Following on from last week’s Residents’ Hour episode with So Flute’s Danuka, we now have another entry from a resident that’s pushing the boundaries, orbiting in dance music territories outside of the usual house/techno worlds. Sunday Times resident Colm K gives us our first taste of what Cork, Ireland has to offer.
“Sunday Times began its life as a party in Cork back in the summer of 2009. It was the brainchild of friends Barry Walsh and John Hennessy. At the time, they were becoming tired of playing gigs that restricted focus to certain types of music – generally house or techno – when their record collections and interests spanned a much broader musical spectrum.
“Putting their heads together ended with the creation of a monthly party that provided a space in which they could play whatever they wanted freely. More importantly, they could do so over an extended time period. The ‘anything-goes’ music policy struck a chord with people from the get-go. Due to its extended length, you could expect the full range of music: ambient, jazz, reggae and afrobeat during the early hours, progressing to the more uptempo sounds of boogie, disco, hip hop or house in the later hours (and often likely to go right back down to the slower, more soulful vibes at any moment, to an always-receptive crowd!)”
“Three years after the first party in a cosy spot on Barrack Street, the team of two became four with the addition of Dean Feeney (of TR One) and me. As a collective, the crew have recreated the party’s unique atmosphere in venues all over Ireland, at festivals home and abroad, and even on the occasional boat party. The party’s current home is a rooftop venue in the centre of Cork. A unique space welcomed by loyal regulars and newcomers alike, it has become essential to Sunday Times – especially during the summer.
“What I really love about being a Sunday Times resident is having the freedom to play what I like with the security of an appreciative crowd. There’s no pressure to play a certain way or to compromise musical integrity. We build the technical setup ourselves so that the DJ(s) can play with comfort. We put a lot of time and energy into making things sound the best they can, making sure people go home with a smile on their faces, having had a memorable experience. It has to be enjoyable for everyone involved. We tend to bring three or four guests a year ensuring we get an ample amount of parties where it’s just us residents. Guests are great too, and we’ve had some super ones including Joy Orbison, Seven Davis Jr., J Rocc, Prosumer, New Jackson, Rahaan, Alex Nut, Fatima and Will Bankhead; but it’s ultimately the residents that set the foundations and pave the way.”
“The music scene is great here. There’s a rich, soulful aspect to the music that we love in Cork. There’s also an abundance of great DJs doing interesting parties throughout the city – NotHowWhen, Go Deep, Stevie G, Vinyl Below, Under A Plastic Cloud, Keep On Jumpin’ and much more. We suffer at the hands of licensing laws – specifically closing times, as well as a lack of suitable spaces to throw parties – but this encourages a certain amount of thinking outside the box and this was one of the main motivations for starting Sunday Times at 4pm.
“This mix – recorded at last month’s Sunday Times – is an example of the music we play at early doors. It’s all vinyl, some new and some old, recorded using two Technics 1210s and an E&S DJR400 mixer. I’ve always been a fan of the early part of the night when it comes to playing, especially at a night where I’m one of the residents. My first gigs were warm-up slots at the very famous ‘Sweat’ night in Sir Henry’s Back Bar. The art of warming up is a difficult one. It’s a DJ’s way of welcoming people coming in the doors, keeping people interested and advancing things at the right time.”
Tracklist
The Heath Brothers “Smilin’ Billy Suite Pt. 1” [Strata East]
Groove Theory “Time Flies” [Epic]
A Tribe Called Quest “God Lives Through” [Jive]
Typesun “The PL” [Root Elevation Recordings]
Labelle “Moonshadow (Mark E Edit)” [Creative Use]
DJ Mitsu The Beats “Rendezvous (Kid Sublime’s Monks Revolution Remix” [Jazzy Sport]
Tenderlonious “Caramel” [Sounds of the Universe]
Pjotr “Sky is the Limit” [Udacha]
King Britt presents Sylk 130 “The Reason (Original Demo Mix)” [Ovum Recordings]
George F. Smallwood & Marshmellow Band “You Know I Love You” [Smallwood]
Maurice Moore and the Family Affair Band “Everything that Shines Ain’t Gold” [Marjon International Records]
Al Dobson Jr. “Mr. Mellow” [22a]
Damon Lamar “Tsunami Rain” [Tetrode Music]
H.O.M. “Unathi (Experianza Version)” [H.O.M.]
Skyy “First Time Around (Larry Levan Extended Mix)” [Salsoul]
The next Residents’ Hour episode sees us heading to Montreal, Canada. Stay tuned.