Jack The Box

HotDish is calling you for a massive celebration for their 1 Year Anniversary This Saturday, Sept. 4th.

HotDish 1 Year Anniversary Flyer

If you don’t already know. Over the past year (and a couple months actually) HotDish has been bringing a newer sound to the Twin Cities as Residents of BLACK and First Avenue Nightclub. Both J Matthews and Nate Laurence (hosts of said show) pride themselves in throwing parties where people dance, laugh, smile and GET DOWN to only the dopest in funky and jackin Chicago House music.

Each show they do their best to bring in some of the best talent locally and nationally to cater these parties and every show has been an event full of energy, dancing and good old fun times.

This show, Nate and J have worked very hard to provide not only two of the dopest DJs in Chicago House, but also having T Shirts for their fans, free hand outs for the show, massive sound system, lights, party favors, and hella more!

JONN HAWLEY

Jonn is pretty regular now thanks to fiber one cereal! As far as new stuff on the work schedule, he is currently working on three new solo ep’s for Large, Amenti & Lingo. He’s also working on a few remixes that will be out this fall so keep your eye’s peeled!

Shout out to Minneapolis: “I LOVE MINNEAPOLIS except for the Vikings lol so I am super stoked to be coming back to knock it for you guys!”

Jonn’s favorite HotDish: “I like my hot dish RAW!”

HotDish says: “Like a baby’s ass Jonn…Like a babies ASS!”

Special Mix:

LEE JARVIS

Lee has a bunch of stripped-back, straight up house releases coming out soon under a pseudonym “Do It Proper.” Be on the lookout for that. He also has a number of bootlegs and re-edits he’ll be giving away in the coming months. In addition, Moochin (London) will be back in action in 2011. Stay tuned and get all your Jarvis-fixes at his facebook page: facebook.com/djleejarvis.

Shout to Minneapolis: Lee says, “I loved my last trip to Minneapolis, and I can’t wait to check out the city and get back behind the decks at Hotdish. I’ve been digging out the classics and searching out some brand new tech-funk for y’all!”

Lee’s favorite HotDish: “I like my Hotdish like I like my women…. smoking hot and covered in melted cheese.”

HotDish says: “Yikes Lee…well, um….we like it that way too!”

Special Mix:

Come out and celebrate with all of them. If you haven’t been to a HotDish event yet, this is the time to do so.

Doors open at 9pm and you should enter the Record Room door located on the right side of First Avenue Nightclub (Map).

Presale tickets and a special “T Shirt and Free Entry” package is available until Friday @ Midnight.

After which, entry will be $6.

See you there party people!!!

Hi Friends,

Fall may be on the way but it’s still summer and we’re ready to keep having a good time.

Michael Birawer - Minneapolis

We hope you are too, and we want to take the opportunity to update you on some new developments on the blog and also to let you know about some upcoming events we think you’ll be interested in.

BIRTHDAY TIME!

We want to remind you of a special show happening this Saturday night at BLACK in the Record Room at First Avenue.  Loud and Clear is pleased to celebrate Little Aaron’s 30th birthday!  Joining the birthday boy behind the decks is Iowa’s very own Matt Rissi.  The cover charge is $5. As usual, this party is 18+ and you get free cross-over to Too Much Love when you enter through the side door on 1st Ave.

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Keep an eye out for the Particle People this season as we add even more power, sound, and BASS to our favorite little, black room and introduce new cutting edge artists to the Twin Cities.  Join us this season for sounds by Kris Wadsworth (Get Physical/NRK/Poker Flat), MANIK (Ovum/Culprit), Soul Clap (Wolf+Lamb) and so much more coming to the bass-heavy sounds of Particle People @ BLACK!  You will not want to miss what we have in-store.

Kris Wadsworth

click the photo to read a great story by RA with Kris Wadsworth.

M A N I K

click photo for a link to Manik’s Ibiza Voice artist page

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We’ve also got something VERY special in store for you house-heads.  On October 16th, Loud and Clear is proud to welcome, from Chicago, PAUL JOHNSON.  Minneapolis’s very own NICK GUNZ will be getting you ready for Paul’s unique blend of house.  An intimate set from a house music legend at BLACK in the Record Room.  More details will be available soon.

Paul Johnson

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Don’t forget that this weekend is the first annual Minneapolis Electronic Music Festival in conjunction with the Nord East Music Festival.

http://minneapolisemf.com/

MEMF

• FREE / NO COVER / ALL AGES
• OUTDOOR AND INDOOR LIVE DJ SETS
• BEER, WINE, AND FOOD AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE

• HISTORY
MEMF 2010 is the first live outdoor Electronic Music Festival in Minneapolis history. Hosted by Shuga Records, the festival will be
taking place during the Nordeast Music Festival.

