Conclave: The ‘Monday Is OK’ Mix

Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Cesar Toribio is the man at the helm of Conclave: a gathering of rotating musicians who come together to explore a unified and synergetic approach to rhythm and live composition.

The meaning behind the name is a perfect way of describing their movements; an unlocking of ancient and contemporary dance realised through a “mutual, primal understanding of rhythm and pocket”. The concept is rooted in traditional Afro-Latin music but propelled into the future by Cesar’s love of soulful, groove-laden dance music; the process of which is guided by intuition and spirit, relinquishing one’s ego and letting things take their natural course.

After releasing a 12″ single last year, a cover of soul classic ‘Sunny’, the group have shared two more singles before releasing the full fruits of their labour just a few weeks ago on their debut self-titled LP via Love Injection Records.

Following the release, and ahead of their first tour later this year, Cesar channels some sunshine into our Monday with a mix of soulful and warm vibrations to lift your spirits. 

Please introduce yourself… Who are you, where are you, what are you?

I am Cesar Toribio aka Papi aka Red Octagons can’t even STOP Me. I’m in Brooklyn and I am a 6’3 ft expression of the cosmos.

Tell us about the Monday mixtape you’ve put together for us. 

I used to make monday morning mixes when I was in college. I called them “MMM”. It was a way to stay connected to my friends while being in different time zones. Hopefully this will bring some of that back to them and introduce a good vibration to the new listeners in their start of their week. I was just reminded of a song I used to love when it came out by Emily King then I just freestyled it in my studio with my records and stuff.

If it were to be drawn what would it look like? 

Therapy in increasing sunlight.

If it were a food what would it be? 

Burnt grapefruit.

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

In your car, in your shower, in a spaceship, on the train, just make sure it’s Monday.

What should we be wearing?

Confidence in any form.

Where was it recorded?

In my studio in Brooklyn while my friend Adri was working on some graphic design on the couch.

Are you on the same wavelength as the boomtown rats or do you actually like Mondays?

It varies and depends on what I have to do that monday. If I have to go to the beach then hell yea I love Mondays, If I gotta go to work I’m not sure.

Who got you hooked on electronic music?

Tyler Perry.

Who would you say are your biggest influences and what are you hoping to achieve with your music?

Oooh too many: Theo Parrish, Osunlade, Masters at Work, Gil evans, Brian Blade, Chris Dave, Lone, Pedrito Martinez, Prince, D’Angelo, Herbie Hancock, Jdilla, ESG, Tribe Called Quest, Juan Luis Guerra, Aretha Franklin, Stereolab…

I hope to have enough people to like it and feel something from my music that I can sustain a decent living.

What were your original aspirations as musicians and how do you think you’re shaping up?

Originally I wanted to be a Jazz professor, or Jazz arranger. I’m glad that has changed but it’s still in there.

What was the first electronic record you heard and how did it make you feel?

I can’t remember the first but I remember when I first heard Crash Course in Science and it blew me away and made my tummy feel warm. I wanted to catch that feeling.

How does your brain work when making music? How does it work when you aren’t?

My brain always has music going on in the background. Sometimes it’s something I’ve just heard or something I’m going to make or something I am making and editing in my head. When I make music I notice a real difference in my attitude to the world. If I go through about three days straight without making music I start to see things in a more negative light and sometimes it pushes me into a depression where I don’t even want to make music. I try not to let it go that far.

What were the first and last records you bought?

First record was probably a Gil Evans record with Miles Davis, or some other Jazz record. Last one I bought was a white label bootleg with the name “Toni Traxton” on it.

What are you obsessed with at the moment?

Laughing.

If you could travel in time…where in time would you go? Why? 

I’d go back to when buildings were affordable in NYC and buy property. Because it’s crazy out here.

Tracklist
Emily King – Georgia
Kenny Dope – Yea
Jurassic 5 – Canto de Ossanha
Femi Kuti, D’angelo, Macy Gray – Water Get no Enemy
Armand Van Helden – 6 minutes of funk
Montell Jordan – Get it on tonite remix
Johnny Hammond – Tell Me What to do ( Whiskey Barons Edit)
Patrice Rushen – Feels So Real
Julion De’Angelo – Sizzlelean
Q-Tip – Manwomanboogie (Toribio Edit)
Tony Allen and the Afro Messengers – Road Safety
Madlib – Mystic Bounce
Peter Cottontale – New Jerusalem
Conclave – Rise

Follow Conclave. Buy Conclave’s LP on Love Injection Records.