Music Archive:
Trainspotting with Centrific and Dustin Zahn
Posted by Travis Norman on Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
Dustin Zahn and Steve Centrific will be doing a special 4 hour back to back set this Saturday and we have to say, we’re pretty excited about this pairing…Zahn is at the forefront of a talented new crop of US artists that are beginning to make waves in the international techno community and Centrific hands down is one of the best DJ’s in the Midwest techno community.
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Dustin has released music on notable labels such as Adam Beyer’s Drumcode and Truesoul labels as well as Radioslave’s Rekids imprint. (Len Faki’s remix of his track Stranger (to stability) has been charted by pretty much everybody this year). Having two heavyweights like Beyer and RS in your corner really speaks volumes to what Dustin has accomplished. Fresh off his first gig at Berghain this past Saturday, we caught up with Dustin to see just what music the Enemy label boss is digging right now.
Dennis Ferrer – Hey HeyDennis Ferrer – Hey Hey (dub) – Objektivity
I don’t really care about deep house, but I rate Dennis Ferrer fairly highly. While more recent tracks of his like ‘Transitions’ and ‘Sinfonia Della Notte’ were undeniably heavy on the sunshine emphasis, this track sounds like Carl Craig went on a 3-day bender at Berghain. The vocal version is a bit too mainstream for me so having the instrumental available is great. The bassline is epic (in a good way) and the white noise blasts don’t make me want to shoot myself. I will be playing this for a while.
Gary Beck – Over to YouGary Beck – Over to You – BekAudio
I have been playing about 5-6 of Gary’s tracks in each set the past few months and they’re equally great. I picked this because it’s the debut for his new label and he deserves some free publicity. Honestly, Gary’s tracks aren’t rewriting techno and they’re not completely innovative, but they’re still great stripped down, hypnotic club tools that fit very nicely into my sets. What can I say? They’re just cool! They’re jams and I will take quality jams over hits any day of the week! He and Edit-Select are also teaming up for a remix on my label which I am very happy about. Stay tuned.
Newworldaquarium – The ForceNewworldaquarium – The Force (Ame Remixes)
Here’s the problem, with Ame…’Rej’ was such a huge hit that much of their work released after it has been under appreciated. I’ve been playing the dance floor mix from this record, and when it hits me at the right time, it’s one of my favorite tracks of my set. The synth falls in that weird category of neo-Detroit/soul/whatever and the percussion is more reminiscent of jazz or funk band rather than a 909 workout. When it comes to the classic definition of techno, “man vs. machine” this is arguably the most “techno” record I’m reviewing here. The reality is, most techno heads will pass over it for the latest side-chained white noise fest on Beatport.
The Detroit Experiment – Think TwiceThe Detroit Experiment – Think Twice (Henrik Schwarz Remixes)
This record isn’t new…it came out in February but for me, it’s the record of the year. The only people I’ve seen play this record besides myself were the Wighnomy Bros at DEMF ‘09, and it was a show stopper. Henrik Schwarz is an amazing producer but he always puts cheesy vocals over his tracks so I can’t really play them. With this EP, he skips the vocals and heads straight for the jazz-techno explosion. Saxamaphones and techno can go sour real quickly, but I have watched even the toughest critics lose it once the track climaxes about 2/3 of the way through. While most producers rely on the typical tricks of big reverbs, whitenoise, delays, filters, and more to create dynamic tension (admittedly myself included), Schwarz proves that all it takes is a little human funk to blow the place up.
Levon Vincent – Late Night JamLevon Vincent – Late Night Jam – Ostgut Ton
Levon has been making quite the name for himself lately. Like Dennis Ferrer, he generally surrounds himself in the deep house scene but lately his productions have taken more of a techno turn. Much like “Snakes On A Plane,” the title is a literal description of what it really is. A track like this probably doesn’t stand a chance of catching on here in the states. It’s long, drawn out, and substitutes consistent groove for dynamics. In my opinion, that’s a perfect formula for making a stand out, show-stopping track to play mid-set during the early morning hours. Don’t let this description fool you, it’s about as big room as big room gets. I love it!
Gary Beck – Yah Yah – FigureGary Beck – Yah Yah – Figure
Another record from Gary that should be out soon. It’s the flip side to a record shared with Edit-Select and also contains a digital only, “Lime wire” or some shit like that. Anyway, it’s total “in the zone” hypnotic techno which is exactly what I prefer to play when I’m out of town. This one has sampled some sort of super weird record, possibly from the 30s or 40s is my guess. It may not be for everybody, but it’s for me and it’s perfect for those times of the night where everything no longer makes any sense.
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Steve’s Centrific’s production career kicked off with releases on seminal midwest label, Drop Bass Network. Dark, hard, mindbending, midwest acid techno at it’s finest. Steve is a DJ’s DJ…long known around these parts for his marathon sets and the ability to pull tracks that not many others would, and make it work. Steve is also the man behind Intellephunk, one of the Midwest’s longest running event crews. We now get to take a little sneak peak into what goes into a Centrific set…
Speedy J – Klave
Speedy J & Chris Liebing – Klave – Rekids
Speedy J tracks are always a huge tool for me! I am always excited for a new one to appear….
