Sydney Funk & Hip Hop collective RENEGADE FUNKTRAIN formed back in 1994 and made pretty dope music for the short time they were around infusing heavy live grooves with the full band & live scratching & MC’s like no not many others were doing at the time. We loved this band back in the high-school days, wish they put out a few more releases.
From memory only released one self-titled album in 1995 & a couple of singles, some of which we still play at our parties today.
This is a clip of them doing their it large with the full band live on Recovery on a Saturday morning back in 1996. You can see brother and sister Rosano & Tina Martinez up front on vocals, DJ ASK adding cuts and the band Dereck Antunes (on drums) alongside Juan Gonzalez (keyboard) and Adam Dehnem on Bass.
We were so happy to find this promo mix on Mixcloud. Back in 2005, Nick Toth threw this killer club night at Candys Apartment in Kings Cross which was focused on playing a bit more 1980’s inspired boogie sound. It was so dope, I was lucky enough to find it by chance and was so blown away hearing that boogie sound on a proper sound system. We were always into funk and disco, but it was pretty rare to hear Boogie stuff in Sydney, especially in a dancefloor setting. This is a promo mix NICK TOTH, REGAL & BLAZE put together for this show which features a stack of disco-rap, boogie & funk joints that are still personal favourites.
A classic recording from the archives of ground breaking Hip Hop radio show DROPPIN’ SCIENCE which was on 2ser (107.3 FM) back in the late ’90s. This one is a dope high-powered funk mix from PABLO of The Psychonauts (UK), recorded back in March 1999.
We got to say these dudes were one of the first funk outfits we saw getting out in Sydney & they were so bloody good. Once of the wildest live shows jam packed with heavy funk and hip hop grooves perfect for a dacefloor. We always wanted to book them at a party but they pretty much stopped doing gigs about the time we started doing our own jams. The band members are still pretty active around the scene, but sadly it doesnt look like King Farook are still doing shows these days, if they were we would have them front and centre at Soul of Sydney.
About KING FAROOK:
Biography
Stylistic boundaries are becoming increasingly blurred in today’s musical melting pot, and King Farook are at the vanguard as they pioneer a genre all their own. With an appeal that cuts across styles as diverse as Funk, Rock, Hip-hop, Soul, Jazz, RnB, Latin and even Metal, they have a fan base just as varied. Their unique sound, intense energy and masterful delivery will captivate you no matter where your tastes lie.
Indeed, it was that spectacular live energy that drove their success from early on. Forming in 2006, crowds soon flocked to their shows as the word-of-mouth buzz grew. Within that year they won the Epic Sydney Performer’s Challenge, and went on to release their self-funded and self-produced debut album Land of the Horny, launched at Sydney’s Annandale Hotel the night before New Years Eve (a notoriously difficult date for promoters), to a sell-out crowd.
Kicking off 2007 with a slam-dunk New Years Eve performance at Peats Ridge Festival, it became clear that their massive sound demanded an equally big stage. They’ve since headlined at a range of festivals including Dreamfest Newtown, Surry Hills Festival, Feelgood Festival and Glebe Street Fair, as well as show-stopping performances at the Rhino Urban Music Awards and MusicOz Awards. All up, they tallied a total of 75 shows throughout the year with highlights including:
– A massive series of sell-out shows in Sydney, including The Annandale Hotel (twice), Will & Toby’s, Civic Theatre, Spectrum and The Vanguard. – Reviewed as “Performance Highlight” of 2007 Rhino Urban Music Awards at Luna Park. – Cover story on Sydney Morning Herald Metro Magazine, headlined as the “Next Big Things”. – Launched their Single Zabbadouai (Back In The Day) to a sell-out crowd at The Vanguard with special guest John Blackwell (drummer for Prince and Justin Timberlake) in the Encore performance. – Featured on the cover of Drum Media magazine and nominated for Best Urban Single and Artist of the Year at the 2007 MusicOz Awards, where they closed the show at the Enmore Theatre and rocked the Home Nightclub after party. – First ever act to sell out Sydney venue Will and Toby’s in presales alone. – Highly acclaimed and successful 2 month midweek residency at Newtown’s Sandringham Hotel. – Sold thousands of copies of their debut album Land Of The Horny via their own website. – Solid touring schedule, with regular sell-out shows in capitals and regional centres.Shared the stage with fantastic bands such as De La Soul, Bluejuice, True Live, Butterfingers, Figgkid and many more.
You know we all love a bit of GOSPEL music, especially when it in the form of great mix like this from our brother local crate digger, DJ & goodfriend GIAN ARPINO. He diggings very deep for this the special GOSPEL EDITION Vol 3 of the Collected Rhythms Series this time bringing you some favourite gospel platters I have amassed over the last few years.
