Thanks to Justin Shaw for posting this awesomely-cool project / website on his facebook account.

It’s most recent addition is none other than the opposite of  ’a wasted youth’ –  DJ Justin Long – known to some (incld. me) as Chicago’s ‘dotbleep’ darling.  http://www.dotbleep.podomatic.com

I had the pleasure of seeing DJ Long play over the summer in Detroit – where he rocked a roof top patio for several hours, in unrelenting rain for a very crowded, very committed congregation of music-lovin Detroiters.  I happily danced in the rain, drank one too many Long Island Iced Tea’s (now that I think about it, it was a very appropriate drink choice) and parted hard until Mr. Ice T. escorted me out….

Any who, check out this site ASAP!  It’s a great concept with amazing Chi-town artists repping their city, music and talents well.

****NOTE:  Several of these artists will be out and about during the TIFF parties (I.E. Frankie Knuckles) - so do a little re-con on this site AND check them out LIVE in TORONTO or you can always get your sorry butt over to Chicago and see them on home turf.

Part 1

LINK 1

Jay Sinister & Louie Vega Starring Julie McKnight Diamond Life Daddies Groove Remix
Fierce Rulin Diva Rub It In Chocolate Puma Remix

LINK 2

Rasmus Faber & Alf Tumble Ft Candi Staton Wilder Side Tong & Rogers Wonderland Club Mix
Tensnake Coma Cat Round Table Knights Remix
Sergio Flores Ft. Joy Malcom Give It Back Scientific Soul Remix

LINK 3

Most Rated Track
Jose Nunez Featuring Shawnee Taylor Yesterday
Jerk House Connection Each & Every Day (Life Goes On) The Jinks Remix

LINK 4

The Jinks Whip It
Boogie Rapture 3am Eternal Nathan G Remix

LINK 5

Part 2

Tracy Thorn Why Does The Wind Michel Cleis Remix
Tomson & Benedict Rainy Things Jimpster Remix
Uner & Coyu Up & Run Dosem Remix
Brotherly Breathe Shur I Kan Remix

LINK 6

FOR THE LOVE OF HOUSE

Mood II Swing All Night Long Radio Slave Re-Edit
MdCL Presents Sy Smith Truth Bertrand Dupart Remix

LINK 7

Studio Apartment Ft. Rae Your Words
Funk Butcher feat. Akatriel Payback

LINK 8

Part 3

GUEST MIX

LINK 14

Final Cut

Andre Torquato Quartet Niente Yoruba Soul Remix

CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES

For guest list, table reservation
416-599-9000
info@therooseveltroom.ca

With summer coming to an end, Labour of Love, TIFF, MMVA’s around the corner, scarves are one accessory you party people shouldbe thinking about!  It’s not just for those ‘cold’ months in Canada and other sun- deprived countries – the scarf is more than something you wear to keep you warm or to withhold certain body parts from reaching sub-zero temperatures. It can be a really cool and versatile accessory – a  friend for ALL seasons.

I’ve seen (and worn) scarves worn around ones’ neck in countless different ways.  Seen it used as a head-band/warp / hat-thingy, as a top or skirt (don’t ask why or really how – people do funny things when on vacations in warm countries) and as a general fun accessory (tied around a purse, pony tail, forehead, wrist or thigh).

Why would people do this you ask?  The list, and reasons why, are endless.  However, on contemplation, here are some of the betterones I can think of.

Scarves can be easily taken off and put back on as your plans change (i.e. locations/venue change – indoor DJ set / outdoor DJ set – new dress code, sudden unforeseen uber-hippster after-party).  When applied properly, they can keep you warm, OR be used to keep you cool, i.e. from being some sweaty mess.  They can be used to sit on, and keep your ass the color/shade that it was at the beginning of the night / what you intended it to be.  If you get a spill on your outfit…say from dancing to your favorite DJ, who just played your fave song, WHILE thinking it was a good idea to start jumping around holding a ‘colored beverage’, AND  amidst a sea of people doing the same –  you use that freaking scarf to hide, distract or remove that stain.

If you are a clubber, student, parent or hippster / uber trendy downtown rat (like me?) – I will bet you will find another use for this wonderful creature comfort.  When you do, please share it with me and others…I love my scarves and rock them with pride.

However, there are so many to choose from.  How to find them, what do you pick and how do you rock it harder than an ice cube in the north pole?

I like to work with the outfit I am wearing.  Obvious, but still sound advice .

