All Entries in the "btb UNDERGROUND" Category

The Revenge at Wrongbar

Huge props to irGO and the Houseaddict crew for continuing to challenge the Toronto clubbing community with super-underground events.

Trust me, from experience, it’s much easier to book established artists in this city.  It’s one big, giant stress ball debuting a talent; let alone a deep house DJ. But irGO loves this music and is one of the most supportive promoters the Toronto scene has ever known, so to him, it’s worth it… and are we ever glad it is.

On Saturday February 25^th we’ll be rising from our winter slumber for another HouseAddict evening of deep and groovy tunes.  This occasion features one of our favorite DJs of the last two years, and one of our votes in last year’s Top 100 DJ poll, Scotland’s Graeme Clark, aka The Revenge.

The jam will be going down at Wrongbar (1279 Queen Street West).  The venue’s been on absolute fire since it opened a few years back, always hosting the most unique and eclectic acts.  NastyNav is the club’s front man and probably the most in-the-know person in the Toronto circuit today.  He’s such a cool guy. It’ll be great to be on one of his dance floors again.

The downfall of the club being so popular is that you’re never guaranteed entry.  So to ensure your place inside what we believe will be the party of winter season, hook up tickets online at clubzone.com.

To hear many of The Revenge’s amazing productions, visit his SoundCloud page, and of course, check out this recent promo set… killer!!

Jimpster at The Great Hall

We may take a break from organizing parties of our own, but we’ll never stop supporting the good promoters of Toronto who are busting their butts to bring the coolest beats on the planet to our city. Tops on the list of those who we love to help spread the word for are irGO’s Houseaddict crew.

Over the last few years, these guys have booked some of the best deep house DJs / producers the industry has to offer, including super-stylish gigs with Scope, Ian Pooley and Shur-I-kan.  However, without a doubt, the HouseAddict nights featuring Jimpster are the marquee events. Freerange’s legendary front man has developed a unique bond with irGO’s faithful and no matter the venue, the mutual love is on display with an abundance of happy feet on the dance floor.

Friday November 25th will be an extra-special occasion for a couple reasons. First and foremost, the party will commemorate 15 years of Freerange Records, an outstanding feat for anything in the electronic scene. And on a more local tip, the jam will be going down in what’s quickly becoming one of Toronto’s hippest venues. The Great Hall provides a fresh perspective for our music. It’s something I feel our crew has needed for a long time, so that’s why I’m extra excited to have my first Great Hall experience with a maestro like Jimpster manning the decks.

Click here for $15 guest list before midnight and for more information visit the Facebook event page.

And of course, here’s some live Jimpster beats…

Jimpster Live @ Electric Pickle, Miami, US – 13-10-2011 by R_co

INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND v11 featuring OMID 16B

Party planning was underway the minute we realized 11-11-11 was on a Friday.

We’re some of the millions, maybe billions, who feel an undeniable connection to the time 11:11. Seemingly every day we notice this moment of awakening. It’s a guaranteed minute of hope and attention. It’s a time to wish for the best and dream of favourite things.

I can only imagine an entire day of this feeling. A full 24 hours of conscious optimism… people would call it heaven.

Well my heaven is on the INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND dance floor. And I can tell you now without fear of spoiling the dream; I’ve used many of my 11:11′s wishing the legendary Omid 16B could be in the booth pulling the strings.

I can vividly remember every Omid moment. They occurred at 11:11am while caught in the groove on the Club 1000 hardwood. Every time Luke spun something so emotional, so magnificent we could hardly take it, it was Omid 16B. And every time we experienced this feeling, we looked at the clock and saw exactly what we wanted to see.

So every time you catch 11:11, be sure to make a wish. Dream the most amazing dream knowing that bringthebeats’ has come true.  And on Friday November 11, 2011 it would amazing if we could share our six hours of conscious optimism with all of you.

Download (left-click and unzip):
Omid 16B – Promo Mix – August 2011

Omid 16B is a true artist; a DJ/ producer of the highest calibre. His artistic approach to everything he touches has so far seen a prolific 15 years, being hailed as one of the most cutting-edge electronic artists to ever come out of the UK.

He’s the owner/ founder of Sexonwax Recordings, as well as the recently resurrected Alola Records. His artist album “Sounds From Another Room” (Eye Q Recordings), and his mix compilations “Balance 13” (Stomp Australia) and “In House We Trust” (Yoshitoshi) have led to critical acclaim.

