I took the remix in a more edgy/techy house direction. So if any of you play that format, I encourage you to take a listen. It was a real honor to work such a classic!

Download for FREE on SoundCloud at:
Mediate featuring Tricky (Robert LaFrance Remix) – INXS by Robert LaFrance

Mashantucket, Conn.—Picture this: You’re dancing in a decidedly upscale room among a group of beautiful people dressed in tighter, more expensive clothes than you thought possible, roped off from the rest of the cattle and sipping expensive bottles of champagne delivered with sparks flying from the affixed firework.

Booming four-on-the-floor house music is emanating from a custom Funktion-One sound system. A toothy smile graces the face of a world-renowned DJ. Moving lights and strobes overwhelm your vision. Flecks of light glitter from particles of “snow” released from overhead. Full-colored laser beams bounce vigorously around the club and terminate in said DJs name etched out on the rear wall.

Is this Miami? Las Vegas? Ibiza? Nope – it’s Mashantucket, Connecticut.

Never heard of it? Apparently, neither had the 21-year-old, Swedish-born DJ, Avicii (aka Tim Bergling), as he pushed aside his headphones and jokingly commented to me, “I never even heard of Connecticut.”

Mashantucket’s only claim to fame is the Foxwoods Resort & Casino. Its Asian-themed restaurant and nightclub, Shrine, is where we found ourselves on a recent Tuesday night for this evening of global house music.

Avicii wowed the packed crowd with a full-on assault of festival-like familiar vocals, uplifting melodic breaks, and trancey house music. He fostered a sing-a-long, hands-in-air lovefest via his original hits “Bromance,” “My Feelings For You,” and his remixes, “Rapture” and “Sweet Dreams.” It wasn’t too far removed from the parties thrown by fellow countrymen Swedish House Mafia—euphoric, epic, fun.

Tech Talk: Avicii uses a minimal setup by housing all his music on three USB sticks and playing on three Pioneer CDJ-2000s and a Pioneer DJM-800 mixer. His mixing style is flawless, if straightforward – one song into another with not much in the way of loops or a cappellas. Interestingly, this new-school DJ actually lowers the volume of the booth monitors as he begins to mix with split cue in his headphones.

The venue staff and the promoters, AfterDark and Volume Promotions, were over-the-top accommodating (unlike many of those major city clubs). The sound system may be Funktion-One, but it was a little underwhelming in that room. The bass was sufficient, but the high end disappeared in the mass of bodies – over 600 presales tickets sold and about 700 in attendance.

Quibbles aside, this was a coming-out event for New England nightlife, which saw Connecticut and Rhode Island folk partying like they’d just discovered the joys of house music (which some may well have). Either way, it was a great night for those in attendance and for Sweden’s next top DJ—Avicii.

– Robert LaFrance

Children (2011 Remix by Robert LaFrance and Nate Sherwood) by Robert Miles by Robert LaFrance

]]> http://www.robertlafrance.com/whats-hot/robert-miles-children-2011-remix-by-robert-lafrance-and-nate-sherwood/feed/ 0 http://www.robertlafrance.com/whats-hot/grotto-gig-saturday-326/ http://www.robertlafrance.com/whats-hot/grotto-gig-saturday-326/#comments Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:14:17 +0000 lafrancer http://www.robertlafrance.com/?p=520 Saturday, March 26th at The Grotto, New Haven, CT.

The Grotto is a chill little spot below Bespoke restaurant  on College St.  The focus is on great house music (of course) but the space really lends itself to meeting new people and having some great conversation.  So, we’ll keep the music front and center but not overwhelming.

Plus, I’m honored to be playing with some great friends and DJs Jon Blanchard, Steve Gionfriddo and Shana Montefusco.

Hit me up for details and hope to see you!

]]> http://www.robertlafrance.com/whats-hot/grotto-gig-saturday-326/feed/ 0 http://www.robertlafrance.com/whats-hot/my-first-remix-for-adam-freemers-mecha-recordings-out-now/ http://www.robertlafrance.com/whats-hot/my-first-remix-for-adam-freemers-mecha-recordings-out-now/#comments Tue, 18 May 2010 13:02:48 +0000 lafrancer http://www.robertlafrance.com/?p=431 Adam Freemer asked me to remix his newest track called “Session” for his Mecha Recordings label.   The result was an groovy, techy, underground house track with a dark detuned vocal urging you to “DANCE, MOOOOVE” in the “SESSION.”  Other remixers include Alex Santer with a more subdued yet equally stunning mix and Italy’s Phunk Investigation with a powerful late night mix.

Please preview the track below and considering purchasing from www.Beatport.com TODAY!

Thanks!

Rob

]]> http://www.robertlafrance.com/whats-hot/my-first-remix-for-adam-freemers-mecha-recordings-out-now/feed/ 0 http://www.robertlafrance.com/whats-hot/ipad-djs-should-show-some-respect-this-means-you-rana-june-sobhany/ http://www.robertlafrance.com/whats-hot/ipad-djs-should-show-some-respect-this-means-you-rana-june-sobhany/#comments Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:20:59 +0000 lafrancer http://www.robertlafrance.com/?p=426

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, viagra 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