• LOCATION

165 13th Avenue NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
(952)942-0000

Last but certainly not least,
Thank you all for your continued support.

word by Matt Veloce and Aaron Bliss

It’s HOTDISH time again…MAY DAY BLOWOUT STYLE! The May Day feast skips right over the healthy foodstuff and goes straight to dessert. But not just any dessert; we bring you something sweeter than yo mama’s bunt cake and more sensual than Celine Dion’s condiment platter. We bring you…ready for this….SEXUAL CHOCOLATE (Chicago, IL – Junky Trunk, OM, Spatula City)!!! Just to make that booty drop, we’re also installing extra sound provided by the lads from Subsonic Sound. Boom….Tiss!

If you like your beats, women/men, and bass-lines dirty, we’d suggest you attend. Sexual Chocolate is leading the Chi-Town with his own flavor of funky-fidget-techy house music…shit so good that many of the world’s best labels (including OM, Blockhead, and Control to name but a few) are snatching him up like carnivores to carrion on I-69. Beyond producing filthy beats (peep his catalog) and DJ’ing both nationally and internationally, Sexual Chocolate is co-owner of the independent record label “AvaLogic Records” and his very own “Junky Trunk Records” – both based in Chicago.

Nate Laurence followed his nose to the one-and-only (truly) Sexual Chocolate to get a sense of how distorted (and wonderfully) this man thinks. The story goes as such….

NL: Sexy Coco…you’re coming to Minneapolis and we’re misty! I’ve had numerous requests to get you here so…no pressure. This is your first time in Minneapolis, right? Any thoughts about the long-standing tradition of dance music in the Twin Cities? Like our pizza?

SC: Yeah man, it is my “virgin escapade” in Minneapolis. I have absolutely no thoughts whatsoever in regards to the long-standing tradition of dance music in Minneapolis. Honestly, I only have thoughts once or twice a year and when I do, they usually pertain to subjects like “skeezy Asian hookers” or “bad hand jobs in a Denny’s parking lot”. Y’know…the important things in life. Come to think of it, is there anything such as a “bad hand job”? Aren’t they like pizza or something? Sorry, I got off point. But seriously folks…I’m honored to be playing in Minneapolis alongside yourself and J Matthews. A huge musical inspiration of mine has been Woody McBride. That’s whom I think of (second thought of the year, time to chill on all this thinking yo) when I hear Minneapolis. I’m really looking forward to checking out the music and art scene in my oh-so brief time in the Minn.

NL: I recently heard some young ravers call this other younger dude the “Rave King” but I think of no one else than Woody myself. Happy to know you’re primed to us “old schoolers.” Regardless, your production (insanely fun) has been known as fitting the “fidget” genre, but if you ask me, there are too many elements of house, funk, and even tech to cubbyhole what you create. What’s your inspiration for production? Who are some artists that blow your mind and what can we expect – short of panties and boxers flying – to hear on the dance floor May 1?

SC: My inspiration, as far as music goes, is pretty much truck stop meth and sadomasochism. I guess those things go hand in hand anyway. Actually, in all seriousness, I’m like any other artist who hates to be pigeonholed into one sound. I don’t strive to be “the fidget guy” or anything like that. But, I did catch the fidget bug while touring in your (Nate) homeland of South Africa in 2007. By that time, house was getting a bit stagnant and needed a good kick in the ass. Fidget brought in a lot of new life to the electronic dance music scene. Naw really, I have always been all style and subgenres of electronic music. My first tracks, as “JROCKELECKO” in 2006 are exactly what I always intended to set out to make: house beats with wobbly, sub basslines, techno breaks and hip hop attitude and feel. Now, I’m not saying I invented the genre; I’m just saying I INVENTED THE GENRE!!! As far as artists I’m currently diggin: Kyle Watson (South Africa) is really making some amazing hybrid jackin house fidget-esque stuff right now, Mark Stent is just absolutely killin it over in South Africa too; real funky, yet still wonky as tits. And Justin Martin continues to amaze me musically. That dude is on another level. I’ve been rockin a lot of dubstep the last year or so too. Keep your ears peeled for some juicy surprises at the after-party. That’s all I’m sayin…

NL: I played with Kyle Watson in Johannesburg and agree that he’s a bit of a prodigy when it comes to something very new, and very fun. He’s on your record label; talk a little about your record labels, the work you put into them, the incredible artists you’ve found, and what we should look forward to.

SC: I started Junky Trunk Records in 2006 solely because of the trouble I was having getting my productions signed and then released. Now almost 5 years later and closing in on 100 single releases, I feel very fortunate to have worked with so many great artists and to have had an avenue for my artistic (more autistic actually) releases as well. Junky Trunk may not be the biggest or best record label, but I can honestly say that I value my relationships with my artists and I make sure to compensate people financially…in a timely manner. We’ve slowed down our release schedule a bit as of late, but that’s not entirely a bad thing. I really enjoy the artist development part of it. I mean, not saying any one artist is signed exclusively to Junky Trunk; just saying that I enjoy working with an artist when it comes to song and image development. We’ve got a really tight EP coming out in May with Timoshii, Eric Sharp and Schenk (another one to watch out in South Africa).

