MAKALA, WHAT?

For those of you who do not know who Makala is, here are a few clues. Born Mikel Unzurrunzaga Schmitz on 23 May 1970 in the Basque town of Zarautz, his professional life has revolved around his two passions, surfing and music. He first broke onto the music scene in the '90s, going by the name of Makala. Over the years his sessions have embraced an ever increasing range of musical styles: from afrobeat to funk, soul to reggae, ska to hip hop, boogaloo to dub, rocksteady to jazz, all mixed, cut and ready to be enjoyed.

His fascination with all types of black music has turned him into both a collector and expert on the subject and he has even written articles for basque magazines as "The Balde" and "Entzun". Makala also has performed in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Czech Republic, Belgium, Holland, France and Portugal, as well as having frequently toured Spain and having performed some of the most renowned festivals as Popkomm 2002, Sonar 2000 and Elektronikaldia 1999-2000 (working in this last San Sebastian´s music festival as artistic co-director in combination with Javi Pez, between 2000-2005). He currently combines his DJ sessions (on the radio and in clubs) with performances by the Makala Banda, Makala Sound System or his Funkel Sound System, name this last of his own production studio at his home town in Zarautz.

The experience gained behind the turntables led to his first digipack CD - Makala plays Novophonic - (Novophonic / So Dens / Universal, 2002) under what was then the Europe-wide acclaimed San Sebastian record label. It is a stunning session in which Mikel has mixed the Novophonic tunes, demonstrating his ability to maintain excitement without losing the beat.

After this first adventure, Mikel went on to produce a steady flow of his own singles and compilation tracks in which his musical influences abound. His songs feature on "No borders, No nations, No wars" (Duplikat Records 2003 Berlin), "Basque Electronic Diaspora vol. 3" (Metak, 2003), "Basque Planet" (Wagram, 2004), "Kaffeeburger der Sampler 1" (Duplikat Records, 2006) and as a bassist and singer he collaborates with, among others, Javi Pez Orquesta on "Sports" (Hitop 2004) and Gailu on "Pil Pil Sessions Vol.1" (Metak, 2002), while the culmination of his work is the CD digipack recording "Hondartzan" (Metak, 2005). This is the first album in which Makala composes, sings and plays on all the tracks, supported by an array of Basque musicians.

"Hondartzan" catapulted Makala back into the spotlight and gave him the chance of having his own radio slot on the public basque radio station "Gaztea" (EITB). His programme "Boom Shaka Laka" mixes a host of styles and bands past and present, and is the fruit of the daily updating of Mikel's musical files. His last compilation album "Makala Selects Boom Shaka Laka" is created from a nexo system like one of those radio sessions: real sounds from black roots created by basque producers. This is today's sound from the Black Basque Country!!!

His last 7' single "Partió La Tabla (Feat. Nacion Funk All Stars) / Cartoon Tune" EP has been released in March 2009, via Lovemonk Records. A slab of latin-tinged breakbeat coolness from the surferest dude on the spanish underground scene. Try not to move that behind when the man from Zarautz starts doing his thing, we dare you! The B-side is a quite aptly titled tune which combines a cab callowayesque ditty with a tasty hip-hop beat, thus spreading the "buen rollo" as they say in Spain. Mr. Scruff, anyone?

DISCOGRAPHY

Makala - "Partió La Tabla (feat. Nacion Funk Allstars) / Cartoon Tune" EP
(Single 7'' vinyl)
Lovemonk © 2009

Makala - "Selects Boom Shaka Laka"
(Various Artists - Album CD)
Malandros / EITB © 2007

Makala / The Smakalites - "Friendly Fire / Fuego Amigo"
(Single 7'' vinyl)
Uptight International Recordings © 2006

Makala - "Hondartzan"
(Album CD)
Metak © 2005

Makala - "Plays Novophonic"
(Various Artists - Album CD)
Novophonic / So Dens / Universal © 2002

Makala - "Zarautzko Dub"
(Single CD)
Novophonic / So Dens / Universal © 2002


RE-MIXES & RE-EDITS

Al Lindrum & His Magic Hat
"Come Together (Makala RMX)
Come Together / Hide & Seek EP
UrbanWorld Records (Denmark) © 2009

Makala Vs. Txarly Brown
"Que Mala Suerte La Mia (Achilimix)"
Txarly Brown presenta Más Achilifunk
(Various Artists - Album CD)
Lovemonk © 2009

Rabbit Rumba Vs. Makala
"Nuestro Ayer (Makala Remix)"
Txarly Brown presenta Más Achilifunk
(Various Artists - Album CD)
Lovemonk © 2009

