Don't Forget to Go Home

Grampa "I Loved You" | Madhouse

2011-12-14T09:23:00.000-08:00

This track comes off the “A Basement, A Red Light and a Feeling EP”, which is one of the coolest titles for an EP ever. Originally out on Madhouse Records in 1992, this is a classic Kerri Chandler production, with a tough New Jersey kick drum, a bouncing bass line and smooth piano chords. But the real kicker of the track is the mostly unintelligible male vocal, which, as it turns out, was sung by Kerri’s drunken Grandfather (hence the artist name), which was something I didn’t know until Marcos Cabral imparted that information to us at a recent party (thanks, Marcos!). Anyway, here it is in all it’s glory:

You Are My Melody

2011-10-10T07:15:00.000-07:00

We almost fell off our feet this weekend when we heard this gorgeous disco number drop (thanks Free Magic from Discovery for the great set!). This R&B-infused slow jam is euphoric without being too over the top, and sweetly romantic - minus that 80's cheesiness that makes you cringe. A perfect balance of funky guitar licks, infectious basslines and glittering melodies, this tune gives us all more reason to rank Change, the Italian-American disco band, high on our hot list. Until we get our hands on the original cut, we'll settle for this re-edit for download - not quite the original, but close enough.

We love Change. They make some of the smoothest, sexiest disco we've come across. Here's some more brilliant tunes for further listening:

Hold Tight (1981)

This Is Your Time (1983)

Magical Night

Lost In Sound 16: DJ Dean "Sunshine" Smith

2011-10-07T05:55:00.000-07:00

Brand new, exclusive mix all the way from the UK by DJ Dean "Sunshine" Smith. While Smith has been a staple figure in Birmingham's underground scene for over twenty years, we only discovered him this summer through his excellent deep House and edits label, Soulshare Records , which just launched this year (check out what we have to say about his first release, and why he made it to the top three tunes of October). Smith is also an essential team player behind Croatia's annual summer Garden Festival so has been playing sunset-perfect vibes for years. His sets are full of sweet love - a medley of pitched down, balearic-flavored Disco, gorgeous edits we've never heard of, and Larry Heard-esque deep House. So, if you're not ready to let go of summer just yet, tune in to this mix - it will take you back to those warm and breezy carefree nights...

DJ DEAN SUNSHINE SMITH - EXCLUSIVE 'LOST IN SOUND' MIX FOR http://dontforgettogohome.blogspot.com by Dean 'sunshine' Smith

Tracklist

01.Without Love (Deep&Disco re-edit)
02.Sing Hallelujah (LNTG Rework)
03.Close Your Eyes(Dub) - The Legendary1979 Orchestra
04.Solomun - Love Recycled 2
05.Mingi - Mim Suleiman
06.Something Better - Jamie L (Ny_ak mix)
07.Black Paint (Larry Heard's after dark mix) - MoodyManc
08.Who is he & what is he to you - LEftside Wobble edit
09.Love is a hurting thing - Gloria ann tay

Like what you here? Learn more about Dean "Sunshine" Smith here.

Who Wrote the Rules of Love?

2011-10-06T06:36:00.000-07:00

Finally got my copy of Omar S’ latest collaboration with Detroit’s Colonel Abrams and Amp Fiddler, “Who Wrote the Rules of Love.” This is certainly one of Omar S’s finest House moments of the year – delicate and deep, this smooth number embodies the soul-centric vibes of old school House with exceptional production, complete with lovely vocals written and sung by Abrams himself. No less a must-have for soulful House heads. Here’s a little taste of the tune, remixed by Shadow Ray. A little more jacking than the original, but still just as warm and infectious.

Omar S is one of Detroit’s most fearless and innovative producers to emerge from the city’s second generation of House and Techno pioneers. He’s certainly made a dent in the overall sound of city, carrying on Detroit’s legacy as a nest for exceptional musical talents in the electronic field. While many of Omar S’ releases via his self-run imprint, FXHE embody the more spaced-out Techno-soul sound of the city, his endeavors into more soulful deep House are some of his best releases to date, effectively capturing the genre’s old school vibes. Below are some more of Omar S’ best House moments for your listening pleasure...

MK/Omar S - Given (MK Dub) /Sarah - FXHE001 (2011)

Omar S - The Maker - AOS111 (2006)

Omar S - Day/Night - AOS-004 (2004)

October Top 3 - Disco Goods for the Season

2011-10-03T06:48:00.000-07:00

What’s hot this month: deep, bittersweet disco-House tunes drenched in old soul, heart-wrenching lyrics and sweet, luscious vocals. See below for our top 3 picks coming out this month. Give it up for the lovers and the broken-hearted, these ones are for you:

1. soho808 – Trouble & Strife – Mystery Meat

Following the summer’s smash hit by Bicep on the elusive Mystery Meat imprint comes another excellent platter, this time brought to you by NY’s duo of the moment soho808. The A-side features a beautiful rework of Soul II Soul’s “Back To Life” R&B classic, it’s soft soul and emotive vocals accentuated in this fine cut. On the flip side is a deeper than deep edit of the one and only Suzy Q - properly funked up, soho808 style. Can’t go wrong with this one. Listen here:

Trouble and Strife

Suzy's BBQ

2. Dr. Dunks – Dr. Dunks Edits – Disco Deviance

Disco anthem right here by the one and only Dr. Dunks (Rub N’Tug/Keep it Cheap). This new release on the fantastic edit label, Disco Deviance stars the party-happy “Dunks Got the Answer” dance-floor bomb. This tune has all the ingredients for a disco-perfect track: smooth, funky basslines, lazy trumpets, and sultry vocals that belt out “a party…is the solution!” Yes, yes it is. And Disco is the answer. Listen to the whole release here:

Dunks Got the Answer

On Your Knees

3. Dean “Sunshine” Smith – The Sunshine Reworks 002 – Soulshare

After debuting with the highly impressive rework of Hi Gloss’ 1981 hit “You’ll Never Know,” Soulshare Records is back for round two with another slate of excellent deep Disco tunes. This release no less solidifies the label as a quality edits and deep House outfit on the radar. This one offers two infectious disco-Funk selections, full of feel-goodness, stripped of orchestral cheesiness and amped up with fever-hot sexiness. No pun intended. Listen here:

Love Fever

Let if Flow (True Love Dub)

Josh One - Contemplation (King Britt Funke Mix)

2011-09-29T21:26:00.000-07:00

Dusting off old, forgotten tunes is always such a thrill - every time. Here’s a classic deep House hit from ’01 by Grammy-nominated producer, Josh One from LA. While we haven’t taken this one out of it’s sleeve for some time, its still as sexy and intoxicating as ever. This tune exudes that perfect late-night deepness complete with raw grooves, trippy soundscapes, and seriously sultry vocals. Once that grossly deep bassline kicks in, there’s no escaping this track’s hypnotic allure. While Josh One’s single spawned several mixes, this one wins by far – and it’s ten minutes long, too. Pitch it down.

Further listening/recommendations:

Aaron Carl - My House (Hollis P. Monroe remix) - Ovum - an afterhour perfect track with intimate, deep vibes.

Above Smoke - Save Us - Minuendo - groovy and emotive deepness by Spain's Above Smoke. Trippy as you like.

King Britt – The Intricate Beauty – Nervous Records - Britt’s last compilation from 2010, featuring an Ableton-produced mix of original productions. Check out our interview with the man himself on this release.

Brother of Soul - Eyes of Love (Guidance)

2011-09-23T06:19:00.000-07:00

Originally released on Guidance (quite the label) in 1998 (quite the year), we recently found this little nugget in the dusty bins at halcyon the shop. Utilizing a winning combination of a nice, tough beat, a funky, live-sounding bassline and vintage, soulful male vocals, this one got my feet tapping and pulled at my heartstrings all at once, just like the best tracks always do. The original sample is from Vance and Suzanne's "I Can't Get Along Without You", but Brother of Soul (aka Brooklyn's own Paul Hunter) appears to have laid down his own vocals here. It's the type of deepness that's dirty and classy all at once; not an easy feat for a producer, but Paul achieves with ease. A furthering of the Guidance legacy, as well as my own collection. Can not wait to drop this properly at a party. - Nathaniel Jay

Don Carlos - I Can Love Nobody

2011-09-08T14:18:00.000-07:00

Beautiful soul-infused single from '93 by Italo-House master, Don Carlos featuring singer Kevin Bryant. A leading figure of this movement, Carlos is known for his excellent jazz-washed deepness and exceptionally emotive music, and this tune certainly affirms that legacy...

Further listening:

Don Carlos - "Alone" - Calypso Records (1991)

Carlos' debut single, and a stone cold classic. That dreamy piano melody and infectious bass-heavy beat gets us every time...Tune!

Subway Ground Master - Queensway - Calypso Records (1992)

A beautiful fusion of jazz and Disco-filtered House from the hard-to-find Subway Ground Master EP on Italy's leading House label, Calypso Records.

Moodymann vs. Oliver $ - Who's really Doin Ya Thing?

2011-09-06T11:07:00.000-07:00

Moodymann - the alter go of Detroit's revered deep House maven, Kenny Dixon Jr. - makes no fuss dance music. And his latest release, Mo Moody presents Live in Seattle on his Motor City-based imprint, KDJ Records is all serious business, yet again. The big tune on this three-tracker is "Doin Ya Thang," which samples Moodymann's distinctive charismatic jabber ("Y'all having a good time?") over a lush, hypnotic loop. The engaging speech sampled was recorded live at Manchester's old school house party, Cutloose over a year ago and captures an enthusiastic, cheering crowd in the background attributing to track's live feel. The recording is now available on a limited, vinyl-only platter of previously unreleased tracks from the vaults of KDJ.

However, here's the catch: "Doin Ya Thing," was previously released earlier this year by Berlin's Oliver $ on his home imprint, Play It Down. While DJs and music lovers alike ate this track up via Beatport and Juno it still stirred a worldwide uproar from music critics and music purists, accusing Oliver $ of manipulating Moodymann by not giving him any credit for the sample speech.

Can you tell the difference between Oliver $'s "Doin Ya Thing" or KDJ's? Not really. At the end of the day, it's up to you who you decide to support. In our opinion, you get more bang for your buck with this quality deep House platter by one of Detroit's finest...

Further Listening/Reading:

Preview release: Mo Moody - Live in Seattle EP - KDJ Records

Preview release: Oliver $ - Doin Ya Thing EP - Play It Down

Interview with Oliver $ on LWE about the sample controversy

Norma Jean Bell - I'm the Baddest Bitch (Moodymann Mix)

Party Up! Tiki Disco - It Ain't Over Yet

2011-09-03T15:18:00.000-07:00

Tiki Disco wins by far as the party of the summer for us. The bi-monthly boogie down takes place in the backyard of Brooklyn's hot pizza joint, Roberta's - a cozy oasis of sorts in the middle of industrial Bushwick. The party is the brainchild of local DJs Eli Escobar, Lloydski and Andy Pry - talented tastemakers in their own right, and all round fun dudes.

The last time we attended Tiki (and the first time for us, too) we splurged on rounds of sangria and frozen Pina Coladas, danced in the rain to "Erotic City" and fist-pumped in a packed out tent to soul-drenched, old school House. And then after all that we ducked inside for some gourmet, mouth-watering pizza post-dance floor action. It was a great night, and we're going to do it all over again this weekend...check it out:

This Sunday, the Tiki crew will be back at the same time and same place for a Labor Day special: "Tiki Disco - It Ain't Over Yet." It's bound to be another epic night, so get on your dancing shoes, and RSVP to TIKIDISCOLIST@gmail.com.

And did we mention it's free entry, too?

