Archive | i <3 mondays RSS feed for this section

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

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

I Love Mondays: Hardhouse

20 Sep

Hardhouse Banton

I had a phenomenal weekend thanks to the one and only Runaway (whose Let’s Play House party on Friday changed my life), a lot of relaxation, and the Brazilian restaurant Beco, where Kristal and I jumped headfirst into the planning stages of the 1-yr anniversary party for Retail DJ. It’s going to be a very busy week, and I need some good music to usher me through it.

Though I have the day off to do some fashion-related coverage, I still need something to motivate me through the day (and in this case,  help me as I get ready as well). Fortunately, Hardhouse Banton, with his Fabriclive Promo Mix came to the rescue.

I just found this mix on soundcloud.com, having been released a mere 4 hours ago. This is a super new mix, with a fresh sound to match. Hardhouse Banton switches seamlessly from dancehall, garage, tech house, UK funky, and back,  making it the perfect mix for everyone’s roughest day. Enjoy this, and happy Monday!

Hardhouse Banton – Fabriclive Promo Mix

Hardhouse Banton FABRICLIVE Promo Mix by fabric

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

tracklist after the jump

(more…)

I Love Mondays: Remembering

12 Sep

Sepalcure

It’s a chilly, rainy day in New York City today, and unlike most of its inhabitants, I’m not unhappy about the weather. What I’m less than thrilled about is that tomorrow is already Monday.

Somehow, this weekend flew by faster than a blink, and it’s already time to go back to the grind. It was an odd couple of days as a whole, especially considering that one of them was September 11th. Though I had seen the set of lights in the sky, I kept finding myself wondering what they meant. Was it a new club? An illuminated display left over from Fashion’s Night Out? That’s how distracted I was. Considering I can hardly keep track of the day of the week, much less the date, September 11th had become just another day lost in the shuffle of my mind. I moved to NYC in 2002, so my connection to the tragedy is minimal, but I was still surprised that 9 years later, I had almost completely forgotten. Nevertheless, with or without reflection, life goes on. Things move so quickly that it’s hard to remember sometimes. We replace our sadness with consumption and buy away our pain. We busy ourselves to the point of destroying any remote possibility of connecting to memories. It’s just the way things are, for better or for worse.

Speaking of moving on for better or for worse, I’m going to be forced to come to terms with the mammoth first day of the week, better known as Monday. It’s going to be an early morning for me, and most definitely a busy day, so I am going to need some very early motivation to keep me from crashing and burning at the office. And this time around, it’s got to be more than the 3 espresso shots I’ll need in my coffee. I’m going to need a Monday morning mix that makes me feel (a little) aggressive and (a lot) energetic in order to wake up and make it through the hardest hours of the day.

That said, I’ve picked the latest XLR8R podcast to serve as my Monday soundtrack. It’s garage with a bit of a twist, the first one being that the artists are American, the next one being that it’s far smoother than expected (though all without losing its edge). Garage and dubstep are known for being less than deep dancing and more for headbanging and the like. But this disconnect does not have to be the constant. I was incredibly impressed with this set by Brooklyn DJ duo Sepalcure and sincerely hope to hear more from them. Happy Monday:

Sepalcure – XLR8R Podcast 159

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

tracklist after the jump

(more…)

I <3 Mondays: Tuesdays Are Hard

7 Sep

 

It’s the Tuesday after Labor Day here in the States, which means everyone is coming down from that holiday high and sliding into the work week with a tiny bit of regret. Maybe I should have slept more? Maybe I shouldn’t have had that 5th glass of wine? Maybe I should have just.called.in.sick? It happens to the best of us.

In my case, I thankfully got some much needed rest and ended up being super productive in ways I never quite imagined I could be, and that includes self-care. I hadn’t had a professional manicure, pedicure, facial, or massage in a zillion months, and I was still a little mentally bedraggled from my Brazil trip (not to mention a walking emotional wound with all my sadness and saudades), so it was long overdue. Thanks be to G for long weekends.

