BabyStep Essentials: 002
We decided to launch BabyStep Essentials as a way of bringing the creative community together, to help support each other! We really hope this column can bring people together and allow you to discover some really amazing people, doing amazing things. If you enjoyed the content feel free to give it a share, or cop a shirt to help us do what we love. Without further ado here is BabyStep Essentials 002.
The return to live music and club nights in Leeds has genuinely been so lovely to see. Seeing our favourite nights return to Leeds, whilst discovering some new ones has been a ride. Make sure to get down to these ones:
Events
Habits Presents - Garage & 140 Special - Northern Division, Gimme a Break, Airspace + support
Habits presents a special 140 & Garage takeover in the Hifi Basement! This time they are bringing something a little different, after many successful DNB and multi-genre nights we thought it was time to bring some huge local talent within the Leeds scene.
Hurrell has been an absolute staple of the Leeds UKG scene for as long as we can remember, he truly is a special selecta! smashing sets at every venue in the city. Hurrell is sure to get ya those feet moving whatever the mood! Habits Resident Porcelyn is one of the newest additions to the Habits Family. She's been bringing through her influence and smashing some closing sets at our last few events. This ones gonna packed full of real dub stompas for you!
New face in the Leeds music scene ‘Josef’ has been producing music across a multitude of genres but recently refining a sound inspired by UK drill, garage and 140s. Expect to hear plenty of original productions and bootlegs, high energy beats and deep bass. Also our good friends Gimme A Break will be there, it's a no brainer!
Sunday Joint // Salsa & Cuban Special with Siete Rayos live + DJ Lubi (salsa set)
We've not stopped hearing about the recent nights down at Hi Fi, they've taken Leeds by storm. During it's 21 year tenure at Hifi Club, the Sunday Joint has featured music from across the spectrum and globe, from jazz/funk/soul to global beats including African/Brazilian/Caribbean music. Tonight, we take you to South America and Cuba for a salsa and Cuban music special with some of the north's finest musicians playing in Manchester band Siete Rayos. Plus, Sunday Joint resident DJ Lubi Jovanovic dusts off the classic Cuban, Puerto Rican and New York Latin music records for one night only.
Siete Rayos has at it's core 4 musicians who have been a major part of the northern Latin music scene for 25 years in bands like La Timbala, Mojito, Nuyorica etc.
Expect a mix of traditional Cuban music classics reimagined with a strong focus on modern Cuban dance music. Inspiration for this project is simply the band's favourite dance music, from Cuba and the wider Cuban diaspora, that includes son montuno, salsa and timba. Classics like "Disco Azúcar", "Marcando La Distancia", "La Rebellion (No Le Pegue A La Negra)", "Idillio" and "Camina Y Ven". Dancefloor bombs guaranteed. Dancing is inevitable.
On the decks, Leeds salsa/Cuban/Latin music pioneer and legend Lubi Jovanovic who will be dusting off some of the records in his huge vinyl collection to play some Latin/salsa/Cuban dancefloor gems. For one night only, Sunday Joint at Hifi Club takes you on a trip to Havana, Puerto Rico and Colombia without the 12 hour flight. Just add rum and hit the dancefloor!
Tight Lines Presents: CHILL WITHERS at Assembly House
Tight Lines are bringing ethereal, immersive, electronic, acoustic, spectacular, sparkling, sumptuous, scintillating, sensitive, dirty, stinking, ambient, groovy, free, light, heavy, bright and dark all to Assembly House for an evening of all you’ve come to expect at Chill Withers and more. NOYA RAO, the Leeds-based electronic soul quartet comes to Leeds’ Assembly House for a dreamy evening of synth-soaked tunes and soul-filled vocals.
Jasmine is a saxophonist, composer and bandleader based in Leeds. They perform original instrumental music that draws influence from both Jazz and Electronic music. Jasmine is passionate about creating music that uplifts the soul. Flood Company is an improvised Jazz/Rock/Pop/Folk/Punk/DnB octet based in Leeds. Formed in the dark days of lockdown, the band joined together to form a unified sonic entity bigger than themselves and their Burley bedrooms.
LILA will also be playing at the night. Her work as the head DJ booker at renowned Leeds arts and music institution, Hyde Park Book Club which our very own Phasmid recently played at, tells all about her dedication to representing and platforming the most exciting booth-bound sounds coming out of Leeds’ much-deservedly-hyped dance music scene.
DRAB Presents: Autosuggestion at Mabgate Bleach
Continuing DRAB's penchant for all things post-punk, art-rock, and noisy shoegaze they bring Hull legends Autosuggestion to Leeds for their first-ever headline. Join them to see the historic moment as the hypnotic and powerful four-piece take to the stage at Mabgate Bleach. Pleasure Centre are set to bring their boundless energy of youth but with a reverence for the past, Scarborough's Pleasure Centre have produced an inimitable shoegazing sound that is equal parts elegant and sensational.
