Class A Drive with Amy B

Summer is a coming......

2010-10-21T19:03:00.001-07:00

But I am heading off to London straight after exams have finished! YEOW!! With that in mind, I am currently in the process of selecting all the shows I want to go and see and what I want to buy. A sequin mini dress has been in the pipeline for a while.. should be nice and sparkly for going out.

In Christchurch NZ, we've just been through a 7.something earthquake, I've had a lovely co-host on my show for the last month, been prepping for some important exams and saving for the UK (which ain't lookin' so flash) so I have been slack as mutton...

We also had STEIN! We were visited by the beautiful and musically fine Maya and Vanya, who got a shocking set time unfortunately, but North Shore Pony Club exceeded expectations and Optimus Gryme didn't fail to please, and of course was lovely to have a mingle with my fellow RDU hosts and bosses who we don't get to see as much as we'd like.

But this week I have some fresh music, we are halfway through the Decknology competition, podcasting is back up, some nice giveaways...

I'm also contemplating going to see Magnetic Man when I'm in the UK, but I can't decide how I feel about the music... seems a bit common but maybe I'm just being harsh and fun killing, I can't decide.

We found these posters and couldn't resist a pose..

Today in the show, I have lots of amping music ready for the weekend, which is set to be a maaaaasive one here in Christchurch as it is Labour weekend meaning Monday off and another night to get drunk and rowdy! Bar 9 was in town last night, due to studying obligations I couldn't make it, but Agent Alvin tomorrow night at Concrete should be a nice outlet for uni tension. Only 18 days to go and it's all over and I'm in London with music mates and family...

I kinda like this song, but hate that I like it.... fuck it. Download it HERE

Last night's show...

2010-08-17T23:27:00.000-07:00

Last night was a good one. New music, an interview with Dieselboy and a visit from last year's Decknology winner, Marty J. Here's the podcast. Go download it.

Podcast, tonight and Friday Drive Show

2010-07-14T13:42:00.000-07:00

First - here is the podcast from Tuesday's show!

Secondly, I am off to NIGHTCAP with Nero and Adam Freeland + Truth etc etc. Tanoshimi ne!!

Thirdly, I am filling in for Ghost on Friday Drive, which I am also looking forward to. A nice end to a crazy week.

2010-06-22T22:10:00.001-07:00

CLASS A DRIVE with Amy B #4

Amy B's Podcast

Oh yeeeah I'm back...

2010-06-21T13:55:00.000-07:00

I'm not even going to apologise for my absence... exams and moving houses is big business, really. But now I am back and am finally getting into the feel of my show, finally beginning to make it my own.

I've just been reading an article in today's Press (a Christchurch newspaper) about how blogs need to have good content if people are going to keep reading... so I kinda felt a bit of an itch to get online and show that I'm not dead. For me, there has been a terrible drought of good music coming my direction, probably because all of the top producers/djs are away playing the summer festivals in the northern hemisphere... fuckers. So for this I apologise.

Here's a video of the beloved Dizz1 at Sonar Festival... Once my stinking degree is over, I think I'll travel all over the world to wherever the best festivals are so all my young years of missing out are compensated.

Floating Points
As well as studying towards a PHD in Molecular Genetics, Sam Shepherd aka Floating Points has been making stunning music for several years. Noticed in 2008 by Benji B and Gilles Peterson, he began releasing music, set up his own label and caused waves across the UK. As well as loving his music, I have real respect for the guy packing so much into his life... I thought my degree + work + radio was hard... think again Amy and stop feeling sorry for yourself. I'm going to play this beauty on today's show...

Hudson Mohawke
I am in love. "Hud Mo" is pushing all my buttons. Listen to his Fireside Chat with Red Bull Music Academy....

His voice is kinda low key huh...

This week's Album of the Week is from UNKLE.... and my question to win is... "What would you rename the All Whites?", cos I think that is a pretty laaaame name. But I guess the Socceroos is worse! HA! Man I dislike the Aussie football team... I bet Optus is highly regretting all their really expensive sponsering... "With Optus, anything is possible..." - yeah, like losing four nil to Germany. Despite the All White's "historic win", I wish people would stop getting so cocky - NZ is supposed to be a humble place where we don't get too big for our boots. I'm so happy that we drew and was glad I stayed up and watched it... but I am nervous about the Paraguay game... they are actually quite good.

Anyway... back to Unkle...

Brits James Lavelle and Tim Goldsworthy founded Unkle back in 1994 (I was four years old) and have since collaborated with many other artists. They originally were classed as trip-hop, but this album is simply put under the genre of "electronica"... very vague. It's got a Bjork-ish feel to it almost, with some songs being quite electronic and some being more rock-like. It's a good album with a journey, a progression, which will keep your musical mind occupied for some time.

