LO’ JUIMO! ¡Lo’ Juimo! Is the title of Bondi Blaster’s debut EP out March 6th, consisting of five original songs and a handful of remixes, alternative versions and instrumentals. The title references the classic Colombian cumbia album by Corraleros del Majagual, ¡Nos Fuimos! (meaning let’s go!).  Bondi Blaster is the latest incarnation of DJ and renown music journalist Juan Data as a producer of sample-based music in a style that he calls ‘cumbia linyera’ (linyera is Argentine vernacular for garbage pickers). In this new outfit, conjured in association with Dub Snakkr and with the collaboration of a handful of friends, Juan Data mixes all his heterogeneous influences going from cumbia to Brazilian pop, from electronica to rap, from funk to Andean folk, all with an irreverent punk attitude and put together through the cut-and-paste traditions of hip-hop culture. Now get on the bus and start dancing!
Snakkr gives a wobble-bass ode to pop Lebanese classic by the Bendaly Family...(FREE DOWNLOAD) http://abcd.ivanshopov.com/track/do-you-wob-me The EP is a compilation of tracks from Lebanese producers . The Balkansky tracks was produced during the music production workshop i did in Beirut, organized by the DMG Crew ! DMG is a collective of DJs, Artists, Photographers, Designers & Music enthusiasts promoting and spreading a wide range of Electronic Music based in LEBANON. http://abcd.ivanshopov.com/album/beirut-ep
Stronghold is proud to be a part of this great project by the Mind Body Awareness Project. Prison elders speak to incarcerated youth about the reality of doing life. Real conversations, guided meditation and beats all put together to help gain insight and self-understanding. For more information or to get a copy: http://www.mbaproject.org/index.php?s=Contact
Encompassing a wide variety of sounds including traditional African and Arab folk, reggae and dub-step, hip-hop and new cumbia, the SF based Stronghold Sound presents its first in a line of releases, The Audio Refuge Compilation. Each track is an experiment and firm step in a direction that this group of global artists is putting forth to lovers of tradition and the dance floor.  Among the tracks on the release are a handful featuring the talented Alpha Oumar 'Bongo' Sidibe [Guinea] and his blend of Manding Roots and Afrobeat rhythms played by the solid Wontanara group. Gnawa Kronik [Tim A. Fuson, Ahmed Khouja] puts forth a couple tracks exploring the Saharan musical tradition along side renowned musician and imaam, Yassir Chadly [Morocco]. North-African groove band, The Dunes, gets a horn remix courtesy of dub Snakkr, who also puts forward a few grimey audio treats of his own including a couple featuring the lyrical skills of Iggy Mon [Trinidad]. Well known Bay Area dj/producer, Juan Data [Argentina], gets a debut of his new project, Bondi Blaster, which includes some bass heavy cumbia numbers featuring salivating vocals by the lovely Tamara as well as tight rhymes by emcees Nes [Mexico] and Ephniko Dialecto [Guatemala]. Other unique tunes include an oud-funk number featuring the multi-talented Excentrik [Palestine], as well as a mellow and sweet soul inspired tune by Iamani I Ameni. To top things off is a stellar lyrical performance by Gift of Gab [Blackaliscious] as he's backed up by a fresh blend of beats, Ngoni strings, organ and sensuous vocals.  Working with Gnawa, Cumbia, Oud, Reggae and Afrobeat, the compilation gives a road map to where this eclectic label plans on taking us.  The Audio Refuge Compilation is live on Itunes and Amazon (+ other digital download sites). The digital release has all the tracks on the cd plus a bonus track by Gift of Gab (Blackalicious). To get the compilation go to: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/audio-refuge-compilation-stronghold/id447486050 or http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Refuge-Compilation-Stronghold-Explicit/dp/B005AES0SK/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1310675211&sr=1-2    
Ephniko – ‘All Day’ (new video) Video “All Day” con Ephniko en el MIC y Nuff Ced en el beat. Bajo la direccion de Jorge Rodriguez http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKHSNh7rxmM
Bonus track by Gift of Gab (Blackalicious). A special project between GAB and a number of talented musicians (props to Yazmin on vocals and Evan Fraser on Ngoni) putting together a soulful rootsy hip-hop track. To get the single or the compilation go to: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/audio-refuge-compilation-stronghold/id447486050 or http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Refuge-Compilation-Stronghold-Explicit/dp/B005AES0SK/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1310675211&sr=1-2
LO’ JUIMO! ¡Lo’ Juimo! Is the title of Bondi Blaster’s debut EP out March 6th, consisting of five original songs and a handful of remixes, alternative versions and instrumentals. The title references the classic Colombian cumbia album by Corraleros del Majagual, ¡Nos Fuimos! (meaning let’s go!).  Bondi Blaster is the latest incarnation of DJ and renown music journalist Juan Data as a producer of sample-based music in a style that he calls ‘cumbia linyera’ (linyera is Argentine vernacular for garbage pickers). In this new outfit, conjured in association with Dub Snakkr and with the collaboration of a handful of friends, Juan Data mixes all his heterogeneous influences going from cumbia to Brazilian pop, from electronica to rap, from funk to Andean folk, all with an irreverent punk attitude and put together through the cut-and-paste traditions of hip-hop culture. Now get on the bus and start dancing!