears to have a significant correlation to insidious bouts of head boppin, lip pouting and move busting. If the Wiggles have shown us anything it’s that deep down our inner child just wants to dance about in some sort of trance like manner. Give your body what it wants.
Mitch: It’s a genre that everyone can relate to. Language barriers are nonexistent when a great groove and a killer vocal come together.
Dru: Funny you say that, because I consider Funk & Soul a very niche genre now, especially in the places where I’ve grown up (Australia & Singapore).
Funk and soul’s heyday was in the late 60s/early 70s, with James Brown, Sly & The Family Stone, Stevie Wonder topping the mainstream charts. I suppose its influence has always been around, infiltrating the 80s (Prince, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson), and 90s (D’Angelo, Maxwell), and now with the recent successful wave of Aussie funksters (The Bamboos, Saskwatch, Deep Street Soul etc…), it’s always been in the public eye/ear.
So when that old funky soul sound comes on, everyone knows where it comes from and it always sounds so familiar and warm. I think a big part of the appeal of my music lies in the fact that it is a “traditional” and “throwback” sound, mixed in with my wider pop and singer-songwriter influences.
Why do you think the genre is also still thriving today?
Hugh: I spose the future or neo soul movement has spawned some supah sweet presentations of soul music infused with elements of hip-hop, 80s synthfunk, jass music and the funk. People seem to like this. As presented in the film footloose, and further extrapolated by John Saffran, there is indeed a time to dance. Perhaps now is the time.
Mitch: Mostly because the majority of people make this music for right reasons. We make this music because it’s fun and it will always be fun. There’s nothing better than seeing a band live on stage laying down great tunes and having a great time doing it.
Dru: The radio stations that support this genre so whole heartedly (PBS, RRR), and the people that come to events like Women of Soul, and our own Funk & Soul Xmas Party. It’s a community and word-of-mouth thing because it’s not in the mainstream music-taste anymore. But that’s a big reason why the fans are so dedicated.
What are your inspirations when it comes to making music?
Hugh: Good lord… Stevie, Donny, Erykah, Michael, Lauren, Curtis, Bill, Bootsy,
?uestlove, Sly, D’Angelo, Herbie, Madlib, Chaka. All such good eggs. That, and love and lovers and friends and good times and loose times and lucid times and ludicrous times and mundane times and abhorrent times and times I’m yet to experience. If that fails then self deprecation can also provide an effective muse.
Mitch: Anyone who is doing it for the love of doing it. Seeing someone walk off stage with nothing left and then coming back on for more is what inspires me to keep going
Dru: My songwriting falls under two categories: “muso” and “confessional”.
With the “muso,” it is paying homage to the great musical influences. The J Dillas, Stevie Wonders, Michael Jacksons, Princes etc… My upcoming single “Turnaround” does this, taking a loose floppy Dilla-esque groove combined with my own cascading vocal harmonies.
With the “confessional,” it is purely expressing my inner stories and experiences in a more traditional singer-songwriter fashion. Songwriters who pushed boundaries and genre confinements like Jeff Buckley, Joni Mitchell, Erykah Badu and Neil Young come to mind. “Trainwrecks” from my Intentions EP is a good example of this side of me.
Were these artists the reason you started making music? If not – what was the reason?
Hugh: Growing up in a family full of orchestral musicians I was more or less force fed music from birth. I was a willing participant. I think I actually started writing music as a means of avoiding piano practice. As a result I’m somewhat lacking in scalar dexterity but have developed skills in writing moderately funky tunes.
Mitch: I started making music because the guitar is such a great instrument. I get so much out of playing the guitar and the ability to share that with people is second to none
Dru: These artists are all superstars, but the people who really motivated me were my friends in the music industry. Friends and mentors. They showed me the ropes and inspired me with their work ethic and imagination. I knew I wanted to be a musician right from the start, but here’s a small list of people who actually made me feel like I could do this: Charlie Lim, Yeo, Kylie Auldist (The Bamboos), Maya & Nandy (Prince), and many many others.
What does an average show involve?
Hugh: Hmmm, usually a longer than expected sound check spent making vain attempts to sooth the hangovers of various band members, hitting the stage and attempting to play the shit out of the tunes, a bit of getting up closely followed by prolonged periods of getting down (in a sensual and soulful manner), finishing the show and punching an appropriate amount of tinnies an darts, talking to fans or alternately not taking to fans, then heading home and replying or forgetting to reply to a diverse range of band related admin.
Mitch: Lots and lots of high energy playing and intense grooves from start to finish.
Dru: A crowd anticipation intro, the singles, big anthemic funk numbers, slow jams, more slow jams, some familiar covers done our way, and a rousing jam at the end! We’ve got a six-piece band. Searing guitar work, shimmering keyboards, strong vocal harmonies anchored by a hard working rhythm section!
What are you looking forward to most about being a part of the Ding Dong Xmas Party lineup?
Hugh: Safely assisting the people in their merry making.
Mitch: Sharing the stage with two other great Melbourne bands. All three bands are relatively young in their existence so it will be really exciting to be a part of from the beginning.
Dru: Throwing a rad party with rad people and killer tunes. It’s gonna be a beautiful night!
For the people who are considering attending – what can people expect from your performance at Ding Dong?
Hugh: We’ll perform in a punctual and timely manner with no shortage of luscious vocal harmonies, smoothe sensual beats and hell funk.
Mitch: The four of us walking off stage drenched in sweat wondering if we’ll ever be physically able to play our instruments again.
Dru: A lot of love. Slightly earnest performances lifted higher by strong soulful grooves. It’s all very life affirming and I just want to channel as much positive energy as I can with my voice, my guitar and my band.
What’s next for you musically?
Hugh: We are sincerely hoping to release some recordings next year in 2014, the future. Our dear friend Liam from Northside Records is getting sick of people requesting our non-existent album. It’s just gotta happen…
Mitch: Record and release a 45, that’s the next big plan for sure
Dru: We will be releasing our single “Turnaround” complete with a cinematic Sin City-inspired film clip soon! Keep an ear to the ground!
Funk & Soul X-Mas Party
Thursday 12 December 2013
Starting at 08:00 PM
Ding Dong Lounge
Melbourne, VIC
