Live from Catalyst’s music studios at Funkhaus Berlin, we present part 4 of our live-streamed events with Amplify and Catalyst’s mentors. Join us as we discuss creative workflow, technical process and life as an artist with Afriqua and Philippa, followed by a Q&A with your questions answered live.
Tune in HERE
ABOUT
Afriqua
... AKA Adam Longman Parker crafts his mercurial productions with an eye to the future and an ear to the past. At a young age, he straddled the seemingly disparate worlds of classical music and hip-hop, studying piano works while developing his skills as a producer and DJ. Diving into turntablism and b-boy culture, he performed alongside pioneers Jazzy Jay, Grandwizard Theodore, and Grandmaster Caz, formative experiences that evolved into a natural versatility behind the decks.
Born and raised in Virginia, Parker was inspired by the productions of local legends The Neptunes, Timbaland, and Missy Elliot. He went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London by day, while receiving the essential nightlife education of institutions like Fabric and Plastic People. He moved to Berlin a few years later, embracing the city’s rich musical offerings.
His early productions as Afriqua caught the attention of independent labels including 2nd Drop Records, Souvenir, and All Inn, where he explored sounds both firmly within the house/techno sphere and unmistakably beyond it. 2017 marked the beginning of an exclusive relationship with R&S Records.
Standout tracks “Soul Correction,” “Chronic Cool,” and his R&S debut “Aleph” have been DJ and crowd favorites alike, and exemplify Parker’s approach to production: weaving deep samples into spacey sonic tapestries, honoring black heritage while propelling it into the future.
Philippa
A long time lover of house music, Philippa launched her own record label At Peace in 2019,
seeking autonomy and independence around releasing music. Focusing on the deeper end of house music the label launch brought her to the attention of record labels such as London’s Slothboogie and Jimpster’s Freerange - for which she has a forthcoming ep in 2021.
Originally from New Zealand and currently residing in Berlin, Philippa has been DJing since the late 90s. An in-demand player in the NZ electronic music scene, headlining national tours and hosting the popular Friday Drive radio show on NZ’s leading electronic music station George FM, she also threw down at the helm of her party Chicago Disco - a rocksteady fixture of the NZ house scene for over ten years.
In 2013 Philippa moved to Europe to focus on music production. Currently teaching electronic music and associated subjects at Catalyst - Institute of Creative Arts and Technology - she is simultaneously studying for a Masters in Creative Music Production, researching transcendent experiences through sound.
philippa.bandcamp.com
Amplify Berlin
... is a residency program initiated by ACUD Macht Neu, designed to support emerging Berlin-based musicians through mentorships with more established ones in order to facilitate creative development through guidance, a focused work environment and access to resources.
Catalyst (formerly dBs Berlin)
... is a unique creative-production learning community based at the extraordinary Funkhaus facility, offering BA (Hons) and Master degree programmes in music production, film, visual effects and screen acting. Catalyst aims to create an active learning environment that encourages students to push their creative boundaries and excel beyond what they thought possible.