Go here for more event details

Go here to view Tiki Disco on Facebook

Too Much Light EP

2011-08-31T08:37:00.000-07:00

New month, new season, new music....Lots of great releases to look forward to this fall, and this deep number, Too Much Light EP by Daniel Solar forthcoming on Tenth Circle is on the hot list.

tenci004 - Daniel Solar - Too Much Light EP by danielsolar

Solar is quite a versatile producer - he's been producing music for several years, dabbling in everything from chunky minimal Techno to funky House. However, it was roughly a year ago when the young artist really made his mark after he formed his own imprint, Dikso. Solar is especially on a role these days, with recent productions such as his Dikso 6 EP (and the aforementioned Tenth Circle release) leaning more towards deep House territory. This may be Solar's calling...keep an eye out on this guy.

DIKSO006 - Daniel Solar - Retrospect EP by danielsolar

Like what you hear? For further listening, check out these recommendations below (click on titles for download link):

Autodeep - Colourful Love EP - Urbantorque

Solar and production partner, Andi De Luxe give this lo-fi deep House number a warm, emotive touch

Nicholas/Daniel Solar - Super Sound Single Volume 2 - Dikso

Slo-mo, chill out boogie. Quintessentially "Dikso".

V/A - Super Sound Single Volume 4 - Dikso

Another excellent release from Dikso camp, featuring more original productions from the likes of Solar, Autodeep, soho808 and UK's Ooft.

Daniel Solar - Dirtiest Clean EP - Kolour Recordings

A very sexy deep House release with a remix by Detroit's Delano Smith.

"Balearic Soul from the Black County": Soulshare Records

2011-08-24T06:41:00.001-07:00

Recently came across Soulshare Records, a new deep House and rework label recently launched by Birmingham-based DJ, Dean "Sunshine" Smith, who is part of the crew that runs the Garden Festival in Croatia. The first release, The Sunshine Reworks Vol. 1 recently hit the shelves with two warm, deep Disco House numbers. The highlight is "You'll Never Know," a rework of the 1981 Hi Gloss hit.

Smith jazzes up this bittersweet slow-mo tune into a dreamy deep House cut - perfect for rooftops and sunsets. Vinyl coming out soon, but in the meantime, download the release from Juno!

DEAN 'SUNSHINE' SMITH - YOU'LL NEVER KNOW 2011 by Dean 'sunshine' Smith

Further listening/info:

Soulshare Records on Facebook

Dean "Sunshine" Smith on Soundcloud

Soulshare Media online for radio, news and release dates

Soulshare Records MP3 on Junodownload

Kerri Chandler's Coast2Coast (NRK Music 2006)

2011-08-18T10:13:00.000-07:00

The art of the mix CD is a dying craft, unfortunately fizzling out amidst the accessibility of podcasts, and free downloadable sets. Not that there is anything wrong with this, but there is just something about the overall quality of musical journeys found in CD compilations that are simply unmatchable.

In the not so recent past, I got my hands on Kerri Chandler’s exclusive mix for NRK’s excellent Coast2Coast series. Released in 2006 this mix seals Chandler’s legacy as a House music King (if not the King of House). Perhaps this is a bold statement, but his productions, impeccable musical taste and exceptional approach to DJing contributed to New Jersey's reputation as a breeding ground for proper, warehouse-inspired Deep House (this was the case in the '90s, but today the state continues to be useless).

The tracklist here is mouthwatering. From chord-driven, soul-soaked cuts like Trackheadz’s “Feel,” to racy, dramatically deep ones such as DJ Fudge’s infectious “Mechouga,” this Coast2Coast episode is certainly one for the heads. And out of this 14-track adventure, nothing hits the deep spot more than this nasty number…

Kerri Chandler’s Coast2Coast is available for digital download here. Get deep.

Tracklist:

01. Kerri Chandler feat. Monique Bingham / In The Morning (Raw Mix)
02. Jon Cutler & Matthias Heilbronn / 640
03. Dennis Ferrer / Underground Is My Home
04. DJ Fudge / Mechouga (DJ Spen & Karizma Mix)
05. Trackheadz / Feel (Vocal Mix)
06. Moses Mclean feat. Diamond Temple / Always (Soul Groove Mix)
07. Nu Life feat. Kenny Bobien / My Joy
08. Ron Hall & The Muthafunkers / The Way You Love Me (Original Mix)
09. Johnick Meets FTL / A Breath Of Fresh Air
10. Mike Delgado / No One Loves You Like I Do
11. Hardsoul Feat Shaun Escoffrey / No Man (Alix Alvereaz Mix)
12. Kerri Chandler / The Promise
13. Phortune / String Free
14. Phil Hooton / Epichoregeo

Mark E "Call Me" (Merc)

2011-08-16T16:37:00.000-07:00

Mark E is a respected name among Disco revivalists and slo-mo house heads, recognized as both an innovative producer and talented DJ with an extensive knowledge of old school House and classic boogie. The Birmingham-based artist is first and foremost acknowledged as a “Disco-edit king," thanks to his roster of applauded edits from Womack & Womack's "Baby I'm Scared of You" to Franck Beverly's "Joy and Pain." To his credit, he has attempted to escape this stigma by venturing into more experimental and original territory with the debut of his first full-length album, Stonebreaker on Ghostly, released earlier this year. However, we are quickly reminded of his magic touch to the ubiquitous “edit” with his forthcoming release on his label, Merc. The release, titled "Call Me" is a dark, and heavy spin-off of Diana Ross’ bittersweet classic, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”

The release is distinctly Mark E – a chunky, thumping pitched down number with a cosmic touch. The track was first heard on his exclusive guestmix for Beats in Space radio a year ago. Come this September, it will finally see the light of day, starring two remixes by Dixon and Tensnake.

Out of the three tracks, this one takes the cake:

Mark e -call me (dixon edit) by raler

MELT: The Synergy of Sound and Sight

2011-04-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, April 23rd, halcyon presents MELT, a performance art and music event featuring NY-based DJs Abagale Fischer and Connie, and a live art collaboration by Brian Life and Matt Phillips.

MELT is not just a party. Sure, DJs will be spinning deep music to make you move and groove, but it’s so much more than that. The event, which was founded by NY-based artist, DJ, producer and dancer, Abagale Fischer, is about fusion of expression and the synergy of sight and sound.

Fischer, who launched the series in 2008, started MELT after stumbling upon the hidden and mystique world of Psybient music (or the “chill sister” of Psytrance, as some may say). Psybient is an unusual strain of music. To quote Fischer herself, it's “deep melodic bass music” that stems from small subcultures spread across the world, particularly found in places like Israel, Holland, Sweden, Greece and India. It’s music that is difficult to find, and just as difficult to label. Call it “chill out,” but it has more momentum than your typical lounge-style music. Rather, Psybient is along the lines of experimental ambient and electronic music that is more emotive, creative and spiritual than your standard downtempo. Since the sound is so underground and fragmented throughout the globe, it takes years and years to dig up a sizable library. Fischer and Connie are two out of the few local DJs tapped into this musical subculture.

To read more about the far out world of Psybient and this weekend’s MELT experience, check out this interesting and thorough interview with the insightful Fischer herself.

Lost in Sound 16: Pets for Less

2011-03-17T10:50:00.001-07:00

Leading up to this weekend’s Slow Disco Saturdays party at halcyon the shop, we are pleased to feature guest artists on the bill, Pets for Less for this month’s Lost in Sound episode. For the mix, the duo generously shared their latest set recorded at DC’s U-Hall spot, where they opened for the Hot Natured party with Jamie Jones and Lee Foss. In this pumping mix, they lay down an intoxicating blend of future disco beats. Tune in for some disco drenched in techy basslines, raw house grooves and electro-tinged melodies. Enjoy!

Pets For Less @ Uhall (Hot Natured Party) 3-11-11 by Life Podcast

So, who are these guys?

Pets for Less, New York’s newest production duo to emerge in the city’s disco-house scene are not as sweet as their alias entails. Sure, they are nice guys, no doubt – the team consists of friends Alex Fish and Mike Fisher – but they’re ruthless when it comes to dropping a proper set to make you sweat. Loaded with a broad musical selection of driving dance floor burners, deeper than deep house, and punchy technosoul, it’s safe to say these guys know how to conquer the crowd.

Here’s a little 101 on the team: Alex Fish, aka Holosound has been an active force in New York’s underground dance music subculture as a DJ, promotor and label owner of Holosound Theory Recordings. As an internationally recognized DJ, he’s appeared all over the world, from Tokyo to Toronto, Helsinki to London, Phuket to Estonia.

Mike Fisher, the other half of Pets for Less, is a recent Brooklyn transplant hailing from Washington DC. Also a mover and shaker, he’s a founding members of MnmLife, one of the main tech-house promotion teams in the capital. As an independent DJ he has played alongside big name acts such as M.A.N.D.Y, Matt Tolfrey and Lee Foss. And, to add to his impressive resume he also boasts an esteemed background in music production having worked with the award-winning artist Deep Dish as their studio engineer for two years.

So basically, these guys know what they’re doing and word is they’ve got some original music in store too. Although several artists and labels have inspired the team over the course of their careers, they give a big nod towards the Hot Natured nu disco sound. To quote the team themselves, they say the sound captures their “general love for all things funky and trouble-making.” Well that sounds fun….

Like what you hear? Catch Pets for Less this weekend at Slow Disco Saturdays and Mike Fisher solo at Verboten's Visionquest party this Sunday. Looks like the city that never sleeps is in full swing...Music music, party party!!

Exclusive Q & A with Visionquest's Ryan Crosson

2011-03-15T07:36:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Dontforgettogohome.org. Like what you see and hear? Please join us on Facebook and Twitter!

In anticipation of Visionquest’s New York debut at the Verboten party this Sunday, we caught up with the quartet’s Berlin-based member Ryan Crosson to get the scoop on why these guys are all the hype this year. We also interviewed Lee Curtiss, but our transcript had a tragic accident. Lesson of the day? Don’t forget to go home AND don’t forget to save your shit…(sorry Lee, it was fun chatting with you though). More event details here.

Remember the first time you heard of Visionquest? Rewind back to 2009 when their remix of Kiki’s Good Voodoo dropped on Bpitch – that was one epic anthem. Yet, even after dropping a bomb like that the Visionquest crew crouched quietly under the radar, waiting for the right time to step onto the worldwide stage as a solid production team. Now with the successful launch of their label, Visionquest Records, and two top-charted releases under their belt, you could say things are off to a good start this year. In this interview we chatted with Crosson about bringing back album art, the meaning of pop music and Seth’s fiance’s Dad. You follow?

Bianca M: Finally, after five years in the works, Visionquest Records is finally a reality. Congratulations.

Ryan Crosson: It’s fantastic. Actually it’s been a bit difficult because there are four of us so we have four different opinions. Juggling that was a bit tough at first but now we’ve got our system set up.

BM: What took you guys so long?

RC: We’ve been working towards this for awhile, like getting everything in place and making sure it was the right time to do the label and not jump the gun and also not present the world or the underground dance music community with just something else that’s being done both musically and aesthetically like with the sleeves and the artwork. We didn’t see a point to do some loopy house label or some Detroit techno label that sounds like something from ten years ago or beyond. That’s been done, why reiterate that? Not that there’s anything wrong with that, it’s just for us to do.

BM: Tell me more about the artwork aspect of the vinyl releases you guys are doing. That sounds interesting.

RC: Right now we have just one artist doing the artwork. He’s Seth’s fiancé’s Dad. He used to do inserts for some of the old Motown records that were released in Japan. You know how the old records would get certain distributors for South America and Asia and all that? So they would put different inserts in, like Stevie Wonder records or Ray Charles records. He used to do that. He’s older now but he’s still doing it. I don’t know if we’re going to change artists like every five releases – I hope not because I really like the insert on the first one. It’s super original and not what I was expecting at all.

BM: What brought about this idea?

