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Featured
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Featured
6/25/08 - Taimur (Blk|Market, NYC)
This Wednesday 6/25 at Phoenix we have good friend and one of the main people responsible for New York City’s techno resurgence, Taimur from Blk|Market Membership. With his partner Fahad they throw parties on boats, at awesome spots in NYC, like Bar13 and Love, and also were responsible for the Cheap Sunglasses Afterhours at WMC and Temporary Tattos party at Detroit Techno Fest. He’s opened for everyone from Jamie Jones to Italoboyz to Martin Landsky to Craig Richards and this Wednesday we have the honor of a headline slot from him at the Phonix!
Check a recent set by Taimur & Fahad live opening for Craig Richards at Love NYC on May 10th
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Featured
Inanna (La Folia Recs) Interview & Mix
06.18.08 | Permalink | 3 Comments
This Wednesday (6/18/08) we’re pleased to welcome former Bostonian and current LAer Inanna as she celebrates the launch of her brand new La Folia Recordings. But before you come hear it, read what she has to say…
What’s your inspiration for La Folia? The name and vision.
La Folia is type of melody, contrary to what most people think, that it is the word for flower, foliage or some sort of vegetation in a european language.
The logo is a bit misleading in that regard. It is an interpretation of a rose, which has many meanings and its safe to assume I probably found inspiration from all of them. The three roses also has significance, in that there is three, and three, as a trinity was an inspiration.I wanted to create a platform with the label to not only release my own music, and people who’s music I admire, but music by other artists who were unique, and a little different then the status quo. Creativity and experimentation is the core idea. The focus was mainly intended to be on melodic music across all genres but we have some rhythmic based music in there as well, and listening music as well as dancing.
What’s it take to start a label these days?
You know I’m not really sure; music firstly. Inspiration. Knowledge and experience is helpful. Cash is also very helpful, so any investors out there I’m looking. The rest I am sort of making up as I go along and letting intuition guide me. 11 years in it, and being in LA for several years, I was fortunate to meet successful label owners, and artists and just being around them, you pick things up.
You’ve come a long way from playing 2-Step at rave parties in New England. How has your style developed and what has influenced you?
What I play and produce is vastly different then what I was doing when I started. I love so many different genres of electronic music but felt the need to really focus on one style, at least narrow it down to a couple anyway. I started out influenced by Chicago deep house from all the Providence house weeklies I would go to every week. At the same time I was putting on and playing the 2-step weeklies I also had residencies and gigs for deep house. Speed garage is what lead me to 2-Step. When grime became the thing, and 2-step was on its demise, I just couldn’t get into it and started looking back to house, then techno. I have always been into melody based music, emotive and deep music with thick bass-lines. Techno and minimal for the most part lack that cheeky vibe much of the 2-step I played had, and my sound just naturally evolved into what I like to sometimes call emo-techno.What was the first record you ever bought? Your most treasured record?
You know I’m not sure! I remember the record store, but have no recollection of the records. It was a nice pile of deep house. My most treasured record is actually an original pressing of Crosby Stills and Nash self tiled album from 1969 my friend Henry gave me.Where you from? Where you at?
Literally or figuratively I wonder. I’m right where I started from, literally. I’m living with my Mom! Did I just admit that? How did this happen. Well life has brought me here, only for a little while longer. Its where Im going that matters most to me right now, destination Europe.
What was the best place you ever played? What was the wierdest place you ever played?
I played in Mexico to about 4500 people, for four hours, and was on right after Nortec Collective which played with a 10 piece band. I was completely scared, I mean how do you top 3 producers and a 10 piece band in costume! That was just insane, and it was awesome! The crowd loved it and just had so much fun. One of my most favorite sets to play though was a Tuesday night in Boston DJ Melee used to throw. The crowd was small but I just had so much fun that night and I’ll always remember it.
Weirdest…
Maybe the ski resort rave in vermont where there were crazy ravers walking around while families of four were on vacation. It was not really that cool.
Top 5 songs of all-time?
Judy Blue Eyes - Crosby Still and Nash
Nocturne in C sharp minor - Chopin
Space Oddity - David Bowie
Close To Me - Cure
Because - The BeatlesTop 5 songs right now?
Summer - Fulmen - Republika Records
New Speakers - Kaine - Spacetalk Recordings
Klopfgerausch - Erman Erim - Terminal M
TrÀumchen - Housemeister - allyoucanbeat
Harzer Roller - Dominik Eulberg, Gabriel Ananda - United Recordings
2 truths and a lie
The trees can talk. I know what your thinking. I watch Oprah.
