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Gratuitous Dance Mix: Noob

15 Apr

Noob

Known in the States primarily for his collaborative work with Brodinski, it’s nice to know that Noob’s got quite the “voice” of his own. Though the Bordeaux-born DJ and producer began as “Wobo,” his present moniker “Noob” (in English, short for “newbie,” in French, no idea) isn’t indicative of his presence on the scene as he’s been working behind it for years. His mix style is a bit indescribable, but I am going to try. It’s experimental, jacking and bass-heavy, wobbly almost, but nowhere close to dubstep. It reminds me of what would happen if Green Velvet and Bok Bok had a baby. The tracks he’s chosen for this mix can’t really be categorized, but they were heavy enough to make me listen to it about 4 times, trying to piece together exactly what it was about the mix that made me love it so much. But finally, I just gave in.

It’s just good, and there’s nothing wrong with saying that sans florid adjectives. Anyway, I’ll let you be the judge of this fabulousness. My tip: listen to it if you need a hint of aggression.

Noob – April 2011 Mix for Discobelle

click to play; right click + save as to download

tracklist after the jump

(more…)

New Piece On Racialicious

13 Apr

Check out my new piece over at Racialicious, my former stomping ground before I “retired” from the race game and set my sights on music coverage.

Here’s a preview of “It’s Complicated: DJs, Appropriation, and a Whole Host of Other Ish”

. . . Despite Diplo’s humble upbringing, which he cites in his twitter fight (and quite often when his extracting of foreign music is questioned), his whiteness still lends itself to fortifying his legitimacy as an ambassador in the music world. But it also begs the question of whether or not his methods would be scrutinized at all were he from a different country, a person of color, or from a more visibly marginalized community? Much like any other art culture, is the DJ community subject to the same values as other mainstream industries, particularly as electronic music and it many subgenres gain increasing popularity in the US, despite its rogue beginnings?

- Retail DJ

 

When The Party Ends . . .

10 Apr

It happens every few months and often to the best of them: the party comes to an end.

Though the party I attended last night was the worst it had ever been, and that is saying a lot considering it is normally spectacular, I could tell the end was near. The signs are usually easy to spot: the crowd gets younger and generally shifts demographically, the part re-locates from its usual haunts to “hipper” digs much to its detriment, there are write-ups in popular newspapers and magazines thus spoiling its “underground” status, there are party photographers, and the DJ line-up contains more and more recognizable names. These changes occur in no particular order, but usually a series of three or more of them, especially if occurring a month or less apart, indicate that your favorite party might be meeting its deathbed sooner than you’d like.

But popularity alone doesn’t signal the end of a good party. In fact, in some cases, the extra spotlight helps in terms of landing better venues and giving little known DJs more exposure. Yet the typical cost of fame bit often applies to more than just the artists themselves; the parties catch it too. As I often lament, it seems that as things become more and more well-known, their quality goes down. There is less of an effort made, less of the push to reach any specific goal. It’s a common complacency that comes with reaching a comfortable status. Sure, I may sound trite in expressing this, but as most of you know, that’s usually how it works.

But it’s not the end of the world, I suppose. When one party dies, another is born. And in this case, it just means I’ll be saving myself some time and money until that happens. :- )

- Retail DJ

Sometimes Puppies Do The Darndest Things . . .

7 Apr

I swear to you, my puppy Brodinski just did a death drop. I see a future for him in the vogue community . . .

In the meantime, here are some great death drops via youtube:

 

- Retail DJ

Put Your Hands Up For . . . Japan!

31 Mar

flag by Yukinori Yanagi

Jad Cooper (one half of Drlkt Freddie) has been living in Japan for a bit, and it’s obvious that his skills haven’t faded with his travels. He sent me a promo mix he made for a fundraiser party he’s DJing on April 2nd in Nagoya, and I’ll be honest, it blew me away. It veers a bit from previous exposure I’ve had to Cooper’s work, which tends to be harder and heavier. This mix, “United Beats of Tsunami Relief,” puts the shine on deep house.

In the mix, Jad crafts a Jackmode-like ensemble of full-on dance tracks, a few of them being his own tracks and reworks, so it’s definitely a mix you do not want to miss. Get to downloading now.

