LAMP Weekly Mix #62 feat. Jeff Devoe (True To You)
LAMP Weekly Mix #62 feat. Jeff Devoe (True To You)
We spoke with Jeff Devoe during our 2 Year Anniversary about Drum & Bass, and it's current stand in the electronic music scene. The result of that conversation was this awesome mix that speaks loud and clear about it's rightly deserved place as a constantly evolving genre that has supplied some of the biggest leaps forward in music production and performances.As always we reserve the floor for the man himself, Jeff Devoe, to enlighten us on his musical quest 'True To You':
It’s been a long while since I’ve done a straight drum and bass mix. For a while, drum and bass was the only music I made or mixed. It was and still is my heart and soul, as far as electronic music is concerned. As with most musicians I wanted to explore what electronic music had to offer and I was glad that I did because it gave me a fresh new perspective on this music that I love so much. With that said I still have a VIP section in my heart for drum and bass. I missed making it and I missed playing it. So I’m really happy to be presenting this brand new dj mix filled from top to bottom with nothing but what I think is the best in drum and bass now.
I’ve always enjoyed playing sets with various sub genres in them. I find it helps to create dynamics that are so necessary to make someone feel something. This mix is a bit like a circle in that regard. We begin with a very jazzy tune in 'Receiving Sight' by Soundcycles and 'Life' by Lynx. The mix then moves into some soul influenced liquid dnb with the Icarus & Rain, Villem & Mcleod, Madcap, and Macca & Loz Contreras tracks. The Macca & Loz Contreras release, 'Honey Sugar' is my favorite of this bunch with a fantastic vocal sample and vibes laden beat that just drips in sticky soul. This tune really reminds me of the style Hospital Records put out many moons ago when they first started out.
Even here in California we know that life isn’t as interesting if the sun is always shining. So, after 'Honey Sugar' the mix starts to turn direction to a darker, more sinister side of drum and bass. 'Stepped Outside' is a nice roller with vocals that appropriately announce the turn of events for the mix: “See I reach out in all directions”. Coming in hot is a remix of a James Zabiela tune called 'Perseverance' by a man who I can only describe as a drum and bass genius. S.P.Y has been killing the game lately. Everything he does is perfection. It’s unbelievable. I halfway believe that he is the Robert Johnson of drum and bass and sold his soul to the devil in order to make amazing tunes. The only reason I don’t fully believe this is that I know the devil has already sold his soul to drum and bass, ha! There are a couple other S.P.Y tracks in this mix (Brstl Hardcore, and his remix of Camo & Krooked’s 'Loving You Is Easy') and each one is a masterpiece.
Another producer who has been putting in work is Frankee. I have two tracks of his on this mix, “Wonderland” and “Snarl”. Wonderland’s breakdown is magical with floating pianos and an etherial vocal lead all leading to a breaky drum beat and fat and tasty sub bassline. Snarl is an absolute terror. It has one of the dirtiest basslines I’ve heard recently. It also has an incredible reese synth that call and responds with the growly distorted bassline. Absolutely nasty tune.
After “Snarl” comes a State Of Mind tune called “Bigger Faster Stronger”. The mystical vocals, rolling drums and gravely bassline all contribute to a vibe that feels like drum and bass made by a witch. This tune really casts a spell on the listener, leaving them wondering if they ever will find their way out of the dark forest where this tune resides.
Recently I’ve started working on some drum and bass again. I’ve done a couple tunes with the talented Jo-S. “Alchemy” is one of the tracks we did. Alchemy intros with a percussive synth melody bouncing over misty pads. I wrote and recorded the vocals in the tune which give reason for the title of the track. Alchemy is the process of changing matter into different states. So for instance you could take a rock and turn it into a lump of gold. “Music is our alchemy.” is what the lyrics say and I very much believe that in a way music is an alchemical process because it can change the way you feel about something. Along with “Alchemy” we also did a tune called “Red Sparrow” that came out great. You can check both of these out on my Soundcloud (soundcloud.com/devoe). I’ve also finished a remix for a local Los Angeles singer named LaTina Webb called Pedestal that you can find on the Soundcloud too.
Alchemy also helps the mix turn course from a dark direction back into the light. Following Alchemy we move to Ulterior Motive’s “Tape Pack”, a bounding nod to warehouse proto-jungle. “Tape Pack” does an awesome job of melting the old skool rave vibes into a modern dnb beat. This tune has it all including the pitch up vocals which lament “Oh I wish I could turn back time, thinking bout all those happy times.”
High Contrast comes next with a track that was released as a free download last year. “When The Drums Come In” features Chicago based rapper Wonda lending some molasses slow vocals to a classic High Contrast style smash up. The breakdowns feature beautiful string pads and a guitar melody that dances between the strings as the vocals crawl over the track.
The last two tracks of the mix both involve one of my favorite vocalists in drum and bass, MC Fats. Fats’ tone is instantly recognizable and his hooks are always addictive. ASides (another favorite of mine) gets a remix from the dons Total Science on his tune “What You Don’t Know”. Originally released in 2003 as an amen heavy roller Total Science turn the track into a modern steppy soulful dnb tune with alternating 808 and harmonic basslines. Fats’ vocals help drive the tune forward, bobbing and dipping through the track. Total Science, once again, do not fail at reworking an old classic into a new modern day one.
Lastly, the name sake of this mix, “True To You” by MC Fats & Brother is a musical smasher. Fats does some of his best vocal work that I’ve heard to date with a super catchy verse and chorus in the break before the drop. Lots of strings and what sounds like a harp pluck wrap the vocals in a warm blanket of sound that makes you feel like you are floating inside a cloud on the most wonderfully warm sunny day. When the drums and bass kick in the bouncing rhythm makes you want to put on your ol’ moon stomping boots and pull the fattest skank of your life. This is my favorite tune on this mix. It is one of the most delightful drum and bass tunes I’ve heard in a long time.
That is all my friends. I’ve bared my dnb soul to you and I hope you like what you heard. Please enjoy this mix I’ve made and when you get a chance drop me a line on my Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Soundcloud or Mixcloud (that should cover just about everyone ever haha) and let me know what you thought about it."
- Jeff Devoe
'True To You' Tracklist
1. Soundcycles - Receiving Sight2. Lynx - Life3. Icarus & Rain feat. Tasha Baxter - How Do I Tell You4. Villem & Mcleod - Only 4 U5. Madcap - Gotta Have You6. Macca & Loz Contreras - Honey Sugar7. Loadstar - Stepped Outside8. James Zabiela - Perseverance (S.P.Y Remix)9. Frankee - Wonderland10. Bazil - Once Red11. S.P.Y - Brstl Hardcore12. Frankee - Snarl13. State of Mind - Bigger Faster Stronger14. Jo-S & Devoe - Alchemy15. Ulterior Motive - Tape Pack16. High Contrast - When The Drums Come In (feat. Wonda)17. Camo & Krooked - Loving You Is Easy (S.P.Y Remix)18. A Sides feat. Regina & MC Fats - What You Don’t Know (Total Science Remix)19. MC Fats & Brother - True To YouEnjoy,LAMP