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Happy New Year Folks! It seems like its been forever since we last posted a mix, but I suppose it has only been a few weeks. Before we get into this weeks musical treat, check out the Tokyo Duffel and the London Duffel, two new bags that came live over our last update. Check back later this week for the release of a new laptop bag, and some slick new cord management systems.  

It’s the year 2011 and we know, sometimes its hard to let go. The new year brings with it new opportunities and room for growth. Before you move in to the new year and kick your feet up, make sure you check last years baggage at the door. Bring in the new year with some growth, and drop the bad with Cosmo Bakers Love Break Volume 3. It just may be the perfect way to break it to 2010.

-THE BAG MESSENGER

 “I’m pleased to present to you the third and final installment in my Love Break series. It’s been a long time since I came out with any mixes and a few months ago I was listening to both the first and second mixes in this series and it just struck that I needed to release one very last statement for this. The first two are probably the most heralded mixes that I’ve ever done. They’re the ones that people holler at me about the most, and the ones that I’ve sold the most of with physical product. You can grab the other 2 joints on CD at my store here. It took me a few years to compile all the music that I thought would work just right for this mix, and for the tone of this mix I decided to take a more bittersweet perspective. But, just like the first two, I put this together with love and care, with minimal mixing and just allowing the songs to breathe and live on their own. So I hope you enjoy it.”

 -Cosmo Baker

Cosmo Backer "Love Break Three - The Heart's Final Chapter"

Love's Intro

• Ace Spectrum “I Don’t Want To Play Around”
• Banks & Hampton “I’m Gonna Have To Tell Her”
• Major Harris “I Got Over Love”
• New Birth “It’s Been A Long Time”
• Eddie Holman “It’s Over”
• Black Ivory “(It’s) Time To Say Goodbye”
• Marvin Gaye “Anger”
• Top Shelf “Let Them Keep On Talking”
• Lloyd Price “What Did You Do With My Love”
• Jerry Butler “No Money Down”
• The Moments “Love On A Two-Way Street”
• Steve Parks “Still Thinking Of You”
• Solomon Burke “Everlasting Love”
• Clay Hunt “(I’m Claimin’) FInders Keepers”
• Angela Winbush “Angel”
• The Isley Brothers “Ain’t I Been Good To You”
• Sweet Blindness “Ain’t No Use”
• Billy Stewart “Cross My Heart”
• The Delfonics “Trying To Make A Fool Out Of Me”
• Freddie Hughes “Sarah Mae”
• The Three Degrees “Collage”
• Nancy Wilson “I’m In Love”
• Patrice Rushen “Where There Is Love”
• Joann Garett “It’s No Secret”
• Bobby Womack “Woman’s Gotta Have It”
• Smokey Robinson & The Miracles “A Legend In It’s Own Time”
• Ben Vereen “I’ll Keep A Light In My Window”
• Teddy Pendergrass “I’ll Never See Heaven Again”
• Diana Ross “One Love In My Lifetime”
• Brothers By Choice “Baby, You Really Got me Going”
• Mary Wells “Two Lovers History”

Bowls is no stranger to record stores. When we both lived in the same city, I felt as if I was perpetually in a race against time. Speeding from shop to shop, stretching to snatch at records before he got his hands on them. I would often see him later to compare finds, only to hear that he had already seen the records I bought, silently passing over them, tallying their worth, and moving on to other things. That is Bowls in a nut shell, quality over quantity. He isn’t looking to own every good record (where would he put them all?), only the ones that he loves (believe me those are plenty of enough). It takes a certain temperament to move through life this way. Knowing what you want before you find it is not an easy thing, and continuing to seek it requires a commitment and patience that few still have. Bowls is willing to wait, silently flipping through dusty stacks of records, shifting boxes to reach in to deep nooks and crannies…searching

-THE BAG MESSENGER

THE BAG MESSENGER: How did you first get involved with DJing?

BOWLS: Well I started listening to hip-hop back when I was in 5th grade (1995), and I decided that I wanted be a DJ in ’96 when I heard OutKast’s “Wheelz of Steel.”  I was living in Paducah, KY at the time and I had never seen or talked to anyone who had DJ equipment, but in 1999 I finally got a belt-drive turntable and started buying records.  By late 2000 I had a cheap Numark “DJ-in-a-box” setup, which later gave way to a pair of Technics 1200s around 2002. That was when things got serious for me, because I knew those decks were built for performance.  I started out spinning parties in high school, but I didn’t play in a club setting until I moved to Nashville in 2004.

