Kid Kenobi

'Success is dangerous. One begins to copy one self and to copy oneself is more dangerous than copying others. It leads to sterility.'

2006-2008 was about a lot of soul searching for Kid Kenobi. It was about learning to embrace new sounds and growing as an artist while at the same time staying true to what made him unique as a creator. 2008 also made the Kid realise that it was time for change and that the core of that evolution would begin in his humble little home studio. It was no glamorous affair- no matter how idealistic he was about the music he wanted to write. Achieving dreams, he was soon to realise, was deeply rooted in the everyday.

Achieving dreams meant getting up early, going to the gym, less partying, time off from gigs, growing a beard, becoming a hermit, not seeing friends or family, or the outside world for days on end and being strong enough of mind to believe in what he was doing even if he still had a very long way to go to get where he was going.

But- dare we say it- the results have been worth it for in 2009, came Klub Kids the label, a new home for Kid Kenobi's music (including Two Fresh- a new project with his brother Hugga Thugg).

As a label, Klub Kids is about many things. It's about bridging the gap between where we've been and where we are in order to know where we are going. Indeed, the label's inaugural release, Klub Kids 01, is a proud example of this desire. The release itself captures many of the ideas behind the label as well as Kid Kenobi's own musical journey.

Klub Kids 01 is about finding a new 'sound' after much soul searching and many mistakes. It's about reconnecting with musical roots. It's about finding the hiphop, the soul, the rave, the dub, the funk and the skank, in music today and reminding ourselves why we got into this whole thing in the first place.

As with Kid Keobi's live DJ sets, Klub Kids 01 reflects this ethos in sound.

The Klub Disc takes in fidget house, Baltimore, breakbeat, and tinges of electro, courtesy of a fresh mix of diverse range of artists including Herve, Fake Blood, Deadmau5, Two Fresh, The Crookers, The Presets, Dizzie Rascal, South Rakkas Crew, Jackson Jackson, The Prodigy, Tone Loc, Armand Van Helden, P-Money and Kid Kenobi himself.

The Dub Disc once again sees Kid Kenobi delving back into one of his favourite musical styles- dub. This time however the Dub Disc takes in many contemporary sounds fusing dubstep, dubby house, dubby breaks and some of his own work as Two Fresh (with brother Hugga Thugg) to complete the disc. Other feature artists on the Dub Dsic include Stanton Warriors, Rockers, Hi-Fi, Resin Dogs, Shut Up and Dance, Dreadzone and Deep Fried Dub.

In many ways Klub Kids 01 is a reflection of a dance music once again embracing hip hop, dub, reggae, soul, funk and old school beats in much the same way the early 90's did. It reflects a return to that mix and match, cut and paste musical freedom of early dance music. Indeed, much of the music itself is directly influenced by an early 90's revival. A time which itself gave birth to the Kid's love of dance music as a 15 year old raver.

All in all, Klub Kids 01 is about embracing a new chapter in Kid Kenobi's life as an artist. It's about taking back control of his own artistic journey. It's about learning to make a statement rather than just going with the tide. In short it's about bringing it back to what it's all about: the music.

Releases:
2009 'klub kids 01' mixed by kid kenobi.
(2 disc - klub and dub feat. Mc shureshock)

Kid Kenobi is a huge influence on music and he is proving to be the sound of talent, Klub Kids 01 shows his potential, it is going to be one massive hit throughout the music and club/dance scene. The album is wickedly dramatic and combines all the general elements of beat and mixes them in a controversial way that just makes want to dance. This isn't the album to listen to whilst sitting down. No longer will you want to be soothed by the rhyme, you've want to move to his rhythm. This is the perfect CD to set the mood before a big night out and it's the only CD you will need to start a party and finish a party…

How did it feel to hear your completed CD?

Kid Kenobi: It is a relief to be honest. I mean, it has been amazingly satisfying but it is also a relief as it is the first release, I've done on my own label and that has been a lot of work basically. I had to learn to do everything from scratch, it was a very long process- which I had never done before. It feels good to finally have it done and have it coming out. Very satisfying in the end.

Describe the CD:

Kid Kenobi: Well it is what I've always done I guess. One is a reflection of what I do on a music level. I've done another dub disc before, but this moves into electronic dub house. Its got some great talent on the vocals and the other one is basically what I am playing on a club level. It has a lot of my own tracks on there, features some collaborations, that I am doing with my brother called Two Fresh. And there is a bunch of original stuff and remixes from what we are doing.

Did you have any pre-conceived ideas about starting your own label?

Kid Kenobi: Yeah, I actually thought it would be easy. I thought it would be just about getting the music on the downloads site- I didn't realise how much went with it. If anything I thought it would be easier than what it was.

