* artwork by OkiZoo’s Tek Steez

So I guess it’s about time to spring a leak. Some might think we are taking our sweet time to complete our album The PuZZle PrOject: OliO FuZiOn. Remember this… we are WORKING CLASS musicians.  So until a big pay day comes, or a money tree is invented, or we win the lotto, you’ll just have to wait. Just know that when it drops, it will have been worth the wait. We decided to give you guys a little something. OkiZoo dusting em on the track (literally) with the help of Auckland, New Zealand’s own Goonie Hodges AKA Haz Beatz. With Nations, Dunn-D, E@5e 95, and EL3G passing the baton to each other. How can they lose? Click the link below to download.

Relay Gold (Prod by Goonie Hodges) by OkiZoo

Download: OkiZoo: Relay Gold (prod. by Goonie Hodges AKA Haz Beatz)

The OkiZoo crew was recently invited to perform at the 2nd annual Photosynthesis music fetival in Trout Lake Washington. This 4 day festival (yes 4 days, be prepared to camp) is a gathering of talent within the worlds of Electronica, Techno, Drum N Bass, Hip Hop and Turntableism. More than just a party, the Photosynthesis Festival also hosted workshops, classes and discussions on the topics of permaculture, renewable energy, water conservation, holistic healing, waste reduction, yoga and wild crafting.  Lots of artists painted live throughout the festival and showcased their gallery pieces. Acts such as Amon Tobin, Daedelus, and Kid Koala headlined the bill this year. Armed with his Flip Cam DJ Alpha decided to take in some Seattle culture. After that, he gets his reporter on and got the peoples take on this on the verge festival. Assisted by Nations they give us a quick tour of Photo and what goes on.

OkiZoo in Seattle, WA Part 1

OkiZoo in Seattle, WA Part 2

Photosynthesis Festival 2.0 Interviews and a short OkiZoo performance

OkiZoo at Photosynthesis 2.0

DJ Alpha live at Photosynthesis Festival 2.0

Daedelous live at Photosynthesis 2.0

Kid Koala live at Photosynthesis 2.0 part 1

Kid Koala live at Photosynthesis 2.0 part 2

The driving force of the emcee are the words that they choose and how they choose to put them together. OkiZoo emcee/poet Nations knows how to string words together in ways that would leave your typical emcee tied in knots. Nations has been in Seattle scribing in his black book for 2 different projects. The “Continuing of the Continuum” project and his long awaited solo album “Student Driver”. This leak is from his “Student Driver” album and features production from Squil of Germany. Click the link below to download.

Nations: Vehicle of Life (produced by Squil)

OkiZoo and Hip Hop Slam’s DJ Alpha has been deep inside his Lab Insomnia studios for the last year creating  his turntablist debut album “This way or That way”, a magnum opus of his technical ability to use the power of the record and the turntable to create music. This promises to be a bizare journey from beginning to end featuring a few special guests including fellows DJ’s like Dust One, Dawgisht, and Jimmy Penguin . It also features guest emcees, Nations and Dunn-D of  OkiZoo and Skahlah of  The Life Penciled Crew. Set for a fall release, Alf is ready to show us all why the DJ is essentially the backbone of music.  California’s Amoeba Music recently interviewed Alf to find out how he became a turntablist, about his time in Okinawa Japan, and what “This way or That Way” is all about. Click the link below.

Amoeba Music’s interview with DJ Alpha

* artwork by Nate Fisher