Music
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Completely Indi-pendent
Listening to local musicians Indicats
BY DANIELLE LATMAN
Mateus Kotok has run the record label Indi Script from his Haiku house for five years now. "I use a sound booth I constructed out of mattresses," he says. "You use four to five mattresses, one for each wall and one for the ceiling. It absorbs the reflection of sound. I recommend it for anyone looking to record music. You can also layer tapestries on it to make it look nice."
Thomas on bass, Kotok on drums, Shayna on vocals and Hamilton on guitar
PHOTO: DANIELLE LATMAN
His other equipment includes a $200 microphone package and $500 box that plugs the mic into a computer and allows them to record almost unlimited tracks digitally.
Kotok says he started Indi Script Records because "I've been playing music since I was four years old. Music is my life, but I don't like the business. Corporations, industry and politicians own the record industry and promote their ideas... when someone promotes violence, sex, drugs and alcohol--whether they're conscious of it or not--it's only feeding the problem and not the solution."
With such simple equipment and good intentions, Indi Script Records has produced CDs for many local acts including Marty Dread, Sirus B, reggae hip-hop performer Kung Fu Sam, hip-hop poet Sarah Dawn and pop singer Tina Malia. Projects in the works include a pop-rock record with 10-year-old singer Eli Abrams. Kotok himself is forming a band with several 15-year-olds--including Abrams' brother--called Skate Key. "It's punk skate rock," says the adult father of a five-year-old daughter.
Kotok masterminded the new band Indicats "because live music is so important. People get lazy and live music is the only thing that can get their butts moving."
Memorial Day weekend, Indicats played a show during the Unity Festival held at Baldwin Beach. The lineup included Sirus B, Reggae for Real and Channel Live, among others. Upcountry resident and author Anthony Simmons organized the get-together. People brought guacamole and what one guy called "the best banana bread on the island" to share. There was also an old-fashioned movie theater popcorn popper on hand for more free grub.
Indicats are a four-piece band consisting of Kotok on drums and lead vocals, Tistrya Hamilton on guitar and vocals and Shayna and Thomas (neither wanted to give their last names) switching off on bass. With influences ranging from Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon to Bob Marley and hip-hop, their sound spans folk, rock, roots and reggae and can be hard to pin down into a simple genre.
The band is only three months old, but Shayna and Kotok have been good friends for years, ever since Shayna rented a space in his attic in Seattle for $50 a month. She's played guitar since she was 12, "but I always loved the bass and played the bass parts on my guitar." Now as a mother of twins, Shayna switches off bass responsibilities with local musician Thomas, depending on whoever is most available and prepared at the time. Hamilton met the friends three months ago during a visit to Maui that turned into a long-term residence. She now lives with Kotok and his family.
The band was formed when Kotok asked the two women to play their instruments for songs he had written. "What I like best about his songs are the lyrics," says Hamilton. The song "Compassion" was written about a conversation they'd had regarding tough love and compassion.
"He was saying compassion is boundless," says Hamilton. "I believe if you're putting others first and being selfless, you can't really help anyone."
The lyrics they came up with? "When I'm walking on that path I hear them calling me/Angels of abundance, joy and love."
The Indicats will be touring the mainland June and July. They'll return to Maui in August and perform shows for their upcoming CD. Website in the works www.indiscriptrecords.com. Hotline voicemail 206 829 9536. MTW
Copyright © 2004
- Maui Time Weekly
Discography
POSITIVITY
POP HOP UPLIFTING SOUL FUNK
FUTURE MEMORIES
EKLECTK ROOTS DUB
AMEDITATION
A ONE HOUR MASSAGE CD FOR RELAXING AND HEALING
SELECTION OF CHOICE
COMPILATION OF INDISCRIPT SELECT WORKS
EKLECTIZARIA
EKLECTIC MIX OF UNUSAL WORKS IN A RETRO MODERN STYLE
ETHIERIA
AMBIANT ETHIRAL SOUND TEXTURES
FILM SCORES
ORCHESTRAL THEMATIC AND FUNKY MOOD LAYERS
STORY SOUNDS
INSTRUMENTAL BACKING FOR STORY TIME
SIMPLE FLOWERS
ACOUSTIC AND SIMPLISTIC SONGS
LAKISSTA DUB
EASTERN LATIN EURO AFRO DUB
LOVERS MIX
LOVE SONGS AND SONGS FOR LOVIN
POSITIVITY
EARLY EVOLVED ART ROCK
INDIVISABLE
EKLECTIK BANJO DANCE DUBS WITH A HUMORUS EDGE
UNTAMABLE SOUL
HEAD BANGIN INDIE SKATE ROCK
MEGANOMIC
RETRO MODERN SOUL MEETS JAZZ ROCK HIP HOP OUTERSPACE DUB
INDIDSCRIPT
MIXED CULTURE ART ROCK AND SOUL
EARTHSTAR
RETRO MODERN ACOUSTO-ELECTRIC ORIGINALS
www.indiscriptrecords.com live stream
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3Q3Z6bCB7A
www.myspace.com/indiscriptrecords link to all the record covers in the top friends to hear samples of each album above.
Photos
Bio
Indiscript Records
Mateus Kotok
www.myspace.com/indiscriptrecords
www.indiscriptrecords.com
heather@indiscriptrecords.com
206 829 9536
Mateus Kotok is a gifted and versatile artist, a singer, songwriter, composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and founder of Indi Script Records. His 2003 solo album, Indi Script, is an indescribably eclectic CD written, performed, and recorded entirely by him. Even the paintings that grace its cover are his. Playing guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, and percussion, Mateus creates positive, eminently danceable grooves to accompany his dreamlike lyrics.
