Privet! Shabanoff Syndicate

It's not often that you get to hear a quality live house performance. Even rarer to find a band like Shabanoff Syndicate. who execute it so well. If you missed there performance at the Seas Club in Exit Odessa, last May check out this link to You Tube.

Shabanoff Syndicate is lead by Igor Shabanov (Composing & Keyboard) Miroslav Pyatnikov (trumpet), Sergey Kvasnevsky(bass), DJ Max Vega (grooveboxes, mixing).

Mangalia

Ever since arriving in Romania last week we've been smiling. It makes no sense as more than any other venue this little seaside town has pushed Seas artists to the brink. Here in Mangalia we weren't just trying to attract a underserved audience to new art but it has felt like we are here starting an Art scene from scratch. The new city gallery opened with Seas artist Anna-Lise's Kiss & Waste project to essentially ourselves and a handful of local faces. There are no nightclubs in Mangalia so we had to get inventive with a former shop. Upon arrival it didn't even have a pavement outside! The mayor moored his boat right outside our front door and blasted UEFA Football & dancing cheerleaders in his bid to get re-elected. We stayed in the city's finest hotel but even here my bedclothes are dirty and my body riddled with insect bites. And still we smile.
There is something so amazing about the people we meet and the stories we hear. The bar man who was forced to dump his girlfriend in the bad old days because she was English and therefore a threat to national security. Revolution square with it's massive soviet style mural. Ramus the stall holder who teaches me a new Romanian word everytime I walk by. And the music - everyone has an opinion on music. Guitars rule here. While DJ-ing I get the most diverse requests for Pendulm to Romanian ska.

Our opening night felt like a youth club as teenagers piled into the venue from the nearby park. Initially dismayed it actually turned into a blessing. Metro- Boulet- Dodo took the challenge and produced their finest performances of the tour in Night Scene. Outside 'Monday in the Sun' did the same with their agressive dance. And after the night's work was done all the artists came together in the club - to vent frustrations, to dance & to laugh. Our Seas Club even ended up in the Sea with improteau night swimming. The next night all those teenagers returned with friends - and the cheeky brats from the night before were now our most loyal audience. It wasn't just the kids who changed there behaviour we did too. We were transformed and energised by their attention.
Our Social Club was buzzing and the sunrise beers became the norm after we had packed the last of the kids off home. By Friday we had our groove down and Electric Brother from Bucharest took control of the decks. This left us to take control of the Barbie! So I smile and thank Mangalia, Dan & Alex at the White House, for transforming us from a group of touring artists into the best of friends.

Video from Odessa

Today two music videos arrived to the Seas Club inbox from Odessa.

The track 'Norway Fjords' is a result of collaboration between Twiggy Pop founder/vocalist/model/actress Masha Navrotskaya and Norwegian visual artists Anne-Lise Stenseth (previously, a collaborator w/Ukr.tele.kom movement). They've now posted it on Last FM http://www.lastfm.ru/music/twiggy+pop/+videos/6613837

Those wonderful crazy Muzyka Budet lads have posted a video from their performance at EXIT. It really captures the energy of this evening and shows off their VJ skills too. http://artkuroch.livejournal.com/20820.html

D.I.Y S.O.S.

Sinful Dragons at Comics

Varna's Sinful Dragons' were our Guest DJ at Club Seas on Saturday night. When DJ Mitach one half of the Sinful Dragon collective shared with us a cheeky techno track sampling an old Bulgarian Folk Tale we knew we had to have him play. His beats have real personality & style. It's a pretty sparse myspace page at the moment but Mitach promises there will be new music posted soon. http://www.myspace.com/sinfuldragonsproject

Sinful Dragons - Set List Comics Saturday June 7th
1. Jamimphony - Dj Mitach
2. Happy Song - Dj Mitach
3. Toshko Afrikanski - Tafrikanski
4. Control Your Body ft Mousy
5. Alle Ussamer Gand Goch
6. Alter Mews.

