Styles Upon Styles: Flavour Of The Label Mix

Styles Upon Styles are a hugely interesting record label flourishing in New York City: they have somehow managed to remain under the radar of many. They predominantly release music on vinyl alongside stylishly designed sleeves, riso prints, cassettes and more. The music they release and push is weird and wonderful, there are no boundaries, expect everything from white noise, beats, drones, techno, ambient and everything in between. This is a label which is all about the music: less the press, pr and associated nonsense which can often go with. It's done for love. Listen to the mix which includes 100% music from the label and features tracks from Hieroglyphic Being, Archie Pelago, Jahiliyya Fields, Space People and more. Kroba, a resident is on mix and interview duties. 

Please introduce yourself…Who are you and where are you from?

Kroba aka Zachary Koeber, from NYC (Bronx by way of Putnam County)

You live in New York right? How is it over there just now? 

Cold, Grey, deep into Winter

What should we looking out for musically at present from where you live? 

Hawkwindish interpretations of Godzilla soundtracks, Daria tribute bar bands

Where was the mix recorded?

360 Studios in River Edge, NJ

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

On a bed, holding tightly onto sheets or on a bus, holding loosely onto the seat in front of you.

What should we be wearing?

An octopus costume over silk pyjamas.

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location, system, format?

Deep woods, hexagonal surround sound, two turntables, two CDJs.

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

Ohal Grietzer – End

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

Too hard to name one…Farley WBMX tapes, Dozzy RA, Appleblim Dubstep Allstars, ASC RA, Deadbeat – Radio Rothko, ?????

If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?

Liftoff / Re-Entry at one of David Mancuso's pre-loft 1960s record listening sessions…legends are spoken about the presence that he commanded, and I would love to have bookended one of those nights.

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

Two Audio Technica-LP120s and a shitty 2 channel Numark, I have since gotten a Xone 43 and a CDJ-850

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

Both are of equal importance to command a mix properly (departure/re-entry)

What were the first and last records you bought?

First: Dead Kennedys – Nazi Punks fuck off 7"
Most recent: Terry Riley & John Cale – Church of Anthrax LP

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?

Smores with singed marshmallows.

If it was an animal what would it be?

A chameleonic wolverine.

One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything?

Nothing is impossible but Cloud One – Atmosphere Strutt has some wavy grooves.

Upcoming in the world of…

Orgone Blister mixtape on Styles Upon Styles, a new project with one of the Archie Pelago dudes called Sullen Prospector…downtempo, lush rhythmic meditations.  EP forthcoming.

Follow SUS on Facebook HERE.