Dj Narrative aka Marc Reck

Birmingham, England, UK

WEBSITE: www.marcreck.com / www.djnarrative.com

FAVORITE MUSIC SOFTWARE: Traktor Scratch Pro, with S4 & 1210’s, Ableton, Anything by Spectrasonics & Izotope.

We met Marc Reck via email when he first had questions about the Big Namba Studio Backpack, wondering whether or not it would hold all (or at least the majority) of his gear. Then when Marc decided to make a purchase we had another issue to deal with as we didn’t have UK distribution for our products, so we helped him hook up with a distributor in another territory to make his purchase. But we soon learned that this man has the drive and energy to meet any challenge.

A quick look through his online EPK and you start scratching your head thinking, how can one individual do all of this? Not only does he perform live as DJ Narrative, but he supports other Djs, Performance & Visual Artists, is a educator teaching technology classes with his Reckorder Workshops, and has a weekly radio show.

A description of his 2011 music production collaboration Slamboree reads: “SLAMBOREE is a brand new LIVE next-level dance music circus band mashing up underground bass-driven beats with live orchestra, guitars, drums, turntablism, live looping, visuals, pyrotechnics and circus!!!!! NOT to be missed (or tried at home). Stomping through breakbeat, dubstep, drum & bass, dub, techno, house and electro, whilst throwing in balkan, gypsy vibes for good measure.” Who wouldn’t want to see this show?

TELL US ABOUT YOUR LATEST PROJECT?
“Latest Dj Project is my Dj Narrative podcast which features free production tutorials / free multi genres radio shows with turntablism, narrative, & bass (both downtempo & uptempo) & Back catalogue all freely available with links to all artists.
Also have a new DJ Narrative album of remixes coming out, which will also be free to newsletter subscribers - http://eepurl.com/cCeKU

Next gig is supporting the Nextmen & then will be working on our Dj Narrative AV show with live visual mapping with BLEND.”

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR NAMBA GEAR BAG?
“I looked at loads of bags when I bought it back in 2009 & the Big Namba Studio Backpackwas really the only solution out there for me due to my oversized laptop. I love the fact its really well made, the design is great and looks like a turtle shell, so its not too obvious its got all my kit inside it. It can house my big Dell laptop and the Novation Remote 25sl, and the stash pack carries my recording stuff, iriver & notebooks around. I use it regularly, theres no wear after 3 years, and its my go-to bag when taking my equipment to Dj & Production Workshops or to gigs.”

ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD?
“Here’s my entire back catalogue for free download - www.marcreck.com/djing a-decade-of-mixes-radio-shows-to-download (with links to all artists.
Namaste”

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Namba Gear: Samba Personal Stash Bag

John Scalici is an award winning teaching artist, internationally recognized drum circle facilitator, musician, and speaker. His powerful message of Unity Through Rhythm has been featured on campuses across the country. He is a drummer who has played in two national touring bands, written two albums worth of catchy, high energy blues rock songs, and shared the stage with the Allman Brothers, Santana, Widespread Panic, Govt’ Mule, Buddy Guy, among others.

As a solo artist and teaching artist, he has released two highly acclaimed CDs: RhythmMusic and Rhythms for Drumming and Movement.

We understand you’ve got several projects in the works. Tell us about them.

Well, my latest project is band related and really one of my INteractive programs, so here goes.

My music project is called Juka Tribe. The music is part acoustic, part electronic. We use a mixture of computer samples/textures, plus acoustic percussion, electronic percussion pads, live bass, and live spoken word. The music is funky and danceable with tribal beats and ambient textures. The album, called Juka Tribe, will be out in September 2011, and will be available digitally on iTunes and a host of other internet music sites as well as in CD form. For a taste of some live Juka Tribe, you can visit us @ http://www.facebook.com/JukaTribe or www.jukatribe.com.

As far as my INteractive programs, I facilitate rhythm-based programs all over the southeastern U.S.
I facilitated about 100 elementary, middle, and high school programs last year alone! In addition, I facilitate dozens of corporate/business groups throughout the year.

