It's a genuine pleasure to welcome the next guest on our mix series, Ifeoluwa aka Yewande Aderniran. A scene stalwart of both London and Bristol, they are someone who is undoubtably already on your radar. Having just launched a new label ipaadi that kicked off with a solo release from Robin Stewart of Giant Swan, as well as having run INTERVENTION, their club event/DJ and production workshops, for the last few years (and occasionally at Rye Wax!), they are showing no signs of slowing down on their contributions to music and our wider nightlife community.
In addition to their music success, Yewande is a respected visual artist, academic and writer, and a prominent voice on race and gender. Their words regularly feature in publications like Mixmag, The Wire, Gal-dem, Resident Advisor and Vice. Which means it was a delight to speak to them about pressing issues within nightlife as well as more lighthearted takes on pop punk!
***Please note that as Yewande is non-binary we have referred to them using they/them pronouns throughout this piece and we request that should you share either the mix or interview you respect this and do so as well.***
Tracklist:
Public Image - The Order Of Death The KVB - Never Enough Molly Milsson - The lonely The Soft Moon - Desertion Qual - Disease X Xmal Deutschland - Incubus Succubus II Drab Majesty - Ellipsis Ash Code - Betrayed Soviet Soviet - Going Through Joy Division - She’s Lost Control Ash Code - Oblivion Lebanon Hanover - Hall Of Ice She Past Away - Rituel Linea Aspera - Lamanai Minute Machine - Chaos Alice Glass - Without Glass Hante. - Wasting Time Boy Harsher - Tears Ritual Howls - Mother Of The Dead
What’s the perfect BPM to win your heart?
140. No doubt about it. There’s just something about it that really gets me going.
If someone was taking you on a dream date where would it be and would it involve bubble tea?
To Idle Hands. I look across the instrumental grime section, you reach across for the same record as me and we lock eyes for far too long making everyone raise their eyebrows asking if we’re alright.
What are your red flags when a promoter is trying to book you?
Very very vague requests and then low balling. I always try to check out their page to see what kind of artists they book and if it’s just a token booking. I’m lucky that I ask friends for advice but if you have a gut/bad feeling about something, you’re probably right and there’s no point playing a night you won’t be comfy at. More gigs definitely do come along if you say no!
If you could have had one thing change over the course of the pandemic what would it be?
People (in the West/Global North especially) generally falling even deeper into individualism and using the pandemic as an excuse to become even more self-centred and push marginalised people even further away. Also wish I bought a smoothie machine.
Why did you decide to set up your own label? And why was Robin Stewart from Giant Swan the first release?
It’s something I always wanted to do. I was definitely that annoying teenager who was a bit too into music. Growing up I saw myself either being a writer or being in a band or a composer but as I got more into dance music, I was like why don’t I share the incredible music I’m coming across everyone. It seemed like a natural progression to me.
Earn by Giant Swan was the very first record I ever played out. It’s a record that very special to me. It’s also the sound I’m most about. Dark, punky but electronic (lol) and over the years Robin became a close friend of mine through our shared love for the ridiculous so it made sense that we put something out together! He really understands the sesh but also what I’m trying to do with INTERVENTION.
Can you tell us what we can expect forthcoming on the label or at the very least where you plan to take it?
A lot of it is still under wraps but it’s going to involve a lot of different mediums and sounds. I suppose like most labels lol.
What’s in the bag for your set at the Brainchild wrap party at Colour Factory?
It’s tricky to know what I’ll play until the day of the gig. It really depends what kind of mood I’m in and how silly I feel. But for this I know I’ll play the new Anz release, India Jordan, a couple tracks from the first ipaadi release, probably some pop because nothing quite hits at 2am like a big sing along and then some rowdy wiggy stuff just because. Plus I have some wobs and beeps and bloops. I think the kids call it "Leftfield Techno".
What can venues and promoters do to tackle issues like accountability and transformative justice? Or where can they start with this big topic?
Stop backing someone who has caused harm because they’re your friend. It sounds simple but a lot of things are shrugged off because people don’t want to get involved as they know the person. That’s automatically taking the side of the perpetrator and also sends a clear message to everyone that they can get away with it and also that marginalised people must somehow suffer in silence or cease to exist in the very spaces that were created for us. It’s not a question of education anymore because of lot of racially privileged people know the language used by activists and academics - it’s now about just refusing to comply and build communities and spaces away from that. If we can hold each other close, prioritise those who usually aren’t, have open tough questions then accountability stops being this scary ogre looming over people and becomes something we can all strive towards ensuring we have routinely - not just after someone has gone through the trauma of calling someone out.
What’s one thing you love about Bristol and one thing you would change about it?
The different sounds you can find in the city if you dig a little deeper, which makes it really exciting!! and of course places like Strange Brew and Idle Hands, which are great hubs for new local talent!
This won’t be a surprise but the racism and anti-blackness that is rife - like most of this country / world. It’s meant that, just as we see in other creative industries, a lot of colourism and misogynoir goes unchecked and becomes normalised. It’s 100% not a vibe!
And finally what is your favourite pop punk classic and why?
Oh wow, this is the hardest question you’ve asked. It has to be Sum 41’s instant classic Fat Lip. Also Frank Zummo is stupidly peng. Like the bald headed techno bois have nothing on him.
I’m gonna be cheeky and also mention Taking Back Sunday’s Cute Without the "E" (Cut From the Team), which is one of my favourite songs ever. It has so much emotion in it and the lyrics ‘why can't I feel anything from anyone other than you?’. Proper tugs at the heartstrings yano. The precursor to me being a massive emo.
Catch Ifeoluwa at The Colour Factory in Hackney Wick this Saturday the 25th of September for the Brainchild Wrap Party.