Omid’s singles have been signed to major labels like BMG/ Deconstruction. He’s remixed legends the likes of The Cure, Depeche Mode, Gus Gus, François Kevorkian and Deep Dish; and through all this success, Omid’s garnered sponsorships from industry giants Pioneer, Ableton, Roland and Native Instruments.

2011 has been a landmark year for Omid. He joined forces with the world-renown John Digweed, releasing Omid’s hit double A side single “Rain/ The Passion Of Zorro” on John’s own Bedrock Records.  It hit No. 1 and 2 on internal charts and No. 18 in the Beatport progressive Top 100. He also signed with AAA management / agency earlier in the year to concentrate on global events and festivals worldwide.

It’s paid off.  Omid’s been touring furiously, from Carl Craig’s Planet E stage at Snowbombing, through to DJmag’s 20th anniversary show at Space Ibiza.  To the MTV festival in Croatia and a prestigious spot at the Space Closing party, Omid has not let up.

Omid played two big Easter Bedrock events in London and Glasgow and he brought his unique style and textures to “SOS” (Sexonsubstance alongside partner Demi) to the opening of the Ibiza season with Jamie Jones at the aforementioned Club Space. He also performed at high profile festivals SW4 and Bestival.

Currently, Omid’s in the last stages of his new artist album to be released in 2012. It will be documented by the BBC who’s currently making a film about DJ’s based in London with different backgrounds. Omid’s honoured to play a major part in the documentary by providing the world insight into his everyday life as a DJ.

 Where our love affair with Omid 16b started.
It’s been a long, beautiful ride…

INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND v10 featuring LUKE FAIR

I honestly can’t believe I’m writing this post.  It’s been a while since we hosted an INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND at Toika.  Sixteen months to be exact… a long time to be out of the game.

The last official bringthebeats party was The Rogue Show in August 2010.  Though we helped out at School Bakery last month, and with many HouseAddict jams throughout the year, it’s an entirely different animal to lead a promotion.  So often I wonder if I still have it in me, but then I put on a funky progressive house mix and instantly get the itch.

Getting these shows off the ground are often a struggle, in the lead up and throughout the night. But after each party, we always look back and know it was well worth the effort.  And let’s be honest, there’s a great team supporting INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND.

My right hand woman Adriana – still allowing me to play these games… damn, I love ya babe – is fierce at the door.  JD at re.form [avw] is always on point and on time with the media design; he has no idea how much I appreciate that.  Junior, Winston and the crew at Toika are always so awesome to work with. They’re ensuring as I type, the system will be tuned to sound just right.  So many friends are insanely helpful spreading the word, and for this one, my boy Craig Anderson has some high-tech digs to make the night’s memories extra special.

And of course there’s Luke, who’s gone above and beyond.  He’s sacrificed a lot to be here, as his incredible new agent, Joe from Nightlaw, has him constantly on the road with quality gigs.  Luke’s given up one of the higher-paying ones to be with us on October 1st.  We cannot thank him enough for that.

We’ll have the opportunity to show our appreciation to one of Canada’s all-time best by packing the dance floor and exuding the energy INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND has become famous for.  It’s always been the people in the room that take these parties to another level; you’re all why we keep coming back for more.

So join us as we celebrate nine years of bringthebeats and many more for Adriana and me on this earth.  It’ll be a party we hope to never forget.  That’ll definitely be made true if we’re lucky enough to experience this incredible night with all of you.

Check more event details here, and get yourselves ready with Luke’s most recent tunes…

Luke Fair – InTheMix.com.au Exclusive Promo by Luke Fair

Luke Fair – The Rogue Show – Episode 010 by Luke Fair

Luke Fair – F Club Slovenia – Part 1 – 03 June 2011 by Luke Fair

Luke Fair – F Club Slovenia – Part 2 – 03 June 2011 by Luke Fair

Luke Fair – F Club Slovenia – Part 3 – 03 June 2011 by Luke Fair

Dana Bergquist and Ian Pooley in Toronto

It’s strange how great club nights always seem to arrive in bunches. We waited months for a good party and within three weeks in the spring Scope, Demi and Desyn Masiello were in town for killer jams.

Well it’s happening again this summer. Mark August 5th and 6th on your calendar, as we’re helping out with one of the coolest back-to-back party weekends in our promoting history.

