Archive | October, 2010

I Love Mondays: Hangover Remedy

31 Oct

Ah, the Monday after Halloween. Though I myself did not go crazy this weekend (just a few mellow parties here and there), I am sure some of you are going to be feeling the burn this Monday, and I mean burn by way of all the acid reflex post-candy overdosing fun, upset stomach from all the alcohol, and a headache or two. Yes, all that sugar plus alcohol means nothin’ but hangover, so I am sure you all will need a whole lot of coffee at the start of this week, and not just because you’ll be exhausted. That said, I don’t want to frighten you all back into the work-week with something that would compel sensory overload. This Monday, you’re going to have to ease back into the groove, and what better way to do that than with a funky mix by Vancouver-based DJ Neoteric?

For some reason, Canada seems to be producing some of the best DJs in the game. Maybe it’s the water? Socialized healthcare? Who knows. Whatever it is, it works, and I hope they keep on putting out more where these came from. Neoteric’s been around for some while, producing and mixing his way around the blog and club scene, and frequently introducing his listeners to some of the most fun and interesting tracks/sets I’ve ever heard. His sound is diverse, yet consistent in that you have no doubt before pressing play that it’s gong to be good.

This mix he did for Los Angeles’ world-famous dance party The Do Over is no different. It’s a rich set filled with a little bit of house (Detroit and Chicago had their hands deep in this one), some 90s hip hop, and a lot of funk. Check it out, and by that, I mean play AND download. You will be very sad if you don’t.

Neoteric – Live Set from The Do Over (9-8-2010)

(click to play; click the small arrow on the right to download)

- Retail DJ

Halloween!

29 Oct

yawwwn

It’s Halloween time here in the States, and that means that an unfortunate set of women will shamelessly attempt to look “sexy” while wearing ill-fitting costumes made of nylon and rayon-blended fabrics assembled in something known as a “costume.” With every year, women’s costumes are reduced more and more to strips of stretch lace and garter belts as opposed to actual costumes, and while everyone loves a sexy woman, the unfortunate result of these types of costumes is the dumbing down of the female form and, quite frankly, an insult to our intelligence. Aren’t consumers able to engage with women in ways that go beyond stares as they show all the goods? Isn’t it possible for women, on the other hand, to come up with something a little more creative but simultaneously sexy? I would hope yes.

I wanted to use Retail DJ as a platform to call for the return of cute costumes that still allow women to feel good about their appearance without a) breaking the bank and b) risking a fight with pneumonia from wearing little to nothing during this weekend’s freezing cold Halloween festivities. Let’s start, shall we?

1. Pinup

This is actually my costume this year and it’s surprisingly easy to put together. You just need a few simple items: a fitted dress or romper, a scarf, flower, or ribbon for your hair, pearl earrings (or gold hoops), red lipstick, and cute shoes. Your scarf choice and style will depend on the era you choose, but any way you tie it, it will look great when coupled with the rest of the outfit. If you want to make the outfit a little more blatantly sexy, you can always wear a nightie with ballet slippers. Generally, the makeup is very matte, with heavy eyeliner, red lips, and peachy/pink cheeks. Depending on how edgy or how fancy you take it, this could also work as a showgirl/burlesque dancer costume or a Suicide Girls-esque modern take on the pinup.

2. Librarian

Despite the less-than-sexy stereotypes, librarians often know their way around a wardrobe. And even better for the Halloween reveler looking for a costume in a time crunch of a financial bind, librarian costumes are easy and fun. They also happen to be weather appropriate :-) All you need is a button-up sweater, glasses, a skirt, blouse, stockings, oxford shoes or low heels, and a bookbag (to be filled with candy in this case). Vintage shops are great places to hit up for this costume because you can walk away with finds that you can actually wear again. It’s an easily recognizable costume, and one you can make a little more sexy in cute and subtle ways (i.e. imagine “librarian with her skirt stuck in her pantyhose after a trip to the bathroom” or ” a librarian whose buttons start a little low. You can be cheeky without actually showing any cheek. This costume also works for the teacher look.