NL: Junky Truck – to me – is a bit refreshing. A lot of your work is refreshing as well. You’ve gotten yourself on some incredible remix projects including a resent Colette remix on OM (pretty dope when you consider your style versus that of Colette’s). Any new goodies coming out by you, remixes, originals, duo-projects we should know about?

SC: Working with Colette was uber-inspiring. I’ve always been a fan of hers, from way back when she had purple hair and was rockin shady afterhours parties in the CHI. She had approached me about remixing her track “Think you want it” for OM and I jumped on that shit like a cheap suit. It was a dream come true to remix for one of my favorite labels. Soon, I’ll be debuting my new sound and collaboration with Colette. I’m really stretching the imagination with my new material; not sure if it’s going to be accepted by the general public (General Public being a distant cousin of Major Suckage, by the way) but I’ve gotta keep pushing the musical boundaries. Just a quick heads-up, I’ve got a new Sexual Chocolate joint that will be released in early May on Colette’s new label Candy Talk Records. It’s a remix of Joshua Heath and Colette’s “Call on me”. I’m super stoked to be on the debut Candy Talk EP alongside such legends as Lawnchair Generals, Chuck Love (what up Minneapolis!) and Giano. That’s gonna rock hard!

NL: Um…I know you’re a product of “Second City” comedy club in Chicago and something tells me – having hung out with you – that humor takes precedence in everything you do. I love this. I think house music is supposed to be fun and too many people take themselves seriously. Talk about your infusion of humor with the music, the name, and daily lived-ventures in this scene you’ve experienced…or just write the word “poop” or something.

SC: Yeah man, I’m all about the self-deprecating humor. I need to clarify, however, that I did not graduate from Second City. I realized pretty early in the process that I was lacking one thing that would be very important for me to make a living on comedy and acting: talent. When it comes to infusing my music with humor, I just don’t take myself as seriously as most boring-ass house dudes do. To be honest, I’ve had it up to my tits with a lot of these ultra-serious dance music folk. I am all about going out, having a good time, having a laugh or two, a drink or ten and capping off the night with pancakes at Prince’s house.

NL: Um…yes! Anything else you want to tell the Twin Cites?

SC: I am so looking forward to May 1st. I encourage anyone who comes out to come up, introduce yourself! (Editors note: “Sexual Chocolate’s” real name is Jon – just in case you feel awkward calling him… “Yo…Sexual Chocolate.”)

Other show notes:

May 1st, 2010 – First Avenue “Record Room” for HotDish (1st Saturdays @ BLACK)
10PM / 18+ / $5 / Enter Side Door!

THIS SHOW IS NOT TO BE MISSED! Come on…it’s MAY DAY! Get up…get out…get silly with us! After-parties are also in the stew and the evening does not stop at 2:00am. Follow your nose at the show! Fully legal venue!

Others doing their thang: We’re also stoked to snatch up 414 Soundbar resident, Fresko! He’s been a Twin Cities staple since today’s ravers were still jockin’ the toy section at Target. He’s truly one of the best-rounded DJs in the 612, dropping hip-hop to breaks to house to whatever gets a dance floor moving, for more than a decade. As usual…Nate Laurence (back from his national/international DJ’ing debauchery) and J Matthews (primed and pimped with new gear and lots of shoe-less finesse) will be losing a few pounds behind the 1s-n-2s. Come and watch our butts get smaller (while feeding our faces with the HotDizzo).

If you didn’t know, the VIP room at First Avenue has been renamed to the “Record Room.” We love this because it makes our little upstairs haven seem more welcoming to those who for years thought “VIP” didn’t mean them. Well, it always did mean them and does even more so now…so…ALL OUR WELCOME! “Too Much Love” friends, head up stairs and check it out! If you enter the side door, you’ll have free cross-over between the Record Room and the Main Room. 2-4-1s are always yummy! See you there!

This Saturday (3-6-10), HotDish (1st Saturdays @ BLACK) are back riding the wave created by BASSGASM, Doc Martin (presented by Particle People) and their successful day-after-BASSGASM show with Etones and the Sexbotz. This time HotDish lights the VIP on fire with Jeff Bloom (Chicago – OM, Guesthouse, .dotBleep) and Mike Moilanen (Mpls house DJ master)!