It all starts off on Friday when our deep house hero Dana Bergquist touches down in Toronto for a proper headline gig. Dana first visited the Tdot a few years back when he was touring with Eric Prydz, opening for his fellow Swede at the Guverment. Not the ideal environment for Dana’s sound, but definitely a cool experience for him.

For this visit, thanks to the great tastes of Kevin Turner and Rich Hope, Dana will be returning to perform in the most perfect of conditions, on the terrace of the ultra-stylish School Bakery in Liberty Village (70 Fraser Ave). If you’ve ever been to one of the spēk-ē-zē parties at School you know it’s a spectacular summer venue. And I don’t think there’s ever been a DJ better suited to play the space than Dana.

It’s going to be a night of deep and sexy vibes. A night I know I’ve been waiting a long time for. Check the Facebook invite for more info and here’s a couple of Dana’s most recent sets to get you even more excited for this long-awaited booking.

Mix For Autobrennt 20.07.2011 by danabergquist

Dana Bergquist & Andreas Hansson – Spirit Soul Disco Session 004 by danabergquist

On Saturday we’ll be hanging at Toronto’s home to house music for a milestone event. Houseaddict provides yet another night of upfront tunes as they host the Lazy Days Recordings Five-Year Anniversary featuring deep house legend Ian Pooley and Fred Everything. 

There’s massive hype surrounding this party going down in the main room of Revival (783 College St.), as it’s been way too long since Toronto has had the pleasure of indulging in Ian Pooley’s genius.  And of course Fred Everything has always been a local favourite.

irGO has put his heart and soul into this one, and he’s never thrown a bad party, so it’s definitely worthy of a double-header weekend.  Again, check the Facebook invite for more info and of course the sets below to further convince you of this party’s must-attend status.

Ian Pooley @ Bob Beaman Munich 22.1.2011 by ianpooley

LZDPodcast19 FredEverything June2011 by fredeverything

Sasha at Stereo

I’ve waited over a decade to write the above title. I can’t believe Sasha’s never been booked at Stereo before. Thankfully, the wait’s almost over. This Friday the puppet master finally steps into the booth of the world’s coolest club and I’m convinced it’ll be a killer combo.

Back in the day, trips to Montreal were as given as nights out at the Guvernment, but of course, always better. I can’t tell you how many times we drove six CDs to either Stereo or Aria, danced for 10-plus hours, and then headed right back home. The parties and music were so damn good we couldn’t even imagine missing one of the big ones.

Sasha’s Airdrawndagger appearance at Aria in 2002 definitely stands out from the rest. I’ve told the stories and shared these videos hundreds of times.  It was one of the few occasions on the dance floor where I could honestly say I was completely at the mercy of the DJ. It was so exhilarating I spent most of the night / morning jumping, not dancing. It was the perfect music and warmest vibe inside one of the underground’s most spectacular spaces. The right time, place and DJ were all there in equal parts that magical night.

But for as incredible as it was, I always wondered if Sasha at Stereo would be better.

Aria had a fantastic glass booth allowing for a bird’s eye view of the talent in action. The retractable light stacks on the ceiling, and others imbedded in the floor, created a breathtaking glow.  However the sound, though good, couldn’t ever touch Stereo’s.  And because of the hip hop room upstairs, the crowd was never truly underground.

Until the recent renos, Stereo’s décor was nothing to brag about.  It used to be a sound box and nothing more.  But that was enough.  Stereo waves pour over top of you.  You don’t feel a digital pound in your chest like you do in other inferior clubs.  You’re never worn out by vibration, your ears never ring and you never lose your voice amongst the warmth of Stereo’s sound.  The unimpressive look of the space was easily overlooked by the perfection of the system.

Today however, the club is classy.  It’s everything I’ve ever wanted in an underground space.  It’s big enough to host a DJ of Sasha’s stature, but still maintains a tight, intimate vibe.  The existence of a proper chill-out area just outside the action, but close enough to be on top of the party (literally), is much appreciated by us, the more experienced.  It’s an absolute bonus for it to be as comfortable as it is.

We’ve only experienced the new Stereo once, and that was for Danny Tenaglia last summer.  The music was crap, but seeing the new style instils a level of anticipation for Friday night that I can hardly handle.  I haven’t been this excited for an event close to home since the Sasha & Digweed / Spooky / Sander party at the Pepsi Centre in 2007, and we all know how freakishly insane that night turned out to be.