Just as much as I love an old forgotten one to resurface!!!!
This new one is the best!!! More Klave!!!
Dustin Zahn – Bees
Dustin Zahn – Bees – True Soul
Zahn and I have been collaborating throwing events etc since 2003. But I didn’t always play many of Zahn’s tracks.
Then about 2 years ago his tracks became a huge part of my sets. This one really has been my fave for several months because it sounds like a rattle snake! I could loop up the intro to this forever before playing the rest.
DVS1 – RunningDVS1 – Running – Klockworks
I have always loved Zak’s DJ sets. Over the last couple of years his music has become better and better.
I’m glad the rest of the world will finally know how talented he has become. This whole release makes me shiver, and sometimes it rules to be from Minneapolis!
Jpls – Combination-02 – Minus
This track has also been looped forever in most of my sets for the last 6 months or so.
Super hypnotic in such a cryptic way!
I really connect with this track, It takes me where I wanna go and has a sort of vertigo effect on my brain!
Willie and the Family “live”Willie and the Family “live” -Whiskey River- Columbia
I know its a country record but its no mere country record really trust me!
I always love to play a fish out of water at the right time. I played a at a psy trance campout
a few months ago. Every few hours we would crank this gem up and drink from a bottle of “Jack Daniels”….
It made for a great time I have to say!
Particle People Present – BLACK**Post by Aaron Bliss, Jesse Jakob, Centrific and Dustin Zahn**
Originally Published on: Jack The Box – The Midwest At Night
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10 Quotes To Inspire Your Music
Posted by Travis Norman on Monday, December 7th, 2009
Some days, when distraction, deadlines, and duties are all vying for your attention, it can be all too easy to lose sight of why you started down a path of musical exploration in the first place. Here then are a few words of wisdom to keep those creative juices flowing…readers are encouraged to share some of their own favorite quotes in the comments section below. And don’t think they need to be restrained to “famous” folks – a bit of inspiration could just as easily be delivered by a bandmate, teacher, or classmate!
“Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music” ~ Sergei Rachmaninov
“Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom. If you don’t live it, it won’t come out of your horn.” ~ Charlie Parker
“Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.” ~ Angela Monet
“To stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of time itself, incredible and inconceivable.” ~ Aaron Copland
“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent” ~ Victor Hugo
“Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” ~ Berthold Auerbach
“Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.” ~ Confucius
“Without music life would be a mistake.” ~ Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
“Rock and roll isn’t a career or hobby – it’s a life force … it’s just something I have to do.” ~ The Edge
“Whenever society gets too stifling and the rules get too complex, there’s some sort of musical explosion.” ~ Slash
Tags: music quotes
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Interview with Lee Jarvis – London, UK
Posted by Travis Norman on Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
Lee Jarvis is one of the most exciting young DJs to emerge on the London scene, playing his own blend of fun-fueled jackin’ house, all mixed with his customary energy and passion. Lee has played at many of London’s major venues including Turnmills, Egg, The Cross, the Ministry of Sound, plus several UK, Europe and Chicago gigs.
Lee knows what makes a dancefloor move, having also run his own successful party, Moochin, for the last five years. It has become one of the most respected nights on the UK underground jackin’ scene, with a loyal crowd and featuring only the freshest new music, and guest DJs have included Massimo Dacosta, Giom, The Inland Knights, Jacob London, Joey Youngman, Lee Mortimer and many more.
Alongside his burgeoning DJ career, Lee has been perfecting his production skills and busy nights in the studio have resulted in some killer tracks for labels such as 4Kenzo, Lost My Dog and 1200 traxx. These have been picked up and supported by key players on the jackin’ scene, ranging from Mark Farina to Diz to Justin Long to Colette to Demarkus Lewis to Harold Heath.
With all this and more under his belt (Lee also works for the well respected Freerange Records making contact with leading DJs, producers, magazines and radio shows across the world), Lee is developing into a major talent and gaining international recognition. Over the next two years he will be spending much of his time in his spiritual home of Chicago but returning to the UK on a regular basis for DJ dates and to host Moochin parties. As one of the hottest new names in jackin’ house Lee Jarvis ticks all the right boxes.
This December 5th, Lee will be the guest DJ for HotDish’s monthly residency in the VIP. Nate Laurence had the opportunity to sit down with him and dig a little deeper into everything that is Lee Jarvis.
Click for Larger Flyer!NL: So…Lee, let’s get one thing out of the way at the front end of this interview: Is it fried tomatoes, beans, mushrooms, and sausage for every breakfast?
LJ: Absolutely! Don’t forgot the eggs and bacon too. And a cup of tea, naturally.
NL: Delish! But…breakfast aside…tell us what made you plunge into house music.
LJ: I listened to a lot of music growing up, from hip hop to Motown to Prince. Around London in the 90s, garage and Speed Garage were the biggest and newest forms of electronic music. From there I kinda progressed into house via the onslaught of 90s funky disco anthems; DJ Sneak, Daft Punk, Basement Jaxx, Mutiny, Armand Van Helden, Defected and Subliminal records certainly had a lot to do with my honeymoon period in house music!
