As 2019 winds to a close, Polish producer Satl delivers a statement of intent with hisThe North Quarter debut release on Amsterdam boutique label. Consisting of 9 tracks his “Things We Can’t See” project draws from a varied palette of influences includingJazz, R&B and Dub Techno to stunning effect.
The Rotterdam resident possesses a refinement and depth beyond his years, making him one of the leading lights in a new generation of Drum & Bass producers and on “ThingsWe Can't See”, a coming of age of sorts, he truly manages to rise above himself. With work on a follow up already underway this is just the beginning of his relationship withThe North Quarter.
Since its inception in 2016, Redeyes has become one of the cornerstone artists of The North Quarter, fully embracing the multi-genre aspirations of the label. Yet with his latest release he delivers a more homogeneous project, focussing mainly on his Drum & Bass roots. His always intricate productions draw influences from Jazz, Techno and Dub to give a coherent yet diverse feel to his third release on the Amsterdam based label.
The North Quarter's latest signing - is a multi-talented artist emerging amongst a new wave of Manchester excellence. Textures, the lead track from his forthcoming debut album Kaleidoscope, has been a favourite in Manchester's underground for some time now.
With long time collaborator HMD on the hook Textures is an undeniably catchy example of contemporary Hip Hop-Soul. A sneak peak to an honest and introspective gem that will undoubtedly make Abnormal Sleepz a household name in the UK.
FD serves up a prime cut of soulful House with 'Ribs'
Inspired by recent influences as well as years spent in Europe, versatile Drum & Bass producer FD teams up with Maverick Soul and Issac Rosie to create a classy soulful House bubbler - Ribs - one of the highlights of his debut album Better Days on The North Quarter.
To complete this 10” appendix to the LP, Byron the Aquarius (Eglo) is enlisted to remix the stand out track Ice Cream off of FD’s 2017 EP on the Amsterdam based label. The man of the moment takes it in a totally new direction in a freeform Detroit workout.
Following his versatile Alone With Everybody EP, FD returns to The North Quarter with a stunning 16 track debut album: Better Days.
Largely written in a three month window, FDs (real name Freddie Dixon) new long player on The NQ undoubtedly brings the best of the Zurich-based/London-born producer. Better Days is an album that delivers a rare synergy of drive, harmony between subtle & raw and just sheer fun. A versatile yet coherent project drawn from a large pool of sketches, finalised in intricate detail with focused studio dedication.
Drawing influences from Dub, Jazz, Hip Hop, Soul and the Mid 90's Drum & Bass “GoldenAge”, Better Days bridges the gap between genres, as FD enlists carefully considered vocal collaborations. Manchester donny Fox shines on the dubbed out Better Man and Washington DC soul diva Cecily shows shades of Minnie Riperton on Sycamore. Meanwhile Ribs is lifted to one of the album's stand out tracks with Maverick Soul on the keys and the enigmatic Issac Rosie on the boards.
For some the better days in life are in their childhood memories: nostalgia-infused wonderings of the mind to a care-free time without today's online distractions. Although FD’s debut album 'Better Days' is inspired and informed by a period earlier in life, his best days musically are definitely in the present. To put it into the man's own words:
"I’ve been wanting to do an album for quite a while now, but the circumstance never felt right. Once I started working with The North Quarter that all changed – it feels like being part of a team all pushing in the same direction, all supporting one another, all wanting to do the best for each other. Once we’d done the first EP together, for me, it was only a question of when."
The North Quarter kicks off 2019 with a comprehensive seven-tracker (four on vinyl) from the seriously talented Anile. Back after a short hiatus the underrated producer delivers Sheets Of Empty Canvas, a statement piece with no features. This is a welcomingly diverse project that effortlessly reaches both raw and emotional highs whilst concisely joining the dots in between.
Gorgeous clear vinyl with PVC cover four-track 12" vinyl edition.
