Beatr00ts Guest Mix #002: Mute Speaker
Our latest guest mix comes from Cambodia-based British DJ Mute Speaker who pulls an absolute worldie – in every sense of the word. One for the crate-diggers and sample-seekers, this is a seriously eclectic mix of tracks from some names you might recognise, and many that you might not. As well as Beatr00ts Blog’s exclusive mix which you can download below, Mute Speaker has also produced tracks for Slovakian label Gergaz, as well as NYC’s ever-impressive Astro Nautico
We got these words from Mute Speaker:
So how long have you been out in Cambodia and what were your reasons for upping sticks and leaving Bristol?
Back in the U.K., I often wondered what I may be capable of, and what my life would be like if I could just work on music full time - without the constraints of working a 50hr a week job just to make ends meet. So, on discovering how cheaply I could live in Cambodia and having some savings to fall back on, it seemed like a life opportunity that was too appealing to let slip. Cambodia is not without its issues, simple things we take for granted in the western world can prove to be challenges here, and in the time I have been here (roughly 10 months) I have seen considerable change, the rate of development here seems to be snow-balling & political change is in the air. Only time will tell what the end results will be.
Could you tell us a bit about your musical influences?
Well, you can hear a good selection of different flavours & vibes in the mix I have just done. Of course I'm a big hip hop fiend, most of my favourite stuff coming from the 90's, but I listen to a lot of different music: Afrobeat, Ethio-jazz, Asian Psyche Rock, Cumbia, old Trojan reggae, and any kind of weirdo psychedelic shit I can find - all these things are an influence on the music I make in one way or another, be it sample sources, percussion or bass styles etc. My DJ sets are usually a mixed bag of all of the above, tied together with more contemporary beat music. Hard to pick out much current music that I really rate in particular, I'm finding it more and more difficult each year to find new stuff I really like. Among some of the recent releases I have considered a solid investment, however, are: Mo Kolours, The Heliocentrics, Slimkid3 & Nu-Mark, Run The Jewels and D'Angelo.
How’s the music scene out there?
There's some fantastic Cambodian music, the traditional songs & 60's / 70's rock n' roll I always enjoy. But I feel the contemporary music can be overly commercial, K-pop is a big influence here, as are the talent shows on TV are a huge deal, same as in the West, if not more so. There does not seem to be enough original music being written, most of what you may hear are covers or new versions of old songs, both western & khmer. So, I think there is a lot of untapped potential here musically; I am beginning to attempt to put together a new project for both recording & live work, mixing my own stripped-down percussive beats with some khmer instrumentalists, and hopefully vocals. I am the process of constructing new beats to jam with, whilst consulting a few folk with the hope of sourcing a few open-minded khmer musicians. I have some good original ideas for what I'd like to attempt… here's hoping it'll all come together soon!
Well that sounds seriously cool, and not a million miles away from your Radio Bokor bandcamp release, which initially brought you to our attention. Any other projects in the pipeline you’re excited about?
Yes lots! I was recently working with an MC from LA via UK & Iran - Malkovich - who came to visit me here in Cambodia to record some tracks. We're working on an Asian-themed album together with another U.K. producer, Squigz, who is based in Hat Yai in Thailand. We have some tracks finished but need to pick it up again soon to complete it, Malk may well come back over to record the rest. I also have an EP nearing completion with Gajah, another LA MC with whom I have been working with steadily for about 4 years. This EP is based around the work of Frank Zappa, all the beats featuring chopped up samples from selected Zappa tracks. It's sounding great so far, & it shouldn't be long now before this gets a release date. More locally, I have been producing a lot of beats for Phnom Penh-based hip hop label, Klapyahandz. KYH has operated for over 10 exclusively spearheading the Cambodian hip hop scene, led by producer, film maker & all round top dude Sok Visal. We're aiming at a huge release later this year, maybe up to 30 tracks altogether - with a few other producers also on beat duty & many Khmer rappers, based in Cambodia & overseas where there are strong Khmer communities i.e. Long Beach, Cali & Paris. I've also been keeping busy locally in Kampot, the town where I've been living, with occasional collaborations with both the local school for music & dance (KCDI) & the Cambodian Space Project, plus some fairly regular DJ spots.
Stream/Download in full here
You can find more about Mute Speaker and cop his music via these links:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/mute-speaker
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mutespeaker
Bandcamp: https://soundcloud.com/mute-speaker
Tracklist:
01) Wada Na Tod - Lata Mangeshkar - India
02) But You - Rob - Ghana
03) Netsanet - Mulatu Astatke - Etheopia
04) Nubia En La Playa - Rafeal Yepes Crespo Con Sus Negros De La Region - Peru
05) Heavy - Jaylib - U.S.
06) The Kickboxer - Sinn Sisamouth - Cambodia
07) Are You The One? - Bullion - U.K.
08) Too Poo / Liberation Dues - Oneness Of Juju - Everywhere
09) Remind Our Souls - Amin Payne - Australia
10) Ariwo Yaa - Nigeria
11) Broad Factor (Tom Caruana's Okayplayer-Allstars Mix) - Quasimoto
12) Psychedelic Club Scene - Dexter - Germany
13) Cumbia Sabrosa - Climaco Sarmiento Y Su Orquesta - Columbia
14) Karye Pyar - Tafo ft. Nahid Akhtar - Pakistan
15) Nitro - Comfort Fit - Germany
16) Rayos Cumbicos - Dengue Dengue Dengue - Peru
17) Soul Raga - Mehrpouya - Iran
18) One Thousand Years Of A Tarantula - Dengue Fever - Cambodia / U.S.
19) Cumbia En Do Menor - Lito Barrientos Y Su Orquesta - Columbia
20) In The Middle - Orlando Julius & The Heliocentrics - U.K. / Nigeria
21) Gris Gris Gumbo Ya Ya - Dr. John - New Orleans