NL: Prince! Always good to appease the hometown crowd. Nice one Lee! So…I know you were one of the key players behind the event “Moochin” in London. There is no doubt that the “Moochin” name carried afar. You had some incredible talent come through: Joey Youngman, The Littlemen, Massimo Dacosta, and many others. How did this help catapult your DJ career?
LJ: It was a very niche sound in London; clubbers would thank me for finally having somewhere to regularly go and hear the DJs that no-one else brought to town. Playing to a regular crowd certainly helped fine-tune my DJ skills, and being on the same flyer as some high profile producers helped me spread my own DJ career at the same time as promoting the Moochin events. There’s whispers of a Moochin record label going around, but you can’t believe everything you read on the internet now, can you? 
NL: Oooo snap! A Moochin record label? We know nothing! On the flip side, talk a little about your music industry work – or as you so gracefully put it, the “trend-mongering and advice sharing.”
LJ: Well, I’ve always been into the business side, and studied the recording industry, marketing, publishing and a lot more at both a London college and Berklee Music, based in Boston. I consult and manage various online marketing and future strategies for small music businesses and independent artists. One thing that musicians often need help with is establishing a following and then creating revenue streams around their music. That’s where I come in!
NL: I might have to have a cup of tea with you and discuss said artist strategies! Regardless, we know you’re a dope DJ (Moochin wouldn’t retain you if your weren’t) but you’re also starting to make a name for yourself as a producer. I recently heard Mark Farina drop one of your tracks at a show here in Minneapolis and thought, “bizzo shizzle Lee Jarvizzle!” Tell us all about it! Make us pay you money for music!
LJ: Ah, nice! Yeah Mark has dropped a few of my tracks, I’ve also had support from Sneak, Diz, Justin Long, Heather and co. I’ve released on 4Kenzo, 1200 Traxx, Lost My Dog and remixed for a whole bunch of labels. I’d suggest checking out my Soundcloud page where you can have a listen to most of the tracks in full and then follow the Buy links
Right Click and save as here to Download this mix
NL: For the record, who are – in your opinion — the most excellent producers in your genre today? Who can we expect you to drop at the “HotDish” show?
LJ: Wow, there’s a lot of great music coming out this year. I’m loving TBF’s recent stuff, and I’m very likely to drop some cuts by Andrew Emil, Wes, Andrew Phelan, Wally Callerio…. when I’m in a deeper and techier mood I love Mazi, and the UK staples of Freerange, NRK and 2020 are always on fire!
NL: Finally…in order to maintain airspeed velocity, an English swallow needs to beat its wings 43 times every second, right? Am I right? Or is it an African swallow?
LJ: Well, it entirely depends on if (s)he is carrying a coconut; it could grip it by the husk…
NL: A coconut? In the middle of England? No matter….we REALLY look forward to your debut in Minneapolis and will see you very soon!
interview by: Nate Laurence
Originally Published on: Jack The Box – The Midwest At Night
Tags: 4Kenzo, BLACK saturdays, blackmpls.com, Chicago House Music, Colette, Demarkus Lewis, Diz, first ave, First Ave night club, freerange records, ghostly, Giom, Harold Heath, HotDish, House, House Music, J. Matthews, Jacob London, Joey Youngman., Justin Long, Lee Jarvis, Lee Mortimer, London - UK, Lost My Dog, Mark Farina, Massimo Dacosta, Minneapolis, Moochin, Nate Laurence, The Inland Knights, Too Much Love, VIP Room
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The Good Armada
Posted by Travis Norman on Monday, November 30th, 2009
By: Elise Cleereman
As part of Minneapolis-based sextet, The Good Armada (TGA), keyboardist and bassist Tim Kosel has a leading role in both the compositions of their songs and the production of their first album. Learning from the likes of M83, Radiohead, Mute Math, and Incubus (their singer has been compared to Brandon Boyd), the band see no conflict in marrying electronics and rock. Tim had a perfect way of putting it: “I would describe our band as synthesized rock and roll. We are trying to experiment with synthesizers while keeping a structure that people are familiar with. There are edgy guitar riffs while the hooks are usually played by some effect on one of the many synths.” Given the horde of punk-rock/pop-rock cliché bands currently infesting the Twin Cities, TGA come as a lungful of fresh air.
Tim’s status as a production and engineering student at the Institute of Production and Recording not only helps with the recording process; the band are saving so much money by recording their first album at IPR that they’re able to invest far more in merchandise than circumstances would normally allow. “How is this album coming along?” I emailed. “It is nearly completed,” he replied. “We are to the stage of mastering and are sending it to Magneto mastering house. It took us a long time because, as we were recording, we were changing parts and writing parts for the song as it was being tracked. A lot of the stuff on the recorded versions was not initially a part of the song. Also, since we decided that we were going to do it ourselves we made a lot of mistakes and had to re-record a lot of parts that just did not turn out big enough on the recording.”