Diversion

On Friday I went looking for Sigma . Their performance is taking place in an unmarked building in Varna. Before long I realised I was lost and was throughly enjoying myself. I'm staying in a hotel sandwiched between a triangle of 24hour petrol stations, the Railway Station and an Industrial Port. All of this circled with ulgy developments and constant traffic. Getting lost was a delight. The backstreets are quiet and broken. Old women look down from the balconys at you. It's like a permanent Sunday. Occasionally you come along the remains of really antique walls. Walking through one high rise housing estate I saw a walkway over what looked like castle ruins. No fuss or interpretation centre to tell me what era they belonged to. And just when you wonder were where all the people have gone you come across a little cafe lined square with roses in full bloom. After a few hours I naturally arrived back on familiar territory in the city centre.

KERA (Varna's Digital Arts Festival) had visited Seas Club the previous night and let loose to TimesNewRoman (DJ Dogus) set.

On the dancefloor I met a charming Columbian, Oswaldo Machia who told me about his piece 'Diversions' a sound tower set in a derelict building. By now it was evening and almost time for the opening so I wandered down to see it. It's a tower of stacked wooden boxes each emitting a different animal noise. 100 different animals are used in the recording. Machia is passionate about the texture of languages and uses the analogy of animals in capacity to force us to think about what happens when humans lose there languages.

We then went next door to another shack of a building. Frank Kastner from Berlin was exhibiting his scultpure there. Is a cloud or a cocoon? I think the latter but its a piece that allows for your own interpretation. I had to revisit yesterday to take a picture so I could share it with you.

These are the tracks we were getting down and dirty to Thursday night at Seas Club...

1. Fanfare Ciocarlia - Pana Cand Nu Te Iubeam

2. Bratsch - Danse de l'Alcohol

3. Chambao - Los muchahos de mi barrio

4. Kardes Turkuler - Anako Isler Nanay

5. Antwerp Gipsy Ska Orchestra - Djelem djelem

6. Gipsy.cz - Romano Hiphop

7. Sanseverino - Rouge

8. Emir Kustirika & The Non-Smoking Orchestra - Pitbull Terrier

9. Shantel - Koupes/I'll smash the glasses

10. Ciguli - Lolo

Friday saw the first of our local based musicians.  mitko aka Violent Public Disorderaz  provided a  completely different sound scape to Dogus the night before, entertaining the Seas crowd  with his down tempo chill out grooves which gradually built to a thrilling creshendo as the night reached its climax.  Like Kousin, Mitko   is a music maker with many strings to his bow – he s a key figure in trip beat miks (http://www.myspace.com/tripbeatmiks) a loose collection of musicians in Varna and runs www.dustedwax.org – a web site based label.  What makes dusted wax special is its attitude - all the music is FREE to stream and download.  ‘It’s the future of music’ he tells us passionately.

Most of the music he played can be found on dusted wax so why not check it out, recreate the night itself and support this enterprising venture.  Here are just a few of the tracks he played:-

Violent Public Disorderaz – Memory

Mr Moods and LR-60 – Mirage

Mr Moods – Once Upon s Time in Westside

Violent Public Disorderaz – Perfect Chill

Shoto – G Soul

Merlume – Deeper

Violent Moods – Place for Crazy People

Violent Public Disorderaz – Brife Expressing Time (feat. Translent)

Amongst the crowd were a number of our play list panel – including DJs Nikki and Swill.  Swill left a CD of pictures from the panel whilst Nikki and Deirdre had a chat for the podcast.  You can see more of Swill’s pictures at our Flick-R site.

Once again the club had been preceded by performances by Metro Boulot Dodo and Wunderbahm (though the absence of a key white shirt with red pin stripe almost caused one of the shows to be cancelled...if you know its whereabouts please do return it to its rightful owners!). 

There’s one night to go here in Varna and already DJ Deirdre is cooking up an thrilling line up with one or two surprises so if you can make it do check it out.  It’s bound to be a fitting end to the Seas club in Varna – and with Comics due to be demolished soon  it will be one of the last ever nights in the venue.  And then its onward to Mangalia for the final dates of this leg of the extraordinary expedition which is SEAS.

(pictures to come!)

From love to sun rise via beats, booze and a cracking atmosphere

Its about seven in the morning here and Ive just watched the most amazing sunrise over the black sea.  In fact we’ve been all a glow since the SEAS club kicked into gear.  Its an incredible mix of music from the North and Black seas, theatre, happenings and very, very good company.  There’s still two nights left so if your anywhere near Varna (or Mangalia next week) get down here.

