Durojaiye Versatile

Durojaiye, a producer based in the San Francisco Bay Area, turns in his debut instrumental project that is sure to be thought of as a music licensing treasure chest. With a repertoire of songs that are tightly composed, artfully arranged, and well-produced, this CD achieves the rare feat of being both serviceable to professionals in television, film, and media, and being a coherent and highly enjoyable project that music lovers of alternative electronica/ambient/jazz music will thoroughly enjoy.

The opening track, "Lost," is a mid-tempo composition with industrial percussions which are delicately sandwiched between melodic keyboard parts that drive it forward and build anticipation. It's the perfect set-up for the project’s best composition, "Stay And Enjoy Life," which is not just a title, but an invitation, and a great follow-up to "Lost" with its head-bobbing beat, soothing synthesized guitar lines, and sweeping strings.



As you delve deeper into this CD, it magically, if not mysteriously, stimulates both your thoughts and imagination in a seamless, unconscious manner. From the joyfulness of "Kuba's Coming," to the introspective inducing "Never Forgotten," and the intriguing preponderance of the dramatic "022908." Durojaiye’s commanding ability to influence emotions with his compositions are only secondary to the command of his production talents.



The CD’s most commercial track, the hip-hop flavored "Merlot," features hypnotic keyboards and a marching, in-the-pocket groove which creates a mellow, but magnetically energetic pull that engages you. It will have instant appeal with urban audiences or music supervisors seeking music that has such an effect.

His parting gift on the project, the alternative pop flavored “Rise,” is a Fat Boy Slim inspired track that slightly deviates, but does not detour from the musical journey and takes you down a path that perhaps offers a preview of what’s to come from this talented producer.

This wine tastes great chilled, or served at room temperature. - Gian Fiero - musesmuse.com

Muses Muse Award for Best Instrumental CD Project of 2008 - Gian Fiero-musesmuse.com

Even with the chopped and diced beats that compromise Versatile’s songs, it is clear to see his influences. From the electronic tribal drums to the melodic guitar counterpoint, and piano plunks, he channels the likes of renowned beat maker J Dilla, and disparate indie artists such Portishead, in his funk, jazz, and eclectic mix of sounds. Which is prevalent on many tracks in his repertoire, including “Stay and Enjoy Life” a funky mix of lounging bass and synth on top of a bouncy guitar riff, to the angelic choir notes and hip-hop drums of “The Day After.” This combination, serves as a very enjoyable take on the mix-and-match nature of beat production, and stands heads and tails above the pack of wannabes. - Vents Magazine

Slow down, pour yourself a glass of some fine wine, and turn on “Stay And Enjoy Life” by Durojaiye Versatile. It will make you appreciate where you are right now, so that you can enjoy the smaller things in life. It’s a minimalistic instrumental that is absolutely stunning. It’s production is top of the line. Although there are no words, the song spoke a great deal to me.

If your having a band day, this song will cheer you up. I promise. When have I ever let you down? (If I have, let me know! I’m sorry!!) - We All Want Someone To Shout For

West coast Druojaiye Versatile, hits us with his debut album. A self-proclaimed “Menage-A-Trios of Hip Hop, Sade and Kraftwerk” – and that is quite accurate. With influences spanning genres of 60's Rock and Folk, 70's Soul and Jazz to Blues, Hip Hop, Freestyle and 80's Pop, set us up for a soundscape through eras. In essence tracks such as Rise remind me of what Keith Haring did with subway art in the early 80’s. This fusion of East and West coast stylised awareness is probably what helps glue these styles together.

Growing up in his parents San Francisco household the ambience was constantly enriched by their love for playing blues, jazz and soul records – emulated in the grainy nostalgia of Kuba’s Coming. His exposure to music and production from an early age, on a trip to Los Angeles set the wheels in motion later coaxing his broadening of horizons and solidifying his vision to turn “thoughts into things”.

