I’ve always had a not-so-secretive obsession with discovering FUCKJAMS, and the artists who make these infinitely pleasurable tunes. (first article) My fascination and unapologetic depravity has led me to produce a new monthly feature for the site that will feature sexy mixes from both local heroes and globally-praised names alike, who have been asked to deliberately contribute to my own personal, and yet very public celebration of these unabashedly pervert-centric sounds.
The first volume of our series comes from San Diego’s own disco-love inducing pair, French Kiss Collective. FKC recently celebrated the release of their premiere EP, White Lightning, earlier this month: a blissful 3-piece collection of their own originals and their own dreamy Poolside rework; tracks that would make any chip on a shoulder sparkle in the LED light and swoonworthy synth coos that would make the hips of any disco lover quiver during their ethereal builds. Needless to say, we were impressed and very proud of FKC’s debut release. Thus we reached out to these mastros in the art of instilling sensually grooves on the floor and asked if they would put together a well-mixed collection of tunes, made explicitly for evoking promiscuity and deviance behind closed doors. And the result is a plunge into a pool of hour-long, uncompromisable sensuality.
For those of you that want to have sex that involves feelings, this is the perfect über luscious disco mix that integrates perfect hip-plungin grooves and emotions that exist outside the beer-goggles continuum. The mix starts with a nice & delicate foreplay section. But then by the 17 minute mark, the mix drops into Gigamesh & Amanda Love‘s Red Light all inhibitions quickly reside and it’s GAME ON. A frisk transition into animalistic bass passion and alluring vocals that will no doubt have you and your partner in crime clawing your way to the bedroom.
Other worthy audible mentionables include U-tern‘s reflip of Shock Talk, Doctor Dru & Adana Twin‘s Juicy Fruit, and a chunky slice of Falcon Punch‘s unreleased spacy drop Illusion. The FKC boys however were damn kind enough to share their salacious selection of hip-thrust-worthy disco love jams below:
Track List:
1. Alex Gopher – Super Disco
2. D-Pulse – Velocity Of Love (Hot Toddy Mix)
3. Mark E – Special FX
4. Louis La Roche – Footsteps
5. Cicada Elle Et – Cicada Elle Et Moi
6. Gigamesh – Red Light Ft. Amanda Love (Original Mix)
7. Shock – Shock Talk (U-Tern Disco Mix)
8. Francis Inferno Orchestra – So Devine
9. BoomBox – Midnight on the Run
10. Daft Punk – Something About Us (Cherokee Remix)
11. Fritz Kalkbrenner – Facing The Sun
12. Tensnake – Believin’
13. Jonas Rathsman – Tobago
14. Doctor Dru & Adana Twins – Juicy Fruit
15. Falcon Punch – Illusion (unreleased)
In preparation for what we’ve decided is bar none the most exciting thing going on on the West Coast for NYE 2011/2012, SNOW GLOBE FESTIVAL (Lake Tahoe) we were anxious to speak with one artist that we cannot WAIT to see at the event: Venice Beach, CA-based glitch-hop/future-beats producerKraddy.
Kraddy has had a tremendous year: throwing down maverick performances at Lightning in a Bottle, inadvertently shutting down his own release party, and continuously redefining electronic dance music with the integration of live instrumental aspects in cahoots with particularly legendary heroes in his performances. The follow-up to his highly revered future-music EP, Labyrinth,Kraddy’s latest Anthems of the Hero album release has no doubt demonstrated the next frontier in forward-focused and visionary electronic music production.
As one of the founding members of universally-recognized giants The Glitch Mob, Kraddy parted ways with the crew after they all collectively agreed, Kraddy was definitely, at heart, a solo artist; who needed to pursue the unconventional-seeking wavelength of his own mindful direction of sound. And the outcome of this decision, could not have more tremendous, and incontestably positive as a whole for the underground’s mobilization to the public sphere.
Following his gut and a self-compelled duty to shatter existing genre-confines, his 2008 release of “Android Porn” was not only the result of pent up bravado but evidently, the unheralded ammunition that initiated the rise of a pulsing movement; one that was characterized by a hybridized and (at the time) indecisive family of distinctive sounds. Android Porn became the archetypal anthem of the rapidly attention-reaping and decidedly-monumental “glitch-hop” movement, quickly becoming the soundtrack for various Youtube sensations and almost as immediately, was licensed for several TV shows such as “America’s Best Dance Crew” and “America’s Got Talent.”
While Android Porn seemingly flung open the door of possibilities and presented a space for sonic clarity, Kraddy’s follow-up, his Labyrinth EP was an exploration of new musical foreground, incorporating an overflow of “grandiose symphonics, soulful emotion, pounding rhythm and crunching low end.”
Now with the latest release of his third album, “Anthems of the Hero”,Kraddy is yet again hell bent on keeping both his fans and the world of curious on-lookers guessing – left, right, and one flew over the Cuckoo’s nest, where he will be going next. In a kaleidoscope wide-array of ideas, Kraddy in essence vigorously shakes the tube and twists the viewfinder until he comes across a hybridization of colors and sparkles that he finds pleasing; and presents an accurate summation of his discoveries in audible forms – ones that he knows will cause crowds to absolutely LOSE THEIR SHIT.
Kraddy was kind enough to take some time and talk to me about all the cool things he’s come across this past year and all the awesome things he has planned for both his upcoming performances in Lake Tahoe at Snow Globe Festivaland for the EDM world in 2012. The following conversation will give you glimpse at the eccentric inter-workings of Kraddy’s perpetually-stoked approach to creating future-minded music and his ever-inventive, NEVER to be predicted train of thought…
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TheMixster: How did the name Kraddy o Daddy come about?
Kraddy: Well my last name is Kratz, so I had a high school friend that started calling me “Kraddy”.. And then you know how nicknames just start catching on, and then grow into other nicknames, so it was Kraddy, Kraddy o Daddy, Fatty Kraddy, pretty much every variation on it possible. SO when I decided to use it as my website name, it was essentially carved in stone.
TheMixster: At your Lightning in a Bottle and your Avalon shows you integrated the use of live percussion – do you plan on building or adding more instrumental elements to your live performances?
Kraddy: Yea I mean I definitely love having the drummer there for the live shows, I’d actually love to play more [personally]! I was thinking about incorporating a keyboard into the show because I can play piano so I could play a little bit… I think those elements are fun, they keep things interesting.
TheMixster: What was it like sharing the stage with legendary drummer Dave Lombardo of Slayer? That’s kinda BIG time…!
Kraddy: It was fucking awesome. It was mind-blowing, I’m still recovering from the fact that I somehow got to meet Henry Rollins and Dave Narvarro and all these great musicians… And Dave Lombardo is just the nicest guy ever. We had a lot of fun rehearsing it and he’s just a total pro. Just today I was scrolling through the contacts on my phone and I thought to myself, “I can’t believe I have Dave Lombardo’s number on my phone.! That is totally cool.”
TheMixster: So if you could do it all over again, if you could choose another live musician you’d like to have on stage with you as well at that Avalon show, who would you choose?
Kraddy: Shit! Let’s mix it up, bring in Ludacris! THAT would be awesome. Why not just like instead of just try to make it like one thing or another, just totally mix it up and do something brand new!?
TheMixster: When composing your tracks in the studio do you keep in mind the huge venues/outdoor festivals you’ll be playing in? How does that affect the way you produce or compose the track?
Kraddy: I’m always thinking about the dance floor and I’m always thinking about the sound system, as far as what’s going to translate over a sound system. Also, what, as far as production goes, like the beat lines and how the bass sounds. And of course about how the crowds react and what really works for crowds. Whenever I’m DJing I’m always paying attention to what works. Even when I’m watching other people perform, I will see what works for them and learn from that as well.
