Beatnik » Pete

Weekly Show on Resonance FM!

Pete — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:05:41 +0000

It’s true, Gil & I have managed to bag a weekly Saturday night show on London’s Resonance FM (that’s 104.4FM or online at http://resonancefm.com)

Our first broadcast is on Saturday 12th June at 10pm-11pm and every week thereafter. With each show being an hour we’ll be cramming in all the music we can, so hopefully a bit less of the meandering chat we can be guilty of and a whole raft of compressed broadcasting excellence. We’ll be pre-recording (as we’re usually out DJing on Saturdays) so we’ve been putting all the bits together to make a lovely compact home recording studio, Check out a few of the pics below – I think you’d called it bijou, or more likely, just cramped. As long as there’s some decks, a mic and cuppa we’ll be good.

Please do tune in and of course if you’re making music, send it to us for inclusion in the show – http://soundcloud.com/wearebeatnik/dropbox

Here’s where we’re recording from, notice there’s no mic as yet (that comes tomorrow). Got a brand new second hand mixer for a truly knock down price.. it even seems to work! And there’s good old maccy who will be performing the task of playing stuff that’s not on vinyl and recording everything we play and say.. it’s a busy time for the macster.

Direct from the artist

Pete — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:45:53 +0000

While the media report on the woes of the music industry and the part that the internet has to play in it’s current state of turmoil, much less is made of the power that has been given to individual artists by this new technology. Self promotion and even distribution of music can all be done without major label backing. This post takes a look at some artists doing it for themselves… Read on!

I could start this post with a load of stuff about filesharing and album leaks, but you’ve read it all before. The fact is, the internet gets a hard time in the media. The music industry doesn’t like the fact that they don’t have much control over what happens with their music (ditto the film industry) and they’re so unhappy that Lord Mandelson has been drafted in to try and pass laws that will allow the suspension of suspected filesharer’s internet connections. Right or wrong (and if you feel it’s wrong, why not sign this petition), the internet has made a major impact on the music industry.

We like to look at the positives here at Beatnik. The internet has opened up a world of opportunity for aspiring musicians (and established ones too) to get their music out and heard without major label backing.

Self-promotion and even distribution are all possible with a computer, time and perseverence. The social networking phenomenon Twitter means artists can make connections with tastemakers and industry folks without having to try and get past agents, and sites like bandcamp.com make digital distribution and the collection of payment for music very straightforward. A lot of the music we play on Beatnik now is first heard of when the artist announces it on Twitter. Some of it is even bought direct.

Here are 4 folks whose music you can buy direct from the artist, all with the Beatnik seal of approval! It’ll make you feel good to drop dosh directly in their pocket!

Fulgeance – Smartbanging EP
Available in Physical & Digital at http://fulgeance.bandcamp.com/
Superb wobbly beat constructions from a French dude. I particularly dig Sour Socca, straight banger!
DJ IQ – Flashing Lights
Available in Physical & Digital at http://djiq.co.uk/
UK Beats Mix Tape from DMC champion DJ IQ. All dubplates, comlpetely essential.
Kidkanevil – Megajoy
Available in Digital at http://kidkanevil.bandcamp.com/
I’ve been banging on about this tune to everyone, it sounds incredible when it drops in the club and it’s got that retro 80s video game bleep sound down. Awesome music.
Paul White – Sounds From The Skylight
Available in Physical & Digital at http://paulwhite.bandcamp.com/
It was when I bought this album from Paul White that I was first introduced to bandcamp. An intriguing, tapestry of heavy beats and weird samples… like having a walk inside someones head, and who wouldn’t want to do that!

Save 209radio

Pete — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:10:41 +0000

As you may have heard, 209radio, our broadcast home for the last 6 years faces closure this Monday (30th November) unless we can come up with £28k. It’s a lot of money, but you never know! We’re urging people to give what they can by either donating at http://justgiving.com/209radio or by joining the 209radio Lottery at http://209radio.co.uk/lottery.

If the station goes, Cambridge loses a unique and valuable community resource not to mention some of the finest musical programming in the UK (big claim but we’re serious). If you can stump up any dosh, it’s much appreciated. Even if not you can show your support by adding a Twibbon to your Twitter avatar here : http://twibbon.com/cause/209radio/Join

We urge you, whatever happens, to tune in and have a listen at 105FM in Cambridge or online at http://209radio.co.uk to what may be the station’s last few broadcasts.

Welcome to wearebeatnik.com!

Pete — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:39:45 +0000

Things aren’t completely finished here by any means but we’ve got to get started sometime so here we go! This site will be a place where Gil & I will post about stuff we’re interested in, stuff about our radio show on 209radio.co.uk including tracklistings, full audio and transcripts of all past and future interviews we’ve conducted with a veritable galaxy of stars for the show (we’ll get them all up eventually promise), mixes for download and recommended purchases.

Not to sound too pretentious, but we hope this will become a kind of cultural hub for you (as if you really needed another one of those!)

Anyway, why not subscribe to the RSS feed and keep up to date with us, oh, and don’t forget to leave comments on anything we post… it’s a good way to be in touch with Beatnik!

One last thing : SIGN UP TO THE MAILING LIST AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE!

Love you!

Pete