The evening kicked off at 9.30 with Metro Boulot Dodo’s Night Scene  - a kind of play within a film.  The   film crew are desperately trying to finish the shoot of a new movie and the crowd quickly become essential players in the story.  Shot out of sequence the film narrative (a love story) jumps back and forth – in between drinking, chatting and smoking your left to try and work what on earth is going on.  What is clear is that all is not well within the close knit group of actors and you find yourself being unwittingly drawn into several personal stories.  Quite brilliantly the piece end with the film itself when  literally minutes after finishing shooting the audience get to see the finished product.

In the next room two drunk English football fans begin an epic journey in Varna on the look out for sex!.  As the drinks are drowned the pair’s views become more and more outlandish, their behaviour more aggressive  and their opinions more offensive  Though at times deeply uncomfortable Beer Tourist is  a  savagely funny and occasionally touching exploration of two men and their obsession with football, beer and sex.  Some people cant take it and walk out others lap it up.  Whichever camp  you sit in it will certainly leaves you thinking!

At about midnight the music kicks in.  Once again DJ Dogus   played an extended guest slot of music from around the globe.  Those Turkish beats quickly had everyone on the dance floor and a great party atmosphere ensued well into the early hours.  In amongst the dancing there was a tremendous amount of conversation and inter cultural discussion, the hall mark of the SEAS project.  So if you are anywhere near Varna today or tomorrow do make sure you come down ...its well worth it!.

So the SEAS moves to Varna – Bulgaria’s third city sitting proudly (and warmly) on the Black Sea. Already we’ve met lots of fascinating people and have been bowled over by the friendliness and welcoming nature of the Bulgarian people. Ivor , for example, took me on a whistle stop tour of all the best bars and clubs for music and all because I asked what the scene was like!

We spent the day listening to the local talent over at the Comics club. A former cinema it’s decked out in a rich but decaying red which only adds to the theatricality of the place. The massive canvasses that lean precariously on the grand stair well give the space an air of decadence and fading grandeur. We learnt this space hit its peak (as a club) three years ago but right now it’s a perfect spot for the SEAS club. Tonight – for the first time – the venue will host performances by Metro Boulot Dodo (UK, www.metro-boulot-dodo.com) and Wunderbahm (Netherlands, www.wunderbaum.nl) and the SEAS DJs – including a final set by DJ Dogus which will , no doubt, reel in the crowds!

At the play list panel we met a host of fascinating DJs. Minamalist techno is a big here and there is a confident and talented bunch of young (in some cases very young) emerging DJs including Slammer (myspace.com/slammerbg), Swill (myspace.com/swillakanaggeruarlet), Teejay (myspace.com/teejaybg) and Inspecta (myspace.com/inspecta). Many of these have been mentored, encouraged and developed by DJ Kozin (myspace.com/djkozin and www.undersound-recordings.net). You’ll be able to hear more from Kozin on the pod cast.

We’ve also spent time with DJ Emotion, a former hip hop chart topper and now in his thirties very much an establishment figure in Varna. He now divides his time between the lucrative slots in local hotels (both here and in Golden Sands) and his creative projects including his band, Evolution (www.evolution.bg) which features dj, trumpet, sax and piano. According to Emotion its Varna’s sunrise over the sea which drives his – and many other artists – creativity. When you sit in the beach bars Ivor introduced me too you can well believe it....

It’s been fascinating so far – but you suspect theres so much more to come. And right now the excitement is building as the Seas Club Varna gets ever closer!!

M

Grand Finale

Club Seas invited TimesNewRoman ( DJ Dogus) to play our closing party at Exit. The music jumped across the globe yet kept a distinctly Turkish Beat. There was Conga's and the bar staff snook out to the dancefloor too.

Here is our Top Ten Tracks from the night so you can re-create the party at home.

