 
PHATT PHUNK RECORDS
by Miss E. Griffin
Phatt
Phunk is truly representing a rainbow of sound. The new recording label based in Los
Angeles is an evolution of "The Philosophers of Funk Productions" started by
partners Richard Butler, Michael Elewonibi and later, Diane Clemenhagen, originally
reigning in Victoria, BC Canada. Together they fostered a community of diverse talent and
consciousness throughout the later part of the 90’s, producing events such as
"Subconscious", "Fusion", "Core",
"Reconstruction", and "Foundation."
 From there, Richard and Diane made the next move to start the
label. "We had been throwing parties for a couple of years and we saw a lot of
producers and DJs with immense talent and drive who weren't having much luck getting their
music out - so, we started the label on that premise - to work with developing artists and
getting great music out to the public," says Diane, now heading up all the
label’s operations.
Southern California’s broad scope of music
resources has been beneficial for the label. Phatt Phunk are keeping their ears to the
ground, running on a mission "to promote and produce music by lesser-known DJs and
producers who we feel are prepared to work and use their creativity to take themselves to
the ‘next’ level."
LA-based DJs Treavor, Daniel and John Kelley from
Moontribe, along with Thomas Michael and Christopher Lawrence were the some of the first
artists "The Philosophers of Funk" had play in Canada. In planning for their new
studio in Hollywood, Diane and Richard spoke with another Moontribe artist Brian Golub
about getting involved, and he was down. Brian, with his own mixed-compilations of trance
on Moonshine, is a musicology major at Cal Arts University, and is now the resident
engineer (AKA"sonic surgeon"), heading up all of the Phatt Phunk studio’s
projects.
Any music lover can discover the Phatt Phunk sound
through their preferred area of electronic rhythms. "The Collective Colors of Phatt
Phunk" include color-coded logos on each release:
• Acid
& Breaks - Bronze
• Trance
- Yellow
• Drum
& Bass - Blue
• Ambient
- Orange
• Techno
- Red
• House -
Green
The color-coded design concept was adopted
especially in order to educate the new listeners of electronic music. Diane explains,
"We wanted people buying electronic music for the first time to have a
‘guide’ of sorts. Using similar designs with the different colors also
immediately identifies it as a Phatt Phunk Record's release and we hope that each release
is as good as the last -- whatever genre!"
Phatt Phunk made waves in the drum ‘n’
bass world when they signed Inner-Vation, AKA TQ1 from the UK-based Nexus label, a drum
‘n’ bass artist who has produced some amazing atmospheric tunes exclusively for
domestic release. Phatt Phunk means business when they say they offer artists a chance to
express themselves freely with a progression into the global market. Their catalog is
growing rapidly. Whatever your flavor, Phatt Phunk’s got it!
Watch out for upcoming projects with DJ Treavor,
Lotus Sutra and Pure Nova on "L.A.T.E. (Los Angeles Trance Excursions)", Thomas
Michael's "West Coast Vibe - Volume One", the "Underground Trance"
project with Brian, DJ Treavor, Dimitry from Pure Nova and Jason, Mark Lewis' remixes,
Earobic's new house project and Doran's remix of Skylab2000's "Shak".
Check out their webspace for current info and sounds.
Listen to the sounds of Inner-Vation featured in
Radio-V’s Ambient Salon -- the Smooth Sailing VIP mix by Arc Angel Gabe Real. |