Oh and here's

2010-06-01T03:42:00.001-07:00

Podcast/Tracklisting 01/06/2010

2010-05-31T21:07:00.000-07:00

JAVELIN - Dep
STREET CHANT - My Philosophy
BASSCAMP - Weekends
DVA - Natty
CROOKERS - We love animals ft. Soulwax
ANDREYA TRIANA - Lost where I belong (Flying Lotus rmx)
HOMEBREW - P is for Party
JDubs - Got that
DJ ZINC - All your bass
JOY ORBISON - Hyph Mngo
ROXXXAN - Heavyweight
HOUSSE DE RACKET - Dans Lavion (Leno lovecraft rmx)
KESHA - Black Rhyme
CRYSTAL CASTLES - Pap smear
OPTIMUS GRYME - Immortal
ORGANIKISMNESS - Awaken ft. Stepa
ISAAC AESILI - Red Horizon ft Deva Mahal
REDLIGHT - Feels so good
THE RUBY SUNS
BULLETPROOF - Soundtrack to forever ft. Tiki
FATIMA - Warm eyes
SUB FOCUS - Move higher
SICK CYCLE - Tweak frenzy
ROOTS MANUVA - Witness the fitness
THE BUG - Ganja ft Flowdan
DANGER MOUSE - Ghetto Pop Life rmx
BLUE DAISY - The fall
CORNERSTONE ROOTS - Lyrical
P-MONEY - Green like go
ediT - Artsy rmx ft. Grouch
MF GRIMM - Head in the clouds
NAS - One Love
STICKY FINGAZ - Scratch break
SO SO MODERN - Clean Step up
BAR 9 - Midnight
PIXELL - For the birds

Today's show..

2010-05-31T19:51:00.000-07:00

BRENK - CHOP SHOP LP
I found, from the supreme music catchers at Digital Diggers, Brenk's CHOP SHOP Lp.... and it is very nice, smooth, hip hoppy, soulish, but with some electronicality, making this a must listen.... download it fast before it goes. (dl in title)

ediT
I also have an older ediT track.... a remix Artsy ft. The Grouch!

Unfortunately last week's podcast has been lost into the vortex of insanity.... firstly someone random in the studio cut off the end of it, and then i forgot to get it off the computer and lost it to the weekly download.... or maybe I'm keeping demand high.....

Preview for next weeks show...

2010-05-28T20:33:00.000-07:00

Kesha - Black Rhyme - this came out 3rd May... classy hip-hop from the supreme lyricist Kesha

more to come, internet is being a wank...

2010-05-24T21:11:00.001-07:00

Last night...

2010-05-08T16:46:00.000-07:00

...was a freakin cool affair down at Graffiti White. It was the busiest I've ever seen it, although I was still able to get drinks fast at the bar, and the Ill Def boys were on the decks.

As well as the music being bangin', I was delighted to be in such a happy, classy, low key, friendly (weeeow look at me go with all these adjectives) place, as opposed to drum and bass gig venues of the past, which haven't been as intimate, with music past too loud to think and crack heads fucked off their nut waiting for that State of Mind track to come on, while everyone else was dancing alone with no connection to their fellow audience members (how formal of me). There was a good mix of people too; I brought my flat mates who hadn't heard dnb before (it's true!), uni friends and RDU people.

I hope we see more of this kinda atmosphere as it reminded me of why I like the music, or maybe how I like the music.

Podcast.... and some other goods...

2010-05-04T20:42:00.000-07:00

Here's the podcast from my first drive show... taken a while to get it sorted I know but bear with me while I get my stuff sorted... still learning about lots of stuff I didn't have to deal with during the afternoon show... anyway! Without further ado, here is my first drive PODCAST. The tracklisting is in my last post.

BUG
My new favourite thing! I signed up for a mailing list for JUST LIKE MUSIC RECORDS by accident really, I wanted one of their downloads and I had to put in my email address to get it, tricksy little website! When I saw an email from them in my inbox, I was pretty shitty as I thought it may have been a more important one, instead of some mailing list shit! However! I am very happy I opened the email, and will never overlook any of their emails again as it was a parcel of juicy beats!! In the parcel I discovered BUG - a delectable weave of atmospheric, spacey and headnodding hip-hop this is a treat to the ears. Download it... here.

