Psychostasia owner Reggie Dokes will soon be releasing a new EP, Feel Me Deep. The EP is a split, with Dokes delivering two of the cuts, while the other two are delivered courtesy of Gari Romalis. A strong mixture of both techno and house, the two producers deliver brilliantly on this release.
We were lucky to have Reggie Dokes answer some our questions about the EP, the label and much more beside.
Can you tell us how this collaboration with Gari Romalis came about?
Gari and I have been friends for a long time. Gari is such a talented producer and DJ, and deserves all the respect a Detroit producer deserves. He has history with this game, and I felt like the time was right for us to do something. We have always kept in contact over the years, so it was a no brainer for us to come together.
Is there anyone else you would like to collaborate with in the near future?
As far as collaborations go, I have plans on getting in studio time with my partner Maurice Herd, aka Pirahnahead. I would not mind collaborating with JuJu and Jordash from Amsterdam, who both put out an EP on my label earlier on in my catalogue.
What DJs/artists have you admiring recently?
As far as artists that I am digging right now, that would have to be Anderson Paak, Big Krit and this new collaboration between Common and Robert Glasper. As far as DJs go, I would have to say Jay Simon, Michael Scott, DJ Kemit, DJ Spinna, and Derrick May.
How has the Psychostasia been progressing since itâs comeback in 2016?Â
My label Psychostasia is coming back steadily and with great progression. I am so thankful and excited to be back with my label.
What release on the label are you most proud of?Â
The release on my label that I am most proud of would be The Unknown Artist EP. This EP at the time featured Delano Smith, Gari Romalis aka Butchstrange, Vince Haliburton, and other Detroit artists that were on the come up in the music scene.
What release of your own are you most proud of?
A release that I did on my own, that I would be most proud of would be The Return EP which was very eclectic, and signalled my comeback to the world of electronic music.
Are there any upcoming releases on the label that you are particularly excited about?
An upcoming release that I am excited about would have to be Brian Neal’s solo project. It will have something for everybody, techno and deep house vibes, I love it. I have goosebumps just thinking about it.
What are some of the biggest challenges youâve faced with being a label boss?
One challenge I faced was getting proper distribution. There are a ton of labels out there, and mine had been quiet for a while. I have to say, there are still a few fans left and they waited patiently for my return to Psychostasia. However, folks have to understand that it costs to put these records out, that shipping can be astronomical. Fortunately, I have found a good home with Rush Hour now. But I do want to give thanks to Clone and DBH Music (Germany) for supporting me in the beginning.
What was the biggest moment for the label from your perspective?Â
The biggest moment for me and the label was when Theo Parrish discovered a minimal techno track of mine called Black Thoughts. When he first heard the record, he did not like it, but I think it grew on him. Anyway, during the golden years of his infamous mix tapes, he put that track on one of his mixes. Needless to say, it put a lot of eyes on my label, and what I was doing in Detroit at the time. I am very grateful to him for that exposure.
What can we expect from Psychostasia moving forward?Â
Just continue to expect eclectic, soulful and spiritually moving music from Psychostasia. I am here to stay, God willing… let’s do this man!
You were in Amsterdam not so long ago for ADE. What were your thoughts on it here and what did you get up to?
I did make it to ADE, let us say that I was a quiet observer. It appears that a lot of folks show up for this event which is cool. I think it is always a good thing when you have events that support the scene. It was my first one, so it was cool. I will leave it at that!Â
Will we be seeing you in Europe any time soon?
You will be seeing me in Europe soon. My first time playing in London is on April 20th. Stay tuned for the happenings.
Feel Me Deep will be released on April 15. You can buy/listen to it here
