Prequel Shares 5 Lessons From Influential Dance Masters

Prequel is a newcomer with an old soul sound. The Melbourne producer's music draws from jazz, hip hop and analogue dance traditions, all balanced with expert care and restraint. His debut 12" Polite Strangers has been picked up by Rhythm Section International, a respected label known only for excellence, and it's being launched this Saturday at Boney. There's a deep learning behind the deep house tracks on offer here, and Prequel was kind to share some of the lessons he's learned along the way. Listen up.

Osunlade - I'm Happy

Ever since I heard this song I was instantly connected to it's simplicity. I play it in nearly every set I DJ. I drew a lot from its percussive breakdowns for my next EP. Some people don't like songs with "instructional voice overs" but I think this works really well here. It's the perfect example of the energy I want in my own music.

Theo Parrish - Chemistry

I was lucky enough to find the 12" of this a little while back. I love how it takes its time at the start and the movement of it completely changes once the tambourines come in. It's the kind of music that makes you feel good about dancing.

Kenlou - Moonshine

For me, this really exemplifies the methodology of sampling in a "hip-hop" way and applies it to house music. It's something I really connect with being a hip-hop kid at heart. Again, the simplicity really drew me to it but also its' carefully thought out structure in terms the programming of the filters and when the horn parts come in, it never sounds forced. The intro gives it a really great jump off point too.

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messangers - A Chant For Bu

I've always been into Jazz but over the last year I kind of got a bit obsessed and started buying heaps of Jazz records. Most people will know the sample but I also just love the arrangement. I'm trying to get my head around different time signatures (given my small knowledge of music theory) and this is one I always go back to to study. It's got a great drive and gets regular spins at home.

Kirkis - Purplefruit For Xray Vision LP

This whole Kirkis album is amazing to me. It completely blew my mind when I heard it. We have since become buddies and he continues to play me the craziest shit he is working on. Not only is he the nicest guy but he is a really inspirational figure to me in terms of having no boundaries musically and finding those sweet chords and sounds that I love. His work ethic is also something else, the guy literally goes to bed at night with a keyboard and headphones instead of going on facebook like the rest of us.