Dance ARTISTS & MUSIC U.K.'s Eclectic NO Tune Marks 10 Years With Boxed Set BY RASHAUN HALL own thing," explains Koala. "It's rare says Koala, referring to labelmates always do well for us. It's great, and hits, and compiling from that," says NEW YORK -Individuality seems for a label to just let you develop as like Tobin, Cinematic Orchestra, DJ encouraging, that such an indepen- More. "We couldn't really do that to be a rare commodity in the music an artist. If you decide to do some- Vadim, and the Herbaliser. "There's dent label can now be celebrating its because we're always interested in industry today. With boy bands and thing completely different from the a consistency in terms of the people 10th anniversary." something new. So we went to the coming -of-age divas being signed left last thing you did, they support it. If doing what they want. People enjoy In preparing the "Xen Cuts" artists and asked them what they and right, it's become ever more dif- that about the label." wanted to do. We gathered all this ficult for experimental artists to find Notes More, "Plus, they are all material and then tried to figure out a label to call home. For this reason, very motivated artists. A lot of peo- what to use. At one point, we just U.K. -based label Ninja Tune remains ple send demos off and expect the said, `Fuck it, let's go for it.'" vital. record companies to fall all over Highlights of the 39 -track collec- Home to a wide variety of art- themselves, but that doesn't happen. tion include Neotropic's "Memories," ists- including Amon Tobin, Kid You have to get up and make things the Roots Manuva version of Tobin's Koala, and DJ Vadim -the label is happen. A Ninja gets up in the morn- "Saboteur," Mr. Scruff's "Happy celebrating its 10th anniversary this ing, gets his bag of tricks, and goes Band," Koala's "Emperors Main year with "Xen Cuts." The three -CD out to entertain." Course," Luke Vibert's "I Hear The set (also available as a six -pack 12- Many specialty retailers have Drummer," DJ Food Featuring Ken inch vinyl set), which spotlights live greatly benefited from Ninja Tune's Nordine's "Aging Young Rebel," DJ performances, remixes, and B -sides MORE diverse, slightly quirky sonic land- KID KOALA You DJ Me's "Feelin' Free," Funki from the label's talented roster, scape. Porcini's "Big Sea," and John McEn- streeted globally Sept. 18. it's honest, it comes through in the "The label has always been very boxed set, the label took a very demo- tire's Tortoise mix of Coldcut's "More "We started this label because we music. In fact, they'd probably get experimental in all forms of beat -ori- cratic approach in choosing what Beats & Pieces." wanted to remove the hype and bull- mad if you just created the same ented music," says Duane Harriott, music to include. To support and celebrate its 10th shit that we had experienced from album over and over again." sales manager of New York -based "Your average record company anniversary, Ninja Tune has the majors at that period in our car- Koala understands that the free- Other Music. "Artists like Amon would have probably gone through its launched an extensive tour of Europe eers," explains Jonathon More, who, dom to experiment is rare in this Tobin, the Herbaliser, and DJ Vadim back catalog, looking for the greatest and North America. along with Matt Black, founded the business. "I like to do some weird label (the two also record under the stuff on my productions," he ac- Coldcut moniker). "Similarly, we knowledges. `And I don't know if any didn't like the assorted pressures of major label would understand that." K-Gee's `Care' launches Instant Karma label gambling that comes with spending Keeping the artist -driven label lots and lots of money to try and going is no small feat, according to BY KWAKU cording his debut album, tentatively into a bankable behind- the -micro- make hits." More, but he credits the Ninja Tune LONDON -Much anticipation sur- titled "Off The Hook." "I've concen- phone solo artist. Formerly of U.K. More continues, "We wanted to staff for keeping things in order. rounds the Oct. 9 release of K-Gee's trated on the music more as a whole, hip -hop duo Outlaw Posse, K -Gee have the freedom to just experiment. "Peter [Quick, the label's GM] is single "I Don't Really Care." Not rather than as a personality -driven began making a name for himself To have what I termed `a psychedel- like the Zen master of