Mantra ๐๐ฎ
July was a tricky month. My entire collection of 7"s lost - suspected stolen. Gigs I'm promoting planned & booked for future months under threat. Soundsystem woes & general life woes. The total lack of a proper summer in Scotland, the world on fire - the list goes on.
Music is a tough business and I have ultimate respect for any and all who can handle the ride. In times like this I rest, recalibrate and reach for selections that uplift me everytime & keep me trodding the path. This one from Samory I has been an absolute mantra lately.
If you ever have doubts about your journey through music (& life!), you're not alone. Rest if you must, but do not quit. Let the music play.
๐ฆ
MALTA: I MADE IT ๐
4 years and 4 attempts later, I finally got to mash it up in Malta, connect with so many amazing crew, DISconnect from digital life and take a few days for some serious R&R in the sun ๐ด
Big up Bass Culture for all the love and kindness, Gentleman's Dub Club for the invite to Earth Garden Festival, and all the other heroes I met along the way ๐ฅฐ it might have taken 4 years to make it to Malta but I'll definitely be back ๐
Next up: International Dub Gathering with the one Tom Spirals โจ๏ธ
Ever been rollerskanking? ๐
๐ Skate & Skank: V***n Sound rollerskating soundsystem session @ Rollerstop
๐๏ธ FRIDAY 31st MAY, 8 - 10 PM (2 hours skating, entry from 7.45pm
)
๐ฐ ยฃ10 ENTRY// ยฃ13 WITH SKATE HIRE
โ
๏ธ ONLINE BOOKING: rollerstop.co.uk
๐ 2 MIN WALK FROM KINNING PARK SUBWAY
๐ผ OPEN TO AGES 16+
Singing the blues away โ๏ธ
Quick acapella version of one of my all time favourites, Fever by Alpha Steppa & Eva Keyes
๐ค๐ก
Things have been pretty horrendous in the fox den the last few weeks. It's a bit of serendipity that Aba Shanti-I always seems to appear in Scotland when I need rootikal upliftment the most.
Hearing him run my friends 10,000 Lions Sound System / I-tal Soup Records / Petah Sunday production in Glasgow's Queens Park was surreal and special.
Rounding off with Habesh*tes x Vibronics Polarity Dub and a special dedication on the ๐ค to his sweetheart, reminded me - necessarily, right now - that love always wins.
I've been quiet but, as usual, I've been digging! ๐ฟ
Here's some tunes that haven't left the turntable recenty: some are fresh to my collection (like the two Matumbi albums I've been trying to find a decent, reasonably priced copy of for AGES ๐); some are lovely gifts from mighty Shaolin Sound; some are V***n Sound staples ๐ฆ
When I hit 1000 followers on the โฐ๏ธ app I'll be able to go live and share some of my reggae and dub record collection with you, so give me a follow over there if you don't already ๐๐
Radio + dub. What's not to love? ๐
Take a peek inside the studio, tucked away in @barras_market & right next to more iconic Scottish venues @baadglasgow @barrowland_ballroom ๐
This month's show on @clydebuiltradio featured exclusives from @dubprincessmusic with @hotsteppasmusic , and @riddim_activist , as well as some recent crate digging finds ๐ฟ and tunes from @trsrecords @tingalingrecords @salomonheritage1 @radikal_guru_dub & many more. Check the show through the ๐ in my bio ๐ฆ๐
It's not always roots & culture ๐๐
Digging in the archives for massive wobblers ahead of Decades of Dub presents 140 Edition w/ Kami-0 ~ V***n Sound ~ CC Sound ~ WHO KNEW at Room 2 in Glasgow, 9th March. Wubs & dubs inbound!
Tickets here: https://ra.co/events/1867979
SOUNDSYSTEM IN THE SNOW ๐๐๐
29-31 March heading up to Glencoe Mountain Resort for 3 days & 2 nights of community fun on the slopes + music at night, powered by my soundsystem ๐ค๐
We've sorted a BANGING musical lineup and to come, it's FREE! You just need to get yourself a pass to come on the slopes during the day, and sort your accomodation if you need it (there's van spaces too ๐), both available at the v reasonably priced glencoemountain.co.uk โ๏ธ
If you've been saying you need to make it up to Scotland, this is the time!
Large up Lion Hed Events for the organisation & invitation: check the event for full lineup & further updates ๐ Coe Community Camp ๐
See ya in the hills โท๏ธ๐
๐ค๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฆ
Huge tune from 10,000 Lions Sound System fills me with MASSIVE vibes everytime I hear it.