TheMixster: Since you’ve been involved in the game for a while and you’ve been recognized as a pioneer of sound within the EDM realm, who do you think is currently creating the best change or making the greatest impact on bass music?
Kraddy: I hope I still am?! And then other people I admire and I really like what they’re doing – I was touring with Big Gigantic for a while, I feel like they’re really talented. Mim0sa is always really talented, as he’s still bringing in some new sounds. Other people I am digging on…. I LOVE Gaslamp Killer as a DJ. He brings everything from like classic rock to dubstep, and then throws it all together: Just putting together everything that he loves. He DJs the way I have always thought about DJing before I made music. Other people I think are doing game-changing stuff… To be honest the new Drake album, I think is really visionary and it’s pretty amazing. I love the sound of it. Jamie XX is doing some really interesting production stuff that I dig.
TheMixster: If you could choose any three artists to remix your own tracks, who would you choose and why?
Kraddy: Whoa we were just talking about this today! Cause I was talking about Rob Zombie! I love Rob Zombie and I’d love to like work with him one way or another. I just love everything he does. Trent Reznor I would love to like somehow love to be involved with him again, he’s like really visionary and he’s made a lot a of music that’s totally inspired me. Oh, and UNDERWORLD. I love Underworld. I would love them to remix my music, and I’m sure they would kill it.
TheMixster: Looking forward into 2012, what can we expect from you in the way of releases, special projects, collaborations, etc?
Kraddy: I just released Anthems of the Hero, so I have remixes for that. We are going to be releasing one of those a week, starting in the new year. We have some good ones lined up. We’re gonna be introducing some up-and-coming producers whose work I really enjoy, who I asked to do remixes for me. A while ago I did this ‘Labyrinth Project’ with Heavyweight Dub Champion where he remixes my Labyrinth EP in like classic dub style. And I’m just sitting on it, we haven’t found a good place to release it. That has been something I have always wanted to put out. It’s pretty left field, it’s pretty interesting, I really like it.
And then you know, I’m just always writing new songs and I’ve even been working on some stuff that’s “non-Kraddy”; I’ve been working on some other projects that sound like… I don’t even know what to call the style but this slow disco stuff, like ‘chillwave’ type of sound. I’m definitely writing some songs that belong in that world… I’ve also been writing some tracks that are kinda wonky hip hop, off-beat, off-kilter kinda hip-hop sound, and beats… I’ve been getting into all of that. Sooo we’ll see what comes to fruition. We’re also going to be bringing in some productions of live shows, and really revamp all that and do something new.
**Alright so since it’s the last weekish of 2011, and since Kraddy is playing a NYE show, we’re sort of obligated to do a sentimental best of 2011 Q & A I suppose… So I’ve prepared a list of questions for Kraddy, for him to answer with one or more word answers…**
TheMixster: What was your favorite show/performance this year?
Kraddy: Lightning in a Bottle. We were just talking about this today as well! We had flame effects there like pyrotechnics. And the audience LOVED it – but I’m not sure if they knew that I was JUST as absolutely excited as they were to have it! It was so cool.
TheMixster: Favorite track by a different artist?
Kraddy: Hmmm… THAT is a really tough one, there are soo many good ones… Hold on I’m going to look at my iPod and look up by “date added” that’s how I know what I’ve listened to…. Man there are too many good ones…
TheMixster: Alright how about just the last track you’ve listened to?
TheMixster: Least favorite track by a different artist?
Kraddy: Well I hate to put people down because even if it’s not my taste it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad… The thing is, when I hear terrible tracks I don’t remember the artist, in fact I feel like I try and forget! I was on Beatport the other day previewing some stuff that I thought, “Wow. This is SO fucking bad!” And THIS was a track that was in the Top 10 somehow.. I was just browsing to see what was popular, just out of curiosity. It was a DJ I had never heard of.. And yea, I can get into ANYTHING, but this was just so cheeseball and the vocals…. Ugh, it’s always the vocals that kill it for me.
TheMixster: Coolest thing you bought?
Kraddy: Well I bought a computer this year, that’s pretty cool?!
TheMixster: Coolest iPad app? (music or not)
Kraddy: I am suuuper into my iPad! I play a lot of games on my iPad so I play like “Infinity Blade” which I love. There’s some music apps… But Infinity Blade is so cool, I’m on it ALL the time.
TheMixster: Coolest tumblr you stumbled upon?
Kraddy: The “Girls Who Look Like Skrillex” one is pretty funny. Although I thought it was so stupid and funny… I think it’s amazing that Sonny has become this phenomenon. He started out just like this quirky weird punk rock kid and now he’s like this megastar. I think it’s kinda amazing that there’s a website dedicated to girls who look like Sonny, Skrillex. It’s hilarious.
TheMixster: Best restaurant or thing you’ve eaten in LA?
Kraddy: LA is good! I personally love Hama Sushi, it’s right by my house, I go there all the time. And they always show surf videos so they ‘get me’ there too.
TheMixster: Favorite Surf Movie of all time?
Kraddy: SURF MOVIE?! ummm Point Break. [laughs] Surf videos?! I have a ton of them, but I just watch them, I never remember the names of them. But Point Break is a really cool surf movie. [hahahahahahahahaha]
TheMixster: Favorite Surf spot in LA?
Kraddy: I go down to this place called El Porto a lot. I love Malibu, Malibu is beautiful but it’s always crowded. When we sail a boat to spots people can’t walk to it’s truly the ‘California Dream.’
TheMixster: Something you wish you didn’t do when you were drunk?
Kraddy: O my God… I mean this is a long list too… Ummmmmmm…. None of these I want people to know about…
TheMixster: OK. How about the *COOLEST* thing you did while you were drunk?
Kraddy: [laughs] It’s funny because I think my idea of cool and bad are kinda similar… It’s hard because my job is seen as “cool”… O! Something cool and dumb, I was at an afterparty and I was like “I wanna play!!” and it was like, five in the morning. I had already played, but I wanted to do it again, so everyone was like “yeah yeah yeah go for it!” So I got up there and I started playing all these classic Hip Hop jams that I really love, and everyone just kinda stopped, and the whole place was like, “This is lame..” Like 20 minutes later, I had cleared the floor completely and I finally realized “NOBODY IS FUCKING INTO THIS AT ALL.”… This was in Reno… So that was really cool, and really dumb.
TheMixster: LOL! If your music were a type of animal what would it be and why?
Kraddy: A liger. Because it’s a mix of a couple different… things. And it’s magical.
You can Download the entire “Anthems of the Hero” album on his website, in exchange for yo’ email.
But if you’re gonna download anything, DEFINITELY download this track –>
When I first told my young creatively-unhinged friend and well-seasoned dubstep producer EshOne about this newish genre called Moombahton, I certainly had no clue it would go this far:
What began as playfully dabbling, met with temporary waves of frustration, then back to more informed dabbling, soon resulted in a fully solidified track. The next day, he decided to make another one. And then, another one. Soon a goofy Soundcloud that was created as a joke one drunken evening, started to gain attention. His previously overlooked ‘Tijuana Bass’ collection, was then featured on premiere music blog Generation Bass; and soon enough I too, found myself eagerly booking him, now DON VALDEZ, as the HEADLINER of our next moombahton monthly ¡BAJATON! Earlier this week, and just 10 minutes after sending off a casual promo, he swiftly had an EP deal signed with Rot10 Musik: the most recognized and distinguished Moombahton music label, worldwide.
Perhaps it is worth mentioning that this initial aforementioned dialogue, began approximatelyTHREE WEEKSAGO. EshOne, too, caught the MOOMB bug: hook, line, sinker, and almost as quickly, was SIGNED as Don Valdez. Rot10 Musik‘s newest signing and already promising artist on the up-and-up.
