Introducing. . . Don Nola of Bordeaux

Hailing from the Red Wine City, Bordeaux... and with a nose for a bouncy beat, Don Nola represents the kind of chap we look for in this "Introducing" section of the blog.

A pro-active outlook on self-promotion, coupled with some pretty cool tuneage to boot - Don Nola is ticking boxes here, and hopefully he is set to break through as we nudge closer to 2010.

We caught 5 minutes with Don Nola to discuss how is doing currently, and who he is tipping for next year!

Lock'Don - Hi Don, its Don, first things first... describe the vibe of Don Nola in 3 words?
Don Nola - OldSchool fidjet tropical

And could you tell us the most interesting thing about Don Nola?
Hum, i don't know but according to what people say about me, the most interesting thing about me is me at 6 o'clock at an after party!

Let's move on to spreading the love elsewhere, who is your tip for an artist under the radar to blow up next year?
Definately Kid Komas from Columbia!

Excellent, thanks for that...

We were made aware of Don Nola through a few demos sent over to us, and we think they're pretty rockin, so go ahead and show him some love, on his Myspace

Short and sweet this time, we've got loads of people to speak to this week, so keep an eye on the blog for some household names, together with names of guys pushing the right buttons in the scene at the moment!

Until then...



Don.

Pro Showcase - Malente talks Parties and Music!

This year alone, Malente has been involved with releases on such "Holy Grail" labels as Fools Gold, Southern Fried and Dim Mak... so with hit latest number "I Like It" getting props from - it seems - every AA list DJ out there, and 2010 fast approaching, you definately feel that the best is yet to come from this Germany based Purveyor of Party!

We kidnapped 12 minutes of his day to ask him a few questions:

Don - Hey Christoph, thanks for speaking with us... If you had to explain your vibe and direction to untrained ears in 3 words, what would you say?
Malente - Party, Party, Party!

....and whats your 1 piece of advice for unsigned dance music producers?
Do what you feel like doing. don't think about Styles, Labels, Money, Girls (well maybe Girls). The main thing though, is you should enjoy the processs of making music. if not do something else.

Whats your favourite VST plugin of the moment?
Old Native Intakt

Who is your tip for 2010? Who have you seen glimpses of this year, that you would like to see more of next year?
Well, what i can tell you is that the in my humble opinion one of the most underrated tracks of 2009 was "We Gonna Give You The Lesson" by Mr Miyagi. I played the sh_t out of that and everybody asked me what that track was, but as far as I know it didn't even get a proper release.

Funnily enough, Mr Miyagi is an artist we are definately aware of at Venga Digital, in fact we were about to release that track - but unfortunately the guys had blogged it quite a bit. Which was good for them, but made it a bit difficult to give a full release to! They are definately guys to look out for, we definately agree with that tip-off!

So what's next for you? What do you have out and upcoming?
Well Malente & Dex ft Bonde do Role - Bangkok is out now on Exploited, its an amazing package featuring remixes from by Freeform Five, dOP, Idiotproof, DanM & James Braun
and another original "Gipsy Kings" remixed by Round Table Knights.

Also in that package, is the Douster remix of "Lions" - and I am happy to give that to the Lock'Don readers! - See Don.

Following that, theres a release on Southern Fried in December with Jay Robinson, and a release in the New Year on Dim Mak, where I am teaming up with Azzido Da Bass! Then Australia tour in January.

Wow, probably the busiest guy we have spoken to of late - that is a serious schedule!

Malente then has kindly (big thanks to Exploited Records for this aswell) allowed us to share the link to that Douster Remix, so I do that below:

Malente & Dex feat. New Kidz - Lions (Douster Remix) (Right Click Save Target As)

So that was an excellent showcase im sure you will agree, Malente really is one of the nicest guys in the biz, and always has time for the little guys.

You can check him out on Twitter @Malente or on his Myspace

Until next time!




Don.

Pro Showcase - A pre-flight natter with Kelevra...

I am sure when Kelevra reflects on the 12 months he has just experienced, he will do so with a little smile on his face.

With tours on 4 continents, heavy hit after heavy hit - together with new projects and enterprises starting all the time, Kelevra (Paul) is definately riding a wave at the moment.

We caught up with Paul, as he was preparing to swap Lincolnshire for Johannesburg!

Don - We'll start with a taste of what your vibe is at the moment... describe your sound in 3 words:
Kelevra - Bouncy, Fun, Unpretentious!

...and Whats your favourite VST plugin of the moment?
I have an old favourite which I still use for mainly everything, Synapse Hydra!

What's your 1 nugget of advice for unsigned dance music producers?
Keep doing what you enjoy and dont give up, if u stop enjoyin it, dont do it!