That they’ve been working on the album for about a year definitely testifies to the many re-recorded parts Kosel mentioned. I had him electronically run me through a typical day in TGA’s recording process: “I will prepare all the details the night before, so microphone choice, placement, instrument, amplifier (we use few different guitars and amplifiers). The following morning, I will arrive at the studio early to set up all the microphones and amplifiers and mess around with guitar tones. Whoever is tracking that day will show up and we will be ready to go. I usually have them do about 10-15 takes, half with one guitar/amp combo, half with another. This, I have found, makes the double tracks sound bigger. Also, I have the option of layering in more than just a double track if need be. We finish up and the player goes home and I will usually run through each take and jot down some notes for when I go back to edit.”
TGA have many things to look forward to in the future, starting with a December show in Aurora Illinois. I asked Kosel how he was feeling about TGA’s touring life. “I think that it will be a little shaky at first. We are all new to this whole thing and have never gone this far to play a show. While it is very exciting for all of us, we are kind of nervous as well because we are not going to have our base of fans out there with us. It will be a true test of all the personalities in the band as well, we are all good friends but never have we all been together for a whole weekend. I think that it will prove to be a good bonding experience for us all as well as giving us a taste of what it might be like to be out for more than a weekend.”
All of The Good Armada’s members are originally from the Twin Cities area. None have played much beyond the metro’s borders. If the December mini-tour goes well, I can foresee a developing fan base in the Midwest–their current goal. “Right now, I see us writing and developing our sound as a group. I feel that we are going to stay local for a long time while playing out-of-state shows maybe once a month without leaving the Midwest. I see us learning as we go. We are trying very hard to keep all the business inside the band and not bring in outside people beside our manager. I think that in the future we will be able to sustain our band without using our own money. I hope that more will come after that, but only time will tell.”
Wanting to work behind the scenes as a producer/engineer–a stretch from being in the spotlight as part of a band–came naturally to him. “I have always been interested also in how albums were made,” he writes. “I got into engineering because when I was in high school my band at the time went to record a 5 song EP. The production and engineering on it were very poor for the price we paid. I wanted to learn how to do it so that I could do a good job for aspiring musicians at a reasonable price. I never want to see someone charged that much money for something that crappy. I also enjoy trying new things and figuring out ways to get different sounds and tweak them to sound pleasing.”
Things are going great for TGA…and for Tim. “I feel that my future in the biz will be successful on a local scale,” he writes. “In playing around the Cities I am meeting a lot of artists and bands that are good and will be needing assistance in the future. I feel that I can make a lot of business contacts and if they like me they will spread the word to others that they meet playing out. This is how I am planning on getting my start. I will also be working in a small theater in North Minneapolis, to pay the bills. It is going to take a lot of hard work to get where I would like to be.”
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Audio Injection
Posted by Travis Norman on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
Droid artists are no stranger to Minneapolis, in 2007 The Particle People began a tradition with out even realizing the power of this collective. Since then we have had return visits from Acid Circus, and Drumcell so make sure to come out and experience the next member of the Droid family… Audio Injection
Audio Injection aka David Flores aka Broken Rules has been hooked on electronic music since his introduction to the culture in the early 90’s. By age 15 he was DJing at clubs and undergrounds around Southern California mixing all varieties of techno, house, and hardcore techno.
His career as a DJ eventually moved to music production and David’s early releases were HardCore and Industrial Techno on labels such as Monoid, Industrial Strength, and Third Movement. Around the same time, he began a relationship with our friends at Droid Behavior. Since then David has been at working with the funky minimal side of techno as well and after a few collaborative releases, remixes and live sets with the Droid label head, Drumcell, David joined the resident roster of the infamous Interface warehouse series.
An amazing Discography that includes releases & remixes on labels Droid Rec, 4 Track, Tora x3,
Stimulus and others, Audio Injection continues to shape his own sound while releasing thumping minimal techno with a funky twist.
Join the boys from Loud and Clear at Black in the VIP Room on Saturday November 21st. To learn more visit www.audioinjection.com and www.droidbehavior.com
Jackcast003 w/Audio Injection direct download here
Dave, it’s becoming a bit of a tradition with me to ask artists at least one question about their thoughts on Minneapolis. This being your first time to Minneapolis , what are your expectations? Are Vidal, Vangelis and Moe saying good things about us? *wink *wink –
Well this will be my first time there and yes I’ve heard lot’s of good things from the other Droids, also from DJ Hyperactive! I don’t really know what to expect, but I hope the crowd digs my sound, and if all goes well, go back and play more shows!
Tags: aaron bliss, Acid Circus, Audio Injection, BLACK saturdays, Broken Rules, Centrific, David Flores, Droid Recordings, Drumcell, First Ave night club, First Ave VIP room, House Music, Interface, Los Angeles Techno, minimal techno, Minneapolis, techno
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Brian Setzer’s newest album, “Songs for Lonely Avenue”
Posted by Travis Norman on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
Brian Setzer’s newest album, Songs for Lonely Avenue, much of which was recorded in Minneapolis and engineered by Institute of Production and Recording faculty members Scott LeGere and Eric Olsen, recently debuted at #4 on Billboard’s Jazz Chart. Having been a fan of Mr. Setzer’s dramatic style since the days of my youth in which “Stray Cat Strut” could be heard blaring from a small boombox on my shoulder in some childhood approximation of ghetto blasting, I was eager to explore his latest.
