It is easy to forget the progress Niyi has made in the past six years. Shy and softly spoken, he isn’t your typical rapper. After dropping out of Central Saint Martin’s (twice), he started the seminal club Gauche Chic which The Sunday Times said kick started the "New Rave" dressing up craze.
The club was attended by the likes of Björk and Gareth Pugh. Carri Mundane (Cassette Playa) worked the door. In 2005 this was the club to dress up in and be seen at. The word regarding Niyi’s genre defying, tempo switching and generally odd style of djing quickly spread. Perfectly beat matching surf rock with hardcore-gabba, Niyi's anything goes approach to djing once even managed to clear the dancefloor at Fabric. However, his (infamous) dj sets didn't stop him being offered half hour guest slots on Radio 1 and XFM.
Niyi has also been interviewed on Steve Lamacq's show and featured in a short BBC2 documentary. More recently he can be seen as a regular contributor on Big Brother’s Little Brother on E4. Other credits include remix duties for artists such as The Puppetmastaz and Crazy Girl. Last year Niyi released his debut single ‘Your Mummy/808 Clap’ to a rapturous reception. Despite being released on a bank holiday, it sold out within the week, and several European shows with Adamski soon followed. That period was a big one for Niyi. He graced the front cover of SuperSuper Magazine, and following a shoot with Jean-Charles de Castelbajac an 11 metre high image of Niyi hung alongside one of M.I.A outside the Paris’ Musée de la Mode for a year (between April 07 – 08), which could be seen from the top of the Eiffel Tower. The picture can now been seen at JC-DC's flagship store on Conduit Street, W1.
In addition to all this, he also runs a weekly Tuesday night at London’s Punk called ‘I Heart Niyi’, and several 16+ Parties across the capital.
His album is due out spring 09.
In his own words:
.."Music is my life. Everything I do starts with music and ends with music. And I mean all music.. from electro to gabba to country & western. This album will have it all. Sometimes all in one song. If there is one BPM range I have missed out, then I would have failed. I hasten to add, Parappa the Rapper is also my life. Without him, none of this would be possible."..
quotes:
"very quirky!!!"(IDJ)
"Amazing" (Popjustice)
"timing is perfect" (Mixmag)
"LOVE IT" (i-D)
"Quirky Bastard" (ARENA )
"I wasn't expecting something so dymanic. When I got hold of a copy of Niyi's CD I was really impressed." (Erol Alkan)
"Londons latest enfant terrible" (Rough Trade)
".. twisted Neptunes style" (Inertia Music)
"Niyi's jacktastic mixes should do the business " (DJ Magazine)
"Today.. was playing Niyi Can't Mix in my flat all day." (Lulu Le Vay, The Observer)
"Niyi- the boy that can do no wrong!" (Jim Stanton, promotor who gave Scissor Sisters their first London gig)
"My favourite.. really good stuff." (Essential Mix, Radio 1)
"I think it rocks." (Larry Tee)
"One of the highest profile performers to emerge.." (Jonty Skrufff)
"Sounds good to me, nice." (Neil Tennant)
"Really diggin those tracks" (Tim 'Love' Lee, Tummy Touch Records)
"Marvellous tracks. Niyi Cant Mix is Superb." (Mark Moore)
"Playing the buggering knickers off this holy rollin mega track." (Kiss 100)
"We've all stumbled upon something special here." (Dee Ryding, BBC Television)
"Something is bubbling in London." (Steve Lamacq Documentaries, Radio 1)
"Not feeling this." (Phat Phil Cooper )
Final word from the man himself?
"I read in a magazine once that girls like guys in glasses........ HIGH FIVE!!!!"
Niyi - twitter.com/iheartniyi's Friend Space (Top 24)
I have made a new page, please do enjoy listening to the music if you want! I have listened to your new mix MP3, I like it when you play Jungle Fever, I think it is the best part!
Do you remember when you played that dance tune that samples Michael Jackson's Thriller at the School Disco on that New Year's eve? That was a fun night huh? I had drunk some alcohol I didn't even realise how much money I would pay for the photo of you and me. It was a lot wasn't it? A good photo though don't you think?
I have uploaded some attractive pictures of Michael Jackson to the page, so you can enjoy them too. Blessings to you, that flowers may spring from the earth in spring!
#7 in Neil Tesser’s Top Ten Chicago Jazz Discs of 2009 2009 Grammy nominating ballot for Best Instrumental Jazz Album #12 in JazzChicagonet’s Top Chicago Recordings of 2009 3 ½ Stars! (3=Good, 4=Excellent) Downbeat Magazine
“The emphasis is on group interplay, with active basslines and lively arrangements.” - John Ephland, Downbeat, December 2009.
Check out /www.cdbaby.com/cd/koppelquartet to purchase "Falling Together Falling Apart"
"It's all about Antagonism" (album 2x12") from Danjel Esperanza out now on double vinyl! Available on all great vinyl shops (Web-records,Decks,Djshop,Ax-records,Juno and many more + digital release on BEATPORT etc.....
early support by:
Stephan Bodzin, Richie Hawtin, Mijk van Dijk, Markus Kavka, The Advent, Tom Clark, Steve Lawler, Holgi Star, Monoroom, Mihai Popoviciu, Anthony Collins, Matt Star, Miss Jools, Mandy Jordan, Oliver Lieb, Harada, Andre Kronert, Helmut Dubnitzky, Jürgen Kirsch, Danilo Schneider, Sebastian Roya, Dj Taucher, Benno Blome, Tobias Henecker, Sasch BBC, Andre Kronert, Oliver Markreich..................
#7 in Neil Tesser’s Top Ten Chicago Jazz Discs of 2009 2009 Grammy nominating ballot for Best Instrumental Jazz Album #12 in JazzChicagonet’s Top Chicago Recordings of 2009 3 ½ Stars! (3=Good, 4=Excellent) Downbeat Magazine
“The emphasis is on group interplay, with active basslines and lively arrangements.” - John Ephland, Downbeat, December 2009.
Check out /www.cdbaby.com/cd/koppelquartet to purchase "Falling Together Falling Apart"
I've bought your new tunes. Good stuff man! I really look foreward to your next music. I have updated my page. Check out the new tune 'Oh Peter Non Believer' which samples yourself and there's a remix of it as well. Plus there's an old turn table mix I did available for DL.
Hey welcome to Blackset Promotions. You want more music plays and views to your page? we charge $1 per 1000 plays. Also hit us up about our mixtape we're taking submissions.