The fusion is almost immediate between tracks, the contrasts of synthesised and organic sounds stabilise the divide of genres. Allusion to a Herbie Hancock-esque approach in Lost and Bree are tightly composed and mesmerising. Combined with a 80’s punchy constant beat, the narrative in this track reads like the thought he aims to illustrate. I set this to ‘gapless playback’ while I was riding the London Underground the other day and it was like having your own personal soundtrack. Dodging obtrusive frequencies, over-repetitive hooks and yet maintaining the challenge in composition, The Fermented Sessions is one of those rare albums that can be listened to all the way through and still be considered for a second round at the end.

Before your ears dread him falling into intense cheesy synth heaven, Durojaiye will pull out a track like Possibilities, with the enticing ability of being in the same line-up as Roots Manuva, and not surprising that he he cites Portishead as The Day After precludes Never Forgotten one part of your brain is in the 90’s simultaneously recognising definite hip-hop, soul and funk themes, and from the moment you are confronted with all these things you can’t help but melt into his thought. - More Than The Music

i'm constantly bemoaning (bragging about?) the fact that we get a LOT of submissions here at LET. And as good a job as we try to do listening to everything, well, things are going to fall through the cracks, plain and simple. Sometimes, though, the Fates realize this will not stand. Such is the case with Durojaiye Versatile's The Fermented Sessions. When DV sent a follow-up email earlier asking what we thought of the album, i had to scramble, but i'm glad i took the time to listen the second time around. The wine label CD art pretty much sums up the experience--grown folks' grooves just right for a dinner party mentality. Don't be fooled into thinking this is NPR-approved, light stuff, though--while i'm sure they'd dig it, too, this is for beat heads. - Les Enfants Terribles

As soothing as a herbal tea on a cosy sofa, ‘The Fermented Sessions’ is the latest album to find its way onto my desk from the wonderfully chilled Durojaiye Versatile. This album would fit nicely into a rich, relaxing living room; with your feet up, and wine in hand.
Whilst I feel it is great to have in the background, that doesn’t mean it is ignored. No no. This artistic masterpiece will get you ‘chillaxed’ in minutes, and still keep musical presence in any atmosphere.

The first track ‘Welcome’ is simply that; it’s like a taster at the supermarket. To tease, and intrigue. Like a small cup of Baileys to tickle your senses. It sets the pace, and you can soon know what to expect from this melodic cd.

An album to chill out to, you’ll soon realise you are drifting off into a swirling glass of Merlot and dreaminess. This

A quite stunning production, be sure to visit his website, as well as his MySpace.

This album is set for release on the 6th of December 2010, so look out for it.

Tracks to look out for: All of them, they all make up the bigger picture. - New Reviews (UK)

Already as the two minute long intro kicks off we recognise Versatile’s production skills and attention to detail, all of a sudden you are transported into Lost and its an entirely different experienced that you face. Much mellower and with some clear hip hop influences, Lost combines 70’s electro with some old school hip hop beats and it makes this a very atmospheric and loungy affair.

Nest up its Stay And Enjoy Life a rather soulful one with a little bit of a jungle vibe with help of some bongos. Brilliant by any standards and certainly the kind of music anyone would enjoy whilst having a cocktail, this is the kind of music you would expect to hear at a music festival during the day, during ‘chilling time’.

There is definitely something really summery about this album and even if its only December now we can’t help but love this warm feeling The Fermented Sessions gives us.

Another favourite on the album is the slightly more eccentric Possibilities with its atmospheric synths and light keys this is one little gem that doesn’t get old.

Never Forgotten is another delightful track much in the same way Stay And Enjoy Life is with some jazzy undertones. As 022908 kicks off we are perplexed by the name but then the beat takes over and it’s a more energetic side to the album we discover and no surprise we can’t get enough of it.

Durojaiye Versatile has gone and done it and made us look forward to the summer with his warm collection of lounge tunes. The Fermented Sessions is a delight and definitely something a little different to enjoy this winter. We love it!
- Entertainment Focus (UK)

"...San Fran continues to bubble with producers like Durojaiye Versatile;
Paints his tightly wound electronic soundscapes with strokes of hip-hop,
Late night jazz-funk, and the soulful side of Detroit techno."
- Dan Martino - The Dope Spot, brooklynradio.net

Durojaiye's music is like a melting pot of sounds and styles from the last five decades, combined with present influcences to become something new and unique." - Andreas and Juergen