If You're in BK on Nov. 1st...

If You're in BK on November 1st CHECK THIS OUT!!!

Ninjas in disguise...

Weird, wonderful and strangely enticing. Welcome to the world of Grasscut...


AlterntiveInformant: How did you both meet and how long have you both been involved with music?

Grasscut: Good day to you sir. Andrew is an award-nominated film composer and producer; Marcus is a classically trained keyboard player and double bassist. We met in Brighton where we both reside.

AlternativeInformant: Explain your sound.

Grassscut: As well as original vocals, we feature samples recorded on mobile phones or stolen from gramophones. We use live drums, or make beats from mouse-clicks and glitches, and instruments range from the cheapest Casio keyboard to antique harmoniums.

AlternativeInformant: Who are your influences?

Grasscut: Kraftwerk, Wordsworth, Public Enemy, Robert Wyatt, BBC Radiophonic Workshop, WG Sebald, Afrika Bambaata, Gavin Bryars, Devo, Blockhead, Brian Eno...

AlternativeInformant: What are your views on the music industry at the moment?

Grasscut: Seems as grotesque and beautiful as it has always been, but happily we find ourselves gathered into the bosom of the delightful Ninja Tune.

AlternativeInformant: Talk me through your debut album.

Grasscut: It’s an attempt to reflect life in contemporary England – a transcendental journey through the sublime and ridiculous.

AlternativeInformant: Do your songs have a message?

Grasscut: Most certainly: play up, play up and play the game.

AlternativeInformant: You’ve been on a number of stages, tell me which was your favourite crowd to perform to and why?

Grasscut: We’ve had some great gigs with people like Nathan Fake and at festivals including Loop and The Great Escape, but we’re really looking forward to our upcoming show with Plaid and Clark. The Big Chill too.

AlternativeInformant: How was it playing an audiovisual show at the Tate Britain?

Grasscut: Sharing a room with the paintings of JMW Turner was truly extraordinary. Obviously our visuals were better though.

AlternativeInformant: I was checking out your MySpace page and, you have a lot of influences. Who would you say influences you the most and why?

Grasscut: WG Sebald, a sadly deceased German author of compendious knowledge, who lived in Suffolk. His voices graces our debut single, High Down.

AlternativeInformant: Now, the name. How did you come up with Grasscut?

Grasscut: It represents the Englishness and the cut-up nature of our sound.

AlternativeInformant: I heard that the “Mona Lisa Curse” (scored by Andrew) won an award for Best Documentary at the Banff Film Festival. How was it to be involved with that?

Grasscut: Andrew’s been nominated for a BAFTA previously, and won other awards, but this was a very special film by director Mandy Chang – which, by the way, greatly upset Damien Hirst.

AlternativeInformant: Finally, what does the future hold for Grasscut?

Grasscut: In the short term, we have a session coming up on Xfm, gigs at Cargo, the ICA, Koko, The Big Chill, and Bloom festival. After the album is released in October, we will be heading to France, and hopefully further afield, as well as touring good ol’ blighty.

Odd Nosdam-Visual Shoegangster!

The Man behind the T.I.M.E Soundtrack, Visual Shoegangster and DJ, the AlternativeInformant Introduces you to.... Odd Nosdam.

AlternativeInformant: How long have you been involved with music?

Odd Nosdam: My whole life really, but I didnt start making music until 1998. for as long as I can remember, Ive collected tapes and records. and because I spent the bulk of the 90's installing big bass car stereos, myfascination with boomin systems eventually inspired me to make my own music, mostly out of boredom, but also to have some slow shit to bump in my car (which has since been permanently retired).

AlternativeInformant: Where did the name Odd Nosdam come from?

Odd Nosdam: Nosdam is my last name reversed. Odd comes from Odd Nerdrum. He's a Norwegian painter I admire: http://www.nerdrum.com/works/index.php?id=46

AlternativeInformant: You created the soundtrack for the This Is My Element film, how was that and, do you skate yourself?

Odd Nosdam: The process was challenging and at times extremely frustrating, but also fun and ultimately quite rewarding. I was paid to dig for unique records to sample from. basically, 6 months of indulging in good ol' fashioned beat making. I no longer skateboard on a regular basis, but every now and then I like to jump on a board and slappy some curbs. I was a full on Bones Brigader in the mid 80's. I got back into skating in the '90s for a minute before jacking my wrist up bad. Ivecontinued to keep up on things by watching skateboard videos.



AlternativeInformant: How would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard your music before?

Odd Nosdam: Visual shoegangster.



AlternativeInformant: What are your views on the music industry at the moment is it too commercialised?

Odd Nosdam: I’ve no views of any value. I couldn't care less about the music industry, or industries in general.


