music is something, like words, that can have a lot of power. 

When I was growing up I really struggled with having confidence in myself, and feeling okay with who I was as a person. I often still feel like this, and am not overly sure whether somedays I even like myself or not. I think it is because I suffer from a lot of insecurity and lack of confidence, that I care a lot about the negative thoughts people may have of me or the things I create, so I choose to point out my flaws or put myself down first before others can. But being in Chewin the Fat, and other close friends have helped me realise that we do these things because we love them and it brings us joy. Not to appeal to others only. 

Dj'ing, playing music, creating music, anything creative really is something I can't always express in words to the level of joy it brings me in life.  There's something truly special about being behind the decks and dancing with an uncontrollable grin on your face that reminds you that there are bright days now and bright days ahead. Seeing the power of music and random vibrations in the air is truly special. It brings people together. Turns strangers into friends. Create's new movements, spreads joy. Music and mateship can do so much, and Chewin the Fat has helped me realise that. This sense of community and love that is has brought has created so much joy for me and really aided me on my mental health journey. I have a long way to go still, but that is why it's a journey. 

Of course my mental health isn't always good, and has a lot of room for improvement. I think I get more benefit out of trying to help others if I can rather than helping or doing things for myself. But I realise at the end of the day the most important relationship we have in life is with ourselves. The songs in this mix are sparked from moments of ambient bliss, nostalgic joy, curiosity and love of others. Without that love I could honestly say that I wouldn't be here, just like so many people in the world. These songs were shown to me by people who had or still have a large impact on my life, and i'll always cherish the memory of those people and these songs. I'm so grateful for chewin the fat and the people i've met these past few years. You're all amazing people. 

The last two songs in this curation are chosen because of my parents, who showed me Paul Kelly when I was young and started my love of music, without their love and them caring about me I doubt i'd be here still. And also to our beautiful best friend Liam (Gunta). Liam was one of the big reasons why we started Chewin the Fat, after he tragically lost his battle with mental health 3 years ago. There isn't a day that goes by where I don't think about him, like so many would. His infectious love and support for others and obsession with music is a big value of Chewin the Fat, and is why Maggot Brain is the last song of this mix. Liam bought me that record for my 21st, and i'll always think of what life would be like with him still here. 

Reach out if you need, always. People love you, and always will. No matter what the dark thoughts can say sometimes we are never alone. Someone will always miss you. Always. It is never weak to show and have emotions, it just makes us human. It means we are alive still. Please speak up if you are suffering. We are always here if anyone needs, as so many people are. There is so much joy in the world waiting to be discovered, like new music for starts. 

Love yourself and your friends and family. Love your brain. Music can help, as can seeking out help. I hope if anyone listens they enjoy this mix as much as I did making it. Of course it's just putting songs together, but it was still a calming experience.

Thankyou and keep chewin the fat x

In the Mix with CTF - Bryn D

Chewin The Fat host Chimp's mix for the first two hours of the monthly show on Area 3000 Radio

CTF on Area 3000 Radio 15/7/21 - Chimp

Interview and guest mix from Melbourne based DJ MX Mami for Chewin The Fat's show on Area 3000 Radio

CTF Guest Mix on Area 3000 Radio 15/7/21 - MX Mami

London-based DJ/Producer Delonte Rivers provides 2 hours of sunny day feel-good tunes for the CTF radio show.

Nora Dean - Ay Ay Ay Ay (Angle-Lala) (Harlem Shuffle Records)
The Band Of Enlightenment, Reason & Love - Starlet Road Filling Station Romance (Version) (Philophon)
Tony Tuff - Working Dub Dub-plate (Black Roots)
Linton Kwesi Johnson - Iron Bar Dub (Island Records)
Lee Perry - Lion Share Dub (Byrd Out)
The Revolutionaries - Why Dub (Onlyroots Records)
The Circle Of Confusion - Dub In The Ceiling (Rocafort Records)
Ini Kamoze - Trouble You A Trouble Me (Taxi Records)
The Pearls - Return Of The Pearls (Version) (Isle of Jura Records)
Astral Engineering - Seashore Dub (Isle of Jura Records)
Lexx - Too Hot (Version) (Phantom Island)
Delonte Rivers - Cosmic Frequencies (XVI Records)
Space Garage - Space Garage (Original Version) (Periodica Records)
Pascal - Shamizen (Periodica Records)
Romare - Jimi & Faye (Part One) (Black Acre)
Medlar - Aerial (Wolf Music)
Fred Everything - Barbarella (Slow Down 2021 Redub) (Lazy Days Recordings)
Manuel Darquart - Keep It Dxy (Manny D’s Sleazy Sunday Mix) (Wolf Music)
Roza Terenzi - Illusions (Step Ball Chain)
Bunzinelli - Call In Blue (La Rama Records)
Secretsundaze - Gigantic Impossibily Large (10am Tripp) (Live At Robert Johnson)
Bufiman - News From The Treetops (Rhythm Trax) (Dekmantel)
Mudd & Ahmed Fakroun - Drago (Mudd’s Teriwala Mix)
Todd Modes - Serpent (Going Good Records)
Mop Mop - Kamakumba (Delonte Rivers Edit) (Banana Hill)
Good Block - Jungle Fly (Good Block)
James Rod - Extraordinario (Cosmic Dub Mix) (Boogie Bodega Records)
Jad & The - Debbie Does Delay (Sloth Boogie)