Proudest musical accomplishment
Starting the label. I’m already astonished at what I’v done with it in such a short time and can’t wait to keep going with it.Vinyl or digital?
I want my cake and to eat it too. Why must I have one over the other?LISTEN TO INANNA’S LATEST MIX HERE
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Charts, Featured
Quarion Interview & Chart
Every year around WMC time our techno starved Boston scene has the chance to go beyond the usual American guest performers and bring in talent from around the world. This week is WMC and true to form we’ve got Geneva bred and Berlin based Quarion performing live on Wednesday night, before he heads down to Miami for a slew of big slots. Quarion is a man of many names who has a grip of recent hits and amazing remixes and I had the chance to catch up with him for an interview before he headed stateside. Don’t sleep Boston, now’s your chance to pretend your in Miami even though you’re not.
You’ve had a very versatile career, do you see any major differences between making all your different styles?
mhhhh, not so much, but I think that making proper “dance” music is quite difficult. There are certain “codes” that you have to follow and at the same time go to a totally new direction. It’s really exciting working on tracks, but it also can be a total downer. But in all the different stuff I do, I have to say that my hip-hop tracks are the ones that flow the most easily, I don’t have problems or doubts when I create Hip-Hop beats…
When and why did you come up with the Quation alias? What does it mean?
The Quarion project came about after the Enterplay album. Enterplay is a project that I developed with Rosario (Mental Groove, Geneva) and DJ Kent (Force Of Nature, Tokyo). We released an album in 2005 and organized an European and Japan tour in 2006. The whole Tour was incredible, especially in Japan. Honestly: it was a life-changing experience for me: the scenery, the people, the culture and the passion that the Japanese have for music was really intense. Plus the Force Of Nature guys were playing so much incredible music that my head was full with ideas…
When I came back to Geneva, in may 2006, it took me a while to go back to the studio, but when I did, I came up with “Karasu”. I felt from the beginning that this track was special so I thought I would use a new moniker for this project…I can’t say what “Quarion” means yet, let’s have people guess it for theselves
I know you live in Berlin now, but it seems like the scene in Switzerland, where you’re from, is really on fire right now. What’s it like over there? What are some key producers, labels and clubs?
Yes totally! These last few years have seen an emergence of incredible producers coming out of Switzerland. What is quite surprising is that, there’s not so many good clubs, especially in Geneva. It’s really sad, but there used to be a lot of great clubs, bars or squatts in Geneva where you could hear and dance to electronic music. Now there must be only 2! The city got really repressive with all the cultural actors a few years ago and it’s still continuing to this day. It’s really sad. The crazy thing is, there’s so many DJs & labels from Geneva but they never play in their hometown. There’s people like Lee Van Dowski, Quenum, Dachshund (Num records); Agnès (Sthlmaudio); Chaton (Plak records); Crowdpleaser, Waterlilly, Kate Wax (Mental Groove), Kadebostan (Freunde Am Tanzen)…plus Luciano also came back to Geneva. In Lausanne: Ripperton (Perspectiv), Alex & Stéphane Attias (Visions, Freedom Soundz). Berne: Deetron (music Man), A Few Among Others. Zürich: of course the whole Drumpoet crew: Alex Dallas (the Lost Men), Lexx (Kawabata), Ron (Soultourist)…then there’s Serafin from Mountain People, Kalabrese, etc…
What was the first record you ever bought? Your most treasured record?
1) Fat Boys “The Twist” (I was 10 or something!)
2) Really hard to say, maybe “Dedication” from Herbie Hancock because it’s not easy to find. Sounds like Techno but made more than 30 years ago…
2 truths and a lie
Not in the right order of course: I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, I’m a nice guy.Proudest musical accomplishment
Well, I’m really proud of my track “Karasu”. I’m usually super-critical with my stuff but this one is flawless in a certain way…I’ve kinda moved a bit from this sound since then, but this track is definitely a milestone for my artistic and personal life. Everything changed after that…
Vinyl or digital?
I’m a strong supporter of vinyl, even though I play CDs aswell. The feeling you have when you’re cueing, mixing and seeing the needle “sailing” on the record is unsurpassed I think…even with Serato/Final Scratch, it’s just not the same.
Top 5 songs of all-time? Top 5 songs right now?