3. RiotGrrl

Nothing is sexier than raw musical talent and stickin’ it to the man, and who better to symbolize this than riotgrrls? The costume is simply a revival of a 90s grunge meets punk look plus an instrument, preferably a guitar. If you have a white t-shirt, a skirt, Doc Martens, and some knee-highs, you’re pretty much set. Just be sure to put your hair in a ponytail or two. This costume also doubles as raver, punk, or school girl depending on the fabric patterns and your makeup choices.

- Retail DJ

Winter Casting Call

26 Oct

Dear DJs and Designers,

I want a piece of you . . . or at least a few photos and some ear candy. If you or someone you know would like to be featured on Retail DJ, please send an email with a little information about yourself, your work, and a sample or two of what you do (i.e. a soundcloud page link, etsy page, etc) to: retaildj@gmail.com.

I’m doing my own search as well, of course, but I’m all about self-nominations too! So don’t be shy! Send me your stuff and brag away.

- Retail DJ

I Love Mondays: Clusterf*ck

24 Oct

Halloween is right around the corner, and despite my having already chosen what to be (a year ago, actually) and which parties to go to, my friends are a bit all over the place, completely unsure of what they will dress up as and where they will spend their costumed nights. This Monday is the start of what will surely be a crazy week in NYC for many people beyond my friends. With this thought at the forefront before all the others, I felt that the mix for Monday should be something equally as chaotic, yet at the same time just as fun!

For this I <3 Mondays mix, I’ve decided on a mix by Sammy Bananas that is quite the clusterf*ck, though I mean that in the nicest possible way. It’s a mix of almost every single genre known to man, and has so much energy that it can bring the spirit out of the most mortal of Mondays. I hope it helps you start yours on a much happier note!

(click to play)

tracklist after the jump

(more…)

Get Dressed To This: Babydoll

23 Oct

The decades of the 20th century always find their way back to our closets. They sneak in via shoulder pads, wacky neon prints, lipstick colors, and heel heights, but a few of them have nothing to hide and brazenly broadcast their presence with the help of simplicity. Certain styles are basic enough to stick around with the help of seasonal or trend-based updates (like a sleeve alteration or a new pattern). One of them is the babydoll dress.

Though we’ve seen it in several different incarnations, the basics are simple: falls mid-thigh, has short sleeves, is tighter around the bust and/or has an empire waist, and has delicate, “feminine” details. Though this dress style was all the rage in the 1960s and 1990s, it has come back full-force in the 2nd decade of the 2000s. Fortunately, we don’t always interpret things as literally anymore, so the exaggerated cut and styling for this type of dress has ceased, and subtlety reigns supreme.

For this Get Dressed to This, I wanted to focus on the lighter side of fall fashion with an homage to the dress that never dies: the babydoll. The music is by the Round Table Knights, and as per usual, it’s a luscious, deep house mix that starts off slow and increases in intensity with each minute it plays. With tracks by Homework, Jesse Rose, Justin Martin, and more! Enjoy:

The Music

Round Table Knights – Autumn Mix 2010

(click to play; right click + save target as to download)

tracklist (below) after the jump

The Outfit

1. Beans on Toast, Irregular Choice, $150 USD

2. Chocolate Brown and Tan Mini Dress with Lace Bust and Bow, patriciavalery store on Etsy, $49 USD


3. Transparenze Dora Wool Rib Over Knee Socks, MyTights.com, $14 USD


4. Cassonade Coat, Anthropologie, $198 USD

click below for the tracklist!

(more…)

CMJ Weekend

22 Oct

More Parties, more broken feet. Get yours now:

Friday, October 22nd Bust Magazine CMJ Showcase @ Southpaw, BIG FREDDIA! (New Orleans Sissy Bounce):

get tickets here

 

Friday, October 22, Windish Agency CMJ Showcase @ Webster Hall:

 

Friday, October 22nd: Palms Out CMJ Showcase @ Pacha:

Palmsout

 

Saturday, October 23rd, EZRAKH and more at 8 Bond Studio:

ONYXMIXTAPE.jpg


 

Saturday, October 23, AM Only + Famous Friends CMJ Showcase @ LPR:

- Retail DJ

CMJ Parties Galore – Don’t Miss Out!

