Sean OD: The Wednesday Alternative Mix

Music

London is a notoriously difficult city in which to hold a residency, it's tough, busy and the odds are stacked against you. However, that's not to say it doesn't happen…

Sean O'Daly is a disc jockey based in the capital who has been a resident at The Jazz Cafe for a while now, each month he is presented with the rare and exciting opportunity to showcase his music all night long at one of the most prestigious spots in the city. His own musical taste is diverse, sprawling between elements of funk, soul, disco, jazz, house and electronics. As a selector he is well versed with a perception and awareness that not all possess. With a keen ear and delicate selection he is able to set the perfect tone.

We invited him to deliver a mix as part of our Wednesday Alternative series, oh and it's his birthday so be kind and listen closely.

Read the interview and download below:

Please introduce yourself…

Who are you, where are you and what are you?

I’m an Irish-Brazilian DJ and record collector, based in the UK for the past 8 years or so (the latter 4 years have been in South East London). I’m one of the resident DJs at The Jazz Cafe where I play all night long on every first Saturday of the month, I do a monthly show on Balamii Radio and I also run a party called Scenic Route with my friends Jon Phonics and Bryce’s Brother.

What does your music sound like? Can you draw what you think it sounds like for us (an image from the old internet is acceptable)?

I like to think of David Vunk having a nice time when I mix. Let’s go with that.

Where was the mix recorded?

In a radio studio where Gilles Peterson does his show every Saturday afternoon.

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

Tipsy off two pints, headphones on and travelling to meet your friends before you hit the clurb. You don’t have work till 2pm on Tuesday. It’s going to be a good weekend.

What should we be wearing?

Well headphones, but also some trainers you don’t care about as your feet might get sticky.

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location/system/format?

Though it’s musically very different to what you’ll hear in the mix, there’s this Bobby Hutcherson LP that came out on Blue Note in 1975 which is one of my all-time favourite jazz albums. On the back cover, there are lots of little pictures of Bobby and his band playing on this amazing balcony which overlooks endless forests and you can see these beautiful snow-tipped mountains in the distance. The sleeve notes don’t give too much of an explanation, but it says that the music was “recorded outdoors in Idylwind, California”. Put some decks and some decent monitors on that Californian balcony on a sunny day – that’d be the dream for me.

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

I’m torn between Elektric Dance by Jungle crew or that Sonnenschein track which is a big euphoric trance track from 1996. That percussive roller from Ninos Du Brasil is so killer too and I had to include it even though it’s quite well known. Hopefully it’s new to you!

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

I couldn’t possibly answer that question. Mixes I’m feeling at the moment – Batu at Dekmantel Selectors, Carista at Lente Kabinet, Call Super’s Essential Mix, Don’t DJ’s Dekmantel mix, Gwenan’s RA mix. I always go back to Slimzee's all-vinyl mix for Truants as well. Well worth checking all of these.

If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?

DJ Harvey. Seeing him play all night Ministry a few years back was life changing.

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

It was a pair of Technics 1210s and a A&H Xone:23. I started on vinyl and eventually learnt CDJs through playing out, but my home set up remains the same. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it (except it is broken and I really need a new mixer).

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

The track you start on. My reasoning is extremely dry, but purely because the amount of people who start listening to a mix and actually listen all the way through must be significantly lower than the overall listens. Having that said, it’s nice to save a little treat for those who stuck with you the whole way. Hopefully the Stasis track at the end of my mix ticks that box!