Omid 16B & Demi presents ‘Sounds Like Alola’
barney | Apr 22, 2011 | Comments 2
Being chosen for a commercially produced compilation is like being selected to the Olympic team of DJs. It’s an incredible honour that requires an insane amount of time and energy to complete. It’s a task every EDM artist aspires for, but a serious commitment with very little monetary gain. It’s all about exposure and the love of what house music can do inside you.
For a label to entrust their money and resources behind your talent is an accomplishment unmatched by any other, for any DJ. In the end, it’s the music that counts most. So no matter how far away you fly for a gig or however cool the venue is, if someone of influence is willing to invest in your musical talent alone – as is the case when you’ve been chosen to compile a commercial mix – you know you’ve really made it.
We all know Omid 16B broke through a long time ago. Omid’s an absolute legend in the progressive house world. His always deep and sensual productions, as well as the selections from Alola and Sex on Wax have defined the genre for me. The sexy undertone in everything he does, whether it’s dark or euphoric, creates a magnetism that’s undeniable for any groovy house fan.
Demi, just like his early mentor Danny Tenaglia, is a DJ’s DJ. His vibrant personality is infectious and his live performances are equally exhilarating. His ear for unique sounds and combinations have carved out a niche in the house scene he can truly call his own. I see him as the backbone of the SOS Collective and the success the project has achieved in recent years.
What makes the ‘Sounds like Alola’ double mix compilation so special is how Omid has invested in his mate Demi to showcase the label’s 17 years of insatiable deepness. With shining endorsements from superstars likes Danny Howells, Hernan Cattaneo and Lee Burridge, Omid could’ve easily gone outside his inner circle to promote Alola’s remastered catalogue. Instead he offered the honour to Demi, who’s provided a sensational compilation in response to Omid’s confidence.
The first ‘Sounds like Alola’ volume is compiled by the label boss himself. It encapsulates the Alola sound through Omid’s ears, literally. It’s a production showcase of his genius, with a few accented tracks from Pete Moss, Eli Nissan and Anthony Teasdale. Super smooth, sensationally deep, volume one pours into your soul and engulfs your senses; vintage 16b.
Volume two, Demi’s debut solo mix for a release, is as unique as Demi the individual. It reaches beyond the typical and into the unexpected. There’s absolutely nothing obvious in what he’s compiled, from the programming to the selections. The raga of ‘Testament’, the sophistication of ‘Jazzamatic’ and the quirkiness of ‘Dancing with Elephants’ catapults this mix through barriers most house DJs wouldn’t dare confront. It’s a smashing entry for Demi into the A-list fraternity.
‘Sounds like Alola’ is available at all major digital download outlets including iTunes (v1 | v2) and Beatport. I also found them at a very reasonable price on the HMV Canada site (v1 | v2).
A huge congrats to Omid and the Alola crew for 17 years of the highest quality house found anywhere on the planet. We look forward to all the re-releases and fresh cuts scheduled for the upcoming year and we are super excited for future volumes of the mix series. Dig deep house music lovers, these comps are well worth it.
Filed Under: btb UNDERGROUND
OMID 16B presents SOUNDS LIKE ALOLA – Volume 1 – ALOD001
01. Omid 16B – The Boy That Never Sleeps (new and unreleased 2011)
02. Pete Moss – Give You Love (back cat. 2003)
03. Eli Nissan – Uplifting Blues (back cat. 2001)
04. Omid 16B – Sky As A (new and unreleased 2011)
05. Omid 16B – Evo Lustation (new and unreleased 2011)
06. Anthony Teasdale – Santa Monica (back cat. 1999)
07. Omid 16B – It Doesn’t Have To End (new unreleased mix)
08. Omid 16B – Re-Arranged (new and unreleased 2011)
09. Omid 16B – Jungle Home (new and unreleased 2011)
10. Omid 16B – 3am (new and unreleased 2011)
11. SexOnSubstance – Leads To Love (new and unreleased 2011)
12. Omid 16B – Who Are You? (new and unreleased 2011)
13. Omid 16B – At Night (new and unreleased 2011)
“When I started ALOLA back in 1993 with £500 I’d borrowed from my dad, it was an outlet to release my own music and slowly, music by like-minded artists whom I admired… After 17 years it’s time for the past, present and future to fall in sync.” Omid 16B Nourizadeh
The idea is that the ALOLA back catalogue will be slowly introduced to the digital world through 2011, along with new material. It would be pointless to just throw it all out at once; this is music to be savoured; in a disposable world this is music to be treasured for a long, long time.
