Ahead of the launch of the ‘Selectors Assemble pt.2’ compilation, we chat to the purveyors of the London Bruk scene, and CoOp Presents founders IG Culture and Alex Phountzi and get a sneak peak of what’s to come.
Both of you have been spinning for years in London on the Bruk scene. Where did the idea of Co-Op come about?
IG – The CoOp Presents label is a platform to launch individual artists down with the Selectors Assemble and beyond – myself and Alex are producers in our own right but we are committed to bring new talent to the table. The idea of CoOp Presents is very similar to the original CoOp where we were a group of like-minded DJs, artists and producers putting our own stamp on club culture.
Alex – The original movement and club night was born out the music being made by a community of musicians, producers and singers, many of whom were based around West London at the turn of the century. Most of the music was getting released through Goya Music distribution and the associated labels. The club night was founded by IG, Dego, Phil Asher and Demus as a space to play and hear the music regularly.
Tell us a little bit about the concept behind Selectors Assemble
IG – The Selectors Assemble is the son of the CoOp basically. The next generation is picking up where we left off and they are bringing new flavours to the movement. James Rudie has his drunken house thing, EVM has his Raggage, as NameBrandSound we have our Brukwurx – The idea is to take what we do to further it with all the nowadays influences thrown in to the meltdown. It’s a collective effort – whether it be performing together at the Flex or working on the website or printing t-shirts – there’s a collective spirit. Plus we’re trying to install in them [the selectors] that idea of collective spirit… we’ve got years of experience behind us so we can give the Selectors Assemble a short cut of where it is they want to get to if they listen.
Alex – The Selectors Assemble is basically a growing army of DJs, producers, movers, shakers, moving forward as a bruk soldier Wu Tang Clan.
You’ve had the likes of Henry Wu and EVM128 amongst the ranks of Co-Op, but you’ve also had a few new additions to the crew this year..tell us a little bit about them?
IG – Yeah we’ve worked with people that are now established in today’s London movement, now what we’re doing is bringing forward the next generation of hot talent, that have a similar music ethos to us. There’s a lot of people who are very talented that we are trying to bring to the forefront. We’re working with these guys on a serious level and the reason we have this line up of the new Selectors is that they’ve really been showing myself and Alex the spirit of the collective and community. We often link together for the sake of linking together, having a drink, having a chat and building community from the root upwards. The sense of community with the Selectors is important, thats the idea we’re pushing forward with the new line up.
Alex – We’ve got Danvers who is coming off the back of a release on Wotnot records and knows how to lay down a groove. Then there’s Entek, the French connection, dangerous on the Maschine and dropping some deep cuts. Theres also Cengiz, this guy seems to be able to tap into the old school bruk vibe to make future classics. There’s another fresh bunch of artists who will be showcased on Selectors Assemble volume 3.
With London in the midst of a Jazz resurgence, where do you see the future of Jazz-influenced dance music, specifically bruk, going?
IG – Ive been approached by people who’ve said to me that they heard about what we were doing back in the day but were too young to get involved at the time and now we’ve brought it back, giving them a taste of what it was like – they are ready and hungry for it. Now it’s definitely the time to pass the baton on to those who are going to bring the sound forward in the right way. Theres a lot of things to say lyrically as well in the wake of whats going on around us, we intend to bring the song upfront as well as dope backing tracks.
Alex – As producers and musicians we want to continue pushing what we do and at this stage it really means creating more songs. The sound we got on the Miraa May remix is one we want to expand on. Generally it’s great that all these new jazz artists in London are getting theirs dues as it’s pushing musicianship to the forefront again.
Obviously you’ve got this wicked release coming out next week – what else do we have to look forward to from you guys in 2018?
IG – The idea is to follow the Selectors Assemble Volume II with Volume III which is mastered and ready to go. There are more new Selectors crew ready to go…at this stage we feel the more the merrier. We decided we were going to release a month after Volume 2. That’s the immediate future and then after that we have EPs from the likes of Neue Grafik EVM 28, and Entek who is a new recruit from Paris. We have quite a few of the Selectors working on material for their EPs hopefully out later in the year. We plan to do more parties at our base over in Clapton called The Flex where we intend to do private and related events. We’re also launching a Selectors Assemble Agency very soon. and also searching for new vocalists
We’re excited to premiere Jamie Rudie’s soulful 4/4 stomper ‘Port Funk’, adrift with jazz licks and weighty bassline. CoOp Presents: Selectors Assemble Vol.2 is out on February 23rd, get your copy here.