A Device that Should Never Be Used to DJ

Rana is everything that is WRONG with DJing today! And the fact that the media gives her this much attention (including the magazine for which I write) just doubles my frustration level. It’s obvious that this “self-confessed” geek has no knowledge of DJing, dance music, and certainly not the history or culture. After all, she thinks all she has to do is press play on two tracks at 124 bpm and they’re beatmatched! Of course, that is exactly what someone who’s been DJing for 2 weeks with equipment that is completely incapable of beatmatching to begin with (no pitch control on the core apps she uses). What’s more is she is using a Numark mixer – so you know something is wrong right there. I am disgusted!

Did I say 2 weeks? She admits to having DJing for 5 days in the video. Why is anyone even listening to her? I think I’m going to pick up this thing people call “surgery.” Call me me on Wednesday and I’ll remove your pancreas and video my awful technique so the world can see me butcher you the same way she butchers our music!

She claims she is now booking gigs from all this attention and she even has a booking agent! Let’s call that agent and ask if we can pay the agency to keep her OUT of our cities!

I’m fairly certain that this is one of the “7 Signs!” THE END TIME IS NEAR! GO BUY TWO IPADS AND TRY TO ENTERTAIN YOUR GEEK FRIENDS UNTIL THEIR EARS BLEED!

Original Video:

Link to the DJ Times story

Interview with Mashable:

Robbie Rivera's Juicy Beach Party 2010

Miami and Ibiza native Robbie Rivera is known the world over for his sexy, warm weather beats. His early productions like “Bang” and “Funkatron” laid the foundation for the electro genre and it’s hip-hop hangers on. His label, Juicy Music, consistently releases quality house music supported by the world’s top DJs.

Every March, he steps off the cold floors of DJ Booths everywhere and onto the warm sand at Miami’s Nikki Beach for his Juicy Beach Party. With a mixture of superstar DJs and up and coming talent, he expects to draw about 7,000 people over 17 hours to this dance music oasis. It all takes place Thursday, March 25th during the Winter Music Conference.

We caught up with Robbie to find out more about the party and offer some tips for the Miami newbie.

Immortal Changes by Robert Babicz

Immortal Changes by Robert Babicz

From sting trios to slow throbbing techno; from sullen downtempo to optimistic soundscapes;  Robert Babicz’s second artist album is certainly diverse but always beautifully melodic and warmly analog with an underlying experimental and psychedelic tone.  His goal was to achieve very personal electronic music and this album showcases that ability to connect with the listener on an emotional level both at home and on the dancefloor.

Listen to samples or download it legally here.

– Robert LaFrance

Rebel Rave US Tour

After putting their signature mark on the underground dance music community with highly original, trend defying DJ sets and releases, Damian Lazarus and his Crosstown Rebels label crew have announced a two month, 23 date North American tour.

I saw Damian perform a daytime set at the Beatport Pool Party at last year’s WMC and was entranced by his eclectic track selection –  from subtle and psychedelic to deep and tough – and his overall integrity.   Now sensitized, upon my return I got turned on to his label, it’s artists, the amazing Rebel Rave video series, and the LazPod podcast – always defying expectations and pushing boundaries.

So, it’s with great enthusiasm that I post the dates and promo video below and hope to catch them on the dancefloor!

REBELRAVE US TOUR 2010 from David Terranova on Vimeo.

Tour Dates:

- Robert LaFrance

Tarry Not feels like a manifesto for the future of techno.  This collection of dark, brooding, intricate tech-house never makes it above 128bpm but feels downright energetic due to its layers of expertly crafted, ever-evolving sounds, subtle melodic textures and vast analog-style bass.  This is holistic, human-machine music for the next generation of the underground.

Click here to hear samples of all the tracks and purchase it legally at Beatport.com.

– Robert LaFrance

The Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, one of the world’s biggest music events, has announced it’s official lineup and it certainly features a solid number of dance and electronic music artists.

Big wigs such as Orbital, Tiesto, Deadmau5, David Guetta, Plastikman (aka Richie Hawtin), Benny Benassi, LCD Soundsystem are represented along with more underground artists like Dirty South, Sia, Major Lazer, Kaskade, and The Glitch Mob.

Of course, when you mix in a whole heaping of other genres and world class acts like Jay-Z, Gorillaz, Thom Yorke, Sly and the Family Stone, Public Image Limited, The Specials, etc, etc, you’re looking at an amazing three days and $269 well spent (minus travel and accomodations).

So, if you’re one of the lucky ones thumbing your nose at this recession, BOOK NOW! Otherwise, we can wait for the YouTube videos.

Here is the full lineup:

FRIDAY APRIL 16:  Jay-Z, LCD Soundsystem, Them Crooked Vultures, Vampire Weekend, Deadmau5, Public Image Limited, The Specials, Grizzly Bear, Passion Pit, Echo and the Bunnymen, Benny Benassi, Fever Ray, Grace Jones, She & Him, Erol Alkan, The Avett Brothers, Calle 13, The Whitest Boy Alive, The Cribs, La Roux, Yeasayer, Lucero, DJ Lance Rock, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Proxy, Ra Ra Riot, Deer Tick, Wolfgang Gartner, Aeroplane, Iglu & Hartly, Sleigh Bells, P.O.S., Baroness, Hockey, Little Dragon, White Rabbits, Wale, Kate Miller-Heidke, As Tall as Lions, Jets Overhead, Alana Grace, Pablo Hassan.

