Victor Axelrod
Encyclopedia
Victor Axelrod aka Ticklah is a Brooklyn native and independent music producer and artist, who has been a continual and integral part of the NYC music scene for over a decade. As an artist he is a founding member of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
, Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
, and the Easy Star All-Stars
. As a producer he contributed to one of the most successful reggae albums of the 21st century, Dub Side of the Moon
(co-production, mixing), as well as releasing his own critically acclaimed solo projects, including Ticklah vs. Axelrod
.
. He recorded his debut Polydemic album under the name Ticklah, on Razorfish Records in 1998. But in 2001 he put out his second solo album on Guidance Records under the alias Roots Combination, crediting the songs to fictitious performers due to contract obligations with Razorfish which prevented him from using the Ticklah alias. In 2007 he reverted back to the Ticklah name with the release of his third album Ticklah vs. Axelrod
. Axelrod also used the alias Earl Maxton, as the organist and one of the original members of the Soul Providers
.
and dub
. While still in high school, he was already playing gigs with local bands in NYC's Ska
scene, including the Boilers. He went on to study music composition at SUNY Purchase
, where his musical career began to cultivate and take off. After college he played along side other New York natives, including Tortured Soul’s John Christian Urich, in the band Cooly’s Hot Box and Easy Star All-Stars
’ Michael G. (born Michael Goldwasser) in Special Request. His involvement with Cooly’s Hot Box eventually lead to his introduction into music production. He recorded his first album in 1998 and produced his first reggae
album in 2001.
, soul
to afro-beat
with dips into house
and hip hop
. As an accomplished musician Axelrod has performed, recorded and toured with many successful bands. In 1994 he accepted an invitation by Michael G. to fill a keyboard vacancy with Special Request, whom he later worked with to produce Dub Side of the Moon
. At one point, he even played for three bands simultaneously; Cooly’s Hot Box, Soul Providers
(now known as Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
) and Antibalas
. He began playing for Soul Providers
in the mid nineties a year later with Antibalas
, but eventually left Soul Providers
in 2003 to concentrate on the success and as a key member of Antibalas
.
Axelrod also worked with grammy award winning music producer Mark Ronson
on both the Amy Winehouse
and Daniel Merriweather
albums. He recorded and performed with Amy Winehouse
for her grammy award winning Back to Black
album, co-produced by Salaam Remi
and Mark Ronson
. He currently does a multitude of musical recording for Ronson
, previous session work with Ronson
led to his appearance on tracks with other big-time British artists Lily Allen
and Robbie Williams
. Even more impressive, throughout his career as an accomplished musician he also manages to produce and engineer influential musical contributions to the industry. He has a notable resume list which includes musical highlights featured on high profile compilations such as; Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
' “How Long” Remix (from the Scion CD Sampler Vol 19: Daptone Records
Remixed) and Rob Symmeon’s “Chosen One,” (featured on J Boogie
’s Dubtronic Science on Om Records
and Serious Times form Ghetto Arc Records).
Axelrod has also co-wrote and co-produced alongside musical underground’s main stay DJ Spinna
, hit tracks including Sean Escoffery’s “Days Like This” and Les Nubians
’ “Makeda.” In 2003 he contributed to one of the best selling reggae albums of the decade, Dub Side of the Moon
, the dub
reggae
tribute to Pink Floyd
’s album, which he co-produced with Michael G.
As a solo artist Axelrod has released 3 albums; he released his debut "Polydemic" album in 1998, followed by "Hi-Fidelity Dub Sessions: Roots Combination" in 2001, and the latest "Ticklah vs. Axelrod
" album in 2007. Ticklah vs. Axelrod is his first album released on Easy Star Records and features guest vocals by Mikey General, Rob Symeonn, Tamar-kali, Vinia Mojica
and Mayra Vega.
In 2007 Axelrod established Don’t Trip Studio
located in Gowanus, Brooklyn
.
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings are a funk/soul band. They are signed to Daptone Records, where the Dap-Kings are the house band. They are spearheads of a revivalist movement that aims to capture the essence of funk/soul music as it was at its height in the mid-1960s to mid-1970s...
, Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
Antibalas is a Brooklyn-based afrobeat band that is modeled after Fela Kuti's Africa 70 band and Eddie Palmieri's Harlem River Drive Orchestra...
, and the Easy Star All-Stars
Easy Star All-Stars
Originally formed as a studio band for the label's earliest recordings, Easy Star All-Stars is a reggae collective with a rotating roster of musicians and singers founded by the co-founders of New York City-based Easy Star Records in 1997...
. As a producer he contributed to one of the most successful reggae albums of the 21st century, Dub Side of the Moon
Dub Side of the Moon
Dub Side of the Moon is a dub reggae tribute to the Pink Floyd album, The Dark Side of the Moon, co-produced by Easy Star All-Stars founder's Michael G and Ticklah . Dub Side of the Moon has remained on the Billboard Reggae Charts since its release in 2003...
(co-production, mixing), as well as releasing his own critically acclaimed solo projects, including Ticklah vs. Axelrod
Ticklah vs. Axelrod
Ticklah vs. Axelrod is the third full-length solo album released September 2007 on Easy Star Records by musician, producer, engineer & DJ, Victor Axelrod aka Ticklah of New York City...
.
Aliases
Axelrod’s most prominent alias is Ticklah, a name created for roots reggaeRoots reggae
Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that deals with the everyday lives and aspirations of the artists concerned, including the spiritual side of Rastafari and with the honoring of God, called Jah by rastafarians. It also is identified with the life of the ghetto sufferer, and the rural poor...
. He recorded his debut Polydemic album under the name Ticklah, on Razorfish Records in 1998. But in 2001 he put out his second solo album on Guidance Records under the alias Roots Combination, crediting the songs to fictitious performers due to contract obligations with Razorfish which prevented him from using the Ticklah alias. In 2007 he reverted back to the Ticklah name with the release of his third album Ticklah vs. Axelrod
Ticklah vs. Axelrod
Ticklah vs. Axelrod is the third full-length solo album released September 2007 on Easy Star Records by musician, producer, engineer & DJ, Victor Axelrod aka Ticklah of New York City...
. Axelrod also used the alias Earl Maxton, as the organist and one of the original members of the Soul Providers
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings are a funk/soul band. They are signed to Daptone Records, where the Dap-Kings are the house band. They are spearheads of a revivalist movement that aims to capture the essence of funk/soul music as it was at its height in the mid-1960s to mid-1970s...
.
Early years
Axelrod began playing the piano at a young age. By the age of 17, he earnestly studied jazz, but also held a special interest in classic reggaeReggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
and dub
Dub music
Dub is a genre of music which grew out of reggae music in the 1960s, and is commonly considered a subgenre, though it has developed to extend beyond the scope of reggae...
. While still in high school, he was already playing gigs with local bands in NYC's Ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
scene, including the Boilers. He went on to study music composition at SUNY Purchase
State University of New York at Purchase
Purchase College, State University of New York, is a public four-year college located in Purchase, New York, United States. It is one of 13 comprehensive colleges in the State University of New York system...
, where his musical career began to cultivate and take off. After college he played along side other New York natives, including Tortured Soul’s John Christian Urich, in the band Cooly’s Hot Box and Easy Star All-Stars
Easy Star All-Stars
Originally formed as a studio band for the label's earliest recordings, Easy Star All-Stars is a reggae collective with a rotating roster of musicians and singers founded by the co-founders of New York City-based Easy Star Records in 1997...
’ Michael G. (born Michael Goldwasser) in Special Request. His involvement with Cooly’s Hot Box eventually lead to his introduction into music production. He recorded his first album in 1998 and produced his first reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
album in 2001.