Find a colour in the outfit, pick it out and find a scarf in your collection that works.  Stay away from scratchy, bulky or odd sized ones.  Vintage stores are awesome places to find scarves; otherwise any accessory store will have some lucking around that you will fancy.   I love ones with bold prints and a graphic element.  But I have many that are one colour and often jazz them up with a broach or some pin /  accessory element thingy – think layering and creating interest.

Guys AND Girls can rock the scarf – at any age / season.

For the DUDES: something long, something graphic or bold works best.  Work within your own personal style.  Also think of the possibilities:  Other club goers (girls / guys) can use it to grab you and bring you in towards them and with that action you shared an intimate moment OR the perfect phone-number exchange / snog opportunity.

If you are more urban,you can rock something more downtown cool – think Justin Timberlake meets those Twilight kids.  If you are more Banker-Wanker (suits and tailored outfits) then try a pocket scarf or a Hugh Heffner style cravat (OR any scarf-like thing tucked into your dress shirt).  I see guys rocking this look, I instantly think: fashion-know how, confidence and coolness.

For the LADIES: you can really rock anything.  Find what works for you in terms of length, texture, pattern and style and just have fun with it.  Wear it in different ways and enjoy the good times as you find new ways of rocking your hot, little, new accessory.

One of my newest scarves has ducks on it – I got it because it’s quirky and from France, BUT it’s really become a conversation starter and most people get a kick out of it – or quack?    Moral of the story:  rock the scarf, and love thy new, versatile friend.

LINK:  www.welikemusicfestival.com!

WHEN:  SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 18 2010

TIME:        2:00PM – 10:00PM                       9:00PM – 2:00AM

WHERE:  THE OLD MIAMI /         THE MAGIC STICK

3930 Cass Avenue                4120 Woodward Avenue

Detroit, MI 48201-1722              Detroit, MI 48201-2027

New Music Additions

We are pleased to announce that we have added even more great music to our lineup: Mux Mool, DJ Dez and Slufter!

Our complete roster of musicians represent everything we love about music: new forms of downtempo, hip-hop, house, ambient, dubstep, techno and abstract beats to dance to with headliners Jimmy Edgar, Eliot Lipp and Kraddy leading the way – all transmitted through professional JBL sound.

New Visual Artists
In addition to a surprise installation from Lindsay Jewel and John Leonard, Nivek Monet’s popular body art and original apparel from local vendors, we’ve also enlisted creative lighting design by Marz Media. Keeping with the innovative tradition of some of Detroit’s first VJs, we’ve also added live video installations by Detronik to our day party at the Old Miami and the professional technical support of Jon Hudson, who recently provided stunning backdrops for Detroit’s Movement Festival. Hudson’s screens will display VJ Kero‘s meta-pop digital imagery mixed live at the Magic Stick,where festival-goers can help inspire positivity with Windsor’s Broken City Lab as they list Things We Like About Detroit around the venue using large-scale text projections.

Find details about each artist at www.welikemusicfestival.com/artists.
We have many more surprises in store. Get your tickets today!

Ticket Information

• $15 pre-sale festival passes available at Division Street Boutique (1353 Division, Eastern Market).
• $20 at the door
• Ages 21+ at The Old Miami
• Ages 18+ at The Magic Stick
• Contact info@welikemusicfestival.com.

The city of Detroit is ripe with complexities and curiosities.  However, it is playing an increasingly pivotal role in providing the world with progressive, innovative and consumable music.  Much this push revolves around ‘the promotional powerhouse’ Paxahau.

Paxahau will forever be associated with the Detroit Electronic Music Festival and their boisterous collection of DJ/Producers. I’ve had the pleasure and delight of seeing many of their esteemed colleagues – their DJ/Producers spin over the summer.  This year marks their 12th in the game – congrats to all – and here’s to another 12!

Interview

Q1 – The power of the pen and its associated word craft – is one of my creative outlets – how / when did YOU know that music was YOUR ultimate creative outlet?

A: Well – I didn’t have much going on when I was a kid – basically I went out to me first underground event when I was 17, instantly fell in love with the music, 6 months later I got turntables.  At the start I was just like ‘I can do this and I want to hear this music the way I want to hear it’.  Buying records and playing for fun was the best thing that could’ve happened to me – it saved me a whole lot of trouble.

Q: Probing into the ‘saving my life’ paradigm – is it also true that it might have given you direction when you needed it?  Also: do you still find that it gives you direction?