SATURDAY, APRIL 17:  Muse, Faith No More, Tiësto, MGMT, David Guetta, The Dead Weather, Hot Chip, Devo, Coheed and Cambria, Kaskade, 2Many DJ’s, Major Lazer, Dirty Projectors, Gossip, Z-Trip, The xx, John Waters, Les Claypool, The Raveonettes, Mew, Sia, Camera Obscura, Tokyo Police Club, Porcupine Tree, Old Crow Medicine Show, Aterciopalados, Bassnectar, Frightened Rabbit, Dirty South, Flying Lotus, Corinne Bailey Rae, Pretty Lights, Shooter Jennings, RX Bandits, The Almighty Defenders, Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros, Craze & Klever, Zoe, The Temper Trap, Portugal. The Man, Band of Skulls, Girls, Beach House, Steel Train, Frank Turner.

SUNDAY, APRIL 18:  Gorillaz, Pavement, Thom Yorke????, Phoenix, Orbital, Spoon, Sly and the Family Stone, De La Soul, Julian Casablancas, Plastikman, Gary Numan, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Sunny Day Real Estate, Yo La Tengo, MUTEMATH, Deerhunter, Infected Mushroom, Club 75, Matt & Kim, The Big Pink, Gil Scott-Heron, King Khan and the Shrines, Florence and the Machine, Yann Tiersen, Little Boots, Miike Snow, Talvin Singh, Ceu, B.o.B., Babasonicos, Owen Pallett, The Glitch Mob, Mayer Hawthorne, Local Natives, Rusko, The Middle East, Hadouken!, The Soft Pack, Kevin Devine, Paparazzi, Delphic, One EskimO.

- Robert LaFrance

Ultra Music Festival 2010 has announced its initial lineup.  As per usual, it’s shaping up to be a doozie!  Most of the biggest names in dance music are represented except 2009′s Dance Music Man of the Year, David Guetta.  Especially considering Wil.I.Am is booked, the absence of his collaborator on the Black Eyed Peas huge hits, Guetta, is conspicuous at best.  Let’s start a rumor!

More announcements to come, but I am holding out hope that some more underground talent will be added as time progresses.

Ultra Music Festival Day 1 – Friday, March 26th:
Tiesto, Eric Prydz, Swedish House Mafia, Carl Cox, The Crystal Method, The Disco Biscuits, Dirty South, Rabbit in the Moon, Will.I.Am, Infected Mushroom, Plump DJs, Adam Freeland, Felix Da Housecat, Lotus, Alex Metric, Pretty Lights, Green Velvet, Bassbin Twins vs. Uberzone, Evil Nine, Afrobeta and Kevens.

Ultra Music Festival Day 2 – Saturday, March 27th:
Deadmau5, Eric Morrillo, Armin Van Buuren, Above & Beyond, Groove Armada, Carl Cox, Faithless Sound System, Ghostland Observatory, Crookers, Steve Aoki, Bloody Beetroots, Major Lazer, Bassnectar, ATB, Glitch Mob, Diplo, LTJ Bukem, A-Trak, Rusko, Skream and Eddie Halliwell

http://www.ultramusicfestival.com/

A Los Angeles-based publication, BrandX (as spotted on danceblogga.com), has predicted its trends for nightlife in 2010.

The writer, Alexandra LeTellier, cites trends such as better and more personalized service, the end of the velvet rope, smaller venues and communal drinks such as punches.

But, the most notable trend, which we’ve already started to experience in 2009, is the move towards more house music in venues. With acts like the Black Eyed Peas, Pitbull, and Sean Paul turning up the BPMs, burning up the Billboard charts, and performing on national TV shows like Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve, its not a difficult trend to forecast. Nonetheless, for anyone who loves the house scene, these mainstream acts only help pull more people into “the scene” and help attendance at the more underground-styled events.  YAH!

Read the full article here.

The 2009 Electric Zoo Festival on Randall’s Island was apparently so successful that Made Events, aka the famed promoters Mike Bindra and Laura De Palma, have already announced the 2010 dates.

The festival will once again take place on Randall’s Island, NY, on September 4th and 5th, i.e. Labor Day Weekend, 2010.

After attending in 2009, I was so impressed with the organization (ticket purchases were easy, reasonable), logistics (set times were posted and adhered to, two DJ booths per tent so there was no “dead air”), and world class lineup, that I am already excited about the potential in 2010.

Stay tuned here or sign up here for the Made Event mailing list for further details.

Relive the MUSIC and the VIBE of Lounge 215 with CLASSIC TRACKS from the days of 215 mixed with MODERN CLASSICS!

HOUSE MUSIC ALL NIGHT with DJs Robert LaFrance and Nate Sherwood along with Alex and Hubert!

Email me (or print out the pass) for REDUCED ADMISSION!