For this week’s episode, we take a trip to Berlin for a really lovely chat with Oscar Atanga, a crucial member of the Black Artist Database team. They've been working hard to showcase a wealth of talented musicians across the diaspora with their growing community platform. Founded by east London DJ and Percolate resident Niks (@niksbad) in 2020, Black Artist Database, or B.A.D for short, is a crowd-sourced database platform created as a direct response to the global pandemic and as a way to challenge the inequality that Black artists often face in the music industry.

You can hop on the B.A.D website right now and search through thousands of Black-owned labels, artists, and producers and support them directly. The site also provides users with a chance to connect with bustling creative communities of Black artists around the globe. B.A.D’s community ethos extends to their monthly workshops and forums dedicated to cultivating and fostering Black talent, from production-focused workshops to skill share sessions.

Now, the team has come up with exciting developments happening in the world of web3 and they're looking to help Black artists use the emerging technology as a way to build equity, ownership, and community. 

Oscar chats about his creative background as a producer (@oscar_ona), his love for some of the bustling black art communities in London and NYC, and how the Black Artist Database is leveling the playing field for Black creatives.

Tracklist

Act 1_ Bubble Baths and Back Rubs by O.N.A

Act 2_ Won't Pretend by O.N.A

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The Black Artist Database With Oscar Atanga

DJ Perception is lauded as one of the leading voices in the contemporary UK garage landscape. His sets are widely known for being jam-packed with exclusive dubplates and sought-after cuts of slick 2-step, and his productions are just as highly revered, blending elements of UK garage with house and soul. “I like to make all types of garage, but never commercial music," he tells moderator Heléna Star in his interview. "It’s just underground.”

In this live listening party hosted by Timehri Records and the Black Artist Database, the artist talks with Timehri head T Dunn about the production of his most recent LP, Journey To The Star, which landed on the label in October 2022. They also listen to segments of the record and discuss its wider concept and construction with a live audience. "The music I make has to be soulful," DJ Perception says. "It can be dark, but it has to be groovy and it has to be soulful. That's how I work."

To hear more about the album, the diversity of the UK garage continuum and the underrated practice of bedroom music production, listen to the conversation in full.

EX.646 DJ Perception and Timehri Records

Raised in South-East London, relocating to Bath since(spending days between there and Berlin) Niks Delanancy aka NIKS has become one of the prominent names in the UK club scene today. She is also the founder of Black Artist Data base which is the platform she created to promote Black Artists around the world. Now working on the next stage of B.A.D.’s evolution. The label will be launching to accompany the existing platform, releasing music that aligns with its mission. NIKS will be managing the label as well as acting as A&R. Being raised with a father who was a guitarist in a band and her brother who was an avid music collector in the heyday of London’s garage movement, NIKS has been surrounded with a musical ear all of her life. With an ear that touches from classic deep house to the driving percussive UK stylings of Hessle Audio it doesn't take long to figure out how NIKS' diverse pallet has seen her play clubs all over the world and helped the artist bag a nomination for "Breakthrough DJ of the year" at the Mixmag awards last year as well as seen her knock out mixes for Resident Advisor and The Warehouse Project to name but a few, it's this diversity we see in this club ready mix for Phonica 105. We have a quick chat with NIKS about the mix, B.A.D and what they have coming up:

Phonica Mix Series 105: NIKS

Black Artist Database launches the B.A.D. label with their debut compilation Synergy.

A collection of sounds that journeys through the electronic spectrum; exploring celebration, unity and Black joy by an intercontinental selection of visionary artists that deeply inspire B.A.D.: AFRODEUTSCHE, Amaliah, Chmba, DJ Holographic, Lyric, rRoxymore and co-founder NIKS.

Since its inception in 2020, B.A.D. have established themselves as a crucial and respected global platform with community as its core focus. Through the newly established B.A.D. label, their unwavering vision continues; to highlight the boundless range of Black creativity and give power back to the community, relentlessly working towards Black liberation.