The message is always the same: Unity Through Rhythm. Leading people to lead themselves and become better communicators is something I feel very passionate about whether it’s a group of kids or an office full of corporate executives. In short, my daily life is about bringing drums and percussion instruments to people and helping them to Realize their Rhythm!

What do you like best about your Namba bag?

First, this is the BEST personal bag I’ve ever owned. I like the simplicity and functionality of the Samba Personal Stash Bag. There are just enough little compartments to store your stuff, but not so many that you forget where you put your stuff! It’s compact and stylish. The lighter colored interior makes it super easy to locate objects. One of the coolest things is the logo on the bag!! Goes perfect with my new project, Juka Tribe!!! Thanks for making such an awesome piece of equipment, ya’ll.

Do you have a favorite remote recording location?

Since I’m a drummer/percussionist/composer, I love to record drums in lots of places and create custom loops. One of my most favorite places to record drums is old, empty buildings with tall ceilings. In Birmingham, where I live, we have lots of places like this as well as like Sloss Furnace, a huge old furnace that was a cornerstone of Birmingham’s early success as a steel and metal town. My next project will be to record rhythms on all of the old pipes, furnaces, and pillars that are there. I’ll be keeping all my recording gear nice and safe in my other Namba bags!!

My last comment? Live everyday with passion and conviction, like it was your last. And…life’s too short to stay in bad hotels. Find a nice place to lay your head!

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VDJ Jimmy G

Location: Studio City, CA

Website: www.no1betta.com

Favorite Software: Serato Scratch Live

Namba Gear: 2 Big Namba Studio Backpacks

A music aficionado all of his life, Jimmy G was singing and entertaining audiences at the tender age of 4 yrs old. He attended the prestigious Idyllwild Arts Academy and he became one of the youngest people to join the Master Chorale, but his love of music led him to learn to play all brass instruments as well as his current instrument, the turntables. In addition, VDJ Jimmy G’s unmatched passion for Music, Pop Culture, and Technology led him to help pioneer the Video DJ movement in Los Angeles, his hometown.

Growing up with MTV and watching music videos and movies all of his life, he was able to find an outlet for his creativity through Video DJing. Combining music videos & pop culture with music & visuals, he has been stunning audiences everywhere! Also know for his wild karaoke parties, including performances at the Playboy Mansion and the Spelling Manor, as well as for Cher and Shannon Dougherty, Mindy Weiss coined him the “King of Karaoke”.

As the membership director for the Los Angeles chapter of the American Disc Jockey Association, he has the experience and knowledge to make your next event go to the next level. From weddings, to corporate functions, to Hollywood wrap parties, VDJ Jimmy G will exceed your expectations! To quote the late great Mayor of Hollywood, Johnny Grant, “Who knows, maybe someday I’ll be giving you a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!”

Tell us about you latest project?

It’s all about building No 1 Betta Entertainment to be a force to be reckoned with! Eventually to have featured recording artists, and taking No 1 Betta to film and television and perhaps even a clothing line.

What do you like best about your Namba Gear?

I love the look of the new Killer Bee! Also love the different compartments to store my things and that it provides easy access as well as the high quality materials used. I also feel that my computer is safe in case I drop my bag!

Anything you’d like to add?

I own two Big Namba Studio Backpacks. Really, I love everything about Namba Gear and I highly recommend them to everybody!

Note from Namba Gear: We met Jimmy G at the Mobile Beat show in Las Vegas, NV. His talent and passion for being the best at what he does was immediately apparent. When we explained our reasoning for not having black bags in our product line, Jimmy immediately got it… hard to find in the dark, hard to identify your bag, hard to find your stuff in the bag if the interior is black. Jimmy rose to the challenge and within 10 minutes we had a basic design for what would become the new Killer Bee Collection. There is no higher praise than, thank you and welcome to the family, Jimmy.

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We just received this Facebook post from our good friend, percussionist Taku Hirano, and wanted to share it.

