Dam Funk - The Ambassador of Modern Funk

Written by Sofisticati on Saturday, 07 November 2009 20:24

Listen to Dâm-Funk's Searchin' 4 Funk's Future from his Double CD Toeachizown

I once had the pleasure of sitting in on a rehersal session of Snoop Dogg's before he left on tour. Rather than expressly using a DJ there was an entire band. I was amazed at how accurate all the musicians were in recreating all of his hits. But I was even more intrigued by the riffs and improvisational grooves that they spoke to eachother with between takes. If like me, you have ever wondered what an extremely talented session player would sound like if left to his own devices? Then feasting your ears upon the fat bass driven original funk cuts and selections of Dâm Funk is the meal for you. We here at Sofisticati highly recommend his new 5 part album Toeachizown as an essential addition to your music collection. Perfect for riding your cruiser along the beach on a breezy Sunday afternoon, Toeachizown is also the funk you'll want on rotation at your next party - and if you got it like that, hire the man himself to spin at your soiree. Evolving from his days of tickling the ivories for such acts as Westside connection and MC Eiht, Dâm Funk - the Ambassador of Modern Funk, has been on his diplomatic mission to spread his unique sound worldwide - via the ones and twos.

SOFISTICATI: Where did you grow up?
DâM-FUNK: Pasadena, Ca. (Los Angeles)

S: When did you decide to be a musician and where you draw your inspiration from?
D-F: When I was a kid growing up listening to P-Funk. KISS, Prince & RUSH.

S: Your sound has been defined by others as modern Boogie Funk or Southern Cali Space Funk, how do YOU define your sound?
D-F: Modern-Funk

S: And what is this Modern-Funk sound? Describe it for our readers.
D-F: Funk that continues from where the mid-80's sound left off before Hip-Hop took over. It has more melodic chords & sophisticated grooves in my style of Funk. It's post Mtume, Slave, Loose Ends & (early) Prince. It's Modern-Funk that I'm creating & beyond.

S: What were some of the records you would listen to while growing up?
D-F: Iron Butterfly, Curtis Mayfield, The Ohio Players, Barry White, Todd Rundgren, and much more.
Dam Funk - Image courtesy of Mr Mass™

S: It is been said that you have quite an impressive arsenal of vintage synths and drum machines. What are some of your favorite to compose with?
D-F: I have many I like but, Roland & Korg are my favorite for synths. Drum machines? There's too many to narrow down to a 'favorite'. They just have to be 'vintage'. Those are the truth, for me.

S: Do you play instruments besides keys?
D-F: Yes. Drums & I'm studying Bass now.

S: Did you produce first or DJ first?
D-F: Produced 1st. I'll always be a musician 1st & a selector 2nd.

S: How did you link up with Peanut Butter Wolf and Stones Throw Records?
D-F: Friends first via seeing each other at different gigs around L.A. We both liked Slave & Prince so we clicked on that interest in sound. Soon he heard my myspace music. After that, I did a remix for Baron Zen's "Burn Rubber". After that 12" became sought after around the world, I was then offered a multi album deal through his label Stones Throw Records. And, so now...here I am now for the world.

S: In your opinion what’s the best remix you have ever made?
D-F: Don't have one.

S: What are the music artists that you admire the most at this moment?
D-F: Nite Jewel.
Dãm-Funk - Image courtesy of Mr Mass™

S: Do you prepare your DJ sets, or is it all improvisation?
D-F: Mostly improvisation. I rarely prepare. Whenever I've done that...it always changes, based on the people in the audience. So, mostly improvisation. Just a bag of wax (and my laptop for my original compositions) and I simply go for it.

S: You have been on tour in Europe and in Asia in the last couple of months, what are your favourite cities to spin? Best crowds around the world?
D-F: Tel Aviv was INCREDIBLE! Korea was the BOMB!! Bottom line is Asia & Europe have ALL been fantastic! It's been an honor and a blessing to share music with everyone throughout Asia & Europe, thus far.

S: What is your night L.A. Funkmosphere all about? What are your favorite parties to rock at in LA?
D-F: Funkmosphere is every Monday nite at Carbon Bar and Lounge located in Culver City. It's Boogie, Funk and related sounds dropped uncut all nite long. Resident selectors are Billy Goods, DJ Randy Watson (aka Ron) & Laroj. We've been going strong for 3 and half years in L.A. As far as other spots in L.A. that are cool to go to are places like: The Do Over, Soundlessons, Soul Sessions, The Low End Theory, Boombox, and Firecracker.
Dãm-Funk - Image courtesy of Mr Mass™

S: (A question from our Style Editor) We love the cover of Toeachizown - your hair is seriously cool. what are your hair care secrets?
D-F: A young lady by the name of Dionne who operates out of Blessed Hands on Crenshaw Blvd. in South L.A. hooks me up whenever I feel like gettin' my 'Superfly' on. Check my favorite movie of all time: "SUPERFLY" and how fly Ron O'Neal (R.I.P.) was with his style throughout the flick. This is the origins of the style we rock here on the West Coast when it comes to brutha's lettn' our hair blow in the wind. Ya' just gotta 'fly it out' sometimes. Only true G's can pull it off and I'm one of 'em. 'Nuff said.

S: What can we expect from the Ambassador of Boogie Funk for 2010?
D-F: A full length release of some of my early work called: "Adolescent Funk" which will be released on a lable called Circle Star Records, a few carefully chosen (and not just any ole') remixes, collaborations with Nite Jewel and other select artist I dig and an EP with my Modern-Funk group MASTER BLAZTER which features Computer Jay and J1.

Top 5 current records?
D-F: No current top 5 at the moment but, Top 3?
Kaidi Tatham - "In Search Of Hope" LP on Freedom School Records,
Theo Parrish - "Going Through Changes" 12",
and some demos I've been hearing from this new cat names Mynk Richardz on Citinite Records.

Classic Top 5?
D-F:
Slave - "Just A Touch Of Love",
Prince & The Revolution - "17 Days",
Aurra - "Are You Single",
Mazarati - "Don't Leave Me Baby",
Starshine - "All I Need Is You"

For more information visit: http://www.myspace.com/damfunk
http://www.stonesthrow.com/damfunk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs1Xwi8SN0o

-- By Sonia Almanza de Gambaro

Dãm-Funk - Image courtesy of Mr Mass™