Ocha Records

WMC ROOFTOP SESSION – Mar 19th, 2012

casamena — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:28:20 +0000

OCHA RECORDS WMC ROOFTOP SESSION

@ CLEVELANDER SOUTH BEACH, 1020 Ocean Drive, C-LEVEL Rooftop

Monday March 19th, 2012 1:00pm- 8:00pm NO COVER

Come chill out with us and enjoy an amazing ocean view, while you jam to some of Ocha Records amazing artists and collaborators!

RSVP HERE: http://www.facebook.com/events/125310577592447/

DJs:

Ron Trent
DJ Ausar
Rafael Moraes (Nomumbah)
Djinji Brown
Cecil Carthen
Tommy Bones
Carlos Mena
Sabine Blaizin

*Ocha Records giveaways & more!

*Check out vid as Miami welcomes our very own Carlos Mena at the Clevelander!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJl92eDmIZo

Interview in 5 Magazine: Carlos Mena, Ocha and the Invasion of South African House Music

admin — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:57:21 +0000

“Big in South Africa” is the new “Big in Japan”. The sound of South Africa has rejuvenated Soulful House Music – in many ways, brought it back from the brink – and Ocha Records has been releasing some of the best of it.

The brainchild of Carlos Mena and Osunlade, Ocha “was getting a lot of demos from South Africa,” he told me, “and a lot of them were really good. I didn’t want South Africa to be the focus for Ocha Records so we started Ocha Mzansi (meaning ‘Ocha South’, as in South Africa).

“The South African scene is evolving, and productions are becoming more and more sophisticated for sure in the last year or two.”

And yet… since “long term vision” has never meant much in the music industry, a bandwagon similar to what plowed through Chicago in the early 1980s is now running full steam ahead. Scarcely concealed rip-offs of Black Coffee, Culoe de Song and other stars of the nascent SA scene have flooded the market, from both Euro and American imitators and not-ready-for-primetime natives caught up in the chase for the latest fad.

“Some traditionally good labels are putting out some below average material,” Carlos observes. “When a finished product comes along from South Africa, sometimes they even come with remixes from other South African producers.

“Listen: some of the labels we love are one man shops with little or no budget. They’re run by folks with day jobs. So it’s easy for a label to sign South African productions for no money, because these guys want to get put on real bad.

“That’s actually one of the things I love about the South African scene. They are hungry! It reminds me of the early days of Hip Hop. They’ve won over my heart for real!” The influence goes both ways: Mena himself is considered one of the most influential DJs to the South African scene.

So rather than scooping up South African productions and slapping an American logo on it, Ocha has been investing in South African talent and helping to break the genuine article.

“We’ve been pursuing tunes that have broken big in South Africa and putting together superstar packages. For example, ‘I Wanna Love You’ [by Lulo Cafe feat. Nothende] was a #1 song in South Africa. When Ocha released it, we brought The Layabouts, Josh Milan and Manoo into the mix.”

Coming up is a new release from one of my favorite South African producers, DJ Qness, who hasn’t broken in the United States yet – emphasis on the word yet,considering the star-studded cast assembled for his first Ocha Mzansi release, “Time”. “Abicah Soul did a really nice remix and Ron Trent murdered it too. The Ron Trent remix is deep!”

And another artist the label is investing in is EnaWadan, with a track called “Forever” that is currently getting beaten in the clubs by Osunlade, Master Kev and several more stateside heavyweights. Due to be released (with a Timmy Regisford edit) as aTraxsource exclusive at the end of November, “It’s one of the hottest cuts I’ve heard in a long time. Atjazz has remixed it, by the way, and created an amazing journey within one tune. It’s one of the best remixes I have heard from him and I love everything he does.”

EnaWadan “Forever” by Ocha Records

As for making Ocha’s imports from South Africa stand out against the deluge of mediocre releases: “For me it’s always about the aesthetic of Ocha and the taste level we try to maintain.

“If the shit’s hot, we want it. Otherwise, we give them some advice and move on.”

Enawadan – Forever

admin — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 05:16:54 +0000

Ocha Mzansi presents EnaWadan, an amazing young talent recently signed to Ocha. He is currently working on his debut album for us and when we first heard “Forever”, we were floored. Already getting crazy love from our favorite DJs like Osunlade, Danny Krivit, Franck Roger, Atjazz, Timmy Regisford, Master Kev and many more.