“Namba Lil’ Remix bag, representin’ at the final tapings of the Oprah Winfrey Show. Onstage for performances with Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Patti Labelle, Jamie Foxx, Usher, Josh Groban, and Kristen Chenoweth, and appearances by Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise/Katie Holmes, Will/Jada Pinkett Smith, Madonna, Michael Jordan, Maya Angelou, Dianne Sawyer, Maria Shriver, Rosie O’Donnell, Rascal Flatts, Beyonce, Alicia Keys…”

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DJ Rob Sample

CITY: Toledo, Ohio

WEBSITE: www.rsdj3.com

FAVORITE MUSIC SOFTWARE: Serato, Ableton, Reason

NAMBA GEAR: Big Namba Studio Backpack, Lil Namba Remix Backpack, Samba Personal Stash Bag

Rob Sample is one of Toledo, Ohio’s most respected Djs. He started spinning in mid 1999 on off nights at local bars and night clubs. After developing his own style eventually moved on to weekends in some of Toledo’s bigger night clubs. By 2003 Rob had done over 2 dozen night clubs in Toledo and started getting calls to do even bigger night club grand openings(Banana Joes, Tabu, Metro, Ground Zero). In 2004 92.5 KISS Fm WVKS Toledo invited him to do a nightly mix show 100% LIVE on air and he gladly accepted (Club Kiss).

Six months later Rob then spent some brief time in Chicago djing store openings in big malls and smaller underground bars and night clubs in the area (Windsor Fashions, Spot 6). Upon his return to Toledo Hot 97.3 Fm had him do mix shows for the holidays as they were just breaking new grounds with the radio station (Memorial Day Mix Down and 4th of July Mix Down). In that point of his career he had already played for two radio stations opened for major recording artists like Mystikal (Jive Records), Proof (D12 - RIP), T-Pain (Jive Records), Danny The Wild Child (Q101 Chicago), Dj Seven (Chicago Disco Pimps), and Stacey Kidd (Camouflage Chicago). Don’t get it twisted even though Rob has spun quite a few hip/hop gigs his favorite music to get booked to play is still Funky House and Electro House and he is more explosive to watch when doing so.

Now it’s 2011 and Rob has done over 45 different local area clubs and has played in Cincinnati, Oh. (Mad Frog), Augusta, Ga. (Argos, Modjeska), Chicago, IL. (Spot 6), Detroit, Mi. (Club 22, The Works, Corktown Tavern), Ann Arbor, Mi. (The Necto), Las Vegas (Mandalay Bay, Riviera), Kentucky (Kentucky Derby 2010).

TELL US ABOUT YOUR LATEST PROJECT?

I am included in a project with Jameil Aossey that took Top 25 Albums in 2010 on indie-music.com. Track 3 off the album “Melodies” took 1st on the charts in September and November of 2010.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR NAMBA GEAR BAG?

I can fit everything in my Nambas “Big and Little” And they are very comfortable to wear to say the least. I don’t know what it is, but the Namba Gear bags seem to be a total babe magnet. Seriously, they can’t keep their hands off my Big Namba!

ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD TO THAT?

I LOVE NAMBA!!!!

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Taku Hirano (percussionist, producer)

CITY: New York, NY

WEBSITE: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Taku-Hirano/137428229609597?v=wall

FAVORITE MUSIC SOFTWARE: Reason, Ableton Live, and Pro-Tools

Born in Osaka, Japan, and raised in California, Taku Hirano is one of the top-call percussionists on the touring and recording circuit.