Last year Julien ‘Redeyes’ Salvi showed off his versatility on his Blueprints EP. He now takes it one step further with the release of “Broken Soul”, his first full length project for The North Quarter. Through twelve sincere tracks, the Toulouse-based artist showcases an action packed storyline co-starring some of the most sought-after vocalists in the game. Not only do Manchester legends DRS and Tyler Daley make appearances, but there are also features by fresh NQ signee Abnormal Sleepz, HMD, KinKai and Juga-Naut as well as NY underground Hip Hop phenomenon Milano Constantine. Rap, Soul and dusty Jazz flavour is woven through diverse tracks in both tempo and intensity. The Redeyes signature shines bright however, effortlessly capturing current aesthetics and eclecticism. This album shows a veteran artist comfortable in his craft and is not just at home on Lenzman's imprint, it possibly signifies the quintessence of The North Quarter philosophy.
Sam Reed aka Tokyo Prose is a New Zealand based Drum & Bass producer with releases on Soul:r, Samurai Music, Hospital Records. He now celebrates the release of his sophomore album “Wild Grace” with his debut on Lenzman’s emergent The North Quarter label.
His music is regularly supported by many of the scenes biggest names including Calibre, Marcus Intalex, Lenzman, LSB, DJ Marky, Presha, London Elektricity, SpectraSoul and many more.
Tokyo Prose started his career on Samurai Music with 2011’s 'Introducing Tokyo Prose’ EP which featured the standout tune "Saving Grace”. In the same year, Tokyo Prose with Fis, went onto launch the Samurai Horo label including the track “The Truths” which has just featured on Forrest Swords’ 2018 DJ Kicks compilation.
In 2014 Tokyo Prose released his debut album ‘Presence’ on Samurai Music. ‘Presence’ marked the culmination of his musical exploration and evolution up until that point - encapsulating the soulful, emotive vibrancy of the Tokyo Prose sound, now fully formed and refined. The album featured a number of features with DRS, Riya and Fox on vocals and Lenzman, Synkro and LSB on co-production. The album showcased Tokyo Prose’s polished aesthetic with a firm focus on musicality and groove.
Soon after saw his first feature on Marcus Intalex's hugely respected label Soul:R with 'Tell Me', on the 5th edition of the popular Fourfit series.
Tokyo Prose now returns with his 2nd album on The North Quarter. With 'Wild Grace' the Auckland native returns from an extended absence to deliver a masterclass in emotive musical storytelling. The project features some of his most sought-after works and includes vocals from Steo, Cleveland Watkiss and rising star [ K S R ] as well as collaborations with Race Banyon, Nether and LSB.
Sam Reed aka Tokyo Prose is a New Zealand based Drum & Bass producer with releases on Soul:r, Samurai Music, Hospital Records. He now celebrates the release of his sophomore album “Wild Grace” with his debut on Lenzman’s emergent The North Quarter label.
His music is regularly supported by many of the scenes biggest names including Calibre, Marcus Intalex, Lenzman, LSB, DJ Marky, Presha, London Elektricity, SpectraSoul and many more.
Tokyo Prose started his career on Samurai Music with 2011’s 'Introducing Tokyo Prose’ EP which featured the standout tune "Saving Grace”. In the same year, Tokyo Prose with Fis, went onto launch the Samurai Horo label including the track “The Truths” which has just featured on Forrest Swords’ 2018 DJ Kicks compilation.
In 2014 Tokyo Prose released his debut album ‘Presence’ on Samurai Music. ‘Presence’ marked the culmination of his musical exploration and evolution up until that point - encapsulating the soulful, emotive vibrancy of the Tokyo Prose sound, now fully formed and refined. The album featured a number of features with DRS, Riya and Fox on vocals and Lenzman, Synkro and LSB on co-production. The album showcased Tokyo Prose’s polished aesthetic with a firm focus on musicality and groove.
Soon after saw his first feature on Marcus Intalex's hugely respected label Soul:R with 'Tell Me', on the 5th edition of the popular Fourfit series.
Tokyo Prose now returns with his 2nd album on The North Quarter. With 'Wild Grace' the Auckland native returns from an extended absence to deliver a masterclass in emotive musical storytelling. The project features some of his most sought-after works and includes vocals from Steo, Cleveland Watkiss and rising star [ K S R ] as well as collaborations with Race Banyon, Nether and LSB.
