Per la terza puntata di questa nostra serie di profili restiamo a Brooklyn, dove siamo arrivati la scorsa settimana per occuparci della label Let´s Play House, ma cambiamo completamente genere passando alla Mixpak Records. Fondata nel 2009 per dare forma alla visionarietá del dj e produttore Dre Skull, che nel suo curriculum puó vantare una lista davvero impressionante di collaborazioni, da Diplo a Sizzla passando per Snoop Dogg, l´etichetta ha in poco tempo assemblato un roster di artisti che ne rispecchiano in pieno lo spirito eclettico ed avventuroso. Tra questi Poirier, Toddla T, Justin Martin, Dam-Funk, Schlachtofbronx, Nadastrom e tanti altri. La dedizione di Dre verso la musica che più ama lo ha portato anche in Giamaica, dove si è assicurato la collaborazione di giganti della Dancehall come Beenie Man Sizzla, come a New Orleans o Atlanta in sessions con gli eroi locali Sissy Nobby e Lil´Scrappy. Nel 2011 una delle highlights dell’etichetta, ovvero l’album “Kingston Story” di Vybz Kartel – e prodotto interamente dallo stesso Dre Skull- ha raggiunto finalmente un successo trasversale. Dalla copertina di “The Fader” alle pagine del “New York Times”. Dello stesso anno l’esordio di Dubbel Dutch con l’EP “Hymn”. Il 2012 ha visto l’uscita di alcune bombe per le piste da ballo targate Mixpak, dai riddims “Loudspeaker” e “Kling Klang”, il lancio della serie di compilations “Mixpak Pressure” e novità da Popcaan e Douster. Per sapere quello che la label ha in previsione per il 2013, oltre a consigliarvi il loro sito, abbiamo colto l’occasione per parlarne proprio con lo stesso Dre Skull:
Can you tell us something about your personal musical background and how did you get to found the label?
I have always been moved by listening to music and that relationship with music compelled me to want to make it. After spending time exploring music over a number of years, I learned how to make it (to a degree), and started putting it out. At first that was largely in the art world context. Eventually, I wanted to be involved with the real music world. In 2009, I started Mixpak in an effort to be involved in the music world in a larger way.
Which is the most successful release of yours so far and on the other hand, is there any release that you regret?
Our only proper LP to date is Vybz Kartel’s “Kingston Story” album and that has been both critically and financially our most successful release.
How did you get to sign people like Poirier, that some of our reads remember for his releases on Ninja Tune, or dancehall legends like Sizzla and Vybz Kartel?
The artists on Mixpak are a mix of people who we reached out to and people who liked what we where doing and got in touch with us. In every case, we release music that we are genuinely drawn to.
A silly question maybe. Which is in your opinion the secret of a good riddim?
Restraint.
Can you tell us which are in your opinion the hot newcomers for 2013, out of the Mixpak or else?
We’re slowly working on Popcaan’s first album. I’m excited to hear that take shape.
How do you imagine the dancehall of the future?
Even more minimal than the most minimal riddims in the past, but changing over the course of the riddim in the most maximal way possible.
Can you tell us something about the next Mixpak releases and your plans for 2013?
Up next we have Dubbel Dutch’s amazing “Self Help Riddim” EP and the Mixpak Pressure: Volume Two compilation. A bit later we have a new EP from Douster and my single with Pusha T should finally see release. We have more in the works beyond that, but I’ll stop there.
