Features

SCENE SELECTION: AUS MUSIC By Seb Wheeler

20 January 2012
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SCENE SELECTION: AUS MUSIC

Will Saul's Aus Music imprint has released a steady stream of sublime records. Tracks from Joy Orbison (second below), Ramadanman (above) and Appleblim, Midland, George FitzGerald, Scuba's SCB alias and Lee Jones have made the label an absolute treasure trove of deep, melodic house jams.

Listening to a typical Aus Music release is like being wrapped up in cotton wool in the early hours of the morning. Saul (below) specialises in selecting blissful tunes that are guaranteed to fill dancefloors with warmth but also plenty of punch to keep the party going 'til dawn.

Put simply, the tunes speak for themselves. Mixmag got Will to mix up some of the finest on Aus Music and to also tell us about why he started the label in the first place. This is dance music for people who like it deep. Let's go!

Catch the Aus Music crew at XOYO, London, on Saturday February 4. Will Saul, Cottam, Appleblim and Lone are all playing and you can get tickets here.

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Scene Selection: Aus Music Mixmag mix by Mixmag

An introduction to Aus Music

1. Cottam – Deep Deep Down (Vakula Remix)
2. Joy Orbison – The Shrew Would Have Cushioned The Blow (Actress Remix)
3. George FitzGerald – Silhouette (John Roberts Remix)
4. Ramadanman & Midland – Your Words Matter
5. Lee Jones – Moment (George FitzGerald Remix)
6. SCB – Loss
7. Ramadanman & Appleblim – Void 23 (Carl Craig Re-Edit)
8. Joy Orbison – So Derobe

joyoscenemain

Aus has pioneered a steady stream of fresh new producers, as well as a few more experienced heads, from house, techno and the underground areas in between. How did the label begin and what is the main intention behind it?

I created Aus initially as an outlet for albums from Sideshow and Lee Jones. I had music that was too deep and experimental for Simple at the time so I wanted to create a label that could release this.

Sideshow is the alter ego for the established singer/songwriter Fink and one of my oldest friends. Lee Jones is, well, Lee Jones and one half of the act MyMy (Playhouse/Ostgut) and formerly Hefner. Sideshow's music is based in all things dub and Lee's is wonderfully delicate and colourful off-kilter house with a real cinematic feel and a genuine character all of its own.

As the label grew I started releasing music from other people and have moved off in more bass led directions recently but the label has always been very eclectic yet fundamentally still based in house. But it's not afraid to push off and explore the outermost edges of the genre and beyond.

The label releases tunes that are deep and heavy hitting but also very melodic and soulful. What makes the perfect Aus release?

I think you pretty much summed it up right there to be honest. Although a lot of releases don't have to be heavy hitting in terms of tough or hard but they do have to hit me emotionally to get signed and that usually means a bass line with oodles of funk or a melody/chord progression that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Both is ideal…

Aus champions new music and it seems you're generally quite excited about some of the artists coming into the house and techno scenes at the moment. How are you finding tunes and what's good right now that Mixmag readers should be checking out?

I love new music first and foremost so I am always on the hunt, whether that be via internet/radio/magazines or gigs I'm playing or stuff that's sent to me. It's coming at me from all angles!

I'm particularly excited about an act called Bicep. We'll be releasing a 12" from them in the spring. They run a night in London at Plastic People and a blog called Feel My Bicep which has impeccable taste. I'm just trying to find the right remixer for the EP at the moment. Otherwise Jon Convex, Space Dimension Controller, Boddika, Floating Points, Deetron, DJ Q and October seem to be finding their way into my CD wallet a lot at the moment.

Aus has had a great 2011. What were some of the highlights?

Well our release 'Loss' from SCB (Scuba) at the start of the year was a real biggie for us and was voted into number 7 on Resident Advisor's Top 50 tracks of the year so I would say that's a pretty good highlight!

It's been a big couple of years for us with releases from Ramadanman, Midland, Joy Orbison, George FitzGerald, Lee Jones, SCB and remixes from Actress, John Roberts, Scuba, Carl Caig, Tevo Howard, Vakula and more….

What's next for Aus?

We have a Maxi EP from Midland with 5 new tracks from him. We will then release a remix 12" of this with Lone and someone else (that I am yet to pick) on remix duties. The Bicep will follow this and then there will be an EP from George FitzGerald and there are also follow up EP's in the works from Cottam and SCB.

TAGS: AUS MUSIC / SCENE SELECTION / WILL SAUL

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