Who is your tip for 2010, an "under the radar" guy you think will break through next year?
I am digging 2 young south african producers Kabz & Jason Williams at the moment, and a little more well known one, but Black Noise have really burst onto the scene recently. Oh and Redsquad also, I think he is 17 aswell, so theres a lot of good stuff out there!

Fantastic, that kind of answer is exactly what this blog is about... lets flip it back to you then... What's next for Kelevra?
Well I am about to leave for a 10 date tour of South Africa then takin a well earned rest and hiding in the studio for the first couple of months for 2010!After a year of US & Canada 3times, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Sicily, Holland, Spain, Ibiza, Paris, South Africa, its much needed!

Definately, although I can't see the pipe and slippers coming out just yet :)


You can follow Kelevra on Twitter @KelevraUK or mosey on down to his Myspace , and keep checking the blog for more bits of genius from the heavyweight



Don.

Lock'Don Introducing. . . a few words with Melé

Who's that knocking on door of the Dubstep-Bashment-house crossover scene? Introducing. . .Melé!

It was nice to see props from Lee Mortimer in the Prowcase this week, so we thought we would add yet more fuel to the fire... which is already being stoked by the likes of Sinden, Herve, Toddla T, Foamo and Martelo.

Praise indeed, for chap of only 17 from Merseyside, looking to get a foot in the door of the industry!

Rewind back a little while and we remember receiving demos from "Duncestep" as he was then, and it's fantastic to see a progression.

So with a new name, a new glossy Myspace profile and a hunger to make the best of this early promise we decided to speak with the man himself, and get a mixtape from him, so you can draw your own conclusions!

Don - Thanks for joining us, its nice to see you're starting turn heads, but for those whos heads remain fixed - describe your sound in 3 words?
Melé - Big Bass Bashmentstep

So that's a new genre then, that's one "interesting" box ticked, tell us something else that's interesting about Melé!
I'm not even old enough to be in a club yet!

Wow, now you are making us all feel old, so lets skirt past the age thing, and look towards your opinion on other artists, who do you think will be following your early promise - whos your tip-off for 2010?
Doc Daneeka (http://www.myspace.com/therealdocdaneeka) doing alot at the moment, check him out!

Excellent, im sure everyone will head right down the link to check him out! Back to you then... what is next for Melé?
I have just finished remixing the Count and Sinden's new single, currently remixing for Kry Wolf, Greenmoney, Wearhouse Music and Ghetto Battle Weaponz. next year im going to have stuff out on Sinden's new label, and doing some productions for Toddla T's new imprint, but thats early days!

Wow, you seem to be a busy man, keep it up and we'll definately keep an eye on your progress, Thanks!


So yeah, a nice chap - we're all rooting for him... head along to his Myspace page myspace.com/ukmele or show some love on the Twitter @iammele

Need yet more convincing? Check out the mix he put together to compliment this profile:

Melé - Big Bashy Promomix
Download (Sendspace)

Tracklist:
Jungle Warrior - Last Japan
Dub Pistols - Back To Daylight (Redlight Remix)
VV Brown - Game Over (Dave Spoon Remix)
The Count & Sinden - Tamborzuda
Shystie - Pull It (Last Japan Remix)
Max Morell - Girls Meltdown
Jack Splash - I Could Have Loved You (Sinden Remix)
Zed Bias - Neighbourhood 09 (Roska Remix)
Re-spect - Locomo
Boris Dlugosch - Bangkok (Roska Remix)
Geeneus & Katy B - As I
Alvaro - Make It Funky
Crookers & Congorock - Sbombers
DJ Zinc - 128 Trek
Never Forget When You Touch Me (Edit) - Dubbel Dutch
Deadboy - U Cheated
Sekta - ? (Doc Daneeka Remix)
Mommas Boy - Wappomathics
Justin Martin & Claude Von Stroke - Beat That Bird
Harry Choo Choo Romero - Jumped
The Count & Sinden - Elephant 1234
Dave Spoon - Lummox (Plump Dj's Remix)
Plump Dj's - Rocket Soul
Lady Chann - Sticky Situation (Toddla T & Seiji Remix)
Funky Dee - Are U Gonna Bang Doe
Agent x - Decoy
Wiley - Wot U Call It
Oxide & Neutrino - Back 2 Da Floor
Redlight - Be With You (Ft. Serocee, Dread & Omi)
R1 Ryders - Karnifour Rmx
High Rankin - Bubble & Squeak
Benga & Coki - Night
Maxsta - East London Is Back
Emalkay - When i Look At You

Pro Showcase - 5 minutes with The Scumfrog...

Let's play a game of "Who am I?" ...