Motivated fully by the inherently lady-pleasing direction and the genre-wide’s lighthearted approach to the sound as a whole, DON VALDEZ‘s brand of global mid tempo bass strives to achieve one thing: Making bass music that’s REALLY FUN.
“A lot of people say that they don’t understand Moombahton,” says Valdez. “I don’t think there’s anything to get… It’s fun. That’s all there is to it.”
Whereas dubstep is universally-understood as having a more dude-centric appeal, simply put, Moombahton is a unique facet of the BASS MUSIC realm that is unanimously well-received by those who crave their bass fix with a whole lotta groove. Inspired by fantasies of crowded dancefloors fluid with waves of booty-movin’ movement and tequila-initiated recklessness abundant, THE DON VALDEZ PROJECT, thus transpired. And the rest is all, relatively recent, history.
The Don himself has kindly provided TheMixster.com the exclusive of his premiere mix and we’re damn honored to feature the debut of THE DON VALDEZ PROJECT: a dual collection of both his Tijuana Bass originals and fresh-off-the-mixer Moombahton productions. His well-mixed set features minty floor-fillers set at that *Magic Moombah BPM* of 108 , along with his immense arsenal of significantly kicked-up 140 BPM heaters focused solely on the cuttyside of Latin Bass tip. Although only a handful “Non-Don” tracks are included on this mix, the chosen moombahs on his list happen to be 3 of my ALL time faves. DON VALDEZ also artfully intertwines several audible selections by way of Numa Crew‘s Arge and also by fellow SD-native & local beats producer, MISK,(whom we are told was also just recently converted to the dark side [of the Moomb!!]) amidst his own on the mix.
Upon receipt of 25 hearts, THE DON will enable the free download option. In the meantime, stream away to su corazón’s content… FOR FULL TRACKLIST, follow this link to his Soundcloud page.
LA native, Jason Stewart, better known to the greater EDM/hipster-sphere as Them Jeans, has been an integral part of Dim Mak‘s inner circle of trust almost since the label’s very inception. As the main promoter and resident DJ of LA’s infamous DIM MAK TUESDAYS – responsible for curating and hosting some of the biggest indie/electro school night curfew-crushing RAGERS for over 7 years running, Them Jeans is considered to be one of the key proponents and foremost tastemakers in the sonic diversification of LA’s burgeoning underground/hip-centric club scene. His personal arsenal of his own productions contains an eclectic yet consistently floor-flooding collection of remixes and tracks that range from tropical big room to classic indie electro reflips and even to, a more recent, head first dive into techno. His diversified and genre-boundless approach to his sound is reflected in his unparalleled ability to forecast next-level sounds; the personal contribution of which has had irrefutable significance in shaping the Dim Mak empire into the globally-renowned super EDM power that it is today.
Despite the impending chaos of the county-wide BLACK-OUT that had struck the almighty City of Los Angeles just hours prior, Them Jeans was kind enough to sit down inside his LA pad (assumably in the dark) and have a lighthearted conversation with us. With no lack of dry humor and inferred idolization for Diplo involved, we chatted about his new DJ talk show podcast, TALL TALES, the somewhat surprising direction of sound of his more recent & forthcoming releases, his gourmand-approved Twitter, and about being really, really tall.
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TheMixster.com:It’s been a minute since we’ve last seen you in San Diego. So perhaps for the peeps who are new to the nightlife scene and maybe haven’t heard you spin before let’s start from the beginning – How did you first get involved with Dim Mak?
Them Jeans: Well I started the Tuesday Night parties then after 6 months or so, I brought in Aoki and we’ve been doing it ever since.
TheMixster.com:How would you describe your role with Dim Mak now?
Them Jeans: I just do parties with them, that’s all! Steve and I have done 100s of parties over the years together and we help each other. He uses his power of being “Steve Aoki” and I use my skills of figuring out what’s cool, who to book, what kind of music they should be playing, and generally making sure that the overall vibe of every party is not lame.
TheMixster.com: Let’s talk about your Tall Tales’ podcast. You just started doing your new talkshow podcast this past August. And you’ve already had some pretty impressive guest hosts on the show– including Justin Martin, Drop the Lime, AC Slater, Felix Cartal among several other high-profile names. What has been the best or the most memorable Tall Tales Podcast for you thus far?
Them Jeans: My favorite podcast thus far is the Drop The Lime one because we got drunk and there was a bunch of people.. Usually it’s just me and like one or two more people and it’s a bit more intimate. But that one was him and his whole band, and all my friends were there. It was more like a big party. Definitely one of the most fun ones for me. (Link to Podcast)
TheMixster.com:There’s a lot of shit on the internet these days. So what makes Tall Tales special? Why would someone tune into your podcast?
Them Jeans: As far as I know I have the only DJ podcast that has no music. It’s 100% talk show only. There’s a lot of DJ podcasts out there, and there’s a lot of talk show podcasts out there. And usually DJs have bad interviews and they’ve been asked the same questions over and over again. Present company excluded of course! (note: thanks for that.) A lot of times you know, and I’m sure you’ve read a lot of DJ interviews with like the same 10 questions over and over again. One my show I ask questions so that discussions gets a little deeper and talk about random stuff [listeners] might not know about.
TheMixster.com:Are there any artists/guests you have lined up already for some future shows?
Them Jeans: We have The Juan Maclean coming in this week, hopefully soon we’ll have Congorock… Kinda really just whoever’s in town, which changes every week. It’s really just when we have DJ friends in town.
TheMixster.com:Is there someone that you get or still get a little starstruck by in particular?
Them Jeans: Yea, I’d say probably… I really liked hanging out with Mr. Oizo and playing with him. I don’t idolize him but I really admire him for everything he does and I’m a big fan of his. Even though he’s not a giant star, he still made me a little nervous. A little giddy.
TheMixster.com: For the most part, you’re known for your endless collection dance floor-ready remixes. Is there one element you look for in particular when deciding which tracks are worthy of a ‘Them Jeans’ reflipping?’
Them Jeans: Well one thing is.. I like to take songs that don’t have drums on them. So that way it’s like working with a blank canvas, one that I can create a new song out of. I just did a remix for Childish Gambino, and [the original version] is a heavy song. The beat is kind of a heavier electro kind of song, and then I made it like kind of girly, mellow, into a nice piano song. I just like showing different sides of tracks that most may have never thought of or noticed before…
TheMixster.com: As the master remixer extraordinare, I’m curious: if you could choose ANY three artists to remix YOUR own original tracks, who would you choose?
Them Jeans: Whoa that’s a good one! Mr. Oizo would be one of them. Erol Alkan… Annnddddd, this is a tough one… Wait for it, it’s gonna come to me… Oh yea, and Diplo.
TheMixster.com: Duh.
Them Jeans: Duhhhhhh!
TheMixster.com: What do you have planned for us in 2012? Saw you just put up a track called “Voodoo” about a month ago… Can we hope/expect to see more original Them Jeans tracks or possibly a full release?
Them Jeans: Actually “Voodoo” has not been released yet. We’re waiting on the whole package of remixes, so hopefully it will come out next month, maybe the beginning of next year… I have a remix coming out soon, and I am also working on some techno originals right now but not really sure what’s gonna happen to them yet.. I’ve been into the techno music lately, making original stuff…
TheMixster.com: What! Last time I saw you you were drunk at a small indie club playing hard electro jams. That’s a big change!
Them Jeans: HAHA! yea as you can see I have a problem jumping all over the place…
TheMixster.com:How’s that considered a problem?! You can only tell because you’re like 8 ft. tall.
Them Jeans: (laughs) yea I that’s why I don’t get away with it.
TheMixster.com: Have you ever met a DJ that’s taller than you?