In The Mix With CTF - Delonte Rivers

Host Chimp chooses one of his favourite band-oriented songs per year from 1962 - 1991 for his mix on the CTF radio show on Area 3000.

1962: Dick Dale & His Del-Tones - Surfing Drums
1963: The Ventures - Pipeline
1964: Them - Gloria (feat. Van Morrison)
1965: The Yardbirds - For Your Love
1966: 13th Floor Elevators - You're Gonna Miss Me
1967: Pink Floyd - Lucifer Sam
1968: Human Beinz - The Shaman
1969: The Stooges - 1969
1970: MC5 - Looking At You
1971: The Doors - L.A. Woman
1972: CAN - Vitamin C
1973: Faust - The Sad Skinhead
1974: David Bowie - Rebel Rebel
1975: Death - Keep On Knocking
1976: Flamin' Groovies - Shake Some Action
1977: Television - Marquee Moon
1978: The Buzzcocks - Ever Fallen in Love (with Someone You Shouldn't've?) 
1979: The Slits - Heard It Through The Grapevine
1980: Joy Division - Isolation
1981: ESG - Moody (Spaced Out)
1982: Orange Juice - Rip It Up
1983: The System - Almost Grown
1984: Talking Heads - Girlfriend Is Better (Live)
1985: The Cure - Inbetween Days
1986: The Fall - Shoulder Pads #1
1987: New Order - Ceremony
1988: The Church - Reptile
1989: Ramones - Pet Sematary
1990: Sonic Youth - Kool Thing
1991: Nirvana - On A Plain

Chimps Pre-Punk To Post-Punk Expedition (1962 - 91)

Mousse joins us as our next guest for our Chewin mix series.

Delivering an hour of brain calming bliss, he has posted some beautiful words on mental health in the digital age to coincide with his track selection: 

Here is a mix of songs intended for contemplation; suited to either morning or evening.  With social media informing so much of how we perceive ourselves and others these days, sometimes it can be hard to process such an influx of information. It can be isolating and the comparison of the self to others projections of a subjective reality can leave one feeling inadequate or as though their own experience / life is not as valuable or relevant as another’s.  It is important to remember that everyone exists within their own predicament and regardless of the superficialities and symbolic gestures we can display in a digital social space, that everyone is human and there is always a personal side to life that is often less displayed.  Remember to connect and interact with your friends and close ones beyond the technological social community because it can help humanise people again and often temper any negative emotions that may result from too much time and energy invested in the digital zone.  Big love, 
Mousse

In The Mix With CTF-DJ Simon B (aka Mousse)

Music, put simply, is an expression of emotion. Growing up I never really had the chance to experiment with my taste in music, and often I felt my creative ability was stifled. Although I did play a few musical instruments, at times the pressure of playing and performing perfectly limited my ability to enjoy the music. However, as I grew up and started to become a more open minded individual with a broader worldview, I noticed my musical horizons widened alongside my personal development. This was no coincidence; a growing freedom from pressure and an acceptance of my individual quirks and unique characteristics nurtured and facilitated my creativity, curiosity and musical experimentation.

Like most people I myself suffer from a lack of self confidence as well as other insecurities. It becomes prevalent in daily activities and especially when I play music. It’s that little voice in your head that makes you assume the thoughts of those around you. Growing up and having to be perfect in whatever I did, from views, being studious to playing concertos, which made me not want to show/express any talent I may have had. Over the last few years I’ve noticed a change in me being more confident in myself and my taste allowing me to broadcast that how I please.

