Live at Frolic Campout 2011

I had the pleasure of playing the 2nd annual Frolic Campout in Willits California. I wanted to play a peak time set worthy of the slot, so this new set is a bit of a departure from my usual house stylings. A bangin’ hard set full of breaks, techno, tech-house and the kitchen sink.

Live @ Frolic 2011 set (Right click and “Save as” to download)

 

kem web site remixed, my djing world also remixed

My web site was due for an overhaul, so I’ve redesigned it and migrated it to a new platform. You’ll find the new site is easier to read and has more functionality over my old static one. Somehow this new beginning is appropriate to reflect on the amazing journey I’ve had as a DJ. It started when one of my old mixes (dTown Express) recently shuffled onto my iPod in the car. Looking up the date it was a bit of a shock to see that the mix is already eight years old, and that doesn’t even seem that long ago in my career.

I started to DJ in 1997, my how things have come along since then. I had a hard time letting go of vinyl, it wasn’t until after 2008 that I started to explore digital DJing. At that point many vinyl distributers in the U.S. started to close their doors. I found it hard to get the European vinyl craved. I felt forced into playing CDs. At first it was awkward, but I got used to it… in the back of my mind I always convinced myself vinyl was better. It was circumstance that forced me into this situation.

The thing I love about DJing is that you can never conquer it; there is never an end. No matter how good you get there is always something to learn. This is what makes it an endless passion, if you love music you can never stop interacting with it. I accepted CDs but still clung to my vinyl allegiances even though I haven’t played vinyl in years. So I made the next inevitable step into digital DJing, I bought a digital vinyl system, Traktor Scratch to be exact. I’ve boldly embarked into the new frontier of DJing.

The plan seemed brilliant, continue to play digital music but use my beloved Technics 1200 turntables to control the music. Picking up my Ortofon needles and cueing a real vinyl disc seemed epic at first. As I tried to play my first set I realized that playing on turntables is actually a pain in the ass. Were they always this loose? Did you always have to ride a mix constantly adjusting the pitch to make sure the beats didn’t slip, even a hundredth of a second?

Was I really that naive or did I just not want to believe? As much as I touted the superiority of vinyl, maybe digital did have its place. It certainly explains why over the past few years when switching to CDJs that my beatmatching became flawless. Better living through circuitry… it made sense. Now with Traktor Scratch as my tool I feel like I’m at crossroads. Do I continue to use the vinyl timecode discs and wear each perfect mix as a badge of honor? That’s right, perfectly matched beats on these aging wheels of steel of analog grace. Or do I switch to CDJ timecode CDs, spending my time crafting the mix and not riding the beats to make sure they are perfectly matched. I’ll have to explore that in due time, old habits die-hard.

For the readers who have endured my diatribe thus far, what does this mean? Well, I’ve got a new site, I’ve got a new and better way to mix music and I have the inspiration to release more DJ mixes and play more gigs. Stay tuned.

Live DJ sets from Frolic Campout

I had the honor of playing two sets at this summers Frolic Campout in Willits, CA. The first set was on Friday night and it was a deep tech house affair. Deep driving beats that pulsate into your brain. The second set was a blast, I played a super funky deep set pondside Saturday during the day. Loads of peeps chillin’ in and around the pond grooving to dope beats. It was a great time. Recorded live 07.17.10 & 07.18.10.

Friday night deep tech mix

Saturday day funky & deep mix

Minty, a deep tech house groover

Here is my latest mix named “Minty” a nice tech-house groover. The name comes from the pictured minty gin concoction I made to sip while I play a number of freshly bought tracks. This was just a practice session I recorded and I was quite pleased with how well it came out.