Them Jeans: ummm actually no…. I’ve never met a DJ that’s taller than me. I met one in Australia who was the SAME height as me. But not taller. Haha. I’m the tallest DJ! Woo!
TheMixster.com: What’s one track you have in arsenal that’s been getting a great reaction from the dance floor these days?
Them Jeans: Um…. Well um other than Rhianna and Calvin Harris?! (laughs) One I like to play is the Erol Alkan‘s remix of Metronomy. I’ve always tried and to find a way to fit that into my sets, over the last two months. Cuz I like to hear it. For people who haven’t heard the song before it’s really mellow, and everyone kinda just stands around wondering what’s gonna happen, but when the song kicks in people really like it because it’s like a fun surprise.
TheMixster.com: At Dim Mak you guys get first access to some of the best, and well everything else the underground music world has to offer. Who are a couple of emerging artists you’ve found within the last year that you think we should be paying more attention to?
Them Jeans: I likeSam Tiba. There’s this guy SFV Acid from here in LA that’s really unknown but he’s really good.
TheMixster.com: Looking forward into 2012, what genre or direction of sound do you think is going to be the “next big thing” in LA?
Them Jeans: Hmmmm next big thing in LA… Usually I can kind of predict but right now I don’t think I really can! I mean I thought people would get sick of dubstep by now but that’s not happening. Moombahton keeps getting bigger and bigger as well! I think people here are starting to get a little sick of the Dutch House, but I think techno is definitely making a little big of a comeback right now.
TheMixster.com: Outside of the Dim Mak compound what are some of your favorite local hangs?
Them Jeans: I like going to Proof Coffee shop. And I like going to Cacao Mexican foodin Eagle Rock. And lastly I like going to….. Ooo! Taco Zone. (laughs) Taco Zone: Taco. And then the word “ZONE.”
TheMixster.com: It sounds really authentic.
Them Jeans. Oh, it’s VERY authentic. It’s a truck.
TheMixster.com:Last question – what’s the coolest thing about being “Them Jeans”?
Them Jeans: The coolest thing about being me?! Ummm whoa. I’d say probably my Twitter photos of food. Yea those pics on Twitter, are the coolest thing I’ve ever done. As you can see, I have a very important life.
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Catch Dim Mak’s finest, and indisputably, TALLEST, next-level party-provocateur behind the decks at The Loft @ UCSD tonight, along with fellow LA-natives Poolside! Show is 18+/21+ to booze and starts at 8:30pm.
(Click on flyer for tickets/event info/guest list)
I was just about halfway out the door to a quaint Small Business Law Seminar last Thursday afternoon when I received an email asking if I wanted to interview the world’s most renowned tongue-in-cheek Twitter censorship board nightmare and most unabashedly promiscuous bass juggernaut, BORGORE.
After I replied with a resounding “FUCK YES.” and less than an hour to prepare, I realized just the task I had at hand..
Tel Aviv-born Asaf Borger, aka BORGORE, isn’t well-known for being just another dubstep producer. His brand of sound – self-proclaimed GORESTEP – is the result of not only his own personal celebration of controversy, instigated from shamelessly corrupt and uproariously cheeky lyrics but also, his profound musical aptitude. His masterful dexterity for a multitude of instruments such as the concert piano and saxophone extends to his passion for deathmetal-style drumming and beat-boxing. Definitely not your average musician. Or average human being for that matter.
Since 2007, Borgore has traveled the world, sharing his charismatically offensive daily thoughts with his massive following of loyal revelers he’s rapidly amassed across his social platforms in just a short amount of time. Present day, BORGORE owns and runs his own label, BUYGORE, which features several high-profile international artists including Tomba, Bare Noise, and Bare. Not to mention he has collaborated with top-tier artist, DIPLO,on multiple occasions. His video for his single “Nymphos” alone has garnered over 20 million views worldwide and his tracks are being featured on TV programes like the UK’s hit series “Skins.”
Looking forward into 2012, BORGORE’s forthcoming EP “The Filthiest Hits… So Far” is set to drop in early Spring; and BORGORE who is certainly no stranger to celebration has already begun reveling and gearing up for a cross-country aural assault in the form of a solo- US tour, that is set to land in San Diego at the House of Blues on November 30th, 2011. (Tickets)
It’s hard to imagine what questions this guy has NOT been confronted with: in one interview he was even asked how he makes the flavor of his cum more favorable to the ladies (for you curious souls, his answer was Pineapple Juice.) Thus it’s fair to say there’s nothing this guy hasn’t been asked. SO I attempted to ask him questions I knew he hadn’t been asked before, according to those interviews listed on the first 2 pages of a basic Google search, “BORGORE Interview” (minus a couple shitty 10+ min videos I didn’t really feel like watching.) So, this is what I came up in my 46 minutes of preparation. Enjoy.
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The Mixster: You’re typically used to performing and touring around Europe and you’re back know in the states for your solo tour. Do you notice any striking differences between European and American Crowds? And their reaction to dubstep in general?
Borgore: I’ll tell you what. Europe as a whole, the scenes are super different from one country to the other. So. Uhhh. What I’ve seen around Europe, is most of Europe is into the dubstep sound. They love it. Almost more than America. If you have a festival in lets say Belgium or in Holland you’ll get thousands of people. But I feel like dubstep is struggling in its own country. Dubstep right now in the UK is struggling because everyday there is a big show. So it’s just like day after day they can’t be fucked anymore you know what I’m saying? If I want to go see Borgore on this spot, I’ll go see Borgore on the other spot….. And then Skream & Benga is playing the day after, and then someone else is playing the day after that. And everything is one hour away by train. So in the UK it really pretty bad.
The Mixster: In terms of how Americans react to dubstep. Are they more wild are they more crazy or are Europeans on the same wavelength?
Borgore: I believe that there is no difference right now in the world because of the internet. People in Eastern Europe know what the freshest thing in America, and vice versa, the day after it comes out. Everyone is on top of their game, like the kids today in Europe, Australia, everywhere, are on top of their game because ofthe internet?, because of facebook. You’re seeing the same thing everywhere you go. The same songs, certain styles.
The Mixster: You obviously believe strongly in the emerging artists in Tel Aviv’s bass music scene. If there were one thing you think the world should know about the scene, what would it be?
Borgore: First of all. In 2006 we had big big headliners that pulled thousands of people. So Tel Aviv was on top of its game earlier than anyone else.A lot of people think we’re riding camels and we don’t know whats up. It’s just like another state of the US. It’s like LA, we’re on top of it.
The Mixster:Unlike, well every other label, your label Buygore, releases every single onto vinyl. Why do you believe so strongly in supporting the vinyl medium?
Borgore: Because any other media right now is dead. Basically no one is making videos anymore. MTV doesn’t believe in their own media anymore. Everyone knows what goes on the internet. What works. You don’t sell records anymore you sell files. So if you get 20 million views on a video on youtube, you have people coming to the show. I went to a record store in Tel Aviv and I was like I want to have the new such and such record. And they were like “well we don’t have it.” So I tried to get it from the internet and they wouldn’t ship to Tel Aviv. If I live in Tel Aviv or Jakarta I should have which ever media I want. In China or Iran you get whatever you want, I’m saying whatever I should get what I want too.
The Mixster:Why did you chose to release your latest EP, The Filthiest Hits… So Far, on Sumerian Records as opposed to your own label?
Borgore: Why did I choose to do that…?I don’t know, I think coming from a metal world and still loving my background I thought it would be cool ya know? I’m touring right now with a bunch of metal bands. And I play with all those guys. I love it, man. This is where I’m coming from, I’m coming from the acoustic world.
The Mixster: Aspiring artists seem to be SO fascinated by everything you guys do technically as producers. Given your unique background of experience amongst a variety of instruments, I would assume you however approach elements of studio production much differently than your peers would. So how do you begin personally building a track from scratch?