A:  Absolutely – music was the key to all the doors – I gained the respect from [of] my peers and family after a certain amount of time.  It’s also allowed me to see the world, get out of Detroit, meet amazing people, if there wasn’t any of this I have no clue where I’d be, but I know I probably wouldn’t be happy as I am now – honestly – there’s a whole lot more I want to see in this world outside of Detroit and [many more] goals I’ve set for myself.  The only person who is going to allow me to reach any of these goals is me – no one can just hand this stuff over, it has to be earned.

Q: Earning (as in gaining momentum, respect and influence in one’s area of concentration) is hard for anyone, anywhere – do you ever feel like living in Detroit has given or taken away anything from you (professionally speaking)?

A: Detroit is a pretty unique place ya know?  [There is] not a lot of money or opportunity – you have to carve your path.  Everyone from Detroit has to make it the hard way – work really hard.

Q: You clearly have chosen to carve that path with your skill, wit and effort vs. a knife – that drive is apparent in your music – was that a conscious decision?

A:  For the most part I just want to have fun – I’m into dance music because I like to make people dance.  I’m not hoping for or expecting a big payday or anything. I want to look back at my life in 30 years and say I did things my way not the way I’m expected to.  I mean…shit…I dropped out of school, broke up with girls, and generally gave up any bit of a ‘normal’ life for music – I love it that much and its FUN!

Q:  Normal is boring, but do you think that in this industry ‘fun’ is a relative term and kind of like a commodity when you really get into the nuts and bolts of it all?

(J.J.) How so?

I.e. for some dj’s, those – like you – who have made music their life – I can  imagine that performing / producing can no longer be fun, but just an end towards a means – those means being money, power, perks, etc.?

A: I don’t think I would keep doing this if it wasn’t fun.  I’m not that kinda person.  I can’t do things [that] I don’t enjoy. Everyday I look forward to going into the studio and working.  I love listening to new tunes, being out – all of it.

***********

And “all of it” is where it’s at – thank you so much DJ/Producer John Johr for sharing with me you insight and insides.

Johr – along with other Detroit based talents – can be found spinning, chilling and taking it ‘all’ in, in and around D-town and all over the world.  Johr will be apart of and spinning for Paxahau’s 12 Year Anniversary Parties – check him out Aug. 28th, at Northern Lights Lounge & Vain Nightclub.  The festivities continue up to and including Sept. 18th at the same location.

Congrats to all associated with Paxahau and many sincere ‘thank you’s’ to John Johr!

01 Susana feat. Omnia & The Blizzard- Closer (Album Mix)
02 Rex Mundi feat. Susana- Nothing At All (Rex Mundi Album Mix)
03 Armin van Buuren feat. Susana- Shivers (Radio Edit)
04 Shogun feat. Emma Lock – Save Me
05 John Isaac feat. Marcie- World’s End (Jake Shanahan Remix)
06 First State feat Relyk- Cross The Line
07 Sunlounger feat. Kyler England- Change Your Mind (Myon & Shane 54 Remix)
08 Sandro Peres & Hakan Ludvigson feat. Marcie- Read My Mind (Yuri Kane Remix)
09 Beat Service feat. Emma Lock- Cut And Run
10 Dulac & Dubois feat Szen- Turning (Nuera_Remix)
11 Decibel Monkeys feat. Marcie- Primordial Clouds

01. Nirvana vs. FLG – Back & Forth Spirit (Alex Gaudino Jason Roony Booty) 00:00-07:13
02. Laidback Luke ft. Jonathan Mendelsohn – Till Tonight (Chris Kaeser Remix) 06:09-11:13
03. D.O.N.S. & Jesse Voorn ft. Shahin – Welcome To The Club (Original Mix) 10:43-16:52
04. D.A.T Soundsystem – Mura 16:02-24:02
05. Alexi Delano & Adam Beyer – Filthy Lobster (Original Mix) 22:02-28:32
06. Technotronic, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike – Pump Up The Jam (Crowd Is Jumpin Mix) 27:32-32:42
07. Felix Da Housecat – Thee Anthem (Eric Prydz Remix) 31:54-40:15
08. Bellatrax – Strange World 39:09-46:56
09. Whelan & Di Scala – Ravello 45:54-51:43
10. Rah Band – Clouds Across The Moon (Jay Lumen & Umek Hey Baby Remix) 50:43-57:20
11. Tiger Stripes – Together Forever (Make It House) (Main Mix) 55:43-60:00