Chicago’s infamous champion…Jeff Bloom (aka Broadway & Wilson…aka PO!NTF!VE) IS IN THE HOUSE! Jeff’s one of the scene’s most amiable dudes and there is no doubt he’s got genius talent to boot. With releases that span an eclectic hodge-podge of sub-genres in house music, there is no doubt surprises are in the stew! His production has gotten him the attention of some of the top labels internationally (including Guesthouse, dotBleep, D’Lectable, Gallery, and big playas OM Records) – to name a few – and he’s rocked the decks all over the USA and as far as Belgium. Most notably is Jeff’s on-going venture at the Uptown Lounge in Chicago where he has continued to build the Midwest scene with some of Chi-Towns most pumpin’ parties. This will be his first venture to Minneapolis so we’re planning on a binge pig-out to welcome him. But, you can’t have your pudding until you eat your meat. Thus…we’re welcoming in hometown homeboy Mike Moilanen to warm up the spot for us. This will be Mike’s first showing at HotDish and we’re looking forward to having this Minneapolis Nightclub Resident DJ – and know he has the right ingredients to set it off. As always…Nate Laurence and J Matthews will be having their typical aneurism behind the decks, mid-spot, because we like when you like when we barf the funk! Naw mean?!!

Nate Laurence caught up with Jeff to discuss his production, residency in Chicago, and the future of house music in Chicago!

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NL: JEFF! We’re stoked to have you play Minneapolis! You’ve built a hell of a discog recently on some really amazing house labels. Talk a little about “Broadway & Wilson” (with Andrew Emil), “Subconscious Collective” (with Mike Payne), and the other cooperative projects you’ve assembled.

JB: The project I’m most stoked about is “Broadway & Wilson,” a collab between myself and Andrew Emil.  We just dropped our “Good Old Daze LP” and it is exclusive right now on Stompy.com and about to hit the rest of the distributors soon.  Andrew and I are really trying to reconnect with the energy that got us our Gallery Music (Records) EP and on OM Records, and right now I think we are really falling into a good groove. Working with other people can be difficult, especially when it comes to staying true to your vision and not compromising.  However, with Andrew, I’m really comfortable with where he comes from and we share a mutual understanding about what we like and what makes the dancefloor move. With the “Good Old Daze LP” we tried to put in something for everyone and add some of the diversity that first started grabbing people’s attention.

NL: I can only image Gene Farris LOVES that LP. Great stuff! Much of your production has been marked as fitting the “jack/funky” genre but I know – from being a fan – that it’s problematic to pigeonhole your style (I’m currently thinking of your work on “Farris Wheel” and “Itch and Sniff” records). Talk a little about your production and the inspiration for your work.

JB: I don’t like genres or labels.  I think It makes it too convenient to just put something in a box.  The difficult thing is making music that is relevant, that people like, and that excites you.  It’s easy to hit just one of those factors, but to get them all is the trifecta.  As far as my inspiration, I draw constant inspiration from the people in the scene all over the world, as well as all of the amazing talent that Chicago has to offer.  There are so many people who have not only paved the way in Chicago, but continue to push the envelope.  I feel the bar is always being pushed so high, I’m just trying to catch a glimpse before it’s out of sight again.

Jeff Bloom Interview and Jackcast

Check out the Jeff Bloom Featured  WNUR Radio Mix

NL: LOL! I’m sure you’re here to stay! All is in sight brother. Regardless, any new goodies coming out? Where, when…we need to know!

JB: Like I said, check out the “Good Old Daze LP” on Farris Wheel Recordings.  There is also a “Broadway & Wilson” remix of Gene Farris classic “Here I Am Baby” coming out on Ken ECB’s Alphabet Music just in time for Winter Music Conference (WMC).  There is also a “Broadway & Wilson” remix of Gene Farris f/J Dub “Back & Forth” that will be out shortly as well.  We also just finished a remix for Bear Who? titled “The Dancer,” but I’m not sure when that will be out.

NL: The Bear Who? track is INSANE! I was also humbled to play your night at Uptown Lounge in Chicago during my Uptown Lounge/Smartbar debauchery a few weeks ago. Had a discharge of fun! I know that Chicago too, is struggling to keep it “underground.” Your night is amassing mucho attention. Tell us about your residency, guest spots, your homey Andrew Emil (a very hospitable young man by the way), and what you’re working so hard to create in your nitch of Chi-Town!

JB: I’m really thankful to have such a great residency in Chicago.  I’ve been doing “PO!NTF!VE Presents…Friday’s” every week now for three and a half years.  It is really nice to have such a great place for people to come hear underground music amongst really wonderful people.  We’ve been able to have some amazing national and international talent like D-t3ch a couple of weeks back, and we also have an incredible upcoming lineup with DJ Heather on 3/19!

NL: Speaking of “building in Chicago”…WNUR (Chicago’s last bastion of dope house music on an FM station) recently had a fundraiser including you, DJ Heather, Santiago, Frankie J, Karl Almaria, Chris Grant, and Audio Soul Project (wowza!)! DJ Sangre at WNUR has amazed me with what he’s done. Talk a little about the community effort to continue to preserve house music in Chicago and your part in that effort.

JB: It is so nice that there is still a place to regularly hear some great house music, I’m really thankful that WNUR is still going strong.  DJ Sangre is really doing his best to help bring some much needed exposure to the current Chicago house scene.  The scene is always changing so much, and it is really important that everyone involved pull together and realize that we are all a part of the same team.  We all have so much to gain by working together, and it is so important now, with the digital revolution in full swing.