An album cover design contest was held to find artwork for the release…
From the high energy opener “Trouble Train” and the chugging swagger of “Dead Man Incorporated” I knew this disc would offer a rollicking excursion into sounds and attitudes from a time before the word ‘cool’ had lost its relative meaning. The energetic arrangements set the mood for tales of passion and rebellion, the kinds of stories able to transport the listener to a world of hip cats and dangerous dames. Slower numbers like the title track simmer with a classy and classic swing. Even the instrumental tracks seemed to somehow be urging me to drop everything, hit the road for Vegas, and be ready for whatever mystery and adventure might come my way. Brief moments of humor interject as well, such as the brief Oriental riff inserted as Setzer contemplates getting to China in order to “dig a hole to Carolina” or the few references to modern life (lattes with soy milk and GPS devices to guide us) that remind us this charm is no mere relic, but rather a melding of some “old fashioned” sensibilities and sentiments with a current day outlook and timeless romantic struggles. By the end of the disc I was well convinced that the potentially strange bedfellows of rockabilly, surf, jazz, blues and rock n’ roll can find plenty of common ground in the deft musicianship on display throughout Songs For Lonely Avenue. Of course, by then I was also pretty sure I should attempt to grow a pompadour and start carrying a switchblade wherever I go…
The three-time Grammy winner and former Stray Cat talks about his new CD ‘Songs From Lonely Avenue’
The overall tonality of the music is bright and crisp – horns, cymbals, and other high frequency material shimmer with clarity and a type of “openness” that allow the material to really jump out of your speakers while still sounding quite natural. And by bright I certainly don’t mean the harsh and sterile digital version of the term, in fact, not once during my initial listening session did my mind drift to thoughts of digital recording technology – an essential aspect for keeping the spirit and mood of this particular brand of ‘cool’ in tact. I was also particularly fond of the mix separation evident from tasteful panning of horn parts on tunes such as “Kiss Me Deadly” and “Passion Of The Night”. As for the vocals, Setzer’s crooning and storytelling come through in an intimate fashion, sounding alternately conversational – the life of the party you actually want to converse with, or urgent as he warns against the wiles and lures of seductive and spicy characters. Clean guitar tones and riffs are allowed to take up prominent space throughout the album, all the way to the closing instrumental “Elena”, a dynamic arrangement offering a farewell which is at once driving and contemplative, a chance to reflect on just where this lonely avenue might be headed…
Tags: Brian Setzer, Eric Olsen, Jazz, Rock and Roll, Rockabilly, Scott Legere, Surf music
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JackCast002 Ben Klock Live at BLACK
Posted by Travis Norman on Thursday, November 12th, 2009
Back in April The Particle People were visited by Ben Klock. While on a short visit to the US (NYC and Minneapolis only) with a special night at BLACK we were able to find out why he was on the tip of everyone’s tongue. He was modest, nice and simply blew the dance floor away with an amazing mix of new and classic techno and house. This set was a perfect example of the raw gritty underground sound of US (mostly Midwest) and German dance music coming from Berlin at the moment, most noticeably a little club you may have heard of recently called Berghain.
While in Minneapolis Ben not only was able to see what the Midwest was about, Ben even took home a little piece of Minneapolis by signing our very own DVS1 for KlockWorks005. While here he interviewed for Tanya Norman from IPR and recently with us at Jack The Box for a followup. What Follows is the followup interview and below is the original interview from Tanya and Ben Klock from April.
To top it all off we were also able to get hold of a recording of that night for JackCast002 Ben Klock Live@BLACK…
You recently visited Minneapolis, What were your impressions of the American Techno scene before coming and what are your impressions now? Specifically Minneapolis …
Well I have to say before I had the impression that it’s a very small scene there and this was approved. But in the end it’s more about quality than quantity. And there were some people who were really into it – especially in Minneapolis. And it was great fun playing there, because people seemed to really appreciate.
Your latest release on Klockworks (klockworks 005) is from one of our own locals and is very exciting for us. Is klockworks005 the first release from artists other than you?
Yes it’s the first release from someone else. So it’s something special for me too. I was really impressed by Zak (DVS1). He is minimalistic in it’s original sense. And very energetic. I loved his short but intense performance he did at that party in Minneapolis. And I’m glad I didn’t go straight home after my set and had the chance to meet this guy. I will bring him over to play at Berghain in February.
Do you plan on bringing more artists into the Klockworks roster?
Always depends on the music. If I find something that really fits into the concept that I have in mind for Klockworks then maybe there will be other artists. In fact I’m just planning something with a new artist but it’s to early to tell more.
Do you plan on visiting the US in 2010?
I’m not sure about that yet. We’ll see.
You are known for playing a very wide range of records. I remember hearing a number of classics in your set from your visit. What is your favorite dance floor track, the one you almost never leave home without?
Yes I like mixing old and new stuff. But it always changes. I can’t tell you the one favorite classic. There are too many great records. But if you ask me which one never left the bag since I bought it in 1995 it’s Tyree on Dance Mania: Nuthin Wrong.
Are you currently working on any new music projects that we should keep an eye out for?
I’ve only been doing remixes since my album came out in February this year. Brand new in the stores is a remix for Function on Sandwell District.