Download Minty (Right click to download)

Tracklist

  1. Kinky Movement – Seven Jazz
  2. Giuseppe Cennamo – Rules Of Life
  3. Noir & Westboy – She’s Got My Heart
  4. Inland Knights – Another Way
  5. Kaiserdisco – Espandrillo (Okain Remix)
  6. Oxia – Whole Life
  7. Mikel Curcio & Noir – La Musica (Pirupa & Pigi Remix)
  8. Office Gossip – Sirius A
  9. The Junkies – Quartro Uno Sei
  10. Karol XVII & MB Valence – Chord Na Ludziach
  11. Okain – My Super Sweet Sixteen
  12. Oxia – Sun Step
  13. Okain – Wait Please (Lauhaus Remix)
  14. Superlounge & Alex Niggemann – Chip Chip

December 2008 top ten chart

December 2008 Chart

  1. Shur-I-Kan – Jingle Jangle – Dark Energy
  2. Lovebirds – Gentle – Tear Drop
  3. Herb LF – Sunliner – Farside
  4. Office Gossip – Time Against Me – Urbantorque
  5. Marc Romboy – Elif (Jimpster Remix) – Systematic
  6. Patric La Funk – Restless (Tim Weeks Remix) – Opaque Music
  7. Scope – Quid Pro Quo (Office Gossip Remix) – Urbantorque
  8. Osunlade – Momma’s Groove (Jimpster’s Hip Replacement Mix) – Strictly Rhythm
  9. Jake Island – Do It Like This feat. Alec Sun Drae (Shur-I-Kan Remix) – Toolroom
  10. Ksky – It’s Black Pink (Shur-I-Kan Remix) – Deepology

Summer campouts are near

Upcoming Events: I will be playing a couple of campouts this summer. The 3 Degrees campout July 4th weekend and also the FnF campout in late July. Both should be great events so get your tickets now.

In other news, I had a very successful closing set for last weekend’s Rhythm Society event, nothing like proper house to wakeup the floor. I will post up the set if the recording worked out.

Moving Forward, a new deep tech mix for download

My new mix entitled Moving Forward is finally up! Smooth house sounds to soothe your soul and keep you moving forward. Made 06.15.08

Download Moving Forward

Tracklist

  1. Milton Jackson – Adventures in Stereo – Urbantorque
  2. Shur-I-Kan – Generations (Jimpsters House Dub) – Freerange
  3. Quizz feat. Emilie – Bag U Should (Charles Webster Remix) – Art Brut
  4. Jimpster – Got a Hold on Your Soul – Freerange
  5. Rocket – People (Jeno’s “Stormy Weather” Mix) – Grayhound
  6. Knee Deep – Nightwaves – Kneedeep Recordings
  7. Westpark Unit – Set Free (Satin Souls Remix) – Stir15
  8. Echomen – Thru 2 You (Charles Webster Trumpet Dub) – Airtight
  9. Office Gossip – Strangers – Winding Road
  10. Alexander Koning – Basic Melody (Shur-I-Kan Remix) – Kung Fu
  11. Shawn Ward – Expo 86 (Spirit Catcher Remix) – Polyphonics
  12. Bitter:Sweet – Moving Forward (Charles Webster Remix) – Quango
  13. Milton Jackson & Shur-I-kan – Strangezensation – Winding Road
  14. Phonique – Worked It Out (Charles Webster’s First Remix) – Dessous

New mix coming soon

Recorded my new cd this past weekend, it’s been a long time coming so I’m glad I finally got around to recording it. It features a lot of tracks I’ve been saving for this very occasion. The latest, greatest and classic deep slices from the likes of Jimpster, Shur-I-kan, Charles Webster and Office Gossip. I’ll try and get it up this week along with some cover art.

Cloudfactory OODE campout report

Just got back from playing the Cloudfactory OODE campout in Southern Oregon, it was quite a drive but well worth it. Played a great sunrise set which featured a lot of records from my upcoming cd. I have not had a chance to get the archive mixes page up yet, but I promise to do it soon.

May 2008 top ten chart

So for now, here is my Top 10 chart for May to kick off the new site.

May 2008 Chart

  1. Milton Jackson & Shur-I-Kan – Strangezensation – Winding Road
  2. Knee Deep – Nightwaves – Knee Deep Recordings
  3. Motorcitysoul – Mango (Jimpster Remix) – Freerange
  4. Manuel Tur & Dplay – Mild Pitch – Drumpoet Community
  5. Jimpster – Got a hold on Your Soul – Freerange
  6. Solomun – Small Talk – Diynamic
  7. Ronan – Take me Back (Shur-I-Kan Remix) – Onethirty
  8. Pedro Cali – Wet Soul – Elevation
  9. Mark Knight & Funkagenda – Shogun (Jimpster Remix) – Toolroom
  10. Basic Soul Unit – Tunnels (Sebo K & Metro Remix) – Mule