"Sometimes folks make us feel strange, but those folks, they'll just have to catch up" The Fabulous Sylvester, 1978
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Born in the States, Oli Stewart AKA Casbah 73, grew up in Madrid, where he developed a passion for music from an early age. He moved to Glasgow in the late '80s coinciding with the explosion of Rare Groove, Chicago House and the whole warehouse scene. This was his first taste of�proper black music and duly inspired, he was soon DJing, organizing one-offs and parties all over town, such as the now legendary�Saturday night residency "The Casbah".
By '91 he was buying vinyl big-time,� as his DJing and record buying rapidly increased, he soon realised how difficult it was to get hold of those elusive sounds. Initially the plan was to buy/sell enough to keep himself in new tunes, so he set up Casbah Records and before long his lists took off to strong interest worldwide. The selection was roots: jazz, funk, soul, fusion, latin-jazz, bossa and disco. Always on the lookout for those hot 'new discoveries', he scoured the most unlikely second hand shops and markets from the Americas to Asia. His growing reputation as a premier digger brought him into contact with many of the more foward-thinking DJs and producers on the scene. Anyone in search of these rare vinyl gems over the last eighteen years has probably come across one of Oli's famous lists, as Casbah Records is considered one of the most respected rare vinyl mail order services out there. For years he has travelled the world and his 15,000 rare record collection documents many of black music's best moments.
Glasgow was exciting,�but, growing tired of Scottish weather, he decided to move back to Madrid and set up�a recording�studio, where he is now producing tracks full time. His two first singles, "Cabo Verde Strut" and "The Way I Am" saw strong support from DJs around the globe, quickly followed by his debut album 'Moods & Grooves'. 2008 saw the release of "Pushin' Forty", second solo LP for�Casbah 73, an exciting musical leap forward and a statement of intent - no compromise, no barriers. In a country with an industry which has managed to do away with any true independent music scene,��along came this exciting, genre-defying mix of sounds. Collaborations include established figures�such as�hip hop legend Prince Po, up-and-coming NY singer Mariella Gonzalez and exciting homegrown talent Majka Edjo of Sweet Vandals fame.
Additional endeavours include the�recently�compiled 'Jazz Travels' an�album of rare jazz and latin tracks for Hitop Records, featuring rare and deep musical treats from around the world, many of which were hitherto unknown and the result of many record-hunting trips to places both�near and far. For the past 2 years he has also been involved with the radio crew 'Dial Soul', committed to broadcasting quality black music in Madrid.
Casbah 73's dj sets are always passionate affairs, the emphasis being on dance music with feeling.�No posing, no playing one boring micro-genre for hours on end. Currently, the best place to catch him is on Thursdays at Cafe Marula club in Madrid. With live bands featured every week,�the dancing gets going at about�one in the morning�and goes on, uninterrupted, for over 4 solid hours,�spanning�all manner of �house, disco, latin &�jazz. Deep electronic sounds and organic roots�feel at home together, new and old, rare and classics. His desire to connect with the dancefloor and his eclectic experience, deep roots and knowledge are always in evidence.�There's no nifty tag for this style, but the crowd certainly appreciates�it, because all you need is an open mind, the urge to dance and maybe sweat a little.��As well as several regular residencies in Madrid, he also performs regularly�at music festivals and venues at home and abroad, including the S.O.U.L. 06 Weekender, Mondo 07, Elektronikaldia & Sonar Festival to name a few.
2009, with a new studio nearing completion and new works already planned, well. watch this space!
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