The founder of CASAMENA Records and partner (with Osunlade) of Ocha Records, Carlos Mena (facebook, podcast, myspace, twitter, discogs) has produced music for artists ranging from Arrested Development and Tre Hardson (The Pharcyde) and on labels including Yoruba, Vega and Got Soul. I talked to him about his residency (Yoruba Dance Sessions), industry hustle and art and upcoming CASAMENA/Ocha releases (Q&A immediately follows the mix below):
How much thought and preparation have gone into building up Yoruba Dance Sessions? And what kind of a weekly crowd do you bring in?
CARLOS MENA: Yourba Dance Sessions has been in the works for 3 years. I wanted to get a weekly party going in Oakland to give back to the people who have nurtured me over the years. I wanted a place where I could share what I have been playing and absorbing around the world, and a place with an amazing sound system. I finally found it! We gather the most soul-filled spirits from the Bay and we rock every Thursday at yorubadancesessions.com. Upcoming guests include, Osunlade, Theo Parrish, and Louie Vega.
Your remixes all have a name of a different part of the house in the title. Is this literally where you put them together? What's the difference between, say, a Basement/Kitchen/Back Yard/Living Room remix?
CARLOS MENA: Basement mixes are about the bass and drums, backyard mixes are more of an outdoor, summer in NY vibe, (for me anyway). The Living Room mixes are more complete and have piano, guitar, strings or other live instrumentation. Living Room mixes are the closest to "music" as I've come over the last 5 years. I say this because I consider most of the work I've done as being more simplistic and groove oriented and more for the dance floor. I am looking forward to this fall when I will return to writing songs, making music and expressing myself in full context.
Orson Welles said about the movie business that it was maybe 5% art and 95% hustle. How much hustle do you put into running a record label now?
CARLOS MENA: It's been 50% hustle and 50% aesthetics, meaning I have been mixing down songs for my artists, and working on art direction with my graphic designers. I feel blessed that the artists on the label believe in our common goal which is to put out good music. I am proud of every Ocha release and enjoy the art and the hustle.
How did you partner up with Osunlade for Ocha? Have you known each other apart from music or did that lead you together?
CARLOS MENA: I approached Osunlade about 6 years ago for a project called "Afro Cuban Bata Experiment" (which I am completing with award winning master percussionist Michael Spiro) and we just hit it off. I am blessed to have Osunlade as a part of my musical and spiritual life.
I've been hearing a lot about the upcoming Ezel album. Tell me what we can look forward to from that and other Casamena/Ocha releases?
CARLOS MENA: Ezel is a wonderful talent from the Dominican Republic, which we have watched blossom over the last couple of years. His debut album Secreto documents this phase of his musical life. There are soulful,deep, jazzy and techy tunes that will feed a lot of heads this summer and fall. A couple of my favorites are "In My Lifetime" featuring Tamara Wellons, which has been remixed by Deetron and Osunlade (coming at the end June 2010), and "Path to Love" featuring Monday Michiru. Another tasty tune coming this summer is, "Zvinosviririsa" by Mzee feat. Pops Mohamad and Oluhle, with remixes from Manoo, Justin Imperiale, Fabrizio Ortella, Tommy Bones and more.
I have a few releases coming on the Palm Sugar label which include, the underground banger "Lerato" with remixes by Trinidadian Deep and myself as well as a compilation showcasing some of the talents coming from South Africa entitled "Carlos Mena presents the S.A. Lions" including songs by Black Coffee, Culoe de Song, Nathan X, DJ Mtshepang and others. I am grateful to all the fans for opening their ears and hearts. Thank you!