Musical Contributions
Axelrod has continually and successfully worn many hats in the music industry, as musician, producer, arranger and engineer he has contributed greatly to various musical genres from reggaeReggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
, soul
Soul Music
Soul Music is the sixteenth Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett, first published in 1994. Like many of Pratchett's novels it introduces an element of modern society into the magical and vaguely late medieval, early modern world of the Discworld, in this case Rock and Roll music and stardom, with...
to afro-beat
Afrobeat
Afrobeat is a combination of traditional Yoruba music, jazz, highlife, funk and chanted vocals, fused with percussion and vocal styles, popularised in Africa in the 1970s. Its main creator was the Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Fela Kuti, who gave it its name, who used it to...
with dips into house
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
and hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
. As an accomplished musician Axelrod has performed, recorded and toured with many successful bands. In 1994 he accepted an invitation by Michael G. to fill a keyboard vacancy with Special Request, whom he later worked with to produce Dub Side of the Moon
Dub Side of the Moon
Dub Side of the Moon is a dub reggae tribute to the Pink Floyd album, The Dark Side of the Moon, co-produced by Easy Star All-Stars founder's Michael G and Ticklah . Dub Side of the Moon has remained on the Billboard Reggae Charts since its release in 2003...
. At one point, he even played for three bands simultaneously; Cooly’s Hot Box, Soul Providers
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings are a funk/soul band. They are signed to Daptone Records, where the Dap-Kings are the house band. They are spearheads of a revivalist movement that aims to capture the essence of funk/soul music as it was at its height in the mid-1960s to mid-1970s...
(now known as Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings are a funk/soul band. They are signed to Daptone Records, where the Dap-Kings are the house band. They are spearheads of a revivalist movement that aims to capture the essence of funk/soul music as it was at its height in the mid-1960s to mid-1970s...
) and Antibalas
Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
Antibalas is a Brooklyn-based afrobeat band that is modeled after Fela Kuti's Africa 70 band and Eddie Palmieri's Harlem River Drive Orchestra...
. He began playing for Soul Providers
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings are a funk/soul band. They are signed to Daptone Records, where the Dap-Kings are the house band. They are spearheads of a revivalist movement that aims to capture the essence of funk/soul music as it was at its height in the mid-1960s to mid-1970s...
in the mid nineties a year later with Antibalas
Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
Antibalas is a Brooklyn-based afrobeat band that is modeled after Fela Kuti's Africa 70 band and Eddie Palmieri's Harlem River Drive Orchestra...
, but eventually left Soul Providers
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings are a funk/soul band. They are signed to Daptone Records, where the Dap-Kings are the house band. They are spearheads of a revivalist movement that aims to capture the essence of funk/soul music as it was at its height in the mid-1960s to mid-1970s...
in 2003 to concentrate on the success and as a key member of Antibalas
Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
Antibalas is a Brooklyn-based afrobeat band that is modeled after Fela Kuti's Africa 70 band and Eddie Palmieri's Harlem River Drive Orchestra...
.
Axelrod also worked with grammy award winning music producer Mark Ronson
Mark Ronson
Mark Daniel Ronson is an English DJ, guitarist, music producer, artist and co-founder of Allido Records. He currently works with his band under the music alias of Mark Ronson & The Business Intl....
on both the Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize...
and Daniel Merriweather
Daniel Merriweather
Daniel Paul Merriweather is an Australian R&B singer-songwriter who has worked as a featured vocalist for other artists and has a solo career. His guest vocals are included on album tracks by Disco Montego, Mark Ronson and Phrase...
albums. He recorded and performed with Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize...
for her grammy award winning Back to Black
Back to Black
Back to Black is the second studio album by English recording artist Amy Winehouse, released on 27 October 2006 by Island Records. It is the last album released in her lifetime. The album incorporates 1960s soul music styles and modern R&B production, with subjective lyrics that concern...
album, co-produced by Salaam Remi
Salaam Remi
Salaam Remi Gibbs, better known as Salaam Remi, is a hip hop producer and keyboard player, known for his association with Nas, Amy Winehouse, and his reggae-tinged approach to production...
and Mark Ronson
Mark Ronson
Mark Daniel Ronson is an English DJ, guitarist, music producer, artist and co-founder of Allido Records. He currently works with his band under the music alias of Mark Ronson & The Business Intl....
. He currently does a multitude of musical recording for Ronson
Mark Ronson
Mark Daniel Ronson is an English DJ, guitarist, music producer, artist and co-founder of Allido Records. He currently works with his band under the music alias of Mark Ronson & The Business Intl....