RC: Well, a lot of people aren’t buying records these days. They grew up thinking ‘oh of course you go on Beatport and get the mp3 file,’ rather than go in the record store. So maybe if we could offer something extra it could bring back that [culture] in some way or make it more collectable for people in general, even if they are not DJs.

BM: So how would you describe the musical style you guys are going for? Is there any one sound?

RC: It’s even tough for me to describe it in a way. A lot of this stuff is going to have a pop sensibility to it but not in a Britney Spears sort of way or a Talking Heads sort of way. Like the VQ03 – Tale of Us is a deep house record [and] VQ05 is going to be extremely deep and has a lot of jazz elements and old experimental music. Some of the stuff is going to have a pop sensibility. It all works together. It all has this smokiness to it, it all has a slight psychedelic element and it just works. So I’m still finding it hard to find the best way to describe it all too people.

BM: Well what do you mean by “pop”? Here in New York that word is coming up a lot more among producers.

RC: I would describe it as something with a bit more of a mass appeal, something a bit more musical. Maybe something with more of an actual song structure as opposed to a loop being played.

BM: That works. I also am curious as to why you guys decided to launch a label in the midst of a tough industry, economically speaking. I mean, labels these days isn’t aren’t financially fruitful as they were say, ten years ago.

RC: It’s tough at the beginning because there are a lot of start-up costs. There are no guarantees that everything will work out and there’s no guarantee we’re going to get anything [money] but we’re all willing to take that loss, whatever loss it may be in order to do this label. It’s something that we want to do. It’s worth it. I mean if I were to put money into something else, like if I were a smoker or spending it on cigarettes or whatever the hell you are going to spend it on, I much rather spend money on this label and never see that money back as opposed to not doing it at all.

BM: Cool. That being said, where would you, personally like to see this label going?

RC: I would like to see it grow to a point where we are able to touch a bunch of different genres and not just stick to dance music. The second half of [this] year is not even going to touch dance music, it’s going to be a totally different style of music. I guess we want to be able to do dance records but also do some stuff like rough trade. I think it’s really important to push yourself and not just stick with a certain kind of music all the time. You’d probably be bored on your own just doing the same thing. A lot of people have this formula, it’s the way they go about making a track. That’s cool but how many times do you want to do the same track so it’s a bit more fun if you can just go explore things and the things that you try and do, maybe it sucks – so what? Try something else. If you’ve got the time do it.

Music for Mondays: Shine a Light

2011-02-07T07:50:00.000-08:00

New track by London's The C90s duo, remixed by Flight Facilities of "Crave You" fame. Warm and dreamy, moving and a little bittersweet...

Exclusive Q & A with JKriv (Deep&Disco)

2011-02-01T22:15:00.000-08:00

Leading up to halcyon's Slow Disco Saturdays party this weekend, we caught up with Jkriv before his appearance at the shop. Check out details on the event here.

New York’s Jkriv is knee deep in the city’s disco-house scene playing many hands as a musician, producer and DJ. We first discovered him when we came across his solid disco edits via Soundcloud and later found out he is also the bass player for the live house band, Tortured Soul and for the disco ensemble, Escort. He’s the resident DJ for the Just for Kicks party, which he runs with partner Aaron Dae and is about to launch his own label, Deep&Disco Records. Although DJing is quite “new” for Jkriv (he’s been manning the decks for roughly a year now) he’s proved pretty damn good at it and has been featured on various podcasts from Chicago to the UK.

At the dawn of his appearance at halcyon’s Slow Disco Saturdays gig this weekend we caught up with Jkriv to chat about disco, disco and well, more disco...See below for music and mixes to stream and download...

Bianca Merbaum: You’ve been part of Tortured Soul for the several years now. Is this solo production and your Deep&Disco project something recent or has it been in the works for some time? I also understand DJing is something kind of new for you too, is that correct?

JKriv: Right, I’ve been doing Tortured Soul for the past seven years. Along the way I’ve always been working on my music of my own. Some stuff I write and bring to the band and some of it is not quite right for that.

I have a lot of different things that I do but a lot of it has fallen into this disco and disco-electro sound but always with a soul edge to it. For me that’s what I dig. I like to listen to a lot of different kinds of music. I started DJing recently. And that’s why I started that Deep&Disco party at Rose Bar. Then I started trying to get out there on Soundcloud and doing disco edits and putting some of my production up there. I really haven’t gone too many places with this yet. It’s kind of the beginning of it but it’s taking a nice shape.

BM: Does it matter to you that people associate you first with Tortured Soul? Or are you trying to make your own reputation as JKriv/Deep&Disco?

J: No, it doesn’t bother me. I’m a lot more popular as a member of Tortured Soul than I am by myself, so just from a PR stand point I don’t mind it. And I’ don’t find it limiting because I just feel like I’ll do whatever I want and if people don’t like it, they don’t like it. But I think I’ve evolved. I just don’t care so much. I’m part of Tortured Soul and that’s part of who I am and I do other stuff too.

BM: I really like your edits and the mixes you’ve been putting up. I’ve been following your Soundcloud page for a couple months now. What are your goals as far as your solo work?

J: Well one thing I’m starting is Deep&Disco Records just to put out some of this stuff. The concept is to put out music that I’m doing and then include remixes by people in this scene like Matthew Kyle, guys like Blacklodge and a bunch of other people.

Jody Watley - New Love (DEEP&DISCO Version) by deepanddisco

BM: The Soundcloud community has become quite a phenomenon, especially among disco revivalists and edit lovers like yourself.

J: Soundcloud is a really cool community and I’ve met a lot of people like that who are very like-minded, musically, who are into the same thing. I’m a little bummed because I heard that they are taking down people’s edits. A lot of people have been complaining lately. It’s happened to a lot of people on Soundcloud. They are taking down anything that has unlicensed samples. It’s hard for me because I’m a musician and I really feel both sides. As someone who makes a lot of original music I’ve unfortunately felt how much it hurts when people have no respect for ownership.

BM: This is true. Then again, there are two sides to that story. On the one hand is the whole ‘ownership’ side of it and on the other hand, some people argue that edits are a way of complimenting the original artists, doing justice to the song so to speak.

J: In some cases, people are really digging. That’s part of it – to find that track that someone hasn’t edited yet. And at this point you have to really dig deep to find that track. So in those cases there are unknown artists who are being brought back to people’s awareness. But Thelma Houston doesn’t really need a remix of hers to let everyone know that she’s awesome. I did that one Thelma Houston edit, which got played by the guys from the 6^th Borough Project and got a lot of love. It’s only been good for me but it hasn’t really been any good for Thelma Houston. I’ll just accept that. If they take it down, I’m just going to say oh well and start making original music.

Thelma Houston - You Used To Hold Me So Tight (DEEP&DISCO Version) by deepanddisco

BM: Are you planning to make any of your own productions?

J: Yes. I have my first Deep&Disco release basically ready to go right now. It’s a track that my friend and I did – he goes by the name Munga on Soundcloud. Then we have remixes from Sleezy Mcqueen, Space Ranger and Blacklodge.

BM: Sounds great. I’ll keep my eye out. Speaking of disco and your gig coming up at halcyon’s Slow Disco Saturdays party, how would you describe “slow disco” to someone who has never heard of it before?

J: There is a lot of music now that has been classified as ‘slow disco’ and it’s basically slow house. Instead of making house at 125 BPM, you’re making it at 106 BPM.

There’s that and there are also those disco tracks, from the 70s, which sound really dated now. I mean it’s still great music but they don’t necessarily hold up in terms of what you’d necessarily want to play or what I’d want to play. Then there’s music after that, which comes from the early 80s. It’s still disco but with more synths incorporated, which borders on what then became 80s dance. A lot of people are making music now that sounds like that. So it’s kind of fun, because you can play a set of that stuff and the original music and it works really well together.

JKriv DJ Set "Live" @ Just For Kicks 10-22-10 by deepanddisco

The Daily Bump: Don't fuck with D-Town

2011-01-28T11:39:00.000-08:00

Detroit's legendary producer, Carl Craig recently re-edited his 1995 Paperclip People classic "The Climax" and has made it available to download for FREE. Known for his old school mentality this move doesn't sound very "Carl Craig." Why the freebie then? Apparently it's his response to a recent anonymous bootleg vinyl-pressing of the original production - ripped and used as a mash up. The Planet E boss promptly took the available audio, re-appropriated the track and made it the available for the world to download before the bootleg hit the shelves. Lesson learned: don't fuck with D-town, yet again (Underground Resistance vs. Sony, anyone?).

The Climax Bootleg by carlcraignet

Lost in Sound 15: Ahmed Hashim's Sunday Morning Sounds

2011-01-24T12:56:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Dontforgettogohome.org. Like what you see and hear? Please join us on Facebook and Twitter!

We like people with good taste in music. And we especially like when those people know how to spin their music well too. That’s pretty much why we launched “Lost in Sound” – to give those out there a platform to show off their skills and style regardless if they are considered a bedroom DJ or international hot shot. It’s all about quality. For our 15^th episode we reached out to NYC local, Ahmed Hashim who laid down a tasteful and feel good set of deep disco house (including some exclusive, unreleased tracks) for your aural enjoyment. Tune in…(tracklist after the jump).

Hashim is the man behind the Indo Silver Club music blog - an online platter of aural treats, which he updates on a weekly basis. It's a place to indulge in an amass of excellent tunes that range from old disco to Detroit deep house, old school hip hop to indie rock and everything in between. “I kept it as a simple no frills music blog: an artist, a song, and a play button every couple of days,” he said of the blog’s first starts. Hashim initially launched it as a personal outlet to listen to music at work where personal libraries weren’t accessible. Since then the blog has grown to become a popular go-to spot for music junkies like ourselves and a reliable source for hearing quality music, from the present to the past.

“If you go back into the archives and listen to the music I posted in the beginning and compare it to what I’m posting now you can see how my tastes have matured over time, which I think is pretty neat (albeit kind of embarrassing). Who knows, I might even incorporate it into an outlet for my own production in due time. As for the name, “Indo Silver Club:” it was the first Daft Punk (and probably dance music) song that resonated with me when I was a kid in the 90's!”

When not blogging about the music that he loves Hashim pursues his own productions (one which he has included in this mix) and DJs locally as well, frequenting smaller gigs around the city from underground hot spots like Stay to more corporate events at the upscale Greenhouse.

And where is he going from here?

“I would love to pursue music and the arts as a full time thing. Really, I'm just trying my best to contribute back to the arts that have brought me here in the first place. If I could make one person who listens to a record I play stop and enjoy the moment they're in - I'm pretty content. As for future plans, I think Leslie Nielsen put it best: ‘like a blind man at an orgy, I'm going to have to feel my way through’.”

Tracklist

Gil Scott-Heron - Parents [XL Recordings] The Temptations - Papa Was A Rolling Stone [Motown] Moodymann - The Third Track [Planet E] Iron Curtis - Save The Night [Mule Electronic] Franc Spangler - Forever And A Day [Delusions Of Grandeur] Mystery Roar - Mayhem (Soul Clap Remix) [Unreleased] Ilija Rudman - Time And Time (Michael J Collins Remix) [Electric Minds] Wolf + Lamb - Shoeshine Boogie (Remix Of Mock & Toof) [Wolf + Lamb] Tensnake - Congolal [Endless Flight] Gunnar Wendel - 578 (Omar-S Rude Boy Warm Mix) [FXHE] Junior Boys - No Kinda Man [Get Physical] Ron's Edits - Serious [Wolf + Lamb Black] Ahmed Hashim - Worse Than Before [Unreleased] Tornado Wallace - Swimmin' [Delusions Of Grandeur] Nicolas Jaar - Can't See What Is Burning There [Unreleased] Jellphonic - The Only One [Clone Crown Limited]

Music for Mondays: Ubuntu Tutu by Babbi Peru

2011-01-17T07:07:00.000-08:00

Weekends are fun until Monday arrives. Getting back into the groove of another week is always a little bittersweet especially when you’re still recovering from the anticlimactic afterparty hangover. That’s why we’re introducing Music for Mondays - a new series of weekly posts featuring select feel-good tracks to start your week off on the right foot. Here is our recent discovery that hits the spot - a soothing, deep house number by the elusive Babbi Peru...