Nevertheless, I understand that this isn’t the case for everyone, and some of you still need that extra jolt today to wake you up and get you back into work mode. That said, I’ve dug around for a hard mix in my set of recent downloads and came up with a lovely (if you can call dubstep and heavy bass such) set by Willy Joy and Rob Threezy. It’s a buzzy, loud, bass-heavy, thumping set recorded for the Trouble & Bass Smashcast series that I highly recommend for anyone who is stuck in a case of the Mondays Tuesdays. Welcome back to reality, kids. May your week be better than expected. Just try not to headbang at your desk, ok? Enjoy:

Willy Joy + Rob Threezy – Trouble & Bass Smashcast Vol. 014

(click the link to play/download in iTunes)

(super extensive) tracklist after the jump

(more…)

I <3 Mondays: Getting Over the Hump

1 Sep

Feeling a little lost . . .

It’s “hump day,” though technically this Wednesday is my Thursday. I landed on Monday, slept all day. Accidentally woke up at 5 am (unknowingly…long story related to changing time zones blah blah blah) and ended up 2 hours early on my first day back at work (see above). Found myself more adjusted today (kind of), though I STILL had forgotten to set my alarm clock to NYC time and woke up earlier than I intended.

What did I learn? That none of this matters. I will have Friday and Monday off in observance of Labor Day, so today is more like the “Thursday” of my already 3-day week. Thank goodness for that because otherwise, I might have somehow found myself lost in time (or worse) as my brain and body adjust to the reality that is NYC.

I admit that it’s odd being back. There is something about Brazil that makes me feel that I have been there forever, even when I have been there for only a small time. I constantly experience deja vu while there, and find myself maladjusted once I return to NYC. Some joke that I might have been Brazilian in a past life, and that this might be the source of my sense of displacement whenever I return, but who knows. I can’t overthink this. I have to live through it instead, with my time in NYC serving as a bookend for all the living I get to do in Brazil in between.

But for living in the now, I prefer music to help me get through it. And on this day of in between existence, the marker of life and work between one Saturday and the next, the bit of music that helped me rise and shine and get through the slowest passing hours on the planet came by way of Renaissance Man, whose latest Made to Play Podcast was the first to download on my iTunes when I returned to NYC and restarted my work computer. It was a warm welcome back to a place that despite the hot weather seemed oh so cold, and the one thing that kept me from regretting my first step off the plane onto (northeastern) US soil.

Take some time to listen to this one more than once. Its subtle shifts from house to juke to pop won’t throw you off in the slightest; in fact, they will make you want to come back for another taste.

Renaissance Man – Made to Play Podcast 010

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

If you haven’t already subscribed to the Made to Play Podcast, do it now. Its a constant source of musical goodness for me, and it comes highly recommended from many a blogger, music afficionado, DJ, etc etc :-)

- Retail DJ

I <3 Mondays: Last Friday

16 Aug

As those of you who follow Retail DJ on twitter or facebook know, I am in Brazil right now (see post below for more details). I’ve been in Sao Paulo for the past few days and will be here until Thursday then back again towards the end of this 2 and a half week stay in what I fondly refer to as “the B.” Though I have been super sick (my tonsils, which fluctuate from the size of marbles to golf balls on a daily basis), it’s freezing cold (yet I have no coat – weather.com lies, I tell you!), and I have been running around doing enough things to make a chicken with its head cut off look normal, I am having the time of my life.

I always say that returning to Brazil, and to be more specific, Sao Paulo, makes me feel more like I am going home than it does when I make my yearly trip to Memphis, TN, my home town. Maybe I was Brazilian in another life? Who knows? The one thing I DO know is that these past few days have truly been interesting, never lacking in adventure, and super exciting in terms of music. I have already had the opportunity to meet/hear several DJs as they played live at two amazing clubs here, one of which I frequent enough to secure free entry every time I go thanks to a host who never seems to forget my face: Vegas. But first, let’s go in order.

Friday: Neu: a club all the way in Barra Funda / Agua Branca that looks somewhat like a “sitio” you’d see somewhere in the interior of Sao Paulo or somewhere deep in Minas Gerais. For those of who don’t know what a sitio is, imagine a loft party, but instead of it being a loft, it’s a house that’s been converted into a club, complete with a bar, backyard, and open-air entry and exit. The area is residential, but the parties at Neu are far from calm. With DJs and live performers of every genre under the sun, this club is somewhat of a hidden gem in a city known for its superclubs.

