Tag Archives: homework

The October 2011 Podcast Is Here!

23 Oct

A few nights ago, I had been up reading for hours and once it was time to actually sleep, my body wouldn’t allow it. I knew I was “in the doghouse” for not having completed a September podcast and was afraid that I was suffering the same “DJ’s Block” for October’s. Luckily, my sleep deprivation comes to my aid at times. After playing around with some old and new music, I put together a podcast that I feel properly reflects the state I’m in right now.

It’s a busy podcast, jumping from genre to genre and growing more and more aggressive as it goes on. It has its dark moments that are evenly eclipsed by lighter ones. It can serve as a party-starter or a soundtrack to some serious lounging; it’s all up to you.

I’ll be back with a new podcast in November and a few updates here and there (including a renovated podcasts page), so don’t forget to come back for more!

Retail DJ October 2011 Podcast

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

or download here: Retail DJ October 2011 Podcast (right click + save target as)

tracklist:

Motorfunk – Motorfunk (from Groove Armada’s Doin’ It After Dark Compilation

Cocolores – Heart Quest

Photek – Mine to Give

SBTRKT – Pharaohs (ft. Roses Gabor)

Storm Queen – Look Right Through (Vox)

Homework – Fissa Turn (Homework After Hours Dub)

Distant People / Dee Major – Guidance (Lovebirds in 1998 Mix)

Urulu – Washing Up (Prince Club Remix)

Lazaro Casanova – The Healer (Oscar G Calle Ocho Mix)

Radiohead – Nude (Justin Martin Remix)

Brodinski – Gold Digger (Original Mix)

Chernobyl & Praga - Balança (Renaissance Man Remix)

Evil Nine – Ultimo

Femme en Fourrure – Plump Bisquit

- Retail DJ

p.s. The mix is more dynamic in headphones…

Summer Jams

7 Jul

It’s no secret that I hate summers in NYC. Though I feel it’s shoved down our throats that we’re supposed to love them – with the free concerts, food, and all – I can’t help but hate them. It’s oppressively hot. You can take a shower, walk half a block, and already need to change out of your sweat-soaked clothes. Don’t even get me started on the oven we call a subway and the putrid odor emanating from every trash-laden sidewalk. Yes indeed, it’s like one big, humid cesspool. On top of that – and we don’t like to admit this – it makes people plum crazy.

But if I were to find a silver lining in all this summer blues I happen to catch a case of every time the temp goes above 80 degrees, I’d have to say it was the music. DJs, producers, and the like tend to create more work in the winter, but actually get around to releasing it in the summer. Additionally, there are all those mixes that come out to encourage people to sweat off their makeup and mess up their hair by dancing (not that New Yorkers actually DO that, but dancing is the motivational concept, of course).

Here are some of my favorite mixes as the moment. Some are a few months old, but I’m not into music fads, so I ignore all that noise about dates. Enjoy these (follow the links for tracklists; click to play/click the small arrow on the right to download):

Mustang – June 11 Mixtape

Renaissance Man – 2011 Midsummer Mix

Joyce Muniz – Summer Mix 2011

Homework – Ain’t No New Thing (Data Transmission Podcast 166)

- Retail DJ

Retail DJ May 2011 Podcast

9 May

Alright folks. The May podcast is ready for your listening pleasure! There is no real theme this time around except that the podcast is sprinkled with older electronic music tracks I remember listening to in high school and my early years in college. I played around with this podcast quite a bit. It originally had a far more mellow vibe, but I upped the pace a bit and decided to put in more dance-friendly tracks, most of which have an upbeat lounge feel though some are borderline oldschool rave friendly. As per usual, I am all stopped up and sick right now, so my voice sounds craptastic (sorry!).

I find that this mix would inspire me the most while getting ready to go out, but much like any other form of art, music is best left for interpretation. Listen to it whenever you feel best and don’t forget to dance a little as you go along.

