Now this is a way to get your ish out there. A Mashup DJ named RomanShark dropped a vid of some French Bulldogs bopping around to some competent Tech House. A minute that’ll probably make you smile. You’re almost done with Monday, relax and enjoy.
Monthly Archives: June 2014
Ten Questions With Terry Gotham: Steve James
(I was really lucky to be given this opportunity. The DJs are getting younger and younger, with the talent continuing to skyrocket. A friend hooked me up with this shooting star coming out of PA. A progressive gem, this kid has tunes that are going to find ways into your ears at festivals soon enough. Just like Seven Lions, you heard it here first. Check out my conversation with Steve James below.)
1. What are your friends listening to these days? What is it like being a DJ in high school?
Haha, starting off strong! It’s definitely an interesting dynamic, that’s for sure. My area is fairly dominated by top 40 music, plus some country and hip hop. My friends are well aware of what I do, and a lot of them have grown to appreciate EDM – and have been super supportive – but in the end I don’t think too many are listening to much dance music outside of Steve James, truthfully. Being a DJ in high school has certainly been interesting though. I actually DJ’d my high school’s homecoming dance before I was old enough to attend. I did last year’s as well (with my homemade booth!), and the seniors loved it, but most of the underclassman didn’t appreciate all the EDM. I actually was unanimously voted out of this coming years, haha! No requests + no country + no hip hop will do that for you around here, I suppose.
2. What kind of music theory & piano training have you had? Are you planning on studying music/production after you graduate High School?
My musical background is primarily in piano. I’ve taken lessons for as long as I can remember from a close family friend. I still see him often, and even though he’s 100% classically trained, he’s grown to enjoy a lot of the stuff I show him – especially music by artists like Zedd, who use such complex writing. He’s even helped me several times by rounding out a chord progression or livening up something with some more suspensions or accidentals. I dabbled in viola for 4 years as well, but I feel like almost everything I draw from was part of my classical piano training. As for my plans with school, that’s something I’m not really concerned with yet. I started school late, so I’m a 16-year-old going into sophomore year of high school – the oldest of 120-some kids in my class. I’ll be 18 before I finish junior year. With the résumé I’m building and keeping my grades up, I know there will be options, but in a perfect world I won’t need further education if I keep working hard the next 2-3 years.
Mix Of The Weekend: Dreamstep by Jaya Prime
This week, we’re moving into the bassy space, with a gorgeous mix from years ago by Jaya Prime. Just in case you’ve never gotten into this, you need to put it into your face. Dotted with samples from Inception, the mix is ethereal, heavy & at times pounding when it comes to the blend of dubstep, future garage & metal. Any mix that has Burial, Sarah McLachlan remixes & Bassnectar is one you need to hear. Get into the heavy and enjoy.
Infected Mushroom’s Erez Doesn’t Need Ableton. He Makes Tracks In DOS.
I’m not sure how to describe the insanity of what you’re seeing, especially if you’re under the age of 20. This is a digital audio workstation, in a non-Windows/OSX environment. Yup kids, this is what they used to look like. Apparently Infected Mushroom posted this file (that works with a program called “Impulse Tracker,” that is probably older than you are) to their site a few years ago. Someone grabbed it, held it, and tossed it into their version of a DOS emulator and the running program. Audio/video capture have allowed us the magic of audio time travel, allowing us to hear what Erez & his friend Jorg sounded like decades ago. It’s a competent, if somewhat overdone Synthy Psy-infused tune that wouldn’t be out of place today. If you’re into this sort of thing, check out this surprisingly excellent cover of deadmau5’s Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff by OxygenStar. Next time some hipster producer starts talking shit, ask him if he’s produced using this shit. Then smile and nod.
The Original Demo Of “Lisa, It’s Your Birthday.” Sung By The Actual Michael Jackson
If you were alive in the 90’s, you remember that episode of The Simpsons that had the fake/crazy guy who called himself Michael Jackson. Many people know that MJ actually did the voice for the character, but that he wasn’t allowed to do the song for the show. Contractual obligations ensured that he couldn’t create a separate piece of creative work for the owners of The Simpsons. However, what most people don’t know, is that he provided a demo for what the song needed to sound like. And there it is for you. Happy birthday Lisa.
