In amidst his heavy Australian touring schedule, Heaps Decent was able to bring L.A.’s Aloe Blacc, a singer, rapper and producer signed to the great Stones Throw label, to a workshop at Juniperina Juvenile Justice Centre. Joining him was his drummer Te’Amir and the now L.A. based Maya Jupiter, a long time friend and supporter of Heaps Decent who we’ve always wanted to work with.

Taking a different approach to most workshops we run, Aloe began his afternoon session by teaching the girls about drum breaks, the funk songs they originally came from and the songs hip hop producers have used them to make. The girls selected a break of their own to use as the basis for a new song which Aloe, Maya and Te’Amir helped them write.

Like always, we made a video from the back of Charlie’s car as we drove home from the workshop which will be uploaded very soon!