Mutual Intentions: The Now-Label To Know

Design: Hans Jørgen Wærner

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“Every wolf needs a pack. Mutual Intentions is that pack for me. If you want to go on long solo hunts one night and eat your own rabbits, you can still link up with the pack the next night and collectively kill and eat something bigger” – Ivan Ave

What’s the recipe solidifying groups and collectives’ lasting stamina and longevity? It’s important to note intent. If every key player’s intentions are on the same wave length and the work ethic is equivalent, you’re onto something. We can take a quick look at Stones Throw Records or Mello Music Group. The mutual intention, or common denominator, with both labels is growth, respectable experimentation and most importantly quality art. Oslo, Norway is home of Mutual Intentions, a vibrant power house of musicians and visual artists. Under the umbrella you find some familiar faces and perhaps new talent – Ivan Ave, Fredfades and Yogisoul for a brush up. If those are new names to you, you’ll thank us later.

Outside of music and art ventures, Mutual Intentions has a rich history of friendship. They’re a family. Stu, their manager and backbone for all things visible to the public, had a few words on their journey:

Mutual Intentions has in reality been active since 2008/2009, we just never formed it. Everybody was busy working in different directions, and on different platforms like radio, journalism and DJ’ing. Me, Fredfades and Hans are all from the same place in Oslo, so we’ve known each other for 20 years. Everyone else has been working together in some way in 5 years or so, so it was a natural thing to start something. We just didn’t quite know how we should do it, and when. But the trend of starting collectives really blew up in 2013, and that was a fitting description of our friendship and similarities in music, art and photo. A collective. So we just pieced together a tape because it seemed like a good introduction to who we were, and suddenly the tape got a lot more buzz then we could imagine. From there it’s been a great ride with Boiler Room, Øyafestivalen, NTS Radio, gigs in a bunch of countrys and so on. We have now started as a record label, and I see great things coming from here. More power to the independent labels.

Entering the new year (2017) Mutual Intentions announced that they’re now an official label, shifting the gears a bit for fans of the music and for themselves. But anyone following the music would have already thought they were an established record label alongside Jakarta Records based on the amount of comradery and consistency as a unit. Ivan Ave’s new Helping Hands album was mentioned quite a bit across the map in people’s year-end lists, and is comfortably spinning its way into 2017 on our side. Now’s a good time to also note producer Yogisoul’s latest By Nights LP, another record from the Mutual Intentions collective that was received really well across the board. They’re both incredible records and a solid preamble to what Mutual Intentions artists have to offer, as well as their collaborative debut ‘Mutual Intentions #1’ tape from two summers ago. The cassette sold out and the digital traffic is still chunky – you should check that out too. Though they’re tight-knit and moderately selective with who they work alongside, their resume is plentiful – having collaborated with Blu, Planet Asia, Illa J, Frank Nitt and others that we here love.

That introduces the label’s sophomore tape ‘Mutual Intentions #2’, here with the premiere of the first batch of four tracks, and Ivan Ave & Mndsgn’s complimented “Machines”. We had the pleasure of inviting Ivan Ave to weigh in on the forthcoming release, adding:

“It’s dope how this second tape feels very different from the first one, while staying close to the core of what we’re about musically. I think that speaks to the crew’s diversity, but also the strong foundation of what we do as a unit”.

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“Space Carnival” is a track from my upcoming solo LP. The beat was made by me and Mndsgn at my spot in Oslo when Mndsgn toured Europe with my homeboy Ivan Ave. Later on I passed some beats to Chester Watson and this was one of his two picks – a short and interesting piece made together with two artists that I really dig. -Fredfades

The new batch here is a refreshing few-track outing that showcases Mutual Intentions’ span, inviting Awon, Mndsgn, Chester Watson and their staples Yogisoul and Fredfades. We left the door open with this premiere for Yogisoul to chime in on the new music and the latest developments with Mutual Intentions.

“”Down” is the first track off of a new project that Awon and I have been working on for a while. The project is soon to be finished and we felt that the vibe is representative of the project overall. The track came about like most of what we do. I sent Awon a batch of beats, he sent me stems and gave me full creative freedom to arrange and mix. I ended up doing scratches on the hook, something that you don’t hear too often nowadays. Also ended up doing a lot of processing to the track that gives it a retro but future-leaning feel. There’s a mutual respect and trust in our creative output that makes tracks like this possible, and Awn and I know where we want to go even though all of our tracks come to life from different continents. I’m definitely looking forward to realeasing some new music. ‘MI#2’ will show a bit of what’s been going on with Mutual Intentions since the first tape. We’re grateful to have grown to the extent where we are a label now, and can’t wait to put out new shit. Also really grateful to share the tape with producers and artists that I really like and respect”.

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In addition to the premiere and announcement of the new tape, it’s important to note their respect for the music and culture. This sounds simple because it shouldn’t even be an issue, but it’s something that is more so lacking in contemporary music. Rooted in jazz, funk, soul, blues, boogie, electronic and so on, Mutual Intentions and the artists within are quite the scholars of music and art history. It’s evident in all of their material. Outside of music, the talent on the visual art side of the fence is rich – with in-house artists Hans Jørgen Wærner (Dirty Hans), Erik Treimann and Moe Chakiri. Moe wrapped up 2016 with a successful art exhibition in Oslo at Kollectiv. Together, Mutual Intentions quite literally cover every area of creativity – quality coverage that is. John Rice joined in on the publishing to tell us a little bit about his introductory track on the new tape:

I selected my tracks for the new tape from a bunch of music I did with my DX100 synthesizer some time ago. I think this work sounds great on this tape. I have been working on some different projects that I’m excited to share with you all as well.

Whether it’s a photography series with Moe, carefully edited video footage, emceeing with Ivan, DJ’ing at Touchdown with Hans and Fred, producing an atmospheric neck snapper with Ol’Burger or penning words with Stu, every artist under or near the Mutual Intentions umbrella does it with pride and sincerity. That’s not just fly talk for the sake of beefing up this editorial – it’s true. It doesn’t take much as a listener to notice authenticity. It’s refreshing and we’re always grateful for collectives to this caliber.

Though United States is home of some incredible music and art, it’s important to never close the door on overseas talent. We do not look at it separately, as the current digital, right-in-your-palm era is in full effect and the furthest of artists are just as available in seconds as the domestic. Distance is merely distance and quality is quality, it’s that simple. Life is too short to listen to horrible music, so do yourself a favor and get on board with Mutual Intentions. Peace and love.

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Artists:

Ivan Ave: @ivanave
Fredfades: @fredfades
Yogisoul: @Yogisoul
SUNRAW: @sunraw
Ol’ Burger Beats: @ol-burger-beats
John Rice: @jawnrice
Touchdown: @touchdownsound