Clusterfunk Collective presents Take Five: DJ RQ Away [Interview]

Father, philanthropist and purveyor of potent mixes, DJ RQ Away, sheds some light on the #Awayteam, record selection and his enhanced sense of community.

"Take Five" to tap into the talent beyond the surface.

1) Tell us a little bit about the Away Team.

The #Awayteam is an effort to achieve education, unity, and progression via music, charity, and fun. It is a brand modeled after the idea that anyone can be a help to those around them, even when they are having fun. Event-wise The Tipping Point (weekly event) serves as a headquarters for social and charitable events. In the community, I started a discount program to encourage #Awayteamers to support local businesses and try new things. Also #Awayteam organizes bike rides and, more recently, fishing workshops. These are efforts to get people to try things that are good for them, and maybe have been on their list of to do's but they needed the social encouragement. Right now (October) we are celebrating "RQtober", a celebration of the #Awayteam mission and also the 5-year anniversary of The Tipping Point. And we aspire to do so much more in and for the community.

2) What is the most significant change that has resulted from the group's community efforts?

The most significant changes are actually small, some people who've spent time around me and #Awayteam have become more informed, and also more willing to inform others of issues, new music, food ingredients etc...lol.

3) How many organizations are partnering with the Away Team at this time, and how can prospective partners start to network with you?

Quite a few organizations partner up to aid in spreading the word, and creating social events and opportunities. OnPoint Productions, S.W.M.N. Publishing, T Ray Productions, Diva Dawg Restaurant, 2 Cent, Uniquity Music and others. Also we have over 14 local businesses partnered with us via the #Awayteam Member Discount Card, a program that I started earlier this year.

4) Do you work with all vinyl formats or strictly 12" records?

12" records are my usual preference, but as my 45s collection grows I intend to use them more.


5) How has becoming a father made your mission more important?

Yes, quite a bit. My personal mission is to educate and train myself so that I can be a better benefit to my community and family. As a college student, family meant my mother and a few friends that lived in and around the city. Life experiences have since changed that perception; family now means my son who sprouted, a fresh tooth as well as those around me in any capacity. The random man on the bus is family, the woman sitting next to me at the city planning meeting, same thing. Making sure he grows to be a benefit to his community, himself and his family is paramount at all times. While spinning records, driving around the city, even when I sleep, his well being and future are the foremost thoughts on my mind. The only way I can teach him to be great is to be great myself and it takes a lot more than drinking less, using better language and lessening my time outside of the house to be that. It is demonstrating care and respect in every word and action he witnesses, taking better care of my health to be here when he needs a talk after a bad semester in college and so much more. Simply put - his existence has made my mission to help others more important than everything else (except him).

#AS3.2: Amygdala by Rq Away on Mixcloud

FOLLOW @RQaway
LIKE #Awayteam
VISIT whatisawayteam.com
LISTEN to his mixes here.

RQ Away: Lagniappe (Issue #2) [Mix]

DOWNLOAD Lagniappe (Issue #2)

RQ Away

Few artists possess the range that RQ Away does, and even those that do are seldom willing to showcase it. The NOLA native embodies the experimental edge that is vital to music in the Big Easy. Variety is the spice of life, and RQ is by no means shy about soaking his sets in savory spirits.

As founder of the #Awayteam, he is linking like-minded artists to strengthen social interactions and spur social change. Whether championing charitable causes, crafting clever compositions or cutting classics on Real to Reel Radio, RQ Away is relevant in the place it matters the most - his community.

FOLLOW @RQaway
LIKE #Awayteam
VISIT whatisawayteam.com
LISTEN to his mixes here.

RQ Away: Lagniappe [Mix]

RQ Away cooks up his first mix of the new year, spicing up his set with James Brown, ATCQ, The Blackbyrds and even newcomers DeepNSpace. The rest, as we say, is just Lagniappe.