THE BAG MESSENGER: When did you first get into collecting records? What was shopping for records like in Kentucky?

BOWLS: When I first started looking for records in ’99, I had no real point of reference.  I knew I wanted to be a “hip-hop DJ” or whatever, so I started ordering a bunch of records out of a distributor’s catalog at CD Warehouse. Put a check next to the 12“s and LPs that I wanted, then pick them up the next week.  At that time, I just assumed I should be buying doubles of all the “underground” hip-hop 12“s, scratching over instrumentals, and making mixtapes.  No one was there in Paducah to school me on the breaks, represses vs. originals, spots to dig, etc.  Luckily, it was just a matter of time before the whole concept of SAMPLING was fully realized.  I loved the fact that some of those original records could actually be sitting in an antique shop right down the road.  Since that revelation, I’ve spent thousands and thousands of hours sifting through old vinyl.  I went digging in St. Louis a lot from ’00-‘04, and then my collection just exploded after I moved to Nashville for college. 

THE BAG MESSENGER: What kinds of things are you looking for these days?

BOWLS: Recently I’ve been digging a lot of prog and psych-rock.  I’ve gotta be in the mood for it, but there’s something satisfying about hearing a nice, mellow funk-groove float in after three straight minutes of noise.  I bought a ton of jazz records last summer, and I’m always looking for good hip-hop 12“s.  Honestly, I’ll give pretty much anything a listen these days…the days of judging an LP by the cover are long gone! 

THE BAG MESSENGER: You’re into a lot of sample source stuff. What records have found through seeking a sample that you fell in love with? 

BOWLS: I’ve found countless dope records from knowing that Pete Rock/Premier/Madlib sampled them, but I probably get the most satisfaction out of finding artists with solid catalogs that I can dig into.  If it weren’t for hip-hop/crate-digging, I might still be under the impression that Kool & The Gang was just some 80’s group that made “Ladies Night.”  Its something I really don’t take for granted, because my parents weren’t into music at all.  Can you imagine living life without knowing that Kool & The Gang made a song called “Music Is The Message?”  Thinking that James Brown was just that dude who sang “I Feel Good?”  I’ll be in debt to hip-hop for the rest of my life.  

THE BAG MESSENGER: Any interesting digging stories? Favorite finds?

BOWLS: On a family vacation to Florida back in the early 2000’s, I looked through the phone book for record stores.  My mom dropped me off at this one place that had full discographies of every “major” group/artist you could think of. Like 10 copies of each release.  I thought that was pretty cool, and then the owner said, “Hey, have you looked around downstairs?”  Downstairs was over 150,000 UNSORTED 12” singles.  One of the first records I pulled out was the Pete Rock & CL Smooth “Straighten It Out” promo, which of course has the elusive “Vibes Mix” of “T.R.O.Y.” on the b-side. That made the hundreds of Miami Sound Machine 12” sightings a little more bearable.  I found quite a few good records there. 

THE BAG MESSENGER: Where are some of your favorite places to go? Favorite places to dig?

BOWLS: St. Louis has been a favorite city of mine for years now.  Lots of music history and lots of well-stocked stores.  Of course I hit my spots in Nashville all the time.  I’ve made a couple trips to Japan with my younger brother, and that’s always a great way to spend tons of money on records. 

THE BAG MESSENGER: You play only vinyl. How do you feel about Serato? 

BOWLS: Serato is great, and I definitely intend to get it at some point.  Initially, I agreed with DJ Premier when he said that DJs need to “earn the right” to use Serato by building up a good record collection, but that really doesn’t make sense for aspiring DJs in 2010 and beyond.  New music isn’t being pressed up on wax as frequently, some DJs grow up in towns where digging spots are scarce (I was one of them), and lots of people just flat-out don’t want to spend the money.  With that said, I consider myself someone who literally pays to play the game.  I love it that much.  I talk to a lot of DJs who started performing in the last five years or so, and its safe to say that I probably spent more money on vinyl this past summer than they have in the last three years combined.  Its a strange feeling.  I know all the OGs and real diggers still buy records in addition to using Serato, but the love for original vinyl pressings, and just the act of digging in general, seems to have really diminished with the new wave of DJs.  I came to terms with that a while ago, and I’m fine with it.  Being a good DJ involves skills and great taste these days, not a dope record collection.  That’s just the way it is.  

THE BAG MESSENGER: Whats the key to packing for a gig?