Borgore: Well first of all you need to come up with an idea. It’s always “what am I going to first?” If I’m going to sing on the track then I’m going to first think about what I’m going sing about, or make the intro. If I want a sexy tune, I’ll start with a sexy lead and kind of a heavy 808 drum. If I need to do a remix for a rock band or I need to make a dubstep banger I’ll sit down and find a heavy bass note. So first of all you need to understand what you want to do, then you move forward from there. But you cannot just sit there and play around, from my perspective you have to realize what you’re going to do.
The Mixster:So a question that we ask all of our bass music artists is, we hate the term brostep, is there another word or term you would use to describe that type of music or sound?
Borgore: Do you know where “brostep” came from?
The Mixster: Haha please tell us where “brostep” came from.
Borgore: Basically what happened is that drum & bass in the beginning was cool and then they started doing all this “bro” drum & bass. They’d only pulled bros to shows. So when dubstep got a bit heavier like when people like Datsik, Flux Pavilion, and myself popped up, they started saying “oh you guys are ruining dubstep it’s gonna be brostep there’s gonna be only boys in the show.” And basically we brought the hoes so they can fuck off.
The Mixster: So you’re OK with the term brostep?
Borgore: I don’t care; they can call it whatever they want. Ya know what people these days, I swear to God. My friend calling me, “yo listen to this dubstep version of this tune.” I’m like “man this is not dubstep this is proper electro or house or whatever.” But you know you can whatever EDM now dubstep. So you know titles are… I don’t know; fuck titles. If they wanna call it brostep I don’t mind.
The Mixster: What’s in your arsenal right now that you’ve been getting a great reaction to on the dance floor.
Borgore: I’ll tell you what. There’s so many tracks that get a great reaction that I just cannot listen to them anymore cuz I listen to them every night. But I’ll tell you what makes me jump the most in my shows. There’s a remix of Modestep‘s “To the Stars”. The only problem is I don’t remember who did the remix. But it’s my favorite. But there’s so many great tunes right now. There’s the Knife Party remix of “Crush on You” and the Killsonik’s remix of “Crush on You.” I don’t know there’s a couple great tunes that just came out. I’m pretty happy with my own remix of Hollywood Undead’s “I Wanna Die.” Modestep – To The Stars (Break the Noize & The Autobots Remix)
The Mixster: If GORESTEP, your own brand of dubstep, were an animal, what would it be and why?
Borgore: A French Bulldog. Because they’re cute.
The Mixster: I’m not sure if the word “cute” is the first word that comes to mind when I see a video like “Nympho.”
Borgore: What are you talking about!? “Nympho” is SO cute!
The Mixster: Alrightit’s so cute.
Borgore: Oh my God. I’m working on a new tune that’s gonna be fucking ….. if you thought you heard bad lyrics before, I’m gonna really fuck with feminists on this one.
The Mixster: SO… the lyrics are gonna be extra cute?
Borgore: Yeah they’re gonna be extra EXTRA cute.
The Mixster: If you were to redo your “Nympho” video over again and you could choose any one woman to be in the video, who would it be and why?
Borgore: Man I would just bring the whole Victoria Secret roster cuz they’re SO fucking hot.
The Mixster: Hell yeah. Well hopefully they’ll be on Google and they’ll find this. Plant the seed…
Borgore: Well give me a year. One year from now I’ll do a video with those chicks. I’m not even kidding. I’m shooting a video right now with Richard Farmer.
The Mixster: For what single are you shooting your new video for?
Borgore: A tune called “Flex.” It should be out soon.
The Mixster: In your opinion, who are some artists we should be paying more attention to these days?
Borgore: ummmm I dunno. There’s plenty of them. I don’t want to name one cause then I wouldn’t give the rest the credit that they deserve. Just be open you know. If you listen to me or Skrillex or Flux Pavilion. They’re big and they’re being pushed right now. Just keep exploring further as a whole. Don’t just stop at UKF just keep surfing.
The Mixster: So you’ve been working with a lot of artists these days, but if you could choose any 3 artists to remix your own tracks, who would they be?
Borgore: Let me give you a different answer. If I could work with 3 producers to produce my own tunes it would be Lex Luger [Or maybe Lex Luther?], Mark Ronson and Bangladesh.
The Mixster: we’re looking forward to seeing you here in San Diego. Is there anyone tune that your definitely going to play when you get here to San Diego?
Borgore: All of them. There’s too many to name
The Mixster: Thanks for taking the time today to talk with us Asaf, see you in SD soon!
SAN DIEGO GORE HEADS!!! BE SURE to nab your tickets for BORGORE’s upcoming SD show, going down this WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 30th at the House of Blues!! Ticket quantities are running pretty low so don’t get stuck buying your tickets off some shady dude on Craigslist, buy your tickets ASAP!! Buy tickets Here. Show is 18+/21+ to get wasted. LET’S DO THIS.
One of bass music’s finest, Sugarpill, has been on a constant journey — from playing top 40 tunes in Florida clubs and sweating balls while working in a warehouse to, now, absolutely murdering massive crowds with original firepower. A man who compares his music with the likes of a mongoose is surely on the right path to bass stardom. This glitch-fueled Headtron juggernaut—armed with bass cannons few have seen—will make your booty shake and eyes quake. And get this! He’s coming down to sunny San Diego on Oct. 29th for what is about to be one of the most Earth-shaking fiascos of the year.
Fortunately, I was able to catch up with the busy producer and discuss forthcoming releases, past experiences, and his insight into the music world. You’ll see that he’s a really down-to-earth and mild-mannered fellow but when he steps onto the stage, he undergoes some sort of Decepticon-like transformation. So y’all need to hide your kids, hide yo wife, and hide your husband cause he’s murkin’ everybody out here!
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TheMixster.com: Although I wasn’t at this year’s Coachella, your set still looked pretty damn amazing. Was the experience of playing at Coachella pivotal as an artist on the up and up or was it just another day in the life of Sugarpill?
Sugarpill: I would say that it was definitely a really important show. There’s a lot of people and a lot of energy when you get all those people together. It was particularly special because I had a lot of my friends on stage with me for that one. For some of the other bigger sets that I’ve played, that hasn’t necessarily been the case just because of the way the stages were set up and who was allowed to be there. There was definitely a lot of energy on stage.
TheMixster.com: Was it particularly different from your Burning Man experience? How would you compare the two?
Sugarpill: Well, at Burning Man people are all over the place and I never really know who I’m going to see at what particular set. But at Coachella, everybody that I knew there stayed close to the DO LAB stage and I just ended up seeing a lot of people concentrated at the same stage.
TheMixster.com: How did you end up starting working with the DO LAB?
Sugarpill: I guess friends of friends mostly. Just kinda within the same social circle in life.
TheMixster.com: In the past, you’ve collaborated with fellow bass music producers Stephan Jacobs and ChrisB. What initially drew you guys together and how have you all influenced each other’s growth?
Sugarpill: Stephan asked me to do a remix for him, about a year and a half ago. And I guess we got together in the studio because I had some trouble mixing some of it down. So I headed up to his studio and hung out with him for a little while. There was definitely a good energy between him and I in the studio and it just turned into us creating stuff. We shared some tips and tricks and stuff like that and turned it into a song.
Same kinda thing with ChrisB. I think the 3 of us, just like Gladkill and a couple other artists, have this song club thing where you share new stuff you’re working on. There’s people who can be critical and you don’t have to take offense to it. So it’s kinda what we have going and it’s really nice to be able to work off what each other is doing as you go through the process.
TheMixster.com: Do you feel like you need to vibe well with fellow producers out of the studio to be productive while in the studio?
