A La Fu
Big Dada / Radio Skool / Va Va Recordings
Biog:
He’d say inconsistent where we’d say experimental. He’d say distracted, not inquisitive. Not artistic, but erratic. Not waving but drowning. But, you’d forgive the boy for an occasional temperament that makes Nick Drake appear eruptively ecstatic. Born of fire into a land of perpetual winter, 20 odd sunless seasons at 57 o N, might have taken the shine off of A La Fu’s bright future but in some ways the absence of it’s garish glare has made room for a more contemplative attitude. Not corrupted by the lust for a cheap buck he remains broke but with his soul intact. His rather unorthodox approach to music production leaves a lot of room to develop and evolve at a more natural pace.
Like all good Scots he’s emotionally hopeless, pent-up, temperamental and often drunk. Frustratingly humble, he’d be the last to admit that his genuine care and attention coupled with meticulous fine-tuning has led his work to resound with a real sincerity and quality. Unable to cope with even the slightest compliment, it’s a wonder that his ego maintains any level of self-esteem at all. In his own words, “I could never be a pilot…”
Reaching and learning his trade in such diverse places and spaces as Scotland, California, London, Australia, NYC, Israel and Hawaii, A La Fu has performed, recorded and released material on the solo tip as well as with friends and artists worldwide since 1996. Early on A La Fu was inspired by touring, supporting and sharing the stage with the likes of Gil Scott Heron, De La Soul, Afrika Bambatta and Blackalicious which gave him the grounding and experience required to develop into one of the most assured and accomplished DJs we have had the pleasure of working with.
Since his early schoolings in the arts of DJing, his skillful endeavours have seen his work showcased in many ways, from guest radio spots for Solid Steel and BBC Radio 1Xtra to filming for MTV alongside Roots Manuva and GZA (Wu Tang Clan). Not to mention appearing on TV with Kool DJ Herc to illustrate the art of DJing, battling the Scratch Perverts at the first ever DMC Team Finals and then performing with the Perverts at Glastonbury 2002.
Perhaps best known for his mix tape releases, A La Fu confirmed himself as one of the most talented and intuitive DJs around through his Radio Skool mix series as well as the release of the official 10 Years Of Big Dada retrospective ‘Well Deep’. Over the last few years production work for Big Dada as well as burgeoning labels Surface Pressure and his own VaVa Records have ensured his name remains at the forefront of alternative and diverse hip hop inflected beats.
In 2009 his DJ sets take in a variety of influences, from the acid dancehall of Modeselektor to the jacking club beats of Switch, from the dark dub of The Bug to the brooding hip hop introspection of Roots Manuva…his sets reach far and wide always remain cohesive and considered and never disparate or misjudged.
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Discography