20 Oct

cmj-2010.jpg

 

There are a ton of good parties for the CMJ music marathon this week, but the first one I want to highlight is that of EZRAKH!!!! He is going to be putting in work this Saturday, October 23rd at the Onyx Electronic Experience at 8 Bond Studio for CMJ!

He’ll be DJing for the night, complete with live performances by Cubic Zirconia, Shyvonne, and more! Check out the site for more details + a mixtape!

Other CMJ faves during the weeknights (weekend lineup coming separately – no need to overwhelm ya):

Wednesday, October 20th, Culture of Me Party @ Backstage

RSVP here for reduced admission

Wednesday, October 20th, Bond Music Group CMJ Showcase @ Le Bain, Standard Hotel:

More info here (no RSVP needed)

 

Thursday, October 21st, France Rocks NYC Social Club Party @ Hiro Ballroom:

RSVP here for free admission

 

Thursday, October 21st, Hype Machine I <3 NY Party @ Backstage Bar:

RSVP here for free admission

 

- Retail DJ

 

 

I Love Mondays: Mau Mau

18 Oct

When I lived in Brazil, I’d often find myself spending weekends in Sao Paulo, where Vegas Club became my second home. Considering the incredibly talented artists that come through that place on a regular basis, I consider myself fortunate to have been able to experience it first-hand on such a regular basis.

This morning, thanks to the folks over at deep beep, a Brazilian electronic music site, I was able to open my first day working on Retail DJ on a full-time basis with an amazing mix from Sao Paulo legend and one of Vegas Club’s resident DJs: Mau Mau.

In collaboration with deep beep and several Brazilian DJs, Nike Airmax has introduced a solid mix and interview series that covers several genres and profiles some of Brazil’s most influential producers and DJs. For Mau Mau’s feature and mix, he has chosen to go his usual route: house, breaks, and percussion-fueled progressive. A former b-boy, Sao Paulo-based Mau Mau includes a little bit of the street in his sound and just enough variety to make your speakers (and your body) shake and bounce.

I feel that it’s going to be a great week, and for the first time in a long time, I can say that the title “I love Mondays” is not uttered with tongue in cheek. I mean it this time. I love Mondays, and I hope this mix helps you love yours a little too:

Mau Mau – Nike Airmax Tapes Vol. 5

(follow the link; click “ouca” to listen / “arquivo” to download)

- Retail DJ

Get Ready With Lil Ray – The Mix

14 Oct

“Tiny Mixmaster,” one of the options on the table for Rachael Spiewak’s DJ name before “Lil Ray” came along, while a bit dorky and verbally cumbersome, is accurate, the mix she created for all of you to use as you get ready for a night out being a perfect example of just why. With a combination of fun party music (including, but, not limited to, dubstep, house, sissy bounce, and hip hop), Get Ready With Lil Ray – The Mix is sure to get the party started anywhere from your iPod to your living room in a matter of seconds. Just be warned before you press play: This WILL make you dance ;-)

Lil Ray put together this mix during the midst of crisis, using Ableton in the middle of the night to make the magic happen. It opens with a Chris Rock meets Lil Jon banger and closes with Dirty South favorite Big Freedia and even a funky remix of Destiny’s Child. This mix, beyond making me wax nostalgic in parts on Southern radio stations, is fun, energetic, and overall a real Party to Go, as MTV once would say. Play and download widely, just watch you feet – they might get away from you before you know it. . .

Retail DJ Presents . . . Get Ready With Lil Ray – The Mix

(click to play; click the small arrow on the right to download)

tracklist:

KW Griff – Chris Rock Joint
Get Em Mamis – Shake It All Night
Kilo Ali – Baby, Baby
Tim Green – Old Sunshine
NSW – Hornz 611 Joint
Zinc – Blunt Edge
Shystie – Pull It (Ill Blu Remix)
Zomby – Float
Rusko – Raver’s Special
Guido – Mad Sax
Big Freedia – Get Back
Adulture & OCD Automatic – Paper Cat (Bit Funk Remix) (Free Magic Bug-A-Funk Bootleg)
Lil’ Chris – Uhh Uhh Uhh

(more…)

