Fresh Mix Pick: DJ Ayla Simone

Thanks to homegrown 1s & 2s girl, DJ Ayla Simone, we have found ourselves with a treasure chest of shiny new sounds.

DJ Ayla Simone brings  down the house with her eclectic range of beats, with unassuming ease, a serene demeanor, and fashionable sass. Popping in color head-to-toe-to-turntable, Ayla is as bold as the tracks she lays down.

Despite the fact DJ Ayla is a local, the copy of this mix, The Red Room, was by no means easy to get a hold of: As a matter of fact, I had to go through some CRAZY shit to get a hold of this mix, so that I could share this awesome diverse set of sounds with you.

What Happened when I tried to get this mix:

1. Karaoke - sober.

2. Almost taken hostage to the Tijuana strip clubs, because Deja Vú had already closed. It was 2 am on a Tuesday night.

3. A drunken threat to have a “Trojan Horse” put on my site. (Not just a historical reference [overused-emblem] apparently.)

4. Losing a “Words with Friends” match because I was so distraught after everything else had happened: Losing is  especially infuriating when you’re sober.

Was it worth it? Absolutely. Anything for something new. Besides, having to fight for something makes it all the more enjoyable. Like ex-lovers. And this mix  on its own  is just as incredibly fulfilling for this electro house lover;  having  to fight for it, makes it all the more special.

The Red Room contains sounds I have been digging for years- beats I’ve only heard when I was in New Zealand- which is the hub of some of the world’s best dark, dirty house ‘n’ break beats. DJ Ayla also incorporates some mysterious deep house tracks that totally immerse my imagination into a secret lounge: A red-lit sinful space- eyes closed, hips swaying, absorbing reverberation & warm vibes all around.

Then suddenly, there is an electro remix of Peggy Lee’s “Why Don’t you Do Right?” that totally wakes you up from your raver daydreams,  followed by a track from my favorite happy house pop trio from Dingo land, Sneaky Sound System, that seems to put the bounce back in everyone’s two-step. Included in the resolution, the classic but always welcomed closer – Zdarlight, but culminates in a totally surprising way, with a  Swing Swing Remix - a massive build up and a somewhat abrupt conclusion.

A slightly more succinct or “graceful” ending would’ve been nice. However, given the lack of predictably in general, I dig this mix even more because of DJ Ayla’s decision to stray away from the expected.
Clear some space on your hard drives folks -The Red Room is a MUST download.

The Red Room (pre-print copy) - DJ Ayla Simone

Download Here

Hard copies of The Red Room will be available sometime in March. Stay tuned!