Mecca:83, real name Evan Jones, has been knee deep in vintage drum machines and dusty records for over a decade. With a collaboration list that includes the likes of Grap Luva, Jneiro Jarel, Von Pea (Tanya Morgan), Daye Jack and Scorzayzee, he has spent the last decade honing a production style that blends deep jazz samples, swinging drums and a healthy amount of live instrumentation. He is a music producer, writer, designer and all around music enthusiast. The common thread throughout his work is storytelling.
“An ethereal, jazzy take on boom bap, equal parts Air’s Moon Safari and Minnie Riperton circa her work with Rotary Connection.”
-The Guardian
He has been producing music for over 15 years under aliases including Rise, Mecca:83, Alexis Davis and Redefinition, working with everyone from Grammy nominees, like Gallant, to underground heroes. You can find his music on labels such as Warner Brothers, Rockwell Product Shop, Futuristica Music, Chillhop and NINETOFIVE Records.
He has developed and hosted music workshops both, in the UK and across Europe, for organisations such as Street Science Festival, Hip Hop Huis and Manchester City Council.
He has also written about music and culture for Frission Radio, Medium and a number of other international publications.
“If there was just one producer whose music encapsulates this moment in time and musical space, this decade of instrumental hip-hop, it might be Mecca:83.”
- The Rust Music
From 2011 to 2016, he founded and led the Expansions Collective label, focusing on music from the global beat scene. He has released music from artists as varied as Mndsgn, K15, The Mixtapers, Fitz Ambro$e and Jesse Futerman.
He has also, hosted and produced Expansions Radio, a weekly specialist radio show broadcast on both Frission Radio and DIY Radio.