Retail DJ Septober Podcast, Part 1: The Model

13 Oct

2 parts, 1 podcast

This podcast has a special place in my heart, particularly because it took me so damn long to make! The process was complicated by the sheer volume of the tracks I had to listen to (I filtered through over 500 tracks I had downloaded), then by my being overwhelmed with a variety of other life distractions. It wasn’t actually procrastination, believe it or not, that delayed this mix. Unlike the process to make some of the other podcasts, this time around I was not fraught with the burden of having to literally dig music up from the grave due to a creativity shortage on the blogs. No. For once, I had an abundance of music to play with and most of it was really good, almost too good in fact, meaning I had to leave out a lot of great tracks to put up only my very favorites.

Because of the delay and the amount of music I had, I decided to combine the two months of September and October to create a two-part ”Septober” podcast, the theme being “The Model and the Mellow.” Today I present part 1 of the two-part podcast: The Model, a podcast that is meant to inspire you to get your catwalk on, be it during the subway transfer or the walk from the front door to the mailbox. This set is motivational, and pushes you to pick yourself up if you’re having a blah day and remember that you too can “werk it.” It’s perfectly-timed considering all the great fall fashion out there as well. You can look and feel good as you commute, buy groceries, or get ready for a night out. It’s all around fun, and filled with house tracks, many of them extended mixes so your walk won’t be cut musically short. I hope you enjoy this podcast as I much as I did putting it together. Enjoy:

Retail DJ Septober Podcast, Part 1 : The Model

(click to play; click the small arrow on the right to download)

tracklist:

:Kinema: – Circles (Secondo Vocal Remix)
Interlude – Retail DJ (Music: Yolanda Be Cool + DCUP – We No Speak Americano (Lil Silva Remix))
Voltage – All Night (Radio Edit)
Brenmar – Back Beating
Meroz – Summertime Shandy
Kamei – Planetary (Moonchild’s “4 Months Late” Remix)
Filippo Vicario – Aroma (Original Mix)
Aloe Blacc – I Need a Dollar (Oliver $ Edit)
Yelle – La Musique (Lorenz Rhode Remix)
Leopold – Miami Disco On (Hana Yori Kichou Na “Nuit Blanche a Miami” Remix)
Sia – Stop Trying (The Hair Kid Live PA Remix)
 



- Retail DJ

Oldies But Goodies: Roots Manuva

13 Oct

Roots Manuva

I love Roots Manuva. I’ve been listening to him since I was a teenager, and have always appreciated his enlightened, alternative, and unique take on music, particularly that which weaves his Jamaican heritage through his South London upbringing in a smooth mix of dancehall and electronica.

Lately, I’ve been craving some Roots Manuva, having recently misplaced one of his CDs (2005′s Awfully Deep, which in my opinion is some of his most solid work to date), and it came to me by surprise in Poirier’s recent mix for the XLR8R podcast (listen here) in a sample from his famous 2001 track “Witness (1 Hope),” which was a pivotal track for putting Rodney Smith on the map. It also helps the video is truly one of the feel-good types :) Enjoy:

- Retail DJ

Get Ready With Lil Ray – The Photoshoot

12 Oct

Casual and fun are the best words to describe both Lil Ray’s music AND her style. With whimsical accessories and playful accent colors despite basics in black, Lil Ray’s wardrobe, be it for playing out or acting out, is one that falls in line with the beats she uses to move a crowd. In some ways, in a world where there is slightly more pressure on female DJs to conform to a certain look and style, Lil Ray is answering back, presenting “cute” and “cool” on her own terms, with cuffed jeans, bright sneakers, and comfy, printed tees.

A few weeks ago, Rachael was kind enough to let us into her Brooklyn home to get an inside look into her closet, her home studio, and her step-by-step process of getting ready for a night out. Now it’s your turn. Take a moment and come with us as we Get Ready With Lil Ray:

 

BEFORE

 

How would you characterize your clothing style?

Ready for the dancefloor.  I like sneakers and t-shirts, and I like glitter make up and shiny things.

How have your clothing choices changed over time?

I’ve been classing it up lately.  Living in NYC makes that a little easier to do…

What are some of the differences in how you dress in Atlanta vs. NYC?