Los Impagaos feat. Chacho
"Pañuelo Verde (Makala Remix)"
Txarly Brown presenta Más Achilifunk
(Various Artists - Album LP)
Lovemonk © 2009

Xabi Strubell aka Zura
"Fugitivux" (Makala Remix 2009)
Forthcoming Release 2009

Ala Maca / Smakalites
"Anana Jib" / "Marvelous Man" (Re-Edits) EP
(Single 7'' vinyl)
Achiliboots © 2008

Rabbit Rumba
"Nuestro Ayer (Makala Remix)" / "Para Elisa (Miguelito Superstar Mix)" EP
(Single 7'' vinyl)
Wah Wah Records / Achiliboots © 2008

Papawa - "Txaburro (Makala Remix)"
Papawa Tiene la Llave
(Album CD)
Nuevos Medios © 2007

Los Fulanos feat. Peret / Ala Maca & El Mangui
"Raggaton (FTM Remix)" / Lucky Bad (Re-Edit)" EP
(Single 7'' vinyl)
Achiliboots © 2007

Ala Maca / Los Manguis
"A Saco Paco" / "Bum Bum" (Re-Edits) EP
(Single 7'' vinyl)
Achiliboots © 2007

Janko Nilovic - "Funky Village (Makala Rework)"
Last Impressions (unreleased track)
Vadim Music (France) © 2007

Sagarroi - "Makala Oinez Remix"
Tolouse
(Album CD)
Metak © 2004


TRACKS ON COMPILATIONS

Entzun! Bilduma 2008
Makala - "Mesfidantza"
(Various Artists - Book + Album CD)
Eragin © 2009

Makala Selects Boom Shaka Laka
Makala - "Music Makes Free"
(Various Artists - Album CD)
Malandros / EITB © 2007

Txakurkalea
Makala - "Music Makes Free"
(Various Artists - Book + Album CD)
Noizpop © 2007

Kaffeburger Tanzwirtschaft - Der Sampler Vol. 1
Makala - "Bizi Pozik"
(Various Artists - Album CD)
Duplikat Records (Germany) © 2006

Basque Planet compiled by Fermin Muguruza
Makala - "Zarautzko Dub"
(Various Artists - Album CD + Maxi Single 12'' vinyl)
Wagram Music (France) © 2004

Basque Electronic Diaspora Vol. 3
Makala - "Putzlee"
(Various Artists - Album CD)
Metak © 2003

No Borders, No Nations, No Wars
Makala - "Red Light"
(Various Artists - Maxi Single 12'' vinyl)
Duplikat Records (Germany) © 2003


DISCOGRAPHY COLLABORATIONS

Javi P3z Orquesta
"Sports" (Album CD)
Hitop © 2004

Trio Kempes
"Summer City Love"
(Single 7'' vinyl)
Novophonic © 2002

-Gailu
Trio Kempes - "Ezin"
(Various Artists - Album CD)
Pil Pil Sessions / Metak © 2002

Instrümental
"All Shücked Up! / All Shücked Dub"
(Single 7'' vinyl)
Novophonic © 2000

Digi Once
"Onze Sports Vol. 1"
(Double Single 7" vinyl + Maxi Single 12" vinyl)
Novophonic / Ama Records © 1998


MUSIC CLIP

Makala - "Music Makes Me Free"
Dir. Koldo Almandoz & Angel B. Aldarondo
(Music Clip)
Eragin © 2007
Click Here


MUSIC FOR DVD

"Maniobras Básicas del Surf, Curso de Perfeccionamiento"
Dir.: Mikel Troitiño & Aritz Larrañaga
Music: Makala, ...
Spain. 90 minutes
(English & Spanish - Surfing DVD)
Mabruk & Surfpeople.com © 2007

"Aprendiendo A Coger Olas: Curso Didáctico de Iniciación al Surf"
Dir.: Mikel Troitiño
Music: Makala & Mannix
Spain. 80 minutes
(Spanish - Surfing DVD)
Mabruk & Surfpeople.com © 2005


MUSIC FOR FILMS

"Skateboarding desde el Corazón"
Dir.: Mikel Arbiza
Skaters: Blayney Hamilton, Mischa Canibal, Iñaki Guantxe, Mathieu Dupuy,…
Music: Makala, Cepuntobandish, Munlet, Tuestate de Tranks, DJ Amsia,...
Basque Country. 40 minutes
(Skateboarding Movie)
Parafernalia Sk8Art & Perros Callejeros © 2008

"Linburlesque"
Dir.: Igor Eizagirre & Mikel Makala
Surfers: Ibon Amatriain, Mikel Agote, Axi Muniain, Laird Hamilton,...
Music: Makala
Basque Country. 20 minutes
(Surfing Short Movie)
Linbur Films © 2007