Video created by Jazzmattik/Jazzpoetix

http://www.thismovement.net

“Easily one of the most amazing dance tunes I’ve heard all year!” “EnaWadan’s vocal reaches through you and touches your soul, then his beats lift your body off the ground and you surrender.”- Carlos Mena (Ocha Records / BEMBE)

Check out the early reactions from our tastemaker DJs

Danny Krivit (718 Sessions / Body & Soul) – This is great!

Vinny Da Vinci (Metro FM / House Afrika) – OCHA MZANSI continues bringing us QUALITY stuff… Here’s another one that’s sure gonna BURN the floors worldwide…

Tony Humphries (Tony Records) – Excellent underground track…

Franck Roger (Real Tone/Djoon) – Nice one on this… all mix speaks to me especially the Timmy and Adam mix.

Written by: Goodwill Gumede
Original and Club Edit Produced by: EnaWadan
Mastered by Carlos Mena @ CASAMENA Studios, Miami Beach, FL
Executive Producer Carlos Mena
A&R: Carlos Mena & Bongani Chehore
Art Direction and Design Chamo Studios
C&P Ocha Records 2011

for licensing contact bongani@ochamzansi.com
to submit demos contact ocharecords@gmail.com

Ezel performing at ADE

admin — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:32:06 +0000

It is that time of the year where some of the biggest names in dance music industry get together for the Amsterdam Dance Event. This year our friends at BODY MUSIC, a Amsterdam house music powerhouse has invited Ezel to be part of the already star filled “Let the singer be heard” party, in collaboration with Code Red Music. This will come down oct. 22nd and it will be Ezel first appearance ever in Amsterdam, sharing the stage with other prominent producers,singers and djs like AtJazz, Phil Asher, Dj Spen, Barbara Tucker, Marc Evans etc… dope dope dope.

Lulo Cafe feat. Nothende “I Wanna Love You” Remixes

admin — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 21:09:51 +0000

Available on vinyl at Juno: http://www.juno.co.uk/products/i-wanna-love-you/430457-01/

Lulo Cafe feat. Nothende “I Wanna Love You” – One of the hottest songs of 2011 in South Africa and this year’s WMC, gets the treatment from some of house music’s top producers. DJ Manoo, The Layabouts and DJ Cecil ft. JoshfromBlaze, provide three different takes on this beautiful vocal, each equally capable of filling a dance floor.

Marques Wyatt (Deep LA/NYC) - “A lethal set of mixes of a great song from one of the genres most consistent labels.”

Jimpster (Freerange Records) – “Manoo mix for me. Lovely stuff.”

Alix Alvarez (Sole Channel) - “Love the vocal.”

Greg Gauthier (Dance Culture/Djoon) – “Great Remixes!”

Jojo Flores (GotSoul/Therapy) - “Ocha Records has done it again. This joint is hot, and you needed it yesterday.”

Daz-I-Kue (Bugz In the Attic) – “Awesome release!”

Mark Mendoza – (280 West / Cyberjamz) “This package is a perfect example of the consistent quality heat Ocha Records brings!”

Master Kev (Code Red/Defected) “Playing this like crazy! Full Support!”

Oli Lazarus (Reel People) - “Great package and song.”

Ted Patterson - “Great work here. Full Support!”

Franck Roger (Real Tone/The 5 Beats/Djoon) - “Manoo mix for me!”

Ralf Gum (Go Go) - “Will be in my sets!”

Ian Friday (Libation/Tea Party Music) – “This is a sweet tune with some heavy remixes pushing you onto the dancefloor. Ocha does it again!”

Groove Assassin – “Killer cut… heavy support. Great stuff yet again from Ocha. Gonna rock the floor!”

QB Smith – “Hot, Hot Hot!”

Zepherin Saint (Tribe) - “This label is on fire. .. will rock the dancefloor!”

Boddhi Satva (Offering/Vega) - “Huge! Definitely feeling Cecil’s mix.”

Matt Langrish-Smith (Tribe) – “This will get lots of play by the Tribe family at our parties for sure!”

Franco De Mulero - “I’m really feeling it. Full Support!”

David Harness (Thread Recordings) - “Great Remix Package”

Marlon D (Underground Collective) - “Slammin! Full Support!”

http://www.traxsource.com/index.php?act=show&fc=tpage&cr=titles&cv=109398

Join the Ocha Records team

admin — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 20:13:17 +0000

OK so let’s get it straight. We are not Universal Records, or even Defected. What we are is a very small, 5 year-old, independent label with worldwide physical and digital distribution. Although we have been releasing mostly Deep and Afro House music, our interest is in all things soul-filled, regardless of genre.

