Venna: The new groundswell of modern Jazz talent redefining the musical soundscape

Meet Venna, the dynamic force in the modern jazz scene blending saxophone mastery with production genius.

Born Malik Venner, the multi-instrumentalist has gained recognition for his genre-defying creations, seamlessly incorporating elements of drill with melodic jazz beats. His talent as a Grammy Award-winning producer and musician has led him to collaborate with some of Afrobeats' biggest names, including WizKid, Burna Boy and artists like Knucks.

However, it is Venna's debut solo project, "Venology," that truly showcases his unique artistic vision. With this project, he has finally let those on the outside in on a big secret: his profound connection to his art. The EP is a testament to his ability to create timeless music that transcends genres into a cohesive and soulful soundscape. These harmonic records are not just a reflection of his own journey but also the collective experience as well as inspiration of creating with others, marked by an unspoken synergy by the selective people he works with that transcends mere musical partnership.

While jazz traditionally evokes the image of legends like Ella Fitzgerald, John Coltrane and Miles Davis, this new generation of modern jazz artists, particularly those similar to Venna emerging from London, are reimagining and reinventing contemporary jazz. This new school stays true to the essence of the genre while infusing a spectrum of modern influences, shaping a smooth musical sphere that proves "good music" not only lives on but prospers. By blending yore inspirations with contemporary sounds, these artists demonstrate that transformative tunes are always rooted in the past but driven forward by modern innovations, showcasing the limitless possibilities of musical creation and stretching beyond the confines of a single genre.

Music has taken Venna, a touring saxophonist, to many places around the globe. He captures his travels and inspirations on a Super 8 camera, drawing from picturesque outdoor landscapes to gather and collect his thoughts. These visuals are transformed into inspirations, infusing his music with a sense of place along with emotion, reflecting his visual perception in his creations.

As part of Yussef Dayes' exceptional band, Venna has further solidified his status as a visionary in contemporary music. A standout moment in his career was his electrifying saxophone performance at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, known as Africa's Grandest Gathering. Performing at midnight in the Moses Molelekwa Hall, the Yussef Dayes ensemble captivated the young crowd with their unique fusion of jazz, dance energy, and a wide range of riddims.

They ignited a palpable groove that showcased the genre's vibrancy and evolution, earning high praise for demonstrating jazz's enduring appeal when infused with modern beats. This achievement stands as a testament to Venna's profound ability to deeply connect with listeners, setting the audience ablaze with energy and putting on a show that was 'Ven out of ten.

Venna's work is a powerful reminder that music is limitless in its potential for creation and connection. His ability to blend genres and infuse modern influences into jazz is a breath of fresh air in the contemporary music landscape.

As Venna continues to push the boundaries of jazz and beyond, he is undoubtedly a leading figure in the new groundswell of modern jazz talent redefining the musical soundscape as a producer and musician.

For full visuals: https://tinyurl.com/52zmy95d

VEGYN: A producer whose work you are familiar with even if you don't know his name

The British DJ-Producer Vegyn, born Joseph Winger Thornalley, is most known for his significant contributions to some of the most influential albums of recent years.
To name a few, the production work for Frank Ocean on 'Blonde' and 'Endless', associations with a diverse range of artists from James Blake, to collaborations with Travis Scott. Dean Blunt, Kali Uchis, Jessie Reyez, JPEGMafia, and others whereas he showcased his versatility and skill.

However, let's shift the focus beyond his famous collaborators and center the conversation on him.

Not only is Vegyn a creator of genre-defying beats with a cheerful melancholia, but also a skilled (graphic-)designer and the proprietor of a label called 'PLZ make it ruins' founded in 2014 with money saved from retail and bar employment. The label is a platform that seeks to empower as well as develop artists while pushing boundaries and expanding the vision of what a record label should be. In an interview with 032, Thornalley stated that his label's purpose is "trying to fill the void of the label that I wish had been there for me when I was younger."

Despite maintaining a relatively low profile, the founder of PLZ rarely does interviews and performs live, even less. In contrast to Vegyn's inactivity on his few social media channels, the producer's discography is filled with numerous sample-packed EPs and two mixtapes totaling over 70 tracks.

