Thank nufunk It's Chriiiiiiissssssttttmmmaaaaaaassssss!!!!!!

AWE Soundsystem returns with more news and views from the fast-growing downtempo funky breaks scene - and he's got some presents for all you good boys and girls

Ho ho helloooo!!

Yes, it's Christmas. A time for giving, receiving, caring, sharing, aaaand finding as many alternatives for saying happy christmas as possible (check the Facebook news feed for evidence of this). More importantly for most of us is that it's a holiday! Yay! That means time off work with loads of lie-ins and a ready made excuse to get absolutely pished on a daily basis. "Oh, I wish it could be Christmas every day". Fucking right on Noddy!

No doubt you guys'll be wanting some extra special presents today and who am I to deprive you of that. Read on... but only if you've been good.

First up is former Darft Phunker Steve Jeffery, a rising star of nufunk. He's had some storming tracks out this year on Bombstrikes and Ground Level Records and he's not stopping there. Fresh from tearing the dancefloor a new arsehole at the NSB Christmas Party alongside the man like A Skillz I caught up with him for a chat where I found out a bit more about the joys of being randomly weighed in the street and engaging in mindless violence towards bouncers. I also get the lowdown on his plans for 2010, which include a full live act and some very exciting collaborations.

Tell us a bit about Pimpsoul?

People best know me for the Darft Phunk stuff I did a few years ago. We were always about the funkier side of breaks back then and it's never really left us. We changed our name because people started to think we were a Daft Punk tribute band. I remember a random conversation I had with an Australian in Fabric, London who couldn't figure out why I wasn't French! He did invite us all round for tea though, which was nice ...

Pimpsoul is very much led by me. I write/produce all the tracks and team up with Chris (one half of Stylus Rex) for the DJing. Claire G and Filter are our vocalists and of course Will Savage on the sax and other random noises. I released 'The One' on Bombstrikes a few months back which was well received. I also have my release on Ground Level, which saw Claire laying down some vocals for the strangely titled "Noggins Groove".

Why nufunk?

It's just great party music. It's not pretentious, it's whatever you want it to be. I've been DJing for a few years now and it's just good fun to play. People always get down to it and you don't have to be twatted on drugs to appreciate it. Music for me should always make you smile and nufunk makes me smile, simple as that really.

What would you say to the the people that claim nufunk is sacrilege to the classic funk and soul tracks?

People are very protective over something they love and anyone who's been into funk/soul for many years will always have something to say when their beloved music gets torn a new one. This is only one side of the nufunk genre as you have producers like Neighbour and Nick Fonkyson (plus loads more talented mofos) who go down the more electronic route and it's not so much sample led material with more original hooks. Music always moves in circles. One scene gets started, moves on and then a few years later they go back to it and update it. Electro house for example, it's nothing new to those who have been around for the last 16-17 years, its just updated. Same goes for nufunk, its updating funk records and putting a modern twist on it to make it accessible to the dance floors of today.

What are your current three favourite tracks?

Featurecast - Rock Ya Body, on Goodgroove. Amazing record. Some say slightly cheesy but you know what, fuck 'em. It's pure dancefloor gold.

Nick Thayer & Will Styles - Yeah Bwoy, forthcoming on Bombstrikes. This is one of the best things Nick has ever done. A pure dancefloor bomb and blows away everything in its path. Massive massive record.

Can I have one of my own? Pimpsoul Featuring Claire G - Noggins Groove on Ground Level. This is just something i'm very proud of. I've always wanted to do a full on vocal track and go with a more live/organic sound. It's a really personal record to me. (Regular readers may remember this was reviewed a few weeks ago)

The James Brown Memorial Society has just given you the funds to put on the funk party of the decade. Where would it be and who would be on the bill?

There are so many artists I rate and who have influenced me over the years. On the bill would be Eddie Bo. He just has one of those voices. The Plump DJs sampled him on When The Funk Hits The Fan. Also, Breakestra, Quantic Soul Orchestra, Jurassic 5, Smoove & Turrel, Cut La Roc (doing a big beat set), A Skillz, Parker, Mooqee, Featurecast, Beat Vandals, J-Roc, Stickybuds, Craig Charles, Morphosis & Fat Harry (for just having a box full of tunes that makes me ask "whats this tune" everytime I see them play), Z-Trip, Fort Knox 5, DJ Format and some sheister called Pimpsoul (you'd have to play with a line up like that!). And where would it be? Tough one that. I'm not even sure if it's still open but the Coronet in London - amazing venue!

It says on your biog that you spend most of your time 'brass rubbing'. Is that a euphemism for you being a dirty boy or does it mean something else?

I really need to update that! Nothing sinister here, just a randomly written biog. I think there was something about bothering otters in there too which I could never condone. David Attenborough would have a shit fit!

