thisculture

As part of the “ThisCulture” film series we are proud to present the NZ premier of “Bassweight”. Bassweight is the first feature documentary that gives you an insight into the birth, growth and success of Dubstep music.

“From the very start in Croydon, through to a recognised global culture, Bassweight provides a timeline of information via some of the most important exponents from this ever expanding scene. Featuring in-depth in…terviews with the genre’s true ambassadors around the world including; Skream & Benga, Kode 9, Plastician and BBC Radio 1 DJ, Mary Anne Hobbs. Each reflect on their personal journey and provide thought on maintaining Dubstep at the forefront of dance music. With intimate imagery from Europe, Japan and Brazil, Bassweight is a unique stylised music documentary celebrating the art form that is Dubstep.”

September 16th – Khuja Lounge, Auckland – 8pm doors
$10 entry – DJ support from Jason Howson

Our third film in the “ThisCulture” series is going to be “Favela on Blast”. We’re really excited to be presenting the New Zealand Premier screening of the movie on August 18th up at The Khuja Lounge in Auckland. We’ve got El Gato Negro on DJ support duties for the evening so make sure you come down early, this is going to be a night of serious music and dance.

Favela on Blast is the directorial film debut from Grammy-nominated DJ and producer, Diplo, and his partner Leandro HBL. For 20 years, a subculture has emerged under society’s radar. Favela On Blast tells the stories of sex, love, poverty and pride for Rio’s marginalized people. They have their own language, style and heroes. It’s a music that’s… fast, heavy and violent like the city itself. This film is a flash of a few lives of charismatic people that relate to the funk music and a retelling of the subculture itself.

In an unlikely turn of events since pre-production of this film started, baile funk fought its way out of the favela’s, no holds barred. As soon as it reached the ears of music makers and booty shakers around the globe, dots got connected, cables got plugged and the movement just snowballed out of control.

The culture surrounding the favela’s of Rio De Janeiro has been documented before, yet here a unique view is presented to the audience were the camera emerges from the funk balls to give an unseen look into an energetic, underground music scene so powerful it couldn’t be ignored.

Doors 8pm – $5 entry

Special preview screenings from “Film the Music”

We’re very excited and proud to present the NZ Premier of the  “Timeless: The Composer/Arranger Series” at Khuja Lounge on July 21st with support from DJ Dan Paine.

Timeless: The Composer/Arranger Series is the name of a concert series that was created in homage to the composer/arrangers who have influenced hip-hop in the most literal and profound ways. Timeless was conceived by production house Mochilla in Los Angeles during February and March 2009 and included the performances of over 150 musicians in front of ecstatic sold out crowds. These three historic events were recorded and filmed in exacting detail with Mochilla’s unmistakable style.

The screening will be a 2hr long mix of scenes from all three films in the TIMELESS DVD concert series:

•SUITE FOR MA DUKES – a full orchestra tribute to the late great J Dilla w/ all benefits going to his mother, Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey. the concert was conducted by legendary LA radio DJ, Carlos Nino, and led by string maestro, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson – it also features appearances from Dwele, Bilal, Karriem Riggins, and Common among others.

•ARTHUR VEROCAI – legendary Brazilian songwriter/producer/performer. His 1972 self-titled debut was a forgotten treasure turned crate digger’s dream. It has since been sampled by the likes of 9TH WONDER, MF DOOM, JNEIRO JAREL & countless others. It was re-released in 2003 on Ubiquity Records to critical acclaim.

•MULATU ASTATKE – influential Ethiopian jazz musician/arranger. His 1972 LP, Mulatu Of Ethiopia, has been a longtime favorite among record collectors & jazz connoisseurs alike. He has a newfound current audience after his music was prominently featured in Jim Jarmusch’s 2005 film, BROKEN FLOWERS, starring Bill Murray – and has also been sampled by some of hip-hop’s finest, the most well-known of which being NAS & DAMIAN MARLEY’s “As We Enter.”