Lexicon Issue 006 - Solid Vinyl

Solid Vinyl – like all other record labels – will be the first to admit they had problems finding their feet. They entered on to the scene with their ‘Illicit EP’ way back in 1995 and were faced with the relentless task of promoting themselves not least trying to break into the deejays boxes. It was another four years down the line until Solid Vinyl would release again, ‘Salvation’ / ‘Riot’ received great attention and spurred encouragement for the second release that year featuring TMS 1.

Up to the current year now, Solid Vinyl is back with a vengeance and with a new direction in mind too. Solid Vinyl will be an outlet for drum & bass and nu skool breakz and “just about anything with fat drums in it”. The second wave of musician talent are now waiting to come in and flex their skills, watch out for the names: Quest Foundation, The Resistance Crew, DJ Era, The Cyndicut Crew and Bio System. Each release will be bringing in live musicians and vocalists and will concentrate on pleasing the dancefloor and the jungle massives equally.

The core of Solid Vinyl and the Quest Foundation comprises of Mr Quest (the key and a versatile producer who also records tunes for Unstable Breakz), DJ Destiny (long time producing partner of Mr Quest and DJ), Flying Doctor (guitar player, song writer and master of vintage keyboards), Brave Man (brings the ragga injection fresh from Jamaica), Lady Cee (adds the feminine vocal touch and also tours with her band), Little Joe (track him down for your SV/QF dubs) and DJ Hyde (scratch DJ, much valued for the live input).

Also set up in 1995 The Quest Foundation has like Solid Vinyl advocated drum & bass and nu skool but serving it more chilled than the other imprint. The message that is trying to be pushed with the Foundation is anti-estabishment, anti-authority and as the guys say: “We try to make a difference to all the bullshit the media and government pump in peoples heads day & night. Who wants to be another brick in that huge wall anyway?”

Quest Foundation again like Solid Vinyl was formed as a platform for artists and musicians to release their music as well as hosting and performing at parties nationwide for some time now. Over the years their connection with the organisers of the Glastonbury Festival has become stronger and so you may well have seen them performing at this annual melting pot of music and art forms.

The Solid Vinyl / Quest Foundation crew feel very stongly about sewing social commentary into their music and question why more people don’t do this instead of making catchy sing-a-long numbers that will go down well on the dancefloors and fit nicely into the UK top 40. They draw attention to matters of oppression, money, greed and particularly their own search for the truth amidst all the lies and propaganda that is flung at us.

Don’t forget to lock on to Cyndicut FM 97.8 if you’re in London and the eastern home counties to hear DJ Destiny and Mr Quest. As well as Glastonbury there are plans for a new stage show in the pipeline and the guys would very much like to hear from anyone who feel they have fresh ideas and can contribute something. Similarly if you would like to enquire about the live shows please call up Dorion on 07866 959207.

The next two Solid Vinyl releases are on the nu skool breaks tip with Quest Foundation taking the artist credits with ‘Something From The Hart’ (feat. DJ Hyde) / ‘Credentials’ (feat. Ranking Dread); ‘Heaven into Hell’ (feat. Brave Man) / ‘Moving On’ (feat. Lady Cee); drum & bass release by Destiny & Quest, ‘Clueless’ (feat. Braveman) / ‘Stars’ (feat. Lady Cee); Silverman & Quest, ‘New Age Gangster’ (feat. Wild MC & MC Gaps) with a drum & bass mix on the flip. Also keep one eye out for Quest joints on Unstable Breakz and a remix of ‘Farout’ coming out on Danny Breaks ‘Classics’ and future releases on Lancaster’s Proper Records. Finally, taking a long breath… newest members to the crew who will of course be making appearances soon are MC 5ive-0 and Flinty Badman and Demon Rocker (also known as the Ragga Twins).

SV/QF possee sent shouts out to: All Cyndicut FM crew, Bio System, TMS 1, Battle Master, Rosedale Crew, Zero Tolerance, AV8R, S.E.R.I.C.C, Norwich massive, Brickhouse, Music Vision, Resistance Crew and everyone helping out - big up!