, previous session work with Ronson
Mark Ronson
Mark Daniel Ronson is an English DJ, guitarist, music producer, artist and co-founder of Allido Records. He currently works with his band under the music alias of Mark Ronson & The Business Intl....
led to his appearance on tracks with other big-time British artists Lily Allen
Lily Allen
Lily Rose Beatrice Cooper , better known as Lily Allen, is an English recording artist and fashion designer. She is the daughter of actor and musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. In her teenage years, her musical tastes evolved from glam rock to alternative...
and Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams
Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams...
. Even more impressive, throughout his career as an accomplished musician he also manages to produce and engineer influential musical contributions to the industry. He has a notable resume list which includes musical highlights featured on high profile compilations such as; Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings are a funk/soul band. They are signed to Daptone Records, where the Dap-Kings are the house band. They are spearheads of a revivalist movement that aims to capture the essence of funk/soul music as it was at its height in the mid-1960s to mid-1970s...
' “How Long” Remix (from the Scion CD Sampler Vol 19: Daptone Records
Daptone Records
Daptone Records is a funk and soul independent record label formed by Gabriel Roth and Neal Sugarman and based in Brooklyn, New York.After the demise of the Desco label Gabriel Roth teamed up with Neal Sugarman to create a new label, Daptone Records...
Remixed) and Rob Symmeon’s “Chosen One,” (featured on J Boogie
J Boogie
Justin "J-Boogie" Boland is an American DJ/producer from San Francisco, California. He was born in September 1973. He is signed to the Om Records label, and has 2 full length Album's as well as several mix cd's. He has also been featured on several compilations such as Mushroom Jazz and the OM...
’s Dubtronic Science on Om Records
Om Records
Om Records is a US-based record label, established in 1995, which releases electronic music, dance music, and hip hop. The label was founded in San Francisco in 1995 by Chris Smith. Om Records releases both artist albums and various compilations. Some of the most notable compilations include Om...
and Serious Times form Ghetto Arc Records).
Axelrod has also co-wrote and co-produced alongside musical underground’s main stay DJ Spinna
DJ Spinna
DJ Spinna is an American hip hop music artist and producer, who, according to Allmusic.com, has "remained strictly an underground artist despite his astonishing talent."-Biography:...
, hit tracks including Sean Escoffery’s “Days Like This” and Les Nubians
Les Nubians
Les Nubians is an R&B Grammy-nominated duo composed of sisters Hélène and Célia Faussart from Paris, France. In 1985 the sisters moved with their parents to Chad. Seven years later, they returned to Bordeaux, France, and began singing a cappella, producing poetry slams in Bordeaux and Paris, and...
’ “Makeda.” In 2003 he contributed to one of the best selling reggae albums of the decade, Dub Side of the Moon
Dub Side of the Moon
Dub Side of the Moon is a dub reggae tribute to the Pink Floyd album, The Dark Side of the Moon, co-produced by Easy Star All-Stars founder's Michael G and Ticklah . Dub Side of the Moon has remained on the Billboard Reggae Charts since its release in 2003...
, the dub
Dub music
Dub is a genre of music which grew out of reggae music in the 1960s, and is commonly considered a subgenre, though it has developed to extend beyond the scope of reggae...
reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
tribute to Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
’s album, which he co-produced with Michael G.
As a solo artist Axelrod has released 3 albums; he released his debut "Polydemic" album in 1998, followed by "Hi-Fidelity Dub Sessions: Roots Combination" in 2001, and the latest "Ticklah vs. Axelrod
Ticklah vs. Axelrod
Ticklah vs. Axelrod is the third full-length solo album released September 2007 on Easy Star Records by musician, producer, engineer & DJ, Victor Axelrod aka Ticklah of New York City...
" album in 2007. Ticklah vs. Axelrod is his first album released on Easy Star Records and features guest vocals by Mikey General, Rob Symeonn, Tamar-kali, Vinia Mojica
Vinia Mojica
Vinia Mojica is a singer from Queens, New York, best known for her collaborations with the Native Tongues collective and other hip hop artists....
and Mayra Vega.
In 2007 Axelrod established Don’t Trip Studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
located in Gowanus, Brooklyn
Gowanus, Brooklyn
Gowanus is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 6.The Gowanus area has been an active center of industrial and shipping activity since the 1860s...
.