Omid’s desire to present so much music in a coherent way has led to the decision to release a series of mix compilations, combining forgotten back catalogue classics with unreleased material by ALOLA artists to add something fresh to the whole concept.
“I’ve approached some of my favourite DJs who have had some affiliation with the label and some who were part of the label to mix a variety of comps with me through 2011. Who better could I want to do the first one with than Demi? He did his mix unintentionally when I gave him all the old ALOLA vinyl a while back, which made me realise again how much music had gone through my ALOLA heart! He’s put a mix together what showcases some of the moments in the label’s history when things couldn’t go unnoticed, even if you tried; the pure elements of house music through to jazz and electronic bliss.”
Omid admits that being totally blown away by Demi’s mix meant he had reservations about doing one himself, so decided to do one that showcases mostly his own material that’s set for release in the future on ALOLA, allowing the past, present and future to fall in sync.
“I did use a few tracks by other artists like Anthony Teasdale, Eli Nissan and Pete Moss, which accidentally added another idea to the concept: you can do whatever the f**k you want, as long as it sounds like ALOLA!” Omid 16B
DEMI presents SOUNDS LIKE ALOLA – Volume 2 – ALOD002
01. House of 909 – Blandford Superfly (back cat. 2002)
02. Pete Moss – Strive to Live (Omid 16B Mix) (back cat. 2003)
03. 16B – Secrets (Late Night Mix) (back cat. 1999)
04. Remote Control – Tranquility Base (back cat. 2003)
05. The Novak Project – Testament (back cat. 1997)
06. Marco Da Mata & Matthew – Dancing With Elephants (new and unreleased 2011)
07. Vince Watson – Beneath The Sound (Powder Beats) (back cat. 2001)
08. Remote Control – 4pm In Frisco (back cat. 2003)
09. Remote Control – Reflexions (back cat. 2003)
10. 16B – 2 Cold (back cat. 2003)
11. NAV – Space Chase (Demi’s Back To The Future Edit) (back cat. 1996)
12. Trevor Loveys – The Live Track (unreleased 2011)
13. YMC – Jazzamatic (back cat. 2000)
14. Eli Nissan – Uplifting Blues (back cat. 2001)
15. Vince Watson – Mystical Rhythm (Omid 16B Rmx vs Original Mix) (back cat. 1999)
16. SexOnSubstance – Cactus (new and unreleased 2011)
“As the late, great Jimi Hendrix once said, ‘our music is like a jar of candy, everything’s all mixed up!’ And to substantiate that wonderful anecdote with one of my own that I adhere to, ‘expect to be given what you want, not necessarily what you expect’, founded on two words that encapsulate this school of thought: Relevance and Significance. The past is the future of the present and the relevance and significance of the re-launch of ALOLA quite simply ticks all the boxes that need be.
This is my debut solo mix for an official release and I would happily leave it to be my last, because if ever I wanted to encompass all that I represent as a DJ, then what I present to you here is my blueprint. From the bottom of my heart, I thank Omid, whose labour of love is a continued source of inspiration to myself and to many who choose to follow their dreams. And a special mention to all the artists whose music was selected to represent and reflect my perspective on a label that continues to represent music in its highest and purest form. This really was a labour of love and a joy to put together. Long live ALOLA!” Demi