balance," says only is it the first solo effort by thing," he says of the album, which DJing in clubs. ic escape pod' that we could just fly More. "He ensures that things are writer/producer /remixer/DJ Karl is due to street early next year. One of his earliest memories is of off in and do our own thing." correct and that everything runs Gordon, more commonly known as "It's about all the people I've a DJ residency, together with Seb That "escape pod" blossomed into smoothly, which helps a great deal. K-Gee, but it's also the first single worked with [on the album]," K- Fontaine, at South London's the Ninja Tune, home to more than 35 "The positive side of being an art- from former Warner Music U.K. Gee continues. "It's not infused Fridge, where the pair played R &B, artists and an office staff of 11. ist- driven label is that we understand chairman Rob Dickins' Sony Music with a heavy message. I'm a DJ, so hip -hop, and dancehall reggae, he "Paying our artists was also im- where the artists are coming from," U.K.-funded label, Instant Karma. I'm coming from a more club kind says. "Only later did Seb start play- portant," adds More, "because we he continues. "Plus, we've been "I Don't Really Care" uses a most of perspective, with hands in the ing house and trance," says K-Gee. had experienced the nonpayment through many of the experiences unusual combination of influences: air and heads nodding." The trajectory that eventually led method of the record industry, which that they might not have been Miami bass rhythms, Vivaldi's "Four According to the label, the album to scoring chart-topping hits for the we didn't like very much. Additional- through yet." Seasons" string arrangements, and track "All The Ladies," which clev- likes of All Saints and remixing for ly, we wanted to manage projects in a More points out that it took Koala Beach Boys -hued stacked vocals, erly samples R.E.M., will be ser- the likes of George Michael was a sensible fashion rather than being 21/2 years to complete his first album which contrast with K-Gee's rapping viced to club DJs solely as a promo- slow one. K-Gee says that when the seduced by the trend or bandwagon." for the label, but that wasn't an issue and singing. Already, the song has tional white label. "The track's very remixing work that he was doing in Koala is one such artist who appre- for Ninja Tune. been tracklisted on such radio sta- dancey," notes the artist. "It has this the early '90s began to dry up, des- ciates what More and Black have "This whole industry thing about tions as KISS and Galaxy, as well as house kind of vibe mixed with hip - perate measures were needed. By done. "They really let you do your 'Oh God, if you don't get a record out on MTV hop and a rock guitar lick." the mid -'90s, and with a high month- people will forget who you are' is The song's video was directed by ly rent, K-Gee began buying a cap- ridiculous," says More. "If people are Max & Darnia, who recently lensed pella imports of American records. into you, they wait. That's the Ninja videos for Jamelia and Craig David. "People weren't commissioning Billboard. philosophy. We even coined a phrase: Additionally, the track is confirmed that many remixes at the time," he `To know the artist standing still to be included on the Universal TV- recalls. "So I bought a cappella ver- HOT l!641ce while others run.' " issued "MOBO Awards" compila- sions of songs and did my own re- Ninja Tune's unique philosophy tion, due next month. mixes. Soon, my mixes were being also extends to its A &R style. The song was penned more than played by radio and club DJs." "We're looking for characters and a year ago, and after unsuccessful- These "unofficial" remixes SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 individuality, but within a frame- ly shopping it, K-Gee decided to re- brought him to the attention of CLUB PLAY work," notes More of the label's ros- work it for himself. K-GEE many record companies. At the ter. `A lot of labels sign an artist and "I've got different things flying same time, he began collaborating 1. GOTTA TELL YOU SAMANTHA MUMBA WILD CARD then sign another artist who is simi- in my head at any one time," says K- The rock connection will contin- with a girl group that would eventu- 2. SUNBEAM SUBMARINE KINETIC lar. Then they sign another artist Gee, who is published by EMI ue in early 2001, when the label will ally become All Saints.