Sugarpill: Sometimes. I think the collaboration is a really interesting thing. It’s kind of more moment to moment sometimes. Sometimes you’ll be vibing really well in the studio and maybe not outside of the studio. I mean, these are like my closest friends so there’s definitely all sorts of actual stuff that goes on between us that’s not, you know, music related. I think it plays into the vibe and how it comes out altogether.
TheMixster.com: I think it’s really cool that the proceeds from your most recent track, Trouble Blind, went to charity. And this wasn’t your first time on the Bass From Above mixtape. Why do you think it’s important to take this donation-based approach instead of simply giving away or selling the track?
Sugarpill: I think it has its place amongst just giving stuff away and also selling some of the stuff. I try and stay balanced on hitting all of those different angles. For Bass From Above Vol. 1, we raised about $1000 for the Japan Earthquake Disaster and for this one [Vol. 2]—I don’t have the exact numbers—but I believe it earned that much in the first couple of days. So it’s just really cool to be able to give back in a way that feels good with the track that didn’t really have a place on anything else. A lot of times, the compilation stuff just kinda goes off into the wayside and you never really hear about it again but with the Bass From Above you know it’s going with something that’s pretty awesome.
TheMixster.com: Yeah I think it’s a great thing that SubSynthesis is doing.Anyways, you weren’t always Sugarpill. So Evan, what was the worst job you had before starting your production career?
Sugarpill: Umm, worst job. I dunno, I worked at Starbucks for a week. That was pretty bad. Not for any other reason than they get you so hooked on coffee during your shift that on your days off you go in there and have way more coffee than you’d normally want. Before I moved out here, I used to work in a warehouse—a shipping department—with no air conditioning all summer in Florida. It was pretty rough sometimes.
TheMixster.com: What was the turning point in your life when your music career took priority over everything else?
Sugarpill: Music has always been a pretty important part of the things I do. I played in all kinds of different bands and a couple of different instruments. I played bass orchestrally. My passion for music has been around for a long time but I think moving out to CA from living in Florida really made it a lot more viable focus; where I was actually interested in what I was doing, as opposed to playing some things in Florida that were not exactly what I wanted to be doing. But out here, people just really embrace what they hear. It’s pretty exciting and I definitely have a lot more drive off of that kind of feedback.
TheMixster.com: So, your music is special in the sense that you fuse bass with glitch without losing your sense of melody. Has living in LA influenced your direction of sound?
Sugarpill: Definitely. Those were elements that I was trying to go for prior to moving out here, but I didn’t really have the embracive people at the time, like I do here in LA. It’s nice to have the positive feedback that you get from people when you’re doing those things that you want to bring together. It’s just a really powerful way to keep moving forward and to keep doing those things.
TheMixster.com: So where are you from originally? How long have you been living in LA?
Sugarpill: I lived in Florida for 14 years before I moved out here, and I’ve lived in LA for 2 ½ years now.
TheMixster.com: So was it around the time that you moved to LA, when your music career started taking off?
Sugarpill: Yeah. Prior to that, I wasn’t really that interested in putting out original music. Because living in Florida, as far as DJ stuff goes, I was doing a lot better getting booked by playing top 40 things and all sorts of other music to get a gig. But once I got out here, it’s a place where people actually wanted to hear the original stuff more than the jams that everyone else has. I didn’t really share a lot of the original stuff with people prior to coming out here.
TheMixster.com: A question that we ask all of our bass music artists: Is there another way to describe the term “Bro-step” because we hate that term?
Sugarpill: I don’t really like the term either. I don’t like the sweeping generalized terms. I think a lot of people still call it dubstep and I don’t really hear the dub influences in a lot of that music anymore. I don’t think you have to call it bro-step, you kinda know what’s happening when it’s happening, I guess.
TheMixster.com: How do you personally refer to it?
Sugarpill: When it’s like beat on your chest and chainsaw sound I definitely call it bro-step. There’s a lot more to it than that. I don’t necessarily not like that sound either. I don’t like any sound that just happens consistently over and over again for 4 hours. I’m more interested in hearing someone change it up. I definitely flipped back into some stuff that I was playing before, that I guess would be called bro-step now. It’s like that heavier in your face, kind of mediated “end of the world” sound going on there. And it’s cool, definitely. I liked it but I like to change it up too. I don’t like the term Lovestep just as much. Both those terms are not super cool for me.
TheMixster.com: If your music was a type of animal, what type would it be? And Why?
Sugarpill: Oh wow. Maybe like a mongoose combined with a wedding because it kinda gets crazy and then sometimes falls off a cliff.
TheMixster.com: I don’t think I could have put it any better haha.
Sugarpill: Haha
TheMixster.com: If you could collaborate with any 3 artists on the planet, who would they be? And why?
Sugarpill: That’s pretty tough. I’m not sure I would feel comfortable collaborating with my heroes really. I mean there are people that I’d really like to meet. I’m really into fusion jazz sometimes. I’d really like to meet Bill Bruford, who plays drums for ‘King Crimson’ and ‘Yes.’ I’m just really interested into doing poly-rhythmic drum stuff. I’d also really like to meet Tom Jenkins from Squarepusher.
TheMixster.com: In all honesty, what do you expect from the “More Champagne” collaboration between ChrisB. and Gladkill?
Sugarpill: Haha! Umm, I dunno… I’ve experienced More Champagne, so I think they are going to be continuing to do what they do. We’ve convinced them to put a lot of bottles of free champagne on their riders. So, the possibilities are endless there if you’re thinking sexy party.
TheMixster.com: Yeah. Like Steve Aoki style, right? I’m excited to see what those two do.
Sugarpill: Yeah. I think it’s going to be pretty awesome. I mean, I have a lot of fun with it and I think a lot of people do. At Burning Man, they had some pretty epic sets that people were just going crazy for. They’re very excited about it.
TheMixster.com: The style of those two mesh together really well.
Sugarpill: Definitely.
TheMixster.com: Do you have an EP coming out soon?
Sugarpill: I have a lot of new tracks. I haven’t scheduled an EP coming out soon probably because on the next one I’m thinking about releasing a bunch of tracks for free around Christmas. That’s kind of what my plan is right now. I just released one on Simplify Records and I have a tune coming out on the Acid Crunk Compilation from Muti Records and another tune coming out on Muti’s end of the year compilation. The Headtron crew is putting out a compilation that will be out in early January, as well. I think I’ll release a mini-EP with some free tunes, probably as a Christmas present.
TheMixster.com: What direction do you plan on taking your sound on those forthcoming tracks?
Sugarpill: Definitely, I’ve been getting a little more of that melodic pitch thing going on. Some of the bass sounds that I’ve been making have been going for a little more figure and delay-oriented, so it’s either like you’re in space or you’re being squished underwater. So there’s a bunch of newer sounds.
TheMixster.com: If a tourist asked you, what places in LA would you tell them to check out? Or where do you like to spend your free time outside of the studio?
Sugarpill: (Laughs) I spend a lot of time in the studio. I don’t know. When people ask me what to do in LA, it depends on what’s going on that week. Everything is so all over the place with what’s happening week to week. There are some weekends here, as far as going out and doing stuff, where I feel like it’s just like any other city where people are working on stuff. I really like Two BootsPizza. That place is pretty awesome, in Echo Park.
TheMixster.com: Ok Evan. It was good talking with you. We are looking forward to seeing you down in San Diego at the Kava Lounge on Oct. 29th. I think it’s going to be one hell of a show.
Sugarpill: I’m pretty excited. I’ve got a lot of new stuff to bring down and try out on y’all!
Catch Evan aka SUGARPILL and the SUBversive SD crew at Kava Lounge this Saturday October 29th. SUBversive Presents: SUGARPILL (LA) at Kava Lounge | October 29th, 2011
2812 Kettner Blvd, San Diego 92101
21+ Buy Presale tickets Here.