Ubuntu Tutu by Båbbi Peru

Lost in Sound 14: Deepak Sharma's "Don't Go Home on New Year's" Mix

2010-12-28T06:42:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Dontforgettogohome.org. Like what you see and hear? Please join us on Facebook and Twitter!

For the 14^th episode of our Lost in Sound series we’re taking a break from disco this time around and delving deep into techno with NYC’s Deepak Sharma of Hidden Recordings. He’ll be laying down his edgy, deep grooves in style at District 36’s techno hoedown this New Years Eve (or rather, New Years Day). Not to be missed - check out more details here. Tune in for a taste of what you’re in for this weekend…

New York’s Deepak Sharma has been a techno mainstay here in the city for years – he can tell you stories from raging at Shelter, Bugaloo and the legendary Robots party with Bill Patrick and Co. As a DJ and producer within the scene Sharma’s kept a modest profile, playing for underground crowds and managing his label, Hidden Recordings, which he founded in 2006. “Hidden” seems a fitting name for Sharma’s philosophy behind the imprint: instead of spewing out new releases on a monthly basis to stay in the spotlight he’s opted for a quality-over-quantity mantra. Over the year’s he’s collaborated with various talents from underground communities worldwide. Shortly after he launched his label Sharma joined forces with Germany’s Dieter Kruse, now his production partner in crime.

Their newest release, The Great Lawn EP, catapulted Hidden Recordings from New York’s best-kept secret to international acclaim. The EP is Sharma’s and Kruse’s first remix project and features a large cast of cutting-edge talent (Ambivalent, Alexi Delano, Franklin DeCosta, to name a few). Since the Lawn hit the shelves, Sharma & Co. have been all the buzz, featured in respected music mags such as XLR8R and Big Shot. Our founder here at Home Headquarters, Bianca Von Baum even sat down with the Hidden boss earlier this year for a tête-à-tête. Check out the interview here.

At the dawn of his gig this New Years Eve at District 36 he’s provided us with this exclusive mix for our 14^th episode. This mix, which was recorded at his label night on Oct. 22^nd at Bar 13 is a journey into sound indeed - deep, raw and rich with banging tracks drenched in heady, intoxicating melodies. This mix will surely rev you up just in time for the countdown this Friday.

We hope you all have a blast this New Year’s Eve, party hard and whatever you do (or wherever you go), don’t forget to go home…

Exclusive Q & A: Lee Foss

2010-12-14T22:50:00.000-08:00

If techno and disco ever banged their kid would be Lee Foss – brainchild of the Hot Creations imprint (RA’s top 20 label of the year) and one-half of the Hot Natured duo (Rebels star Jamie Jones is the ying to his yang). Ever since the two joined forces roughly two years ago Foss and Jones have quickly garnered international applaud for their distinctive productions and signature disco sound. And when we say, “disco,” we’re not talking about the happy-go-lucky Saturday Night Fever kind of beats. We’re talking about badass disco – dark disco with a bold and edgy twist (scroll down to check out some tunes and his latest podcast).

At the turn of the new year Foss has an avalanche of solo productions on his own label lined up along with a handful of remixes and edits on leading labels such as Culprit, No. 19 and Back Yard Records. Good news abounds for this hotly tipped talent (no pun intended…).

Needless to say we’re happy we got a chance to interview Foss before he gets too much of a big shot for his own ego. Just hours before his gig in Bogoto, Columbia earlier this month (he was there and we were sadly bundled up in our Brooklyn headquarters) we caught up with Foss and chatted about disco (go figure), his early days gigging as a hip hop DJ and why his creations are so hot.

Bianca Von Baum: You know we’ve actually met before at a Wolf + Lamb party at the Marcy Hotel a while ago.

Lee Foss: Oh cool. Was I doing anything embarrassing?

BVB: No. I just complimented you on your dope sunglasses. You seemed to be enjoying yourself.

LF: I miss [the Marcy]. It was a time and a place. It was really exciting for everybody.

BVB: Do you have any highlights from those times at the Marcy?

LF: There were a lot. For me, it’s the only place I’ve ever been where everyone there trusts the DJs. That’s something you dream about but you definitely don’t see in America very often. [The Marcy] is such a small space too so you can talk to anyone. It’s like a family.

BVB: I know what you mean. Good times indeed. Speaking of good times, word is that things are going quite well for you these days. Do tell. What’s new in the world of Lee Foss?

LF: I’ve had a really good week. I had a lot of good news. I have a lot of projects about to come out and I found out that DJ Mag had me in their top singles of 2010. Lots of great opportunities right now too.

BVB: Congratulations. So tell me, what makes your creations hot?

LF: Well not everything that I make is a Hot Creations production but what makes my creations hot in general is that I’m always making sure I put out the best thing possible and if its not good enough, then its not ready.

BVB: I read somewhere that you used to be a hip hop DJ in Chicago before all the Hotness started. Am I just making that up?

LF: No. I’ve always been into 90s hip hop. You’re always going to love music when you came of age. So back in 2004, 2005, 2006, when I lived in Chicago I was getting gigs and opening for big artists at big clubs. But I also started to get work at local clubs. I was more across the board for those spots – but I was doing a lot of 90s R&B and hip hop nights.

BVB: Hip hop and disco are such timeless musical genres.

LF: Totally. Obviously the hip hop now isn’t. The disco people are playing now is really more along the lines of the ‘80s funky disco style. If you think about what music people really love universally, it pretty much went back to ’84 and ’85. I could go on and on about this because I think I know the reasons. It’s all about a time and a place and its related to what technologies were available, who’s doing the work. Specifically with the 80s funk and disco, you had this excess technology for people – especially black guys who had been in bands – who had access to home recordings and could afford the technology. At the time these companies making the technology were making the best possible product. From there they developed more but used cheaper parts, adding more memory and features that might have been interesting but I don’t think people realize the loss in the quality of sound. If you listen to music from the later 80s, the music just sounds cheaper.

BVB: Agreed. I wanted to ask you – it sounds like you are living the life these days, gigging all over, topping charts, etc. Do you have time to be as creative as you would like to be?

LF: No, I don’t have time, to be honest. I feel like Jamie [Jones] and I are selling ourselves short doing as much as we do. I travel a lot and it’s draining. I mean, I can’t complain – I love this life. I just think people under-estimate the exhaustion of that kind of travel and the expectations. I mean I love being a “professional socializer” but you always want to make sure you’re leaving a good impression.

BVB: So tell me, out of all the good news and accomplishments you’ve made over the past year, what are you proudest about?

LF: I’m very proud of the Hot Natured releases and my solo releases that have already come out of Hot Creations. A lot of people don’t understand that I’m proud to put my music out on new labels that involve my friends and I. Don’t’ get me wrong – maybe bigger labels would have gotten me further faster but I’m proud to put music out on my label. I mean, if you are doing something special yourself you feel more in control. At least I do. I love that.

BVB: I have one more question. I noticed you’ve been interviewed quite a bit. Are there any questions you wished people asked you but never did?

LF: (laughs) How do I stay so humble?

Hot Natured Podcast 01 - Mixed by Lee Foss:

Lee Foss - Hot Natured Podcast 01 by Hot Natured Music

Lost in Sound 13: Soho808 Mixtape Vol. 2

2010-12-13T22:55:00.001-08:00

soho808 mixtape vol.2 by soho808

Soho808 is certainly not a new name here at Home Headquarters. We gave the duo a bump when their first single, From New York with Love perked our ears earlier in the summer. Fast forward to today and the NY-based duo has continued to impress us with their tasteful blend of deep house and sultry, pitched down disco. Good news abounds for the team, with their track “Just to See” selected for Soul Clap’s forthcoming mix CD on Art Department's No. 19 Music. Also in the works is a vinyl release of their excellent Soul II Soul “Back to Life” edit scheduled to come out early next year. So stay tuned...In anticipation of Soho808’s appearance at Autobrennt’s annual Holiday Disco cocktail party this Thursday, Dec. 16th, they’ve put together a jam of a mix for us to give you a taste – just a taste – of what will go down later this week. More info on the party here.

Check out their Soundcloud page for free downloads, new tracks and upcoming releases.

Presenting Slow Disco Saturdays @ Halcyon

2010-12-04T06:13:00.000-08:00

Slow Disco Saturdays at Halcyon Records from Jha Dominati on Vimeo.

Lost in Sound 12: Matthew Kyle's Slo-Mo Disco Soul

2010-11-30T06:14:00.000-08:00

Matthew Kyle (M.K.) loves whiskey, cats and disco – just our kind of guy. The New York-based DJ turned producer only started dabbling in music-making eight months ago and he’s already all the buzz, with two releases on Berlin’s vinyl-only disco edit imprint, Dikso under his former monikers NoRequests and byDesign. Although still a ripe talent, Kyle has already carved out a trademark style that straddles between head-bobbing boogie, nusoul and downbeat disco. In anticipation of his Dec. 4 debut at halcyon the shop for Slow Disco Saturdays, we caught up with this slow disco front man and chatted about disco (what else?), life in the limelight and why he’s all about pitched down grooves. Interview and tracklist after the jump.

How would you explain the difference between the classic disco sound and the new style coming out to someone who grew up with the birth of this genre?

Less cheese, more filling…I think a lot of music is based off another style or genre, especially with the advent of sampling. All dance music has its roots in classic disco and soul, what you're hearing nowadays is a more modern interpretation of that vibe.

Who is on your radar these days in terms of producers and labels?

Far too many to list but I'll do my best: The Revenge first and foremost and all his side projects with Craig Smith (6th Borough Project), Ali Herron (as OOFT), and Burnt Island Casuals. Mark E can do no wrong. Eddie C is simply amazing. Cole Medina. LTJ X-Perience. The Dikso Label I was on briefly is putting on good stuff. I'll always love the Super Value Edit Series. My friends Soho808, JKriv (as Deep and Disco), and Lou Teti are all making good music right now. I'm involved with a digital-only label out of England called Audio Parallax and there will be a lot of great releases and artists on that roster.

What is your opinion of this whole edit-craze and where do you see the trend going? What makes a good edit in your opinion?

Like any style of music you have to wade through some mud to find the gems. The software makes it so easy than anybody can do an edit. It is certainly how I got started. I don't think its ever going to go away. There is just an over-abundance of source material to choose from and forgotten records that deserve a second listen. There are a few different styles of edits. For me what makes a good one is something that adds to the original, works it over and shines a new light on it. Not just a basic extension with an intro, that's kind of lazy in my opinion. But to each their own.

Your DJing style, as reflected in this mix, is slower than most disco music– not your typical dance floor disco. What is your goal, as a DJ?

Yeah, I'd say so. It’s one of the reasons I get pigeonholed as a warm-up DJ, which is fine by me actually. I don't have a specific goal as a DJ. I play what I want, no more no less. I definitely keep things pretty slow and mellow, but it is still very dance-floor friendly. I think the more people who hear this type of music being played out at clubs the more it will catch on. But everyone is used to hearing "floor-fillers" and whatnot. To me it’s more about creating a mood and a groove over the course of the night. I love playing 4 and 5 hour sets because it gives me the freedom to spread out and play a lot of different songs, those songs just happen to fall within the 90-110bpm range.

Matthew Kyle loves whiskey, cats and disco – thats our kind of guy

How do you feel now that your productions have received international recognition, and that you, as a producer, are also on the radar?

