The cover art of our new EP is from the location of the #dontmutedc movement's origin: "A battle over music and public space," the conflict between a city's longstanding rhythms and the displacing force of gentrification. 

The title "Mutual Housing Association" comes from an experiment run by four GIs returning from WWII. Working as musicians in L.A., they couldn't find affordable yet dignified housing, and so they pooled their resources and created a cooperative, progressive, Bauhaus architectural vision in defiance of the covenant laws which discouraged black ownership. 

Both are responses to a multi generational struggle for people to find and define their home athwart the ever surging waves of commerce and exclusionary policy which have always defined big cities.

Mystic Brew (feat. Dior Ashley Brown)

Uncommon Ape (Interlude)

Cramp Your Style (feat. Nneka Lyn)

Zankou (feat. Jonathan Mones)

Mutual Housing Association

Subterranean Homesick Alien

"The Takeback"
by Backbeat Underground

Connect with Backbeat Underground on these sites:
www.facebook.com/BackbeatUnderground
www.twitter.com/BackbeatUnder
www.instagram.com/BackbeatUnderground
www.youtube.com/channel/UCcZ_pS-vYHLrqWQqm_wTpog

The Takeback

"Mine, Mine, Mine ft. Pamela Lawrence"
by Backbeat Underground

Available Here:
https://backbeatunderground.bandcamp.com/track/mine-mine-mine-feat-pamela-lawrence
https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/mine-mine-mine-feat.-pamela/id1166036405?mt=1&app=music
https://open.spotify.com/album/2kh0YvmNM9VDW8GbrAKHMT
https://listen.tidal.com/album/66080331


Catch Backbeat Underground live in concert:
Thursday November 3rd - Big Chief - Washington, DC
Saturday December 3rd - Ivy City Smokehouse - Washington, DC
Tuesday December 6th - Sehkraft Brewing - Arlington, VA

Mine, Mine, Mine ft. Pamela Lawrence

"The Less I Know the Better"
Backbeat Underground
October 2016

Available here:
https://backbeatunderground.bandcamp.com/track/the-less-i-know-the-better
https://open.spotify.com/album/3mh46fyXmwGfqYsy6Kj5oR
https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/less-i-know-better-single/id1168676623?mt=1&app=music
https://listen.tidal.com/album/66336140


Music and Arrangement by: Satya Thallam
Produced by: Astronaut Jones (Satya Thallam and Max Kuzmyak) 
Engineered and Mixed by: Max Kuzmyak 
Mastering Engineer: Mike Monseur 

Percussion: Mylie Durham IV 
Organ: Paul Haney 
Drums: Reggie "RJ" James 
Bass: Gerald Pierce 
Additional Percussion: Satya Thallam 
Guitar: John Wedeles 

Recorded on September 2, 2016 at Bias Studios (Springfield, VA) 
Art design: Gerald Pierce

The Less I Know The Better

"She Don't Love Me (Like I Do)"
by Backbeat Underground
FKX114 - Fort Knox Recordings
http://www.backbeatunderground.com

Out now worldwide:
https://www.junodownload.com/products/backbeat-underground-she-dont-love-me-like/3584660-02/
https://www.beatport.com/release/she-dont-love-me-like-i-do/2142240
https://open.spotify.com/album/6uViQT1X9SAl4COptTOb5I
https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/she-dont-love-me-like-i-do-single/1304817240?mt=1&app=music
https://fortknox.bandcamp.com/album/she-dont-love-me-like-i-do-feat-aaron-abernathy

Official Music Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKITzKYXxU8&t=0s

Known for their horn heavy sound of funk, soul and jazz, we are proud to welcome DC's own Backbeat Underground to the Fort Knox family, adding some Dap-Kings flavor to the label. Fans of Fort Knox Recordings might know the Astronaut Jones remix of See-I released last year, and that duo is the core of Backbeat Underground.  For their debut single on Fort Knox Recordings, the group has recorded a soulful scorcher featuring vocals by Aaron Abernathy.

Backbeat Underground are a staple of DC's funk scene, having performed every year at the Funk Parade festival and this tune embodies the DC funk sound.  “She Don't Love Me” was recorded with a full band at Bias Studios in Springfield, VA, featuring a five piece horn section which includes players from See-I and Black Masala. As a principally instrumental group, Backbeat Underground reached out to Aaron Abernathy, whose soulful r&b soaked vocals perfectly compliment the retro Stax/Volt sound evoking such greats as Al Green.