What started as a cold and rainy afternoon turned into a cozy little tropical party up at U-31 in North Park. BAJATON transported us to a distant warm beach with its sunny slowed-down BPM. Armed with multi-colored beach balls, specially imported mustaches, sexy sombreros, and our unofficial mascot PANDATON, you all did a great job looking muy sexy for the camera, but just in case you forgot some of the loco shenanigans that went down, I’m here for you! Los fotos from BAJATON numero dos featuring David Heartbreak and BabySTEPS are up! Peep ‘em on the BAJATON Facebook page.
In just two weeks, Australiansynthpop band CUT COPY will invade San Diego, thanks to our friends and the good people of the “Bring On The Bright Lights” concert series!
“Bring On The Bright Lights” will be a collection of events/dance parties that will feature at least 4 bands, with one major headliner, and 3 popular supporting artists. Maintaining an indie/electro vibe, BOTBL will no doubt draw out nu-disco and indie dance music lovers throughout the county. And to kick things off with a necessary big bang, we’ll be celebrating the first official launch party on Friday Oct. 14th with CUT COPY, WASHED OUT, andMIDNIGHT MAGICat 4th & B!!!
MIX EXCLUSIVE TICKET GIVEAWAY!!!
And as if it wasn’t already great enough, TheMixster.com is running an exclusive giveaway for the chance to win a pair of to tickets to this pupil-dilating, indie boogie event! To win, just simply CLICK HERE TO ENTER, and submit your information by 2 pm on Thursday 10/13/11. Winners will be contacted by email, so make sure to keep a look out for the chance to experience this glittery night of fun!
Giving us nothing but successful tracks like “Lights & Music”, “Take Me Over”, and “Need You Now”, to name a few,CUT COPY is a musical dreamboat! Their 80s pop influence has been made clear throughout their repository of music, but even more so in their latest album Zonoscope, which derives inspiration from the likes of David Bowie, and the Talking Heads. Lighthearted and bouncy, they attract all types of people with their heavy use of keyboards, electric guitars, and luscious synthesizers. Whether you are on the dance floor, or setting a soundtrack for a long drive ahead, CUT COPY is a sound for all occasions.
Accompanying them is American chillwave one-man band, WASHED OUT. Sounding a lot like 80′s romp around in the bedroom music, “Feel It All Around” is definitely a track that has stuck in almost everyone’s head since the very moment it was released. Between that track and “Belong” (check out the glowing music video below), this is a time warp I want to be stuck in forever!
Rounding out the bright night will be MIDNIGHT MAGIC; a fun 9 person collective that emits pure disco funk and soul. Their glittery sound and awesome lead female vocals show us exactly why they claim to be the love child of Donna Summers!
We’re also excited to announce that fellowBAJATONfounder and San Diego’s king of nu Disco and indie dance emblem COLOUR VISION will be warning up the show with some cheerful indie pop and your nu disco boogie favorites!!!
This event is 21+
Doors open at 9 pm
Click HERE for tickets!
We are 5 days away from BAJATON Dos! – our incredibly special and 2nd edition of San Diego’s first and only monthly moombahton/tropical bass/kuduro dance party featuring one of the members of the Holy Moombah Trinity – DAVID HEARTBREAK!!
Taking ova the top support spot for the evening we have babySTEPS: an SD native who’s well-up on his moomba game – producing top-notch originals and adding a searing double-dose of filthy mid tempo to his arsenal of moombah-hip-hop remixes. We are unbelievably excited to have him apart of the show and for his already generous demonstration of wild support for the party!! We asked him to make us a mixtape for the occasion and much to borderline-bewildered surprise, less than 24 hours later this Tazmanian Moombahton devil dropped this cranking well-crafted over-zealously siren-laden mix into our inbox! “bajatonLOVE” integrates slicker than body oil on tight browned booty transitions, hot sauced & sexxxed up hip-hop reflips, and sing-along-and shake dat ass style vocal drops that make babySTEPS latest live-mixed jist the perfect soundtrack to the only 26 minutes you can remember from your last TJ discoteca prowl.
If this mix doesn’t make you want to jump on a bottle service table, pour cheap tequila down some bottlerat throats, whilst screaming “BITCH I MIGHT BE”, you best rip off that chasity belt of modest pleasantries or GTFO.
Baby homie was also kind enough to include the entire track list as well:
–Tracklist–
1) Heartbreak & Toddla T – Blaze up (babySTEPS Remix)
2) gLAdiator – Danger Zone (Original Mix)
3) Jeremih ft. 50 Cent – Down On Me (JURAB Moombahton Bootleg)
4) Dave Nada – Moombahton (Original Mix)
5) Lumidee – Never Leave You (Uh Oh) (Never Leave You) (Daims & ChriSupreme Remix)
6) Datsik – Firepower (Munchi Vs. Cassie Vs. babySTEPS Edit)
7) TC – Where’s My Money? (Munchi Vs. Blu Cantrell Vs. babySTEPS Edit) Chuckie & Hardwell – Move it to the Moombah drum (J-Trick Vs. Swizz Beats Vs. babySTEPS edit)
9) Dillon Francis & Dj Ammo – Westside (Dillon Francis Vs. 50 Cent vs. babySTEPS Edit)
10) babySTEPS – The West At It (Original Mix)
11) Freaky Philip – Azotame (Original Mix)
12) Digital Manges – Manges (Sharkslayer Dub) (Nader Moombahton Edit)
13) Oxygentester – Shake (feat. Mystikal, Pitbull, and Kia)
As far as da party goes, RSVP here, and get there before 10:30pm for no cover and to get down & sucio to some babySTEPS beats (he’s playing an early set 9:30-10:30!!!) Or get there late, pay only $5 and witness the global moombah phenom that is el rey DAVID HEARTBREAK. Either way, $3 Piña Colada shots are being poured all night long so get sauced, get on the dance floor and let those panties drop.
Play Me Records‘J. Rabbit just recently made the move back from NYC to sunny SoCal – but he isn’t quite able to settle into his new desert abode just yet. In the midst of his tour with Into The AM (touching down in SD this Thursday) and revved up to embark on an undoubtedly wild cross-North America bass excursion in cahoots with DILLON FRANCIS as part of the Mothership After Party Tour, J. Rabbit doesn’t have a spare moment to catch a breath. But why would he want to?
J Rabbit‘s brand of sound integrates a vast variety of pupil-dilating wobble, searing trill-erating bass, and even a hint of melody for the ladies. His vicious peril-impending DnB side is heavily doused with lip licking oscillated growls and sweaty head 808 kick drum overdrive. While the majority of the elements of his audio arsenal are about as nurturing as a steak knife, his careful integration of bouncy synth pitch shifts, and quirky vocal samples keep things fun across the floor.
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We were able to catch up to J Rabbit earlier this week and have a quick chat to him about some of his particularly exciting forthcoming releases, gather some of his well-attuned insight about a handful of next-up break out dubstep artists we should already be listening to, and we even learned some new slang that will help save us a few coins around the swear jar.
TheMixster.com:You have a track, a remix for Le Castle Vania that just dropped on Beatport this week so congrats on that… But you’ve also got a newish track titled “Hello Stan” that’s going to be featured on Dim Mak’s upcoming compilation set to drop this early October. Is releasing a track with Dim Mak an accomplishment for you or is it just another days work?
J Rabbit: Releasing for Dim Mak is definitely an accomplishment! For as long as I can remember I never saw aggressive underground electronic music have any type of mainstream pull at all. Dim Mak, even though they’re not exactly “mainstream, mainstream” Steve Aoki is still, you know, one of the biggest icons for electronic music. I guess for me it’s kind of like the merge between underground electronic music and what you could call ‘mainstream electronic music.’ So yeah, definitely being featured on a label of that caliber is an accomplishment.
