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Nik Weston

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Nik Weston
OriginUnited Kingdom
GenresJazz, soul jazz, dance music
OccupationsDJ, record label owner, promoter
Years active1994–present
LabelsMukatsuku Records
WebsiteMukatsuku at Facebook

Nik Weston is a DJ, music producer, record label owner of Mukatsuku Records and music buyer for Juno Records. Based out of London, UK, he was from the late 1990s to 2007 a key player in the promotion and distribution of Japanese recording artists and their releases outside of the country, as part of the late 1990s into 2000s revival in the jazz dance, soul-jazz and electronic Japanese music scene. He is a keen advocate of the vinyl record format.

Career

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Nik Weston first entered the London dance music scene in 1994, when he started the club night Phony. He and two other friends then started a club night in Soho called Mukatsuku in 1997. It ran for 2 years from 1997 – 1999 upstairs at two floor room Club in London China Town called The Clinic, and was nominated by London Evening Standard Newspaper as 'club night of the year'.[1]

He started the label Mukatsuku Records in 2006 after DJing as part of the Mukatsuku Crew since 1997.[2] Weston started up a promotional company called Mukatsuku PR in 2001,[1] doing consulting and promotion for labels such as Verve Records, Impulse, Sonar Kollektiv, Schema Records, and Ricky Tick amongst others.[2]

As a DJ, he's played over 30 countries and supported Gilles Peterson, Jazzanova, and others.[2] Since 2001 Weston has put out over 100 releases on various labels in the US, Europe and Japan,[2] and over 80 releases on his own Mukatsuku Records.[3]

Discography

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Production credits

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Year Release title Artist(s) Label Role
2001 Inner Flight Jazztronik Counterpoint Records A&R
2002 Moshi Moshi – Nu Sounds From Japan Various Fuego Records compiler
Music & Movement One Various Climate Records compiler
2003 Take Me Aosis – A Nite Out in London Various Aosis Records compiler
Light Years Calm Lastrum translation
2004 Habit Butti 49 Exceptional Records liner notes
2006 Even Though / What You Do Paul Mac Innes and TBOI Mukatsuku Records A&R
2007 The Opensouls EP Opensouls, The Tornadoes, Tyra Hammond Mukatsuku Records A&R

DJ mixes

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The following releases Weston compiled and/or did the DJ mix as a presenter, sometimes also handling A&R.[3]

  • 2003: Nik Weston Presents – Sakura Aural Bliss (Kriztal Entertainment)
  • 2004: Various – Exceptionally Remixed (Exceptional Records)
  • 2004: Various – The Sound of Club Brasil Vol. 1 (Club Brasil)
  • 2005: Various – The Sound of Club Brasil Vol. 2 (Club Brasil)
  • 2005: Various – Nu[new] Style Vol. 3 – Living in the Music: Nik Weston (Nuro)
  • 2006: Routine Jazz Presents – Diggin For Gems (Routine Records)
  • 2007: Nik Weston presents Jabberloop – Ugetsu (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2007: Nik Weston presents West/Rock/Woods – Love Cats (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2007: Nik Weston presents Hanna & Beatr8 – Better Than Nothing (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2007: Nik Weston presents Guynamite – Guynamite (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2008: Nik Weston presents Guynamite – Guynamite EP 02 (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2008: Nik Weston presents The Funky Instrumentals 45 – Volume Two (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2008: Nik Weston presents Gagle – The Funky Instrumentals Volume Three (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2008: Nik Weston presents Big Horns Bee / Big Bang – The Big 7 Inch (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2009: Nik Weston presents Grant Green / Orquesta De La Luz – Funky Instrumentals Volume Four (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2009: Nik Weston presents j.a.m / JazztronikJapanese Jazz With Attitude (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2009: Nik Weston presents Kaleta & Akoya Afrobeat – The Spirit of Fela Is Alive And Well! (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2009: Nik Weston presents Guynamite – Born In '82 EP (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2009: Nik Weston presents Jazztronik – Disco Boogie (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2010: Nik Weston presents Hundred Strong Ft. Amp Fiddler Vs Guynamukat – Stylin' Free EP (Guynamukat Remixes) (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2011: Nik Weston presents Mixed Grill – Brand New Wayo – Nigerian Afro Funk Boogie Badness (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2012: Nik Weston presents Afro Funk Gems – Volume 1: Music of West Africa (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2012: Nik Weston presents Afro Funk Gems – Volume 2: Music of West Africa (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2012: Nik Weston presents Wganda Kenya & M'Bamina – Afro Funk Gems Volume Three (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2013: Nik Weston presents African Souls Band / Wganda Kenya – Afro Funk Gems Volume Four (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2013: Nik Weston presents Guynamukat – Archway Riviera Tropical Jam EP (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2013: Nik Weston presents Wganda Kenya/ Fruko Y Sus Tesos – Colombian Funk & Latin Gems 45 (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2014: Nik Weston presents Guynamukat Vs Eufoquestra – Ogun EP (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2014: Nik Weston presents Marcia Hines / Jackie WilsonLost Soul & Funk Gems Vol 1 (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2014: Nik Weston presents Orlando Julius And His Afro Sounders – James Brown Rides On (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2014: Nik Weston presents Loleatta Hollway/Ron Henderson And Choice of Colour – Lost Soul & Funk Gems Vol 2 (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2014: Nik Weston presents Marco Di Marco/ Jazz Collective – Two Sides of Club Jazz (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2015: Nik Weston presents Jo Togo/Sookie – Afro Funk Gems Vol Five (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2015: Nik Weston presents Sharon Revoal/Swan Silvertones – Soulful Funk & Gospel Soul (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2015: Nik Weston presents The Chapparrals/The Diddys – Lost Funk Soul & Disco Gems Volume Three (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2015: Nik Weston presents Courtial/Sounds of the City Experience – Lost Soul & Funk Gems Volume Four (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2016: Nik Weston presents Rim & Kasa/Rim Kwaku Obeng – Mukatsuku Vs BBE Official Edits (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2016: Nik Weston presents Estiban – Lost Funk & Disco Gems Volume Five (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2016: Marius Cultier / Dimenzio – Two Sides of Club Jazz – Hungary Vs France (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2016: Poets of Rhythm / Wallace Brothers – Funk Monsters Vol One (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2016: Mavis John / Guy Benton & Nik Weston – Trinidad Funk Vs Archway Riviera (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2016: Ojeda Penn – Lost Funk & Disco Gems Volume Six (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2016: Roy Ayers – Funk & Soulful Side of Roy Ayers (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2016: Suzy Brown / Anne & Anice Peters – Reggae Disco Special (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2016: Pearl Dowdell / Billy Cee & Freedom Express – Funk Monsters Volume Two (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2016: Three Pieces / Johnny Hammond – Mukatsuku Presents on First Time on a 45 Classics Volume One (Mukatsuku Records)
  • 2016: Billy Hawks – Two Sides of Funky Club Jazz Volume Three – Mod Jazz Edition (Mukatsuku Records)