While at Neu, I had the opportunity to finally meet Leonardo Justi, whom I interviewed and had as a featured artist a few months ago, and see him in action live. You can download his full set here:

Leo Justi – Live Set at Neu Club, Sao Paulo, 8.13.10

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

It’s a super fun mix of ghettotech, baile funk, dancehall, dubstep, and hip hop (aka it’s off the hook). Listen to it and you can live vicariously through my Friday for part of your 8 hours at work today. Also DJing that night was Dago Donato, who also happens to be the mastermind behind Neu and a fabulous DJ. His set also contained a lot of ghettotech and tech house and was the perfect lead-in to Leo’s because it was active, but subtle at the same time, easing us all into the next hour of more jumpy tunes.

Also on Friday:

Vegas: a club I went to every single weekend I came to Sao Paulo when I lived in Brazil. It’s a well-established locale known for its excellent DJ lineup and residents. It also is known for having a crowd that likes to dance. Every time I go out to Vegas (which usually ends somewhere around 7 or 8 am for me), I always thank my lucky stars that I can still walk afterward because I usually end up dancing until my feet no longer function. There, I saw live sets Fatu from Killer on the Dancefloor, RRR (Roots Rock Revolution), Database, Bruno Belluomini, Thiago Salvioni, Gnomex, and 13 Duo.

Overall, a solid lineup and many a dance-worthy set. Vegas was also my venue of choice on Saturday, but more on that later. It’s time for me to go to work (for job no. 2 of course, the patron saint of this Brazil trip). I hope that all my readers have a lovely Monday and that Leo’s set helps keep you awake on what everyone knows is my favorite day of the week. :- )

Beijinhos,

- Retail DJ

P.S. I am bonehead and left my camera at home, so all of the photos regarding my trip to Brazil will be c/o other sites :-(

I <3 Mondays: Double Whammy

8 Aug

After a full 2 weeks of very little sleep, a whole lot of partying, and a lot of stress, waking up early tomorrow morning is definitely going to be a challenge. I still have a ton of work to do tonight and a very long day tomorrow, so I am going to need some musical motivation to keep me from falling asleep in the shower or passing out during the commute.

For this Monday, I’ll be commemorating my start back on the grind with a double whammy from WOOHOO, an NYC-based  DJ who sent me a link to check out his Summer League Mixes. I got dressed to Summer League Mix Vol. 1 this past weekend, and checked out Vol. 2 tonight and loved it. The mixes both combine house-y and disco sounds with bits of tech house to keep us energized and along for the ride.

My “grind” this week is a bit accelerated, as I’ll be rockin’ the day job schedule + the afternoon job schedule + the Retail DJ schedule, then going to Brazil on Thursday for job 2, so I am going be totally fried. That said, I needed TWO mixes to keep me mentally afloat. Wish me luck and enjoy!!!

WOOHOO- Summer League Mix Vol. 1

(click to play; click here to download)

WOOHOO – Summer League Mix Vol. 2

 WOOHOO – SUMMER LEAGUE VOL. 2 by WOOHOO

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

tracklist for both mixes after the jump

(more…)

I <3 Mondays: Thick as Thieves

26 Jul

While most of your might be more familiar with the New Housewives of New Jersey’s use of the term “Thick as Thives” as of late more than the dynamic UK-based duo, no worries. You’ll “get familiar,” as the hip Brits say, really soon.

Thick as Thieves is a duo comprised of DJs Danny Bartha and James Hamilton. While I have never had the opportunity to go to one of their parties, I’ve heard they throw a mean one, incorporating lots of underground house and other types of electronic music (and thanks to Facebook, I’ve been exposed to all their delicious mixes for quite some time). It also just so happens that their latest mix is p.e.r.f.e.c.t. for waking you up and keeping you with your eyes open on the hardest day of the week: Monday.

This mix has a sick tracklist, one that’s coated with all sorts of soulful house and deep beats that will knock you into consciousness at your dullest of Monday moments. By the way, don’t let the tracklist discourage you. You may not recognize all (or any) of the artists, but if you’ve been keeping up with this site, you’ll recognize the sounds–trust me!

May you enjoy this mix and may it bring some joy to your Monday.

Thick as Thieves – Hot One

(follow the link, then click the green button to play)

tracklist after the jump

(more…)

I <3 Mondays: Get Deeper

12 Jul

Nacho Lovers

A few nights ago, I was shuffling around on Soundcloud and came across a fantastic mix by Canadian DJ duo Nacho Lovers. I’ve had quite a bit of material by these house gurus of the North on Retail DJ, but I can never get enough.

