Artist Focus is a series hosted by the extended Melodic Distraction family that deep dives into the life and times of the musicians that have defined the sound of modern music. From the stone cold classics to the unearthed gems and forgotten B-sides, the MD community tribute an hour of music by a single artist that has had a notable impact on their life.

Back in October I started broadcasting with Melodic – showcasing the sounds aligned to that of the label Darkfloor Sound. Shortly thereafter the Liverpool based station invited me to become a resident, which I happily accepted. Catch the Darkfloor Sound show every 3rd Saturday of the month. Our next transmission is tomorrow, February 18th.

I’ve been keen to extend what I have been doing on Mantis Radio for some years now into the format I’ve put together for this special edition of Artist Focus. In the course of research and pre-production of episodes of Mantis Radio, I’m regularly diving into artists, labels, and genres . I love the music, the background, the evolution, and the connections between sounds, but, it’s not often I get quite so deep into one artist.

This edition aired earlier this week, February 14th. With February being LGBT+ history month, I wanted to focus on a gay artist whose music aligns with that of me personally, and that of my label. Over the show’s hour, you’ll hear tracks, remixes and a few of her early influences.

From her early work, that would be championed by Jeff Mills, John Peel, and clubs up and down the country. To her stepping away from the scene, and to her return, were she now commands. Decimating in both the studio and the dance. A highlight of any line up, her sets are great to legendary. To illustrate this, I’ve included a few of her early ones below, together with her Essential Mix in 2019, and set from Katharsis, from the same year.

For Darkfloor’s first edition of Artist Focus: Paula Temple.

Playlist

In Reach [Materials]
Miyako [Materials]
Nirvana – Very Ape [Geffen Records]
Autechre – Second Bad Vilbel [Warp Records]
Aphex Twin – Metapharstic [R & S Records]
Paul Johnson – Wet Remix [Dance Mania]
LFO – LFO (Leeds Warehouse Mix) [Warp Records]
Punk Funk [Materials]
Contact [Materials]
Cloned [R & S Records]
The Knife – Stay Out Here (Paula Temple remix) [Rabid Records]
Oscillate [50Weapons]
Colonized [R & S Records]
Deathvox [R & S Records]
Joshua And Goliath [Noise Manifesto]
Cages [Noise Manifesto]
Quantum Unfolding [Noise Manifesto]

Edge of Everything (2019)

Mixes (1999 – 2019)