Mukatsuku Records

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Mukatsuku Records
Founded2006 (2006)
FounderNik Weston
StatusActive
Distributor(s)Self (vinyl only)
GenreJazz, Soul-Jazz
LocationLondon, UK
Official websiteMukatsuku Facebook

Mukatsuku Records is a record label started by Nik Weston in 2006, based out of London, UK.[2] The label's general style of music is soul/funk/jazz/disco related and defined as dance music and/or black music of various origins. Many of the early releases were part of the jazz dance scene. Often, though not always, the music has a focus on Japanese recording artists. Mukatsuku Records releases all of its music on vinyl and releases neither albums nor digital content.

History

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British DJ Nik Weston and two other friends started a club night in Soho, London called Mukatsuku in 1997. It ran for 2 years from 1997–1999 in an upstairs two floor room club in London China Town called "The Clinic", and were nominated by London Evening Standard Newspaper as 'club night of the year'.[1] According to Weston, the name Mukatsuku translates in Japanese 'to feel sick, irritated or offended', and was picked as a subtle jibe at an acquaintance's use of the word as a catchphrase.[1]

While A&Ring for Exceptional Records, Weston realized it was difficult to sign artists for single releases, so he endeavoured to start a vinyl-only, singles-only label. The label has since put out English, Japanese, Scandinavian and even New Zealand tracks.[1] According to JellyJazz, "The Mukatsuku label is one of the best selling independent vinyls [sic] labels in the UK, and it is ONLY vinyls [sic]."[1]