Old is too hard, but here we go:
Herbie Hancock “Butterfly” Columbia
Keith Murray “The Rhyme (Slum Village RMX)” Jive
Global Communications “The Way (Secret Ingredients RMX) Dedicated (I actually discovered this track last week…I’ve been listening to it everyday since! I don’t know how I missed this track when it came out!!!)
Photek “Ni Ten Ichi Ryu” Science
Galaxy 2 Galaxy “Hi Tek Jazz” Underground ResistanceNew:
Johnny D “Touched Soul” Deep Vibes
Luna City Express “Seven” (Agnès Dubhouse RMX) Moonharbour
Dachshund “Holiday now” Perspectiv
Soultourist “Fo Eva” Drumpoet Community
Fabrice Lig “The Track” VersatileCHECK OUT QUARION ON MYSPACE TO HEAR HIS MUSIC
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Charts, Featured
Chris Fortier Interview & Chart
Your label just celebrated it’s 50th release, that’s a pretty huge accomplishment in our little dance music world. What’s the philosophy behind the Fade sound & how have you managed to keep it going this long?
the label has always been another creative outlet for me. it has never been a tool for making money or anything financial. it has simply been another way that I can be involved with the music I am really into. I sign tracks that I think are interesting and fresh, but also adding something new to the label’s overall sound and development too. I want to always keep the sound of the label moving forward and growing just as I do as a DJ and a producer. the reason it has been able to continue keep going is that I put out tracks l like and believe in and am ready to stand behind whether it sells 1 copy or 10, 000 copies.What was the first record you ever bought? Your most treasured record?
the first record I bought when I started buying house music was “a guy called bat” by the beat pirate, and also mickey oliver’s “in ten si t”. the most treasured record, that is tough, I have some that I value and love for the sheer memories they conjure, but choosing one, I might have to choose jc001 – favourite breaks.Where you from? Where you at?
I was born in Virginia beach, but grew up from 7 years old to mid-20’s in central florida, so I guess I would call florida my original home. but I have been living in nyc for the past 9 years. right now I am doing this interview from mexico. I just finished 3 gigs this weekend here, all really good.What was the best place you ever played?
the best place ever is hard to nail down to one place, or one gig. but if I have to choose one in the past year, it would be Lebanon. the club was like this underground bunker outside of the city. it was rammed packed and people just going for it to the music. one thing that made it more remarkable was that they had a retractable roof that they would open for effect. so during the nights in certain music themes, the roof would open and the skies and stars peered down and the place would erupt.What was the weirdest place you ever played?
there have definitely been some weird gigs, with weird setups and weird occurrences. but one gig that was weird on so many levels was a gig a few years ago in venezuela. the gig itself while playing was ok, but the strange and un-nerving thing was that I had these armed guards following me everywhere I went (for protection). they stayed outside my hotel room in the hotel hallway, the followed me into the toilets in the club and restaurants. they blocked people from trying to speak with me or shake my hand. it was pretty uncomfortable the whole experience and not one I am eager to repeat.Proudest musical accomplishment
proudest musical accomplishment has to be working with sarah mclachlan and delerium on “silence” and watching that become a worldwide hit. something we never expected, but to see it from the studio to becoming a #1 in some many countries and people singing to the words in clubs, it is pretty special.Vinyl or digital?
vinyl all the way. I will always be a music fan and record collector and do not ever want to lose it. I love everything about vinyl and it gives me the most comfort when I am djing.Top 5 songs of all-time?