It’s hot out for most of the year in ATL, and I was a bike commuter (no car for me), so I was kinda sweaty all the time (gross, I know).  And on top of that, I worked at a bicycle repair shop and everything I owned had bike grease stains.  My uniform was old jeans, a black shirt, and slip on Vans.  I’d say I still dress kinda ruff n tumble, but I put more effort into looking put together now that I live in a different climate and I take trains everywhere.  I’m kind of excited about my new sneaker collection now that I don’t have to get shoes that fit in bicycle toe clips.  I live a few blocks away from Rime, which is kind of amazing if you have a sneaker fetish.

What are your outfits like when you DJ? Do they differ greatly from what you wear when you go out?

I used to rock party dresses, usually pulled of of the Urban Outfitters clearance rack. That was fun. Lately, though, for both DJing and going out, I like a shirt, dark jeans, and fresh kicks. I wish I could get away with wearing big earrings more, but they trip up my headphones.

Are there any specific items you always wear or never wear when you DJ?

I have to talk myself out of falling back on what’s the most comfortable thing to wear because it’s never the cutest. On the other hand, I’m not into dress codes, and I have a hip injury that keeps me from wearing heels.  I rarely get fancy.

What are you “go to” stores for clothes to wear out?

I’m still looking for the right store(s) for me.  I generally hit up Urban Outfitters and H & M for the basics, but I could use some advice.

Considering your height, is it difficult for you to find clothes? Do you find yourself altering clothing a lot or do you prefer to go to specific stores that sell petite clothing?

Jeans are almost always too long for me, but I recently discovered some ankle grazers at Urban Outfitters that are kind of perfect.  They’re longer on me than they’re meant to be, but all of the dimensions are right.

What is your process of getting ready? Do you listen to music as you get ready for a gig and/or to go out?

I like uptempo dance music when I’m getting ready to leave.  I try to listen to new stuff, which is always changing depending upon what my friends have sent my way or what I’ve stumbled into either on the internet or while out hearing another DJ.  I guess my process is: shower, hair, make up, clothes, pack DJ bag, lint roller (I have a white cat and I wear a lot of black), bounce.

 

AFTER

 

Any favorite brands and/or designers?

I do some bookkeeping and social media work for Fallen Arrows, my friend Tito’s print shop, so I like to wear shirts he’s printed.  It’s fun to support independent artists and designers that way.

- Retail DJ

Nacho Lovers for Pangea

12 Oct

One of my favorite DJ duos Nacho Lovers just put up their newest mix. Right on the heels of their stop in NYC, they have put together this fantastic set as a soundtrack for a clothing line (right up our ally here at Retail DJ). Check out their description:

Handsome Clothing is a Toronto based clothing company who has just released their new Pangea line.

This is a conceptual mix we put together to soundtrack the story of the new line (you can read it looking through the new line’s lookbook or in their online shop).

The mix will also accompany any piece bought from the new collection (both in physical stores and online) on a CD.

It differs greatly from their previous work in that it incorporates far more than their usual disco and house  fare. This is a truly unique set that folds in rock, experimental, house, disco, funk, and afrobeat. It’s good to give a listen to as you’re getting ready, but also if you just want some fun background music as you do, well, anything!

Enjoy:

Nacho Lovers – The Pangea Mix

(click to play; click the small arrow on the right to download)

tracklist (and more on Handsome Clothing) after the jump

(more…)

What’s Good? Lil Ray

11 Oct

DJ Lil Ray

When you first look at Rachael Spiewak, better known on the music scene as DJ Lil Ray, you’d first be likely to see her social work roots. But after catching a mischievous side-glance, you’d know that her mind was somewhere else. Though she started out in fundraising for non-profits and community organizing, Southern born and bred Lil Ray ended up venturing down another path. Armed with music as her weapon of choice, Lil Ray battles the tough and sometimes unwelcoming NYC club and bar scene with an energy and devotion to her craft that is unrivaled. Lil Ray hustles like no other, DJing bars, clubs, and shows on a nightly basis for weeks on end. For Lil Ray, DJing is her art, but also her full-time profession.

