DJ Colonel Sweetback took his name from 'Sweet sweetback's baadasss song' the first Blaxploitation movie he saw at age of 18 . This movie inspired DJ Colonel Sweetback, who was studying film and cinematography, due to its power of using the groove in conjunction with the rhythm of acting and the film edits, creating an extremely moody and rich atmosphere that took his heart. He began to spin old vintage 70s records at the Stax O Soul in Lille (France), a perfectly named venue for a beginning a residency.
He quickly became noticed, his parties packing hungry funky dancers, and moved to spin for the followin 3 years at Les Ailes du Désir, L'Amul Solo, Le Balatum, L'Illustration, Le Presty, Le Supermarket. In 2003, DJ Colonel Sweetback decided to move to the capital of europe an hour north of Lille, and quickly became a favorite house dj for some of Brussels hotest and coolest clubs including Le Java, Le Central, L'Archiduc, Le Gazon, Le Bullex, Les Cantines de la Ville, Le Zoo, Havana Club, Le Bonnefooi, La Touche d'Ivoire, Le Bistrot des Restos, Le Supermercado and private parties organised by the Boitaviande Production.
Recently, in Août 2009, at the TAZ festival in Oostende, he played before and after two concert of Arno, the famous belgium singer !. He was invited again in Août 2010.
DJ Colonel Sweetback's main influence is all the classic jazzy and funky music of the sixties and seventies, especially from soundtracks of that era. His musical relationship is based in film, where DJ Sweetback finished his film studies at the university of Villeneuve d'Ascq (France). His film background is an essential asset in the creation of his unique and original style that reflects the spirit of the 70s blaxpoitation era and beyond.
"I always try to find a place to mix that reminds me of a movie set. When I arrived in Brussels (Belgium) in 2004, I discovered the “Archiduc”, a spectacular art-deco jazz bar from the late 1930's. I immediately knew this was my movieset. The things I do when I start a mix are totally improvised ... it's always a detail in the crowd or in the bar that leads me into a certain direction. I see the movie of the evening and imagine the score of that movie by using a lot of instrumental funky music of the 60's and 70's in order to influence the rhythm of the evening."
"For me, every party is like a filmscenery, like a story which is created in front of my eyes and it feeds me. At that point, it's me who tries to put my rhythm and my choice of songs to illustrate what I see. Why using the 'insurance company” of Isaac Hayes instead of the theme of Bullit, I don't know, it's like when a film director says 'action' for a scene and it's only later that he knows what was the best interpretation. But in my case, it's always a one shot, it's like in “the Deer Hunter” of Michael Cimino when Robert de Niro is trying to kill a deer, he always wants to do this in one shot only, it's just that simple, one shot, one song! And when it's technicaly possible, I project blaxploitation and seventies film mixes in order to create also a visual vintage atmosphere."
Usually DJ Colonel Sweetback plays alone but when it's possible his best friend, DJ Adam Kunde, also from Lille (France), plays with him. Their love of playing together comes from understanding and complimenting one another. "With him, we become also real actors of that movie." Recently (2006), to translate their way of living and playing, they decided to create their own production firm called the “Boitaviande production”, a 100% funky concept! (See more on facebook : Boitaviande prod !)
With it, DJ Colonel Sweetback plans on creating and releasing funk compilations, bridging old and new funk concepts and creating real retro-vintage atmospheres. With his film background, the concept of the compilation expands with a mix of film loops and speeches that inspire the soul of the 70s blaxpoitation, released as DVDs. Also, Boitaviande productions plans on creating live blaxpoitation events with celebrity guests, live acts, and DJs creating a spectacle of Soul-Funk!
Actually, after the creation of the "Funk'n'Roll Party" and "The just one turntable party", he met Mr Magoo, a dj from Manchester specialized in Soul and Nothern Soul, and created a new concept, "Vinyl Addiction" (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vinyl-Addiction/164956083519481?ref=ts) !!! and in the same time, he started to play on every friday at the KafKa 21 Rue des poissonniers, 1000 Bruxelles.
Last February (24,25), Sweetback put the music atmosphere during The Affordable Art Fair at Tour et Taxis in Bruxelles.
New radioshow 05/06/2011 : The "Sweetback Sunday" is the radioshow of Colonel Sweetback. Based on the exploration of the soundtracks of the 60's70's, this show will introduce you to all the great composition made for a certain kind of movie : thriller, western, giallo, sfx, blaxploitation and B movies. All the known and unknown musicians will be reviewed sunday after sunday. First show talks about Roy Budd, the famous British jazz musician and film score composer who made the music of "Get Carter" in 1971. Broadcasted on Radio Vibration 107.2fm from one pm till two pm every sunday in Bruxelles.
- Check out this blog and soundcloud (
http://soundcloud.com/colonel-sweetback ) to discover the
other episode of the Sweetback Sunday on Vibration 107.2 fm.
The show continue in October 2011 on Vibration and also on
Electro FM 91.0 fm, same day from two pm till three pm
- I'm Not A Fuckin' Jukebox Party at La Touche d'Ivoire every thursday, friday and one saturday by month.
- Colonel Sweetback at the Midi Station every saturday.
- 17/12/11 : The Bellrays + Dj Colonel Sweetback at Eden in Charleroi : I'm Not A Fuckin' Jukebox Party ( https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=201830669884978 )
- 29/12/11- 31/12/11 : I'm Not A Fuckin' Jukebox Party : The Return of Colonel Sweetback! La Touche d'Ivoire Bruxelles
https://www.facebook.com/events/237034373027942/
- 21/01/12 : I'm Not A Fuckin' Jukebox Party : The Return of Colonel Sweetback! Le Bazaar Bruxelles
https://www.facebook.com/events/147470202030499/?context=create
- 26/01/12 : I'm Not A Fuckin' Jukebox Party : The Return of Colonel Sweetback! La Touche d'Ivoire Bruxelles https://www.facebook.com/events/147470202030499/
- Every thursday/friday/saturday : I'm Not A Fuckin' Jukebox Party : The Return of Colonel Sweetback! La Touche d'Ivoire Bruxelles
- 14/04/12 : Keep Calm and Trust Colonel Sweetback : I'm Not A Fuckin' Jukebox Party https://www.facebook.com/events/280234975385257/
- 26/05/12 : Fête du Châtelain/ Stand Radio Vibration
- 23/06/12 : Stratomic Party : Colonel Sweetback vs Daddy Tuner
https://www.facebook.com/events/426076684075624/
- 01/08/13 :
https://www.facebook.com/events/511548975581468/
- One friday by month at the Monk Café :
Last one :
https://www.facebook.com/events/615893368469549/
- Two thursday by month at La Bottega N.3 :
https://www.facebook.com/events/1776471424338
43/
for more details; go to https://www.facebook.com/pages/Colonel-Sweetback-aka-Im-Not-A-Fuckin-Jukebox/110735125677635?id=110735125677635&sk=events
and life goes on in Italy !
https://www.facebook.com/events/1374883746106391/
https://www.facebook.com/events/1379827502277280/
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