2B Continued Podcast 59 – UPZ

2B Continued Podcast – Presents and exposes the most creative artists of the Electronic Music Industry from Israel.

Avi Elman is the producer/DJ/songwriter behind various production projects including UPZ and his latest outing AEDJ (Avi Elman & Danny J); Avi also runs the deep house label soWHAT records.

Avi was born in Israel of mixed Turkish & Iraqi descent and raised in Kenya & South Africa where he developed a passion for Jazz, African and soulful grooves as well as being active in various live acts. He returned to Israel in 1997 and set up a recording studio in Tel-Aviv and DJ’ed in top Tel-Aviv spots such as Shalvata, Melle, Sub-let and Beach Bar as well as overseas.

Drop It, the new album by UPZ, marks a step forward in the music direction of the South African/Israeli producer & DJ. Not content with the tried & trusted, UPZ experiments and ventures into new sonic avenues whilst continuously extending his collaboration tentacles. House music textures may lay the foundation of the album, but UPZ is not shy to explore the different terrains within the genre; from afro house beats to fusing elements of soul, hip hop, nu disco and Jamaican dub.

Most apparent when listening to Drop It is UPZ’s penchant for vocals and songwriting; the album sees him collaborating with both well known & up-coming artists from South Africa and abroad…BlackwHole, Lifford, Proverb, Mariechan (Jamali), Jocelyn Mathieu, Siò, Thantaswa, Pearl, Shanteh, Obi Sanaa and Chris Rouse.

Beyond the mere exploration of universal themes of love, relationships and the “feel-good”, Drop It finds UPZ and co lyrically tap into topics of social relevance & mystique specifically with tracks like Drop It (feat Thantaswa), Sangoma’s Theme (feat Lifford), And In Time (with BlackwHole) and A Dream Away (with Siò, award winning vocalist of 1000 memories with Julian Gomes). Concurrently UPZ crafts his production with the dance-floor in mind, with plenty of groove appeal throughout. Disco Girl & Magic With You explore nu disco sonic aesthetics, whilst Take Me Away (feat Shanteh), Unbreakable (with Pearl) and Say What U Want (feat Mariechan & Proverb) convey afro-soul influenced rhythms.

2017 is a milestone in that it marks UPZ’s 10th anniversary. UPZ’s 2007 self titled debut (Japan, Rambling Records) featured his breakout single “Pure Surprise” which secured him a no.1 hit in South African in 2009. In 2012 UPZ’s album “Pioneers of House: UPZ” (Soul Candi) included production collaborations with Black Coffee, Black Motion & Qness. Support for UPZ productions have poured in from leading DJs including Fresh, Euphonic, Vinny Da Vinci, Black Coffee, Louis Vega & DJ Kent and his releases have graced powerhouse labels Defected, Strictly Rhythms and Objektivity.

Born in Tel Aviv, UPZ moved to Nairobi, Kenya with his family at the age of five and two years later relocated to South Africa. After graduating from WITS, he decided to pursue his passion for music upon moving back to Tel Aviv, Israel. Africa, however, continuously beckoned and UPZ returned to SA in 2014 & currently resides in Johannesburg.

“This album has been over two years in the making” says UPZ of Drop It “ I feel truly happy with the direction the album has taken and was honored to have worked with some great artists, songwriters and vocalists in it’s formation.”

Drop It contains ten new tracks, some of which have already been charted nationwide on leading radio stations (Sangoma’s Theme, Say What U Want) plus a bonus track, the new remix of Pure Surprise (2017 Sunrise Mix) currently on high rotation on music channels, MTV base, Trace Urban and charted on multiple radio stations.

UPZ – 2B Continued Podcast 59 – Preview Drop It Album Original Materials Mix

Tracklist:
1. A Dream Away – Sió & UPZ
2. Some People – Dahl Hates Disco (Cuebur & UPZ remix)
3. Take Me Away – UPZ feat Shantéh
4. Endless Motion – Dahl Hates Disco (UPZ & Abicah Soul Remix)
5. Village Ghetto Style – UPZ feat Chris Rouse
6. Say What U Want (Afro Mix) – UPZ feat Mariechan & Proverb
7. Unbreakable – UPZ feat Pearl
8. Drop It – UPZ feat Thantaswa
9. And In Time – BlackwHole & Obi Sanaa (co-prod UPZ)
10. Sangoma’s Theme – UPZ feat Lifford
11. Pure Surprise – UPZ feat DKP (Sunrise Mix)
12. Disco Girl – UPZ feat Jocelyn Mathieu
13. Magic With You – UPZ feat Chris Rouse

Drop It Album on Spotify
UPZ on Facebook