Synergy builds upon B.A.D.s mission and presents an introduction to the platform's exciting sonic universe. 

Every day is a good day to support and buy from Black artists.

Synergy releases on Black Artist Database on 2nd June.

1. AFRODEUTSCHE - A New Love 
2. rRoxymore - We Can Do 
3. Amaliah - Mespo Dance 
4. NIKS - Badness, Can't Work 
5. Lyric - Don't Need No Help 
6. DJ Holographic - Desire 
7. Chmba - Bwela 

Credits
Artwork by Miles Takes
Mastering by @russellelbutler
Produced by @afrodeutsche-ad @amaliahppeche @chmba @djholographic @lyrichood @rroxymore @niksbad

Synergy

Various Artists - Synergy (Previews)

@blackartistdatabase launches the B.A.D. label with their debut compilation 'Synergy'.

A collection of sounds that journeys through the electronic spectrum; exploring celebration, unity and Black joy by an intercontinental selection of visionary artists that deeply inspire B.A.D.: AFRODEUTSCHE, Amaliah, Chmba, DJ Holographic, Lyric, rRoxymore and co-founder NIKS.

Since its inception in 2020, B.A.D. have established themselves as a crucial and respected global platform with community as its core focus. Through the newly established B.A.D. label, their unwavering vision continues; to highlight the boundless range of Black creativity
and give power back to the community, relentlessly working towards Black liberation. 'Synergy' builds upon B.A.D.s mission and presents an introduction to the platform's exciting sonic universe.

Every day is a good day to support and buy from Black artists.

More exclusive music

Premiere: NIKS 'Badness, Can't Work'

Emotions were running high, it was to the point of danger. She was experiencing a sensory overload as her heart began to beat fast against her chest - it was racing, pacing and left her short of breath. 

This had all been so unexpected for it wasn't supposed to happen here, amidst all this. A new love? No? Not now... 

It wasn't the right time nor the right place yet as the world unfolded rapidly in a kaleidoscopic mirage of colours and wild flashing lights she began to lose herself to the touch of another. 

Perhaps this is what 'real love' felt like? 

Chaotic, manic and out of control. All she could do was dance to the beat of its drum...

Afrodeutsche releases a track called 'A New Love' as part of a compilation from the Black Artist Database. This one feels nostalgic yet new - rave energy which takes us back to a simpler time all the while leaving us thinking of a better future. This is what dance music is all about...

PREMIERE: Afrodeutsche - A New Love [Black Artist Database]

Club Management hosted by Shannon Dawson tells the stories of the nightlife venues, labels, DJs and musicians around the world who are making noise and changing their communities through music. We also analyze the cultural and historical elements that shift, impact and develop our beloved music scenes too.  A new episode drops every other week. You can find Club Management on iTunes, SoundCloud, Mixcloud, TuneIn, Stitcher and Spotify!

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Full features, including interviews and tracklists, for our Phonica Podcast and Phonica Mix Series on our editorial platform Off The Record ⬇

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Ransom Note is an online music, arts and culture magazine. We provide a home for readers and writers with boundless enthusiasm, esoteric knowledge, fierce opinions and impeccable taste.

With our core team immersed in all aspects of dance music, we publish news, articles, and interviews covering the greatest in innovative, underground culture from across the globe. We offer regular, exclusive music and mixtapes from our favourite artists, and publish features shining a light on everything from the freshest new artists to the untold tales from rave history.

Alongside this we offer musings on film, books, life, and art, generating some context and controversy as an antidote to the reheated PR that clogs up the internet. Our office is fuelled by Tunnock’s Bars, cat memes, hangovers and a ridiculous, never ending love for our culture.

We're always interested in getting new writers on board – feel free to get in touch if you’ve got a story to tell.

With love until the grave.

The weekly RA Exchange is a series of conversations with artists, labels and promoters shaping the electronic music landscape.

Every day is a good day to support and buy from Black artists.

New tracks tagged #Black Artist Database