Yes, Sasha’s let us down as much as he’s impressed us, but from the short amount of time I’ve been around him, I know he’s more like us than most superstar DJs.  He also finds inspiration in the music and space.  If we’re not feeling it in a club like This is London, you know a guy like him, with the best view of the sketch, is probably seeing it the same way.  At Stereo he should not lack sources of inspiration, and that’s why we’ll be up front and centre soaking it all in one more time.

Here’s a little taste of Sasha at another marquee club in the scene.  I’ve heard Womb is on Stereo’s level so it’s probably a pretty good indication of what we’ll hear in a couple days; deep tech engrossed by methodical melodies.  Just the thought of it gives me butterflies.

Sasha Live @ Womb, Tokyo, Japan – 08-04-2011 by R_co

Download part 1 and part 2 on Sasha’s official Soundcloud page.

Demi & Brad Copeland at The Social

Progressive house lovers unite! After a long drought we’ll be showered with deep grooves over the next couple weeks and we need your support to make this a regular routine once again.

I know it’s shredded a little of my spirit not to have the opportunity to be regularly on the dance floor soaking in the sounds that sooth my soul on a daily basis.  The release of being around your friends, with the all-encompassing beats of electronic life deflecting the stresses of making it happen in this rough world every day, is something I’ve sorely missed.

Scope was spectacular this past weekend, setting the stage for the return of two of the best to ever control the decks, not only in our city, but around the world.  We’ve been working on getting Demi back to Toronto all year and we’ve finally worked some magic bringing him to The Social alongside our one and only Brad Copeland.

CLICK HERE to get on the $10 reduced guest list.  It’s all going down this Friday May 27^th (10pm – 3am) at The Social – 1100 Queen St. W. (at Dovercourt) more info.

Our backs are against the wall with this event coming only a week after Scope’s debut and the weekend before Desyn Masiello returns to the city after way too long away. But we need to embrace the fact we have funky progressive back on our door step.  Come out and revive the vibrant underground scene Toronto in known for all over the world.

Let’s show these Embrace guys they’re not making a mistake giving progressive house some prominence in this city.  Our music is better than ever, let’s rejuvenate the demand for it to be heard and give these incredible artists some inspiration in knowing what they’re doing is still very appreciated by a city who knows great music when they hear it.

And if you can’t wait for the stylish tunes of Demi, Electronic Groove has two sensationally unique mixes in EG 179 and EG 187.  I have no idea how his mind thinks up such forward-thinking track combinations from the new and the old, but it does, and the results are pure magic. Of course do not forget to hook up your copy of Sounds Like Alola, it is well worth the purchase.

FABRICATED w/ SCOPE & irGO

I sound like a scratched CD, but there just isn’t enough good house being played in this city anymore.  I want to go out; I just can’t find the music I want to hear when we get to where everyone’s going.  Thankfully there’s still some awesome people who go to great lengths to ensure at least from time to time, we’re not totally groove deprived.

HouseAddict are definitely one the good guys.  irGo’s always working hard to put together parties we know we want to attend. He’s hosting another big one Friday May 20th when he flies in Ric McClelland, aka Scope, from Ireland to Toronto for a very special Fabricated booking at Stone Lounge (Revival’s lower level on College).

Scope joins Neil Quigley as the second Urbantorque DJ from the UK to step into the Fabricated booth.  As we all know with Quiggers’ nights, the deep house sound is perfect for the intimate confines of Stone Lounge.  I’ve been waiting years to hear Scope live. I’m ecstatic it’s finally happening.

I’m super pumped for this party because of the abundance of great music Scope provides for both the clubber and DJ.  His productions are plentiful and top quality.  You might remember his Beatport nomination for ‘Best Deep House DJ’ in 2009.  And seemingly every other week he releases a bomb mix that lights up my Soundcloud stream.

Here’s Scope’s most recent promo. It’ll give you an idea of what I’m saying and hearing.

Here Comes The Sun by SCOPE

Scope’s an awesome talent at the top of his game.  The timing of this gig couldn’t be better, for more reasons than just this one. I know the set above will do the trick and we’ll see you on the dance floor May long weekend.  It’s going to be an amazing party that’s well overdo. You don’t want to miss it.

What’s up with this?