AlternativeInformant: Where are you from and does that give you inspiration for music?

Odd Nosdam: Sure. I lived in Cincinnati for 25 years before moving to the Bay Area. as much as I dislike the midwest, the sorta forced isolation does wonders for a developing artist.

AlternativeInformant: Who influences you and your music?

Odd Nosdam: Shit, there's a ton of inspirational people. too many to mention. My mom.


AlternativeInformant:You did a challenge for XLR8RTV and they challenged you to make an original track, using records found at a Junk shop in CA, how was that?


Odd Nosdam: All together, a pretty swell experience. any chance to collaborate with my man Jel, Im there. the XLR8R folks where super cool from the jump. they allowed Jel and I our artistic freedom. plus, the couple who own the shop are the shit and Im thrilled we can advertise their place. we kinda cleaned them out record wise though.


AlternativeInformant: How do you feel when you DJ in front of a crowd?

Odd Nosdam: Depends. Sometimes like a rock star, other times like a sucker. But it's always an awesome feeling to play what I consider great music for people, especially when it's through a big system.

AlternativeInformant: Finally, what does the future hold for Odd Nosdam? Any Shout-outs?

Odd Nosdam: Same shit. Maybe get on the road a little more often and play live. Put out more records. I plan to have my SP1200 refurbished. hello mom.

Oojami: Fusion at its best goes to Hollywood!

Congratulations to Oojami, its well deserved! Read the exclusive interview only on the AlternativeInformant!

http://alternativeinformant.blogspot.com/search/label/Oojami

Reggae 3000 is coming...Idiginis!

IDIGINIS is the musical inner-thought brought to life in order to show the ONENESS that has existed in man since the begining of time.

As a band of Souljahs from different parts of the world, you are able to witness the culmination of different cultures & ideas...

With Aauzraam's powerful lead vocals & thought provoking lyrics, Dizzy Boots' heart pounding bass, Mikey Dub's sweet leads on guitar, I-Jahman bubblin' keys & vocals, Lee's Slammin' Riddim Guitar and Vocals, and Bobby Drums keepin' it all on time behind the drums...

Still 'in the womb' - under nine months old, IDIGINIS have been blessed with opportunities to play Houston Reggae Festival 2008 with Sugar Minott, Freddie McGregor, Third World, Elephant Man, and more to an overwhelming response. The band has recently played dates with Groundation and Pato Banton's Mystic Roots Band. IDIGINIS were also chosen to be a part of a taping for ABC's Wifeswap in Houston after NYC casting agents found the band online through MySpace, which aired in primetime on Fri, October 31st, 2008 to 3.34 million Total Viewers (Nielsen Media Research).

IDIGINIS has been building a following fast - pumping out their mix of tuff modern roots infused with rock and hints of dub, while paying homage the classic foundation riddims of reggae music - to larger crowds show after show in their hometown of Houston. The band plans to tour extensively next year, including offers from overseas. Coming up in early 2009, shows confirmed include the Houston Reggae and Ska Festival @ Meridian in Houston, and an opening slot for Badfish (Sublime Tribute) @ the newly opened House of Blues Houston.

...THE JOURNEY HAS BEGUN ... WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF IDIGINIS.

The AlternativeInformant caught up with MIKEY DUB of IDIGINIS and asked him about the group and what we can expect in the future.

AlternativeInformant: How long have you been involved with music?

Mikey Dub: All of us have been musicians in one form or another for many years, anywhere from 15-40 years since our age ranges are so varied. IDIGINIS is still a baby though for all of us together, almost at 9 months right now.

AlternativeInformant: What would you describe your music as?

Mikey Dub: Our singer Aauzraam calls our sound 'Reggae 3000', as we're taking traditional Jamaican roots reggae riddims and all infusing our own influences into the music, including rock, dub, latin and carribean fusion. I would describe our overall sound as conscious, positive, and with a strong universal message that will get people dancing and thinking at the same time.

AlternativeInformant: You played at Houston Reggae Festival 2008 with legends such as, Sugar Minott, Elephant and Third World among many other how was it playing with legends like that?

Mikey Dub: It's a blessing really. The fact that we've had great opportunities for being such a new up and coming band. The positive response we had at the Houston festival affirmed why we play this music and can play with anyone and reach out to the people. We've also recently done shows with established bands like Groundation and Dub Trio.

AlternativeInformant: Where are you all from?

Mikey Dub: What makes IDIGNIS particularly unique is the mix of people. Our singer Aauzraam and bass player Dizzy are from Texas, elder dread Lee spent a lot of time in Germany but is from the U.S., keyboard player I-Jahman is from New Orleans, Louisiana. Our drummer Bobby and I were both raised in California, though I was born in Uzbekistan, USSR.

AlternativeInformant: Does your music have a message? If so, what is that message?