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

For those of you in Japan, you can check out more information on the party here, and if you’re far away, visit the following website to donate to the tsunami/earthquake relief effort: Japan Society

 

- Retail DJ

Funk On A Friday: SebastiAn – Embody [video]

25 Mar

SebastiAn, making out with . . . himself

Everyone knows I love SebastiAn. I had the pleasure of seeing him live back in 2006 or 2007 at Studio B, and before then, I had been visiting his myspace page on the daily just to hear his many dark, aggressive original tracks and remixes. He was my segue to other great groups like Revl9n and Teenage Bad Girl. Long story short, the man makes great music, but considering the previous direction his music has gone, his newest single “Embody,” which has possibly the cutest video on the planet, was a shock. It’s light and fun and full of soul. I’m hoping the rest of his album will be just as good.

 

Pop Makeovers

25 Mar

I don’t listen to a ton of pop music, and sometimes when I step into a club where the DJs play “top 40,” I feel like an alien. Fortunately, when pop DOES find its way in my radar, it’s been chopped, screwed, refixed, remixed, and reborn. The most recent pop makeovers come to us by The Hood Internet, whose mashup of Hercules and Love Affair with Nicki Minaj redeemed the princess of rap, and DJ Van Scott (1/2 of Drlkt Freddie) who sent me a remix of Ke$ha’s “Sleazy” that gives the song (and the artist) a whole new face.

The two songs are polar opposites, actually, with Scott’s “Sleazy” remix serving as a full-on party track, and the Minaj/H&LA mashup better for a mellow setting. Needless to say, they’re both great. Give them a listen and enjoy:

The Hood Internet – Moment 4 Lenora (Nicki Minaj x Hercules and Love Affair)

 

Ke$ha – Sleazy (Van Scott F.U. Remix)

 

- Retail DJ

 

 

 

Gratuitous Dance Mix: Database

23 Mar

Database will be in NYC this weekend, dropping down at Brooklyn Bowl on Saturday, but for those of you who can’t make it or who can and want a preview, check out this mix they put together! It’s a gaggle of disco-y sounds and 80s synths. Imagine if the boys of Duran Duran had a groovy cousin on vacation in 1970s New York who got transported to the future (taking a pitstop in the 80s pop era first, of course), the extract of their essence finding itself on a soundcloud page of two Brazilian DJs, and there you have it! :-)

Enjoy this mix and dance a little, wherever you may be now OR Saturday!

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

tracklist after the jump

(more…)

A Tribute to Institubes

18 Mar

A few days ago, I read the news. The French label I had loved for so long was closing its doors. Yes, Institubes, the people who supported artists like Surkin, Das Glow, Bobmo, Teki Latex, Tacteel, and a whole host of other amazing producers were throwing in the towel. Their reasoning, however depressing, struck a chord with me:

” . . . It’s always been a bit of an uphill battle. But it got worse and worse. At first it was fun to figure out ways to get people to check out our music. But once that’s done and you have something resembling an audience, it becomes apparent that this is not really your job. Your job is to reconcile the public with the very idea of buying records. All the power to you if you can bear it.

We’re closing shop because the operation is losing too much money, this much is clear. Most of what we could have done to prevent or delay this outcome reside in two words: lifestyle and branding. Investing in t-shirts and co-branding, scoring “collaborations” or sponsorship deals with deep-pocketed companies. I have but a regret: we actually did it sometimes. We should have said no more often. Bands struggling to get together with brands, artists and audience deriving more validity from corporate interest than from anything else, bands happy to learn that in the future they would have to “take charge of their own promotion”: this wasn’t for us. In other words, on our small scale, we should have been able to carve a non-capitalist niche within the larger corporate world. I thought, being young and naive when we started, that “underground” meant just that . . . “

In other words, they are closing out before selling out – quite literally.

“Not only because we no longer sell shit (and even when you do, it’s hard to shake the feeling that you’re selling free shit), but also because tracks are peaking faster than tumblr memes. In our historical moment, music is everywhere but second or third or tenth to many other interests and areas of culture. Fashion, Apple, video games, “devices”, social media, etc. And that’s cool, I guess. But I don’t want to have to be a function of fashion. Nor do I want to urge an artist to publish half-baked tracks every month in order to stay “relevant”. Depleted accounts is one thing, but depleted attentions?”

I feel like this almost every day when I pore over an article or spend hours making a mix and I feel like no one is listening. I feel this way when I see sites that put about 10 seconds of thought into their posts get thousands of hits. Part of getting the word out about your brand, product, whatever is selling yourself, and sometimes, people are quite reluctant to do that, especially if it means a dumbing down of what they put out or a total reduction in quality and presentation to appease people who don’t want to give the attention to read more than a sentence. Twitter pretty much sums up our present lifestyle: post anything, pay little attention. It’s unfortunate that Institubes fell victim to our society’s turn for the worse (and the economic downfall that came along with it), but their work will always be remembered.

