Explore global funk revival, soul covers & vintage sound. Discover how multicultural influences shape modern music production.
Engin Öztürk, also known as Engin Seyrl, is a German-Turkish musician based in Berlin. He excels as a music producer, composer, and mastering and mixing engineer across various projects. His groundbreaking electronic music melds Berlin’s techno ambiance with a rich tapestry of cross-cultural fusion. Engin’s career began with releases in 1996, and his notable projects include Faruk Green, Holmby Hills, Here Today, and Desolé Leo. He has also crafted and produced music for film and advertising, showcasing his adaptability in soundtrack composition and commercial music production.
Orgone revitalizes 13 funk and soul classics in a remarkable funk revival! The mixtape collection includes covers of legends such as Otis Redding, Funkadelic, The Meters, Aretha Franklin, Betty Wright, and Booker T.. Expertly recorded and performed using vintage sound recreation techniques, some of these modern retro productions arguably surpass the originals.
By 1975, when Roberto “Di Melo” Santos released his self-titled debut album, Brazilian music had already enthralled global audiences. The bossa nova phenomenon of earlier decades coincided with political upheaval. During the late 1960s and ’70s, despite harsh censorship, Brazilian musicians such as Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil used their music as a form of protest and cultural resistance through tropicália and MPB (Música Popular Brasileira). — Ray Camacho, a versatile bandleader and trumpeter, is celebrated for his Latin jazz and multicultural influences. His 1970 single “Si Si Puede” became a rallying cry for the Chicano movement, resonating deeply with Latin Americans protesting the Vietnam War. The track later appeared in Disney’s McFarland, USA.
Tahuna Breaks, formed in Auckland in 2005, introduced a distinctive Kiwi flavor to the global music stage. Their Oceanic funk style fuses reggae, soul, and electro funk, creating a unique sound within the world music scene. — Afternoon in Stereo, the project of Canadian musician and graphic designer Greg Vickers, exemplifies the blend of digital precision with organic instrumentation. This downtempo, chillout electronica project results in a unique groove that defines the organic electronic genre.
The Funk Ark takes listeners on a global fusion journey with their world-beat-afro-pop-funk sound. Based in Washington DC, the band draws inspiration from jazz legends like Herbie Hancock and Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, creating a polyrhythmic funk that keeps audiences dancing.
The Blackbyrds, jazz-funk pioneers formed in Washington, D.C. in 1973, achieved R&B fusion success with their Grammy-nominated hit “Walking in Rhythm.” Dyke and the Blazers, led by Arlester Christian, were early funk innovators, releasing proto-funk classics like “Funky Broadway” and “Let a Woman Be a Woman” in the late 1960s. — Bobby Howard Byrd, a soul music architect and funk collaborator, played a pivotal role in developing soul and funk alongside James Brown, earning the moniker “Mr. Dynamite’s Right Hand.”
D/troit‘s album “Soul Sound System” celebrates the Motor City soul scene, bringing Nordic soul and Scandinavian R&B to the global stage. — Mel Brown‘s debut album “Chicken Fat” (1967) on Impulse! showcases his blues-jazz fusion and guitar virtuosity. Herbie Hancock‘s “Man-Child” (1975) marked his jazz-funk crossover, featuring groundbreaking keyboard work and funk-based rhythms that departed from his earlier “spacey” jazz style.
The “Money Runner” soundtrack, composed by Quincy Jones, blends orchestral funk with cinematic soul. The Don Elliott Voices provide harmonic vocal arrangements, complementing Jones’ instrumental pieces in this distinctive film score.
Playlist
- Faith – Faruk Green
- Nobody’s Fault but Mine – Orgone, Kelly Finnigan
- A Vida Em Seus Metodos Diz Calma – Di Melo
- Si Se Puede – The Ray Camacho Band
- Giddy Up – Tahuna Breaks
- Soul Sugar – Afternoons in Stereo
- Funky Southern – The Funk Ark
- Do It, Fluid – The Blackbyrds
- So Sharp – Dyke & The Blazers
- Try It Again – Bobby Byrd
- Soul Sound System – D/troit
- Chicken Fat – Mel Brown
- Heartbeat – Herbie Hancock
- Money Runner – Quincy Jones