NL: You’ve had the opportunity to play all over the states and Europe. Rumor has it you bang heads! LOL! Are there any favorite artists out there that currently move you? What can we expect to hear in the VIP on Saturday?

JB: I do my best to beat it up no matter which border I have crossed to be there!  I love playing music for people all over this wonderful planet and I’m super stoked to put a new city on the resume!  Watch out for some new ones from myself and friends.  I’m sure we’ll be hearing some of the hot stuff Frankie J has been dropping on his labels Spatula City and Flapjack.  Probably going to drop some Wattie Green, and of course your man Nate, Scrubfish!

NL: So, this is your first time in our humble city, no? What are your thoughts about the music that has come out of Minneapolis over the years? Anything you want to say to appease the hometown crowd? Thoughts about the Minneapolis/Chicago intersect in house music?

JB: I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Prince.  He is such a prolific artist and it is hard to think of many who have contributed so greatly to our world of music.  To play at 1st Avenue is such an incredible honor.  I’m really thankful!  I’ve also heard nothing but awesome things about what you guys do at Black and I’m sure Saturday is going to be no different.  In his honor I’m going to bring the heat.  Preparations are underway.  Danger!

NL: We love Prince too! No doubt! And…THANKS Jeff! We’re entirely stoked and humbled to have you this Saturday night in the VIP. Bang it brothren of the funk!

SAVE YOUR BASSGASM TICKET!!!

After the craziness of BASSGASM there are still good parties to be had

And if you attended BASSGASM…..

Click on Flyer for more Details

Saturday Night (2/20) – E Tones, Sexbots, and HotDish (Nate Laurence and J Matthews)

OMG OMG OMG!!

We are extra excited about this month’s show and hope that you are too. It’s a thrill to bring in one of the veteran DJs who has been a staple in this town since day one. A legend in the Twin Cities house music scene, E Tones will NOT disappoint. His love for house music is out of control and stems from the days of Let It Be, Danceteria, and Radio Depth Probe just to name a few. His sound and vibe will grab your soul, and leave you winded at the end of the night.

AND AND AND!!

Alrighty, you got this far! Ah nice!! On facebook, hit up Nate “Bam!-oh-my-goodness” Laurence or “Oh-its-going-to-be-that-kinda-party” J Matthews and say hello. We are doing special things for those who plan on coming out and getting crazy with us.

VOODEUX

I first found out about Voodeux in the winter of 2007 when I heard “The Curse” on a promo mix by Claude VonStroke. Right away I was blown away by the spooky and sexy sound. The creepy synths and the big pads just stuck with me. I think I played that track in every set for about 6 months and just craved more.

When I found out that they were launching their new full length album with a rare live performance in Detroit last year I had to hear it! I ran around like crazy that night, a psycho cab driver, and a huge line later there I was front and center, hands in the air once again blown away by their sound. I knew right then that I had to get them to Minneapolis and when I found out they were available during a fellow Particle Person’s birthday it was an obvious choice.

Not only are they amazing song writers and producers they are also funny and personable, I was happy to take some time for an interview with James and Tanner of Voodeux. What follows is our conversation as well as a special after hours JackCast from Tanner Ross and a stream of Voodeux’s promo set just to get a taste of what is to come this Saturday at Black.

Voodeux Promo live mix

Voodeux Live

Guys…  To start I would like to get you introduced, Could you tell us a little bit about the concept behind Voodeux?

James: The concept sprouted from the combination of my hermetic obsessions with the occult, and Tanner’s horror flick affinity.  It sorta grew on its own, and the whole thematic idea of what Voodeux stands for is still evolving.  I’m really into combining the funkiness of raw dance music and the deep hypnotic nature of techno.  It’s about creating tension and dramatic sequences and engaging the listener with white knuckles, unclear what’s around the corner.
Tanner: Ditto

You both live in different states, how is that? What is your writing process?

Voodeux: We just share project files and send them back and forth via internetz.

James and Tanner

Tanner and James, The last 3 years have been quite eventful for you two, from taking off on your own productions, a remix of the biggest underground track of 2007 (Tanners remix of “Who’s afraid of Detroit”) To the first big single on Mothership Records (the Curse) and now one of the hottest full length albums of 2009 on one of Americas top techno labels.  How does that feel?

Tanner: The past few years have been a huge whirlwind of craziness. I spent my last semester of college on an airplane doing the Voodeux tour and dj gigs. I was a music arranger and producer for a National Geographic Documentary. All of these experiences have really shaped who I am now. To be exact, I cannot put a finger on those details. My work ethic has really improved over the years. I used to just pick at ideas here and there and now I am staying focused. The result of the concentration is, productivity.