Midnight Music: Rameses B – Transcend [Elvish Drum & Bass]
Rameses B is one of the most talented producer I’ve ever seen actually succeed at IndieGogo. The Galaxy of Dreams 2 compilation by Liquicity is incredible, and there’s a tremendous amount of sick new Drum & Bass that I’ll be covering in the coming days & weeks. But tonight, sit back, relax and vibe on one of the most delicious liquid tracks you’ve ever heard. He builds sonic worlds and then invites you to lay on the grass. This is some excellent stuff, so don’t sleep on it or the compilation it’s on.
The Animal Kingdom Dances To “Push It” By Salt-N-Pepa. Yup.
Does what it says on the tin. Surprisingly entertaining. Also, I miss Salt-N-Pepa. Can we agree for it to be the 90’s again for 3 months this fall?
#EDCLV reflections, suggestions, etc. (long read)
This is a long read, but it’s 100% on point when it comes to documenting what most EDM festivals get right and what they get wrong. There’s a lot of work to be done here, and when I said that Ultra Music Festival was charging $5 per bottle of water in 2006, no one believed me. Now it seems like a standard behavior that no one is repulsed by anymore. Funny how that works.
EDCLV (Electric Daisy Carnival Las Vegas) is a holy pilgrimage for most ravers and club kids that work the festival scene. It is massive with its awe-inspiring lighting design, behemoth stages, and monster sound systems; and, it’s held inside the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. For 98.9% of attendees, the total experience is life-changing. It’s the missing piece to their summers and the mix of music, lights, friends, vibes, and carnival theatrics completes their very being.
For that other 1.1% of attendees, usually those that have been around a long time, this year’s EDCLV fell short of that magic that Pasquale Rotella + Insomniac pride themselves on being able to create in a seemingly effortless way year after year. Surely most of you will send those of us who have spoken about our experiences passive aggressive wishes of peace and love back to our comments, and some of you will argue…
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Robin Thicke and the Dynamics of Abuse
Dude…what? Just…Stop man. Please. You got all famous and your wife left you, and now you’re doing an album with tracklist titles that oscillate from semi-not ok to terribly not ok, or, you’re actually just really bad at keeping it in the therapist’s office. I got no problems with public break ups actually. If this album turns out to be the bonanza of evidence for the restraining order it sounds like, perhaps we’ll finally start having that conversation about appropriate dude behavior, as opposed to whether women have to wear beekeeper outfits or not.
TW for domestic violence, abuse and rape
Robin Thicke is gross.
I mean, we knew that already, of course.
But today he has somehow managed to surpass his former grossitude and shot up through the I Can’t Even atmosphere and into the Outer Space Repository of Hella Gross Dudes.
But what could possibly have caused this intense leveling-up, you may well ask. How could he have done something worse than penning the summer’s unofficial rape album?
Well, for starters, he announced the release and official track list of his new album, Paula. Paula, by the way, refers to his estranged wife, Paula Patton. She recently left him. This album is his attempt to win her back.
Let’s take a look at the song titles, shall we?
1. “You’re My Fantasy”
2. “Get Her Back”
3. “Still Madly Crazy”
4. “Lock the Door”
5. “Whatever I Want”
6. “Living in…
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Mix Of The Weekend: Porter Robinson’s Essential Mix [Smooth Vibes, Insane Feels]
Porter Robinson is having a stellar year, with this Essential Mix being a highlight. This two hour sonic voyage brings in the sensibilities of the music nerd with the inventive imagination of every crazy boy genius you’ve ever read about. The mix is lush, full, inventive and masterfully mixed. I approve of all uses of Chrome Sparks, the Clint Eastwood he drops is incredible, and there’s even a Kingdom Hearts shout out 28min in. The Flume remix of Lorde and about a dozen other great tracks are highlights. He’s got the time to really work with his sounds and it goes swimmingly. He also features a bunch of tracks off his hotly anticipated new album, so there’s another reason to put it into your face. Listen to this in the sun.
Terry Gotham 