Drum & Bass veteran Zero T teams up with multi-instrumentalist duo Unitsouled to bring us a slice of 'Irish soul music for the 21st century' with their “Baby Grand EP”. Due on The North Quarter on the 11th of May this exclusive project sees Zero T's trademark sound reach new heights through the addition of live instrumentation and exploration of a broader palette of genres. Additionally a host of talented vocalists are featured throughout the project - including fresh NQ signing Abnormal Sleepz. From start to finish the 'Baby Grand EP' effortlessly moves through Hip Hop, Neo Soul, Broken Beat and Drum & Bass adding another ambitious chapter to the eclectic North Quarter portfolio.
The new 'Alone With Everybody' EP by Drum & Bass connoisseur FD firmly solidifies his earned seat in the upper echelons of the Drum & Bass scene. The epic nine-tracker showcases a new dimension to his sound, having already gained the trust of many essential labels in the past. Serious work has been released over the course of years, producing a balanced catalogue of what FD stands for. This persistent output has grown in both reputation and depth and tells the story of a man dedicated to keeping close to his musical vision.
A veteran producer and DJ in the scene for more than a decade, FD has the ears of a true tastemaker; an artist and curator that understands his audience. Each piece of music has been created with his highly self-critical approach and scrutiny, bringing the best to the fore on this anticipated new body of work.
From the iconic intro with Jazz T, all the way to the closing track 'This Is Now' the EP speaks a solid sonic language with a confident yet emotion and energy-driven tone-of-voice. The collaboration with Manchester-based 'OG' Fox for example highlights FD as a forward-thinking musician who embraces both roots and culture of his loved genre.
It is not a coincidence that FD releases his new work on Lenzman's The North Quarter imprint; a new home for a growing scene of matured musicians still leaving their traces on a Drum & Bass tempo. Taking the initials of his real name tells us that FD keeps close to what he stands for and who he is, directly in tune with the NQ's mission.
The Blueprints EP marks the welcome return of the talented Toulouse based producer Redeyes. Following a number of releases on seminal labels such as Bingo, Creative Source, Innerground and Brownswood in the mid 2000s, Redeyes then decided to take a step back from music production. Now returning as a more complete and mature artist, his Blueprints EP on Lenzman’s The North Quarter imprint sends an exciting message of where Julien Salvi stands in 2017. Comprising of an ambitious nine tracks, Redeyes’ Blueprints EP showcases his exquisite musicianship and ability in the studio throughout each piece of music. In true North Quarter style, he effortlessly breaks down the boundaries between Drum & Bass and Hip Hop, whilst fully maintaining the soulful and heartfelt aesthetic that he is known and revered for. The release sees him join forces with a plethora of exciting talent. ‘100 Porsches To The Stars’ brings him together with underground LA rap hero Hus Kingpin for a lo-fi Hip Hop masterclass. He also collaborates with Mancunian don Black Josh, Children of Zeus’ infamous Tyler Daley, North Quarter chief Lenzman, and many more.
After six years with seminal label Metalheadz, building his reputation through a steady output of Soulful Drum & Bass, Lenzman is about to embark on a new journey: launching his own label.
The North Quarter, named after the neighbourhood where he grew up, will be an outlet for both his own productions as well as music by like minded individuals, who share a love and dedication for all things soulful. Naturally its first release is a Lenzman EP: ‘All For You’.
Taking everything that has shaped him musically and has meant something to him over the years, Lenzman is combining these ingredients to create something heartfelt. Music with imperfections, born in heartache and pain, joy and laughter; a human celebration. Something far beyond container concepts like ‘Drum & Bass’. A classic attitude shaped in 21st century interpretations, a beautiful struggle if you will. Rather than offering a single track, The North Quarter is about reaching deeper, allowing artists a more varied pallet and more freedom.
a1. Lenzman - African Dream
a2. Lenzman - Grateful
b1. Children Of Zeus feat. DRS - Still Standing (Lenzman Remix)
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