On the third day of Choonsmas, Santa struck a deal... on the burner with Left, Right & Centre's Connor & Wakil!
Wakil (aka Korzi) and Connor (aka Fassbender) are the handsome work-elves behind one of Manny's hottest UK techno & bass label's & parties, LR&C, and have been bosom buddies of the band since we first hopped on Limbo Radio back in 2018. As bastions of funktional shubz-ready techno & enfrsah bass, the label is a who's who of local & underground talent such as Alexis, Everett, Henzo, Hypho and Korzi himself, even drafting in some esteemed bass royalty with Mosca's remix of Henzo's Iron Lighter being a peppered percy for the year. As a party, Left, Right & Centre have been packing dance floors across the city since 2018, and the most recent was no exception. Back on a cold November night at The White Hotel, The Zenker Brothers, Eich, Korzi & K Means had everyone leaving full of warmth n NRG after an evening of heat.
And so, whilst Manchester sweetheart Connor Cooper has buggered off to South America, leaving Wakil in charge of the shop floor, we're excited to party with these two more in 2022 - take it away boys...
On the third day of Choonsmas, Santa struck a deal... on the burner with Left, Right & Centre's Connor & Wakil!
Wakil (aka Korzi) and Connor (aka Fassbender) are the handsome work-elves behind one of Manny's hottest UK techno & bass label's & parties, LR&C, and have been bosom buddies of the band since we first hopped on Limbo Radio back in 2018. As bastions of funktional shubz-ready techno & enfrsah bass, the label is a who's who of local & underground talent such as Alexis, Everett, Henzo, Hypho and Korzi himself, even drafting in some esteemed bass royalty with Mosca's remix of Henzo's Iron Lighter being a peppered percy for the year. As a party, Left, Right & Centre have been packing dance floors across the city since 2018, and the most recent was no exception. Back on a cold November night at The White Hotel, The Zenker Brothers, Eich, Korzi & K Means had everyone leaving full of warmth n NRG after an evening of heat.
And so, whilst Manchester sweetheart Connor Cooper has buggered off to South America, leaving Wakil in charge of the shop floor, we're excited to party with these two more in 2022 - take it away boys...
A varying degree of musical tastes seem to exist within the Left, Right & Centre camp between ourselves so there may be a bit of disparity between each of our selections. However I think we can both agree that it’s been a topsy turvy year, but there has been lots of highs for us as a label and party, as well as individually. Huge shout out to all the crews doing the do and pushing things along in Manchester and further afield, and of course a big thank you to the Semi Peppered dons for getting us involved.
Wakil: This breakdown makes me feel all the right things. I’m a sucker for an atmospheric breakdown and this is everything that I want and more. Henry is just a gift from the heavens end of.
Connor: This song came to me at a pretty dark period at the start of the year and it evokes a very specific emotion much like many Arlo Parks’ releases. I got to experience this live as part of MIF at Manchester Central Hall surrounded by friends for my 25th birthday which was a very joyous occasion. A contrast as to what the song represents and my discovery of it.
Wakil: This one feels like a very defining point in where the bridge is between underground dance music & pop music right now and makes me feel like I just have absolutely no clue.
Connor: This one comes from a killer compilation that landed in October from the Sticky Tapes crew who aimed to raise funds for The Samaritans, SANEline and Switchboard as well as draw attention and create awareness to the helplines that exist for those suffering with mental health issues. This particular banger comes from The Beatricahy boss Kitsta, who has an incredible 2021 DJ, producing and promoting diverse, inclusive lineups as well as platforming some of the most exciting upcoming talent around. Wonderful music from a wonderful DJ and human being.
Wakil: Its been a hot sec since I’ve heard anything from Kowton (I heard he’s an actual scientist or something these days)
Wakil: I really like the nervous anxious energy throughout, trigger finger at the ready too.
Connor: I don’t have to say much about this one, because if you know, you know. But as always big ups to Sonice for bringing this one to life and the whole crew for making this song the soundtrack to 2021.
Wakil: Left, Right & Centre x Keep Hush because it just banged. Events are usually something that you can’t always reflect on since you’re there and then they’re gone. So in this case It was really nice to do something that was documented.