That still blows me away. Its beyond humbling to say the least. My record as "NoRequests" was a huge hit and has been played pretty heavily worldwide. The "byDesign" record was pretty big too. It was never my intention to get released. I just started making music as a hobby and as a natural reaction to DJing. I make music for me and when people are into it its even more rewarding.

I understand you are no longer using your moniker NoRequests. What about your byDesign project, can you tell me more about that? Who is this elusive partner in crime?

We've worked together professionally at a design studio for the past 4 years and we discovered we each had an immense passion for similar music. He was a DJ here in NYC in the 70's and 80's, one of the reasons he wants to remain "elusive." He has been there and done that. Like me, he's doing it for the music. He is not just a good friend, but a mentor as well. He actually got me into Ableton so I owe a lot to his help and guidance. Plus, as byDesign, we make some pretty kick-ass tracks if I do say so myself.

Favorite disco or soul record you couldn’t live without?

Damn, that is a tough question. Marvin Gaye and Barry White will always be at the top of my list. The Chi-Lites and Harold Melvin & The Blue-Notes too. I definitely prefer the soul over the disco. Like I said earlier - less cheese, more filling.

Tracklist:

Matthew Kyle - Soul intro
The Planty Herbs - Music Is The Word
Cuetec - Space Night
Ben Houghton - Hazed
Fingers In The Noise - Today Its Raining Noise (Cuetec Mix)
The Dead Rose Music Company - Never Gonna Stop
Giano - Stella In The Starlight (Dave Allison Mix)
Tommy Largo - We Go Down (Dave Allison Mix)
Joshua Heath - Nightlife Time (Saxtempo Mix)
Bob James - Storm King (Craig Smith & The Revenge Rework)
Lovebirds - U Give Me
Negghead - Build It Up (Break It Down Mix)
The Deadbeats - Breathe
Matthew Kyle - Untitled Two

Lost in Sound 11: Victor Vega Will Make You Freaky Deeky

2010-11-19T00:17:00.000-08:00

Victor Vega is one of Bay Area’s best-kept secrets. For this Lost in Sound episode, we bring you a very special treat straight from the heart of San Francisco’s underground. In this seamless aural trip Vega voyages through deep, raw and hypnotic territory delivering the ideal after-hours set. It’s hard to believe this was actually recorded in his living room.

“Thick and juicy, make you want to freaky deeky - that’s where the sounds at,” said San Fran-based Victor Vega, “with a little Latin flavor.” Vega, a handsome Cuban-Puerto Rican crossbreed is one of Bay Area’s best-kept underground secrets. Producer and DJ, Vega has been a staple of the scene since he moved there six years ago, frequently gigging around and best known as a resident DJ and promoter of the city’s TRBL crew.

“We showcase local talent, and we don’t focus on any particular genre, just music itself,” said Vega of the TRBL, now reaching its third year mark. “Electro, dubstep, minimal techno…it’s taken us a couple years to really define what TRBL is, but what we ended up figuring out is it’s a vibe. It’s not pretentious, people want to dance there, its definitely become a little bit of a family, its become a force within crews in San Francisco.”

Vega has been a force himself in the scene best known for his enduring passion for music and the cause, constantly seeking fresh sounds and perfection in his sets and productions.

“I want things to be a certain way, still understanding, always listening. I’ll fall into this ‘if things aren’t sounding right’ routine, I’ll like step away for a few days. Especially if I’m almost finishing a track and something’s not right, I’ll take a breather for a couple days.”

Music is his life. Day jobs are just the “bread and butter.” He is entirely consumed by music – playing it, making it, thinking about it, and living in it - his bedroom is surrounded wall-to-wall with production gear. But such a setup is natural for any avid producer like Vega.

“When I made this mix, I was like yeah, you are going to get a dancefloor mix, you’re going to shake your ass.”

“I hope to have an EP one day,” he continued. “I have a lot of material, [but] my creative process is all over the place. I’m just making music right now.”

And by “all over the place,” he means he’s got his hands (and ears) tied up in several stimulating collaborations, particularly with Juan Segovia (aka “Juan Little Devil”) and another project in the works with Ben Bean.

“Juan has been my guru and teacher, he’s a great talent,” said Vega of his mentor. “Nobody really knows about him, he’s been my cornerstone of techno. Ben Bean – he’s more on a hip hop tip, so when we collaborate we do electro breaks a little bit. He’s from Santa Cruz, I consider him a cornerstone of hip hop - another talent or unknown one that I get the pleasure to learn with and collaborate with.”

Vega is an ambitious guy. And when it comes to laying down some grooves, he approaches the craft of the DJ just as meticulously. So when we asked Vega to make us a mix he showed us how it’s done right. The mix is a product of a month in the works – carefully crafted and planned out, edited and every possible glitch smoothed out. “When I made this mix, I was like yeah, you are going to get a dancefloor mix, you’re going to shake your ass.”

Yes, yes you will…

Tracklist

mataaz - juanlittledevil, victorvega // unreleast

herb , maetrik - audiomatique

get down - Zander VT

Chordy - maetrik remix,Robert Babicz // immortal changes

Swayer - franksen & tom wax

daniel steinberg - maccareno (m.in & dj emerson vocal rmx)

Like a techmachine - Format : B

booty call - dj T.

Lunchbox - delete (aka sergio munoz)

In my house og mix - martin Eyerer & Bjan

Interafrica , og mix - mihalis Safras

show time - emmanuel

Amelie format : B rmx - Butch

White hole - upon you

Batibati gol og mix - Andrea esu

The Daily Bump: Sorting it out

2010-10-14T08:45:00.001-07:00

Today we're taking a break from all the thumping house and head-spinnng techno and getting down to some old school tunes instead. This lovely mix by New York's Love Tempo arrived in our inbox this morning, serving a smooth mix of hip hop, funk and sizzling disco edits. Great feel-good tunes right here...

Sorting it Out by Love Tempo - Direct download here

Tracklist:

a tribe called quest – afterhours
mona raye – do me (munga edit)
fatback band – bus stop
fatback band – keep on steppin’ (noodleman edit)
james brown vs. grant green – aint’ it funky now (onur engin edit)
geraldine hunt – can’t fake the feeling (ac re-edit)
conquest – give it to me (if you don’t mind)
gary tom’s empire – sexy lady
michael wilson – groove it to your body
idris muhammed – could heaven ever be like this (leftside wobble edit)
eddie kendricks – girl you need a change of mind

Like what you hear? This cat's throwing down a gig this Saturday at Rose Bar w/Brooklyn's Doug Gomez and DJ Blt...details below:

Saturday, October 16th

@ Rose Live Music

345 Grand Street (btwn Havemeyer and Marcy)

Brooklyn, NY

No Cover. Jumps at 10pm.

The Daily Bump: Mike Huckaby serves up 90-mins of pure deep house for the heads

2010-10-09T05:50:00.000-07:00

Mike Huckaby - The My Life With The Wave Show by mikehuckaby

Attention house heads: are you ready for some proper deepness? Prepare for 90 minutes of sonic bliss mixed by D-town’s one and only, Mike Huckaby, which aired earlier this week. This is a special broadcast that entirely consists of tracks made from Huckaby’s My Life With the Wave sample CD (named after the Waldorf Wave synthesizer he used), which was released in 2007 and since then has become a cult favorite for deep house productions worldwide. In this seamless journey, he introduces us to artists across the globe, from Detroit to Belgium, New York to Spain, Chicago to Berlin and beyond. If anything, this mix is a testament to Huckaby’s far-reaching contributions to the underground house music movement and for keeping the sound deep, raw and real…This is simply beautiful music from beginning to end. Play and repeat! Direct download here.

*all tracks on this mix are available on vinyl*

Lost in Sound 10: Stephane Vera's Tune Teaser

2010-10-07T12:15:00.000-07:00

We met Stephane Vera by accident, at the cusp of sunrise in a loft in Detroit for a private and spontaneous afterhours gathering post-festival. Sometimes it’s worth not going home...

You could easily write a book about Stephane Vera. His intelligent insight and years of experience in musical experimentation and production could fill pages, not posts. Although he’s never said it outright, he is a musical genius, a modest one, whose pioneering work has made significant contributions to the expansive world of future music and sound science. When we first met him, he gave us a sneak peak of new work, all electronic music you couldn’t quite put your finger on, such as afro-funk over a glitchy dubstep beat to effervescent house teased with trip hop. Already impressed by his music we were even more intrigued when Vera told us he was the first composer for the deaf, and the first to conduct a concert for a hearing impaired audience. You don’t find guys like Vera everyday.

In anticipation of his new releases coming out this fall, - a 14-track “narrative electronic storytelling” album on Nice+Smooth Ultramedia and an album for Mixed Signals Music – he’s provided us with an exclusive hour-long sampler of these upcoming works. In addition, he let our curious selves pry his mind. Below is an excerpt taken from our fascinating conversation with Vera. This is one guy worth talking to.

You mentioned that you knew you were destined to pursue electronic music from the age of two. That’s quite a young age to determine your future. What made you realize this?

I remember this because it forever changed my life. I was in France where I used to live and I was listening to Jean-Michel Jarre, who is a French electronic music pioneer. [He] had a huge influence on my life. So basically, one day, I had this all-at-once, in a split second, kind of information, like a voice had spoken to me or something without hearing a voice that [told me] I would be doing this for the rest of my life – that I would be making electronic music, making music like this guy is producing. It wasn’t just music I was interested in, it was specifically music with synthesizers. I didn’t understand the big picture, obviously I was two years old, [but] I just knew instinctively what I would be doing.

It’s amazing that you’ve actually lived up to that. Actually, I should say beyond that, considering all the different projects you’ve been a part of. Can you elaborate more on the waveDNA project you are a part of and what position you have in this company?

I’m Chief of Music Operations for waveDNA.com, a company in Toronto, Ontario. WaveDNA is a music software designed to notate and analyze new music in a new way. There are a lot of things about the software. I hate to use the word groundbreaking but it really is. It’s the DNA of music.

You told me when we met in Detroit that you are the world’s first composer for the deaf. This is fascinating. Can you tell me more about that?

I became the world’s first composer for the deaf by creating a style of music for the Emoti-Chair. This chair brought music to the deaf, something that the deaf were previously either cut off from or just not interested in it, just they have a disability. They experience music in their own way, if they choose to and most don’t choose to at all. So when I sit in the chair, I have to deafen myself with white noise, to block out any outside sound that might interfere with how the composition is being composed. I allowed the vibrations dictate how the composition started then I’ll add all the instrumentation on top. It’s music that the deaf can experience and the deaf are learning to compose on their own. The chair allows them to feel music through your skin in ways that was previously unavailable to them.

Fascinating. How did people react?

The reactions at first were not as positive as we hoped from some deaf societies because they are proud of who they are. Some deaf people, and I’ve seen this with my own eyes, have sat in the chair and they start to cry. They experience it for the very first time – its a virgin music experience. It’s a very powerful experience. Once that information got back to the deaf societies, it changed the attitude [towards the chair].

You mentioned you are releasing a narrative electronic storytelling album on Nice + Smooth. What is “electronic storytelling”?

I don’t want to say I created this style of music but I don’t really hear anything else that’s out there that sounds like that. It’s music that is telling a story, there’s a lot of melody interplay. I used to call it narrative electronic but people didn’t really get what that was. So I added the word “storytelling” at the end. This music is constantly evolving and changing, there’s no repetition. It’s not to say you can’t dance to it but it’s music meant for listening, not passively on the dance floor. The instrumentation is more of the focus of the mix than the beats.

What is your goal as an artist?

