Paramanu Recordings is without a doubt one of my favorite record labels. Everyone of their artists is awe inspiring and extremely talented. Much is going on this year with Paramanu, and label founder JES provides some details about their activities in the music industry.
State your name, and what you’re involved in?
Hi the name is James Shidell that’s my legal name. When it comes to music, many know me as J.E.S. the Universual or simply J.E.S. I’m CEO, co-Owner, and founder of Paramanu Recordings Inc. I also handle production and engineering for the label.
What drew you into this field and how long have you been actively involved?
I apologize if this is long.
Music has been part of my life ever since I was a little kid I want to say around 6-7 years old, maybe even younger. Unlike a lot of musical artist, music was/is generally inherited through the family. This was not my case, I mean my father used to sing in a choir in his younger years, and I believe he and his choir had a few songs pressed on vinyl in the early 1960s might have been a reel to reel I can’t remember, but my music influence from the family pretty much ended there. However, music did always play throughout the house, my father used to throw the big studio headphones on my small head and I used to jam out on his old reel to reels often.
As I got older, I started to appreciate music even more. The kids I grew up around influenced me to get more involved with the culture. At the age of 8, I wrote my first rap after hearing the DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince (Nightmare on my Street) track in 1987, and I used to be part of this fake cover band that used to play in the garage of my next door neighbor, which drew neighborhood fans. Imagine an 8 year old singing basically the entire 1987 album of Def Leppard’s (Hysteria) live, but basically on some Milli Vanilli steez, except I didn’t actually lip sync I actually sang over the playing vocals, while my band members played the real drums and electric guitar, some fun stuff as a kid.
As the years past I just built on my music education learning more and more about the music culture. It was not until 1989 when I moved to Germany my true love for the Hip-Hop culture truly flourished, or let me say I truly started to understand it. and appreciate it more. I mean I loved hip-hop, but this is when I actually married it. It pretty much consumed my life from that point on. I used to go to my next door neighbors house (Peace to the Mathis family) where I would borrow tapes like Salt-n-Papa – Black Magic, Eric B & Rakim – Paid in Full, and Run DMC – Tougher Than Leather and I would sit in my room all day listening to tapes. I still remember the very first time I heard Big Daddy Kane’s – Taste of Chocolate record that I had borrowed from one of my boys from grade school. Changed my life!
Middle school and high school rolls around and I met some true hip-hop heads who still today are my best friends. We basically formed a lyrical crew who wrote rhymes in comp books all day and traded off between classes, and we used to kick freestyles in the school hall ways, there was a whole cypha of us. However 3 of us were really good friends and we eventually started a little crew called The Lyric Core which consisted of (J.E.S, Dcypha, P.O. and B-Boy). P.O was Dcypha’s little brother who at the time was not in high school yet.
Dcypha and P.O. (who is now known as Madness M.D.) are still doing music but now under the moniker of Soul Journer who is now part of Paramanu Recordings.
In 1998, I got more involved with music production. I didn’t have any money for equipment or expensive software so I made my first beat using Playstation’s MTV Music Generator software (which was limited in what you can do, but it allowed you to create your own beats, and sample), I then moved over to the Acid Pro DAW, and then recently changed to Ableton Live back in 2007. So I’ve been actively making music since like 1987 if you want to count my fake band, but I did not start taking it more serious until 1998.
In 2005, I started Paramanu Recordings Inc.
J.E.S the Universual-CEO, Co-Owner, and founder of Paramanu Recordings Inc.
How did the name Paramanu come about, what does it mean and how did Paramanu Records start?
Good questions. I absolutely knew in my heart back in 1998 I eventually wanted to start my own record label. I told myself if the right opportunity arises I will start one. I wanted to release some of my own music, along with my friends at this time I was already friends with the likes of (K-the-I???, Kaeoflux, Arcsin, Hexagram23, Circuit Scarecrow, BrokenKlutch, Rev Al, Butterfly Swift (now known as Dewla) basically the whole Komadose/Distorted Megabytes crew, among others) we used to run rampant on many hip-hop forums back in the day, trading music with each other via Zebox, fun times. Our music was so abstract at that time (still is) but I knew no record label would touch it, and by this time Kaeoflux was starting up Komadose Records and holding it down. Basically there was no need for Paramanu Recordings at that time.