And then there will be a record on Deeply Rooted House, distributed by PlanetE with two older tracks of mine coming out before the end of this year.
One of the things we love to talk about on this Blog is gear. Some people are gear enthusiasts and some are minimalists. What is your current preferred DJ and music production set up?
I’m sorry to disappoint you if you expect a large analog production park. For my productions I’m using Logic Pro on a Mac and lot’s of digital plug Ins. That’s all I need at the moment. For me it’s more about music than loving machines. My DJ set up is two turntables and two Pioneer CDJs 1000 and a Soundbite loop player.
Thank you Ben! Interview by Aaron Bliss for Jack the Box.
Below is the interview by Tanya Norman the night Ben Klock Played in Minneapolis.
Particle People Bring Ben Klock To First Ave VIP Room by Tanya Norman
On April 4, 2009 local promoters Particle People welcomed Ben Klock to the First Ave VIP Room. Coming to the USA all the way from Berghain Club in Berlin, this respected producer and deejay was here to promote his new album One and EP Before One out now on BeatPort and where vinyl is sold. Ben was kind enough to grant Tanya Norman an interview opportunity, allowing a glimpse inside his world of Berlin techno and sharing insight into why sometimes less is more…
TN: Who inspires you? Mentors in music?
BK: I don’t know where to begin. I’ve been making music all my life. I listened to all kinds of music. In the 80’s I loved Prince. In the beginning of the 90’s I was beginning to look for new sounds. There are some heroes: old US guys, Jeff Mills, Carl Craig, Robert Hood. Basically, that’s where it comes from.
TN: What kind of technology and tools do you use? Describe your studio.
BK: It’s not that interesting. [laughs] I changed to complete digital. I really like total recall recording. When I worked on my album I worked on different tracks at the same time. I don’t want to have to reconnect cables…..with digital you can really do a lot of things. I use Logic, a little Ableton… usually a Logic user. And some plug-ins.
TN: Your current record label, Ostgut Ton, how long have you been with them?
BK: Since I’ve been a resident DJ at Berghain, about 3 years. Ostgut Ton is the label of Berghain. The venue they had before the Berghain was called Ostgut, that is why the label is called Ostgut Ton.
TN: You’ve been deejaying for over 10 years now?
BK: For a little over 10 years. The international bookings started about 4 years ago, coinciding with the beginning of my residency at Berghain.
TN: Did you play any instruments as a child?
BK: When I was a kid I played piano. Before I became a DJ I also played in a band and did some songwriting, playing guitar and singing…
TN: Did you find those experiences helpful with your current productions?
BK: Yes and no. Sometimes it is not helpful when you are too educated in music and you want to make a good techno track…you don’t want it cluttered with too many solo parts, well, iIdon’t want it… [laughs]
Be sure to see Tanya’s post for video and pictures from the night as well as visit Particle People on RA for more pictures here…
http://www.residentadvisor.net/photo-gallery.aspx?set=6248
and on http://www.myspace.com/particlepeoplempls
Originally Published on: Jack The Box – The Midwest At Night
Tags: aaron bliss, Ben Klock, Berghain, Berlin, Black, DVS1, first ave, jesse jakob, Klock Works, Minneapolis, Particle, particle people mpls, Tanya Norman, techno
Posted in Multimedia, Music, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Last Night A Blogger Saved My Life
Posted by Travis Norman on Monday, November 9th, 2009
With each passing year, as the cost of entry into music production drops and the necessary tools to accomplish basic tasks become ever more readily available, the number of tunes unleashed on the world seems to grow exponentially. Now, more than ever, inquiring minds need a curator, a selector to help them filter gold from garbage…they need a good DJ.
Can music blogs fill that role in the online community? Yes, if you are able to find the ones whose opinions you feel are trustworthy and whose tastes you respect, even when some of their picks don’t neccessarily mesh perfectly with your own (this part is crucial if you hope to be exposed to music you may end up loving, yet which exists outside your normal influences). To aid in that quest, I’ve assembled a list of some of my favorites, as well as some promising sites I discovered in the course of preparing this post. Enjoy, and of course, this is a very small sampling – if you know of some winners I have missed here, feel free to share the URL’s in the comments section…
INDIE:
Daytrotter – “We are going to contribute to the musical landscape, not just toss it around like a used book or a stolen pick-up line. We’re going to give you something that you truly have never heard. We are not giving you songs from someone you love’s record album, thereby stealing from someone you love. We’re giving you exclusive, re-worked, alternate versions of old songs and unreleased tracks by some of your favorite bands and by a lot of your next favorite bands.”
Music For Robots – “totally relevant” – Features testimonials about unsigned and independent bands. Weblog includes a compilation CD which showcases selected artists. I enjoy the personal opinions offered on why a piece of music has been relevant to the reviewer.
Electronic:
Resident Advisor - Interviews, features, reviews, a winning podcast…a personal favorite! The current state of affairs in the ever changing worlds of modern electronic music.
Little White Earbuds- I would give this roughly the same review as for RA above, another site that keeps me coming back on a regular basis!
General:
Pitchfork – An obvious addition to this list, nonetheless…very high quality! Trusted reviews alongside news and features from many different genres of music. There is a reason why this site has gained the popularity it has.