Before I get too deep into a rant, let me confirm how much I enjoy the music in this set. It’s reminiscent of what I’d play at the East Liberty Lounge (aka our home). But that’s one of the major problems I have with it.  I said, “What I’d play.”  I’m no DJ!

Wolf + Lamb vs Soul Clap Live @ The Modern Love Affair Vol.3, Footwork, Toronto – 22-05-2011 - Part 1 by R_co

Here are my beefs:

The club

I rarely go to Footwork, even though it’s the best underground space in the city.  I just can’t waste time, when it’s become so precious, testing out different acts at a club that stacks the odds against us.  Let’s be honest, Footwork likes it sketchy. But I get it, the crowd is loyal and spends money every week.  The guys have to pay their bills, so they need to cater to the clientele who puts food on their table.

And to be honest, I just had a vague awareness of who Wolf + Lamb and Soul Clap are when I heard they were spinning on the long weekend. All I knew is they look hipster and have cool websites.  I would’ve never expected them to spin cool down-tempo disco when they support boring minimalists like the Art Department.

But it frustrates me so much they give a night like this a huge push.  We’ve pitched light-hearted music to the club for years and they brush us off like INK dodges issuing cheques.  In the only occasion we were able to partner for a funky party – The Rogue Show – they treated it like a night off and didn’t mind us assuming the loss when 90% of those who walked through the door were on our guest list.

This Modern Love Affair proves one thing about our rocky relationship with Footwork; it has nothing to with the music, its personal.  I’ll take partial responsibility for being so head-strong when it comes to professionalism, but I’m not so sure they’d be quick to share the blame.  I know they don’t even care.

The music

Back to my opening point:  I’m no DJ and this is what you’d hear at my kitchen table right now, both musically and technically.  We’ve always been into funky-soulful music, both classic and fresh.  Our new sound system comes with an unlimited streaming account from Napster, so we have the entire anthology of favourites at our fingertips.  We’ve spent hours dancing around the living room to a random selection of hits spanning our entire lifetime.

But I emphasize random, and I point out we’re using software that has no mixing or equalizing capabilities. I’m just winging it, track by track, and what comes out the speakers is undoubtedly fun, but by no means pro.  You can get away with this by a pool, on a patio, in a lounge or even on a boat, but in a proper underground club?  That’s blasphemy!

If you’re paying top dollar to hear a DJ in a dance club, it should be about dancing.  This is after-party music, not club music. I’ m sure Footwork views the night as a massive success, as social gatherings like this sell tons of booze. But I’ve already concluded above, Footwork’s primary concern isn’t music.

In my opinion, a night like this continues to waste Toronto’s coolest underground space, and further buries the entire underground concept in this city.  I remain sad and frustrated, even when I dig the tunes.

Omid 16B & Demi presents ‘Sounds Like Alola’

Being chosen for a commercially produced compilation is like being selected to the Olympic team of DJs.  It’s an incredible honour that requires an insane amount of time and energy to complete.  It’s a task every EDM artist aspires for, but a serious commitment with very little monetary gain.  It’s all about exposure and the love of what house music can do inside you.

For a label to entrust their money and resources behind your talent is an accomplishment unmatched by any other, for any DJ.  In the end, it’s the music that counts most. So no matter how far away you fly for a gig or however cool the venue is, if someone of influence is willing to invest in your musical talent alone – as is the case when you’ve been chosen to compile a commercial mix – you know you’ve really made it.

We all know Omid 16B broke through a long time ago.  Omid’s an absolute legend in the progressive house world.  His always deep and sensual productions, as well as the selections from Alola and Sex on Wax have defined the genre for me.  The sexy undertone in everything he does, whether it’s dark or euphoric, creates a magnetism that’s undeniable for any groovy house fan.

Demi, just like his early mentor Danny Tenaglia, is a DJ’s DJ.  His vibrant personality is infectious and his live performances are equally exhilarating.  His ear for unique sounds and combinations have carved out a niche in the house scene he can truly call his own.  I see him as the backbone of the SOS Collective and the success the project has achieved in recent years.

What makes the ‘Sounds like Alola’ double mix compilation so special is how Omid has invested in his mate Demi to showcase the label’s 17 years of insatiable deepness.  With shining endorsements from superstars likes Danny Howells, Hernan Cattaneo and Lee Burridge, Omid could’ve easily gone outside his inner circle to promote Alola’s remastered catalogue.  Instead he offered the honour to Demi, who’s provided a sensational compilation in response to Omid’s confidence.