a guy called Gerald – emotions electric
pleasure – please (remix)
unknown dj – basstronic
the klf – kylie said to Jason (remix)
octave one – I believeTop songs for February ‘08
01 R Play - Taper (Synewave)
02 James T Cotton – The Second Night Cycle (Spectral Sounds)
03 Approved Electronic Device – Theme Scheme (W/L)
04 Chris Fortier - As Long As The Moment Exists (Error Error Remix) (EQ)
05 Code Talkers - Land of Thor / So (Fade Records)
06 Marc Romboy & Tyree Cooper - Lost (Ovum)
07 Chris Fortier – Fill In The Blank (40oz Music)
08 Alex Smoke – Vaporub / Blackbody (Hum & Haw)
09 Matthew Styles – Home Loan (DNP)
10 Jerome Syndenham & Tiger Stripes – T + K (Argy Mix) (Ibadan)
11 Off Pop – Down (Rosco Edit) (Popnoramo)
12 Bruno Pronsato – Same Faces, Different Names (Hello Repeat)
13 Juan MP - K_nsthche (Chris Fortier_40oz Remix) (Rocker)
14 Toby Tobias – Breakdown/Schweet (Rekids)
15 Exercise One – Wandering (Lan)
16 Subb an & Matt Mancini – Italia Subculture (Slam Remix) (Leftoom)
17 Style of Eye – Hide / The Big Kazoo (Dirtybird)
18 Amplified Fear – Feel The Fear (OD)
19 Kasper Bjorke - Doesnt Matter (Chris Fortier_40oz Remixes) (Plant Music)
20 Gavin Herlihy – Pranin Braun (Jesse Rose Mix) (True To Form)
21 Bileebob – Sunshine (Agoria Remix) (UR)
22 Marc Antona – Vitamin D (Micro Fibres)
23 Samuel L Sessions – Off The Chain (Drums Mix) (Klap Klap)
24 Friends of Heidi – Heidi (A Mix) (W/L)
25 Swat Squad – Iceberg (Galaktika -
Featured
Adultnapper Interview & Mix
02.18.08 | Permalink | 2 Comments
This Wednesday (2/20/08) our techno commander in chief, the one and only Senhor (that’s Portuguese for mister) Pat Fontes is celebrating his birthday by bringing in his homey, NYC techno innovator extrordinare and founder of Ransom Note US, Adultnapper. This dude is doing the damn techno thing hard in the big city. With releases on some of our favorite labels (Dirt Crew Recs, Audiomatique, Mule Electronic & Railyard), a production/DJ partnership as Sycophant Slags with Mr. C, the legendary london MC/DJ/producer/owner of The End AND his own label, Ransom Note gaining momentum with each release, we are honored to have this international techno player touching down in our littler than little Phoenix Landing. In anticipation of this momentous occasion we got the chance to catch up with Francis Harris (the man that is Adultnapper) for an interview, plus an exclusive link to one of his recent live mixes, so learn up and then come get down.
What was the first records you ever bought?
My first records were mostly 7 inch punk, indie, and no wave records. I think my first actual purchase was a circle jerks 7 inch. When I was a kid, I asked my mom to buy me Devo’s “Whip it,” but she made the purchase, so I guess that doesn’t count.Your most treasured record?
New Order: Movement -original Factory Records Test PressWhat was the first rave/club/party you went too?
Not sure if it was “Hard” or “Harder,” Richie Hawtins famous parties in Detroit. My girlfriend at the time loved techno and dragged me to one of those events. I was a hardcore/indie kid who hated techno. The event was quite amazing ,even though I wasn’t really into the music.Where you from? I was born in New Mexico and grew up in Las Vegas.
Where you at? Brooklyn, NYWhat was the best place you ever played?
The main floor of the End in London. Nautilus Disco, Bari, Italy.
What was the weirdest place you ever played?
A strip club in DenverWhat music are you into/producer/spin/release?
I really into all types of music, but lately I’ve been getting really into artists like Tim Hecker, Dead Texan, Deaf Center, Fennesz, Hannu. Lots of ambient/experimental classical stuff. Just really into atmospheric emotional music. As far as production, I make late night atmospheric tech house. I am also in the process of recording non dance oriented music that will be more for an album. As far as club music goes, I’m really inspired by producers like Efdemin, Lawrence, H.O.S.H., Stimming, Solomun, Matthew Dear, Alexi Delano, John Tejada etc. I guess its dance music with a more musical edge, not just a bunch of funny noises.Top 5 songs of all-time?
Thats really tough. Heres an approximate:
John Coltrane - My Favorite Things
Pharoah Sanders - Creator Has a Master Plan
Slint - Washer
New Order - Leave Me Alone
The Smiths - Stop Me
Hoover - ElectroluxTop 5 songs right now?
NonDance
Fennesz Sakamoto - Oto
Greg Haines - Snow Airport
Letters Letters - Between the Seams
Robert Lippock - Rearrange
Deaf Center - Dial (Helios remix)Dance
Par Grindvik - Ensemble: Stockholm LTD
Anthony Collins - Bricolage - Liebe Detail
Rodriguez - Rubbo Swingo - Leena
Lee Jones and Daniel Drier - A man and a woman (Marco Ressman mix) - Upon You
Solomun and Stimming - Ghostdog - Diynamic
2 truths and a lie:
I sleep.
I eat.
I have a good idea of what this is all about.Proudest musical accomplishment
First chair on the vibes in 2nd grade.Vinyl or digital?
Vinyl with a sprinkle of digital. Yummy.Adultnapper Live Mix 8/26/07
LISTEN/DOWNLOADright click on pc / ctrl click on mac to download
