In the realm of dance music, there are few producers that thrive on blurring the boundary between eclectic experimenter and populist ass-shaker as much as Q-Burns Abstract Message. Equally comfortable covering Krautrock legends Faust or dropping his favorite chunky house grooves into the mix, Q-BAM—known to his parents as Michael Donaldson—is indeed the rare auteur. Whether globe-trotting as a DJ, co-running the Eighth Dimension Records label, remixing artists like Rabbit in the Moon, FilaBrazilliaand Lawrence Welk, or recording his own original productions, Donaldson is all about the coaxing the maximum soul out of the machine. * * * Based in Orlando since the early-’90s, the former record shop owner and college radio DJ has spent the past two decades developing a sound that is obsessively devoted to the funk. His animated, vodka-soaked DJ sets have won audiences for the well-traveled Donaldson from San Francisco to (literally) Siberia, and landed him primo opening slots for GusGus, Chemical Brothers and Meat Beat Manifesto. * * * However, it’s his playful rhythms, surprising melodic themes and not-so-surprising Eno-esque textures that demand attention. An accomplished indie musician prior to releasing his first single as Q-BAM—the breakbeat noir of “141 Revenge Street” in 1995—Donaldson is first and foremost a songwriter, albeit one that is just as enamored with the sheer power of the groove. * * * With a trusty Roland Juno 106 synth at his side, Q-BAM released three full-length albums via the respected electronic label Astralwerks, including Invisible Airline which featured several collaborations with vocalist Lisa Shaw. He has recorded numerous singles for house-centric imprints such as Brique Rouge, Slip N’ Slide, NRK and of course, Eighth Dimension. Q-BAM was also one of the talented producers on alt-country icon Jim White’s 2001 Luaka Bop release No Such Place. The album cast White’s stark vocals in a wasteland of dusty beats and ghostly slide guitars, with Donaldson’s tracks providing some of its most intoxicating moments. * * * Though his “endless summer” schedule—more than 100 DJ dates annually—and ongoing production projects would seemingly exhaust a mere mortal, Q-BAM rather enjoys this 120-bpm soundtrack. Accordingly, Donaldson and fellow Orlando producer/DJ Atnarko recently launched the vinyl-only label EIGHT-TRACKS, dedicated to releasing “strange sounds that you can dance to,” says Q-BAM himself. Additionally, house imprint Agave Records has tapped Donaldson to throw down a mix CD titled Agave Nectar Vol. 1, now available in fine records shops worldwide. * * * As if there wasn’t already enough deliciously warm and gooey queso already piled high on his plate, Q-BAM is also hard at work recording his fourth album, due out in 2007. * * * (This bio was written by Daniel Fuller … be sure to check out his fantastic music blog The Hardest Walk.)
How to *completely* recreate Prodigy's "Smack My Bitch Up" from scratch in Ableton Live. Kinda neat. http://bit.ly/6agAo3 (via @SynthGear)
about 24 hours ago
I was just told SkySixty rooftop isn't open 2night due to chilly weather. you should still go to James Brown tribute @ Social ... super bad!
09:24 AM December 29
Hello friends ... I hope you're having a fantastic holiday season.
I just wanted to quickly let you know that tonight, Saturday, December 26, I'll be DJ'ing at The Social with Sleazy McQueen. It's a "Christmas Afterparty" with free well drinks before midnight, $5 cover. It's going to be a lot of fun and should help satiate any post-Xmas restlessness. Fun & funky tunes quaranteed. Click HERE for info.
Also, in the next week, I'm a part of these special gigs:
Tuesday, December 29 - I'll be playing on the rooftop at SkySixty for Phat N'Jazzy. DJ BMF will be doing a James Brown Tribute set below at the Social. Click HERE for info. Thursday, December 31 - It's my New Year's Eve Party at SkySixty. Celebrate the coming of 2010 under the stars, soundtracked by my special selection of funky tunes. $10 cover. Click HERE for info.
I hope to see you out and about, and here's to 2010!