1. Balkan Beat Box - Bulgarian Chicks
2. Gipsy.cz - Multin
3. Murat Uncuoglu Ft. Ayben Vs. Husnu Senlendirici - Sina Nari
4. DJ Russ Jones and Felx B - Sing Even If You Got No Bread
5. Fanfare Ciocarlia - 007 (James Bond Theme)
6. Kocani Orkestar - Alim Korkori Ko Bijav
7. Gogol Bordello - J.U.F. Dub8. Besh O DroM - Space Maudi
9. Amsterdam Klezmer Band - Der Terkishe Yale Ve Yove
10. Kultur Shock - Mustafa

Pearl Of Odessa

By Friday news had spread about our parties down at Exit. We crammed the bill with as many acts as possible opening with a sweet techno set from our resident DJ Gary Grey. Wunderbaum's Beer Tourist was at capacity and emotions flowing as the youngest theatre audience I've ever seen jostled for a better view. A perfect audience for our first live performers of the evening
Sergei Klein, Andrei Sechkovski also known as UKR.TELE.KOM. These guys' are known for uncompromising live performances. Their strange name is borrowed from the Ukrainian national telephone company. It makes sense when you listen to the music and realise they are all about communciating disrespectfully of borders. Perhaps even beyond what we would term music. It was surprising then that the audience accepted and enjoyed the strange set. The live element of flute, mouth harp & vocal undoubtedly captured the imagination.

At midnight Boogazz took to the stage. Black Sea Ethno Grooves is there self labled genre. Max Vega took up duties on the turntables adding a modern twist to familiar Balkan melodies. From the opening bars everyone was on there feet. Boogazz whipped our club into a sweaty frenzy. Exquisite accordion playing and infectious brass from the two Neroslavs. We hope to post some pictures soon.

Vj's Muzika Budget followed. This young sound system threw there planned set out the window and played the music they felt rather than what the club owners in Odessa usually demand. And boy were we glad, the floor remained packed until security kicked us all out! It seems our neighbours didn't appreciate the banging tracks at 4am.

EXIT Thursday

Earlier this week Jenny & I were lucky enough to introduced to pianist Alexander Kohanovski. Kohanovski is a big deal. He straddles both the contemporary classical world and Ukraine's underground alternative music scene. There are not enough superlatives in the world to describe what he does with a piano.
The Exit club has a battered old piano tucked away under the curtains. We persuaded him to play for us last night. This is a man used to playing in grand national theatres and yet he agreed. So generous is he with his time that after his performance he invited some of Odessa's fresh music makers on stage. Encouraging actress Twiggy Pop to develop her musical side. As with such spontaneous gigs there was technical hitches and nothing ran smoothly. Yet our club was laughing - bewitched by Twiggy's humour and grace. The night ended with DJ Max Vega spinning original grooves from his many beat bands. Looking across the room it was great to see our new Dutch theatre friends Wunderbaum, Odessa musicians and audience lingering by the stage sharing a beer together - reluctant for this special night to end.

A Tale Of Two Cities

Odessa is a city of contrasts. At the moment the elegant boulevards are decorated with delicate white polin from its many trees making walking across the city a joy. Yet the famous sea is to be avoided due to pollution. Outside our city apartment sits exclusive global boutiques and huge cars pack themselves onto the pavement. Walk 10 minutes from the centre and you'll arrive in the Moldavanka district. Moldavanka is historically home to Jewish Gangsters. Any illusion of romantic hustling disappears though when you realise that today it is on the cusp of transforming into a drug ghetto. It's buildings are just as beautiful as the city centre but crumbling away.
To some Odessa's architecture can't fit with sucess and the future. Progress demands new skyscrapers. I as a selfish tourist want to wrap myself in the cobbled stone streets and faded grandeur. Can the the past and future co-exist? It seems to me that these century old buildings are also a symbol of commerce. Odessa is a city built exclusively for trade. Early migrants dared dream not just of riches but built a multi-ethnic city to rival Paris.That takes some vision and self-belief. Qualities that this new frail state need to succeed.

First SEAS Club in Odessa is big hit!

After another day of meetings with local musicians and DJs yesterday we have a jam-packed programme of club nights for the rest of the week here in Odessa, including live music sets each evening – an unexpected and very welcome bonus! Local musicians have been so happy to share their talents with us.

Our first club night opened with local volunteer, student Artium (aka DJ Gary Grey) spinning his favourite minimal techno tracks. Artium works as a local DJ in the beach clubs when he’s not studying languages and wants to learn more about promoting, so he’s supporting us all week, particularly on the translation front, and hopefully picking up a bit of promotions experience and advice at the same time.

