REDEYES
THE EYES HAVE IT
WORDS | Ewen Cook
PHOTOGRAPHY | Lucy
The finest French export of all time – and Bingo (the mega-rinsed floorfiller stuff - it’s nothing serious yet, but sometimes
following wine, cheese and Patrick Vieira – is ‘Pusherman’). That simply does not happen it’s like a fresh breeze to be making something
without a doubt Toulouse-born future-soul to normal people. that’s not 175 BPM.”
d&b poet DJ Redeyes. Kmag never lies – if you
don’t believe us, just call the Paris customs The album, which will take the form of two Transcending the all-consuming pull of d&b
& trade bureau. They’ll not only confirm that double-pack EPs plus extra-tracked CD and is something in which Julien is well-versed
this is the case, but will very likely play you digital versions (and a follow-up 12” with a – because of pure geography if nothing else.
his forthcoming debut album down the phone brand new remix on that won’t be on the LP), “Toulouse used to be the place to be for French
for good measure – because it’s that good. Go will also reveal a few jawdropping surprises d&b, though now everything is in Paris – but I
on, try it. We dare you. for soul-basking Redeyes fans – not least of love it here and I won’t move away from it! The
which the punishing ‘Blue Note’, a crunching scene in France is like my town: not so big, not
The beautifully titled ‘Poetry in Motion’ Amen-fest with old skool piano licks that too little, cool and sunny.” It is both refreshing
from 32-year-old Julien Salvi, which will sounds like polished Doc Scott. Pleasantly and rare to hear of a successful artist living
be dropping on Spearhead at the precise surprised? Us too. relatively close to London who is unmoved
second that you are reading this, is in by the UK capital’s tractor beam. Not that it’s
good company. 2008 is surely going to be “I’m trying never to make the same tune easy trying to keep up, of course, as Redeyes
remembered as the year of ludicrously twice,” says Julien, “so that’s why there’s some confirms. “It’s really difficult to stay in the loop
tasty debut albums: Utah Jazz, Danny Byrd, different flavours on the album. It’s like buying when you’re not part of London. When you’re
Atlantic Connection and soon Sub Focus the latest Gang Starr album, for example – not English either, you always get that feeling
– to name but a few of the biggies – have what you want is those chopped jazzy samples that you’re not a real part of it. Out here you’ve
all nailed their colours to the proverbial by Primo and the intelligent Guru lyrics, but really got to have faith in what you’re doing.”
mast and promptly drowned in a tidal wave in fact, you are still expecting something new,
of much-deserved attention and bookings. something that makes you say ‘damn, I didn’t And for this talented French artist, “faith”
But there’s one more yet that just might ice see this one comin’!’” means keeping musicality in mind, rather
the cake. than programming: “Everybody can do killin’
The name Redeyes itself is taken from an Ini mixdowns – you can learn it at school or
A dazzling concoction of old ‘70s grooves, a Kamoze chorus on Guru’s Jazzmatazz series whatever. But the groove... you can’t learn it.
touch of ‘90s hip hop, a sprinkle of dubstep volume two, and it is evident that this is one You got it or not.”
and Detroit techno vibes, all lashed together artist whose musical palette stretches far
with an injection of pure future-funk and and wide. “In terms of what I like outside d&b, Kmag concurs most heartily. Because there’s
immaculate vocals, ‘Poetry in Motion’ does hip hop is the number one, but I’m listening no doubt that Julien Salvi has got both boxes
exactly what it says on the delicately- to what feels like millions of different bits of firmly ticked. ‘Poetry in Motion’ is Redeyes’s
embroidered tin. It is a stunning tribute to music all the time. I really love the nu future- voyage to the big league. And it’s a ticket
the swift rise of Redeyes who, after a first soul thing, like SaRa, Owusu & Hannibal, Little richly deserved.
release in 2003, had by only 2006 crafted Dragon, James Pants, Spacek, Flying Lotus and
signature anthems on Creative Source Tru Thoughts – there’s too many to mention! www.myspace.com/redeyesdj
(the impeccably sultry ‘I Live’/‘Find a Way’) I’m also producing some hip hop, downtempo www.spearheadrecords.co.uk
www.kmag.co.uk
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