Older / Classics:
Soul Sides – Funk and soul from the glory days. Run by Oliver Wang, “the journalist/scholar formerly/occasionally known as DJ O-Dub.”
Jazz:
Jazz Corner – “the largest portal for the official websites of hundreds of jazz musicians and organizations…”
Rock and Metal:
Noise Creep – Modern metal masters and old favorites as well! Rock and metal videos and music news covering heavy metal, rock and roll, death metal, metalcore, grind, doom, sludge, thrash, black metal and more.
Hip Hop:
All Hip Hop – “The world’s most dangerous site” Rumors, reviews, features, videos, and more…the name pretty much sums it up!
Tags: Electronic, funk, Hip Hop, Indie, Jazz, Music Blogs, Rock and Metal, soul music
Posted in Blogging, Multimedia, Music | No Comments »
An Interview with Bryan Gerrard
Posted by Travis Norman on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
JMatthews: Hey Bryan, really looking forward to having you play Nov. 7th for HotDish’s “Local’s Guide to Trainwreckin’” @ First Ave’s VIP. Many people know you in the Minneapolis dance scene, but can you give us a quick rundown of the history of Bryan Gerrard?
Gerrard: Lookin forward to it too man! It’s been a minute since I played up in the VIP. Quick rundown huh? Well I guess when it comes to house in MPLS – Been playin music since ’94 and like a lot of us dusty old cats still left around, I came up playin raves and warehouse parties throughout Mpls and the Midwest in the 90’s. Started playin clubs shortly after and have been doin it ever since. I’ve played at or held a residency at pretty much every club in the city over the last 10-15 years and still love it!
JMatthews: Can you give us a rundown on Celebrity Records?
Gerrard: Celebrity was formed in ’99 with my homeboy David Drone in the back of his record shop Bassment Records. We started basically with the idea of releasing quality music that we believed in as opposed to saturating the market with a million tracks like a lot of other labels do. It’s always been a labor of love for us and about quality over quantity. Over the years we’ve had the pleasure of working with industry veterans like Andy Caldwell, Scott Wozniak, Gene Farris, Jay-J, Stacy Kidd, Jay West and Alexander East as well as exposing the world to now famous and prolific artists such as Chuck Love, Audiowhores and Random Soul (all of whom released their first productions on Celebrity). It has also been an outlet for many of our own production and will continue to be till the sun (or we) burn out!
JMatthews: What has been your biggest influence in the Minneapolis music scene?
Gerrard: Wow biggest influence…Well if we’re talking about people its without a doubt my house brothers 4 life Monte Hilleman, Alex Jarvis and David Drone. Those boys were doin this shit before me and I used to go see all them play before I ever started and that’s without a doubt the reason I got behind the decks. They graciously invited me into the fold a few years later and we’ve had sooo many crazy experiences since then it’s impossible to count. I’d also have to say the early days of SNDP at First Ave and old nights at The 90’s with DJ Miss Miss back in the day were major influences as well.
JMatthews: Who would you say has the most influence on you and your music right now both locally and internationally?
Gerrard: Well without a doubt all the people I mentioned before remain a big influence. I’ve been getting into a lot of other music lately but when it comes to house I’m diggin the stuff Crazy P, Spirit Catcher and Lovebirds are doin big time. Really diggin the slowed down disco approach to things although there really doesn’t seem to be much of an ear for that here in MPLS. I’m also a big fan of Jay West and Manuel Sahagun’s stuff. Pretty much every track those guys do stays in my wallet forever. I love that they really respect sound quality while keeping the tracks innovative and funky as hell!
JMatthews: Can you tell us a little bit about the earlier life of Bryan Gerrard in the early 2000’s with beatopia, First Avenue, etc? Do you feel that times then are different then vs. now?
Gerrard: That was definitely the heyday that’s for sure! The best times I’ve EVER had djing in my life were up in the VIP room. I miss the feeling that people were open to hearing music they didn’t know and music with a feeling and just having a great time!
JMatthews: Let It Be, what a shame, right? Have you been able to visit the warehouse or the now online shop?
Gerrard: Yeah that’s too bad but not a huge surprise. All the good record shops are gone. Haven’t had the chance to check out the warehouse yet.
JMatthews: Digital versus vinyl. Thoughts?
Gerrard: I think I get asked this question about once a week. And honestly I’m surprised I still do considering digital has been the standard for several years now. My take on it is to move along with technology instead of fighting it. I love the sound of a record as much as the next guy but when clubs refuse to have a decent set of working turntables in them, all the record shops are gone and only about 10% of all the music getting made is released on vinyl the choice kind of makes itself no? I will be busting out some vinyl in the VIP!
JMatthews: Best club to rock out at outside of the 612?
Gerrard: My favs are Smart Bar in Chicago, Blue in Miami, and until last year before it closed Pink in SF was the joint!!!!
JMatthews: You are now holding a residency at The Lounge, can you give the dance community who doesn’t know a little about what your nights are like there?
Gerrard: I love it at The Lounge. That place has been around for so many years that you just gotta! I play a lot of different styles there depending on the night but when that place gets goin it can be one of the best nights in town. They recently remodeled the Main Room which I think makes a huge difference. People need to come down and check it out!!!