Connor: Being asked to do our first festival gig at Audio Farm was pretty cool. But I think for me just the sheer amount of up and coming talent we have worked with over the space of the 7 months we have been hosting events this year has been a highlight for me. Getting to work with some of our favourite artists is always a highlight and giving SCAPA her first gig at a venue back in May is something that I look back on fondly.
Wakil: Sounds basic as hell but releasing music. I’m personally really happy with the standard of what I’m working on at the moment, which honestly wasn’t always the case.
Connor: I’m currently half way around the world in South America so I personally have a lot to look forward to. But I also will be excited to get back to the UK, getting my teeth stuck in to some new projects and endeavours and diving head first into big pool of Manchester talent that our beloved city has and collaborating with a whole bunch of them.
Wakil: Cold as hell, big Christmas Vybz!
Connor: Found this one back in first year of uni, and it became the flat Christmas anthem. Has made an appearance every December since. Mariah can get in the bin.
I really had to stop myself from putting Babyfather’s ‘Meditation’ as my sole entry to this list because I’ve been playing that every day for the last three years. I thought it would be best to solely focus on tracks that have been released this year so here’s a list of my faves. Most of them have been included in mixes and radio shows and danced to in my parents’ living room.
Compiling this list for the SP crew made me realise how many amazing releases came out this year, a cause for celebration in a year of woe. This list scrapes the tip of the iceberg in terms of what I’ve enjoyed, but I have somehow narrowed it down to 8 LPs of 2020 that I have been rinsing and repeating.
Ed: My selections reflect exactly what I’ve been listening to over the last year or two - lots of slow music to soundtrack many days spent at home. I’ve thrown one freaky dance tune in there for good measure, to keep the aliens over at Semi Peppered happy. Ben: Mad dog by name mad dog by nature, woof woof MLE: I am so strong haha
Taïga: There’s going to be no jungle / 160 I’m afraid, if anyone wants to hear our fave selections from that genre they can just listen to any of our sets! Mia: 2021 has been a great year for music, much like last year, the year before that, and all the other years. I don’t really think it’s possible for there to be an entire year where the whole planet collectively just puts out shit music, even if artists like Burial are giving it their best shot.
Some of the stuff we have been digging this year and personal finds!
ETN: "We've spent most of the year agonisingly far apart from each other so our choices and highlights feel very unconnected. Doing our Noods shows as socially-distanced fb-chat b2bs has been an interesting diversion, but we're longing for the affectionate chaos of the studio sessions. We all miss each other and hopefully next year will be full of the shared experiences and connection that are the best things about being a Shrubbery!" Chukwudi: "Having blown my last ETN royalty cheque investing in phonecards, I've asked the band to get together for one last reunion gig so that I can keep the lights on this Christmas. Unfortunately all the clubs are closed so I've had to make do with an (apparently unpaid) spot on the semi peppered xmas countdown instead."
We hope you enjoy sifting through our proper mixed bag of tunes that have soundtracked an incredibly west period in history. We feel these releases have been on the ride with us and deserve acknowledgement. What better way than a big old peppered round up eh?
d. clemente: Same as last year, I am here with a whole selection of dance music (sorry I actually don’t listen to anything else lol) that made me go like “wow, yeehaw, yes, alright alright, mmmmm”. DJ SWEAT: *siren plays* D-D-D-D-DJ SWEAT on tha haus! *toilet sound* merry all! *jingle jingle*
MLE: Hi, you may remember me from radio stations such as Balamii, Noods, Worldwide FM and the occasional guest appearances on NTS. Find my 2020 highlights alongside my fav bunch of dawgs…May 2021 be infinitely less painful. Solway Canine Collective: Ruff noises straight from the kennel. Another year of gutter tunes from the junkyard dawgs.
The Trouserlings + Papi Ruari bring you another collection of varied morsels to warm the cockles. Here is to another year of following the Semi Peppered boys blindly into the sun.
SP: It's actually entirely to do with the pubs reopening. Enjoy with caution
Thank you to everyone that has been a part of Choonsmas this year, it's been a lovely way to end a turbulent year <3
Robbie: "Some highlights from a rollercoaster year, remembering the soundtrack of initial lockdown turmoil to reminiscing about the last tunes heard in the club." David: "As someone whose main hobby is clubbing and nightlife, this year I haven't stopped listening to dance music. Here's some new tunes I really look forward to listening to on a big soundsystem."