I really want the WaveDNA technology to succeed. We’re putting a lot of power and a lot of shortcuts into people’s hands. That’s very exciting because we’re giving people who have good musical ideas in their heads but no formal training to really express themselves, or hopefully along the way create new styles of music facilitated with this software.

As an artist, what sort of challenges have you faced, and how do you overcome them as a creative person?

After all these years the challenge is to still be very enthusiastic about what I’m doing. I’ve been doing this since 1988 - it’s a long time and I have primarily stuck with electronic or music that could loosely be either house or techno or some category of electronica. So, it’s a long time to be parked in there. I also really want to push the ground so I think one of the ways I’m doing that is composing music for the deaf as well always trying to push the envelope in some way. Part of my diversifying has been the key to my success as well as the not burning out or getting bored. Because I do so many different things my ears are still fresh and I’m enthusiastic about it after all these years.

Q & A with Martyn

2010-10-05T22:16:00.000-07:00

Martyn has been a driving force behind the dubstep revival of late, and his releases and DJing talent have earned him international recognition and a global fan base. Many have called him a pioneer. And such acknowledgment and respect is well deserved. Forget all the hype built up around him – this guy is legitimately doing something very, very right. His productions are tasteful, sophisticated and refreshingly unique, and when he’s behind the decks, his eclecticism reveals a DJ who takes his job seriously. We were curious to know, who is this man behind the music? During the Electric Zoo, we sat down with Martyn and were immediately inspired by this passionate musician, and we’re sure you will too!

How did you think things went during your set this morning?

It was quite surprising because if you play at 12 pm at a festival like this you don’t expect that much. But it actually filled up really nice, and yeah, it had a really good vibe.

Do you prepare in advance for your sets?

I think it’s the most honest way of DJing, when you don’t really have a plan. Obviously there are certain tracks that I like to play and compilations in my head, but I like to take it as it is and see what the vibe is like. Very freestyle.

What album or release do you think really put your career in motion?

Personally, my [first] album [did]. That really put me on the map outside my scene, and people started to take notice. But it’s different for everyone. Some people would say my remix work, I’ve done a lot of those, and they’ve become quite popular.

Do you like doing remixes?

No. I mean, I get a couple requests a week. I usually say no straight away because I want to spend time on my own music – unless it’s a track that has a personal message to me then I’d consider doing one. But I’m not really a fan of remixes.

What is it like to be in the “Martyn music-making zone”?

I always have a really hard time getting started on stuff. So it takes a really long time to figure out a main idea for a track, and I just walk around…sometimes I have an idea in my head for a month before I actually start making it. And once I start making it, it’s actually a faster process. I’m quite hectic – I do lots of things at the same time. I really don’t like interference at all, like working with other people. I’m usually really quite on my own.

What is the criterion for signing on artists to your label, 3024 recordings?

That I like it. That’s the only criteria. Very simple.

You live in DC now, correct? How has that influenced you, if at all?

Quite a lot I think, because I lived in Holland all my life and DC is really a different vibe. We live in quite a suburban area, [so] it’s quite boring. I kind of like it – I do all this traveling, I play my gigs, which is fine. But I do like a bit of normalcy and during the week I like to blend in with soccer moms, go to the store, and be really normal. I’ve lived there for at least 3 years.

You have really gained a lot of international recognition as of late. Have you always wanted this attention?

Well it’s always been about the music for me, playing it to people, you know? It never really was about the whole fame thing. I guess you start getting a little bit more emotional about music and playing music for people and try to move them with certain things. So I guess that’s what keeps me busy nowadays.

Do you feel fulfilled?

Oh yeah. What’s more is that maybe ten years ago, when I was just trying to get higher up all the time, now I’m not really about “higher” up anymore. I’m just trying to touch people with something, you know?

The Daily Bump: Shooting the breeze with Claude von Stroke

2010-09-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

Claude von Stroke is San Francisco’s leading techno man – certainly a name synonymous with the city’s small, but vibrant contemporary dance music scene, carving out a niche sound that melds minimal, tech house and SF’s affinity for breaks and dirty beats. At Electric Zoo, Stroke delivered just that: a ruthless, bass-in-your-face kind of set that had us dancing up a dust storm. Right before he went on, the master of raw grooves kindly let us grill him about The Whistler, talking to Mozart and (not) forgetting to go home.

What album or EP would you say really put your career in motion?

It was the very first record. It was called Etho and it took a long time – like a year – to [be recognized]. Well this was back when you could actually have a record take a year to get heard and people just started picking up on it, like this little cool indie record. That was the door opener record. And the next record that really broke it was a side The Whistler B-side Who’s Afraid of Detroit? The Whistler was way bigger than Detroit in the beginning. It’s much more of a party record, so it kind of lasted.

How have you evolved as an artist since you first started out?

I don’t know if I’ve evolved that much. I probably wouldn’t make a record quite as frenetic as The Whistler at this point, but maybe I would.

Can you explain what makes Dirtybird different from your Mothership label?

Dirtybird is a really American, San Francisco label. And it’s like bass, funk, dirty beats. Mothership is more of a European sound, its all the way from hard techno to deep house, but doesn’t sound anything like Dirtybird, really.

What is your favorite location to play in San Francisco?

Depends what time of night it is. If its 6 am, I like the End Up. If it’s a regular peak time and its going to be really fun, maybe Mezzanine. I like the Starlight - it looks over the city and it’s kind of like a silly location.

Here’s a hypothetical question – if you were ever to meet Beethoven, how would you describe your sound?

I think he’s deaf, I guess I’d use sign language.

Oh, you are right about that. Okay, Mozart or Vivaldi?

I would literally just be like ‘dude, you’re going to hate this.’ Even though I played the cello for 14 years, there are certain people who I know I can’t even start a conversation with – they’d probably have a mental breakdown if they heard [my music]. Can you imagine playing dubstep for them? They’d just meltdown.

Speaking of dubstep, do you plan to dabble in any kind of dubstep production in the near future?

No, but I like some of it.

What’s it like to be in the Von Stroke music-making zone?

If it’s going well, it’s really good. If it’s going bad, you wouldn’t want to be there.

What’s next on the bill for you this year?

A bunch of more shows, some hip hop stuff – just messing around, probably a couple remixes and new tracks.

When was the last time you forgot to go home?

That never happens. I have two kids, they are 2 and 4.

Party Up! Recommended weekend rager Oct. 2, NYC

2010-09-28T08:04:00.000-07:00

DontForgetToGoHome.org recommends....

Get your presale tickets here. More event details to come!

Q&A with Franklin De Costa

2010-09-28T07:46:00.000-07:00

On Oct. 2, Germany’s seasoned DJ, Franklin de Costa will be returning to New York to play for the anticipated Resolute fall season kick-off with Swayzak. As we count down the days to the party, we reached out to de Costa to see what he's up to and why he's looking forward to spinning this weekend. Q&A after the jump! For more news, interviews, music and more follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Franklin De Costa is certainly not a new face to Resolute or to America for that matter - he’s a resident for Listed, San Francisco’s premier booking and productions team and he’s frequented Brooklyn and New York underground ragers multiple times. De Costa has been producing tracks and dropping beats since the early ‘90s, and since then has released a slew of haunting, deep minimalism and funky dark tech on respectable labels (Trapez, Curle, Noir, to name a few). He’s kept a modest profile, preferring to remain comfortably humble and letting his talent behind the decks speak for itself. As we countdown to this anticipated event, we caught up with de Costa prior to his arrival, and chatted about upcoming projects, summer highlights and which Swayzak tracks top his chart.

What have been some of the highlights from 2010, so far?

There have been a lot this year. I had a long tour in South America,

a fantastic summer in Berlin and seen many new places around the globe.

It’s hard to point one out.

What is unique about playing in New York compared to the other places

You’ve played in?

I like the enthusiasm of the underground parties. The vibe is fresh. New York is an amazing city and its sad to see the normal clubs having all these harsh laws & restrictions.

How did you get involved with Listed?

Through my friends at Auralism Records in San Francisco. Great Agency.

How have you evolved as a DJ and producer since you first started out

in this industry?

I started in ’96, after I finished school. Since then the techno “biz” has changed a lot. I would say it became the same like the pop biz. Of Course all the industry structures had to change through the dawn of the digital age. So it was a constant learning process – you have to learn to be your own manager and not just learn producing skills and being a solid and reliable DJ.

What record or track makes you dance like crazy, wave your hands in the air, every time you hear it or play it?

It all depends on the mood I’m in. I can’t really be specific. I come from the dancefloor so sometimes a DJ set, live set or my own beats make me do strange things with my body...

If you could choose 3 words to describe your music, what would they be?

Bass, funk & space.

Have you ever played the same gig as Swayzak before?

Nope. As an old fan from the nineties I´m really looking forward to hearing them play.

Do you have a favorite Swayzak track or album? If so, please list...

Ping Pong and State of Grace are my favorite tracks but there are a lot of other great tracks by Swayzak..

Who is on your radar these days musically? Please list one reason they

have caught your attention...

Oh there always a lot people. Erdbeerschnitzel from Germany with his

house/disco approach. Waterfall from Norway for his slo-mo spacey

deepness. Also Michael J Collins for his minimalistic funky deep house

music. The stuff on Fachwerk for the funky dirty and raw techno stuff...

What projects do you have going on over the next couple months?

A lot new music coming. There will be an EP for the Resolute Label!

I have a lot remixes [coming up] and its time to start working on an

album.

Swayzak in the Mix!

2010-09-26T23:16:00.000-07:00

In anticipation of Swayzak’s return to New York on Oct. 2, check out this banging recording of their LIVE show from 2009.

Swayzak (!K7 Records) Live @ Rocker 33, Stuttgart - 27-06-2009 by R_co

This Saturday, Swayzak - London's acclaimed deep-tech duo - will be returning to New York for an all-night blow out by NY’s underground crew, Resolute. Their return is certainly long overdue. The duo has played a formative role in shaping New York’s vibrant techno-driven scene as regulars at the legendary Ark club and other gigs by the Made Event powerhouse. Swayzak has been slaughtering dance floors since they first joined forces, their unmatchable live sets being their secret weapon. They’ll be dropping one of their improvised musical journeys for us this weekend so expect the unexpected! In anticipation of their upcoming show, we recommend listening to this banging Swayzak set of deep, dubby, hypnotic technosoul. This is only a taste – or should we say a “tease” – of what’s to come. Go here for more event info.

Lost in Sound 09: M A N I K's Shades of Boogie

2010-09-20T00:01:00.001-07:00

For this month’s Lost in Sound episode we bring you an exclusive mix by M A N I K, an emerging producer buzzing on the horizon of New York’s up and coming talent...

Lost and Sound 09: M A N I K's Shades of Boogie

The name "M A N I K" might spark a hint of familiarity. But if you haven’t heard him before, its probably because he’s been hiding for a few years in the confines of his “I’m Nice Like That Studios.’ “I [was] basically trying to avoid all scenarios of being seen until I felt it was the right time,” he said of his time glued to his fort of drum machines and synthesizers. Timing is everything and 2010 is his year. He’s already soaring ahead with debut releases coming out on Culprit, Ovum and Poker Flat – an impressive family of imprints for someone who is just getting started. We caught up with this promising talent at the cusp of his career catapulting to new heights and discovered a relentlessly driven man behind the mix...

What’s it like to get into the M A N I K music-making “zone”?

Inspiration hits at any time you know you can't force it or predict it…Sometimes when I get into the zone I can just keep going. But for me, getting into that music making zone I guess is sort of like eating an amazing slice of New York City pizza and drinking a cold beer next to it – just very satisfying. My approach to producing is that I try to make tracks with shelf life, material you can play in 5 years or 15 years.

Your career is really taking off – what are you aspiring for right now? Where were you career-wise a year ago?