Mateus lives on the Hawaiian island of Maui, where he is given inspiration from the beauty and serenity of the environment that surrounds him and from the many talented musicians with whom he collaborates. His current bands play live in Maui.
Influenced by Bob Marley, John Lennon, Pink Floyd, Toy Dolls, Fear, and Bad Brains together with sounds as diverse as Mozart and Motown, he listens to hip-hop artists like Goody Mob and Dead Prez Eastern Bellydance and many other types of music.
Born in Ogden, Utah, in 1971, Mateus Kotok has a performer’s pedigree. His mother Judy is an actress who sent him to acting school and found television work for him when he was a child. His father Nick is a bluegrass musician who recorded for Capitol Records in the 1960s. He provided young Mateus with a wide variety of instruments and ample encouragement. As a high school graduation present, he gifted Mateus’ first solo record, an album by his punk band Drastic Measures.
Moving to Seattle in 1990, Mateus spent ten years working and performing amid the music scene there. After his alternative band MindSpice released a self-titled CD in 1992, he was approached by Atlantic Records but, true to his independent nature, he declined their offer so as to preserve artistic control. While in Seattle, Mateus recorded with and learned from such musical friends as Brian StingShark, Kaya, Wailers nayahbhingi drummer Ras Menelik and P-Funk keyboardist Uzziel Levvi, in addition to blues rocker Geoff Krauss, ragga star Rocker T, songwriter and dub artist Somesh, and ADX.
Mateus relocated to Maui in the year 1999. He is looking forward to working with many more new and established artists and to traveling and performing both in the United States and internationally. Please contact Indi Script Records for information about booking and CD distribution.
Mateus Kotok has 17 all original personal record albums of a variety of styles of music. To hear samples of his music go to his myspace page and link to his top friends. Each record album has Mateus Kotok’s all original art and music. Mateus has produced music professionally since 1999 and is owner of Indiscript Records.
Mateus Kotok
Indiscript Records
www.indisciptrecords.com
www.myspace.com/indiscriptrecords
206 829 9536
Mateus Kotok Music Producer and Owner of Indiscript Records
MATEUS KOTOK OF INDISCRIPT RECORDS PRODUCED OHMALA JAZMIN ON HER "LOVE HEART BEAUTY OF THE WORLD" ALBUM
MATEUS KOTOK OF INDISCRIPT RECORDS PRODUCED AND PERFORMED ON DANIEL MORIN 'S "WAITER THERE'S A BUTTERFLY IN MY SOUP" ALBUM
MATEUS KOTOK OF INDISCRIPT RECORDS PRODUCED MJ ON HER "TIME AND SOUL" ALBUM
MATEUS KOTOK OF INDISCRIPT RECORDS PPODUCED AND PERFORMED ON TODD JOHNSON'S "SOLE RISE" ALBUM
MATEUS KOTOK OF INDISCRIPT RECODS PRODUCED AND PERFORMED ON WIILI NELSON'S SONG "A PEACEFUL SOLUTION" SIRUS B VERSION
MATEUS KOTOK OF INDISCRIPT RECORDS RECORDED AND PLAYED DRUMS FOR WILL OF AMERICA'S SONG "BOOGIE MAN"
MATEUS KOTOK OF INDISCRIPT RECORDS PRODUCED, COMPOSED AND PERFORMED 12 OF THE SONGS ON JEHAN KAMAL'S "ROCK GARDEN" ALBUM
MATEUS KOTOK OF INDISCRIPT RECORDS PRODUCED, COMPOSED, PERFORMED, ENGINEERED, RECORDED, MIXED AND ARRANGED FOR AYIN ADAMS'S "THE WOODS DEEP INSIDE ME" POETRY ALBUM
MATEUS KOTOK OF INDISCRIPT RECORDS CO-PRODUCED AND RECORDED A LIVE ALBUM FOR THOMAS AND THE EASY
MATEUS KOTOK OF INDISCRIPT RECORDS PRODUCED, RECORDED, ARRANGED, MIXED, ENGINEERED, MASTERED AND ACCOMPANIED NAHARA ON HER "REFLECTIONS" ALBUM PERFORMING DRUMS, BASS, ELECTRIC GUITAR, KEYBOARDS AND PERCUSSION
MATEUS KOTOK OF INDISCRIPT RECORDS PRODUCED, ENGINEERED AND PERFORMED BINGHI AND KEYS, AND PERFORMED VOCALS ON JEREMEY SAFRON AND SONNY 'BEAR' KELLY'S "FUNDI ISSEMBLE" ALBUM
MATEUS KOTOK OF INDISCRIPT RECORDS DID PRODUCTION, COPRODUCTION, COARRANGEMENT, INSTRAMENTAL COMPOSITION OF SOME SONGS INTERMIXED WITH REMASTERING OF LIVE RECORDINGS AND INSTRUMENTATION OF SIRUS B'S "JUMPSTART THE REVOLUTION" ALBUM
MATEUS KOTOK OF INDISCRIPT RECORDS ON DAVID BREAUX "BETWEEN YOU AND ME" ALBUM
MATEUS KOTOK OF INDISCRIPT RECORDS PRODUCED, ARRANGED, ACOMPANIED, ENGINEERED ON DAVID BREAUX'S "BETWEEN YOU AND ME" ALBUM
MATEUS KOTOK OF INDISCRIPT RECORDS PRODUCED ARRANGED COMPOSSED PERFORMED BASS DRUMS GUITAR KEYBOARDS PERUSSION VOCAL
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