DOWNLOAD Lagniappe

DeepNSpace: Rockin' With Kwame [Video]

Down South duo DeepNSpace deliver a distinctly dope visual for the Philly Beamin-produced lead single from Beamin Season (out now), featuring a cameo from the homie RQ Away.

Be sure not to miss their sit-down with Harn Solo, below:

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RQ Away: Homeless In New Orleans [Mixtape]

RQ Away is quickly becoming a familiar face on this site. Offering a wide range of mixes, including #SchwinnLife and Amygdala (just to name a few), the GO DJ embodies the elements of home, at the same time not shying away from experimenting with fusions which may at first seem foreign. He describes his latest, Homeless In New Orleans, like this:

As a life long resident of the Crescent City certain things have always been present, spicy food, good music, dirty cops, filthy politicians, and homeless people being shuffled around from place to place. This tape is not about music, it is about the idea that homelessness has to be. We have trees lining Canal street that cost more than some cars and yet the funding for housing assistance for human beings seeking refuge below over passes is not available.

As the tape progresses a conversation is had. Earl King's 'Street Parade' represents the happiness and wonder our city can produce, Dr. John's voodoo inspired rant represents the idea of karma making amends with those in power who benefit from and ignore those in need. John Lacarbiere's voice represents that of those who take it into their own hands in helping and preventing further pain amongst a people. This conversation continues as a representation of voices around the issue some opposed and some aligned.

Questions of the government's true hand in homelessness in our community, the idea that you hold power in the voting booth locally and nationally. Homelessness is only one of our larger issues in this great city but the things around it, lack of funding for education, a government divided when a people are at its mercy, a prominent bourgeoise cell within the city that simply thinks its the fault of those who are in need and that if they wanted they wouldn't be in such a position, as well as a capitalistic group who simply use the idea of lending assistance for show, with no want for a consistent positive result for those they help.

Homelessness is a major issue and although we can't all lend a room, resume, and a suit to everyone we see in need we can spare some change, a conversation, some time, or a plate of warm food.

DOWNLOAD Homeless In New Orleans

RQ Away: #SchwinnLife [Mixtape]

From RQ Away:

Rushing down your favorite neighborhood hill is a wonderful idea until that turning mack truck just doesn't see you. #SchwinnLife a term I adapted to describe bike riding adventures I went on with my friends, and sometimes my thoughts and a good playlist. This mixtape is whatever you want it to be, simple entertainment, a soundtrack to your next bike ride or the instrumental that keeps you moving in the gym. Its creation is meant to motivate if moving and stimulate if standing still, the audio is set to mimic a quick bike ride across town. Bumps, breaks, sudden stops and waits for the train all inside, even towards the end of the ride when you wanna give up, yup thats there too. So press play, dig it, and share.

DOWNLOAD #SchwinnLife

RQ Away: #AS3.2: Amygdala [Mixtape]

The peaceful little moth was sitting under my non functioning car while I put air in my bike tires. The species is 'Giant Leopard Moth' or Hypercompe scribonia, what you may not see(click the picture for a closer look) amidst the obviously black dotted white wings is a small cluster of furry blue dots which compliment black and white and blue legs, and a dark blue abdomen featuring orange markings. The ride was cancelled due to the very storm this moth preemptively hid from. The moth's presence seemed to parallel my thoughts today. A could be visual spectacle hiding under a car for safety in a storm. The parallel comes in the sense of sometimes one's potential isn't or can't be reached due to a passing "storm" be it internal or act of nature, personally these storms are frequent and they seem to come from places that should be mental and emotional oases. As a DJ, my current mission is to present music new or not to those who need to hear it, giving new light to tracks and artist whenever possible. In this instance I may have spilled some emotion onto the mixer so please excuse the anger, disappointment, sweat, and fear, just enjoy what is presented in your own space and at your own risk because this gets a little loud. The song selection reflects some of the emotional and mental cues for this mix so if you listen closely you might be able to read my mind. Please enjoy.

DOWNLOAD #AS3.2: Amygdala