Catalogue

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Cat. No. Artist Title Format Year
MUKAT001 Paul Mac Innes and TBOI Even Though / What You Do 7" 2006
MUKAT002 Opensouls, The Tornadoes & Tyra Hammond The Opensouls EP 12" 2007
MUKAT003 Nik Weston presents Jabberloop Ugetsu 12"
MUKAT004 Nik Weston presents West/Rock/Woods Love Cats 10"
MUKAT005 Nik Weston presents Hanna & Beatr8 Better Than Nothing 12"
MUKAT006 Nik Weston presents Guynamite Guynamite 12"
MUKAT007 Gagle (DJ Mitsu The Beats Production) The Funky Instrumentals 45 7" 2008
MUKAT008 Nik Weston The Funky Instrumentals 45 (Volume Two) 7"
MUKAT009 Nik Weston presents Guynamite Guynamite EP 02 12"
MUKAT010 Nik Weston presents Gagle The Funky Instrumentals (Volume Three) 7"
MUKAT011 Nik Weston presents Big Horns Bee / Big Bang The Big 7 Inch 7"
MUKAT012 Nik Weston presents Grant Green / Orquesta De La Luz Funky Instrumentals (Volume Four) 12" 2009
MUKAT013 Nik Weston presents j.a.m / Jazztronik Japanese Jazz With Attitude 12"
MUKAT014 Nik Weston presents Kaleta & Akoya Afrobeat The Spirit of Fela Is Alive And Well! 12"
MUKAT015 Nik Weston presents Guynamite Born In '82 EP 12"
MUKAT016 Nik Weston presents Jazztronik Disco Boogie 12"
MUKAT017 Nik Weston presents Makoto & Kez Ym featuring Takumi Kaneko from Cro Magnon Chameleon 12" ltd, 180 gram
MUKAT018 Tom Middleton presents Chiswick Reach All Stars The Nutsin 7", S/Sided, ltd 2010
MUKAT019 Nik Weston presents Sunaga T Experience Japanese Jazz Special 7" ltd
MUKAT020 Twin Cities "Raincloud / Anticipation" Single
MUKAT021 Nik Weston presents Hundred Strong Feat Amp Fiddler Vs Guynamukat Stylin' Free EP (Guynamukat Remixes) EP
MUKAT022 Nik Weston presents Root Soul Fuselage: The Unreleased Afrobeat Remixes 12" ltd
MUKAT023 Nik Weston presents Mixed Grill Brand New Wayo – Nigerian Afro Funk Boogie Badness 7" ltd 2011
MUKAT024 Nik Weston Presents Orchestre Baobab/ Mousa Doumbia Nik Weston Presents Afro Funk Gems Volume 1: Music of West Africa 7" 2012
MUKAT025 Nik Weston Presents Archimedes Badar & Afro 70/Ekambi Brillant Nik Weston Presents Afro Funk Gems Volume Two: Music of West Africa 7" ltd
MUKAT026 Nik Weston presents Wganda Kenya & M'Bamina Afro Funk Gems Volume Three 7" ltd
MUKAT027 Nik Weston presents African Souls Band / Wganda Kenya Afro Funk Gems Volume Four 7" ltd 2013
MUKAT028 Nik Weston Presents Guynamukat Archway Riviera Tropical Jam EP 12"
MUKAT029 Nik Weston Presents Wganda Kenya/ Fruko Y Sus Tesos Colombian Funk & Latin Gems 45 7"
MUKAT030 Nik Weston Presents Guynamukat Vs Eufoquestra Ogun EP 12" 2014
MUKAT031 Nik Weston Presents Marcia Hines /Jackie Wilson Lost Soul & Funk Gems Vol 1 7"
MUKAT032 Nik Weston Presents Orlando Julius And His Afro Sounders James Brown Rides On 10"
MUKAT033 Nik Weston Presents Loleatta Hollway/Ron Henderson And Choice of Colour Lost Soul & Funk Gems Vol 2 7"
MUKAT034 Nik Weston Presents Marco Di Marco/ Jazz Collective Two Sides of Club Jazz 7"
MUKAT035 Nik Weston Presents Jo Togo/Sookie Afro Funk Gems Vol Five 7" 2015
MUKAT036 Nik Weston Presents Sharon Revoal/Swan Silvertones "Soulful Funk & Gospel Soul 7"
MUKAT037 Nik Weston Presents The Chapparrals/The Diddys Lost Funk Soul & Disco Gems Volume Three 7"
MUKAT038 Nik Weston Presents Courtial/Sounds of the City Experience Lost Soul & Funk Gems Volume Four 7"
MUKAT042 Nik Weston Presents Rim & Kasa/Rim Kwaku Obeng Mukatsuku V’s BBE Official edits 12"
MUKAT043 Nik Weston presents Estiban Lost Funk & Disco Gems Volume Four 7"
MUKAT044 Marius Cultier / Dimenzio Two Sides of Club Jazz – Hungary Vs France 7"
MUKAT045 Poets of Rhythm / Wallace Brothers Funk Monsters Vol One 7"
MUKAT046 Mavis John / Guy Benton & Nik Weston Trinidad Funk V’s Archway Riviera 7"
MUKAT047 Ojeda Penn Lost Funk & Disco Gems Volume Six 7"
MUKAT048 Roy Ayers Funk & Soulful Side of Roy Ayers 7"
MUKAT049 Suzy Brown / Anne & Anice Peters Reggae Disco Special 7"
MUKAT050 Pearl Dowdell / Billy Cee & Freedom Express Funk Monsters Volume Two 7"
MUKAT051 Three Pieces / Johnny Hammond Mukatsuku Presents on First Time on a 45 Classics Volume One 7"
MUKAT052 Billy Hawks Two Sides of Funky Club Jazz Volume Three – Mod Jazz Edition 7"

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Isaac, Pete (February 2011). "Interview with Nik Weston". JellyJazz. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Nik Weston Interview – Podcast". The Jazz Meet. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Nik Weston discography at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
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