I love tunes that are heavily instrument-focussed like this. So pleased it finally arrived โ๏ธ๐ฟ eventually I will make it back to India! ๐ฎ๐ณ๐
Also: yes, I love the flanger. I turn the flanger to 1000%. I am flanger. Regina Falan-ger. โจ๏ธ
๐ฅ๐ SOUND ON ๐๐ฅ
This time last week I was touching down in Geneva ready for DUBQUAKE WEEKENDER - what a session ๐จ๐ญ! HUGE big up to all massive & crew involved and particularly & High Budub Sound for the huge vibes & heavy hifi ๐ฅณ
Very very pleased to have brought my high grade energy to Dubquake ๐ & bookings open for 2024 - as a standalone selector, or with my sound. Let's tear it up ๐ฆ๐
SOUND ON ๐๐ค
30 earthstrongs + loads of gigs coming = plenty digging!
Next sessions:
8th Oct in Malta - Bass Cultureโs 10 years of Dub ft. V***n Sound ๐ฒ๐น
14th Oct in Munich - with Omega Dub Circle #2 feat. V***n Sound (UK) ๐ฉ๐ช
26th Oct in Edinburgh - with Charlie P & Uplands Roast ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ
24th November in Geneva - FOR DUBQUAKE WEEKENDER WITH O.B.F Sound System ๐คฏโ๏ธ๐จ๐ญ
Hit me on [email protected] if you'd like me to bring the juice to your dance ๐ง๐
Dubatriation family = WICKED ๐ฅ๐
Big up to Francois & the whole Dubatriation crew for epic hospitality, vibes and joy this weekend!! Top session + soundsystem singing sweet with those Calum Audio Ltd tops! โ๏ธ
Next up: Malta in 2 weeks time for Bass Cultureโs 10 years of Dub ft. V***n Sound ๐ฒ๐น
Wicked & wild few weeks ๐๐๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ๐ฉ๐ช๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ๐ซ๐ท๐จ๐ญ
Big up everyone I've met/seen along the way, there's been so much love and care between these crews all summer ๐
[email protected] to bring me to your session ๐ - whole heap of styles & fashion. ๐
V***n at Glastonbury!
V***n's first Glastonbury ๐ฆ๐ช
SO grateful to be here soaking up the vibes on the Soltice in the magical & historical stone circle ๐ excited for so much musical wonder this weekend especially at the Firmly Rooted Soundsystem arena ๐
Even more blessed to be playing two sets tomorrow - 4pm Blind Tiger & 11pm Tow and Hitch ๐๐
Vinyls, past and present ๐ฟ
Latest release ๐ค oldest vinyl
The newest & oldest Mungo's Hi Fi // Scotch Bonnet Records releases are both in my hands! Came across this OG copy of Ing, whilst doing a bit of digging a few summers ago, hiding away for only ยฃ5. I think it's an original pressing (?!) - a bit of history in my hands! Seemed apt to put them together given the new album is titled "Past & Present". The title track is a very special one to me.
Vinyl available for pre-order now on the Scotch Bonnet bandcamp ๐
Riots EP out now on 12" vinyl
Pomegranate Sounds x ๐ฆ
Last month my first vinyl feature came out, linking up with the Pomegranate Sounds crew for this release: a musical mission from Colarado to Hong Kong, by way of France & Scotland โ๏ธ๐บ๐ฒ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ซ๐ท๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ there's been some love going out to this from various radio stations across the globe so if that's you, merci for the support!
Here's 'Starting Riots' on one of my favourite versions. Free dubplate to whoever can name the original track I'm riding โ๏ธ
Find the Riots EP on 12" vinyl at
pomegranatesounds.bandcamp.com/album/riots-ep ๐ฟ
Not the kind to stand in line ๐
Not the kind to stand in line โ๏ธ๐ช
An international women's day gift from me to you: I relicked this (my potentially all-time favourite roots) tune for all the sound sisters I've met and continue to meet, who give me so much inspiration. I would never have done so many incredible things without the amazing women around me, both in music and life. Never bow down, never stand in line ๐ธ
This wee gift also goes to the skankers that joined us for Iron Aye Hifi's first dance last month. A gorgeous community night that'll fill my heart for a long time - thank you. More soon. ๐ฅฐ
Heverlee Mixer @ Stereo Glasgow
Beer? Records? ๐ป๐ฟ
Get roon Stereo tomorrow eve (Wed 19 Oct).
Beats supplied by myself & Ira (Bass Warrior Sound)for Clyde Built Radio , plus a pop-up vinyl shop for those in need of a midweek treat.
Cold pints provided by Heverlee Beer ๐ฅถ