This time around, their Deeper Promo Mix for May 2010 hit the spot. It’s perfect for a day back in the office in that it’s got a touch of progressive house (which is great for anything slightly repetetive that’s done over a long period of time due to it’s slight shifts but continuous flow), a bit of tribal (all that percussion keeps one from falling asleep), and a hint of Chicago (complete with organs, bass, and soulful lyrics to keep you entertained). Some of my favorite moments of this set come close to the beginning, around 9:30, with a track that stays true to the set’s name. The fun continues with a series of equally interesting and dance-worthy tracks. Deep indeed, folks.

You can learn more about “Deeper” and its various remixes (as well as where you can purchase it) by clicking HERE.

In the meantime, get ready to find yourself in another place this Monday afternoon, and escape into the depths of a seriously solid house mix. Enjoy!

Nacho Lovers – Deeper Promo Mix (May 2010)

Deeper Promo Mix – May 2010 by Nacho Lovers

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

- Retail DJ

I <3 Mondays: L-Vis 1990 Made Me Drop It Like It’s Hot

6 Jul
Bloody hell! It’s L-Vis 1990

Surprisingly, when I pressed play on the latest mix I had downloaded, I had the urge to drop it like it’s hot, get my eagle on, do a stanky leg . . . you get the idea.

Typically, dubstep compels more of a headbanger-esque reaction than a booty shaking one, but I suppose there’s just some magic in all that bass. Though of course, it could just be the supreme skill of the artist manning the mission, a producer and DJ whose namesake hasn’t yet risen from the dead, but whose talent must have certainly reincarted itself into the London-based DJ L-vis 1990 (pronounced “Elvis”).

Known primarily for his dubstep tracks, L-Vis 1990 takes the opportunity to keep expanding his horizons, so to speak, in his new mix for Numbers. This podcast is super dynamic, and includes an addictive loop of the Godzilla theme (which brings back memories of both destroyed Japanese skyscrapers and the beloved tune by Pharoah Monche.

My ears will never quite be the same.

Happy Monday Tuesday!

L-Vis 1990 – DJ Set @ Numbers Barcelona June 20 2010

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

c/o Discobelle

 

- Retail DJ

I <3 Mondays: Todd Edwards

27 Jun

This afternoon (which is when I woke up; considering all the partying I have done this week and weekend, I needed a nice, solid sleep), I literally screamed with joy when I saw that the newest XLR8R podcast was featuring New Jersey-born DJ Todd Edwards. He is basically a god within the UK garage scene, even though he’s US-born and bred (how’s that for stickin’ it to the man?). I’ve been in love with his jumpy, biccup-y, breaks-meets-garage-style music for some time now and was thrilled to see I’d have an hour of him to myself.

But I went to Montessori school, so I know the fundamental principles of giving to and sharing with others, and couldn’t let my readers down. For those of you who have not heard of Todd Edwards, be ready for a treat. This music, filled with fun remixes of everything from classic rock to pop and soul will make your Monday, I promise.

Todd Edwards – XLR8R Podcast no. 147

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

tracklist after the jump

For your reference:

Todd Edwards’ MySpace Page

Todd Edwards Piece in XLR8R

(more…)

I <3 Mondays: Never Enough

21 Jun

It’s Monday, and mine had a rough start. After too much coffee yesterday (and thus total insomnia), I overslept. It reminded me that I don’t have enough energy to do most of the things I need to accomplish in a 24-hour day. Then again, in my attempts to complete so much, I sleep little, beginning the cycle all over again.

But one possible culprit of my energy depletion is the heat. If there’s one thing my body is lacking besides sleep, it’s the cold. I’m a winter person and the heat from summer always tires me out. The fans and the A/C, no matter their strength, are never quite enough.

But if there’s one thing that makes me excited about today being the first day of summer is the fact that music that comes out in the summer is usually the lightest and most fun. Don’t get me wrong – I LOVE a deep house track or a dark dubstep set, but sometimes, summer music is all I need.

For today’s I <3 Mondays mix, check out the new promo set by the folks over at Meanbucket. With a series of tracks laced with Caribbean sounds and Latin percussion, This short mix by Quime & Tuco is just enough to get your summer started. Enjoy!