In 2000 I was working at a local record store pushing vinyl, CDs, and tapes, even made my own mix-tapes for sale for some extra money. I had a boy that worked upstairs in a “head shop” who was literally dusted out his mind everyday coming into work. He would carry a paperback book with him every day, and with me knowing that this cat barely passed high school I was interested in what he was reading. I eventually asked him one day if I can see the book. I can’t remember the name of the book however I do know it was a book discussing the laws of physics. With me being such a big science buff I wanted to check it out. After skimming through some pages I landed on a page talking about Atoms and particles of matter. On that page I saw the word Paramanu, reading that paragraph it mentioned sometime to the effect that “The paramanu is neither created nor can be destroyed. It is the permanent basis of the Physical Universe” at that very moment I knew exactly what I wanted to call my record label if I ever were to start one. That was the perfect definition of what I wanted to represent for my music, and it fit perfectly. Later that night I did some more research about Paramanu, and I read some interesting things. You can read the entire definition of Paramanu on the Paramanu Recordings website (http://www.paramanurecordings.com). I took the word and planted it in my mind for later us.
Fast forward to 2003/2004 I met PFM (Founder of Hoverock Records) from a mutual friend of ours (Hexagram23). PFM approached me in 2005 in considering a partnership with him to start Hoverock Records. I was all for it. PFM and I had the same vision, same musical taste, and wanted the same things so I was down. PFM then wanted to bring in another member to the business TSE from Distorted Megabytes so all three of us started Hoverock Records back in 2005. This was the time I was introduced to and met Quest “The Unborn Child”. I knew of Quest through PFM by hearing some tracks by Abstrakt Distortion and I loved their music. Quest and I hit it off instantly as if we were brothers separated at birth. We began building and combing our musical talent and recorded tracks together; our first being “Nocturnal Destroyer” which Quest destroyed lyrically.
Eventually my time with Hoverock Records came to an end, we’re still friends, just moved in different directions. With my mind still set on running my own label and putting out music I felt that this was the perfect opportunity to do what I’ve been dreaming since 1998, and so with that I did. In Oct 2005 I pulled that little word I saved 5 years ago from out of the crates of my brain and I started Paramanu Recordings Inc. I brought along with me my Partner (Co-Owner) Quest “The Unborn Child”. The rest is now history. The label has been running strong now for 5 ½ years.
Who were your artistic/musical influences growing up?
Big Daddy Kane, EPMD, A Tribe Called Quest, Ultra Magnetic Emcee’s, De La Soul, Jay-Dee, Madlib, Peanut Butter Wolf, Eric B & Rakim, Slick Rick, Rick Rubin, Wu-Tang Clan, Pharcyde, KMD (MF Doom), Jungle Brothers, Common (Sense), Kool G Rap and DJ Polo, The Nonce, Led Zeppelin, Outkast, Def Leppard, Skid Row, Bon Jovi, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, David Axelrod, Salt-n-Papa, Del, The Almighty RSO, Michael Jackson, Earth Wind and Fire, 3rd Bass, Marvin Gaye, Sun Ra, Billy Holiday, Masta Ace, Company Flow, Bigg Jus, Jean Grae, Juggaknots, Organized Konfusion, Artifacts, Redman, Prince Paul, Jeru the Damaja, KRS-ONE (Boogie Down Productions), NAS, Gangstarr, Kool Keith, The Roots, Teddy Riley, Tom Jones, Jean Michel Jerre, Yusef Lateef, King Tee, Ice Cube (1990-1993), NWA, Scarface, DITC, Boot Camp…way to many to mention.
There’s a new mix tape about to drop (probably right before this interview); tell us about that and all the artists involved.
The mix-tape was/is the brain child of Quest. We as a label (collectively) had not put out any new music together for about 2/3 years, and since our family continues to grow we wanted to introduce the new to the old, and the old to the new. Bring the fans some new music. When I started Paramanu Recordings I used to release collective mix-tapes/podcasts every couple of months. I would love to try and get back to that level but with everyone being so busy doing a collective mix-tape it can become a pretty tough task, however we were able to work this one out.
The initial intention of the mix-tape was to gather some ill tracks from everyone on the label, our extended fam and affiliates, and put out a free mix-tape as a digital download.
While we were gathering tracks, and preparing for the release, there was the unfortunate and terrible crisis (tsunami/earthquake) that hit the many regions of Japan, destroying everything. Since our good friend, family, and label mate (Timmo80) happens to live in the heart of Sendai, the region of Japan that took the hardest beating, we have now decided to turn this mix-tape into a “name your price” donation benefit to the Tim Oikawa Relief program, to help those less fortunate and are suffering in Japan.
You can visit: http://music.paramanurecordings.com/album/paramanu–recordings–presents–descendants–of–decay–vol-1-pre–listening to pre-listen to the mix-tape, learn about the mix-tape, see all involved, and read all about the benefits program.