I will never forget the times I saw Surkin DJ at Studio B or shed a tear while listening to Para One’s “Midnight Swim (Original Mix)” on the train going over the bridge. Their music is fun, inspiring, and really a testament of innovation. In order to honor the people who brought me some of my favorite music, I created a mini-mix using some of my favorite old tracks by several artists who got famous BECAUSE of the folks behind Institubes. Enjoy:

Retail DJ – Institubes Tribute


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

tracklist:

1. Das Glow – Vulcanice

2. Bobmo – Rock the

3. Surkin – Kiss ‘n Horns

4. High Powered Boys – Hoes Get Down

5. Tacteel – Feel It, Feel It

6. Bobmo – Legally Dead for 4’31

7. Para One – Midnight Swim (Surkin Drowning Mix)

8. Bobmo – Get ‘Em, Junior

9. DJ Mehdi – Lucky Boy (Surkin Remix)

10. Para One – Dudun-Dun

 

Read the entire Institubes letter here

- Retail DJ

Oops!

9 Mar

I bought a mixer/controller recently and kind of lost track of time. I didn’t even know today was Wednesday (yes, that’s how bad it is!). However, despite my negligence, this will end up being a good thing. Afterall, I won’t have to manually fade tracks on the podcast and I will be able to make seamless mixes for your listening enjoyment. In the meantime, get caught up on all the site has to offer by checking out the interviews, podcasts, and photoshoots of yore as we have many many more coming where those came from, including several NYC-based DJs/producers, as well as folks from other parts of the US, Europe, and more! Stay tuned. :-)

Gratuitous Dance Mix: The Balcony Jumpoff

4 Mar

Devilish music in the city of Angels

When NGUZUNGUZU started blowing up, I wasn’t enthused. Initially, I found their tracks a bit lacking in focus (it sounded like a musical case of ADD) and danceability (which, for me, is a bit of a litmus test in terms of how much I like something musical). It was repetitious and missing the hint of soul that it needed to pull me in. Yet, just in recent hours, I have become a lover of the Cali duo thanks to a great balcony session set in LA including DJ Mike Q (famous for his gay ball sets and now his viciously fun mix XLR8R podcast), Kingdom (NYC king of dark dubstep), and Total Freedom (whose pop/r&b set throws a little nostalgia and even humor into the set).

I don’t quite know how to describe NGUZUNGUZU, but that might be for the best. Their sound doesn’t really fit into one category, and for the better. It’s nice to see American-based DJs/producers creating something so new that there is no label for what they’re doing. Their set (which is shared in command by both members, Daniel Pineda and Asma Maroof). They play around with everything and anything that is percussion heavy and, much like their fellow Chicago producer/DJ Brenmar, manage to work in a lot of old school R&B (be on the lookout for the brain-melting Monica sample at 0:4:30 and the Ashanti insertion at 2:15:00 of this 3 hour musical trip), making for quite the aural experience.

The other DJs tear it up as well, of course. I wouldn’t put anything on this site that wasn’t worth your undivided attention.

Have a look and a listen:

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/13030119

(via DJ Mike Q on facebook and twitter)

- Retail DJ

Trendspotting: Neo-Frump

2 Mar

Frump Diplomacy

Though frills are in style for spring (much to my chagrin), there’s also another trend rearing its head this season. Much to my surprise, frump is in!

Frump chic has managed to revive itself from the ashes following the hipster burnout of tongue-in-chee 80s cheese. Though the librarian look isn’t for everyone, it’s certainly easy to accomplish, fairly inexpensive (vintage, vintage, vintage!), and not costume-y if paired with the proper accessories.

For example, if you wear a longer, loose skirt, be sure to add in high heels; for slightly shorter, knee-length skirts, wear flats or low heels. It’s great for those of us who are penny pinching because with the right adjustments and accessory changes, the look can easily go from day to night with ease, and will be appropriate to all situations, be they dressy or casual.

Midi Leather Skirt by Whistles (ASOS)

 

Royal Introduction Dress (Modcloth)

 

River Liffey Dress (Modcloth)

Anadyomene Cardigan (Anthropologie)

Suede Pump (Urban Outfitters)

 

- Retail DJ

Munk – Keep My Secret [video]

26 Feb

How is that Munk keeps putting out great music, year after year? Is it something in the water? I suppose it doesn’t matter. Just keep it coming:

Funk On A Friday: Ben Men

25 Feb

Ben Men (photo courtesy of deepbeep)

Anyone who reads this blog knows I have a profound respect and love for the Brazilian music site deepbeep. The diversity of their music selection and the commitment to providing their readers with quality interviews and content never cease to impress me. In a world where people don’t even have time to read more than a tweet, the fact that their site posts actual articles says a lot.

