Mo’ Wax — Where Are They Now: Raw Stylus (1992)
Mo’ Wax was a record label started by James Lavelle in 1992, which closed about ten years later. Initially they released 12" singles and licensed a compilation from Japan of Japanese Hip Hop, until 1994 when they began releasing albums of their artists original work. While some of these artists such as DJ Shadow, DJ Krush, and Money Mark continued releasing music after Mo’ Wax closed, others have seemingly disappeared from the music scene. In this series I will look at each artist on Mo’ Wax and try to find out where are they now…
Raw Stylus formed sometime in the late 1980’s, with the Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4 ed.) stating their first single Bright Lights, Big City was released in 1989, which is backed up by the linear notes from their Mo’ Wax debut. The band was formed by singer Jules Brookes and songwriter/producer Ron Aslan, initially as a production and remix team while the pair were living together in London, where they worked behind the scenes with Peter Gabriel, and Toni Childs. Raw Stylus next began performing around north London as a covers band before writing their own songs and releasing two white label singles. The band also performed regularly at Gilles Peterson’s Talkin’ Loud nights at The Fridge where James Lavelle saw them play.
In 1992 Lavelle signed the group to his Mo’ Wax record label, their single Many Ways releasing in late 1992, and featuring singer Marcella French, aka Debbie French. She would record vocals for Raw Stylus’ white label release of Pushin’ Against The Flow, as noted in Mixmag June 1992, but the vocals were re-recorded and French was removed from the song when it was later re-released. Her final appearance with Raw Stylus would be on Something About You Missing Me which appears to have only been released in Germany in 1993.
Back in 1992, according to the Encyclopedia of Popular Music, soon after signing with Mo’ Wax “problems arose, and they [Raw Stylus] switched to Acid Jazz instead,” a different record label. In 1993 Raw Stylus released Use Me, a Bill Withers cover, on Acid Jazz before switching labels once more, and adding some new members to the group. In 1993 the group were joined by a new singer Donna Gardier, and they also added seven members to their live show, allowing them to create a more spontaneous performance.
In 1995 Raw Stylus released their debut album, Pushing Against The Flow, after recording in 1994 in New York with Ski Oakenfull, a previous member of the house-band at Gilles Petersons’ club nights at Bar Rumba, who would go on to co-write and co-produce Galliano’s final studio album, 4, released in 1996. The Raw Stylus album features contributions from members of the New York group Repercussions, with members Jonathan Maron, Genji Siraisi, and Nicole Willis appearing, as well as Gary Katz who produced both groups debut albums.
Pushing Against The Flow was released by Geffen in America on November 21st 1995, with the label being quoted at the time saying they wanted to “take a slow, gradual approach with no hype surrounding the project…The music needs to speak for the artist.” At the time their single Believe In Me was #1 in the US Dance Charts, but the UK release was far off, with a 12" single of Pushing Against The Flow being released in February 1996, and the album arriving in March.
Reviewed by Edinburgh’s The List in 1996 they said, “The gritty sound of London street-soul hooking up with this New York all-star line-up…has resulted in some real examples of musical synergy.” The Guardian, in their March 8 1996 issue, meanwhile commented:
“Like fellow Brit-funksters Galliano and Incognito, this outfit sell out every venue they play, but remain unknown outside the acid-jazz scene. Their debut album won’t necessarily change that, either. It’s highly pleasant and accomplished, but the virtuosity comes at the expense of spontaneity.”
In the US reviews were more optimistic, with the Janurary 25 1996 issue of Baltimore’s The Sun commenting:
“this is old-style soul played with modern attitude and technology, blending samples and synth beats with chicken-scratch guitar and brassy horn arrangements….But as good as the individual elements are, what makes the package so addictive is the way it all comes together.”
Los Angeles’ Daily News, in their November 24 1995 issue, claimed Raw Stylus were proof that “Brits have always done r&b and funk as well if not better than their American counterparts.”
But even with promising reviews the album didn’t chart in either the US or UK, with only their singles making small dents. Some speculated that their label Geffen were too busy with other acts such as Beck and Wu-Tang Clan and so they didn’t put enough effort in to Raw Stylus. Perhaps that’s also why, following the albums release, Raw Stylus changed record labels again. They continued recording until releasing their final single in 1996, Change, and the group is said to have broken up later in 1998.
Following Raw Stylus’ end, its members went their seperate ways, with Jules Brookes working as Managing Director at Point Blank, a music school with courses focusing on DJing and production. Ron Aslan released a handful of 12"’s with his other group the Plastic Surgeons in 1997, and has contributed to albums by The Sugarbabes, Billie Piper, and Baaba Maal.
Donna Gardier meanwhile has had the most success as a solo musician. Prior to joining Raw Stylus, Gardier had released a solo album in 1991, and in 2002 she released a follow up which Billboard were great fans of at the time. She next appeared on albums by Positive Flow, and The Sunburnt Band, as well as performing vocals on songs by artists such as The James Taylor Quartet, Dannii Minogue, and Sting.
While each member has stayed relatively active within their field, there’s no answer to why Raw Stylus never released a second album given how long they were recording together.
