MFM Mix 003: Steele Bonus by Music From Memory published on 2019-04-26T09:08:16Z It's a delight to welcome close friend and MFM label designer Steele Bonus (@steelebonus) to the mix series. Q&A (short version) here below. www.musicfrommemory.com MFM: Hi Steele! Welcome to the series (that picture, haha!). People might know you from the numerous handsome artworks for our MFM sleeves and other labels as well. So far it seems like your graphic design talents are mostly (or only?) reflected via music related projects, is that on purpose? SB: I’ve actually been working in design and advertising agencies in Sydney and Amsterdam for well over a decade and during this time I’ve worked on a huge range of projects and for some large global brands. Music was always my life outside of ‘work’. Aside from DJing I’ve always been this guy that’s been quite involved behind the scenes – organising tours, throwing parties, scouting venues to set up sound systems, sourcing and selling records and making club flyers and gig posters late into the evening. In more recent years I’ve been designing a ton of record sleeves (I don’t organise parties any more). I’ve always tried to keep music and my job separate but the merging of the two has been kind of unavoidable I guess. This year I’ve left my 9 to 5 and intend to focus more on my own design and music related projects. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while and I’m excited for the times ahead. MFM: In 2017 Oz Waves was released, which features a fine selection of forgotten Australian gems from the '80s all compiled by you. If you'd be asked to do another compilation, would there be a specific era, country or something you'd want to pick out and focus on? SB: To be honest I don’t know if there would be. I am interested in a very wide range of music but I’m particularly drawn to this time in Australia. I think the music captures what the place is about for me. The harsh climate and environment, the cowboy attitude and culture, the huge distance from the rest of the world. These days I feel like it’s been replaced with something much more slick and dull. Of course there are always still good things happening there under the surface, but the cassette culture from Australia was something that I felt hadn’t been documented or covered a lot, especially in comparison with other parts of the world like Belgium or the States. Maybe there will be a follow up to Oz Waves. The music is there but there are still a couple of artists that are proving tricky to track down. I’ve also been hesitant because the reissue compilation thing has gone a bit overboard the past years. If anything, aside from that I’d probably focus more on working with current music and artists. MFM: You're a skilled DJ too, which mirrors in your contribution for our mix series (thanks for joining!). Can you tell a bit about how your mix came about, did you have any ideas or inspiration in mind for it? SB: It came together over a number of months. It’s mostly records that I picked up last year, including a lot of tips from friends and things I discovered while traveling around Europe djing on weekends. Towards the end of the year I started to assemble a pile on my living room floor that seemed to fit together. That pile sat there for a couple of months. I went to Australia for Christmas, came back and there was a back log of work to get done and so more weeks went by before I finally got around to making the recording. There was no real idea or inspiration but listening back to it now I think there’s a definite common thread. It's more or less a collection of pop tunes from the 80s and 90s, but there's a mood that's weird and dreamy, a bit sad but also a bit hopeful. I guess it matches the mood I've been carrying around most days lately. Comment by Basic Mind love to know what this is? @steelebonus 2024-02-02T12:21:44Z Comment by superschatten Does anyone know this track? 💫 2023-09-04T21:03:46Z Comment by velvo Im begging for a tracklist. this selection is amazing 2023-04-04T21:35:28Z Comment by kc and the a1 2023-03-30T17:32:00Z Comment by April Swartz Holy shit 2023-03-15T12:30:02Z Comment by just nash [how'dimissthisone] 2022-06-12T22:42:46Z Comment by yibing This track is incredibleeee 2022-05-22T01:53:01Z Comment by Cecilia Lindstrand Cute and kooky. Anyone know the song and artist? 2022-05-08T12:49:31Z Comment by Fozer Did anyone find this one? It almost made me cry. I'd appreciate it. 2022-03-15T14:43:55Z Comment by Kfeelz lovely :) 2022-01-11T16:27:22Z Comment by Jeffry Ramirez anyone ID on this 💎?? 2021-04-07T21:19:25Z Comment by Jeffry Ramirez amazing mix! 2021-04-07T21:18:26Z Comment by Jules Dance ID please? 2021-03-11T16:36:56Z Comment by fleasmowgli moody af 2021-02-15T13:53:03Z Comment by Nelson Id? 😃 2021-01-30T17:58:53Z Comment by Mystique Wind Lovely 2021-01-16T10:17:33Z Comment by Max Magnum Tune? 💕 2020-12-14T16:45:46Z Comment by mikeohhh id on this tune? 2020-12-09T21:16:56Z Comment by daynacasey What is this beauty? [Please] 2020-11-11T19:22:50Z Comment by Philippe L'Androver perfect 2020-09-26T16:58:27Z Comment by MC Ham Can anyone ID the last track? So dreamy.. 2020-09-23T23:14:49Z Comment by Aveidt what is this classic Japanese cut plz? 2020-09-18T18:52:05Z Comment by st_st ID on this one? 2020-09-11T15:24:18Z Comment by DEPOSITO MILITE ID??! 2020-08-11T14:11:55Z Comment by just nash [saved] 2020-06-29T15:12:06Z Comment by just nash [saved] 2020-06-29T14:42:38Z Comment by just nash [saved] 2020-06-29T13:55:42Z Comment by M I D N I G H T PRISMS what is this gorgeous track!? 2020-06-26T21:26:09Z Comment by lklklk whats this? 2020-06-17T03:31:39Z