Taku has toured the world with Fleetwood Mac, Whitney Houston, Utada Hikaru, Bette Midler, Stevie Nicks, Lionel Richie, Isaac Hayes, and Lindsey Buckingham. He has also performed with Stevie Wonder, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Shakira, Mary J. Blige, LeAnn Rimes, Patti Labelle, Barry Manilow, Kenny Loggins, Chaka Khan, Brandy, The Neville Brothers, Wyclef Jean, Don Henley, and Sheila E., with notable jazz, jazz-fusion, and contemporary-jazz artists such as Gary Burton, Joe Zawinul, Jonathan Butler, Tom Scott, and Bennie Maupin, with gospel artists, Yolanda Adams, Bebe Winans, and Cece Winans., and with international artists such as Indian film composer A.R. Rahman (Oscar winner, Slumdog Millionaire), Japanese New Age pioneer Kitaro, Italian vocal icon Giorgia, Korean Classical group The Ahn Trio, and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

He has recorded with artists as diverse as Dr. Dre, Fleetwood Mac, Whitney Houston, The Temptations, Nelly Furtado, Jay-Z, Jason Mraz, Stevie Nicks, and Lionel Richie, in addition to working on numerous major motion picture and television scores and soundtracks. He also acted as a consultant for Trent Reznor for Nine Inch Nails’ “Lights In The Sky- Over North America 2008″ tour.

As half of the production team/duo Tao of Sound, he has worked as a producer, remixer, programmer, and performer for Tao of Sound recordings, commercial sound libraries for Big Fish Audio, and remixes for artists as such as Kanye West and Kitaro. Their album, “Metro,” was released by Domo Records in summer 2010.

Recent endeavors including television appearances with Shakira, concerts with Stevie Nicks, and joining Oscar/Grammy-winning composer, A.R. Rahman on his “Jai Ho: The Journey Home” World Tour. In addition to this, Taku continues to be a monthly columnist for DRUM! Magazine and was named “Best Rock/Pop Percussionist” in their annual reader’s poll for a second year in a row.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR LATEST PROJECTS?

Taku is currently on tour with Academy Award-winning composer, A.R. Rahman (”Slumdog Millionaire”) on his “Jai Ho: The Journey Home” World Tour, as well as doing North American dates with Stevie Nicks. Other performances in 2010 include wrapping a two-year stint with Bette Midler in her Las Vegas show, “The Showgirl Must Go On,” a U.S./U.K. tour with Japanese pop superstar Utada Hikaru, promo dates with Shakira and work with Dave Stewart, of the Eurhythmics.

He also recently released the album “METRO” through his production duo/band, Tao of Sound, on Domo Records. This album also features guest appearances by Grammy Award-winning New Age pioneer, Kitaro, and Sony BMG Classical artists, The Ahn Trio. Over the past year, Tao of Sound has done remixes for Kanye West, as well as sample libraries for Big Fish Audio.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR NAMBA GEAR BAG?

I love the portability of my Namba Lil’ Remix bag. By the end of 2010, it will have traveled all over the U.S., Canada, Japan, Korea, U.K., Germany, Switzerland, France, South Africa, and Southeast Asia. Everything I carry on the road with me (laptop, hard drives, cables, notebooks, flash drives, pens/pencils, studio headphones, in-ear monitors, digital camera, passport wallet, VIA instant coffee packs, Band-Aids, magazines, books, etc.) has a place.

People actually are astounded by how heavy and solid it is because I’m able to pack so much into it. But with the chest and waist strap, it’s so evenly balanced that it’s easy traversing airport terminals, train stations, and tour buses with it on my back.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE REMOTE RECORDING LOCATION?

The place I find myself most often programming is in the hotel room, although sometimes on the airplane. In terms of recording live percussion, I usually am at a proper recording studio… whether that is at Tao of Sound’s studio in Los Angeles, or in a remote location from the road.

I also am half of Queensberry Media, based in NYC and Washington D.C. Whereas Tao of Sound is a production duo specialized in doing remixes, sample libraries, and an artist duo in its own right signed to Domo Records, Queensberry Media specializes in music for multimedia, encompassing everything from commercials and websites, to producing recordings for artists or sound production/music composition for live events (ranging from speaking engagements to awards shows and conventions).

The most recent event Queensberry Media handled was creating music as well as producing the live audio for the ACT-SO awards ceremony at the NAACP National Convention in Kansas City, MO.

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