God DAMN what are they putting in the water in New Zealand? They seem to serve up a disproportionate amount of ridiculous music talent for their tiny size. Following in the footsteps of fellow Wellington posse Fat Freddy’s Drop comes another collective of seriously soulful musicians who combine future soul with loose funk, cool analog synthery, bumping hip-hop and cool jazz to stunning effect. They be the 3-piece outfit Electric Wire Hustle, whose self-titled debut LP is out this week on BBE Music, and serves up the sound of their live show that has seen them support the likes of Talib Kweli, Peanut Butter Wolf and Dam Funk since forming in 2007.
The ridiculously sweet sounds come from
Taay Ninh (multi-instrumentalist), Mara TK (those gorgeous vocals) and Myele Manzanza (drums), and they come across like vintage D’Angelo in space with a less of the loverman feel. Their debut LP has been gracing lucky Kiwis’ stereos since 2009, but now with a global release, they look set to break through into the upper echelons that they so belong in.
How and when were you first infected by dance music?
Tinnitus is not technically a virus, but it is transmittable – usually by irresponsible DJs and soundmen.
When did you start making music / producing, and how long was it before you started making tracks that you were really happy with?
I started making beats around age 16. I was happy with the music from the get-go, not necessarily because the music was good, but that the feeling of creating complete songs by myself was quite freeing (Mara TK)
Give us an all-time favourite…
Billie Jean – Quincy Jones & MJ
Where does your name come from?
A track called Electric Wire Hustler Flower on Common's album Electric Circus.
It wasn't so much the favourite pick of the album but the name just stood out and
so did the album as not something you could automatically pigeonhole.
Who would you most like to work with?
Jay Electronica, he is the baddest MC on the planet right now.
What have you got in store for the coming months?
Winter (boo), Raising babies (raising adults rather), second album, Europe and the US!
What can we expect from one of your DJ sets or live sets?
Fresh and brand new EWH, singing and dancing, beats, beats and a more beats.
If you weren’t a DJ/producer/artists, what would you be?
A few things: Sculptor, painter, Bboy, contemporary dancer, surgeon.
Which other producers and DJs and artists do you really rate?
Funkineven, Madlib, Dââm Funk, Steve Spacek, Georgia Anne Muldrow –
the list is a long one especially when you go on to those that have passed as well...
Electric Wire Hustle’s self-titled debut album is out NOW on BBE Music. Don’t miss it – one of the year’s highlights.
www.myspace.com/electricwirehustle