James: It’s been pretty exciting, but sometimes overwhelming when everything’s thrown at you at once.  It’s definitely given me the chance to discover what I like and don’t like, and how to find longevity within it.  Tourwise, eyes are open for meaningful events, where promoters pour their hearts into building creative experiences and creating landscapes for optimal listening.  As for the music, it’s great to have the wonderful support and vision from Barclay and Dirtybird/Mothership, as they put so much careful work into intelligently pushing things forward on a global scale.  Knowing The Paranormal is so well-received is great, and we’re harnessing that energy for our 2nd album.

Are there any new Voodeux projects in the works?
Voodeux: We are in the brainstorming process for the next album. Recording starts in Feb.

How did the relationship begin with Mothership and DirtyBird?
To make a very long story short…
A magical beam of light came out of the sky, following the beam, a seimic low frequency wave produced by an 808 bass hit me to the ground. I found the answer and everything has been absolutely fantastic since.

Just a Spoonfull

Voodeux: We are brothers from different mothers.

Tanner,  I recently read in an article where you mentioned you were just recently getting in to DJing the last few years.  What encouraged you to pick up such a nasty habit?

Tanner: I think it is just a natural progression for me. I love playing and I will continue to until I physically unable.

James, you have been producing records for years now.  I remember playing your records and reviewing them on Nu-breaks forum back in the early 2000’s.  How has your music progressed over the last few years and what new projects are you working on?

James: I hope it’s progressed and still progressing.  I’m working on EPs with Thoughtless and Harmonious Discord, and just finished a vocal album with Amagine, a time-traveling multidimensional MC here in Philly.  I’m staying busy, and one of the main focuses for 2010, and what I’m getting very excited about, is the Voodeux followup album.

Tanner, you seem to be busy as well, I heard a rumor of even a dubstep project, what can we expect from you in the near future?

I did work on about 6 dubstep tracks. After some thought I decided it wasn’t my calling. That said, I have learned a lot of new things by experimenting with that sound and it is starting to really effect the way I approach music. I am working on a bunch of new projects this year. I released an ep on Airdrop with Sergio Santos at the end of 09 and we are starting to work on our next ep along with a few remixes. Sergio and I are also working with Soulclap as a group called SECT. SECT is going to be releasing an ep on Culprit early this year followed by more eps. SECT came about because Chalrie of Soulclap has been my roommate for three years now aswell as Sergio and it wouldn’t make sense for Eli of SC to not work with us. I am really excited about this project, I think we are making something really special.

Both of you have amazing use of sound and sound design, Tanner I believe you even went to school for sound design. Its abundantly clear in both Voodeux and in your own productions. Any chance of a Sample Pack from you guys?

James: I dunno…  I like sample packs, but I found I have an incredibly short attention span for putting them together.  It seems like something that would better be created by us sitting in a room for 12 hours just recording strange and eerie noises nonstop.  That in itself could be dangerous.
Tanner: I don’t really have the time to do a sample pack. I have always wanted to make some really cool kits and such. Some day I will get around to it.

Mothership Records

James: Lots of granular synthesis.  Granular-To-Go, Grainstates, KTGranulator.  I’m also really digging Camel Audio’s Alchemy right now.
Tanner: Ditto and lots of reverb.

Another thing I love to ask and I think it really gives people some idea as to where you come from…  Whats on the Ipod, what do y’all listen to when its not Techno time, or is it always techno time for you?

Tanner: Missy Elliot is always on rotation along with Grave Diggaz, Timbaland and Magoo, Lil Wayne, Detroit Grand Pubas and random things. I don’t listen to techno much these days, more underground house music and music for the party after the after party.

James: No way, you can’t listen to techno all the time because it’s a dead-end street.  Inspiration comes from everything else.  You have the experiences, you hear the music, you’re moved by the music, and you go into the studio and pour out what you’ve learned.  Techno is a continuous ever-flowing tapestry of sound, a global collaboration of sonic synthesis.  Techno inspires more techno of course, but if there’s no other music, we reach a point where we’re just recycling the same sounds over and over.  I guess when that happens, we call it a “sub-genre” and move on.  For me though, right now I’m listening to the works of Jacaszek, Offthesky, and Steinbrüchel.  And I just had a spontaneous 12-hour Nine Inch Nails listening session the other day.  Dunno where that came from.

As an extra special treat, Tanner was nice enough to record a special after hrs mix for Jack the Box!

Tanner Ross JackCast010

Goldwill – Matikal
Nina Kraviz – I’m Gonna Get You
Wolf + Lamb – If U Had ( Shaun Reeves Edit )
Baeka – Right At It
Taron-Trekka – Shiori
Adrien – Underground
Nize & Nyce – Levon Whitney
SECT – Man Of Wisdom ( SECT=Soulclap, Sergio Santos and Tanner Ross)
Tanner Ross & Sergio Santos – Space Cakes
Nicolas Jaar – Time For Us

Join us this Saturday at BLACK for Voodeux Live with Residents Arron Bliss and Milosh

Interview by Aaron Bliss

Its finally here and we are all f#$%ing stressed with the holidays. Dealing with family, friends, loved ones, holidays, shopping, parties, entertainment, driving, eating, drinking, traffic, weather…….the list goes on.

