CS EXCLUSIVE | MR PUZL of LAMP
Supporting independent music is something that's really important to us here at Caveman Sound. With a burgeoning dance music scene increasingly made up of exactly that, it can be where some of the most innovative, high quality sounds and artists come from. Recently we became aware of, and have since become close with, LA-based production collective and label LAMP, aka Los Angeles Music Project. With a tight-knit, carefully curated roster of talented artists, founders (PZB and MR PUZL) who are established in their own right, and value what it means to develop within a supportive community — we can definitely appreciate what they represent.
Over the past week we had the chance to catch up with LAMP co-founder MR PUZL about what the label is all about, LA's role in it, and more. Additionally, he's put together an awesome exclusive mix for us that we just can't get enough of. Enjoy both below!
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Track List:
1. Jezebel (Graff Remix) - Sunni Colón 2. Around You - BNRY 3. With Me (Dayne S Remix) - Pepper Cats 4. Gooey (Wild Culture Remix) - Glass Animals x Wild Culture 5. What We Used to Be (Original Mix) - Claus Casper, Jean Philips 6. Good Club (Original Mix) - Prince Club 7. All She Wants (SNBRN x KLATCH Remix) - Ace Of Base 8. Hot Mess (Original Mix) - Dale Howard 9. Cache Cache (Original Mix) - Kellerkind 10. Benediction (Low Steppa Old Skool Flex) - Hot Natured feat. Ali Love 11. Sun (Oscar OZZ 2014 Edit) - Caribou 12. Limit to your Love (Dayne S Remix) - James Blake 13. One Who Lost - DJ Dodger Stadium 14. 21 Questions (SNBRN Remix) - 50 Cent ft. Nate Dogg 15. Sahara Holiday (Original Mix) - CamelPhat 16. Proper Lane (Original Mix) - Doctor Dru 17. Don't Play Around (Original Mix) - Cheap Picasso
Interview:
Caveman Sound: For those who don't know, tell us how LAMP got started, and what it's all about.
MR PUZL: I started LAMP with Josh (aka PZB) about two years ago with the idea of throwing cool events. It was also a great excuse for our friends to play their own gigs! Over time we’ve evolved and our focus has now turned towards creating music, LAMP is collective of producers based mostly here in Los Angeles that make up a small independent record label. Our goal is to provide a platform so that our artists can produce their music within a supportive community, experiment with the different styles that they each bring, and perform under a unified banner.
CS: How does LA shape what you guys do and represent?
MR PUZL: Since the majority of us live or are from Los Angeles, I think the city has an incredible influence on what we do. I think we are in a very exciting moment in Dance music’s progression as the landscape and sounds are evolving so quickly. Los Angeles is a melting pot of cultures and I think it’s really well represented by the music that the local labels and artists are putting out. Combining the pace at which trends evolve with LA’s dynamic eclectic styles and you’ve got one of the most progressive music cultures in the world. LA has been, and still is, given a misleading stereotype in terms of its entertainment industry and the perceived self-centered nature of it’s residents, but it couldn’t be farther from the truth. There are a lot of independent labels and groups here in LA working together to nurture a budding scene, and with a selfless mentality a community of amazing talent has started to grow, (shout outs to Gotta Dance Dirty, Prep School Recordings, Late Night Laggers, Brownies and Lemonade, and Shifty Rhythms). Just last week we helped launch a new music series at Sound Nightclub with a lot of those labels I just mentioned which featured another fast rising label, Main Course. It’s that sort of unhinged collaboration
CS: How have you come to find the artists on your roster, and what are you looking for in new ones?
MR PUZL: We started the roster as a lot of independent crews do, get a bunch of your friends together throw some parties! In truth, we were very fortunate to have some very talented friends that were really down to join us, and when we told them our plans it didn’t take much convincing. We tend to be very selective about who we want to work with, but in the coming months we may be looking to expand the roster. If someone is really interested in what we have to offer they can submit mixes to lamp@solvethispuzl.com.
CS: Give us your personal top five favorite artists of the moment.
MR PUZL: Tapesh, Dayne S, Prince Club, SNBRN, Treasure Fingers.
CS: What was your absolute favorite show you've been to in the past six months and why?
MR PUZL: Tough to say there’s an absolute favorite, but definitely Jerome LOL performing a live set at the Echo earlier this year up there. Seeing a RUFUS DJ set with Graff, Karl Kling, and Mayer Hawthorne at V-Lounge was also a blast.
CS: What can we expect to see from you guys throughout the rest of the year? Events, releases, anything else cooking?
MR PUZL: There’s a ton of great stuff coming out of our studios right now. Brooks and Millar have an arsenal of unreleased material that we are planning on releasing in the next month or so. Sleepy Cat just got done with some vocal collabs for a few of his tracks, he actually premiered one of them on Sunday at our Silent Frisco show…safe to say the crowd were into it! DJSB has an instrumental EP that he’s working on right now, and we’re looking at getting some vocalists to featured on a few of the tracks. PZB is heading out on Wednesday for his European tour, starting with awesome lineup in Croatia at Kanegra Beach Festival (some heavy hitting techno legends like Kevin Saunderson and Stacey Pullen are the featured headliners). MR PUZL will be manning the studio for the next few months, and hopefully pick up a few more gigs before the summer on the West Coast. As always LAMP drops a weekly mix of it’s own every Friday at 12pm PST.
A big thanks goes to MR PUZL and the entire LAMP crew. Stay connected with what they're getting up to via the links below.
L.A.M.P. — FACEBOOK | TWITTER | SOUNDCLOUD MR PUZL — FACEBOOK | TWITTER | SOUNDCLOUD