In full American Dream style, Lil Ray moved from NYC to Atlanta with her turntables in tow, an Amtrak ticket in her pocket, and a whole lot of hope, and her still being here is a testament to not only her work ethnic, but also her talent. Combining a variety of genres from hip hop (her true love) to house, a set by Lil Ray never fails for disappoint and lights the fire under the feet of even the most immobile New York club crowds. So don’t hesitate. Come with me to discover more about the DJ whose name may be li’l, but whose sound is very big.  Click play to find out What’s Good? with DJ Lil Ray:

What’s Good? Lil Ray (Exclusive Interview) by RetailDJ

(click to play; click the small arrow on the right to download)

- Retail DJ

I Love Mondays: Exquisite

11 Oct

Dj Nibc

Good morning, all. I write you as I take a break at work. Yes, you read that correctly. I am at work. It’s Columbus Day, but my job doesn’t honor it–albeit, 5good reason, but nevertheless still leaving me jealous of all my corporate office peers who have the day off. Unlike them, I had to find some motivation to get out of bed, get dressed, and get on the train bright and early, and who better to give me a little soul lifting than DJ Nibc?

Well known for mixes that never cease to impress and amaze, Gothernburg-born, Berlin-based DJ Nibc serves as the perfect curator for this Monday. For those of us who have to work, we need a little motivation, and for those of you who are off, you may need a little relaxation. Luckily, DJ Nibc’s mix at the Exquisite Show for Ibiza Global Radio packs enough for both. It’s difficult to describe, in that it traverses from Afrobeat to pop, from R&B to house, and from jazz to funk in the span of an hour effortlessly, but it reminds the listener that music, when in the hands of a professional, is truly exquisite.

Happy Monday!

DJ Nibc – Exquisite Show on Ibiza Global Radio 2010.06.23

Dj Nibc at the Exquisite Show on Ibiza Global Radio 2010.06.23 by nibc

(click to play; click the small arrow on the right to download)

- Retail DJ

Funk on a Friday: The Pop of the Underground

8 Oct

Death on the Balcony

I watch top 40 music videos online every now and then to have some connection with what’s going on above ground. What are the kids listening to at sea level these days, and why? What motivates their tastes, in both fashion and music, and what holds their attention for longer than 30 seconds? My connection to the world of pop is limited considering I don’t have a television, nor a radio, but my exposure to it is constant thanks to the internet. After listening or viewing, however, I am not all too convinced that I should stay connected beyond my small brush with it for the sake of avoiding becoming some sort of musical hermit.

What DOES interest me, however, is the pop of the underground. After months, even years, sometimes, a few songs continue to stick around and are frequently played by DJs in their mixes or live sets in order to reach the crowd that still needs to hear something a tiny bit familiar in order to go in deep. What is it about these songs that keep them around for so long? It’s clearly not laziness on the part of the DJ as he or she will add in songs that are less well-known in addition to the “pop of the underground” stuff. It could be simply to keep us on our toes, following the line of thinking that maybe one familiar song (at least to people who actively listen to the music of the underground) will pull us deeper into this woven web of tracks we’ve never heard.

That’s exactly what the guys from Death on the Balcony from Leeds did for the latest Adventures with Soul Clap podcast. While released on 9/22, I just got around to listening to it (oddly, it’s impossible to listen to over 24 hours of music in one day…odd, right?) and fell in love right away. It’s just the right amount of soul, disco, house, new wave, and funk to soothe the ears and get you ready for a night out or help you get through your day in (work, of course). For those of you who follow this blog (or others where this type of music is a regular feature), some of the tracks may be familiar, and others may be brand new. Enjoy them all, and Happy Friday!

A little from Soul Clap on DOTB:

 In many ways D.O.T.B. are also our brothers from other mothers as they hold down pop nights in Leeds and basically play as wide range of music as they need to survive as DJs in a small town (just like we did for so long). Now, it seems like they’re making like The Clap and outgrowing their small town roots by making some serious waves with their original productions for their Magicbag label, some awesome remixes and even a forthcoming release on Airdrop.