Its enough to go crazy, right?! But fear not party people. HotDish is coming to rescue you not on the day of your hangover, but the day after. The day when you think to yourself, “I can party like that again. Lets go get a cocktail and get reckless!”

This Saturday, January 2nd, 2010 (wow, did I just say 2010?) HotDish is bringing the funk per our usual naughtiness with a local DJ treat. To top of your festivus fruitcake, we got a big spoonful of Jackcast featuring local legend, Alex Jarvis!

Check out his Jackcast and read on to hear more about this months HotDish shows.

Tired of the familial merriment? Too much “Roast Beast?”

FORGETABOUTIT!

The best way to cure a New Years hangover is MORE HOUSE MUSIC! So…the chefs at HotDish are digging in your mama’s fridge for tasty leftovers and whipping up a regional pan-warmer you can sink your teeth into without gaining another pound!

Saturday, January 2nd HotDish Presents “HotDish Holiday Seconds” featuring local favorites: Alex Jarvis, Nancy Cheng, Saint Lewis, Nate Laurence, J Matthews, and “Jack” -  our 8-foot blowup snowman who had a successful lung surgery following our last show (he simply couldn’t handle being mounted that much in one night but is back for more)! And so are we!

Alex Jarvis: a hometown favorite since most of you were in diapers. We’re taking advantage of his rebirth of total ill-ness. Every set this guy has been throwing down lately has made us misty so we can’t wait for more!

Nancy Cheng: With absolutely NO shortage of character and charm, we were in need of a little spice for our feast and a dope DJ to boot. So, we’re inviting Nancy to rip the wheels and…well…melt your face!

Saint Lewis: We love this guy! Why? Because he has always stayed true to what kicks dance music aficionados in the ars. Just when you thought the music was starting to get hygienic, the “Saint” shows up and makes sure he dirties every dish on the table!

HotDish hosts Nate Laurence & J Matthews: If you’re true…you know how we do! If you haven’t caught us sweating our old-guy butts off behind the decks, join us!

Once again:

TOO MUCH LOVE freaky (Crisco Twister) lovers: REMEMBER that when you enter the side door, you get free crossover to TML. Double your pleasure, double your fun! You’re invited. We’d love to see you in the VIP!

Additional “Boomin Granny” Sound being brought to you by: Son Carciano.

10PM / 18+ / $5 / Enter Side Door!

We party every first Saturday of the month in the VIP room and it is always a good time. Last month was insane with Lee Jarvis from Lodon, UK and this month will prove to be the same. Dont miss out, Alex Jarvis (quite possibly distant cousin to Lee) is guaranteeing the same pleasures and debauchery.

HotDish has also been invited to play this NYE at International Market Square. To learn more about that, just check out their website or go here www.nyempls.com or click on the picture.

Two of my most cherished people in this scene recently began a new journey into sound. Who are they?  Whats this all about? The fact is, they are no stranger to the local Minneapolis dance music Scene, Tanya and Travis Norman are long time supporters of the local scene here in Minneapolis and some people think this is project is long over due.

In addition to telling you about complicit I want to also share a little about the other artists joining us for the next installment of Black brought to you by the Particle People Mpls. Joining complicit live this December 26th 2009 we have sets from Christian James and David Avid, Jacob Hoffman, and one of my oldest, dearest, friends and mentor Kevin Irvin (aka Cat In the Hat circa mid 1990’s) We will revisit some of them in the near future BUT…

For now I want to focus on an introduction…

complicit

complicit

[kuhm-plis-it] –adjective- choosing to be involved in a questionable act, esp. with others…

I asked Tanya and Travis to tell us a little about them self and there new project..

First off, thanks so much for inviting us to these pages! Minneapolis is fortunate to now have a blog along these lines and you all are making sure that this online channel lives up to the same standards of quality that the events consistently deliver.

What inspires you?

One of many things that inspire us is the potential for exploring new forms of communication.  On one level there is the traditional synergy of musicians creating together in the moment that is the same type of interplay you see in any band or musical act.  Yet since we control a single system we express a single idea, which gets divided in our performance primarily by frequency range.   It is almost as though we are both right and left hand seated at the piano and reading the same piece of music.

We enjoy supporting and experiencing other talent as often as possible, especially our local innovators, and we are excited to now make a contribution of our own.

A motivating force for us both us is musical sound design, and learning our tools to the point where we can create the ideas we hear in our head.   The learning process itself is enjoyable, especially when experimentation leads to unpredictable results, or takes us in a new direction.  We often allow our sound shaping efforts to guide us and inform our decisions on how a track should progress.

What brought about this new project?