As always leave a comment if you like the sounds and share with friends. Gian x
Sending our prayers up for one of our music worlds finest, Rest in Peace BILL WITHERS who sadly passed away earlier this week.
We lost one of the finest Soul storytellers ever, the great Bill Withers was one of our biggest musical influences.
He moved the Soul & R&B world with his music, his warm voice, and vivid pictures he painted with his song-writing, releasing seminal classics like Use Me, Lovely Day, Lean of Me, Ain’t No Sunshine just to name a few.
Here is a 90 minute mix of some of our favourite original Bill Withers cuts, remixes and some edits. We hope you enjoy..
Run Time – 90 Min’s
Track Listing 1.Bill Withers – Intro / Grandmas Hands [Live] 2.Bill Withers – For My Friend [Live] 3.Bill Withers – Naked And Warm [Heaven!] 4.Bill Withers – You 5.Bill Withers – Use Me [Rhythm Scholar Mo’Funk Remix] 6.Bill Withers – Steppin’ Right Along 7.Bill Withers – Lonely Town, Lonely Street 8.Bill Withers – Soul Shadow 9.Bill Withers – Kissing My Love 10.Bill Withers – Sweet Wanomi 11.Bill Withers – Just The Two Of Us [Edit] 12.Bill Withers – Lovely Day [Touch Radiomusic Mix] 13.Bill Withers – i Wish You Well 14.Bill Withers – Then y Ou Smile At Me 15.Bill Withers – The Same Love That Made Me Laugh 16.Bill Withers – It Ain’t Because Of Me Baby 17.Bill Withers – Lovely Night For Dancing 18.Bill Withers – Oh Yeh 19.Bill Withers – Ruby Lee 20.Bill Withers – Take It All In And Check It All Out 21.Bill Withers – She Wanted To [Get On Down] 22.Bill Withers – Harlem [Eamon Harnick Edit] 23.Bill Withers – Who Is He [Groove Assassin Mix] 24.Bill Withers – i Cant Write Left Handed [Live] 25.Bill Withers – Lean On Me
We are honoured to share some killer SYDNEY FUNK POWER!
The first song from brother CARLOS C MAJOR’s new FUNK & SOUL musical project with GANG OF BROTHERS which we were supposed to be dancing to live at SOUL OF SYDNEY this weekend.
Turn the news off & the music up!
This is a small taste of what we had planned for the gig, a new high-powered FUNK sound from one of this cities finest frontmen Carlos Velazquez backed by the world-famous Martinez brothers; Andro Martinez Dauno Martinez Fenix Martinez Banel Martinez and the unmistakable Tofilau Sabath Sala Siolo on drums.
We look forward to dancing with you all again very soon, stay safe.
Carlos C Major wrote ‘I WANT IT ALL’ for his new up and coming album ‘Life is beautiful’ and teamed up with Gang of Brothers to record it at Martinez Productions Studio in Sans Souci, Sydney Australia.
Filmed, Edited & Graded by: Fluke Media Venue: Tatler Sydney in Darlinghurst, Sydney NSW.Engineered & Mixed by: Andro Martinez Mastered by: Darren ZiesingReleased through: Distrokid
Visual & Audio Line up: Female singer: Vyvy Olivares Female singer: Gemma Lyon Female singer: Laura Stephenson Trumpet: Marcus Salone
G.O.B Band: Guitar: Andro Martinez Drums: Buddy Siolo Bass: Dauno Martinez Organ: Fenix Martinez Guitar: Banel Martinez All things Visual: Luke Frace Mercado
Special Thanks: Tatler Sydney for your hospitality and all my friends who came to help. Lilian Guerrero, Nathalie Velazquez, Danny Sanz, Angelica, Dianne Smith & Andrita Martina Enjoy!
DJ Phil Toke bringing the DEEP COSMIC DISCO goodness live in the mix at SOUL OF SYDNEY at the Funk Fundraiser jam (for NSW Bushfires) last month, warming it up for NYC DISCO legend JOHN MORALES as it belted down rain outside. Massive love to everyone who came down to the jam last month, it was definitely one for the true believers, couldn’t believe so many people came out smiling and ready to party with us with so much rain outside that day. We hope to see you all dancing again very soon. You got the power of love!!!
A collection of some of our favourite high-powered DISCO FUNK & SOULFUL joints, put together with LOVE as a little warm-up for Daybreaker SYD // One Love Yoga & Dance Party event happening this Friday morning at Centennial Parklands featuring a very special appearance from Soul of Sydney’s own DJ Phil Toke & crowd favourite emcee queen Mirrah Reflects hosting the musical component.
Check out the full playlist featuring super hot classic joints from the likes of Sylvester, Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, Roxy Music, Womack & Womack, Teddy Pendergrass, Melba Moore, Gwen Mcrae & more.
LISTEN – 