Mikey Dub: The true message of our music is ONENESS - hence the logo with the pyramid and the Eye. The third eye which urges the people to wake up and step outside of themselves, unite despite race, creed, politics, etc..., and approach the world with love and consciousness, especially in the troubled times in today's society.

AlternativeInformant: Your self-titled debut album is coming out soon what can we expect?

Mikey Dub: The debut EP, simply titled IDIGINIS - showcases the diversity of the music, with each song portraying a different vibe so people can see our range of songwriting and creativity. There are many more songs written waiting to be recorded, but we thought this would be a great introduction of IDIGINIS to the world.

AlternativeInformant: What differentiates you from other bands that play a similar kind of music?

Mikey Dub: One phrase: "ORIGINAL positive roots music for the modern era". A lot of 'reggae' bands these days, including very talented ones, choose to replicate the newer-school sound of groups like Sublime. On the other hand, of the styles coming out of Jamaica today is pop oriented dance-hall, with bling, ice, 'grillz', and booty shaking just like the Top 40 rap out there to try to top the charts with their 'hot' new single that people will forget quickly. No message, no consciousness, and no authenticity. Other bands feel like they can only play reggae by doing all cover sets of Bob Marley or other mainstream artists like Shaggy or UB40, to appease the party masses who have never experienced reggae music beyond their copy of 'Legend'. They don't go beyond. We incorporate some covers to pay respects to our reggae heroes, but again, the key words are 'ORIGINAL MUSIC'.

AlternativeInformant: Where did the name Idiginis come from?

Mikey Dub: IDIGINIS is a take on Indigenous - meaning native or 'from the roots'. The (I) again, ties in with the theme of ONENESS, the eye of the world watching and waiting for people to wake up and focus on reality. In Rastafari philosophy, the common use of 'I&I' actually means 'WE' - as in a collective, eliminating the self for the greater good of all. Even we all in IDIGINIS have different spiritualities and views of the world, the foundation of the music is based on the teachings of His Imperial Majesty Haile Sellasie I, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah. However, as long as we all strive to live our lives with love, compassion, and respect for one another, it doesn't matter who your idea of a Higher Power is.

AlternativeInformant: Are there any artists that influence your sound and your music?

Mikey Dub: We all listen to so much music, and are collectors and enthusiasts. Our foundation lies in the legendary roots singers like Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, John Holt, Joe Higgs, Barrington Levy, and obviously Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Bob Marley and The Original Wailers. We also enjoy the more modern roots sounds of Midnite, Gentleman, Groundation, John Brown's Body, Jah Cure, and many others. However, our individual members tastes range from hip-hop, afro-beat, ska, jazz, gospel, classic to modern rock, trip-hop and Electronica, dub & dub step, metal, hardcore, punk, etc.

AlternativeInformant: Does where you’re from influence your sound and music?

Mikey Dub: The term 'you're a product of your environment' definitely applies here. We've all seen and experienced war, crime, racism, addiction, the widening gap between the haves and have-nots, poverty, and general human struggle. The lyrics definitely reflect that, and once people really listen and read the lyrics in the CD, it will be very clear where we're coming from. We're not trying to say we're perfect or above anyone else - like any other human being, we experience impulses of jealousy, greed, negative thoughts and ego.

AlternativeInformant: What does the future hold for Idignis?

Mikey Dub: Well, with our debut EP coming up, we're going all out to use our resources and network to break out nationally and eventually internationally. Jah willing, more and more people will hear the music and continue to respond positively like they have from the very beginning. We're being offered great shows, linking u amazing people, and looking to tour very soon to share our vibes with as many people as we can.

Blessed love and Jah Guide!!
Raspect on behalf of all of IDIGINIS

Mikey DUB.

http://www.myspace.com/idiginis

The Fleas- New things happening...

I've been away but Im bringing new things so please be patient! One new thing that the AlternativeInformant is doing is working with a new Indie/Folk band called The Fleas.
Been working on promoting them, organising gigs and basically trying to show people that REAL music is still here and all my readers know that the very best of REAL Alternative music is alive here!

So, I want you all to check out three very special and important links:

myspace.com/thefleasplease - The band's myspace page!

thefleasband.blogspot.com - The band's blog (which is in the process of being updated!)

memusic.metro.co.uk - Check out their music here and search for The Fleas and also look out for new tracks!

Finally, There will be more Interviews on here soon!

AlternativeInformant- For your Alternative music fix!

Good things are coming...

Just wanna say a BIG Thank You to everyone who's been supporting me and my work and I thank all of you for holding tight im bringing you the best and I haven't been here for a while but Im coming back so just hold on for a bit I'll be back soon Watch this space...

AlternativeInformant- For your Alternative Music Fix!