Dutch theatre company Wunderbaum premiered their new theatre show Beer Tourist in the club to packed crowd. A surreal experience for me – seeing Dutch actors playing Manchester United fans on holiday in the Ukraine and sending up the Brits abroad stereotype. Although at times painfully close to the bone, luckily everyone in the audience seemed to share the humour inherent in the piece and I didn’t have to defend my country for the rest of the evening. Phew!

Next, we were treated to a fantastic live set from Odessan electro-jazz quartet Shabanoff Syndicate, led by Igor Shabanoff. See a clip of the band playing live. A SEAS club first – our volunteer Artium had never seen a live band before and was blown away. Result!

Finally, we persuaded musician Alexey Svidersky, who plays in around 6 bands in Odessa and is an all-round talented and lovely guy, to come and play some of his music on the decks. He’d never DJ-d before but with the help of his friend Mischa, soon got the hang of it. Another SEAS club first! Check out Alexey and Mischa’s NoBudjet clip which Deirdre and I loved!

So, a packed crowd, great music, enthusiastic reception by locals and SEAS visitors alike – the first SEAS club has set the benchmark for the next 20 days. Hurray! If you've time check out our latest flickr slideshow.

Odessa Files

We landed in Odessa yesterday and immediately met a host of other artists from countries as diverse as Sweden, Romania and Croatia – all here to participate in the SEAS adventure!

We’ve been too busy to do any real exploring of the city as yet, but on first impressions, Odessa is a beautiful place, with wide tree-lined boulevards. A wind band was playing on the central square when we arrived and we’re looking forward to hearing the disco fountain in action! New money has very conspicuously arrived here and the city is an intriguing mix of bling, top designer fashion houses, enormous 4x4s, pot-holed roads and crumbling buildings.

Our first DJ workshop was at the Exit Club, a lo-fi, underground club with a network of small rooms and alternative clientele. Perfect!

Our musician friends and translators Sergei Klein and Andrei Sechkovski of ukr.tele.com had lined up a series of informal music-sharings with what they said were the best musicians and djs in the city and we weren’t disappointed! We listened to some fantastic music and booked local djs for the SEAS club nights Deirdre will be running on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. We also have musicians willing to perform live on all three nights and we’re really excited about this! We’ll be telling you more about the musicians and djs over the next few blogs. View photos from Odessa. Do svidanija!

Summer and Cold Music

The SEAS Festival kicks off in just a few days and I’m in the crazy position of hosting the SEAS Social Club. A space for Artists, local musicians and like minded folks to get to know each other a little better, to chill but to also party – and trust us we do like to Party! Thanks to the World Wide Web I’ve been getting a sneak preview of what music I may encounter upon arrival. Tonight I stumbled upon Ukrainians ‘Dubious’ on Nexsound’s my space page. It’s cold and clinical style is softened by a very human bass line and whispered lyrics. Next week we'll be by the shores of the Black Sea under Odessa’s baking summer sun and beside my cold beer will be even icier music. I can’t wait!

http://www.myspace.com/nexsound

Introducing the SEAS Club

Black/North SEAS and the hub - one of London's most eclectic music producers - present the SEAS Club from Wednesday 28-Saturday 14 June in the Black Sea ports of Odessa, Varna and Mangalia.

Music wise, Irish DJ Deirdre Melvin promises to bring a broad-ranging mix of great tracks – everything from regular club bangers and pint spillers to more experimental drum n' bass and electronic.

We’ll have loads of music from the Black Seas in the mix and there’ll be opportunities for local DJs to guest spot as well. We’re hoping to seek out and showcase the very best in music from the Black Seas.

Do you have your own favourite tracks from the Black or North Seas regions that you feel should make it onto our playlists? Or perhaps you're a DJ or musician looking to reach an international audience. If so, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at theseasclub@gmail.com.

Club Dates

Exit Club, Odessa // Wednesday 28 May - Friday 30 May // 2230h
Comix Club, Varna // Thursday 5 - Saturday 7 June // 2100h
White House on the Beach, Mangalia // Thursday 12 - Saturday 14 June // 2200h