We have big plans for 2011 and beyond, including the launch of Ocha Mzansi, but we need some help to make it all happen. We are looking for a few select Ocha Records believers, with some specific skills. Tell us why you want to be a part of the team. If you don’t see a job below that fits you, please tell us how you can help.

What we need:

Internet Marketing Brand Manager
We need more people to be aware of our brands, Ocha Records, Ocha Mzansi and The CASAMENA Radio Hour. Do you know how to get the word out? Facebook, Twitter? Tell us how else you can help.

Music Promotions
Bloggers? DJs? Print? Radio? Can you manage these people and get them to love our music?

Online Promotions
Are you better suited for posting on Boards, FB, Twitter?

Graphic / Web Design
You’ve seen our aesthetic and taste. We need to expand the Web design team and our Graphic design team ASAP, so show us your stuff.

Label Manager
This one is not for the faint of heart. I’ve been doing this job for the last 5 years. Dealing with artists, designers, labels, distributors, handling contracts, managing timelines, release schedules, budgets, … you get the idea, it’s an important job that I am ready to share with the right person and personality.

Licensing Manager
We have some pretty terrific songs with even more amazing tunes coming soon. This job is simple, place our music. Tell us what you can do.

Bloggers
Do you know what’s going on in the world of house? How about South Africa? Can you handle posting to WordPress? Tell us about it.

Street Teams
I guess we should have some of those. What do you think?

Artist Liaison
Can you stay in touch with our artists? Keep everyone informed about what they are working on, their tours and any other news.

A&R Manager
Find artists sure, but we also like to develop and nurture their talent. Can you help us match the artists with the right producers, give advice on songs, mixes, project direction? Yes? Cool hit us up! please be ready with your resume, this is not a job for beginners.

Accountant/Bookkeeper
Yes we pay our artists! As we continue to grow, we will need someone more organized than me to take over this job.

Interns
You don’t have a ton of experience but really want to get involved because you love what we are doing and have a few hours a week to help us out? Great! Let us know how you can help!

email your resume, love letters, poems, and share your passion with us:
ocharecords@gmail.com

Thank you!

Siso K feat. Tumi Lerato (Incl. Casamena and Trinidadian Deep mixes)

admin — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:41:39 +0000

Ocha Records presents the debut from Ocha Mzansi: Lerato

Lerato means love and we love this package.

From the Main mix to Trinidadian Deep’s thick Afro beats, this one goes straight to your core. Once you hear this tune a club, you will understand why it is one of the most anticipated underground tracks for 2011.

just a few of the DJs supporting this release: “Incredible” – Martin Iveson (Atjazz) “Huge… definitely feeling Trini’s mix.” – Boddhi Satva (Offering/Vega) “I will drop Lerato all over South Africa!” – Lars Berenroth (Deeper Shades of House) “Deep, dark and dangerous vibes right here. Trini gets deep on this one for sure. A Libation scorcher no doubt.” – Ian Friday (Tea Party/Libation) “DOPE!!” – Vinny Da Vinci (Metro FM, SA) “This label is on fire. This will rock the dancefloor” – Dean Zepherin (Tribe Records) “Yes Lawd, hot!” Kristi Lomax (90.7 FM – KPFK / Los Angeles) This is one of the sexiest, low dutty nasty mixes I heard in a long time. Ocha Records brings FIYAH! 10/10 Mikki Affick (Soul Sun Soul) “Dope sounds from the Ocha family. Loving Trini’si remix… This will be on heavy rotation!” – Max Pela (Afrobetabodega.com) “Trini’s remix is sooo nasty, wait till you hear it on a system!” – Carlos Mena (Ocha) Also supported by MasterKev, Aybee, Marlon D, Danny Krivit, DJ Cecil, Jamie Thinnes, DJ Be, Andy Ward, Salah Ananse, DJ Mtshepang, and many more.

Ocha Mzansi was born from the sheer quantity of music we have been exposed to from South Africa. Mzansi meaning South, short for South Africa, so you can say this is Ocha South, way south!! Now we know quantity is usually counter-productive to quality, but we can tell you we are signing the cream of the crop with two #1 radio hits on tap with remixes by the Layabouts, Manoo, and more,… stay tuned!

