Few thrills compare to watching masters find their groove and launch it skyward. It’s pure ecstasy — wild, untamed souls channeling their essence through acoustic instruments, creating a […]
5 Selects: Byron the Aquarius (Alabama)
Birmingham-based keyboard wizard, producer, and DJ Byron the Aquarius first came up our radar back in 2016 through his High Life EP released on Theo Parrish’s venerable Sound Signature. Raised on jazz and classical piano from Frank E. Adams, an influential figure who taught the great afrofuturist composer Sun Ra, and mentored by New York-Detroit-Atlanta house legend Kai Alcé, Byron has crafted his own singular voice within the global music sphere by bridging genres from soulful jazz to contemporary hip-hop to deep house and even pop music.
Able to approach music from both a musician and DJ’s perspective, Byron is equally adept at moving through complex jazz progressions on the piano, Rhodes, or Roland synthesizers as he is crafting a club or festival stage beat on the Akai MPC, laptop, or whatever other piece of equipment shows up in the studio. He’s constantly collaborating with other musicians and artists in studios around the world and even worked with Outkast/Janet Jackson’s horn players on his sophomore album Ambrosia for Underground Resistance co-founder Jeff Mills’ label Axis Records.
His discography is massive, but a few more favorites include: his excellent ’90s-leaning, digital keyboard-heady 2020 EP on Funkineven’s Apron Records, atmospheric Larry Heard Gherkin Jerks house on EP1 for the iconic Dutch dance music label Clone in 2023, and spoken house vocal “Black is Black” on Phonogramme released earlier this year. Byron’s latest EP is a festival-ready club jammer on Los Angeles-based house label Higher Ground. “Just A Beat / Kitty Kat” features a much more psychedelic sound with pulsing basslines, extended breaks, and percussion.
Below, Byron shared some favorites that have influenced or inspired him from both inside and outside of clubland including under-the-radar late ’70s jazz fusion, classic Mizell Brothers jazz-funk, a soul gem, and ghostly house music from Miami’s Greg Beato.
Dale Jacobs – Almost Home (1978)
“I stumbled on this album when I was in Amsterdam for Dekmantel years back. The album, Cobra, is all just inspiring high-energy jazz prog rock. I was in London when Funkineven from Apron Records put me up on Dale Jacobs. From then on, the album stayed in my crate bag 4 Life. I’ve been running it though my Akai S900 to sample the smooth Rhodes………”
Magnum Force – Share My Love (1982)
“A very special album to me, this one right here. I can just play this when I’m in need of inspiration. This album was a special piece. Found this gem in Chicago hanging with the legend Mark Grusane. Dusty Groove, if I remember right, was the spot I got put on. Found hella gems. I spent almost $500 at that shop. Found some crazy jazz drum break samples.”
Charles Rouse – Hopscotch (1974)
Took me ages to find this, but finally copped it in London. One of my favorite records. Charles Rouse was on another dimension when this project was made. Raw jazz rhythms and bassline. Nasty.”
Bobbi Humphrey – Please Set Me at Ease (1975)
“Was given this as a gift in Detroit. Special record I held close to me, that Fancy Dancer Album. Then, me being a producer, I was so inspired by the Mizell Brothers. Nasty synths, pianos, strings, etc. Their early work with Jackson 5 & going to that museum in Motown inspired me heavy. Knowing the Mizell Brothers were Involved on the record, I followed all the works and productions of them with Bobbi Humphrey, etc… One of them records I will NEVER sell.”
Greg Beato – JOJ (2017)
“Raw, filthy, and nasty!! That’s all I got to say, lol. Love Greg Beato. Kid from Miami. This EP on the label L.I.E.S? Found this in Amsterdam at Rush Hour. Some good memories with this record. Forever staying in my crates.”
