Here in Southern California we are slowly approaching our winter season, yes we have winter…sort of. The clouds are black and the air is cold but the sun peaks out to tease us every now and then. On days like these one has to say “good bye sunshine” and embrace the dark inside-perhaps light up the fireplace and play something chill, like my latest favorite PIXSID. Their first album Atoms Apart is a sweet mixture of vocals laid down by Pixiguts and down tempo beats put together by DJ Sid the Apocalypze that captures both your mind and eardrums for an ever pleasing treat. Worlds apart-DJ Sid based out of San Francisco and Pixieguts in Australia-they first met through Last.fm and created their tracks using ccmixter.org which is becoming more common for many artists out there. This I’ve Been Funked exclusive brought the two artists together in conversation via Skype for the first time, amazingly enough after two years of creative collaboration.
Pixieguts has been working with other artists and putting out music for the past 4 years. She got her inspiration early on from her father who was a country singer. When asked what funks her up she replies “Sid’s music funks me up, I love singing to his beats.” Pixieguts also spent some time before pursuing singing full-time as an independent film maker using 16 mm and 35 mm film and video and joined the International film festival circuit. Some of her film titles include “Maidenhead,” “Blow”, and “Pale Black”. Pixieguts has only made a single remix on her own but records the vocals herself “I sing and record my own voice and cut it up and mix it. I use Sound Forge and Pro Tools. Sometimes I sing samples and they end up in song format.” Pixieguts has collaborated with Dementio13, Crimson Death, Voide, Max Waves and many others.
DJ Sid the Apocalypze started his producing career in fourth grade when he got his first drum machine and since then the two have been inseparable. Sid did audio production and deejayed at local parties while in high school, “in terms of music, I like the OG Hip-Hop sound. Tribe, Pete Rock, a lot of the originals. Mellow good beats. DJ Krush and Cam. I get inspired by the moment.” Sid uses Acid pro for making these soulful beats. When it came to working with Pixieguts Sid simply said “I put together music that would fit well with her voice.”
PIXSID can best be categorized as a mix of genres because of their distinctive vibe. Their music engulfs you in a world of mystical beats, ambient sounds and seductive vocals. When I first listened to their album “Atoms Apart” there was a taste of Portishead and Massive Attack. “Hip-Hop. Electronic, down tempo, and chill. Some songs are very electronic like ‘Wish I’ ” says Sid. PIXSID released Atoms Apart last year. At the moment PIXSID is working on a new album. They are hoping to release it in 2011. There are no tour dates set as of right now “Unless they build a bridge from San Francisco to Australia” says Sid and until then, their music is the bridge bringing them together. San Francisco netradio Soma.fm has had PIXSID on daily rotation. Check it out.
"Atoms Apart" by PIXSID is a project that has been a year in the making; being the combination of the extraordinary talents of San Francisco based producer DJ Sid-The Apocalypze and Australian vocalist Marie Craven aka. Pixieguts. Despite the vast leagues of physical distance seperating the two, and the timespan spent producing the album, the overall sound is of something much, much more close and intimate. It is as if the two locked themselves in a studio for a few weeks surviving on stale bread and water, accompanied only by the burning passion for making music that would drive them either to insanity, or to produce a gem of an album. The intimacy comes neither solely from Sid's lush, velvety rhythms and textures - complete with gorgeous vinyl crackle, brass sections, sounds found in nature, jazzy drums, and bass like slipping into a warm bath - nor solely from Marie's universally-acknowledged crystal clear, enchanting and seductive voice, but rather from a unique blend of the two. To me it is akin to a salad dressing of oil and vinegar. Both are good ingredients on their own with distinct uses, yet as part of the dressing you couldn't imagine one without the other. The style they have chosen is trip-hop, or rather, the style seems to have chosen them. The album is very natural and flowing, indicating a very smooth sense of spontaneous improvisation, again as if they just walked into a studio together and music flowed forth, not heeding any rules; as if it just became what it is of its own accord. Yet in the year-long production and taking into account professional mastering by Canada's Crimson Death, every single beat and phrase sits absolutely perfectly in the mix. Constant variation and evolution keeps the listener engaged whilst retaining a strong sense of continuity. It is the attention to detail in this ever-changing scenery that elevates the album into equal steading with trip-hop legends such as Portishead and Massive Attack. Simply put, if you want to get someone into bed put this album on. Not only for its veneer of sexy, smooth, and silky atmospherics, but for its ability to alter your mood, no matter how ratshit or anxious you feel, into warmth and comfort. Soulful music made by masters of their craft. Intimate and close. Pure sex.
Artist Review from Midpoint Music Festival
Citing influences from Public Enemy to Art of Noise to Prince, DJ Sid is a mixmaster of the highest order. Since 2005, he’s put out a string of releases, most of the instrumental variety, though Kung Fu and Sci-Fi samples are often prevalent. Sid, who has also participated in numerous mixtape releases, seems to find a theme or mood and expand on it, though the albums are anything but monotone, offering a wealth of variety. Sometimes jazzy, sometimes spacey, always funky, DJ Sid has come a long way since his DJ debut (as a party-startin’ eighth grader).
ButtaFly Tunez Album Review
Nowadays, when anyone mentions the Miami music scene we automatically conjure up images of WMC techno parties, Trick Daddy with his ‘dro in the wind, 2 Live Crew booty shots, and Craze wrecking the wheels of steel. So to say the least, it was a welcome surprise to receive DJ Sid’s recent album, Buttafly Tunez. An all-instrumental, self-produced affair, Buttafly Tunez is more reminiscent of a dubby, Funky Porcini or DJ Cam outing than anything you’d expect from Miami. Tracks like “Jazz Me” and “Lt. Uhura” feature insanely large drums with complex programming to match. “Her Name Was Sparrow” and “Your Eyez” emit a mellow, heartfelt vibe, while “First Contact” sounds like a soundtrack to tumbling forward in space. Towards the end of the disc, Sid ventures into soulful and downtempo house territory, upping the tempo but keeping the chilled vibe on lock. I personally have an affinity for jazzed out, spacey instrumentals, so each of the album’s 19 tracks went down like water. But even for the uninitiated, DJ Sid offers enough sonic variations to keep even the most ADD afflicted individual’s head bobbing.
Comments from the Apple Store
Just wanted to say Thank You so much for coming out to our store and performing for us on Friday. I really enjoyed your show, and I know that my team really enjoyed listening to you perform as well. Anytime you are back in Denver, we'd love to invite you back!
Artist / Song Review
These are volcanic beats. D.J. Sid-the Apocalypze is poppin! What? Check the track "Liquid Mix"...I dare you not to bob your head to this. Maybe you prefer some Hip-Hop with Dance and R&B thrown in the mix? How about some Electronic with a touch of Jazz? The vocal samples are a smooth touch, meshing with the vibes of the music seamlessly. Bring us some more D.J. Sid. This cat is keepin' it locked down and "Twilight Zizone" featuring Dj Puzzle is straight fire. Burn it up D.J....
Standout Tracks: Liquid Mix, For Peace and Love, Twilight Zizone feat. Dj Puzzle
5/5 Stars