The first ‘Sounds like Alola’ volume is compiled by the label boss himself.  It encapsulates the Alola sound through Omid’s ears, literally.  It’s a production showcase of his genius, with a few accented tracks from Pete Moss, Eli Nissan and Anthony Teasdale.  Super smooth, sensationally deep, volume one pours into your soul and engulfs your senses; vintage 16b.

Volume two, Demi’s debut solo mix for a release, is as unique as Demi the individual.  It reaches beyond the typical and into the unexpected.  There’s absolutely nothing obvious in what he’s compiled, from the programming to the selections.  The raga of ‘Testament’, the sophistication of ‘Jazzamatic’ and the quirkiness of ‘Dancing with Elephants’ catapults this mix through barriers most house DJs wouldn’t dare confront.  It’s a smashing entry for Demi into the A-list fraternity.

‘Sounds like Alola’ is available at all major digital download outlets including iTunes (v1 | v2) and Beatport.  I also found them at a very reasonable price on the HMV Canada site (v1 | v2).

A huge congrats to Omid and the Alola crew for 17 years of the highest quality house found anywhere on the planet.  We look forward to all the re-releases and fresh cuts scheduled for the upcoming year and we are super excited for future volumes of the mix series.  Dig deep house music lovers, these comps are well worth it.

What took this so long?

Finally the newest version of bringthebeats is live, but let me tell you, it’s been an adventure to get to this point. Actually, it’s been more like a fucking pain in the ass to get to this point!  But who’s bitter?

After a season long break to stress over a new job, new condo and a night class, I jumped back on the btb stallion just before Christmas. I cleaned and reorganized over 200 posts; a painstaking procedure that included a manual “find and replace” of these magically appearing characters hijacking every quote, comma, dash and accent throughout the entire site.  I still have no idea how they got there, but I do know I worked my butt off to filter them out.

As one final assurance, my developer ran a rabid script to ensure all the characters had been eliminated.  While doing this he totally wiped out the database. Because it was a deliberate action and not a crash, there was no back-up on the server side, and because of a lack of due diligence on our end, the most recent back-up we had available was from five weeks earlier.

I was forced to go to Brazil with business cards pointing to a stale website and return to the agonizing process of rebuilding over 100 hours of work virtually wasted. Losing!

We managed to salvage some of the articles I’d prepared for launch through the trusty back button – thank you computer Gods for creating a cache!  I re-wrote others from rough copies floating around my email account. Only two of twelve posts were completely lost, so in the end it wasn’t as bad as I’ve made it out to be; even though the version you see here now is a little dated. Yes, when it comes to this site I’m never satisfied.

Some rookie moves have forced us to learn some critical web lessons the hard way. But now it’s even more amazing to be back in business because of the trying times we’ve endured.  With more flexibility to express myself within the new bringthebeats || Barney’s Updates format; it should only be productive times moving forward.

You can find a fully detailed description of exactly what this space is in the “Who’s Barney?” page. The Coles Notes are as follows:

bringthebeats continues to be our interpretation of the underground house music scene. We’ll promote the music we love, from the artists we love to support and the events we love (or would love) to attend.  It remains all about the love of funky progressive house.

Barney’s Updates is my personal blog. Adding this section makes the space all about “me” and the things I’m into. This sounds a little narcissistic, but the internet provides the opportunity to post and reminisce over all aspects of your life, so I’m taking it.

So it continues…

Brazilian Club Tour 2011 || MOB Festival 05

Three months planning and over ten hours flying to find something fresh and funky and we often ended up with much of the same… but always better.

In our continuous quest to be at the right place, at the right time, with the right people – our recipe for a memorable clubbing experience – an abbreviated version of the btb crew packed their medium-size luggage (except for Danilo) and headed south for the warm vibes of the Brazilian dance music scene.

Our crew of six included two gals, four guys, four mainstays and two new recruits, bringing a few different perspectives to the party.  We hit up three distinct environments, a lounge, a boat party (to the extreme) and a good ole club party.  The events were everything: intense, spectacular, cheesy, breathtaking, fun, frustrating and most definitely memorable.

In many ways the Brazil scene mirrors what we have here in North America.  The masses are into commercial electro or dark techno.  Underground house is still pretty niche.  Too their own account, the warm up DJs are usually much fresher and focused than the headliners.

