On WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21st, STUNNA kicks off summer in 'THE GREENROOM' on BASSDRIVE radio with another very special installment. In this week's edition, STUNNA welcomes back multi-talented, SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA-based DRUM+BASS producer/DJ RED ARMY to the program for an exclusive guest mix crafted especially for this broadcast.
In the mid 1990s, RED ARMY (aka JAMES FUHRING) rocked audiences in seminal punk/hardcore bands MOHINDER and JENNY PICCOLO. It was during the latter that he accidentally discovered the sound of DRUM+BASS music while in BERLIN on a EUROPEAN tour. JAMES was so blown away by this sound that he shortly sold all his music equipment to buy a sampler, turntables, and a DJ mixer. The first two years were rough, as he knew no one involved in the D+B scene, only a local SANTA CRUZ radio show called 'THE METALLIC BLURP,' hosted by the ARGON RECORDS crew. On a whim, JAMES emailed the radio show and asked if he could meet up with other like minds. There, he would meet the other two members that would form the original 3-piece lineup known as 'RED ARMY.' Shortly thereafter, together they would set dancefloors on fire with releases on SKUNKROCK, ARGON, PHUTURO, and eventually, N2O. The N2O deal put a strain on their relationship, and it became harder to work in the studio together, as JAMES moved to SACRAMENTO, JOAQUIN moved back to SAN DIEGO, and JUST had started THE GLITCH MOB. Ultimately, this left JAMES as the sole producer under the RED ARMY moniker.
While getting nibbles for releases from a few labels, the years of 2005-2009 saw a hard time for DRUM+BASS altogether. Labels were switching to digital formats and vinyl was temporarily becoming obsolete, folding a great deal of labels (including ones that were planning on new RED ARMY releases). In 2009, JAMES got serious again about the production side of the music and slowly started to release again on SIMPLIFY RECORDINGS and ONSET AUDIO, two SEATTLE, WASHINGTON-based labels which were solely responsible for getting his music back out on the dancefloors. This eventually led to further releases on revered imprints such as DUST AUDIO, TURBINE MUSIC, GROUND MASS, TRANSLATION, and ONSET AUDIO. The strength of those offerings culminated in the 2016 release of the 'SLEEP TERROR' EP on SAMURAI MUSIC with long-time producer friend HOMEMADE WEAPONS. The EP's momentum led to a string of output from the duo not only on SAMURAI, but also on HOMEMADE WEAPONS’ seminal imprint, WEAPONRY.
Currently, JAMES has not only released a solo EP for SAMURAI MUSIC, but has also recently launched his very own imprint, ARMORY RECORDINGS, in MAY 2023. Be on the lookout soon for more RED ARMY releases on the label, alongside new material from rising producer HOJI, and a slew of new and familiar faces to come in the near future on ARMORY.
Please join us this session of 'THE GREENROOM' as RED ARMY returns with a brand new guest mix featuring his own creations alongside some of his favorite tracks doing the global rounds. Tune in!
*For more information on RED ARMY, visit:
• RED ARMY on Soundcloud
• RED ARMY on Instagram
• RED AMRY on Facebook
• RED ARMY on Twitch
• ARMORY RECORDINGS on Bandcamp
'THE GREENROOM'
Hosted by STUNNA
Live from Chicago
Wednesdays
www.BASSDRIVE.com
