Producer Shantan Wantan Ichiban on Designing Playlists forthe Workplace
Introduction
There’s much more to DJing than simply throwing down bangers. In partnership with Desk Space, Sydney DJ and producer Shantan Wantan Ichiban unpacks his strategies for setting the mood – for work and play. Shantan Wantan Ichiban thinks about playlists more than most.
The Sydney DJ and producer’s skill lies in building vibes in all kinds of settings – be it work, play, party or chill.
As well as hosting parties and DJ nights, Ichiban makes his own music – be it new single TakeMe Home with Sydney producer Arona Mane and featuring Melbourne vocalist IJALE, or a quiver of remixes and edits – and is the co-host of Triple J’s weekly HouseParty show with Jade Zoe. There he’s personally responsible for gradually building just the right vibe to ease listeners from the work week to the weekend over a four-hour period.
“I like warm, soulful sounds to start off,” he says of his long playlist prowess. “I like to build up a vibe by playing those more chill tracks, and [initially] coaxing people into that good party feeling with some of the more downtempo tracks.”
Being a trusted conductor of people’s emotions comes with great responsibility. “You do need to select music to set a mood,” saysIchiban. “Not all DJing is partying.”
That includes the work place. Ichiban recently cultivated a mid tempo, work-friendly block of hip-hop and related genres for Sydney co-working space DeskSpace. In line with the brand’s ethos of using music to help create a collaborative creative environment, Ichiban has a slew of classic 1990s backpack rap from Mos Def, A Tribe Called Quest, Slum Village, Common and Blackalicious, working alongside more recent cuts from kindred spirits such asLittle Simz, Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$ and Tierra Whack in his nearly four-hour playlist.
“A lot of the new artists you hear on it, like Anderson. Paak and GoldLink, are a continuation of that Native Tongues sound that was popular in ’90s,” says Ichiban. “Then there are the artists who have influenced the modern era with a lot of jazz- and soul-based hip-hop and their specific voices and cadences.”
That’s also true of the Aussie acts on the playlist, such as Sampa the Great, REMI, Milan Ring, B Wise, Hermitude, Genesis Owusu. Influential producer-focused cuts from the likes of Kaytranada and J Dilla help to deepen the connections.
“There’s definitely a soul element that rolls through it, including the more soulful side of drum ‘n’ bass,” says Ichiban. He singles out the dusty groove and punctuating breaks of IZCO’s remix of the p-rallel track soulboy, featuring in-demand London vocalist Green tea Peng: “I feel like that’s a real throwback to that original drum ‘n’ bass sound, which is so influenced by dub and reggae.”
Despite its dynamic layers, the playlist is designed to foster concentration during the workday, especially during that inevitable afternoon dip in focus. “It’s fun and up-tempo, but not too hectic for the workplace,” says Ichiban. “It’s something you can listen to that sets a warm mood throughout the office. Maybe something for the afternoon to help pick people up a bit. It will give you some energy, without anything too crazy.”