The British producer desires to be an artist who releases a lot of things rather than getting caught up in illusions of grandeur, which makes it clear that he is more interested in brief, powerful bursts of artistic expression.

Throughout his creation process, he draws inspiration from the philosophy of David Lynch. Therefore, he sets no expectations for himself and simply lets the creation flow synthetically. The creative approach encapsulated in his belief is explained as a flow state in which you tap into a natural rhythm. That is why it makes little difference how much time he devotes to something. His most significant value is whether it allows a genuine connection and has actual power to it, even if it is done relatively effortlessly. This ethos emphasizes his intriguing juxtaposition between being an artist preserving privacy and the vast body of art he has shared with the world.

In essence, Vegyn represents a refreshing departure from the norm - a creator who values artistic integrity over acclaim, constantly pushing boundaries while remaining true to his vision. In an interview with the crack magazine he said that, "I feel like any time you land in a particular comfort zone, you have to try to break out of it." So, the next time you find yourself captivated by his creations, remember that behind the scenes is a talented individual whose name may not be in the spotlight, but whose impact is unmistakable.

#vegyn #artist #producer

Dean Blunt: Every Day is a Lifetime

Some consider him an eclectic genius; others think he’s a terrible trickster toying with the industry. However, if you aren’t familiar, let's take a closer look together.

The highly enigmatic musician, originating from Hackney, produces, writes, and performs sample-heavy music that defies expectations of genre labels. With 13 prolific solo projects and a total of 24 mixtapes/albums, he wields a growing influence within and beyond the UK music scene, all while maintaining an extremely elusive public presence.

Despite the scarcity of information about him, the artist born as Roy Chukwuemeka Nnawuchi is best known for his role as the second half of ‘Hype Williams’ alongside Inga Copeland. The duo garnered attention from experimental music blogs for their baffling music and lo-fi YouTube videos during their establishment in the late 2000s. After their disbandment, Dean embarked on his solo journey with a candid breakup album, ‘The Redeemer,’ followed by his most popular album, ‘Black Metal,’ and other renowned projects like ‘Babyfather.’ Apart from the ‘Babyfather’ album, the ‘Babyfather’ rap "trio" composed of Blunt and two other members, DJ Escrow and Gassman, who may or may not be alter egos of the British artist, released their first album, ‘BBF hosted by DJ Escrow,’ which was named the best album of 2016 by Tiny Mixtapes and Resident Advisor.

Additionally, he collaborated extensively with A$AP Rocky on his album ‘Testing,’ as well as with a diverse range of artists, from Joanne Robertson to Vegyn, Yung Lean, and Panda Bear.

What truly sets his music apart is more openly exemplified in another collaborative venture with Los Angeles band ‘Blue Iverson.’ Their R&B album ‘Hotep’ pays homage to Ms. Lauryn Hill’s career-defining album while sampling and reworking musical genres from past black music into modern collages. Beyond the myriad pseudonyms Dean Blunt adopts for his music identities, it's evident that his tendency to reference and draw inspiration from profound historical artists, akin to an archivist, alongside his deliberate avoidance of genre constraints, solidifies him as the influential creative force he is, whether intentional or not. Through this approach, he captures the enduring essence of a lifetime which is mirrored in his creations and ethos.

On the other side, Dean Blunt carries the reputation of a prankster, often fabricating stories during interviews and vanishing right after his spontaneously announced live performances. To name a few of his obfuscations, he once claimed that he was quitting music to attend wrestling school. Additionally, he trolled the NME Award ceremony by sending his security guard to accept his award. Moreover, the Londoner released the book "cǐroc boyz," only for it to be filled with nightclub receipts, and he sold weed on eBay in a toy car. It’s even rumored that his manager is a persona he created himself, adding to his enigmatic persona as an art-pop provocateur, precisely distinguishing and separating himself from the industry, preserving his enigmatic allure.

His penchant for subversion and mystery extends to his most recent work, which delves into "a more spiritual dimension of the voices of the ancestors" for the documentary ‘Dahomey,’ premiering at the 2024 Berlinale, according to an interview with its filmmaker Mati Diop in Variety.

However, when asked by NPR in 2016 if he is a model to be emulated, he responded, “I wouldn’t ask anyone to follow because I’m just doing my ting, and everyone should do theirs.”