Another thing I love about deepbeep, though I risk sounding sycophantic at this point, is their diligence in musical filtering. There’s never a bad mix on their site and every bit of music posted has been clearly made with a lot of appreciation for the art of DJing and production. One of their recently featured artists, France’s Ben Men:

[translated from Portuguese] “If there are things that Brazil and France have in common, without a doubt one of them is Ben Men. Engaged in his country’s [music] scene, his efforts do not lie only in playing and producing music; he also organizes parties, such as a regular party at Rex Club in Paris, heads the label BTRAX, shares his know-how with Brazilians, and since 2010 has been the resident DJ of the party “Paradise.” He is the creator of “Electro Brazil”, a French radio station program, for which he frequently invites Brazilian DJs to play. In the spirit of sharing experiences, Ben Men recorded a live set that you can listen to here! Check out what he has to say in our exclusive interview (continue to interview (in Portuguese)).”

His set is full of classic, Detroit/Chicago-style, funky house tracks, many of which you may recognize from previously featured mixes and podcasts. Hopefully it will help you get a little motivated for a night out on this rainy NY Friday. Enjoy:

Ben Men – Electro Brazil, Sensations FM Show (Live, recorded for deepbeep)

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

- Retail DJ

Are DJs The Next Classical Musicians?

24 Feb

 

Will Bobmo be the next Bach?

There are many things about electronica that have always reminded me of classical music. For one, there are usually no lyrics. Secondly, the sounds usually build upon one another, particularly if the producer/DJ is very talented, leaving one to find new things in each track or mix with each listen. There is emotion in electronic music, despite it being dismissed as robotic and impersonal for its lack of lyrics, and many mixes even tell a story. That being said, I am often left to wonder: Are DJs the next classical musicians?

Considering that pop music is created in such a generic way, with each song manufactured to sound virtually the same, electronic music and its many offshoots (despite it being appropriated for use in pop music, and usually do its detriment) come as a refreshing sound. Also, in light of its constant innovation, it seems that it might be one of the few remaining genres of music that actually try new things and that will have more staying power. Who knows? Kids might be studying King Britt, The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, and Dave Nada in their music appreciate or history classes in 100 years. Only time will tell.

- Retail DJ

Gratuitous Dance Mix – DJ Clak

23 Feb

DJ Clak

I got an email today from Berlin’s DJ Clak alerting me to his newest mix on Soundcloud. The title? “Fool For Music,” which I would say is quite the fitting description for me. I am on the verge of a serious problem: music addiction. So when someone sends me a mix which contains what feels like hundreds of songs and many a mashup of some great newbies and classics from within the genre of electronica, I can’t help but get into it.

The mix is light and fun, fit for taking you out of a funk and motivating you to dance a little or serving as a soundtrack to a quick trip to the gym when you just want to sleep. I hope this cheers you all up or continues to push you along this afternoon. And for those of you going out tonight (such as myself), this may serve as some fun music to jam to before you leave the house. Enjoy!

DJ Clak – Fool For Music


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

- Retail DJ

Gratuitous Dance Mix – Claude Von Stroke

16 Feb

Claude Von Stroke

Sometimes I like to post a mix just because. There is no specific subject matter or motivation behind it beyond that I feel like it. I came across this gem by Claude Von Stroke via facebook and spent my Saturday and Sunday cleaning the house to it (though doing little cleaning because I was dancing so much).

This mix, which he did for Mix Mag, is frenetic and jumpy, but has its deeper, almost house-y, moments as well. My advice: listen to the mix in full, then make your judgment. As with most Claude von Stroke pieces, you have to ease into it, but you won’t be disappointed. It will grow on you fast. Enjoy:

Claude Von Stroke – BLOC Mix for Mix Mag

(click to play)

tracklist after the jump

(more…)

Get Ready To…Save? As Consumer Goods Go Up, Keep Your Costs Down

15 Feb

While listening to NPR yesterday (yeah, I am a bit of a nerd), I heard that low unemployment rates were in fact not a welcome statistic. In fact, they were deceptive as they hid the fact that they were only low because so many people were no longer even seeking employment and instead were  entering informal forms of labor or giving up altogether.

Awesome.

On top of that, I heard additional bad news: the price of consumer goods is increasing. Lovely.

