funk | Musicosity

funk

Paris Wells

Watching Paris Wells in her support slot at Robyn's recent Melbourne show was a joy. While most artists in her position would use such a slot as an opportunity to air as much of their own music as possible, Wells seemed to understand that no one was particularly interested in a half-hour of previously unheard music from an unknown artist. Instead, she spent the better part of her set dropping party-starting covers of recent and classic R&B hits. By the time she got around to singing her debut single, Dat Du Dat, she had the crowd in the palm of her hand.

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Pretty Lights

Pretty Lights, real name Derek Vincent Smith, is an electronic music artist from Colorado. Since July 2010, Adam Deitch has assisted during live performances. The name comes from a Pink Floyd poster that read "Come and watch the pretty lights!" Smith's music is the byproduct of digital sampling and crosses many genres, forming a combination of "glitchy hip-hop beats, buzzing synth lines, and vintage funk and soul samples."

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G. Love

Garrett Dutton III (born October 3, 1972), better known as G. Love, is the front man for the band, G. Love & Special Sauce. Dutton, born in Philadelphia, began playing guitar at age 8. He wrote his first song by the time he was in the 9th grade and began playing harmonica in a wire rack. Dutton credits Bob Dylan and John Hammond Jr., as well as then-contemporary "old school" hip-hop sounds of Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys, and Philadelphia's own Schooly D as influences.

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Jackson Jackson

Harry James Angus (Vocals/Trumpet; The Cat Empire) and Jan Skubiszewski (Producer; Phrase, & Composer; APRA Award winner Two Hands, The Rage In Placid Lake, Last Man Standing) met in 2002, when Jan's assistant engineered a recording Harry was performing on. Fast-forward to 2006 - Jan's talent behind the sound desk and his mastery of beats collide with Harry's musical genius to form the collaboration known as Jackson Jackson.

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Direct Influence

Direct Influence is one of Australia’s premier reggae acts. Described as a mixture of the deep rooted reggae of the Wailers, the sounds of Che Fu and a little Damian Marley, Direct Influence create a fusion of Hip Hop and Roots Reggae whilst also encompassing the hearty soulful music carrying messages of peace and hope. An electrifying combination of sweet reggae licks, a monstrous rhythm section and a multi-talented vocalist who can both sing and rap, Direct Influence create exciting and energised live shows that leave audiences across the country wanting more.

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Mark Ronson

Mark Ronson is a sought-after turntablist, who's worked with such diverse artists as JAY-Z, Lily Allen, Robbie Williams, Christina Aguilera, Amy Winehouse, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Duran Duran and comedian Jimmy Fallon. Born in London, he is the son of writer Ann Dexter-Jones and real estate tycoon Laurence Ronson. His mother later married Mick Jones, lead guitarist of multiplatinum selling rock band Foreigner. He has two sisters: fashion designer Charlotte Ronson and DJ Samantha Ronson.

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Michael Franti

Michael Franti (born April 21, 1966, in Oakland, California) is an African, Irish, and German American poet, musician, and composer. Franti is the creator and driving force behind Michael Franti & Spearhead, a band that blends hip hop with a variety of other styles including funk, reggae, folk, and rock. Franti was part of the industrial punk band The Beatnigs with DJ Rono Tse, which released a self-titled LP, and an EP Television on Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles Records.

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The Bamboos

There are two Australian bands with this name. The first is Australia’s premier Deep Funk outfit. Masters of super-heavy, raw and upfront drum-break driven grooves. Led by Guitarist Lance Ferguson (Equatorial Records/Lanu/No Comply), other members include Ben Grayson (Hammond Organ), Danny Farrugia (Drums), Yuri Pavlinov (Bass), Anton Delecca (Sax/Flute) and Ross Irwin (Trumpet). The Bamboos formed in 2001 and released the 7” single ‘Eel Oil/Blackfoot’, earning them international acclaim from the likes of Snowboy, Mr Scruff, Jazzanova, Patrick Forge and Russ Dewbury.

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Cyco Miko

Mike Muir (born March 14, 1964 in Venice, California) is the singer for Suicidal Tendencies and Infectious Grooves. He has also released albums under his nickname Cyco Miko and has sung for No Mercy, replacing original singer Kevin Guercio, who sang for the band on the Welcome to Venice compilation. Cyco Miko released two albums on the record label Suicidal Records. The album Schizophrenic Born Again Problem Child was released in 2001, following up 1996's Lost My Brain! (Once Again) (which featured Sex Pistols's Steve Jones and future Velvet Revolver Dave Kushner).

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Roy Ayers

Roy Ayers was born on September 10, 1940 in Los Angeles. Thanks to his trombone playing father and piano teaching mother, he became immersed in music from day one and the story goes that he was given his first set of vibe mallets by his hero Lionel Hampton at the age of 5. Constantly performing and recording since the 1960s, he is one of the most famous jazz vibraphonists. He has produced some of the most loved modern soul-jazz records of all time such as, "Everybody Loves The Sunshine"...

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