What have been the highlights in your career so far?

The Azerbaijan gig was pretty special. We played on the beach to 8000 people who had never heard breakbeat before. It was in the capital Baku, which is one of the strangest cities i've ever been to in the world. People are out to make a quick buck everywhere. You have guys in the street with bathroom scales and you can pay them a dollar and weigh yourself in the street, which is just random.

The Drop Beats Not Bombs party in Birmingham at Custard Factory we played at was just amazing too. Props to Jimmy Brayks for that one.

If you could have a day in the studio with anyone, who would it be and why?

It's an obvious one but it has to be Adam A-Skillz. It's just the way he puts things together, from his bootlegs to his original work. No-one has really got close to how he takes a sample and just puts an incredibly dancefloor friendly twist on it. I can't think of anything that he's done that hasn't made a dance floor jump around. Dude has got skills, no doubt.

Tell us an interesting fact that nobody knows about Steve Pimpsoul...? And then one that not a lot of people know about another member of the band.

An interesting fact about me? I was once chased into shark infested water by an Emu. I was the first western DJ to play in Azerbaijan. I'm quite good at impressions and a pretty good cook. There's a few facts for you.

As for another member of Pimpsoul ...

Chris (DJ) has in fact been mugged by a gang of monkeys. They took his wallet, camera, phone and the food he took to feed them while the 'leader' monkey had his jaw round his testicles. Luckily he was saved by a passer by who swiftly kicked the 'leader' monkey in his testicles. Never feed the monkeys in Gibraltar ...

Oh, and more recently during our set at the NSB Xmas party Chris punched a bouncer in the face. By accident of course!

What does the future hold for Pimpsoul? Gigs, releases etc?

It's a lot of studio for me. I've recently been working on a collaboration with Morphosis and Fat Harry from the HongKongPingPong Club in the South West that comes out on Bombstrikes next year. I'll hopefully be doing some more stuff with them as it was an amazing experience and Fat Harry tells the best stories. I'll also be collaborating with Bombstrikes head gaffer Mooqee next year too. I'll have my first solo artist release on Bombstrikes after the new year which is my main focus at the moment. I'll be working with Filter (Darftphunk beatboxer dude) on one track and my vocalist Claire G on another. In amongst that lot I'll be writing lots of jams/tools to use in my DJ sets. We will be getting the old Darftphunk brigade back together and taking that on the road again under the name Pimpsoul Live so we are working on getting that tight. Gigs wise, I'll be here and there. Looking at a possible tour down under towards the end of 2010 but mainly it's all about the music.

Massive thanks and props to Steve Pimpsoul for that. Big tings a g'waarn for 2010.

And if that wasn't enough then how about this ... our favourite funky funk machine been busy beavering away in the studio and has made a very special EXCLUSIVE track available only to the readers of TNIF. It's a slowed down number in a P-Funk stylee and I can assure you it's quality stuff, but don't take my word for it. Fans of Deejay Punk-Roc will recognise the sample from one of his old classics, One More Bump. Top stuff!

Download Pimpsoul - Bump On The Floor HERE

Aaaaaaaand...

Following on from our Bush Doctors special last week we have more from Rennie Pilgrem. After his generous track giveaway he hit us up to let us know he'd just done a new funk mix so we just had to grab a copy and see if he'd be kind enough to share it with you guys. Of course being the legend that he is he agreed and we have it for you here. Choc full of exclusives this 30 minute mix gives you an idea of what we can expect over the next few months, and it's so goooood! I've been playing it non-stop and it gets better with every listen so I've no doubt that you guys'll love it just as much.

Click HERE to stream or download the mix and check out the tracklist below to see just how many fresh bangers he's managed to cram in there. Niice.

Rennie Pilgrem Presents FunkDubDisco:

01} Rennie Pilgrem - Bernaard Got Whoop
02} Rennie Pilgrem - 3 Seasons
03} Rennie Pilgrem - Esther Phillips
04} LCD Soundsystem - Bye Bye Bayou
05} Bush Doctors - Night Train
06} Bush Doctors Vs Bootsy Collins - Disciples Of Funk
07} Rennie Pilgrem - F Express
08} Bloco Electro - My Beatbox
09} Rennie Pilgrem - Dubwa
10} Rennie Pilgrem - Dance With Me
11} Spector - Near The Mark


Hope that the last Thank nufunk it's Friday of 2009 was enough for you to be getting on with and is a sign of the good stuff we have coming up next year. I'm sure you'll agree that there are exciting times ahead and I for one can't wait to see what 2010 has to offer. Thanks to all that have read the blog since it started and I wish you all a fantabulous funky festive season and a very happy new year!

Much love, Gerry x