Not much new music in here (we’re crap at keeping up to date), but lots of goodies that we’ve played and enjoyed both inside and outside the space this year
Here’s a lil selection of a few of my fave tracks that have gone into Ambient Babestation Meltdown mixes this year, and a few tracks that I plan to feature in upcoming mixes. Finding new music was never a problem working at Rye Wax, but as we’ve been shut since March I’ve been having to dig A LOT DEEPER and I think it’s helped make my mixes a lot weirder haha. Please enjoy my selection and dream of the day we can all float about the club in silly outfits and silly states once again.
SP: Huge shouts to everyone who was there for us and supported us in music and beyond last year, we look forwards to sharing good times together again soon!
Here are some of my top listens this year - ones that I've been playing and replaying. Most have been released in 2020, with a sprinkle of oldies too. I inevitably remembered loads that should be in here after making this, but I hope in sifting through this list there will be some enjoyable/meaningful listens in store for Semi Peppered friends and followers 🐇
Our top 8 tracks of 2020 (we’ve listened to tonnes of old ones from the 80s through out the digging process but we’ve tried to keep this strictly 2020 - with some of our fave oldies thrown in) but also less club focussed as clubbing seems so redundant right now (although we have thrown a few heaters in for you). A mixed bag for a funny old time!
I mostly mix techno / breaks / house / fusion music. So I’ve tried to include six tunes that showcase these genres as much as possible! One thing I’ve learned from mixing is that there is endless music to explore and to never make your mind up on whether or not you like an entire genre! Fusing elements of one genre into another is a real game changer for me :)
2020 has been tough, and we’ve been fortunate enough to get through it with the help of those close to us. Now we hope you can join us in looking to 2021 as another year to be inspired by one another, and to keep on keeping on together.
This has been a weird af year but here are some highlights from us which we hope you enjoy. Special shout out to Goutham for having the self control to not list Cockroach - Pearl (Bright Edit) [COMPOSE] {1996} multiple times.
Compiling this list for the SP crew made me realise how many amazing releases came out this year, a cause for celebration in a year of woe. This list scrapes the tip of the iceberg in terms of what I’ve enjoyed, but I have somehow narrowed it down to 8 LPs of 2020 that I have been rinsing and repeating.
I really had to stop myself from putting Babyfather’s ‘Meditation’ as my sole entry to this list because I’ve been playing that every day for the last three years. I thought it would be best to solely focus on tracks that have been released this year so here’s a list of my faves. Most of them have been included in mixes and radio shows and danced to in my parents’ living room.
Here's some choons, new and old that kept us going in this weird as hell year. Hope you enjoy.
Tried to keep it as weird as possible. And shed some light on some smaller acts from Bristol to Chicargooooooo.
What ho!? The sun has shone, the birds have tweep tweeped and the second edition of our Peppered Digs is launched for public enjoyment. Celebrate the springtime harbingers with some bangers in bloom :)
We’re Emma and Jonah, old friends and lifelong music obsessives. We both share a love for tunes that make us nostalgic for a neon lit past that didn’t happen. If it clears the floor, we want more.
Tracy: The selections picked by us are tunes that we’ve rinsed a lot this year and played quite often on our radio shows. I think they represent our sound as individual DJs but also as a collective.
We’re long time friends and musical collaborators born and raised in Sheffield and now living West of the Pennines in Manchester. We spent some years in Sheffield running ‘Don’t Look Now’, a series of ludicrous parties, expressing our shared love of club culture and the musical heritage of the Steel City. Having temporarily taken a step back from promotion we now also host a monthly radio show called Roadside Picnic in which we can explore our more otherworldly thoughts and dreams.
Apologies! I’ve not bought a new release since the Music from Memory Almost Grown record, which was still a reissue haha! These ones are some of my fave digs from the year - a mixture of cheap and hard to find stuff, records that I have wanted for a while but managed to cop this year. Lots of digging and hermiting time, hope you like them/find them interesting! Merry xmas 💖💖 xx
In no particular order these are our top releases from 2020. Coincidentally featuring plenty of previous Cue guests (we’re not biased, honest) alongside some other favourites.
