10 years ago, Alexis Charpentier aka ‘Lexis’ founded the independent website Music Is My Sanctuary. It’s goal? To unearth music’s finest “forgotten treasures and future classics”. Today on its 10th anniversary, MIMS is now one of the world’s finest sources for rare jazz, electronic, hip hop and dance music, and attracts a growing legion of crate diggers and music heads.
Spurred on by an infectious passion for discovering new music, Music Is My Sanctuary also presents a popular mix series on Mixcloud, often hosting guest mixes by artists and DJs who share a similar open-minded vision about music.
To celebrate the website’s 10th birthday, we asked Lexis to share 10 of the most popular Music Is My Sanctuary shows and explain why they’ve played an important role in defining MIMS’ enviable legacy.
1. Onra – An Introduction to Rap Français
“The supremely talented French producer known as Onra goes back to his roots with a mix that is both an educational session and a collection of absolute bangers. 39 tracks from the Golden age of French rap. The second edition of this mix is also an absolute must.”
2. Lexis’ Breakfast Mixtape – Side A (Early Breakfast)
“This mix was made as a limited-edition cassette for a collaboration event with a Breakfast collective in Montreal. Two 45-minute sides featuring different vibes to enjoy croissants and mimosas on a sunny Sunday morning.”
3. Lefto – Good Morning Sunshine
“Our good friend Lefto put together a very special 90 minute morning selection for us a few years back. As expected, it’s a deep selection that works the angles between jazz, soul, rap and beats.”
4. Walla P – Tribute to Kashif
“Walla P who hosts the regular Voyage Funktastique Modern & Classic Funk show pays a wonderful homage to the legendary artist and producer Kashif following his passing in 2016. Expertly executed, this one’s bangin’ from start to finish.”
5. Henry Wu – MIMS Guest Mix
“Over the years we’ve hosted around 100 choice guest mixes from artists & tastemakers we love including Tall Black Guy, Zed Bias, Ta-Ku, Mad Mats. This great session from Henry Wu comes from about three years back. At that point he was already starting to make a lot of noise, and it’s been great to see his progression since then!”
6. Lexis – It Happens Every Spring Spring Vol. 1
“For the past 4 years, Lexis has been putting together a very special session dedicated to the first few beautiful days of spring after a long winter. Every mix is filled with spiritually uplifting selections across genres and eras.”
7. Prince Klassen – Tribute to Yamashita Matsumoro
“NYC’s Prince Klassen goes deep in this tribute to the legendary Japanese artist, producer, and arranger Yamashita Tatsuro. These 14 hand-picked cuts serve as a perfect introduction to one of most prolific and influential musicians of the ’70s and ’80s.”
8. Kobal – Tribute to Marvin Gaye
“Kobal is one of the finest record diggers in Montreal. He’s put together some great tribute mixes for legends like Nina Simone, Gil Scott-Heron, and Jimi Hendrix. On this one he goes deep into the Marvin Gaye section of his crates to pull out some lesser-known gems as well as some classics.”
9. Onra & Lexis – Throw Em Up Vol. 2
“Onra & Lexis started a side project a few years back called “Throw Em Up” dedicated to their love of ’90s R&B; more particularly the sound of ’93 to ’96. On this second edition, they go one step deeper and showcase a ton of rarities and rare 12” versions.”
10. Spacewalker – Balance Best Of 2016
“Spacewalker, our main man in beautiful Belgrade, Serbia hosts the monthly Balance show which has been running for over 10 years and is a huge influence in his region. At the end of every year he does a recap of his highlights, and this one is the recap of 2016. We’re honoured to be able to share his show with the rest of the world!”
Photo credit: Bruno Destombes
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