What music/artists do you listen to when you are not playing your own?

Kid Kenobi: That's a good questions, but I don't think I have time to listen to other artists - I've been so busy. I listen to what I am working on at the moment, that's it. I am so busy writing tracks and stuff- I am having to listen to my own stuff all the time. I don't have a lot of spare time but when I do I listen to my girlfriends Yoga CDs. They are relaxing and I can chill out. I love that deep stuff, it is always nice to keep your mind away from thinking.

Was there a moment when you considered giving up?

Kid Kenobi: There are always moments where you feel overwhelmed. I've had a few of those moments recently. It is like trying to put a hundred bottles into a box that only holds six- with all the work I have going on. I don't know how I am going to fit all of it in, with all the work I have going on. It is impossible. It is too much. You have to take deep breaths and get back on it. Whenever I start getting a little bit freaked out, I take a second and think that I am very lucky to be doing what I am doing and at the end of the day it is work- but it's not something I hate doing. It's something I love doing. I am very grateful for that.

Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Kid Kenobi: You know what? I am actually really enjoying working in the studio at the moment. It is a new challenge- it is something I haven't done before and I have been wanting to do for a really long time.

What/who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Kid Kenobi: Umm… I have been listening to music my whole life. My Dad was a muso - so I grew up with music in the house all the time. I was four years old when I first remember listening to music. I don't think it was something I really had a choice with, I've always loved doing it. What I love doing actually became a career, I was able to make a career out of it. When you kind of been in this industry for a long time there is all these things you think: you wish you were more popular or that a certain track was more popular- all these small things that get you. And you have to remember that you are very lucky that you are able to do music for a career. I think it was actually my manager who first said to me, 'You know what! You can actually do something with this. You can actually make a career out of this.' Up until that point I was sort of thinking 'Hey this is cool. This is fun. I am getting gigs.' My manager was the first person to see I had the potential to make a career out of it. My mates always say 'you're such an artist' - it is very true. I have to be a bit more business minded with the label- it is changing.

What has been your favorite part of becoming a music artist?

Kid Kenobi: Being able to commission remixes of my own music. I've been buying music my whole life so it has been so good to have someone do a remix of your own track. It's awesome. Just being able to make a statement and pull things together has been great too.

Tracklisting
Klub disk
1. two fresh- too fresh
2. Armand van Helden feat. Team facelift- shake that ass
3. Dizzee Rascal feat. Calvin Harris and Chrome- Dance Wiv Me (niteryders mix)
4. Dizzee Rascal- flex (dave spoon reflex)
5. Two Fresh vs Mc Gaff-E - pump that sh*t!
6. P-Money feat Vince Harder- Everything (Two Fresh mix)
7. Tone Loc- Wild Thing (Two Fresh remix)
8. Soda Boys feat. Smith the Mister- Everybody cha cha (Two Fresh mix)
9. Deadmau5 and Mc Flipside- Hi Friend
10. Crookers -Svegila
10b. The New Hip House- DJ Bam Bam, Mixin Marc feat. Alex Peace (acapella)
11. Fake Blood - Mars
11b, Splitloop- Party People (acapella)
12. Kid Kenobi feat. Killa Queenz- KK Theme
13. Detboi and Foamo- Girls Dem Go
13b. South Rakkas Crew feat. New Kidz Club- Mad Again (acapella)
14. Kid Kenobi- Move That Body
15. Nadastrom- Pussy
16. Machines Don't Care- Afro Jacker
17. The Prodigy- Omen (herve's end of the world remix)
18. Jackson Jackson- All Alone (cut off and jon ohms mix)
19. The Presets- Talk Like That (dave spoon mix)
20. Destroy Disco- The End

Dub Disk featuring Mc Shureshock
1. Conquest- Forever
2. Rusko- Acton Dread
3. Uncle Sam- Round the World Girls (tes la rok vip mix)
4. Screaming Soul- Warfare (ruckspin planas mix)
5. Noiseshaper- The Creator
6. Pitch Black feat. Brother J- 100 Mile Drift
7. Dub Mix Convention- Rough Life
8. Zomby- The Lie
9. F- the Untitled Club
10. Rockers Hi-Fi- Push Push (m.a.n.d.y.'s pusher remix)
11. Stanton Warriors- Blaze
12. Dreadzone- Once Upon a Time in Jamaica
13. Resin Dogs- Peace and Love (Two Fresh Mix)
14. DeepFried Club- Mirage
15. Shut Up and Dance- Epileptic (martyn's no strobe mix)

Available June 5 on line or in stores

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