Well bottom line is you crawl before you walk. A year ago? I was plotting my first 2010 releases and basically planning my next move. I try to stay on top of my stuff as I am always planning. I study this industry like a class, and for me, it’s the only way to be. I pay attention to everything. What people say, do, the music coming out, where we came from, and where we are going as an industry. When a hot record drops, I always think to myself ''wow, that’s dope. Really well done..." but I automatically want to run to my Studio to out do it. I take it as challenge. I give credit where credit is due, but I always say to myself, 'how can I take it to the next level?' Right now I am aspiring to be the best that I can possibly be, because I want to be one of the best.

What three records would you take with you if you were kidnapped and taken to a stranded island?

That’s a tough call but I would probably bring three different styles of music to help me through the moods I will be going through on this island. I would pick Adonis 'No Way Back' to remind me of my love affair with the 303 and 808. I would also bring Notorious BIG 'Juicy' to remind me of what its like to make something from nothing...and lastly a Mix CD of all of Hans Zimmer's compositions. He is a true musical genius.

If your music could be a color(s), what would it be and why?

I'm colorblind (which is true), and it fits the answer to your question perfectly. I see no colors and I keep an open mind.

Who or what inspires you? (This doesn’t necessarily have to be music related).

My parents. They came to this country with two suit cases in 1982 after leaving former Communist Hungary, and tried their hardest to make something for themselves in the "land of opportunity" we call the U.S.A. And you know what? I'm glad they came here to the US, because I grew up in a society where we learn early on. Immigrants from all over the world want to come here to this country. Why? Because anyone can come here and make something of themselves, so when I realized that, I said I want that to be something as well. I don't want to live in a fantasy. I want to live my dream.

What is considered “good” music and how would you describe “underground” music to someone who’s not immersed in the scene we’re in?

Good music is good music. House, Acid, Dub, Pop, Funk, 90s, 80s whatever really. It comes down to the individual. I would describe the underground scene as some of the best music you probably never even heard of. Shame because I think our music should be exploited more but a lot of people shun upon making money and making good things happen to those around you, all in the name of "underground." But I also learned a while ago that most of the people that are hating on those that are "too hyped” are the ones that got lost in the shuffle a decade ago.…I saw a great interview recently with Mike Dunn speaking about hating and how it hurts the scene and I could have not said it any better than him: "Stop all the fuckin hatin....if this person gonna produce on a record he was gonna produce it anyway...."

What’s the best piece of advice someone ever gave you?

Observe and study...Ask yourself, how bad you want it? Remind yourself, you may lose a lot before you make it. And also ask yourself, can you live broke for a while when others floss? Eventually you will too, but use that as motivation.

The Daily Bump: Got deep? Scott Grooves drops it like its hot for RA. 225

2010-09-19T17:24:00.001-07:00

Scott Grooves is definitely high up on our list of top Detroit deep house DJs. Not only does Grooves have an excellent and underrated discography, he also is incredibly creative when it comes to his DJ sets. Here is his two-part exclusive mix for Resident Advisor, which is actually a double-sided mix tape of his from '93! Grooves digs deep through his library of sultry old school cuts and shows off his sophisticated taste. Smooth...

The Daily Bump: Get down to them Sleazy Beats...

2010-09-17T08:14:00.000-07:00

Excellent new podcast for the Melbourne Deepcast blog by the guys behind Amsterdam's Sleazy Beats Recordings. (Click here for podcast page). We've had our eye on this fantastic new label, which has emerged in the last year with releases by nu-disco kings Eddie C and Tornado Wallace, just to name a few of the top dogs on the imprint...

This mix is a delicious concoction of slo-chugging, disco funk and cosmic boogie. If The Temptations were to team up with Moodymann to make the soundtrack for Saturday Night Fever, Travolta would be busting out his moves to this tasty disco jam...

The Daily Bump: District 36 launch night postponed

2010-09-15T04:43:00.000-07:00

News flash! The September 17th opening night of District 36 - the new mega club on Manhattan's clubbing horizon - has been postponed. The Drumcode Showcase scheduled to launch the night, featuring label stars Adam Beyer and Ida Engberg has been moved to a a "secret location" spot in Brooklyn. Check for details here.

The new date for the club's opening night is undisclosed but according to sources the spot will be open by the end of September. We can't wait! Stay tuned and sign up for updates by hitting up the club's new website.

Electric Zoo Unleashes Techno’s Wild Spirit: Festival review and exclusive photos

2010-09-13T19:51:00.000-07:00

Techno is an electrifying beast. Have you ever seen it come alive, in all its convulsing florescent glory? On Labor Day weekend we witnessed this savage creature come to life at the Electric Zoo, New York’s two-day electronic music festival on Randall’s Island. The event was indeed a site to see: amplified pulses fueled the steely veins of this hi-fi creature with a force that made its body spit shimmering, metallic glitter and spew jarring laser beams of oranges, reds and greens. And when the right nerves were pushed, it galloped forth in thundering speed and roared a jackhammer-like shrill...

Photo credit: Bennett Sell-Kline for ElectricZooFestival.com

After the first day of the festival, we announced that “Hurricane Techno” had hit Randall’s Island. And that is no exaggeration. The experience did feel like a storm - one powered by millions of dollars worth of state-of-the-art production, from the sound to stagecraft and the overall visual conduction.

Photo credit: Bennett Sell-Kline for ElectricZooFestival.com

Waves of people – roughly 25,000 each day from around the globe – flocked the island and swarmed the four stages. From a distance, you could see a mile of hands in the air, all raised and undulating to the pounding, slapping beats that reverberated throughout the premises.

Photo credit: Bennett Sell-Kline for ElectricZooFestival.com

And the music? According to the New York Times, “the dominant beat was the sound of house music,” but this description just makes our house-loving hearts whimper. There was no house music at the Zoo. The musical breeds that dominated were a hodgepodge mix of banging techno, dizzying progressive trance, party-jamming electronica and ground-shaking dubstep. By the end of the night our ears were soar and our brains throbbed with serious techno cloggage.

We’re not going to turn our noses up to the line up entirely – The Chemical Brothers were outstanding and Major Lazer rocked out an impressive performance. And according to our survey of festival attendees, the diversity of acts topped last year’s performances.

Chemical Brothers. Photo credit: Scott Kowalchyk for ElectricZooFestival.com

More Chemical Brothers. Photo credit: Scott Kowalchyk for ElectricZooFestival.com

Musical tastes aside, we left the festival feeling very impressed. In a sense, this event was a testament to the strength of the global dance music community and just how incredibly advanced the world of future music is. The masterminds behind it all, Made Event certainly receives our stamp of approval for production and running a professional show. See it to believe it!

Photo credit: Bennett Sell-Kline for ElectricZooFestival.com

Photo credit: Scott Kowalchyk for ElectricZooFestival.com

Photo credit: Bennett Sell-Kline for ElectricZooFestival.com

Photo credit: Scott Kowalchyk for ElectricZooFestival.com

Photo credit: Bennett Sell-Kline for ElectricZooFestival.com

Statra's Back! New compilation by Nick Chacona to celebrate the return, FREE DOWNLOAD

2010-09-10T07:28:00.000-07:00

The New York-based indie label is back with a bang, and nothing marks a greater comeback than the release of The Statra Sound: Unreleased, Re-issues and B-Sides. FREE DOWNLOAD of this superb compilation available on halcyondigi.com. Go here to get yours!

It’s official: Statra Recordings is back! The New York-based indie label never really left. Founded in 2000 by Dave Tomaselli, Statra passed with flying colors through a five-year golden age then went on a brief hiatus. But now the label is back with a bang and nothing marks a greater comeback than The Statra Sound: Unreleased, Re-issues and B-Sides, a comprehensive sampler of the amazing quality and diversity in this talented family, compiled by the label's GM, Dan Mullins and all skillfully mixed by the one and only Nick Chacona – one of the label’s earliest artists. Chacona sails energetically through a colorful cocktail of infectious tracks, from the bongo driven house groover, “Mambo” to sultry jazz in the dreamy You Give Me Love and echoing reggae dub in the grinding Dubteeth number. This eclecticism comes from a cast sprinkled across the globe and generations, from old school cats like JT Donaldson, Mateo and Matos to hotly tipped talent such Alexi Delano and Wata Igarashi, Statra’s newest member from Japan.

The Statra Sound is not simply a compilation, this is a sizzling Statra fiesta – a celebration of stellar tracks that have been cooped up in their vaults for years and newer numbers fresh off the press. And there’s a lot, lot more where they came from. Get your party hat on, Statra isn’t going anywhere.

Insanity at it's Loudest: Electric Zoo Day 2

2010-09-06T11:38:00.001-07:00

Electric Zoo Day 2: Off to the right start.

According to underground sources, Hurricane Techno ravaged the grounds of Randall’s Island, NYC for another round yesterday, Sunday, September 5^th. The sight looked like an electrocuted jungle – creatures of the Weekend Warrior tribe stampeded towards the thrashing lights and jack-hammering noises at the four musical oasis’s surrounding their territory. Dancing, skipping and jumping ensued. See below for exclusive photos taken by our secret agent from Home Headquarters. Stay tuned for comprehensive coverage of this awesome event…

Picking a track.

Bass in your face!

John digging among the weeds

The roof is on fire!

Purple Haze.

Who is Chris Lake? Sweet lights.

MARTYN announced as the Mystery guest for tonight's afterparty, TOIGHT!

2010-09-05T12:41:00.000-07:00

NEWS FLASH: Festival artist, MARTYN will be headlining tonight at LOVE for TOIGHT! - Your unofficial Electric Zoo afterparty with Tanner Ross and Sergio Santos from Dirtybird/Mothership, FaltyDL, Alex Incyde and your kinky crew from Sexytime Explosion!

Come for a funky good time, and an eclectic line up to fill your ears with delicious musical goodness. FULL DETAILS HERE.

When was the last time you forgot?

Breaking News from Home Headquarters: Hurricane Techno hits NYC

2010-09-04T21:27:00.000-07:00

This just in: at 11 am today Randall’s Island, was invaded by neon hippies and consumed by Hurricane Techno, apparently forecasted by Made Event under the moniker “Electric Zoo.” Throbbing bass, thundering booms and punching bleeps invaded the maze of people that swarmed the island. Four tents of massive productions – lasers, swirling visuals, pounding lights, exceptional sound and of course, the music wasn’t too bad…Steve Bug mind-fucked us, Major Lazer ripped through our skin and Chemical Brothers blew our brains off and rocked the most face-melting visuals. Plastikman – you got nothin’ on this show. Out of Control. Crowds were frenzied. Confused by the awesomeness of the situation people started warning the others - “beware! They just fucked us in the ears!!” According to underground sources, the musical forecast for Sunday looks like Hurricane Techno has another whirlwind heading our way.

Exclusive Interview with Alex Incyde

2010-08-31T06:48:00.000-07:00

In anticipation of TOIGHT! this Sunday, we got the scoop on Dubwar resident, Alex Incyde about UK dubstep in years past, writing for Big Up Magazine and why he is going to rock LOVE’s soundsystem this Sunday. FREE MP3 DOWNLOAD of “I Know” by Incyde included below!

Alex Incyde speaks softly and exudes a zen-like aura. He’s modestly spoken and when he talks, he chooses his words carefully. This is quite the opposite persona you’d expect from someone who spins a face-twisting selection of rough, in-your-face bass-heavy dubstep, a musical genre that is known for its raw, sometimes aggressive character. But then again, Incyde is at the forefront of NY’s bass terrain particularly because he takes this formula to another level. Incyde infuses dubstep’s brittle veins with warm soul, emotive melodies, rich instrumentals and obscure details – a sound that is a pure extension of his cool vibe and meticulous style of expression. As a resident of the legendary Dub War NYC parties, Incyde has been a staple of the East Coast dubstep scene for several years and, like his compatriot Dave Q, is one of the driving forces behind the scene’s current success in the city. On top of playing at numerous events, he’s also got his hands full with producing, running a radio show on Sub.FM and is the label manager of Scuba’s Hotflush Recordings, one of the leading labels at the forefront of contemporary dubstep. In anticipation of TOIGHT! We got the inside scoop on this talented artist about UK dubstep in years past, writing for Big Up Magazine and why he is going to rock LOVE’s soundsystem this Sunday.