Written by Siso K and Tumi for Suns of Tribe Music Executive Produced by Carlos Mena

Mastered by Carlos Mena at CASAMENA Studios

A.D. & Design by Claudio Maike – Chamo Design

Video by Directed by Carlos Mena

Edited by Carlos Mena & Jazzmattik C & P

Ocha Records 2011 for licensing contact ocharecords@gmail.com

Available in: http://www.traxsource.com/index.php?act=show&fc=tpage&cr=titles&cv=92204

Mzee Zvinosiririsa (Incl. Manoo & Pops Mohamed Mixes)

admin — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 22:04:38 +0000

Ocha delivers new Mzee featuring Pops Mohamed & Oluhle with a smoking DJ Manoo Remix and more…

A song that speaks to these times of struggle, and which calls for an end to tribal and political violence in Africa, featuring emotional vocals by Oluhle. The song is re-interpreted beautifully by established and up and coming producers from around the world, including Manoo, Justin Imperiale, Tommy Bones, Fabrizio Ortella, and South African standouts, Jaso, and Morra DeRey.

Jihad Muhammad - Great release from the Ocha camp. 2 of my favorite producers rockin’ the mixes. Will be bangin’ this for sure.
Lars Behrenroth - I’ve been dropping the Manoo Mix for quite some time now and it doesn’t ever get old.
Mr. V - Great mixes.
Marlon D - Quality and class as always from Ocha , feeling the Morra mix
Vinny Da Vinci - Full frontal support on this!!!
Kristi Lomax - Morra DeRey’s mix is the one to bang.
Tedd Patterson - This is really really nice… love it! quality stuff here. Full support
Kiko Navarro - Excellent remix from Manoo, deep afro sound as its best! powerful beats, hypnotic pads, afro chants, what else do you want?
Deetron - Beautiful mixes, Manoo is my favourite!
Master Kev - Absolutely DOPE! The mixes are crazy but Manoo’s mix takes it over the top!!
Ralf Gum - Really into it.
Adam Gibbons - Great remixes of an already amazing track! Thank you Ocha! Keep the heat coming!
Ezel - African driven house as its best! Don’t expect less coming from Ocha.
Stephen Rigmaiden - Man this is a dope package! Really Feelin the Watcha Mix! Full Support.
Tim White - The Manoo remix is terrific – deep and delicious 5/5 – full support.
MKL - Manoo never fails.
DJ Oji - I love it.
Jamie 3:26 - Mzee does it again!!! The mixes are dope,but the combo of Mzee and Manoo is a well made match.I’m feelin this!!!
DJ Pope I am on it like peanut butter and bread.
Abicah Soul - Classic.
Max Pela - Another dope release for Ocha, got my full support.

Executive Produced by Carlos Mena & Osunlade
Mastered by Carlos Mena at CASAMENA Studios
A.D. & Design by Claudio Maike – Chamo Design

C & P Ocha Records 2010

for licensing contact ocharecords@gmail.com

Available in: http://www.traxsource.com/index.php?act=show&fc=tpage&cr=titles&cv=75981

Ezel Ft. Monday Michiru “Path to Love” Remix Contest

admin — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 20:24:13 +0000

Ezel Ft. Monday Michiru “Path to Love” Remix Contest

… “give me shelter from the rain”, says Monday as Autumn is upon us. We are excited to share with you Monday Michiru’s beautiful vocal in this 1st ever Ocha Records remix contest. Ezel’s created an amazing jazzed out backdrop for Monday to do her thing and now we want to see who can take it in another direction. 2 winners will have their mixes released digitally on Ocha Records in Spring 2011. Ezel, Osunlade and Carlos Mena will be your judges for the competition. This is a great opportunity for up and coming producers to get their name out. The Top 10 remixes will be posted on Soundcloud and will be heard worldwide.

We are providing you with just the vocal parts to encourage creativity.

The vocal parts can be found below (free downloads) Good luck! You have till February 7th.

Remixers will not infringe on any copyrights with their use of samples. All mixes submitted become the property of Ocha Records. Deadline: February 7th 2011.

Sumbit your remixes to remix@ocharecords.com or http://soundcloud.com/casamena/dropbox

Ezel Album – Secreto

admin — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 05:21:28 +0000

Ocha Records is proud to present to you the debut full-length release by Ezel. Already establishing himself with remixes for Yoruba Records, and King Street, this debut reveals to us, the talent that this young songwriter/producer has to share with the world.

In “Secreto” you will find sincere stories about love, passion, faith in god, struggles & dreams, all of them brought together by Ezel’s personal experiences and spiritual growth in the Yoruba based tradition of Lucumi/Santeria.

With an all-star roster of featured guest such as Djinji Brown, Tamara Wellons, Monday Michiru, Diamond Dancer, Kia Bennett, Quetzal Guerrero and Carlos Mena, this album will be a long player in your headphones and in the clubs.

Secreto is a true global soul statement. A wonderfully balanced collection of songs where deep soulful house meets the Caribbean vibes meets tech sounds meet jazz.