Atlanta music scene – ChanteSez.com

I wore out the Vanilla Gorillaz Vol. 1 mixtape* by Phantom 45 and Terry Mullan. It traveled between Atlanta and Durham and Tennessee in my 1995 red Honda Civic coupe, aka “Lil Red.” I could recite the sample, “my record of choice … the turntables” on cue en route to raves at Nike Pavilion, or randomly in the midst of chores in my two bedroom apartment in Reynoldstown.

So having Phantom 45 grace the decks in Atlanta at Detours Drum and Bass on June 21 – after nearly 20 years – is coming full circle in a way that only those who’ve been at this for 25-plus years would understand. Our shared hometown of Chicago is an added bonus.

Chicago drum and bass DJ Phantom 45 wearing a black cap and sweatshirt, partially obscured by their clothing, looking directly at the camera against a dark, textured background. — Legendary Chicago drum and bass DJ Phantom 45

Learn more about Phantom 45’s start as a house DJ to true-school drum and bass legend here.

As Detours DNB aims to do, we’re putting together the right people, at the right time, at the right place. This edition is bridging the gap between drum and bass, broken beat and hip-hop.

A legend in his own right, Daz-I-Kue, aka Darren Benjamin, is the best man for the job of connecting the genres. He was part of the pioneering broken beat Bugz In the Attic crew, and literally helped define the UK’s grime sound. He’d go on to remix critically acclaimed artists such as Amy Winehouse, Soul II Soul and 4 Hero, and spent years in Atlanta working with some of the city’s top-tier artists including Khari Cabral Simmons (Jiva/India Arie), Anthony David, Avery Sunshine, Rhonda Thomas, Heston, Kai Alce and DJ Kemit.

Portrait of a broken beat pioneer Daz-I-Kue with a beard and cap, wearing a denim jacket and a black t-shirt. — Broken beat pioneer Daz-I-Kue

Now based in Nashville, where he continues to be prolific with I-Kue Recordings, Atlanta fans new and old are stoked for Daz’s return.

Hip-hop and jungle DJ Sinceelay of Team Rollers

Setting the scene for the night, Sinceelay of the Team Rollers crew brings an all-vinyl set steeped in hip-hop with elements of jungle and drum and bass mixed in. Fresh off a gig at Block & Drum, he’s promising “a very special set” that will reflect his deep connection to both genres and beyond.

Tickets are available now – $20 in advance, $25 at the door.

*Matt “Dough” Donathan was the one to hook me up with that mixtape – as he often did with so many things, music being just one of them. How he got his hands on the tape from Middle Tennessee, I’ll never know, but I’ll always be grateful.

You may not have heard much about drum and bass, but if you’re into sweat-worthy sounds that keep you glued to the dancefloor, check out a new quarterly called Detours Drum and Bass.

The inaugural event is Friday, Sept. 1, at Eyedrum. It comes to Atlanta by way of Chanté LaGon, Slo*Mo content director and long-standing supporter of the city’s electronic and soul music scenes.

“I grew up dancing to house music in Chicago where I’m from. When I started going to raves in the late 90s, that’s when I first discovered drum and bass,” she says. “I love it so much, and this is my chance to move from a consumer of the culture to a creator and curator.”

Detours Drum and Bass is a quarterly series that brings together distinctive DJs from locations as diverse as the line-up. For all those on the dancefloor as well as the artists behind the decks, Detours Drum and Bass is the vibe that you’re at the right place, at the right time, with the right people.

The DJs featured for the Fall Edition of Detours Drum and Bass are:

Toyacoyah – Proper Chicago / Tao of Amen / Siren Project

Hailing from the Windy City of Chicago, where soul and industry intersect, Toyacoyah’s first love was jazzy, soulful drum and bass. An avid record collector who has been DJing since the late ‘90s, she’s expanded her collection into multiple realms of bass. Junglists and those new to the sound will hear a variety of genres in her DJ sets, including electro, breaks, juke, jungle and footwork.

Dinnamugg – Team Rollers

ATL junglist Dinnamugg (aka Jae MajiQ) is a member of Team Rollers, the ground-breaking jungle / drum and bass DJ collective. Discerning listeners will hear influences from Roni Size, LTJ Bukem, Dillinja, Bad Company and Joker Records in his sets, while a few of his current go-to selections include Nia Archives, Conrad Subs, Tim Reaper, Boys Hotel and Top Cat.

TruLyfe – Torch / 404Audio / Atlanta DJ Collective

With a passion for drum and bass that will never burn out, TruLyfe believes that the sound embodies everything there is to enjoy about music, with elements that can be stitched together to create inconceivable landscapes. From his early days on the dancefloor as a house head to his first rave in 1999, his commitment to DJing persevered. With gigs, mixtapes and a connection to the like-minded individuals on 404Audio, he kept the grind going and has massive respect and love for 180 Degrees, Fuze, Torch and the Atlanta DJ Collective.

Detours Drum and Bass aims to provide an elevated electronic music experience. The choice of Eyedrum Art and Music Gallery as the event’s home is purposeful. It’s the “OG” venue of cutting-edge art and music, known for hosting boundary-pushing musicians and artwork. That distinguishes it from your standard nightclub. The DIY ethos of the space is well-established and it garners deep credibility among innovative thinkers and move makers.

It’s also about bridging the gap between those familiar with the drum and bass sound, and those who are newly curious.

Hosting the event on Labor Day weekend – known for House in the Park on Sunday – is a way to introduce good music to good people.

Start your September off right and make a Detour to Detours Drum and Bass. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

Tag: Atlanta music scene

Full circle with Phantom 45, Daz-I-Kue and Sinceelay June 21 at Detours DNB

Detours Drum and Bass – Sept. 1 @ Eyedrum