We are very proud of this mix-tape, it’s had its ups and downs, but the overall outcome is very dope. We have already received tons of support. The mix-tape will be available for official download in the next few days, or possibly already released depending on when you read this.
Who are some of the artists and contributors on the label?
We are running about 27 deep (official artists and affiliates). All fam, seriously the illest group of artist on the planet from around the planet: J.E.S the Universual, Shortrock, V8, Arcsin, Selfsays, ReCaaLL the Albatross, Timmo80, Mud Buddha, Masai Bey, OptimisGFN, K-the-I???, The Moliqule, Equanimous One, Michael Nhat, Kiew Nikon, Orion Pax, Jacques LaROQ, Soul Journer (D.Cypha & Madness M.D.). Neurologist, Onepersun, C73Cypher, Subjekt Abnormal, Napierian Logarithm (J.E.S the Universual & Quest “the unborn child”), and Abstrakt Distortion (Quest “the unborn child” & VOIDER-ONE).
TFD
Can you give me an in-depth discography of Paramanu Records?
Paramanu Recordings tries to put out new music every year (1 or 2 releases). Here is the rundown of what we’ve released so far.
Official Releases: Shortrock –Propaganda, Existence and Music EP Turntable Composition Vol. 1 (7” & Digital 2007), Orion Pax – Defunct Mute Button EP (12” & Digital 2008), Jacques LaROQ – Basics (Digital 2008), Selfsays – Contra b/w Another Ughh Letter (D45 2009), Mud Buddha – Tenants of Babylon (Digital 2009), V8 & Shortrock – All Terrain Bathroom Tile: Theories of Procreation, Chemical Science, & Draconian Law (Digipak & Digital 2010), ReCaaLL the Albatross – Leo is a Loser: the Hell of Other People (CD & Digital 2010), Arcsin – Wrath of Man (Digipak 2011 & Digital 2010), Arcsin – Hi Deaf (Digital 2011).
Free Mixtapes and Podcasts: Paramanu Recordings & Hoverock Records Presents…There Heeree Vol. 1 (Mix), Paramanu Recordings Presents…MouseMix Vol. 1 (Podcast), Paramanu Recordings Presents…MouseMix Vol. 2 (Podcast), Paramanu Recordings Presents…MouseMix Vol. 3 (Podcast), Paramanu Recordings Presents…The Most Traumatic Stress Discorder Vol. 1 (Mix), Equanimous One Presents When Stars Collide (Podcast), K-the-I??? & Shortrock – Awesome Show, Great Job (SXSW Cd), OptimisGFN aka Twan Beautiful – Black Heaven King Mixtape (Mix), and Paramanu Recordings Presents…Descendants of Decay Vol. 1 (Mix).
In affiliation with B.O.S Skwad Records more an official B.O.S Skwad release.
What inspires you to do what you do?
Honestly it’s the love of the music, my family and friends. However there are many times I feel like just giving up, throwing in the towel. I feel like I’m way to nice, but yet I still get shitted on for no reason but I let the haters hate, it’s the people that I’m real close with, and surround myself with that inspire me to continue to do what I do. Running and maintaining a Record label is really no easy task so getting good support is a big bonus. There are way too many talented artists out there who are on this label that need to be heard, thus inspires me to help them out, get their music out to the massive, and support them 100%.
What other future projects does Paramanu Records have coming up?
These are confirmed:
J.E.S the Universual – Mitral Volume Prolapsed
Kiew Nikon – They Might Not Like You & Planet Earth
ReCaaLL the Albatross – AGRIPPA EP
Arcsin – Not In My Backyard
Quest “the unborn child” – Untitled
Abstrakt Distortion – Awakening the Dead EP
A.M. Breakups – 12”
Neurologiest – 12”
OptimisGFN – The Grizzly Whale Beast Mix-tape & Black Gun Metal LP
Soul Journer – Untitled
Mud Buddha – Untitled
Timmo80 – Zave080
Hobs Sputnik – Satellite Strange
Sylance DoGood – Untitled
ReCaaLL & OptimisGFN – Friction as you Pass EP
There have been talks on other releases for the label but these have not been confirmed so I won’t mention those.
Where do you see this label going in the next 10 years?
I would like to honestly turn Paramanu Recordings into a Dynasty in the music industry. I eventually would like to journey into other realms of entertainment: directing, photography, mass music production, distribution, manufacturing, studio, record stores, etc. I’m thankful for the 5 ½ years of success we have had so far with the label. We are still young.
Here is to hoping the next 10 years will be even better! If there is no Paramanu Recordings 10 years from now, I can at least say we tried and did what we loved.
PARAM(Beyond or Ultimate)ANU(atom) CHEA!