TheMIX: The forthcoming Dim Mak compilation is called “New Noise Volume 1” –to those who have not heard more than a mere sample of “Hello Stan” yet, in your opinion, why would “Hello Stan” be considered ‘New Noise?’ What elements of the track differentiate it from say what is considered the “current noise”?
J Rabbit: Well you know I mean I haven’t thought of how “Stan” I guess would be considered part of the new noise… I just wrote it the way that I would write everything else; just tried to blend popular noises of dubstep right now. And opposed to, you know, making this what I want to make and then hopefully having people like it. “Hello Stan” is also like a slang term for “haters” or for “elitists” or people who make other people feel not welcomed. “Hello Stan” is a reference to the songs where nobody likes you throughout the entire song. So I suppose that little friendly jab would definitely be a new element in the new noise.
TheMIX: So the track name isn’t a South Park reference?
J Rabbit: No, no definitely not. When I first posted a mix on Mad Decent, anyone that had anything negative to say, all the moderators were just referring back to them as ‘Stan’ “Be quiet Stan,” or “calm down Stan.” It’s actually funny because then later the ‘dubstep episode’ of South Park, the one kid who hates everything is incidentally Stan, the one character that by anyone’s definition, is a hater. It was coincidental that it worked out that he was a character, but no, it’s just a slang term.
TheMIX: Do you have any more releases coming out before the end of the year that you’d like to tell us about?
J Rabbit: I have a couple on Digital Terror coming up that I really can’t talk about yet…. But I do have some remixes coming out for Terravita’s ‘Up in the Clouds,’ I think there are a couple other ones for Le Castle Vania, but definitely working on some more blending with ‘mainstream’ artists I guess you could say, or you know, more underground mainstream electronic artists.
TheMIX: You’ve recently made the move back to California from NYC. Generally how does Cali’s bass music scene differ from NYC’s?
J Rabbit: In California, the production value is… I mean there’s a lot of money to be thrown into a party, and lots of people that can do it, so it’s not just one or two [parties]… On the East Coast it’s more up to a big production team that can do everything. Obviously there are big ones out here like Insomniac and what have you, but even the small parties out here will still have 2,000 people at it, which is an extremely large party for the East Coast. As far as people, people are the same wherever you go, some people are nice, some people are not, you know what I mean? Some clubs are good, some are not, some have good sound, some don’t. The general consensus is that more people come out to [to parties] in LA. I don’t know if it’s the space or the fact that we have buildings out here that can house 3,000 people and New York really doesn’t, but it’s definitely more viable out here than it is on the East Coast. Still just as loved and people are still just as passionate, but there’s just so many more people out here that come out.
TheMix: So there isn’t exactly greater support for Bass music in CA, we just have the best venues to support it?
J Rabbit: Yeah the difference in venue, difference in size. I mean I’m sure if they had a really good show lined up at Yankee Stadium people would come. But there’s no way that would ever happen. You have to go upstate or out of state for bigger shows like that.
TheMIX: You’ve been touring around a bit lately, and you’re set to go out for the Mothership After Party Tour soon along with Dillon Francis! What is your absolute favorite thing about being on tour?
J Rabbit: When I can DJ and not think about [anything else]. When you just go from city to city, it becomes a lot more fun and a lot less like work. If I haven’t done a show in a week and then I gotta get all my shit together and get on a plane and fly across the country, just to play one or two shows. It’s hard to get back in the groove and by the time you’re back in it, the weekend’s over. So to go on an extended tour from big state to big state, you get in the groove, and then not to mention it’s just a constant party everywhere you go. I guess my favorite part would just be being with all my friends and playing shows, doing what I’ve always wanted to do.
TheMIX: Do you have any weird pre-show/tour rituals?
J Rabbit: None that I can think of, except just like smoke cigarettes up until the very last second before I go on. Typically I like to make sure that I have a ‘bubble’ when I play. As long as nothing is interfering or encroaching in my little two-foot space I’m good. Shoes on, shoes off, it doesn’t make a difference.
TheMIX: What’s in your arsenal right now that’s been getting a great reaction on the dance floor?
J Rabbit: There are a couple mash-up’s that I have from Trevor and Ludachrist that do really well. But there’s definitely a Terravita remix of Datsik and Bare’s‘King Kong‘ that I don’t think people know about – that there even is a drumstep remix of it out – so when they hear it they’re extra surprised. [That Terravita remix] is just a very very well done remix that has lots of bridges and builds, and then it also transitions back into dubstep too. And also ‘Mistadobilina’ remix, for the people out there who remember the original.
TheMIX: Who’s on your top 3 wish list of people you’d like to collaborate with in the future and why?
J Rabbit: Top 3, let’s see… Number one would be SchoolBoy. He did a remix for Porter Robinson like a couple months ago. He also had a tune last year called “Checkmate” that got a lot of play. Yeah, not a lot of people know Schoolboy, but he’s very good. He’s very good at song-writing, he’s very good at designing sounds and it would be awesome to work with him. I’m trying to think of people that aren’t just highly recognizable, you know what I mean, cause obviously working with people of high caliber would be great. Working with Trevor of Terravita, they’re kind of like ‘how to make electronic music to begin with,’ so in a way they’re indirectly responsible for all this for me. Any collaboration that I could do with them, I would love to do. And then,Dillon Francis orDave Nada, people with different genres, like this 109 BPM thing (Moombahton) they’re definitely pushing.. It’s fun to work with dubstep artists but [it's important] to go further and try your luck with other genres. I think people first search things anywhere from Diplo or Swedish House Mafia,but then they hear something else and they still like it, so I think it’s just all kind of helping the electronic music period right now.
TheMIX: A question that we ask all of our bass music artists: We hate the term “Bro-step”, is there another word or phrase that you would use to describe the music that falls into that realm?
J Rabbit: Sometimes me and Matt (from Terravita) will call it “Bearded”. You know like a guy can have a beard so instead of bass music it’s ‘beard music.’ Guys with beards fucking love it, not too much females, but ‘beards’ just flock to it. Then also when they stare at the DJ and don’t dance or do anything, they just watch and usually stroke their beard, you know? So yeah, ‘beard music.’
TheMIX: Are there any new break-out/under-the-radar artists that you are particularly excited about these days?
J Rabbit: Yeah actually, two of my really good friends Nerd Rage and Obsidian. Their tunes are getting better and better, and they’re getting more and more steam. I’m watching them trying to work with agents and different shows, and they’re traveling now and people are becoming more and more interested in their tunes. And SchoolBoy, those would be the three. SchoolBoy, Nerd Rage, and Obsidian, I mean, SchoolBoy kind of has a name for himself, but still they’re all very, very talented artists.
TheMIX: What’s one track (aside from one of your own) that you will definitely play at the Into the AM show in San Diego this Thursday?
J Rabbit: Aside from my own? Let’s see, the “Crush on You” remix by Knife Party. Yeah that’ll definitely be played. [It's] probably one of the best-written dubstep songs I’ve ever heard. It’s really, really good. Knife Party is gonna be huge I think.
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Catch J Rabbit at On Broadway in San Diego TONIGHT at SD’s only 18+ bass music monthly with Tryxx and Gum-B on support bringing you a forward selection of DnB and dubstep selection as well. Party is 18+ (!!!!!) and you can get your tickets/RSVP here.
And be sure to look out for upcoming drop of “Hello Stan” off Dim Mak Recordson their “New Noise Volume 1” compilation on October 4th!
Chuckie & Hardwell – Move it to the Moombah drum (J-Trick Vs. Swizz Beats Vs. babySTEPS edit)