Death on the Balcony – Adventures with Soul Clap Episode no. 77

(click to play; right click + save target as to download)

- Retail DJ

Get Dressed to This: Taking a Beating

6 Oct

Getting Punished . . . by my workload

Ahhh time, the inevitable aspect of my life that continues to follow me like a shadow and chase me like a hunter into my days and dreams, haunting me as I work and even moreso when I sleep. In moments when I feel overwhelmed with all that must be done – an article here, a podcast there, an interview here, a photoshoot there – my subconscious takes over and does strange things. Case: I stayed up until 6 am the other day listening to over 400 songs and mixes to piece together the tracklist for the September/October Retail DJ podcast. Point: I had a dream in which I had to strangle rats the size of bears, but then my feelings got the best of me when one began to lick my hand like a puppy and I couldn’t kill it.

Sounds like fun, right?

Welcome to just one night in the life of my stressed-out, over-worked brain. Luckily, music is always here to come to the rescue. This time around, the mix that’ motivated me as I got ready to go out is the latest Resident Advisor Podcast: Detroit Beatdown. Though only released on Monday, I go out on Tuesdays, so last night it really put me in the mood to dance and to continue doing so inside and outside of my house. For the outfit this week, I’ve chosen a dark number to fall right in line with this cold weather, with a little bit of color for contrast. The inspiration piece for this outfit were the boots from AllSaints, which look like they have taken a little beating of their own, though in a neat, aesthetically pleasing way, of course.

So take a moment to play and prepare to destroy the dancefloor after you Get Dressed to This:

The Music

Resident Advisor Podcast no. 227: Detroit Beatdown

(by DJs Norm Talley Delano Smith, and Mike Clark)

(click here to get this podcast)

The Outfit

1. Savitr Boot, AllSaints Spitalfields, $450 USD

2. V-Neck Pleat Waist Knitted Dress, ASOS, $54 USD

3. Blazer, Ohne Titel (for purchase @ YOOX), $480 USD

4. Falling Star Earrings, Anthropologie, $148 USD

5. Deerskin Leather Purse at Mano Bello,cync00′s Esty page, $215 USD

 6. Dara Ettinger Chelsea Ring, Urban Outfitters, $80 USD

 - Retail DJ

Mix on Tap: Crazy Beautiful

2 Oct

While waiting for the bus early last Saturday morning, I spotted a man who looked like he might have been lost, but judging by his outfit, that word had more than one meaning. Clad in jean booty shorts, black sneakers, a tank top, a baseball cap covered in a crown of plastic leaves, and a fuzzy white halo. He also happened to have two braids attached to the cap and donned an American flag purse complete with a crimped hair black Barbie doll and beaded necklaces. He was sweating profusely and gyrating as if dancing to silent music piped through his creative hat, though once he boarded the train, he replaced his perspiration with words used to address himself, which later turned into a song he sang to no one, really, despite making eye contact with all of us. Despite the man’s apparent disorientation with reality, I was impressed and deeply fascinated by him and his ability to be completely oblivious–whether or not it was the result of drugs or pure insanity.

It all made me think a bit about the choices we make to induce altered states of being, either through music or alcohol, both, or of course, other vices (yes, I consider my obsession with music a vice at this point as it literally keeps me from functioning at times), and how the end result can sometimes be ugly, but other times quite beautiful. Whether it means letting go of your inhibitions or finding a new level of a song, these vices and the choices made when under their influence can sometimes be a very good thing. I invite you to come along and make your attempt:

The Drink

Born to Be Wild

ingredients: 1 part vodka, 1 part tequila, 1 part Pisang Ambon, Sprite, ice, teaspoon of lime juice

1. fill a glass 3/4 full of ice cubes

2. mix the alcohol and lime juice in a shaker

3. pour over the ice

4. fill to the top with Sprite

5. enjoy

 

The Music

This mix from early August is a collaborative project between Smalltown DJs and Wax Romeo called “Smalltown Romeo.” It’s the perfect mix for this post because it is quite crazy, yet quite beautiful. In it, the DJs seem to combined almost every single one of my favorite songs into one set, yet inviting each track to come in at the most unlikely time.

Smalltown Romeo – Shambhala 2010 Mix

(click to play; right click + save as to download)

tracklist after the jump

(more…)

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