Quime & Tuco – Meanbucket Promo Mix

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

tracklist after the jump

(more…)

I <3 Mondays: Shake Your Bootie

14 Jun

Today feels less like a Monday, and more like a Tuesday considering that I worked yesterday. On top of that, I came to work early today, so my brain is a bit fried and my exhaustion level is pretty high. Nevertheless, music is always there to save the day.

Today’s track that helped wake me up big time this morning was Leo Justi’s live set at Bootie Rio. The Carioca DJ played live on Friday, June 11th at Rio’s Fosfobox and was nice enough to share the mix for those who couldn’t be there to witness it all. Now you can replicate the fun in your living room, on your commute, or even at your desk during the 3 -4 pm fatigue hour that seems to come these days without fail.

 It will help you shake your booty and hopefully shake up your day with mashup tracks including Missy Elliot, Ciara, Rye Rye, Britney Spears, Diplo, MIA, De Leve, Os Hawaianos, Bonde de Tigrao, Bola de Fogo, and more! Happy Monday!

 Leo Justi – Live DJ Set from Bootie Rio 6.11.2010

(click to download / right-click, save as to download)

(hot!) tracklist after the jump

(more…)

I <3 Mondays: Bounce Back

1 Jun

Sissy Nobby

Yesterday was a holiday in the U.S., so I was technically still on my blog vacation (something I failed miserably at because I STILL posted–I just can’t stay away). As predicted, going back into the office today was . . . difficult after the amazing 3-day weekend I had, BUT now that I and most other Americans are back to the Monday through Friday grind, there is definitely a need for an early week mix.

This week, I decided on the Sissy Nobby mix for Mixpak, a label founded by Dre Skull that happens to highlight mixes from artists all over the world. Sissy Nobby is a great New Orleans bounce artist. I feel ashamed as a Southerner to have not highlighted bounce music earlier, considering that I was practically raised on the stuff. But as of late, with all the attention shined on the New Orleans-based bounce artists, many of whom in this new wave also happen to be gay men and transwomen (hence their self-assigned term “sissy bounce”), I had to finally put something up.

May this Sissy Nobby bounce mix help you “bounce back” from your holiday weekend and into the groove of the work week. Happy Monday Tuesday!

Sissy Nobby – Mixpak Records Minimix

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

note: This mix is totally NSFW, so do not play it loud at work!

via discobelle.net

P.S. If you liked this, check out music by another fellow New Orleans Sissy Bounce artist Katey Red (who has a great getting ready track called “Ugly Buggin’ Me”).

- Retail DJ

I <3 Mondays: Looking Up

24 May

Oldies But Goodies

On New York subways, people rarely look at each other. They look up, they look across, they look through. . . anywhere to avoid eye contact. One of benefits of wearing interesting shoes is that I can at least entertain my fellow public transportation patrons as they look in the most common direction: down.

My latest Melissas, pictured above, are from an older season and bear an even older image: that of original Disney character Oswald, a poor little ignored rabbit that has fallen off the Disney radar thanks to Mickey and Co. Yet somehow, in this new rendering of an old cartoon, Oswald reclaimed fame. Similarly, I’d like to bring back the art of eye contact. It’s odd that our eyes are oft closed in a city that supposedly never sleeps.

Speaking of sleep, I am exhausted, but wanted to leave you all with a lullaby for adults. Typically, the mix I do for I <3 Mondays is to start your day, but this one is for you to end it. With this melodic mix of progressive house and soul, the Rraul.com crew brings it home with this Colors Church podcast hosted by DJs Jota Wagner and Wander A (and, to its credit, a case of beer). It’s so beautiful that it actually made me cry on the bus yesterday, though I am not sure if I did so more from the music or from the saudades I felt when I heard Brazilian Portuguese again (the first few minutes consist of the hosts describing upcoming shows and parts of their set).

Nevertheless, give this mix a listen as you lay your head down on your pillow, or even as you commute in the morning. Hopefully, it will compel you to look up, see the world with open eyes, and take in all the beauty you can hold.

Jota Wagner & Wander A – Colors Church Podcast (Rio de Janeiro Edition) for Rraurl.com

(follow the link and click “play” to listen)

tracklist and podcast subscription info after the jump

(more…)

I <3 Mondays: Man Oh Man

17 May

Isa GT

Man Recordings is one of, if not the biggest, supporters of funk carioca, kuduru, and other local sounds meets electronic dance music outfits in the world. Based in Berlin, they are the label home for tons of artists trying to turn up the heat in our speakers and on the dancefloor.