Admittedly, my mental health has room for improvement, but in comparison to my 16 year old self it’s in a much, much better place. Music has made an incredibly positive impact on my life and is personally a key reason for me wanting to establish Chewin’ as a space for everyone to feel accepted.

The people I’ve met over the last few years and the genuine conversations I’ve had, whether necessary or not, have provided me with an outlet to express my problems, discover and understand real world issues, learn new ideologies, and appreciate life. Events such as these have been a forum through which I am able to appreciate not only music but myself, my mates, and the world around me.

These songs show my flavour of music and are a product of my journey of self exploration and development over the last few years. Enjoy!

Track ID:

The Bamboos - Broken
Atlantic Avenue - Average White band
PREP - Cheapest flight
A Lil Bit Of (feat. Chiara Noriko) - Flo Fiz
Die With a Smile - FKJ
Lovely day - Bill Withers
Liquid Spirit - Gregory Porter
Parev Ajere - Nu guinea
Right on - Marvin Gaye
New Paradise - Harvey Sutherland
Nikita - Zeitgeist freedom energy exchange
Broken Theme - Kamaal williams
Dreaming of better days - Larry Heard
Love come down - Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King
9dw - Ray Mang RMX (S.E.V)
Take it to the top - Kool and the Gang
You Will Return - Quantic feat. Alice Russell
Like it is - Razor n tapes
Rainbow - Romare
International Flight - David Snell
Rock the casper - The Clash
Daft Punk is playing at my House - LCD Soundsystem
Fly me to the moon - Astrud Gilberto
Here comes the Sun - The Beatles
Sippin On Spritzer All Day - Anton Klint
Magnificent Moon - Mildlife
Orbital - Halcyon On and On
Move On Up - Curtis Mayfield
I Love Music - Ahmad Jamal Trio

In The Mix with CTF - Acid Chess Club

Live recording of Touchwood's red hot live set for Chewin The Fat at The Nightcat

Touchwood Live @ Chewin The Cat

Music for me, as it is for a lot of people can dictate how we feel and how our mood can change. When it comes to mental health, I truly believe music can be a useful tool, whether it’s a particular song we play to help us cope with something or an artist that always brings out the happiness within, music can do wonders.

2020 has dealt a lot of blows to us all, but one positive I have come to really enjoy is that the morning time is no longer an anxious mad rush to get ready, but rather a much more peaceful time in which I can properly gather myself before I take on the day.  

A big part of this change has been listening to more music in the mornings, the music I listen to doesn’t necessarily follow any specific genre but from my experiences the calmer the music the smoother my day progresses. 

This mix is a collection of the more calming and relaxed sounds that I use to set myself peacefully up for the day. 

- Lachie 


Tracklist:
After The Rain – Sleep D & Albrecht La’Brooy
Nano Bookar – Gallery B
Shallow Sleep – Low Flung
Cumulus Revisited – Jack Barton
Wash Away – Rings Around Saturn
Streams of Activity – Miris
Tobiume – Susumu Yokota 
The Sherbrooke - Albrecht La’Brooy
Talk From Home – Suzanne Kraft
Impossible Island – Gaussian Curve
Photos With Grey Sky, White Cloud - Jonny Nash & Suzanne Kraft 
Pinzells – Joan Bibiloni
Kinda Knew Anna – Steve Hiett
I Don’t Disagree – Dreamin’ Wild
Juicy Fruit – Karate Boogaloo
Nexus On The Beach – Roberto Musci

In The Mix with CTF - Doug Lord

I recorded this mix from my home during the hard-lockdown. I didn’t set out to record a mix that day, it was a very spontaneous idea. I managed to record this mix in one take. I think it was a true moment of meditation for me. 

I (like most people) lost almost everything that provided me with security this year. It’s been a strange and disorientating time. Basically, just completely overwhelming.

Music played a subtle but important role in helping me cope during this time. Generally, in times of low mental health, I gravitate towards music that I would consider as ‘emotional’. Sometimes I just want something to relate to. Something to validate me. Often music does this for me. Music also has the power to transport me to a time and place. Music is nostalgic, and in a year like 2020, all I seemed to do was to daydream about where I would rather be. 
 
The music in this mix was a way for me to transport to another place in time. A sunny Saturday morning somewhere else.

Chewin The Fat

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