Aaron Abernathy has been very busy, having just released his own album “Dialogue” and touring across the US, Europe, Australia and Japan supporting Detroit rapper Black Milk.  His credentials run deep, including a family connection to the legendary Civil Rights leader Rev. Ralph Abernathy, as well as studying in the same music program as the late Gerald Levert.  He brings all of that experience and social consciousness to this track. “She Don't Love Me” is far deeper than the average love song as it speaks not only to the heart, but to the social issues of our time.

<a href='https://theartistunion.com/tracks/e992e4'>Download for free on The Artist Union</a>

She Don't Love Me (Like I Do) feat. Aaron Abernathy

Released Friday, December 1st, 2017

Available here:
https://www.junodownload.com/products/backbeat-underground-outrun/3605254-02/

"Outrun is named after the Sega arcade game from the 1980's. The major tonality of the chord progressions and the feel of the song remind us of the soundtrack for the game; if you recall the game, you're driving down the strip, palm trees are swaying, sun is shining, and there's a righteous babe in the passenger seat. We leaned into a Vulfpeck kinda cheesy-cum-funk groove. Embrace the yachty glory."

Music and Arrangement by: John Wedeles
Produced by: Astronaut Jones (Satya Thallam and Max Kuzmyak) 
Engineered and Mixed by: Max Kuzmyak 
Mastering Engineer: Steven Berson

Organ/Synth: Paul Haney 
Drums: Reggie "RJ" James 
Bass: Gerald Pierce 
Alto Saxophone: Satya Thallam 
Guitar: John Wedeles

Recorded at The Aboveground (Arlington, VA)
Artwork: Gerald Pierce

Outrun

"Splankify"
by Backbeat Underground
http://www.backbeatunderground.com

Available now:
https://www.junodownload.com/products/backbeat-underground-splankify/3605270-02/


"The opening section is pure funk, a little mellow and laid back, but the rest of the tune is more open and heavy.  Taking a page out of John Scofield and Soulive, but with a slightly broken drum pocket at the beginning. We added Steve Cunningham on trumpet."

Music and Arrangement by: John Wedeles
Produced by: Astronaut Jones (Satya Thallam and Max Kuzmyak) 
Engineered and Mixed by: Max Kuzmyak 
Mastering Engineer: Steven Berson

Trumpet: Dr. Stephen Cunningham
Organ/Synth: Paul Haney 
Drums: Reggie "RJ" James 
Bass: Gerald Pierce 
Alto Saxophone: Satya Thallam 
Guitar: John Wedeles

Recorded at The Aboveground (Arlington, VA) 
Art design: Gerald Pierce

Splankify

"She Don't Love Me (Like I Do) ft. Aaron Abernathy (Thunderball Remix)"
by Backbeat Underground
FKX117 -  Fort Knox Recordings

Out now Worldwide:
https://fanlink.to/Backbeat

Last year Fort Knox Recordings released the funky soul-jazz sound of Backbeat Underground with their scorching tune “She Don't Love Me” featuring Aaron Abernathy.  Since then the band has been very busy releasing three more singles on their own, appearing on local radio and TV shows and were even featured recently at the world famous John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.  So it is with great pleasure that we present to you a new Backbeat Underground single, the She Don't Love Me Remixes.

From the first time they heard the original tune, Thunderball have been chomping at the bit to rework She Don't Love Me into some smooth liquid style drum'n'bass.  Thunderball bring over two decades of DnB expertise to the table and create a driving breakbeat soundscape replete with high tech sound effects, strong builds, drops and plenty of womp-womp basslines.  The structure of the original tune is largely kept intact, and the strength of the track rests upon the soulful r&b soaked vocals of Aaron Abernathy, which fit with the drum'n'bass to create a rinsin' roller!

The second remix is by Australia's Pecoe, the head honcho at Breakzlinkz, Oz's home for all things funky breaks and bass.  On his remix, Pecoe deconstructs the track and puts it back together as a DJ friendly funky breaks workout for the dancefloor.  Building upon the guitar and horn melodies, the first drop is built around Abernathy's vocals, now chopped up and dubbed out a bit.  Full vocals are only teased until the second half of the tune where the vibe picks up and takes the listener down the rabbit hole with loads of horns and soul crooning.