Let’s start with some background – when you discovered the dubstep scene while on a study abroad program in the UK, what intrigued you about the music?

Dubstep was just a completely new sound to me, and it was really refreshing to hear a lot of different musical influences going into one thing, there was a lot more space, lots of bass, and hints of reggae, garage, and techno. What really struck me about it at first was that it was heavy and intense and it also had this chill, relaxing vibe to it at the same time.

I understand you discovered dubstep while on a study abroad program in the UK. What about the dubstep culture there was different and more intriguing than other dance music scenes you’ve experienced?

The culture was very interesting, especially when I first got involved there was a really strong community vibe going on – not only in London but also through the internet. Almost anyone who was doing it in any major city was part of this worldwide family that was keeping in touch so it was really nice to feel connected to everyone. You could really feel that when you went out too because everyone knew each other. The other thing is that dubplate culture was pretty prominent back then too. Everyone was mostly playing vinyl and dubplates. Almost every DJ had their own unique set of different types of dubstep and the branches they were connected with.

In light of producing - what are you specifically working on these days, sonically speaking?

Well, my roots are in techno. That was really my first love. So I suppose what I’m doing now is inevitably some sort of concoction that combines the methodical aspect of techno as well as the heavy bass of dubstep, weird sounds, and syncopated rhythms, rather than the standard 4/4 drum pattern…trying to make interesting percussion work with the dancefloor aspect - making danceable techno dubstep I guess.

I want to ask you about your experience as label manager of Hotflush. Has Scuba been an influence to your musical career?

Well we sort of just get down to business when we work together… [but] I’ve inevitably been influenced by his sound, as he's one of my most respected producers. I suppose mainly that’s inspired me is his value for quality control and really keen ear for what sounds good and what’s original. He’s always been able to curate a very interesting and unique aesthetic, whether it’s through the label, his DJ sets, or the Sub:Stance night he co-runs in Berlin.

You also have a very sharp ear for details in music and songs. What makes music good by your standards?

One of the most important things for me is production value…That really makes a huge difference in how well something will go down. Aside from that I really enjoy sounds that are completely new and sort of weird and trippy, and sounds that are layered underneath the surface…Some sounds are not always right in your face but when you listen closely then it sort of reveals a new level that you hadn’t previously noticed. It gives more life and longevity to the composition, I think.

On top of DJing, managing a label and producing, you also write for Big Up magazine. You’re a great writer! Have you also written about music?

I didn’t really start writing publicly until I got involved with music myself. A lot of reviews really annoyed me because they weren’t really talking about how the music actually sounded, and most importantly how it made you feel, which I found unimaginative. Either that or they were quite snobby and spoke about things aside from the actual work that was being reviewed, or they were just a completely biased praise. When I first started writing about music I wanted it to invoke imagery, I'd just listen to something and write whatever goes through my head. I feel like when you read a review that way it really encourages you to actually listen to it.

I read some of your more introspective, personal posts on your blog. There are a lot of musings there on the metaphysical universe and connectivity. Would you call yourself a spiritual person and does that influence your music at all?

I wouldn't call myself a spiritual person, because I'm not sure what that actually means. I don't believe there is a "god" separate from us, I believe that we are all unique manifestations of It… Regardless, I love studying the universe, exploring its infinite beauty, and looking at celestial objects... nebulae are especially gorgeous. I could think about that stuff all day pretty much! I’m also very influenced by Eastern philosophies; Zen, Buddhism and Taoism. Musically, I just search for sounds and melodies that please my ears, and I hope my state of mind is transferred into that, and maybe people will connect with it. Lately I've been treating good music like brain food, so I guess I'm trying to create some appetizing new concoctions.

What should we expect to hear from you at TOIGHT? Do you plan on spinning a different kind of set than your other gigs, because of the musically mixed line up?

I usually play it by ear up to the minute. I try to make sure the music I play fits within the setting and contributes to the flow of the whole night. At Dub War I usually play the opening set, so in that setting I start deep and build the energy up…But at TOIGHT I’ll definitely be going for a lot more energy, trying to draw some lines in bass music as a whole, between dubstep, techno, and most importantly, the weird stuff that we don't know what to call yet.

The Daily Bump: Albuquerque Afternoons...

2010-08-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

Here's a little something for your Sunday afternoon....

One of the great things about working at a record store is meeting the people that pass through. There have been so many music enthusiasts and talented people that have come in and shared their passions, stories and music. Here is a lovely mix from a former customer - Lee Truitt - who dropped by Halcyon's cozy nook this summer on a vacation from New Mexico. This mix is a refreshing break from the amass of 4/4 beat-driven sets up on our site - Truitt jogs lightly through downtempo soundscapes with a tasteful selection of lounge and mellow trip hop, while eventually working way up to a more progressive selection of beach-perfect beats. A lovely taste of how they go down in Albuquerque...who's got our plane ticket?

The Daily Bump: Enter DISTRICT 36

2010-08-27T09:31:00.000-07:00

It's official - District 36, the new promise land for underground dance music enthusiasts opens this fall in the heart of Manhattan with a Drumcode Showcase featuring Adam Beyer and Ida Engberg launching the opening party on Sept. 17. With a solid team of professionals and experts from all corners of New York's multi-faceted nightlife, we hope that these joint forces will live up to the powerhouse we anticipate, hopefully staving off guido infestations and the polished pomp crowds currently tainting the city's club scene (although Victore Calderone will hold a residency there).

Underground warrior, Taimur Agha of BlkMarket Membership will be spearheading the musical curation of the club. Following the Drumcode night, a Leftroom Showcase will follow the next month - positive signs already pointing to an exciting club alternative to grace the city's nightlife landscape. And it's about time. As of late scoring a venue has been a scramble and a trigger point for competition among various promoters, dividing rather than uniting our close-knit underground.

District 36 boasts three levels with sound powered by the engineering genius of Gary Stewart Audio, allegedely one of the most renowned sound system companies around the world for venues and entertainment. Bring it on!

Before the fall of Shelter, the city used to be a once upon-a-time nightlife fairytale, thanks to legendary clubs such as Twilo, Ark and Limelight. Hopefully District 36's said values of "originiality and vitality" will re-ignite the spark that made New York clubbing experience priceless.

Feed the Animals: Festival Artist Martyn Gets Q&A'd

2010-08-25T07:35:00.000-07:00

I like playing across the board. I play good stuff from every “scene” or “genre” just because to me it’s all just good music...I’m just chameleon-ing my way through it all – I love it!

Dutch man Martyn has been rising up the ranks of late, heralded as a dubstep pioneer for his work in merging the UK sound with German techno - a style that breaches beyond dubstep's classic roots and into the vast world of future sound. Martyn is not a new face to the US - he has played throughout the country and in New York several times, but the Electric Zoo will surely be his largest event here - and it's safe to say, the most anticipated. In this new interview, Martyn talks to Brooklyn's record shop, Halcyon about the challenges of touring, his latest projects and what he considers "fresh music." We'll be looking forward to hearing this man about town drop some heavy bass at the Zoo!

Feed the Animals: Our Electric Zoo Countdown Begins!

2010-08-24T19:01:00.000-07:00

In anticipation of the Electric Zoo fest this Labor Day weekend, we'll be dedicating the next couple of days to festival artists, news, updates and afterparty info! To kick things off, enjoy this awesome mix of deep dubby house and disco delights by our man Dixon, live at Watergate! We can't wait to hear this guy spin on our turf...

Dixon Live @ Watergate, Berlin - 01-03-2003 by R_co

The Daily Bump: Statra Radio Launches! With Guest Mix by Geche

2010-08-23T18:01:00.000-07:00

Star-001 Hosted By Gm Dan W/ Guestmix By Geche by Statra Recordings on Mixcloud

In New York, there are only a handful of imprints that capture the pure, raw vibe of the city's underground sound. Statra Recordings is one of those few labels that represents exactly that, and has been since 2000. Finally, after all these years they've launched their own radio show, which debuted today! Tune in to this great episode hosted by Statra's GM, Dan Mullins featuring a super special guest mix by Geche, one of the label's earliest members.

Today these guys bring you two hours of quality music packed with a refreshing selection of tunes from rare bootlegs and disco re-edits to dubby house, dubstep, downtempo and experimental electronica. Super hot stuff! Stay tuned for The Statra Sound compilation mixed by Nick Chacona out Sept. 7 featuring unreleased cuts, re-issues and B-sides! More details coming soon....

TOIGHT!! Dontforgettoghome.org sponsors Electric Zoo Afterparty!

2010-08-22T18:28:00.000-07:00

The Electric Zoo is fast approaching. Are you ready? We sure are. And we're even in on this fun afterparty with NY's Please + Thank You crew to continue the weekend rage. Join us for a night of serious deepness and eclectic music brought to you by FaltyDL, Tanner Ross, Sergio Santos and a mystery guest to be announced day of...Stay tuned for party updates here and on Twitter!

The Daily Bump: Dub House in your face!

2010-08-14T06:56:00.000-07:00

Rob Paine, Worship Records

Reggae, meet house music; house music, meet reggae. Infusing dubwise grooves with the four-to-the-floor beats of dance music is certainly not a new feat among DJs and producers - now we have dub disco, dub techno, dub this, dub that, dubstep....but the "dub house" thread of the movement is lesser known. Why is that? Because all the good stuff seems to fall below the radar. However, we've hit a jackpot of true dub house by way of Worship Records, a fantastic Philly-based imprint that has been around since 1998 and we just discovered them! Check out this awesome mix by label boss, Rob Paine. Here is where reggae and house meet half way - rather than simply fuse the genres Paine cleverly choreographs the two into a delicious aural dance that drips with bass heavy beats and the echoey vibe of dub. Feel the riddim!

Soundwave2010 Renegade Beach Set by Rob Paine

The Daily Bump: Tune in to the Truth

2010-08-12T15:12:00.000-07:00

Great radio interview and mix by one of our New York favorites, Reade Truth, a very serious and talented DJ who has been on our radar for quite sometime. As part of the Sonic Groove brethren alongside Adam X and Brennan Greene, Truth has been integral to the character of the city's techno scene to date. What really strikes us about this man is his contagious energy and passion for what he does and his extremely rich musical knowledge, particularly when it comes to house and techno. This guy will school you. His musical career has reached yet another peak over the past year, with the launch of his excellent imprint, White Label and fantastic releases on Planet E and Wurst Records.

A hardcore vinyl purist, this guy “lives and dies by vinyl” (we’d kill to check out his collection). Amen to that! Because of his vast musical library his sets are always surprising and cleverly constructed to take you on a captivating musical journey. He's a smart, creative DJ with an incredible ear. Tune in!

He’ll be cruising on tour in the US this month, so be on the look out for this hot talent coming to your city!

The Daily Bump: One on One with Levon Vincent

2010-08-11T15:58:00.000-07:00

Levon Vincent

Photo by Jordan Poling

“I wanted to understand what was happening to me, why I was deeply affected by certain pieces of music, and why music gave me such exquisite experiences”

Excellent interview with New York's Levon Vincent, arguably one of the most promising producers and DJs in today's contemporary house music scene. His releases on Underground Quality, Deconstruct and his own label, Novel Sound point to signs of a very sophisticated, advanced and talented musician with a deep understanding of music as an art and a science. This interview will certainly give you an insight into his driven, humble and inspiring character. Worth a read!