November 25th, 2009

New Mixpak Artist Series T-Shirts

The Mixpak Store has been doing well selling our Vybz Kartel and Sizzla t-shirts (only a single Sizzla shirt left!), but we’ve been looking to do something grander and so we are proud to announce the Mixpak Artist Series. For round one, we’ve invited three artists, Devin Flynn, Hana Shimada and Michael Williams, to each design a shirt.

Over the coming days we will do posts on each artist and the shirt they designed, but for now, check out the shirts and pre-order your own.

Devin Flynn For Mixpak
Devin Flynn For Mixpak T-Shirt

Hana Shimada For Mixpak
Hana Shimada For Mixpak T-Shirt

Michael Willaims For Mixpak
Michael Williams For Mixpak T-Shirt

Each shirt is printed on an American Apparel Organic t-shirt. This represents the first step of moving our line towards all organic.

Visit the Mixpak Store to look at closeups and make a purchase. We’ve got you covered for the holidays.

November 24th, 2009

Sticky “Jumeirah Riddim EP” Featuring Natalie Storm Out Now!

Mixpak is proud to announce the “Jumeirah Riddim EP,” a brand new release from Sticky which is out today on iTunes and via the Mixpak Store. The EP showcases Sticky’s undeniable “Jumeirah Riddim” which represents his recent embrace of UK Funky and has been an underground hit in the UK for some months. Once we signed the track, we called up rising Jamaican star Natalie Storm for a voicing and she delivered a catchy bashment/funky monster, “Look Pon Me” (stay tuned for the video dropping early next week). JA vocals in hand we went back to the UK and got bassline mastermind Dexplicit to rework the track into an uptempo, heavy bass epic. Finally, Sticky rounded it out, revisiting the original and flipping it for the “Jumeirah Riddim Sequel.”

If you’re not familiar with Sticky, he built his reputation as one of the United Kingdom’s leading club music producers at the height of the UK Garage scene. His productions not only kept the clubs on lock, but they also launched the careers of a number of the UK talents including the Mercury Award winning Ms. Dynamite. Sticky has re-emerged on the scene in 2009 and the “Jumeirah Riddim” is his biggest statement yet.

The EP features original cover art by renowned artist Devin Flynn, creator of animated show “Ya’ll So Stupid” (check for it on adultswim.com) and bassist for DFA band Pixeltan.

Be looking for the vinyl to hit stores next week.

November 23rd, 2009

Yuh Love Reaches #2 On RETV In Jamaica

This week, the “Yuh Love” video climbed to #2 on RETV’s MVP Top Ten Chart, up from #5 last week. It also jumped from #5 to #4 on CVM TV’s Hitlist Chart. Let’s see if we can grab a #1 next week…

Watch the video on YouTube, where we’re approaching 200,000 views in under two months.

November 19th, 2009

Mixpak Interview Series: Harvard Bass

Harvard Bass has been making a name for himself using minimal house inspired building blocks to build catchy, layered tracks with substance. Hot off the heels of his Sound Pellegrino debut EP have come an unrelenting series of remixes for Drop The Lime, The Toxic Avenger, Mom & Dad, Sinden, Acid Girls and Teki Latex.

Even though he was writing everything to me from his iPhone, and, despite the fact that my internet kept spontanously signing off (my apartment may be haunted), I got a chance to chat with Victor and get a look into where he’s at and where he’s headed next.

Interview by Brendan Arnott, my text in bold.

When you were growing up, what were your big musical influences?

My musical influences when I was young spread a bunch of varieties. It moved from Weezer  to Tupac to The Beatles. But in the house scene I began to listen to a lot of Mark Farina mixes, I was maybe around 13 when I got into dance music.

You say Weezer are one of your influences… they just did a song with Little Wayne, how do you feel about that?

I think it’s awesome that different genres can work together like that.

Read the full interview below »

November 16th, 2009

Yuh Love Video Hits The Charts In Jamaica

Big news: the “Yuh Love” video is in proper rotation on just about every station in Jamaica and it’s starting to chart! Last week it took the #6 spot on the RE’s MVP Top Ten Chart, the #5 spot on CVM TV’s Hit List Chart and the #10 spot on TVJ’s FiWi Choice Top Ten Chart.

If you haven’t checked the video, watch it here.