Ransom Note

Lumberjacks can exist in both heaven and hell, however, it is the latter which Marcel Vogel chooses to place himself. The German producer and disc jockey has a notorious reputation for blending elements of cosmic disco alongside r'n'b, house and various oddities. Eclectic and dancefloor orientated the label has released music from the likes of Jamie 3:26, Traxx, Mr Mendel and Eddie C. More recently Marcel Vogel has also founded a new label titled 'Intimate Friends' on which he has taken a new creative approach. As a producer Marcel Vogel has captured elements of seduction present in old school r'n'b and placed them alongside modern day electronic influences. The result is often enchanting, odd and abuzz. We caught up with him as he contributes to The Ransom Note mix series.

Moody and dark are terms which seem to come in tangent with the work of up and coming producer Gohan. Following the release of his debut album "Peur" which came out on Peur Bleue Records in 2012, his own imprint by the way, he has since released music by the likes of Nummer, Nick Araguay and Altkat. Melancholic and immersive, the theme of black runs prevalently throughout the ethos of the label. We caught up with him to talk about his label and the Gohan project.

Crossover is a term which is used far too regularly for our liking. There are few who can truly be said to have breached the divide. However Shuya Okino is one such artist who has earnt his title as a true pioneer of the crossover. Blending a fusion of disco, jazz and house he is a Japanese pioneer of dancefloor music and as one half of the Kyoto Jazz Massive has been crucial in spreading his vision throughout the country and beyond. Championed by the likes of Gilles Peterson and Volcov amongst many others he now also finds himself as the mastermind behind The Room Club in Shibuya, Japan. This summer he will appear at Deboto festival in Croatia. Ahead of his appearance we asked him to contribute to our Wednesday mix series.

Applescal appears to be a play on words. Pascal Terstappen has been releasing music under this alias for almost ten years now: as one of the founding figures behind Atomnation he has also been responsible for releasing music by the likes of Sau Poler, Weval and Olaf Stuut. His sound sees him dabble in melancholic melody, he has a taste for the deep and mystical when it comes to music and this is often reflected in the nature of his DJ sets.

To heckle someone in the United Kingdom is to interrupt and provoke. However, Hekkla's name does not originate from such origins: taken from the title of an Icelandic volcano with an added 'K' it becomes a much more scenic title for an up and comer. Based in Eindhoven, Hekkla has recently released his debut EP on AM, a record which was supported by the likes of Midland amongst others. His sound sees him capture the nature of the tropics, reinforced by an undercurrent of house and techno which fuels the fire beneath lush soundscapes. We invited him to contribute to our 'Shine A Light On' series and had a chat.

Romania isn't entirely the type of place you might associate with techno. However, for many years Andrew Red Hand has been responsible for pioneering the dark arts in the country. Since 2009 he has released on labels such as MOS, Land of Dance and more. Aaron carl notoriously called him 'the romanian Underground Resistance himself'', and living up to this name Andrew has delivered several mixes as part of the UR series. We caught up with him to talk cliches and the inspiration behind his name...

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Mavrik has become a staple party amidst London's sprawling nightlife. It can often be difficult to trust the unknown, and many parties have come and gone over the years. However, the sentiment behind Mavrik remains the same as it was originally founded upon: a party for friends without the allure of big names, good music for good people. Past guests include the likes of Nick the Record, Red Greg, Tim Sweeney and more. On the 12th of August the party will return alongside Mr Bongo Soundystem and John Gomez for a night of music which promises to be both well informed and dancefloor driven. It is a party after all. The event will also be raising money for local children's charity Free to Be. Baring all this in mind, we caught up with Roddy (Mavrik) to talk music and records as he contributes to our Wednesday mix series.

Alinka is well travelled when it comes to house music. Having previously held down a residency at Smart Bar in Chicago for some seven odd years, she now finds herself in Berlin where she has featured on the Panorama Bar line up. Alongside her friend, Shaun J. Wright she has released a vast string of purpose built, club ready tracks. Her tastes range from oddball house, acid, techno, and she tends to rely heavily on weird and wonderfuly bass driven music. Most recently she has released music on Crosstown Rebels and her own founded imprint Twirl Recordings.

Alinka is well travelled when it comes to house music. Having previously held down a residency at Smart Bar in Chicago for some seven odd years, she now finds herself in Berlin where she has featured on the Panorama Bar line up. Alongside her friend, Shaun J. Wright she has released a vast string of purpose built, club ready tracks. Her tastes range from oddball house, acid, techno, and she tends to rely heavily on weird and wonderfuly bass driven music. Most recently she has released music on Crosstown Rebels and her own founded imprint Twirl Recordings.

Turkey appears to be in the midst of a crisis. Much of the recent media attention has been focused upon hatred, despair and trouble. However, the good people of this country often remain unreported, undiscussed. From a musical perspective, the scene in Istanbul survives amidst a backdrop of chaos, and yet it still continues to put in a damn good shift. Ece Ozel is the latest contributor to our 'Shine A Light On' mix series as she speaks to us about the music scene in Turkey and a political backdrop which casts a dim haze over propsperity and culture. @ece-o