Meet The Movement #001: Dean Chew of Darker Than Wax [Interview]

▶ discover: @darkerthanwax ▶ Read Part 1: http://bit.ly/MTMpt1 ▶ Read Part 2: http://bit.ly/MTM1pt2 ▶ Download the mix: http://bit.ly/18AbSAI As SoundCloud, Spotify and other online-based music platforms pave the way for how we consume audio in the digital age, artists are finding themselves with more power and control than ever before. New collectives and record labels are being created at a record rate, and yet despite that many of the people behind them go unknown, with the artists that represent them being a listener’s biggest connection. With this in mind I’m starting a new series called Meet the Movement, in which I speak to creatives from various record labels, collectives and so on. The aim is both to educate about the history behind some of the movements we’ve come to love in recent years and also to inspire people to do it themselves, as most of these movements started from just an idea, with a lot support and love driving them to where they are today. Starting off the series is Dean Chew, also known as the Funk Bast*rd, co-founder of Singaporean-based Darker Than Wax, one of the most diverse labels to be birthed in recent history. Often mistaken as being a “beat label”, its origins are actually in more uptempo sounds, and releases have crossed a number of genres, including footwork, jazz, house, hip-hop, bass, boogie, trap, garage, ambient, R&B and future. Ahead of his upcoming Brazil and New York tour with Go Yama and NeguimBeats, I spoke to the musician about his origins, DTWs beginnings and its roster. Check back next week for the mix I made to play in the background of this interview, featuring exclusively Darker Than Wax artists and affiliates.