America, as we know it, is coming to a screeching halt.

The recession did us all in pretty well (though I was fortunate enough to be in Brazil when the ball began to drop), though now in its third stage, inflation when combined with the tables of developing nations’ labor practices turning, the U.S. is losing footing as fast as other nations, namely Brazil, China, and India, are recovering.

Fortunately, despite the dark news, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Coffee, meat, milk, eggs, and other “raw” foods along with other goods like cotton, leather, polyester (and even metals) may be going up, but there are ways to avoid suffering from the price increases. Here are some tips I have found to help save money in the present that will certainly translate into the future:

1. Buy dry goods in bulk: If you love a certain brand of cereal, canned good, coffee, etc, buy as much of it at once as possible! It’s a great way to save money as most suppliers allow you to save money with a bigger buy. Be sure to check the expiration date and bear in mind your consumption when purchasing.

2. Shop with a friend: If there’s an item you buy in bulk that can be divided, split it with a friend! You will both come away saving moola and getting your goods.

3. Learn to sew: It may sound loco to some of you, but sewing is not as hard as it may seem. In fact, it can save you a ton of money! Instead of throwing away that hole-y sweater or paying $15 to get your pants hemmed, invest in a used sewing machine or a needle, thread, and some patience and do it yourself. For those of you who really like a challenge, learn to convert your clothing. If you are tired of one item, turn it into another (or simply make a pre-existing item, like a dress, convertible).

4. Obey serving sizes: Read the serving sizes on items you purchase and follow them on items you cook. Most Americans overeat, and often by accident. If the bag says 12 chips = serving size, stop yourself before 13. Your chips will last longer and your pocketbook will thank you.

5. Take advantage of coupons and codes: If you buy products online (by which you can often save automatically by way of special deals and promotions), be sure to check sites like retailmenot.com or simply go to google and type in the company from which you are buying your products plus the term “promo code” and find codes you can apply during checkout for your online purchase. For things you buy in person, be sure to cut coupons from the paper, magazines, and even previous purchases (as some stores provide coupons with the receipt).

6. Don’t forget your card: Many chain stores (including grocery stores and pharmacies) provide discount cards that accumulate points that result in free gifts, discounts, and coupons. Be sure to use your discount card with every purchase so you can reap the benefits later.

7. Become a follower: Follow your favorite brands/companies on twitter and facebook for special promotions online.

8. Cut back on frivolous spending: Is buying that new shirt a life or death decision? MUST you get your nails done for $80 at a specific spa? Not necessarily. Weigh your options and prioritize your purchases. When it comes to beauty, learn to do it yourself and only go to the salon or spa once seasonally. Create your own at-home regimen and learn to maintain it.

9. Learn to cook: The price drama will affect restaurants, cafes, and eateries as well, but considering they must make a profit, their prices will be even more exorbitant (coffee at Starbucks, for example, is $5 a cup, when you could simply invest in a good coffee maker and save hundreds of dollars a month making it at home) than buying the items and making the dishes yourself. Try to eat out less and instead reserve it as a weekend treat and not a daily splurge. Speaking of which, be sure to take the extra 10 minutes and pack your lunch for work instead of relying on take-out at the office.

10. Reuse: Though recycling gets all the coverage, reusing is a key element in helping the environment and saving lots o’ dough. Reuse fruit and veggie bags as food to-go baggies or doggie poop bags (instead of buying the little blue bags). Invest in a good set of plastic storage containers so you can cook in bulk and freeze meals for later consumption. Rinse out and dry ziploc bags that were used with dry goods instead of throwing them in the trash. Turn scraps of paper into homemade post-it notes.

Though there are a zillion more tips for saving money during hard times, these are just a few to get you started. Feel free to think of your own and add more!

- Retail DJ

 

Happy Valentine’s Day

14 Feb

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone. More posts coming tomorrow :)

<3

Retail DJ

Lady Gaga – “Born This Way” A Rip-off?

11 Feb

Copied this way?

Lady Gaga, while talented, is often accused of ripping off other artists. That is to be expected, especially at the level of fame she has reached. Yet sometimes, there’s no denying that her producers are finding samples or at least melodies (I don’t know – classically-trained music people, help me out!) from 90s tracks. “Alejandro” certainly mirrored Ace of Base’s “Don’t Turn Around” (and a little bit of “The Sign”).

It seems that the newest track “Born This Way” finds its roots in All Saints’ “I Know Where It’s At” (if you sped it up, of course). Thoughts?

- Retail DJ

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