Makaya McCraven
Off the Record (2LP)
In stock (ships within 1-2 working days)
Tracked express shipping from Italy, no customs or import VAT in the EU. Shipping costs
Internationally acclaimed drummer, producer, and sonic collagist Makaya McCraven returns to announce four distinct yet interconnected EPs – Techno Logic, The People’s Mixtape, Hidden Out!, and PopUp Shop. Techno Logic features Ben LaMar Gay and Theon Cross, and draws from performances in London (2017), Berlin (2024), and New York (2025), showcasing nearly eight years of developing rapport between the three musicians, starting with their very first session at Worldwide FM’s former North London studio.
The People’s Mixtape has its foundation in a live recording from Brooklyn’s Public Records in January of 2025, where McCraven celebrated the 10 year anniversary of In The Moment with an intentional return to the improvisational language he developed over that album’s sessions. For the occasion, McCraven played with bassist Junius Paul and trumpeter Marquis Hill (two musicians who are majorly present on In The Moment), as well as vibraphonist Joel Ross (who has been a regular collaborator of McCraven’s since the 2017 sessions for Universal Beings), and synthesist Jeremiah Chiu (marking the first occasion for McCraven to play with the SML co-leader and International Anthem labelmate).
Hidden Out! is built off recordings from McCraven’s June 2017 residency at The Hideout in Chicago, where he improvised weekly with a revolving cast including bassist Junius Paul, Tortoise member, International Anthem labelmate, composer and guitarist Jeff Parker, and SML co-leader, Grammy-award winning producer and alto saxophonist Josh Johnson. PopUp Shop was created from recordings of McCraven’s Los Angeles debut at Del Monte Speakeasy in 2015, where McCraven took part in the King Hippo and Grown Kids Radio produced event RAWS:LA, and improvised with guitarist Jeff Parker, vibraphonist Justefan, and bassist Benjamin J. Shepherd.
Release notes
Compiles four EPs released on 17 October 2025. PopUp Shop (Side A) performed on September 22nd, 2015 at the Del Monte Speakeasy in Venice, CA, as part of RAWS:LA presented by Kingo Hippo and Grown Kids Radio. Editing, additional composition and overdubs completed on September 23rd, 2015 in the alley behind Townhouse on Windward Ave in Venice, CA. Hidden Out! (Side B) performed on June 27th, 2017 at The Hideout in Chicago, IL, except "Awaze" (track B4) performed on June 20th, 2017 at The…
| PopUp Shop | |||
| A1 | YoYoYo Intro | ||
| A2 | Venice | ||
| A3 | Imafan | ||
| A4 | Los Gatos | ||
| A5 | Sweet Stuff | ||
| Hidden Out! | |||
| B1 | Battleships | ||
| B2 | Away | ||
| B3 | Dark Parks | ||
| B4 | Awaze | ||
| B5 | News Feed | ||
| B6 | Braddas | ||
| Techno Logic | |||
| C1 | Gnu Blue | ||
| C2 | Technology | ||
| C3 | Boom Bapped | ||
| C4 | Prime | ||
| C5 | Strikes Again | ||
| The People's Mixtape | |||
| D1 | Choo Choo | ||
| D2 | The Beat Up | ||
| D3 | What A Life | ||
| D4 | Lake Shore Drive Five | ||
- Benjamin J. Shepherd
- Composed By, Performer, Bass Guitar (A1 to A5)
- Junius Paul
- Composed By, Performer, Bass Guitar (D1 to D4), Composed By, Performer, Double Bass (B1 to B6)
- Ben LaMar Gay
- Composed By, Performer, Cornet, Voice, Percussion, Synth, Electronics, Diddley Bow (C1 to C5), Featuring
- Makaya McCraven
- Composed By, Performer, Drums, Edited By, Composed By [Additional Composition], Overdubbed By, Keyboards, Synth (A1 to A5), Edited By, Composed By [Additional Composition], Overdubbed By, Percussion, Keyboards, Synth (D1 to D4), Edited By, Composed By [Additional Composition], Overdubbed By, Percussion, Keyboards, Synth, Vibraphone (C1 to C5), Edited By, Composed By [Additional Composition], Overdubbed By, Percussion, Keyboards, Synth, Vibraphone, Guitar (B1 to B6), Mixed By, Producer
- Jeff Parker
- Composed By, Performer, Guitar (A1 to B3, B5, B6)
- Josh Johnson
- Composed By, Performer, Saxophone, Electronics (B4)
- Jeremiah Chiu
- Composed By, Performer, Synthesizer [Modular Synthesizer], Percussion (D1 to D4)
- Marquis Hill
- Composed By, Performer, Trumpet, Electronics (B4), Composed By, Performer, Trumpet, Percussion, Electronics (D1 to D4)
- Theon Cross
- Composed By, Performer, Tuba, Electronics (C1 to C5), Featuring
- Joel Ross
- Composed By, Performer, Vibraphone (D1 to D4)
- Justefan
- Composed By, Performer, Vibraphone (A1 to A5)
- Aaron Lowell Denton
- Design
- Alejandro Ayala
- Executive-Producer (A1 to A5)
- Scott McNiece
- Executive-Producer
- Sergio Flores
- Executive-Producer (A1 to A5)
- Kr
- Lacquer Cut By
- David Allen
- Mastered By, Recorded By (C1 to C5)
- Dave Vettraino
- Mixed By, Recorded By (B1 to C5)
- Jacob Blickenstaff
- Photography By [Cover Photo]
- Joe Summers
- Producer [Production Assistance] (C1 to C5)
- Niko de Paula Lefort
- Producer [Production Assistance] (C1 to C5)
- Tina Edwards
- Producer [Production Assistance] (C1 to C5)
- Alf Brooks
- Recorded By (C1 to C5)
- Caio Carvalho
- Recorded By (C1 to C5)
- George Haskell
- Recorded By (C1 to C5)
- Lily Wen
- Recorded By (D1 to D4)
- Tim Oakley
- Recorded By (A1 to A5)
- Ken Barrientos
- Recorded By [Recording Assistance] (A1 to A5)

























