These two reworkings of this modern soul classic bring a fresh perspective and sound to Backbeat Underground.  Whether its jazzy drum'n'bass or funky breakbeats, both of these remixes will be nice additions to a variety of mixes, podcasts, playlists and dj sets.  Instrumentals of both remixes are also available.

Fort Knox Recordings is the renegade funk ‘n soul label from Washington, DC. Established in 2003, our mission is to explore the funkier side of global music. Fort Knox is set to ‘Tell it like it is’ by smashing the artificial barriers established by the 'System' that keeps all good music down. Forget about tempos and genres - we want to take you back to the roots and unite all music from our funk, dub, & soul; brothas & sistas - you dig? So stop being so serious, this is music, it's supposed to be fun.

She Don't Love Me (Like I Do) Remixes

She Don't Love Me (Like I Do) ft. Aaron Abernathy (Thunderball Remix)

"She Don't Love Me (Like I Do) ft. Aaron Abernathy (Pecoe Remix)
by Backbeat Underground
FKX117 -  Fort Knox Recordings

Out now Worldwide:
https://fanlink.to/Backbeat

Last year Fort Knox Recordings released the funky soul-jazz sound of Backbeat Underground with their scorching tune “She Don't Love Me” featuring Aaron Abernathy.  Since then the band has been very busy releasing three more singles on their own, appearing on local radio and TV shows and were even featured recently at the world famous John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.  So it is with great pleasure that we present to you a new Backbeat Underground single, the She Don't Love Me Remixes.

From the first time they heard the original tune, Thunderball have been chomping at the bit to rework She Don't Love Me into some smooth liquid style drum'n'bass.  Thunderball bring over two decades of DnB expertise to the table and create a driving breakbeat soundscape replete with high tech sound effects, strong builds, drops and plenty of womp-womp basslines.  The structure of the original tune is largely kept intact, and the strength of the track rests upon the soulful r&b soaked vocals of Aaron Abernathy, which fit with the drum'n'bass to create a rinsin' roller!

The second remix is by Australia's Pecoe, the head honcho at Breakzlinkz, Oz's home for all things funky breaks and bass.  On his remix, Pecoe deconstructs the track and puts it back together as a DJ friendly funky breaks workout for the dancefloor.  Building upon the guitar and horn melodies, the first drop is built around Abernathy's vocals, now chopped up and dubbed out a bit.  Full vocals are only teased until the second half of the tune where the vibe picks up and takes the listener down the rabbit hole with loads of horns and soul crooning.

These two reworkings of this modern soul classic bring a fresh perspective and sound to Backbeat Underground.  Whether its jazzy drum'n'bass or funky breakbeats, both of these remixes will be nice additions to a variety of mixes, podcasts, playlists and dj sets.  Instrumentals of both remixes are also available.

Fort Knox Recordings is the renegade funk ‘n soul label from Washington, DC. Established in 2003, our mission is to explore the funkier side of global music. Fort Knox is set to ‘Tell it like it is’ by smashing the artificial barriers established by the 'System' that keeps all good music down. Forget about tempos and genres - we want to take you back to the roots and unite all music from our funk, dub, & soul; brothas & sistas - you dig? So stop being so serious, this is music, it's supposed to be fun.

She Don't Love Me (Like I Do) ft. Aaron Abernathy (Pecoe Remix)

Inspired by one of the slow, shuffle, plaintive, and incredibly melodic Jerry Garcia-penned classics, we turned the 12/8 into head-bopping 4/4 and arranged it as if the Dead had swung by Muscle Shoals for a session with the Swampers.

Coming Soon.

Sugaree feat. Sir Joe Quarterman (preview)

Born in the depths of subterranean groove gatherings, Backbeat Underground is a Washington, DC based instrumental funk group with soul jazz influences. Bringing their years of collective experience in the DC and NYC music scenes, the band delivers tight, energetic sets steeped in fresh improvisation and head-bopping, booty-shaking pockets. Backbeat Underground was proud to serve as stewards of the funk in DC’s first and second annual Funk Parade, and the band is quickly gaining notoriety for their organic and smoldering blend of soulful funk and jazz.

Backbeat Underground

Popular tracks