Michael The Lion remixes FSQ
Artwork by R. Stozo
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“Vibe Out Now” is one of the first tracks ever recorded by FSQ. Its life began with Roland Juno analog synths in 2008 and a producer named Loose Shus in San Francisco. In fact, FSQ hadn’t even been established yet, with FSQ chief Chuck Da Fonk kicking around several project ideas until 2013 when the group came into being.
Later the track was totally funkified by G Koop in 2009-2010, and adding vocalist Sarah Finchum into the mix to tell the story of someone who had just come through one of the weirdest and harrowing experiences of their life. The original version of “Vibe Out Now” is a concise 3 minute plus funky new wave tune. The track just fit great in the storyline of the larger FSQ concept album, “Reprise Tonight” (Soul Clap Records) released in 2020 and is the 2nd track on the set. Soul Clap records label mate Michael The Lion remixed “Vibe Out Now” for the follow up release, “Reprise Reprise Tonight”.
Michael The Lion (aka DJ Apt One aka Michael Fichman) and Chuck Da Fonk are both native Philadelphians. The Fichman and Fishman pair met early in the millennium through Diplo and Low Budget’s message board, known as the Hollerboard (about the Hollerboard story here via Vice). Michael The Lion was one of the first people to encourage Chuck to continue producing music. Specifically, in 2007 he helped Chuck make the challenging decision to move from producing Jazz-Funk to dance music.
FSQ’s Chuck Da Fonk and Michael The Lion in San Francisco, 2013
So there is a deep bond between Chuck and Michael, and the two Philadelphian funkers eventually wound up as record label mates at Soul Clap Records. Michael The Lion’s 2020 EP release with Amy Douglas is NOT to be missed.
As the FSQ project was getting started, Michael The Lion turned in two incredible remixes from the original FSQ music catalog, with the second one being his remix of the title track “Reprise Tonight”. Michael finessed his two FSQ remixes over the years, bringing in top mixing and mastering talent to ready these stunners for 2022.
Music blog Le Visiteur (review here) calls Michael The Lion’s “Vibe Out Now” remix: “a deep dirty disco groove extraordinaire replete with sultry spoken female vocals and a filthy guitar solo which steals the show.”
That filthy guitar solo is provided by G Koop. Michael The Lion’s remix could be the soundtrack to a dark and druggy night in a Berlin nightclub or the music for a high octane sports car commercial: close your eyes, listen to the this heavy disco noir new wave remix and see what visions come to your mind.
This remix is part of the upcoming release “Reprise Reprise Tonight”, which is a 16 track remix album featuring remixes of FSQ by disco mix inventor Tom Moulton, UK Balearic and modern funk legend Ray Mang, Charlie Soul Clap, Dr Rubberfunk, Lee Curtiss, DJ Rocca and many others. Out September 23 via Soul Clap Records.
Please stream on your favorite service here:
“Vibe Out Now” Michael The Lion Remix Credits
Original song written by: Charles Elliot Fishman, Robert Mandell
Additional instrumentation and remix by: Michael Fichman
Lead Vocals: Sarah Finchum
Keyboards: Chuck Da Fonk Fishman
Ableton Programming and Recording Engineer: Loose Shus
Guitar and Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Drum Programming, Recording Engineer, and Mix: G Koop
Originally recorded at Loose Shus Studios: San Francisco, California and Fuzz Deluxxe Studios: Oakland, California