George Clinton, the 72-year-old wild-eyed frontman for the iconic group Parliament-Funkadelic recently stated that funk was the excuse to save your life when you actually felt like jumping out of a window. DJ Irfane (birth name Christopher Irfane Khan-Acito), who will be performing with his partner-in-crime, Breakbot tonight at Korner, is also a big fan of the funk.
“I think there are many facets to the funk and many ways of defining it,” Irfane said in an e-mail interview.
“To me, the main aspect of it is that unique feeling you get when the funk hits your ears. It is an irresistible yearn to move, shake and sing along. They say good music will make you forget about your worries. Good funk will do that and even add some sunshine to your trouble-free mind.”
Photo courtesy of Cliche
Funk was a fixture in Irfane’s household when he was growing up because his mother basically breastfed him with the classics.
“She had me listening to Earth, Wind & Fire, Michael Jackson, George Benson and Diana Ross, to name a few, back when I was three years old,” Irfane said. “For that, I’m forever grateful.”
While Stevie Wonder and Prince have been influences, Irfane got to actually work with another legendary figure in the music industry — RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan.
“It was kind of a dream come true. At the same time, the man is so humble and down-to-earth that it felt quite natural after a while,” Irfane said.
“I think one of the craziest nights we had was a kind of impromptu get together when we both happened to be in Berlin and I ended up deejaying in a nightclub and RZA took the mic to do a few classic Wu-Tang verses.”
In 2010, Breakbot broke out with Baby, I’m Yours featuring Irfane singing silky vocals over French house drums.
Both Irfane and Breakbot’s careers went on the fast track afterwards, even though that was the last thing on their minds when making the track.
“We didn’t really think about it when each one of us was in his bedroom recording his parts for Baby, I’m Yours, but I think the chemistry became quite apparent and that’s why we worked together on a lot of songs on his album,” Irfane said. “It’s just more fun making music together. And obviously, we developed a great friendship in life and in music. I think we’re very complementary.”
Because of the great reception Irfane and Breakbot got in Taiwan in January, they decided it was necessary to have another stop when they were in Asia. “Seems we were in Taipei only yesterday!” Irfane said. “It’s been an unforgettable year filled with trips around the world to do what we love most: music. I think 2014 will be a very creative year … I’m very excited to get back into the studio and make some new babies.”
■ Korner presents Breakbot and Irfane tonight at Korner from 11:30pm to 5am, B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Admission is NT$900 at the door and includes a drink.
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