BOWLS: Considering I still use strictly vinyl, a lot of my preparation involves picking out which 45s I want to bring.  If I’m spinning for just an hour or two, I don’t want to lug more than one crate of LPs/12“s to the party.  That box of 45s lightens the load while still packing a punch, and I always make sure I have a good balance of genres between the two formats.  Besides remembering my headphones and needles, efficient record selection is my main thing. Yes, I know that Serato users never, ever have that problem haha.

THE BAG MESSENGER: When did you first meet Count Bass D? Can you describe getting to know him?

BOWLS: I met Count at his BEGBORROWSTEEL album release party here in Nashville.  A couple months later, his wife shot me an email and asked if I’d be willing to intern for them.  At the time I was studying the music business at Belmont University, so I definitely took that opportunity.  I watched as he released Act Your Waist Size on Fat Beats Records, saw how he and his wife communicated with the label, met his kids, went with him to a show or two, assisted with whatever they needed, and finally helped him break down his studio before they moved to Memphis.  He’s just a cool dude all-around and I gained a whole new appreciation for his music after getting a feel for his lifestyle. (Let it be known that he once woke me up at 7:15 AM to take him to the airport.  After a trip to the bank, we got there at 7:42…“right on time” for the 7:50 flight.  When I asked him where he was headed, he told me that MF DOOM called him earlier that morning.  He needed Count for his show in NYC that night.)

THE BAG MESSENGER: Every DJ has a horror story or two….what is the worst thing to happen at a gig?

BOWLS: DJing outdoors is always interesting when you spin vinyl, especially LPs.  I was playing some dance classics at a rooftop party one night, only to have the wind pick up my needle and drop it on a slow jam.  Oh and I once had a guy ask me to play Justin Timberlake….while I was playing Justin Timberlake (apparently this happens more than you’d think).  After reading about drunk club patrons vomiting on turntables and mixers, I feel like I’ve been pretty lucky thus far.

THE BAG MESSENGER: What can we be looking for in the future?

BOWLS: I’m trying to put out my Ahmad Jamal mix (Bowls Plays Jamal) sometime early next year, along with the follow-up to a boogie/funk mix I did back in 2009.  Besides that, I’m just looking forward to playing more gigs and featuring more Nashville DJs on the Music City Living podcast.  Oh, and buying more records.  You can bet on that!

A good DJ is able to breath new life into old songs. A great DJ is able to make you excited to hear those songs. J Rocc is able to take songs you know and make them sound like completely new music. Listen to this mix with headphones on, sleep on it at your own peril.

 -THE BAG MESSENGER

Click here for free download of Cooking Ingredients

Track listing…kind of

01. Intro Track
02. 3 Breaks For You
03. Smoothed Out
04. Sho Is Funky
05. Another Smooth One
06. Little Bitchard
07. $$$$
08. Eugene Edit
09. Latin Fuzz Guitar
10. Schmit
11. James The Preacher Man
12. Classic
13. Spacey
14. Out Looking Inside
15. Hoggin
16. Gotta Get Away
17. Rufus Breaks
18. Woman Shut Up
19. Windy Edit

I stumbled across this site through ffffound! I believe it’s a link from some type of Brazilian travel site. I don’t speak Portuguese or Spanish so it’s anyone’s guess. However, I know sweet money when I see it. U.S. notes seem so bland after looking at these.

- The Folks at TWIRKETHIC

Bowls is no stranger to record stores. When we both lived in the same city, I felt as if I was perpetually in a race against time. Speeding from shop to shop, stretching to snatch at records before he got his hands on them. I would often see him later to compare finds, only to hear that he had already seen the records I bought, silently passing over them, tallying their worth, and moving on to other things. 

That is Bowls in a nut shell, quality over quantity. He isn’t looking to own every good record (where would he put them all?), only the ones that he loves (believe me those are plenty of enough). The same applies to his mixes. Many break mixes are crammed full of short clips and sound bites, they play the samples your familiar with in the way you are familiar. In contrast, these two mixes give the listener space to hear the decisions a producer makes, and room to appreciate the process of selection.

Much like Bowls, Dilla had no desire to use everything. He took his time, selecting finds, and moving on. The selections on both of these mixes are well thought out. Do your self a favor and let these two weed out the dreck, I promise you won’t be disappointed. -THE BAG MESSENGER

DILLA’S ROCK CRATES PART 1 

DILLA’S ROCK CRATES PART 2

Danish photographer Kim Høltermand creates some incredible architectural images. He captures every interesting vantage point on each structure and emphasizes the sculptural qualities of his subjects.

