Vinyl Virtuso , Jazz-Infused Maestro
Here's a Preview for the Mix - Click here to watch the Full Video
What is Kultshur?
At Kultshur, we believe in more than just music; we believe in a cultural movement that goes beyond the surface. Our community is a celebration of artists and like-minded music lovers who contribute to a diverse world of electronic sound.
Our mission is simple yet profound: to create a collective of artists whose voices resonate with the heartbeat of the underground scene.
The Mix and Interview Series: Episode 1
Featured Artist: Teak Makai
"Kicking off this series, our awaited two-hour mix features a unique producer and an outstanding vinyl spinner who delivers masterpieces in his mixes. The experience of curating a joint mixtape was exceptional, and here
is what he had to say when I asked questions about his musical career, studio, and more insightful remedies."
Q1: Teak, let's start from the roots. Where does your journey begin? Where are you from, and what lit the spark that drew you into the electronic scene?
I have spent my whole life in Costa Mesa, California and I owe so much of my musical development to my local community. I have been a musician since I was very young and never doubted that it would always be a huge part of my life. My expression of choice moved from instrumentation to DJing and electronic production at around 13 years old. It was when I was DJing my own school dance in 8th grade that I met my first mentor, Joel DeMarzo. He runs a local underground label, True House, which is where I got my early start. He saw potential in my mixing and I sent him my productions, releasing my first tune in 2017. Since then, we have traveled and played together all over the map, including my international debut in 2019 at ADE.
Q2: So let's dig into the scene of your homeland. Is it a challenge to stand out and build a community of like-minded individuals to foster a collective of educated party animals?
The dance scene in southern California is tight but strong. There are a good number of really solid labels and collectives each bringing something unique to the table - and a steady constant crew of partiers. The talent is prominent around me in California and a lot of my local friends are receiving well deserved international recognition. In addition to True House, I have released on another local powerhouse of a label, InTheBagg, out of Encinitas, CA (you will hear two tracks from this record on the show). I believe there is only room for the scene to grow and things are actually looking really good.
Q3: Are you ready to spice up this interview by sharing some secret recipes on how you propelled onto the global stage and crafted a signature sound that's uniquely yours?
I sound the way I do because of my unique introduction to dance music. When I was younger I loved grooves and wanted to be a DJ long before I knew about house music or anything of the like. I wanted to be a turntablist more than anything, genre was irrelevant. Combining this with my history in guitar and piano playing jazz and the blues, I had quite a few tricks up my sleeve when I stepped into making dance music.
Q4: When it comes to music production, could you give us a sneak peek into your studio setup? Do you think developing production skills is essential for artists aspiring to perform in their dream clubs and festivals?
I produce primarily in FL Studio, but have recently stepped more out of the computer and into the hardware realm. The bulk of my productions recently have been carried by the Moog Matriarch, accompanied by a drum machine and some sequenced midi sauce. Then I will jam out and then chop it up and fit an arrangement together like puzzle pieces. The philosophical overlap between DJing and producing is immense and not to be overlooked. It is a symbiotic relationship.
Q5: Do you believe in the power of marketing for artists? Do you think many artists lack this skill, and is it essential nowadays to have a strong grasp of marketing for your music to flourish? Any tips and tricks you'd like to share with our fellow up-and-coming artists?
To really grow organically, advertising is best done face to face. Meeting people directly and showing face at local parties goes farther than almost any other method. My saving grace whenever I feel pressured and anxious about my career is to remind myself to play the long game. I want to do this sustainably for hopefully my whole life, and I feel like as long as I am nurturing my passion to create, I will improve and grow. Be in no rush to “blow up.” Focus on impressing yourself before your peers, and the validation will come from where it matters.
Q6: Thank you, Teak, for sharing your insights and experiences with us. Before we wrap up, could you tell us about any upcoming releases or tour dates?
You can expect more from me coming out on True House as well as a line of self release jam
tapes dropping soon.
Full Mix (Audio Version):
Tracklist:
Hour 1 by Karim Yousry:
Teak Makai - Days Gone
Brako - 004 (Police)
Unknown - Untitled B1 [TELUM011]
Andrey Djackonda & Minube - Everyday
RWN - Unsolved Mysteries
Lukea - A Pierdut Noaptea
East End Dubs - Holo
Vinyl Mode feat. Moayad - Shoft AlHala (Extended Mix) [MDLBEAST Records]
Superlounge - Superlounge - Tool#1 (Unreleased)
Karim Yousry - Lonely Shepeard (Unreleased)
Kosh - Vicious Love [20_20 Vision Recordings]
Nici Frida - Augmented Reality (Original Mix)
Sepp - Tehnic
Datar - B (Tarrentella vs. Redanka's NYSC Mix)
Demi Riquísimo - B2 Don't Feed The Tiger VINYL ONLY [Semi Delicious]
Christopher Ledger - Logical Form
SULLFUPPORT - A1 - Eivets Rednow [SULLF07]
Hour 2 by Teak Makai:
Teak Makai - (Unreleased)
Teak Makai - (Unreleased)
Mike Khayata - Night in Tunisia
Teak Makai - (Unreleased)
╤─ - Minimal Banger
Souledge - Golden Nugget
Liem & Eddie Ness - STgsFF
Makcim & Levi - Yoga Knaller
Fortran 5 - Love Baby (Charlie Endell Mix)
Souledge - (Always Wild) Deepump
Nubian Mindz - Black Science (Restless Soul Looptime Mix)
John Howard - Barry Van Hammer
Peta - Untitled
Gary Gritness - Jus’ Ride
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