Audio: Alexis Raphael - WYS! Promo Mix

Camden resident Alexis Raphael has risen through the ranks of pirate radio, playing in most of the major clubs across the capital as a direct result. His production work has found a home on Jamie Jones and Lee Foss’ Hot Waves label, with the imprint housing his first release and his second single ‘Kitchens & Bedrooms’ on Lower East Side comes packaged with interpretations by Foss, Richy Ahmed and Sam Russo. Set to release his Hot Creations EP later this year, something that only a handful of artists have had the opportunity to do, and with so little relative experience in the studio it’s clear that the music he is producing is making waves with the right people very fast. Here he’s put together a sheen filled promo mix ahead of his appearance at WYS!, alongside Kevin Griffiths, this Sunday… Download: Alexis Raphael - WYS! Promo Mix You’ve had a very busy summer! Tell us about some of your highlights… One of the highlights for me was playing with the Hot Creations/Natured guys at La Plage in Ibiza. Richy Ahmed asked me to play and it was really nice to be asked to join them, their parties are always full of great people, music and it was great to add my take on the sound. On top of this seeing my tracks both go into the top 10 of their respective charts on Beatport has definitely been something I’ll look back on in years to come. Playing in Leeds and Manchester for the first time was also great. Realising how many people liked my music was a shock but really flattering too. You were recently featured on the Hot Waves Compilation, How did your relationship with Jamie Jone’s and Lee Foss’s Hot Creations come about? Lee had played with me here in London and had also agreed to remix one of my tracks, ‘Kitchens and Bedrooms’ for Lower East records. He and Jamie had just put out their first Hot Natured Podcast and I had just finished this little track in the studio. When I got home and went online Lee was online too and I told him I had something which I thought could fit on their next Podcast. He took a listen and said he really liked it and would play it to Jamie to see what he thought. He didn’t get back to me for a month and I thought that was that and it wasn’t something they could use but then he suddenly replied saying they wanted it for their new label, Hot Waves. It made my day to say the least. Recently Jamie signed another one of my tracks for Hot Creations, I’ve now completed the whole EP and it should be coming out in the autumn. Along with your productions, you are involved with the respected Sunday Brick Lane party Creche. How has that been going, what are your motivations behind running Creche? Creche was started by myself and Cozzy D initially as an outlet to play the music that we wanted to play. At the time we felt there was little of it being showcased around East London. We felt the range of music on offer on a Sunday was a bit limited. Creche has grown amazingly from something for our close friends to a party that everyone now knows. Things went a bit mental earlier this year with so many people coming down and many couldn’t get in. The past few parties in London we’ve focussed on scaling it down a bit and getting the crowd just right. It’s worked well and we’re ready to continue with it over the winter with some bigger events including one with Jamie Jones and Kerri Chandler in October at a party we’ve called The Big One. We’ve also taken it to Ibiza this Summer where we’ve had packed out parties. I used to play at every Creche but now I’m going to be stepping back and concentrating on production and DJing at a mix of parties not just Crèche. You DJed pirate radio whilst you were growing up, how do you feel about the status of radio in relation to emerging media technologies, do you still feel it’s as relevant today? Definitely not. Back in 1997 when I first played on radio in North London I don’t think many people even had the internet. Pirate radio was a vital resource for hearing the latest music. Nowadays there’s an abundance of music online including radio stations. Technology has changed things dramatically. You are affiliated with the so called “new generation of london house artists” what does this mean to you, is it an accurate description? I think there’s a whole generation of artists now coming through that aren’t focussed on minimalist sounds and just beats and bass. Music is coming back whether it be vocals or melodies and harmonies. Us that were partying through the 90s seem to be bringing influences from the music we grew up on to the table now and as such you have this resurgence of more musically driven house music. This is what seems to being referred to as the new-skool house sound I think my music does fit into this category. So yes I suppose it is an accurate description. There is no doubt that we’ve lived through a turbulent year with the worst riots in living memory and a failing economy. Do you feel like you are affected by this in any way? It seems interesting that underlying these significant socio-economic problems, there is a layer of creative activity that seems to be thriving amongst the chaos. To be honest I think things were quiet a year or two ago but this year parties are packed and there’s loads on again both production wise and on the dance floors across London. I just got back from Ibiza and it was absolutely heaving. I’ve never seen the island so busy. They had 1 in 1 out at Space for God’s sake and DC10 was sold out in advance! In a recession people seem to want to party more so from my point of view and this music scene I’m involved in the recession seems to actually have helped energise people and move things along nicely. If anything the recession has had a positive effect on dance music culture which in turn is a positive thing for me. And lastly we’re very excited to have you back at WetYourSelf! This time in room one. You played room three earlier, how are you going to approach your set this time round? I always try to adapt my sound dependant on where I’m playing. I would never play the same set at say a beach party compared to WYS! in fabric’s main room. I’ll be trying to take people on a short journey through the outer edges of my sound from disco influenced music right through to harder, edgier, more techno driven house music. Alexis Raphael - WYS! Promo Mix Tracklist: 1. Live Intro 2. Draw Me A Smile - Delia Ross feat Mela Lopez (Miguel Puente Mix) 3. I Know - Alexis Raphael (Lovers Version) 4. Running From You - Alexis Raphael 5. ??? 6. ??? 7. City Life Feat. Cari Golden - Maceo Plex Mix 8. Incoming Bitch (get low) - Soul Clap 9. Over You - Lee Brinx (Robert James Mix) 10. ??? 11. Bruiser - Cozzy D & Dexter Kane