I have remixed Britney Spears, Dido, Enrique Iglesias, Paris Hilton and David Bowie, I wrote and co-produced Cyndi Laupers latest album, and put it this way, I have a ton of knowledge to empart.

Yes - I am talking about Jesse Houk aka The Scumfrog

We caught 5 minutes with the now New York based dance music legend to chat about music, and other such topics including why you don't always need a yacht!

Don - Thanks for chatting with us Jesse, you're a busy man, so let's jump straight in there... Describe your sound in 3 words?
Scumfrog - Cool Stuff [that] Works!

... and what is your 1 nugget of advice you could give to unsigned artists looking to make some headway?
Live for it, don't bank on it!

Who is your tip for 2010, who are you looking at to make waves next year?
DJ Theresa from NYC, worth checking out!

So what's next for you, any more stellar collaborations to tell us about?
A compilation for people with yachts, titled “Friends With Boats Vol.2” Download for free exclusively at http://www.myspace.com/friendswithboats ....even if you don’t have a yacht.

Now, if that isn't diversity I don't know what is... Britney Spears, Yachts and Cyndi Lauper all in the space of one blog post!

Some great pieces of knowledge to take away there, i've a feeling "Live for it, don't bank on it" is a new mantra in the making :)

If you have 5 minutes spare, you seriously have to check out The Scumfrog website, the flash "Scumberry" feature is really cool... nice blast of fresh air!

Also, if you want to see a who's who of dance music, in list format head to the "discography" section.

You can get it all via his Scumberry anyway on the website, go check it out at http://www.thescumfrog.com/

Until next time...


Don.

November Top 10 Unsigned Demos...

Cristiano Casiraghi - This is Not Tekno

Link: Soundcloud
Location: Norway
Since publishing this chart, the Cristiano is finalising a deal with Mighty Moog Records for a release soon!
Dave Walker - Without You

Link: Myspace
Location: UK
Getting loads of plays in the Funky House and Electro scene, really cool vox and well put together.
JSK - Easy

Link: Myspace
Location: Germany

An 18 year old producer from Cologne, this track demonstrates some good early skill, really deep break with a driving synth line Deadmau5 would be proud of.
DJ Weela - The Art of Electro

Link: Facebook
Location: Egypt
Sexy Electro House still has it's place, and DJ Weela is making light work of the piano in this track.
Audioslags - Confabulation

Link: Myspace
Location: UK
Tech House collective Audioslags provide a boompty tech house groover here. Cool Sounds.
Riddim Jacker - Girl

Link: Facebook
Location: UK
Dreamy Synth Break, with with a jackin fidgetty style drop and cool vox cuts. Nice.
FRANCE - Get Up

Link: Myspace
Location: UK
Dubsteppy Break and build with a cool rolling bass and dubstep inspired wobble.
Guido van Santen - Tool

Link: Myspace
Location: The Netherlands
Formerly known as "The Fidgitive", Guido is showing progress with the beefy bass pattern on this track.
Il Diablo - When its Cool

Link: Myspace
Location: UK
We are digging the tin drum inspired break sections on this, with the chanty vox sample, and dutch house sound melody riff.
Fingerman - Cough

Link: Soundcloud
Location: Russia
Last but definately not least, Fingerman gives us a Russian twist on Fidget!

Pro Showcase - a Chat with Lee Mortimer

Label Owner, Producer, DJ and all round good guy Lee Mortimer joined us this week for a quick chin-wag in the first of our series of Pro Showcases... or Prowcases (Imaginatively).

The idea of these micro-interviews is to get the views and some nuggets of knowledge from the movers and shakers in the biz.

We make efforts to grab a few seconds with chaps that have an interest in labels, in order that they can give you a well rounded opinion of what you need to do as an unsigned artist.

If you don't know Lee Mortimer by now, then you should perhaps go here first, but let's assume you haven't been under a rock for the last few years - and you are aware of the owner of Wearhouse Music, Mr Mortimer.

So we started by asking him to:

Don "Describe your Sound in 3 Words"
Lee - "Bass - Hype"

(That's actually 2 words Lee, but we'll let you off :D )

We continued, to discuss tips and advice, and a question that I reckon will get a completely different response to everyone to whom we ask it:

Which 1 piece of advice would you give to unsigned artists?
Never give up and spend as much time as you can making music. Making good music is ultimately the thing that will get you recognition, nothing else.

Choice words indeed... "Practice Makes Perfect" is the old saying, and I think Lee's advice puts it perfectly, you need to have the skill and the ability to last the long-haul. Our ramblings about having a good appearance are all well and good, and to have a good online appearance will help, but that needs to be backed up with a solid stream of good music!

Onto something that is always interesting information for professional-producers-to-be:

What software do you use, and what is your favourite synth at the moment?
I use Reason 4 so I love Thor.