Retail DJ May 2011 Podcast


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

or

download it here: Retail DJ May 2011 Podcast(right click + save target as)

tracklist

Motorbass – Neptune

Homework – I’m Into This

Playgroup – Pressure

Phonat – Intimate Confessions

Motorbass – Ezio

Mysterious People – Fly Away (Jason Jinx’s Joystick Remix)

DJ Falcon – Honeymoon

Yellow Sox – Flim Flam (Smith & Selway Remix)

Switch – Just Bounce To This (Original Mix)

Eddie Amador – Rise (Deep Dish vs. Eddie Amador Mix)

Maya Jane Coles – What They Say

Munk – La Musica (Shir Khan Remix)

Chris Lattner – Sick

Ben Mono & Lars Moston – Can’t Stop (Original Mix)

Alcatraz – Giv Me Luv (Original Mix)

- Retail DJ

Retail DJ April 2011 Podcast!

8 Apr

 

(photo courtesy of Pitulineta)

Over the past few months, as many of you may know, I’ve been doing quite a bit in terms of my personal life. Beyond the family and romance bit, there have been some changes in terms of work (I went in full-time on Retail DJ) and my academic career (I applied to grad school). The results were all positive, with the exception of the tough part that came at the end: deciding to whom I would say “yes.” After lots of careful thought, university visits, budgeting, planning, and nights spent with my eyes glued to mindmaps and pro/con lists on neon paper squares, I made the decision to stay in NYC for grad school.

However, during that process, particularly in the last month, I had been playing around on the mixer and using my mood to dictate what went into this podcast. I really wanted the songs to speak to each other – literally and figuratively – as they came together in the mix. Take, for example, the transition from a Sissy Knobby track to Mike Q’s “Ha Dub” rework. Considering Sissy Knobby’s transgressive performance of gender as a part of the now well-documented “sissy bounce” movement in New Orleans and DJ Mike Q’s presence within the NYC and NJ gay ballroom scene, there is no doubt that the two pieces fit, both thematically and musically. Then there’s “What I Need” by Curses! speaking directly to Hot Chip’s chanting on Jesse Rose’s “Forget My Name.” I let the songs talk to each other in a sense. It’s something that I truly enjoy when putting together these podcasts. Though a stressful and time-consuming process, I find that I learn a lot about the way music works and the power of even the simplest beats and lyrics.

Just a production note: this podcast was put together using my Vestax mixer with Serato and Itch, with final editing (i.e. voiceovers) done in Garage Band on my MacBook Pro.

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

or download here: Retail DJ April 2011 Podcast (right click + save as)

tracklist

sebastiAn – embody
kraak & smaak – thinking back
ttc – telephone
djuma soundsystem – junkies vs. rain (djuma bootleg)
kraak & smaak – plastic people
tony senghore – if you came here (shir khan remix)
jesse rose (feat hot chip) – forget my name
curses! – what i need
ka§par – so right
sissy knobby – lay me down (renaissance man remix)
dj mike q – the ha dub rewerk’d
savage skulls (feat tony senghore and sprinkle juice) – watching you (dub version)
mstrkrft – paris
savage skulls – caravan (jacques greene remix)
voices of life (feat sharon pass) – word is love (mercury edit)
database – your heart
todd edwards – come around
makam – you might lose it (kerri chandler kaoz 623 remix)
homework – hudson square

 

- Retail DJ

Retail DJ March 2011 Podcast

17 Mar

For the first time in, well, ever (?), I am putting up the monthly podcast weeks before the last day. That’s cause for celebration. Another aspect of this podcast worthy of a hoorah is the fact that I recorded it all on my new mixer! You see, I previously had the difficult task of manually placing each song next to another, manually attempting to beatmatch when possible, crossfading almost all of the time, from one song to the next. But now, with the help of modern technology, this podcast is going to get increasingly better over time. Note that this recording was made after only one week of playing with the mixer (a Vestax vci-300 mk II + Serato/Itch), so there are a few mistakes. However, I am really proud of this and know that they will only get better with time and additional practice.

This mix includes new (and old) tracks by several of my favorite artists. I wanted to make something relaxing and danceable all at once, so I consulted some of the best, including: Joyce Muniz, Homework, Jesse Rose, and others who bring a guaranteed dance beat with every track they make. I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did putting it together!

