How the fanzine refused to die
Simon Reynolds over at The Guardian with some input from me.
Archive for the ‘woofah’ Category.
BEYOND THE iMPLODE: WOOFAH 3
Martin in leaving the house shocker!
Sadly, only to discover the hell which is shifting small press publications to an almost willing public:
licking stamps, listening to ipod
…was mainly spent in the post office and drinking (tho not at the same time). It amazes me how many people come out of the woodwork this time of year who have no idea about post office etiquette. Like, yes, you have to bring your own box for the things you are sending – and n0, it isn’t ok if you wrap it all up while we wait in the queue.
I take my post office and distribution role very seriously. Hell, I’ve even introduced some new security since the new issue of Woofah was printed. All issues are now guarded by our fearsome kitty-guard whilst sitting in the postroom at Woofah HQ:
I’ve sent out over a hundred copies of Woofah issue 3 over the last week and about 400 have gone to distributors. So now is the time to grab yourself a pre-christmas treat if you were hesitating. Buy direct or from our recommended stockists.
Whilst waiting in line to be served by the nice ladies (and gentlemen) at the P.O. I have had a chance to catch up with some podcasts and stuff:
Mr Trick and Wrongtom do a podcast for Resonance FM (who should let them on the airwaves again!). Really great eclectic tunes and some excellent chat – I really like the interplay between the two and it’s quite relaxing to listen to people speaking about music for a change rather than seamless mixes. Their xmas speciall went up today, so check that out if you want to feel festive. Paul STN brought this to my attention because the Hertfordshire accent of one of the duo reminded him of me.
Grievous Angel – 4×4 Hell Mix – Paul Meme brings the garridge flava with some great warm basslines and even the odd snatch of Burning Spear vocal. Great stuff for warming up.
Dusk+Blackdown+Trim: Rinse FM show. Nuff said, really! A rare return to radio for Trimbal.
Cassava Outernational: test press for Hiders show mix – some Rhythm & Sound, reggae and dubstep, exquisitely blended. Pale Rider flagged this up in the comments boxes here, so out to him.
Wiley vol1: Grimetapes.com compilation of the man’s finest moments on pirate radio.
Sufferah’s Choice – DJ Stryda, denizen of UK Dub and the Bristol reggae scene. Radio show from Passion FM – this episode featuring Mark Iration in characteristically lively form.
Still to hear:
Heatwave’s best of 2008 mix for FACT Magazine
D Double E – Grimetapes comp similar to the Wiley one above.
Woofah issue 3 is OUT!
Copies have already been sent to contributors and most of the people featured.
See the website for full details of contents and some nice paypal buttons!
It’s bloody great, I have to say…
Woofah #3 is being printed
Right now!
I am very excited about this, but don’t want to give too much away before it arrives.
In the meantime please treat yourself to a “behind the scenes” feature about the world’s best Reggae/Grime/Dubstep fanzine courtesy of Beyond The Implode:
A Day In The Life of a Woofah Contributor
Dot Rotten meets Blackdown and Saxon uptown
We featured Young Dot in Woofah issue 1′s feature on upcoming Grime MCs, but we missed something then which fits so nicely into the Woofah worldview that I’m kicking myself now.
Young Dot subsequently mutated into Dot Rotten, and killed off his former incarnation with the excellent “RIP Young Dot” mixtape. It’s one of my favourite grime releases of the year so far, resolutely sinister, downbeat and almost veering into the gothic territory of Wu-Tang.
After I’d played the CD a few times I checked the sleevenotes, and there it was:
“Special Thanks To Dennis Rowe”
I froze. And smiled. WIDE.
Dennis Rowe… fuck. Dennis Rowe is the don – manager of Saxon Studio International, UK soundsystem legend. The man who oversaw the first serious outbreak of the UK MC virus.
Was it the same one? How did that happen? So many questions.