Lot of love for reason out there, its definately still rocking it behind the scenes!

Now, in these interviews we will get a hold of who the artists themselves are tipping for big tings, in order that they can too have their time in the limelight. All very nice isn't it :)

Whos your tip for 2010?
Aspin & Dipace have had a great end to 2009 so I expect more good things from them. Plus Kill Light and Melé.

Whats next for you?
My track with Laidback Luke "Blau" is out soon with some great remixes from Noob, LA Riots, Nacho Lovers and Doorly. I've got remixes coming of Bombay Bicylce Club, Streetlife DJs, Visage and Cold Blank.

Gig wise I'm in Slide in Oxford with Fake Blood this Friday, Saturday I'm in Leicester. After that I'm in London with DJ Zinc and Loose Cannons @ Cable. On Boxing Day I'm playing with Switch in Leeds for Filth @ Mint. Plus I've got other gigs coming up in Belgium, Switzerland and Edinburgh.

Busy Bwoi! Cheers Lee, excellent stuff.

So I hope you found that of interest, you can find more about the man like Lee Mortimer on his Myspace Twitter or Facebook!

Speak Soon



Don.

10 Things you Need to Know about Approaching a Label...

1. Be Personal!
It takes a couple of minutes to find out a name at a label you are looking to send material to. Nobody likes mass mailers, so a nice title along the lines of "Hey its [Artist], just finished this [Name of contact at Label] thought you may be interested?" I've seen so many times unsigned artists, sending an email with a download link to 10 labels, in CC'd!

2. Definately don't attach your mp3
The internet is getting quicker these days, but that's no excuse for attaching 10mb files to emails! It slows down email download label-side and will generally get on their goat - so don't do it!

3. Speak!
Again, its a shame to get through just a link, no intro, no outro, no signature nothing! If your English isn't the best, Google has a very basic translator, you can just paste in what you would like to say in your preferred language, and translate to English. The translations aren't perfect, but it's definately better than silence!

4. Give options.
Label A&R chaps and owners are pretty busy, and they often have lots of demos to sift through. a 320mb mp3 is great, but always give the option for the demo to be streamed. Myspace and Soundcloud take care of that quite well. The guys at the label will more than likely stream before downloading a full version, so give them the chance :)

5. Give Links
In a similar way to the speaking bit, make sure you get yourself a wide spread of the web, and give as many links to your own site as you can in your email. Facebook, Myspace, Soundcloud pages - more the merrier... tell the label about them, it shows a self-promotion potential!

6. It isn't all about the labels
They say a personal reference is the best possible form of marketing. Send your tracks to DJs aswell, and If you can get some plays and feedback from these guys, attach that "reference" to your email, you will stand a much better chance of the demo being listened to.

7. Blogs are Buddies
Labels like to see potential in artists, sometimes over even the material. If you are being talked about online, this will stand you in really good stead. In order to be spoken about online you have to get involved. Send your music to blogs aswell as labels - and get involved with their communities.

8. First Impressions are everything
In the online era, you have the ability to be whatever you want to be. I don't mean that in a philosophical sense, more along the lines of: If you get a good designer to sort out your Myspace/Twitter profile, embed some nice videos in there get some cool pictures taken this will help your online "appearance". I will go into much more detail on that little number in some future posts.

9. Know what you are trying to achieve
One step at a time... open up conversation more than anything, aim to strike a bit of rapport, that will eventually lead to the label listening to your stuff.

10. BE ORIGINAL!
That statement encoaches on the musical side of things, which we will get some decent names to come in and chat to you about, but in general, be inspired by other artists, but don't try to copy them and make your own stamp. Bootlegs aren't a bad way to start ;)


The list above is by no means definitive, but those are our top 10 tips based on the experience we have ammassed at Venga Digital A&R. There are a few that seem madness (CC'ing 25 labels with a blanket emails) but people really do it!

Let me know your thoughts on that little lot :)




Don.

.... And so it begins

Welcome to Lock'Don blog.

I'm Don, and I work closely with the A&R team at Venga Digital Records. Basically this will be the platform upon which careers can be built.

Venga receives a deluge of demos on a daily basis, spanning several genres, spanning several degrees of quality.

One thing stands true though - its the guys that send in the demos that make the industry tick, these are the chaps on the ground, and we feel they should be honoured.

So Lock'Don will focus on unsigned potential stars, and will feature a monthly unsigned chart, news and stuff of remix competitions and updates on current affairs relevant to you - if you want to make a few waves in the scene.

We are not pigeon-holers either, so any genre is cool... music is art right? So why box it in?

Keep it Locked.... Keep it Lock'Don.



Don