JMatthews: What are your thoughts on where house music is going and where it is going to be in the next 5-10 years?
Gerrard: wow man who knows. In the past just when you think house is dying out it comes back. I think people get wrapped up in all these sub-genres and fads but at the end of the day house always wins and will always be around in some format. Probably just need to wait a few more years so it can be all “Retro” then we’ll see its next big resurgence.
JMatthews: Well we sure are looking forward to having you come out and rock some of that vinyl, that is one thing we will never deny a DJ!
Bryan Gerrard will be bringing it this Saturday, November 7th in the VIP room alongside myself, Nate Laurence and DJ SoulFeather for “A Local’s Guide to Trainwreckin’”. Be sure to come out and get down! Its only a $5 show, but if you email HotDish (info@hotdishmpls.com), we will get you on the list for reduced admissions! Plus free crossover to TOO MUCH LOVE. How can you fail?
Interview by: J Matthews
Originally Published on: Jack The Box – The Midwest At Night
Tags: BLACK saturdays, Bryan Gerrard, First Ave night club, HotDish, J. Matthews, Nate Laurence, Soulfeather
Posted in Multimedia, Music | No Comments »
Interview With DJ SoulFeather
Posted by Travis Norman on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009
So SoulFeather, give us a brief history of your DJing career.
I started DJing in my bedroom and at random house parties when I was going to the University of Minnesota in Duluth. Eventually I got a weekly gig at the Red Star in Duluth. When I moved to Minneapolis I was kind of lost at first, but the DJ community in this city is so welcoming that it didn’t take long to get a few random gigs here and there. Now I host Saturday nights at the Caterpillar Lounge and play other various nights around Minneapolis.
Your selection of tracks and your record collection is pretty diverse. Where does this wide array of musical taste stem from?
That’s a good question… I remember playing my Mom’s Aretha Franklin CDs over and over as a kid and I think that really opened my mind up to the power of music. Aretha has so much soul that even at a young age I knew her music was important. In high school I was a huge Phish head and a bit of a hippie, haha. The jam band scene was my first taste of a musical community and I loved it. Then my taste gravitated towards the more electronic groups like the New Deal, STS9, Particle etc. That lead to house music and I’ve been hooked ever since. I’m always excited when I hear something I’ve never heard before, and I gravitate towards those sounds which truly move me.
Tell us about Duluth and your residency at Red Star. How did that come about?
Red Star is really the only bar/club in Duluth that consistently books House & Funk DJs so I hung out there a lot. Eventually I thought my mixing skills and musical selection were up to par so I put a mix together and submitted it to the manager. Later that night I got a call back and the manager said that DJ Nola (now a good friend & one of my favorite DJs) had seen my tracklist for the mix & liked it so they invited me to play a few records that Friday. I vividly remember when I played my first track a group of people instantly started dancing. From then on I was absolutely hooked on DJing.
Your residency at Caterpillar Lounge on Saturdays, Can you tell us a little about those nights, the vibe, people, etc?
Yeah, I currently host Saturday nights at the Caterpillar Lounge. I love that gig. I have guest DJs throw down with me each week which is a ton of fun and it provides for a bit of a different vibe every Saturday. The Caterpillar Lounge is an interesting spot because it’s very much of a lounge atmosphere, but people love to pack the small dance floor and get down. Every once in a while we’ll get a few break-dancers on the floor and that really ignites the night. On an average Saturday night at the Caterpillar Lounge you’ll hear deep, bumpin’ house mixed with old school funk and disco.
You are currently enrolled at IPR, can you give us some insight on your goals with these studies and what your future goals are?
I am studying engineering, post production and music business at IPR and I love every second of it. My passion is and always has been music so after graduating from UMD with a philosophy degree and not knowing how in the world to apply it I, decided to follow my passion and pursue a career in music. I’m learning a lot about the music business as well as marketing and promotion which I am really interested in, but my focus is on post production. In the future I would like to record/engineer sound (music, sound effects, Foley, dialogue etc) for television and films.
Tell us your 3 favorite local DJs that are up and coming. What do they spin and why do you like them?
Honestly I can’t name just 3. Actually I probably couldn’t name just 20 of my favorite local DJs because they’re all so freaking great in their own way. I love the DJs in this city.
Who are some of the labels or house music producers that are really making you excited about house music?
I must say that every Nate Laurence and Scrubfish track I hear I’m blown away. Those guys know what they’re doing and they do it well.
SoulFeather will be bringing it this Saturday, November 7th in the VIP room alongside myself, Nate Laurence and Bryan Gerrard for “A Local’s Guide to Trainwreckin’”. Be sure to come out and get down! Its only a $5 show, but if you email HotDish (info@hotdishmpls.com), we will get you on the list for reduced admissions! Plus free crossover to TOO MUCH LOVE. How can you fail?
interview by: J Matthews
Originally Published on: Jack The Box – The Midwest At Night
Tags: BLACK saturdays, Bryan Gerrard, First Ave night club, Hot Dish, House Music, J. Matthews, Nate Laurence, Too Much Love
Posted in Multimedia, Music | No Comments »
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