To promote her most recent EP, Man Recordings featured artist Isa GT, a Colombian-born, London-dwelling musician, DJ, videographer, and fashionista in their podcast. Her mix is a phenomenal combination of cumbia, dancehall, funk carioca, and electronic dance grooves, making it an overall stellar piece of work and the perfect way to speed up a slow Monday.

Isa GT – Man FM, Man Recordings Podcast no. 004

MAN FM 004 – Isa GT by MANRECORDINGS

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

tracklist below after the jump

Be sure out the fun interview too. Isa throws in some amazing quotation take-aways, like:

The tracks you can find in the EP are “Pela’o” . . . and “Pa Las Mamasitas”. . . a track that talks about the lack of men in London and how the ones that are not taken are gay. So you should definitely . . . go for girls.”

Thanks to Kristal M. for sending me this mix. It’s definitely one you shouldn’t miss.

(more…)

I <3 Mondays: The New Friday?

9 May

Making Over Mondays?

Over time, Fridays in New York City have become the odd night out. Thursday is the new Saturday, Saturday is still pretty solid, Wednesday is quickly becoming the new Thursday, and so on. Friday, however, has regressed into schoolnight-dom, rendering thousands of New Yorkers bored on the night that should be the perfect night to go out. While there are still certainly some solid parties out there, like Panty Raid at Savalas with DJs Sammy Bananas and Cousin Cole on the decks, as well as the Boys & Girls $1 parties that pretty much saved Webster Hall from a further downward spiral into nightclub extinction (at least from an outsider’s perspective), but for the most part, Friday is a pretty mellow night.

Most people are exhausted from work, school, and the generally panic-inducing rush that is a typical New Yorker’s Monday through Friday hustle routine, so when Friday comes around, staying home watching a movie with a bottle of wine (or Jack, if that’s your thing) sounds much sexier than putting forth the effort to actually get ready to go out.

On the basis of the aforementioned, part of me has begun to wonder whether or not Monday might just be the new Friday. . . With parties happening as early as Tuesday, Monday might be right up there as the next major night on the partygoer mindmap. We may begin to live our lives completely in reverse, with Monday becoming a day that doesn’t quite suck as much as we thought, and our weekends being a time to have all to ourselves.

For this I <3 Monday mix, after careful deliberation, I’ve chosen this dark, yet sexy mix for We Play Music (UK) by Qoso. May it help you turn your Monday into the new Friday . . .

Qoso – We Play Music Mix

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

tracklist after the jump

(more…)

I <3 Mondays: Afro-Cuban Shaft

2 May

I was checking out the White Light Mix Series site today (they’ve moved, by the way, to www.whitelightmixes.com), and per usual, they delivered. They have several new mixes up, including a fantastic mix by Moullinex, that makes one feel a bit like the the Afro-Cuban Shaft. It opens with a track that’s straight out of a 1970s blaxploitation film, fittingly titled “Pursuit of the Pimpmobile” and created by the one and only Isaac Hayes, only to be followed by lots of percussion and flute-heavy disco sounds that will take the illness I like to call The Mondays right off your mind.

This mix is fun, light, and certainly a good way to start you work week. I love Mondays, especially when they sound like this:

Moullinex – White Light Mix Vol. 23

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

tracklist after the jump

(more…)

I <3 Mondays: Cassian

26 Apr

I recently stumbled across this great mix by Australia’s Cassian on Too Many Sebastians and immediately thought it would work well as an I <3 Mondays set. It’s mellow, but just upbeat enough to keep me from falling asleep at my desk. It’s a quiet Monday, albeit one that certainly warrants a little sleeping during my lunchbreak, but there’s just something about these beats that makes me want to avoid putting my head on the floor and instead put some moving feet there :- )

I hope you all enjoy this mix as much as I did. There are quite a few well-known tracks for those of you who have been following this site, but familiarity in this case certainly doesn’t come at the cost of quality. All-around good work, Cassian! P.S. be on the lookout for the great remix of Cassius’ classic “1999″

Mr Friday Night Mix – Cassianbycassian88

(click to play)

Tracklist after the jump

(more…)

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.