-THE BAG MESSENGER

Here is a cool little interview we did with German bag design magazine The Bag Stage Report about the creation of Tucker and Bloom and our roots.

-THE BAG MESSENGER

What is the name of the label and what is the idea behind the name?
Tucker & Bloom: We are a family owned company, with deep roots in design, and a dedication to old world craftsmanship. The name comes from the combination of the two sides of our family.
The Tucker’s were British relatives that settled in Northern New England as ship builders, and whalers in the 1800’s. The Bloom’s were Eastern European craftsmen that moved to America after the First World War and became involved in the New York garment industry. The brand strives to meld these two histories through clean functional design and use of rugged, durable materials.

Where are you from?
The company was founded in 1978 in Boston Mass as Bloom Fine Leather Accesories where it found success in its first line of handbags. It than relocated to Brooklyn NY and is now based in beautiful Nashville TN.

What is the inspiration behind your collection and what kind of materials do you use?
Our bags emphasize organization, and individuality through the use of functional design. We were inspired by a combination of things when designing the collections. The function of the bags came first. We also felt that designing them for domestic manufacturing and having the bags fit into specific lifestyles were important. We currently offer three lifestyle lines Work, Transitions and Leisure. Each line has a particular feel, use and purpose. The materials that are used in the collections are 1980 denier Ballistic Nylon, Heavy Cotton Canvas, Neoprene and Leather (Some
vegetable tanned and some chrome tanned). We have also used some small rubber micro-injection branding patches, as well as satin nickel side release buckles with our logo laser engraved on them.


Since when do you run your own collection?
The Tucker & Bloom bag collections have been available since 2007.

How or why did you start designing bags?    
I started designing bags in the 70’s and was lucky enough to find a mentor in Kosta Spyrololous(a small handbag manufacturer in Boston). I became fascinated with European classical handbag construction, though in my early years the handbags were far from classical construction.  After moving to New York I worked side by side with aging holocaust survivors who passed on knowledge learned from many years in the business. I’m not exactly sure why I have found bag design so endlessly interesting but I continue to learn everyday.  What more could a person hope for in work; passion for the product and the opportunity to learn something new everyday.

Do you exhibit on trade fairs?
It is our desire to make our company a sustainable US manufactured product, with our main distribution direct to consumer and very little wholesale. Although, we are looking at doing some co-branding b2b, and will be offering our Transitions line through the wholesale channel in the spring of 2010.

Nothing excites us here at Tucker & Bloom more than good functional design. In its best form good design can redefine the way we use a product, or reinterpret its function entirely. These Braun products designed by Dieter Rams have a stripped down functional design that just oozes class.

 -THE BAG MESSENGER

Photonium has a Flickr set featuring some vintage Braun products, designed by Dieter Rams. A lot of these designs look like they could have been produced yesterday instead of decades ago. If the Braun photos interest you, make sure to check out Photonium’s Charles and Ray Eames Flickr set as well.

The Disco E Cultura series by Brazilian DJ Nuts is a great piece of work, and Volume Three is no exception. Expect a wide width of Brazilian music, and top notch mixing. Have a nice week folks!

-THEBAGMESSENGER

Click here for a free download of Disco E Cultura Volume 3.

Ron van der Ende’s work in bas relief is astounding. Each of the flat pieces takes on a three dimensional appearance while exhibiting van der Ende’s pieced-together painting style.  The subjects are often physical representations of obsolescence and it makes sense that they are created using reclaimed timber.

-THE BAG MESSENGER

Design is a odd balancing act, over reaching design statements may lead to an un-appreciated product, while staying with conventional design themes can be seen as unimaginative and boring. I prefer to break new ground by building on what has been, a historical perspective with the knowledge of how to make it contemporary. The fashion industry, it’s designers and retailers, are often at odds with one another. The retailers know what sold well last season and generally speaking they prefer , while designers want to create something new. I suppose this is why so many private label collections are put together by non-designers who design by credit card (buying bags to knock off and modify). The industry is alive with knock off artists, because the best predictor of what will sell is the recent sell through data. For me, I have come to terms with the sweep of history in Bag Design by understanding what the trends are doing, knowing what shapes are selling, and knowing bag construction well enough to add my own twist. I despise the knock off artist, but have accepted them as reality. As a mature designer, I am comfortable creating well constructed bags that are elegant in their own way. You can fake a design, but you can not fake design experience. We hope our friends and followers are drawn to the spare design statements with the combination of function and small touches of color that make our bags unique.

-THE BAG MESSENGER