we give you pursuit grooves ladies and gentleman! this month’s episode of the colectivo futurecast gets up close and personal with Brooklyn resident, Vanese Smith. her mixtape-styled recording for us is a mixture of past influences & current favorites; including cuts by legends such as Patrice Rushen and Mtume, alongside newer sounds from the likes of Quadron and Electric Wire Hustle. all in all a fantastic mixture of soulful sounds to spend a sunny spring afternoon wandering around the city. read our interview with Vanese and listen to her 60-minute mix below…

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5 minutes with…

PURSUIT GROOVES (Tectonic / Brooklyn, NYC)

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* how and where was this mix recorded?

I was at home and I grabbed about 100 CDs, threw them on the floor upside down and picked some at random!!!! ha. Okay, not really.  There was a bit more strategy involved.

* you started producing at the tender age of 14, how would you say your style has evolved over the years? do you apply a different approach to your music now?

My background and influences are still the same ya know but as I got older every few years I would become a bit obsessed or focused on a particular sound/genre so my tracks would reflect that. So for that reason I don’t think I’ll ever repeat a certain production sound because my ears keep changing.  And I’m an artist who needs to be inspired to create, so I like to try different things. I like a variety of rhythms and I don’t think I should be limited to just one thing.

* how did being a part of the Red Bull Music academy back in 2008 influence your career and yourself as an artist?

I met a lot of other really cool and talented artists. Some of which I still keep in touch with. As an artist it just encouraged me to keep creating.

* what do you normally listen to at home? which are your top three favorite albums?

At home i’m either working on my own stuff or sometimes there are a few sites that I check to see what’s new. Favorite albums – So many that I like within the last ten years. The list is just too long to name just three.

* in an interview for FACT magazine you mention being a very social and political person, and how that permeates through your music. what is your overall view of the current pressing issues around the world? do you see your music evolving over time according to the different socio-political climates?

I try to be optimistic, but honestly unfortunately there are some sad things happening in terms of humanity. I wish things weren’t so money and power focused as that seems to be the downfall of everything. I tried to touch on a few things on “Frantically Hopeful”… but sometimes people just want to thin about happy things and just dance! So I make those too.

* which projects are you currently working on? what does 2012 hold for Pursuit Grooves the producer and the DJ?

New alias called 91 Fellows coming out on Deepblak Recordings late spring…. and we’ll see what else happens release wise. Otherwise I’m in a really good place now in terms of being productive so that could turn into so much in the future.