JDUBS

A couple of weeks ago, JDubs released his first album Keynotes. After hearing an interview that JD with Ghost on Friday Drive and a short live performance of 'Spaceworm' from the album, I was extremely keen to get my hands on a copy. Finally, I got given the album at the RDU studios yesterday, much to my excitement. It is a classy production, jazzy, relaxing, soulful, eloquent. I like JDubs' fresh content; for example he contemplates the existance of other beings in space without sounding like a knob (Spaceworm).

I'm proud that an MC that had a show on RDU (DollarMix) has gone on to create such an enjoyable album that will continue to entertain and delight my ears for a long time to come.

The album release party is at the DUX DE LUX (wooo!) on Saturday eve from 9.30pm, with Sasha Vee (heeeeell yes!) and Aeries (who shared the DollarMix Show with JD), which of course I'm going to be attending, so head down if you're keen for some good music. Here's a taster...

Tracklisting for 4/5/10

2010-05-03T21:11:00.000-07:00

OPTIMUS GRYME and BILLY FLUID - Emotions
DAVID BYRNE and FATBOY SLIM - Please Don't ft Santogold
MIDNIGHT KID - Coke vs Pepsi
THE GROUCH - Cool Enough
ROSKA - Energy
THE MIDNIGHTS - Sword and Dagger
BUG - 20 winks
DOUBLE HAPPYS - Needles and Plastic
STARKEY - Stars (ft Anneka)
J5 - Gotta Understand
JDUBS - Spaceworm
RJD2 - Let there be horns
SPOON - Got Nuffin
NNEKA/CHASE AND STATUS - Heartbeats
DJ Zinc - Wile out
ZODIAC CARTEL - Sweet Control
CLUEKID - Shifty
DAVID DALLAS - Runaway
CROOKERS - Remedy ft. Miike Snow
MT ST HELENS VIETNAM BAND - Who's asking
ATRAK ft Little Brother - Step Off
BLEND - Love cup ft African Simba
JDUBS - Pages
SHAPESHIFTER - Move with me
DELPHIC - This momentary
IVA LAMKUM - No
DIZZ1 - We go ridin'
JAY ROACHER - Paradise
ATCQ - Electric relax

Sorry missed some tracks out.... hope you enjoyed the show! Podcast up asap!

First Class A Drive....

2010-04-20T03:08:00.000-07:00

.... went silky smooth! I didn't have anything planned but the music I churned out got me lots of awesome phonecalls and texts, and I was dancing up in the studio secretly the whole time. I also turned down all the lights in the studio so all the button lights looked really trippy! I enjoyed Drive alot more than my old show because of all the texts and contact from the outside world.

I'll have the podcast up on Thursday hopefully so check back for that... and tracklisting.

A track that has been around for a wee while (six months) but I have only just gotten into is I LOVE LONDON (Paparazzi rmx) - CRYSTAL FIGHTERS.... I'm heading over to London to spend Christmas with my family and check the music scene over NY and this song gets me freaaaaking amped!! Download it.

Fresh meat tomorrow... check back...

The dawning of a new era.... CLASS A DRIVE!

2010-04-16T15:47:00.000-07:00

For two years now I have been hosting the Class A Afternoons on Tuesday for RDU, but as of next week.... I'll be hosting the Tuesday Drive show. Camo MC, who hosted the show for a couple of years, was killer on air and brought so many fresh beats to the airwaves, also helping me to find my feet when I joined the station at the age of seventeen.

Although he loved what he did on air, he's left to focus on the Aotearoa Bass Culture Mag, which I know he and his team will do a great job of. I'll be talking about the mag on here so you're in the loop if you're not a Christchurch dweller, or are overseas. Cam is also soon to become a dad which is very exciting and life changing stuff! All in all, I'm really grateful for all Cam has taught me, all the music he has introduced me and the examples he has set. I'm really nervous about taking his spot, cos those are some mighty big shoes to fill!

Right here on this blog, I'm going to be posting tracklistings, podcasts and other stuff I find interesting enough to want to share with the world...

So, here we go....

These guys are playing tonight at the Bedford!!! OH MY DAYS it is gonna be a long and amazing night!!! They're being supported by Ghost (from Friday Drive) who always impresses and the Freestylers! WEOW!

I'm really getting into the wonders of SLUGABED at the moment, so here I gift you MIX FOUR QUIETUSSSSS from the guy (or girl? highly doubt it...) himself.

DJ ZINC is also hitting Christchurch soon for some crackhousey times... not sure if we are just lucky that DJs like our country, or if the rest of the world is sick of him at the moment, after I've read many whispers of that sort on the blogosphere as of late. However, here is his latest mix from this month. Download it HERE and see what you think...

More to come before the show on Tuesday...