Retail DJ March 2011 Podcast

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

Retail DJ March 2011 Podcast (right click + save as)

tracklist:
nicolas jaar – keep me there (atreides’ ‘swag numero deux’ edit)
homework – hold me tight (original mix)
jesse rose – non-stop
hercules & love affair – my house (original mix)
crookers (ft. roisin murphy) – royal t (house of house remix)
prince club – i know (2011 re-issue mix edit)
pteradactil disco – big ass biscuit (original mix)
round table knights – endless (original mix)
lcmdf – future me (mr. a’s repeat the repeat the repeat mix)
azari & iii – into the night (renaissance man extended mix)
joyce muniz – party over here, party over there
risk sound system – the sound is yours (kerri chandler remix)
round table knights – cat power (extended mix)
idiotproof, renaissance man, payme – moonlighting (original mix)
green velvet – flash (jamie jones remix)
la fleur – racine (original mix)
crookers, kardinal offishall, carla-marie – put your hands on me (jesse rose play prime remix)
detroit grand pubahs – sandwiches (idiotproof mix)
sapabonde – vai nao se esconde (guto de almeida remix)
chaz jankel – get myself together (original mix)

- Retail DJ

Get Dressed To This: Shower Scene

12 Feb

Your skin's screaming for some TLC!

We often play music when we get ready, but shower time usually gets neglected or left to the torture of our own voices across the plastic curtain. Yeah, singing in the shower is fine, but every now and then, you need an actual track. Whereas most are known for putting their vocal cords to the test under the nozzle, I give my feet some work by dancing in the shower instead. So when Homework came out with a 15 minute mix for Data Transmission, I knew I had found my soundtrack.

The mix features some old favorites along with some new stuff and a slightly more soulful sound. Oh and did I mention it’s great to dance to?

But beyond dancing, I wanted to actually provide you with some product suggestions for curing winter dryness without wasting time as all these products can be used in the shower! Anyway, lather up and Get [showered] Dressed To This:

The Music:

Homework – Minimix for Data Transmisson


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

tracklist (below) after the jump

The Goods:

1. Whipped Pudding by Oyin: smells like chocolate and can be used as body butter or deep conditioner for people with super dry skin/hair

2. Ultra Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner by Ojon: reduces frizz, gives hair a glossy finish, and leaves a rich, buttery scent

3. Brown Sugar Body Polish by Fresh: this citrus-y delight is super refreshing and helps buff away flaky, dead, dry skin in just one use

4. Face Butter by Carol’s Daughter: while it sounds like a facial skin nightmare, this moisture-rich, non-greasy treatment helps keep your face radiant in the cold

5. Advanced Care Moisturizing Cream by Aveeno: a leader in dry skin care, Aveeno’s moisturizing cream is excellent for dry, cracked skin (try sleeping with it on covered hands and feet at night to wake up with super soft results)

6. Egyptian Fennel with Grapefruit & Sweet Orange Lipcare by Pangea Organics: keeps your lips moisturized and soft without a greasy mess

(more…)

Musical Memory

3 Jan

After leaving a club tightly packed with sweaty people and before walking a street with only one, whose main mission was to harass me until I said “hi,” I was on the train. With my black hood covering my eyes, my gold hoop earrings and my mouth the only visible reminders that my face was there below the fabric, I had a moment. I was alone, just my music and me, and had time to think about what laid the foundation for my love of music.

A few nights ago, a good friend asked when was it that I had discovered my love of music and dancing, and I responded “infancy.” My first experience with music took place when I was only a few months old, crawling instead of walking my way to the stereo and turning the volume up full blast. Suspended by my own surprise, I screamed and cried, but couldn’t move. Something about the music held me there, alarmed yet frozen, until my mother came to my rescue. The rest was history really, with music being a constant figure in my childhood and for the rest of my life.

Tonight, on the train, as I searched for music by Homework the group, I came across Homework the album, Daft Punk’s first full LP and my first house music purchase. There were cds that came before, of course, such as Moby’s “I Like to Score,” The Prodigy’s “Music for a Jilted Generation,” and Fatboy Slim’s “Better Living Through Chemistry” that influenced my taste, but I can easily say that Daft Punk’s “Homework” changed my life.

I urge you, in this new year, to think back on your musical memories. What made your musical taste what it is today? What was a pivotal moment or period for you as you began to develop your own musical aesthetic?

- Retail DJ

Post-Election Blues . . . or Reds?

3 Nov

Most of the results are in (see updated information here) from yesterday’s elections, and the entire country is seeing red. . . for different reasons of course. If you look at the map, it’s almost entirely red, which is pretty shocking to see. Democrats suffered considerable losses this election, but it wasn’t an accident.