Also playing are Divorce Finance, a product of derealisation, hauntology, nostalgia and frustration. Shaped by the influence of post-punk, DIY recording and classic country music; Divorce Finance brings a sleazy, disturbed edge to a jukebox of Cold War flavoured Americana.
Last but not least is Draags, they travel around the urban streets of Leeds and the walls will be littered with the tags of alternative rap collective Draags. Their experimental authenticity and fierce performances recall the sounds of Slowthai and Sleaford Mods but with a uniquely Yorkshire voice. Check it out here
GIRLS WHO CAN PLAY GUITAR X COME PLAY WITH ME
Girls Who Can Play Guitar are teaming up with Come Play With Me, putting together a great line up. We're super excited for this show! Join them on Friday 19th November at Belgrave Music Hall for a night of groovin'! Kicking the evening off, is new up-and-coming 9 piece band The Sunkissed Child; a project of Yasmina Nahas. Followed by Heju, before the wonderful Laura Kindelan finishes the night.
RM Presents: Speak Easy
Our good friends over at the Readymeal family as we takeover Old Red Bus Station for the second iteration of our residency “Speak Easy”. Kicking things off Line:156 will be keeping things low key, spinning Hip hop, RnB, and soul with vocal performances from Pixie Cola and LAIKA.
The notorious BNMO will be making an appearance, sax in hand. Alex FB will be selecting n scratching the most soulful selection of tunes before our good mate Polymer Hurricane picks up the pace into the early hours.
Eades + Bull, Pop Vulture | Brudenell Social Club
A collective made up of songwriters, producers, sound engineers and session musicians, Leeds’ Eades are creating an exciting sound fusing new wave, art-punk, noise-rock, garage rock and 90s alternative. Also supporting are the wonderful Bull and are good friends Pop Vulture! Grab a ticket HERE
LISTEN
Pass Me The Aux- A Podcast by Wide Eye Reviews
The second episode where longstanding contributor and great friend George Webb talks through some tracks he loves, as well as a breakdown of this month's music news. All for your own listening pleasure!
vfcast005: Shauna - Sexism In Dance Music
I tuned into a Vief interview with GAB, which helped introduce me to the label and podcast. In their latest interview Vief Records interview Shauna about her ongoing PHD research into how female DJs experiences’ affect their wellbeing, her career so far as a DJ and producer, and the main topic of this episode, sexism in dance music. Shauna provides a really interesting conversation, drawing on personal experiences and her academic research, highlighting for all the reality that the dance music industry isn’t as equitable as many like to think it is.
Mia Lilly + Peaky Beats Balamii
Balamii is always a go-to for mixes and interviews, and this show adds to that. Our good friend Peaky Beats featured as part of Mia Lilly's latest show. Tune in for an hour of lively UKG tracks. Mia is also a regular on both Threads Radio and Foundation FM. Listen here
Diamond Hands Records
We can't get enough of new labels. The latest one we've heard plenty about is Diamond Hand Records, launched by Fin Nugent. The artwork for the label is done by Laura Palmer, who was kind enough to do our artwork for some of our earlier events. We'll hopefully have an update on what releases to expect soon!
COP + SUPPORT
Sound Mag Issue 05
Sound Mag are back with another issue, a big source of inspiration for BabyStep, especially as we approach putting together a printed issue. If you don't know about them already, they are an independently printed magazine showcasing and promoting reggae, dub and sound system culture. Sound systems, producers, promoters, DJs, pressers, designers, photographers, filmmakers, artists, customers, and more have contributed to this culture, and we aim to document them all.
Tom Royston - Artist
Asides from Ready Meal duties Tom Royston is one of my favourite artists around. The journey he's been on since his first commission has honestly been amazing to see, I feel very blessed to be friends with such an inspiring dude. His art touches on his struggles with mental health, offering those who view it solace in the relatability he infuses onto the canvas. Check his site out HERE.
Josh Ainge Studio
We can't thank Josh enough for the amazing poster he put together for our last event down at Freedom Mills. He absolutely smashed it with what we wanted to achieve, whilst turning it around super quick. He also produces under the name TROPHY, what a talented bloke! Give him some love if you have an event coming up, you won't regret it! Check out his site HERE
Sydney Gilbride- Artist
A close friend of the magazine, Sydney has been absolutely smashing it lately with her amazing art. Last weekend she took part in her debut exhibition, at Not For The Faint Of Art at the Constitution in Farsley. She is set to be moving into the amazing Assembly House later this year. We know plenty of you reading this rent spaces in and around Leeds, if you are looking to lighten up your space in the winter months look no further. Sydney's socials are HERE
This piece was written by Josh Crowe, message for any content suggestions.
