DJ OF THE WEEK 10:18.10: GROOVE ARMADA
Groove Armada is Tom Findlay and Andy Cato, two British blokes with a deep love and affection for American music, especially that one deeply rooted in Black culture; House music.
Both of these cats knew from an early age that they were drawn to music -Cato was already quite the gifted youngster, having won Yorkshire’s Young Jazz Musician award. Findlay was collecting records and taking in the culture from an early age, and was already DJing at parties by 16. They were both on a mission from the beginning, and luckily, for us, their paths would cross.
Soon after they first met, these two prodigious individuals began creating together, a lot. It wasn’t until 1997, two years after they officially became Groove Armada, that they put out their first single ‘At The River’ released on Pepper Records, but they followed it up with three more and then their first album ‘Northern Star’, the same year. They’ve been dropping masterpieces ever since.
Northern Star did a lot to put Groove Armada on the map with its funk-laden tunes, and its ambient, laidback feel. It established them as serious musicians with a true understanding of not just music, but the emotional journey it can take a listener on. They knew the mathematics, but there was party to be had, and these DJs wanted to raise the roof. Their next single, ‘I See You Baby’ featuring Gram’ma Funk did exactly that; a catchy dance floor number, it featured a repeating line that aptly explained what Groove Armada wanted us to be doing: ‘shaking that ass’. They’ve been working hard ever since, and they haven’t let us down with singles such as the catchy ‘Superstylin,’ the deep vocal House track ‘Love Sweet Sound,’ with Candi Stanton on vocals, or the energizing ‘Easy,’ from their Lovebox’ album, just to name a few.
Don’t get it twisted though, GA has many styles, and you’re never quite sure what to expect on their albums. They can get your attention with a big club banger one minute just to drop a heavy atmospheric tune the next that will take you on an unexpected journey. They can get a lil’ Rock n Roll on you, like they did with ‘I Won’t Kneel’ and ‘Purple Haze,’ or get soulful like on ‘Hands Of Time,’ with Richie Havens on vocals.
Of course, you can’t wrap up a conversation about Groove Armada without mentioning their own Lovebox Festival. Held every year since 2000, it is an all weekend affair attracting upwards of 45,000 attendees, comprised of not just party seeking revelers, but families as well. The festival features some of the biggest names in the world of music, and not just Electronic music. Past performers have included everyone from Blondie to Sly and the Family Stone, to Manu Chao, The Flaming Lips, Jimmy Cliff, Jamiroquai, and many more.
After 10 years, five albums, countless singles, remixes, productions, DJ mixes, and their own festival, along with their many accomplishments, GA still manages to leave you with the impression, that they are just getting started.Their latest and second album this year, White Light, is set to drop October 18. Make sure to get your copy, there’s a lot of ass shaking left to do.
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