I normally don’t go into politics here on Retail DJ, but I will just come right out and say it: I think this election will affect a lot of people in ways they may not have imagined, particularly when it comes to social issues like immigration, rights for LGBT people, and provisions within the new healthcare plan. And while some may be celebrating, others may be crying themselves to sleep. Either way, music can help :-)

For those of you staying up late and victory dancing your way into Wednesday, for those of you who need a soundtrack as you kick the wall in, or for those of you who couldn’t care less but have insomnia and need something to get you through the night. This new mix from Sound Pellegrino (aka France’s Teki Latex and DJ Orgasmic, both of TTC fame) will help you, no matter which side of the fence you’re on, have a wonderful night or a happy commute to work tomorrow. Though its title has a bit to do with time travel (which I am sure a few of the Dems out there wish they could do right about now),  it’s very fitting for the here and now. With lots of new tracks (including a Homework remix of Joyce Muniz’s “Party Over Here, Party Over There” (a little trivia: one half of Homework, Tom Waist, created the video for the Muniz track), it’s sure to open a few ears and minds.

Enjoy the hell out of this. I sure did:

Sound Pellegrino Thermal Team – Post-Time Travel Nosebleed

(click to play)

via Discobelle

 

- Retail DJ

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…)

Funk on a Friday: Extra Credit

24 Sep

I often find myself thinking that music is coming to a standstill. After listening to hundreds of tracks and mixes on a weekly basis, things begin to sound the same, creating a sonic plateau of bleeps, buzzes, and bass-heavy repetition. It seems like electronic music hits a wall here and there, each DJ or producer simply parroting one another, either due to lack of originality or an inaccurate interpretation of mimicry as inspiration. But from the depths monotony, a few DJs truly provide a beacon of hope.

One such example is DJ duo Homework, whose work I’ve lauded here on the site before, but whose consistently excellent mixes will continue to earn them continued praise. In their latest mix for the Made to Play Podcast, there is not a single dull moment. This time around, the boys of Homework devote their energy to old school soul, funk, house, and an overall slick set of beats that work for just about any act taking place on a weekend night, particularly Friday.

In some ways, Friday has become a bit like a Monday for me in terms of energy levels with all the week-day dancing. This mix is certainly a pick-me-up, providing the perfect amount of motivation to push me through all the steps needed to make Friday night solid. I hope that you all enjoy it as much as I do (I use present tense as I am literally enjoying it for the 6th time today, if that’s any testament to its excellence). Cheers for an A+ well earned.

Homework – Made to Play Podcast No. 011

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

 

- Retail DJ

Oldies But Goodies: Lazy Bones

26 May

One of the things that I have realized about a lot of people these days is that they are generally musically lazy. Most people listen to what they hear when they go out or on the radio, but don’t really do their homework. The same can be said of fashion, actually, with most folks wearing whatever the magazines say is cool without looking for new designers and putting together unique outfits. The problem could be a result of media overload, the aftermath of our being so frequently exposed to new things (be they music or fashion or anything, to be honest) by way of the infinite sources of communication and news proliferation. People sometimes become so overwhelmed that they just throw in the towel. There is no possible way they can keep up, so they just surrender altogether.

Yet on the flip side, there are still people out there who dig around on a frequent basis to expand their knowledge, music being one of those pursuits. Being one of those people means I am often exhausted, every club outing becomes an aural game of Jeopardy (oh, this is that sample from X or this is a remix of Y), I run through portable hard drives like rolls of toilet paper, and my iPod, though it’s huge, is always too full. Ultimately, I find myself in a place of constant downloading, listening, reviewing, and recommending of music, but it’s a happy place, and one that gives me the opportunity to recognize when others out there are doing the same.

One such example is Quinten 909, a Dutch DJ who has put together a great mix for the blog Too Many Sebastians that combines his tracks with a ton of old school French house and nuevo disco tracks. This mix is fun and light, but also perfect for someone who is as music-obsessed as I, being that it travels so deeply into an old sound that may not be familiar to all. So be a little lazy for once, and just listen with an empty head. Let your ears do all the work for you.

Quinten 909 – Mix for Too Many Sebastians

TooManySebastians Mix /0510 by Quinten909

tracklist after the jump

(more…)

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