Fortunately the man like Blackdown has answers – in this extenisive interview with Dot Rotten.
I’m not gonna post the juicy bits here, check out the whole thing…
things I will attempt to do this week
invoicing for Woofah / lots of scanning / dump stuff in charity shop / water newly planted (not by me) vegetables / listen to the new blogariddims podcast / get technics deck fixed / transcribe an interview tape / review Downpressor’s record he sent me ages ago / purchase mixtapes by Jammer, Tinchy Stryder and the new Ruff Sqwad 12″ on no hats no hoods oh and a copy of ‘Smell of Female’ by The Cramps / finish reading Jason Toynbee’s slightly too academic Bob Marley: Herald of the Postcolonial World / answer all my emails, texts, private messages / watch Barbarian Queen featuring Lana Clarkson / start on sleevenotes for next blogariddims with Paul Meme / get to these:
WOOFAH needs designers
Awesome fanzine seeks bass-head designers for mutual layout fun
Can you help?
Woofah is an independently produced magazine covering reggae, grime, dubstep and all points in between.
We have just published our 2nd issue featuring Durrty Goodz, Tippa Irie, Iration Steppas, Scuba, grime and policing and a whole lot more – see website for details: http://www.woofahmag.com
We are looking for people to join our team and help with the design for future issues.
If you:
- Are into the idea and look of the magazine
- Have some experience of design but would like more
- Know their way around Quark and can work with templates
- Are passionate about the music we cover and want to help promote it
- Are willing to work to an agreed deadline
then, please get in touch!
If you have any examples of your work to show us, send some links or samples.
Nobody gets paid to produce Woofah, but working on the mag will get your work published and help get the word out about the artists and their music. Everyone who contributes receives a full credit in the magazine and on our website.
We are hoping to get a few designers on board to work on a spread each (2-5 pages) so that the magazine continues to look wicked.
All enquiries to info at woofahmag dot com or via the myspace
John Eden and Paul Meme / woofah
new
Most of last week was spent putting Woofahs in envelopes, getting it into shops and telling people about how great it is. Which was and is, a good laff. Here’s a quick run down of some other stuff tho:
Paul Meme has an album coming out! And some other stuff I don’t know if I can tell you about yet! He’s been played by Mary Anne Hobbs on Radio one and Blackdown and Dusk on Rinse FM. It’s all sounding very good indeed.
Paul is interviewed about the project in Tom Lea’s new column in Fact Magazine, which includes a free downloadable grime mix from DJ Magic of Dirty Canvas fame.
Melissa Bradshaw now has a blog called Decks and the City, which you should all check, not least so you can see the context to the phrase “I was totally even more bewildered than Coki with the tits girl.”
Heatwave’s outstanding An England Story set has been getting some great reviews including a full pager in the Guardian guide at the weekend. They have a 12″ out on Soul Jazz also and more to follow. Their Roots Reality and Culture mix for Blogariddims has stopped me going postal in the post office on more than one occasion. This is just some of the news posted on their blog, which you need to check out on the regular.
Other stuff I’ve been checking includes:
Trim – Soulfood 3 mixtape
Riko – The Truth mixtape
David Rodigan presents Real Authentic Reggae Music comp (BBE)
Eek A Mouse – Most Wanted (Greensleeves)
Triston Palmer – Joker Smoker (Greensleeves)
Zareb – The Cake Must Slice (Greensleeves)
v/a – This is Lovers Rock (Greensleeves)
all of which comes highly recommended. Oh and some material for a blogariddims mix me and Paul are working on.
I’m sure I’ve missed a load of stuff out, it’s hectic times.
WOOFAH 2 IS OUT RIGHT NOW
Roll up roll up come and get yer Woofahs, fresh of the press!
Think they look great? They feel even better when you hold one in your hands – believe!
Available NOW from woofahmag.com
Available SOON from our recommended worldwide stockists (see website for details).
More pages, more colour, more great writing!