Where the scene differs from ours is in the prominence it has within the everyday culture of Brazilian people.  There are billboards promoting DJs and clubs in cities of all different sizes and you can hear electronic sounds in public places everywhere.  EDM is a real part of all of Brazil, not just in the big cities like it is here.

Check out the pics: part 1 || part 2 and read the full story to check out our vids.

Caught in the Mau5 trap

Before: In a few hours I’ll hear Deadmau5 for the first time, live to air on Much Music at the Masonic Temple studio courtesy of my friend Tracy who did the publicity for the event.  I’m quite intrigued by what I’m about to experience. I couldn’t trainspot a Deadmau5 track to save my life, but it’s going to be cool to see what this phenomenon is all about in an INTIMATE & COMMERCIAL setting.

See, I’m still the kind of guy who longs for the days where DJs made their money through the clubs and producers cashed in on the charts. If you could do both, you were a destined star. If you were only skilled in one of the two aspects, you were pretty much in the game strictly for the love.

Unfortunately, producers now dominate the dance floor; whether you can properly rock a room or not, you’re shit out of luck if Pete Tong isn’t playing your original cut. Add a marketing hook – for instance a pair of over-sized ears – and all you need to make it on DJ Mag’s Top 100 is a big phat electro track or some stripped down techno with your name on it. How it sounds in the mix (or not) doesn’t really matter, because let’s face it, flow and direction are so 2002. Look ridiculous in a few promo shots and you’re well on your way to being a sure fire hit.

I guess I’ll hear and see the winning formula up close and personal tonight.

After: Well I’m relieved about one thing: all my shit talk wasn’t just shit talk. The entire event was actually worse than I thought. The music was incredibly horrible and the production was absolutely sensational. My worst nightmare comes true.

Deadmau5′s music is simple and unimpressive. His first half hour was nothing more than banging noise. The rest of it was generic electro trance. Anyone with any knowledge of music production could piece together his sound. It’s tailor made for the untrained ear. Fortunately for him, there are lot of those mau5 ears up front and centre soaking up his cheesy energy to fuel their party.

Then there’s the corporate planet – the accessories to the crime – playing this crap off as the “best there is” with such an elaborate production. I get it, the mouse ears are marketable. Kids (and subsequently their parents) are buying it. His stage and light show are absolutely incredible and they even do an amazing job making that wacked thing on his head look ultra-cool. Deadmau5 truly puts on a Grammy-like performance and that makes money.

But put bluntly, the music sucks and I don’t feel he’s earned the fame. Unlike the likes of Luke, Nick Holder and Carlo Lio, buddy hasn’t paid his dues and worked the Toronto circuit as these guys have for many, many years. Let alone they make and play out music ten times the quality.  I compare it to the hard working blues artist who’s been entertaining lounges for years with passionate tunes and is forced to watch Bieber Mania run wild after a couple half rate YouTube videos go viral. It’s just not right.

It is what it is and I guess we have to live with it. Just as we’ve endured years of Tiesto we’ll have to deal with people thinking Deadmau5 is a DJ (which he’s not).  I’m sure he’ll be around for just as long as he seems just as popular. On a positive tip, kids are one step closer to real DJ culture by being exposed to any type of electronic music. We can only hope over time some on these fanatics escape the trap and trade their mau5 ears in for more musical ones.

The Rogue Show comes to Toronto

A match made in house music heaven, the perfect combination, the dynamic duo, the one – two punch… there is absolutely no doubt Luke Fair & Add2Basket are everything to us!!

It’s not difficult to describe their astonishing talent, but it sure is tricky to justly put to words our overwhelming excitement when it comes to what will be going down at Footwork on Saturday, August 7th when The Rogue Show comes to town. So we’ll let the music do the talking…

If you love the funkier, groovier, sexier styles of The Rogue Show Podcast €“ Episodes 001 & 002, then its best you mark August 7th on your calendar right now because this epic night of incredible vibes will ultimately make up the tunes for Episode 003. That’s right folks you heard it here, the next podcast will come to you live from Toronto so if you want to be a part of underground internet folklore, get your bloody butt on the Footwork dance floor.

Arriving early will provide a very special treat as we’re reuniting Luke with his old Solution crew when Fabricated’s Steve Mack & Matt Coleridge open with a very special back to back set. The significance of these two warming the decks will be understood by many old school clubbers and emphasizes how memorable this night is going to be.  We really hope to see you there.

INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND v9 featuring SHUR-I-KAN & irGO

We’re doing everything we can to keep the Toronto scene fresh, funky, INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND. In this spirit we bring to you our first full partnership in the I&U series on Friday June 11th when House Addict presents Volume 9 with one of the industry’s hottest producers / DJs, the UK’s Shur-i-kan.

Tom Szirtes aka Shur-I-kan, is considered amongst the top of a new wave of electronic producers thanks to his trademark blend of musicality and cutting edge production techniques. He has been a long-standing key artist for Jimpster’s Freerange Records, and has recently collaborated with Glasgow’s kingpin of house, Milton Jackson, to start Dark Energy Recordings. Representing the deeper side of house, Shur-I-kan will show Toronto his true self for the very first time.

As mentioned, this is our first co-promotion for the INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND series. We definitely couldn’t have chosen a cooler direction than with the House Addict crew’s love for deep, sexy tech house. We know both crowds will appreciate the vibe this sound provides and we couldn’t think of a better venue than Toika to host this soon to be legendary Toronto debut.

There is NO GUEST LIST for this event. Please hook up advance tickets at the extremely low price of $12 at www.gettickets.ca. Cover at the door will be $20 so save yourself a drink at the bar and grab your tickets now.

For pre-party beats leading up to the big event, subscribe to Shur-i-kan’s Dark Energy Podcast on either iTunes or libsyn. Also subscribe to irGO’s Podcast on either iTunes or PodOmatic.

Underground Redemption

Just when I thought it might be winding down, the passion I feel for the underground seems to fire up again. See, I’m approaching a crossroads, a point in my life where I need to begin to focus all of my energies on only the important things in my professional life. Now I just need to figure out what it is that’s important in my professional life.

I’ve come to grips, many times, that EDM is not where I see myself in 5-10-20 years. I’ve always said that it’s too unprofessional, too random an industry to spend the rest of my life trying to make a difference and earn an honest, secure living. But really, is EDM any different from the corporate world I find myself in now? Truly, no matter the profession, isn’t the secret to professional success about choosing to work with people you respect in an environment that’s inspiring?

INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND is a great example of getting the most out of the choices we make (Check our pics from I&U v8). We’ve stayed true to the underground essence, embraced it for what it is and have never tried to make it anything more than what it should be. And by doing so, we’re creating unforgettable memories each time we fill the dance floor.

Now we’re well aware the true tests are yet to come. Will we be able to recreate the electricity of our gigs headlined by Luke & Ricky with lesser known, up and coming artists? That’s always been our primary focus and in the end, our success will be measured on how many people come to bringthebeats / INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND events, not just for any one particular DJ.

And will we be able to properly launch The LocALe and finally become a recognizable group within the Toronto club circuit? As mentioned in the promo piece for v1, our long term success throwing events and introducing new talent to this city will be implicitly tied to our ability to attract local support from others working behind the scenes.

Over the next few months these questions will definitely be answered and the results will be one of the deciding factors in whether or not we should take bringthebeats to a full time level.

Saying all this, it’s the global effort that still excites me the most. How can it not coming off such an incredible Winter Music Conference in Miami (Check our pics Part 1 & Part 2). Damn was the music ever incredible and once again we met an abundance of like-minded, equally motivated colleagues.

Our friends from Embrace have definitely become a power house at the WMC, but it’s the detail, vision and enthusiasm of the Listed crew that has once again impressed me the most. They work so bloody hard and it shows in the quality of the music, production and most of all, the people on the dance floor.

Yes, the conference is starting to look quite a bit like a Jersey Shore pilgrimage, but that also means more of the mainstream is taking notice. We all most likely entered this scene with a style that we’re not as much interested in today. Let’s hope these people similarly convert to a less party focused participation and help the continue growth of the more underground sounds we believe should be at the forefront of this industry.

All in all, things are more positive for our movement than they’ve been in a long time. Looking back to my last IMO over 18 months ago, I think bringthebeats and the underground have taken more steps forward than in reverse, a tone I was definitely not writing in back in the fall of 2008.

It remains to be seen how the rest of the year will unfold, but whatever happens, one thing is for certain, 2010 is shaping up to be an all or nothing year for bringthebeats. Is it time to follow a dream or is it time to move on? Only time will tell; but the last few weeks has me looking more towards the stars now than ever before.