As far as the initial circumstances that lead to our attempting this project, the most recent Movement Festival in Detroit was pretty much a turning point for us.  We witnessed a handful of moments where we felt the artists were connecting with the crowd in such a potent way – we knew we wanted to tap into this type of energy.

Complicit JackCast

Tanya – Tell us a little about your back ground in music…

“Even though I have only been seriously active in music production for a year now, a classically trained background in music has made the whole learning process easier.  I started piano when I was 5, picked up flute at 10, and studied strings, woodwinds and brass instruments all through high school and college.  I have my undergrad degree in music and a diploma in audio engineering.  I also worked as a freelance audio engineer for several years, managed a music store, and currently am a director at a local multimedia college.

What tools and technologies have inspired you?

Ableton Live has had quite an impact on me, both technically and creatively.  I studied ReBirth and Digital Performer back in the day, then got into Pro Tools and Reason.  Ableton has made the most sense to me because of the way it’s designed for musicians and the flexibility it offers.  After a few months of digging into it and reading manuals and magazines, I was hooked.

For years I have seen you on the dance floor, what moved you into realm of performing?

Before I started producing I spent years as a listener and avid supporter of electronic music.  Watching and learning every move the pro’s make while seeing the reaction of the audience was the most moving experience I ever had in music.  Humbled and in awe of the amazing techniques and skilled craftsmanship I was witnessing, I became aware of a growing desire to trying production on my own.

And who better to act as teacher and mentor than my husband, who comes from a wealth of background and education in production, engineering and performance as a DJ.  I owe a lot of my knowledge in production to him.  Luckily, we get excited about the same styles of music, so it made sense for us to start a project together.   We’ll both admit that the musical communication process was not altogether obvious at first – it took a little while to figure out our workflow and how to present our ideas.  It really was an altogether new level of communication for us.

Who/What Inspires you?

A lot of different artists inspire me.  There is such great local talent in Minneapolis that every weekend I get to go out and hear amazing music.  I love the deep stuff, the techno stuff and the house stuff.  My music is a reflection of my feelings and an interpretation of my mood.”

Travis – Tell us a little about yourself…

This is an intriguing time in my life, one filled with change, and I am thrilled to be making music at such a furious pace and with a goal in mind of somehow documenting in sound the many new ideas and challenges which currently demand my attention.   I find the process of music production cathartic, a chance to funnel the day’s ups or downs into an essence of experience that (hopefully) others can identify with.

On the flip of that though, I also enjoy crafting our songs around the simple sense of release available through the mighty 4 / 4 kick drum.  For me there is a balance, where as a listener your body is responding to these primal and insistent rhythmic arrangements, literally triggering physiological responses to all the stimuli, and yet your brain is enveloped in the tonality and melody, occasionally even giving rise to a place where things come together – your questions answered, your goals defined, and your personal path forward now illuminated with clarity in your mind’s eye – these have been the among the most memorable experiences for me on the dancefloor.  I want to create soundscapes that allow for this type of whole person harmony to unfold.

What is it about complicit that excites you?

Although I have a decade plus worth of experience in handling turntables and samplers in bands as well as an album out as a solo electronic artist, complicit is so exciting for me because I now get to share those cherished late nights of preparation and performance with the person closest to me.

Working alongside Tanya in this manner has been fun for so many reasons, not the least of which is just bearing witness to this new blossoming of her talent.  I am always hesitant to present my ways of working on music as anything other than one approach out of a nearly infinite array, and so am always striving to supplement my “mentoring” with other resources like the epic Ableton Users Groups Minneapolis is so fortunate to host.  The coolest part is that Tanya has reached the point of required familiarity with the “rules” and is now able to break them in interesting ways.  Meanwhile, I get ready access to creative opinions and techniques outside of my own bag of tricks and ways of looking at things.

We are counting down to our debut show at Black, we can’t wait!

As an extra added bonus Jacob Hoffman sent us a mix and a little insight on who Jacob is…

Jacob Hoffman is a triple aquarius.  Those that know him best will tell you stories about a life of emphasized question marks, without letting the story get too complicated.  Though many bear fruit with just a piece, Jacob is an advocate of the whole pie, italics and all.  With roots in Minneapolis, sharing the speakers with the likes of Andy Fargo, Bruno Pronsato, The Push, Particle People, Centrific, and all that challenge convention, Jacob has honed a quirky, moody style of house on the decks, and wears his sense of humor on his sleeves.  Recently relocated to sunny Brooklyn, New York, dig in the heels, my friend.

What? He’s just kidding?

Jacob Hoffman

Mark Henning – Get Me To The Moon (Agaric Remix)

Dachshund – Taxidermy (Someone Else Remix)

Vera & Frederico Molinari – It Ain’t Music

Kris Wadsworth – State And Griswold

2000 And One – Burnin Dub

Audio Werner – Onandon

DJ T. – Gorilla Hug

Tim Xavier & Miro Pajic – The Persian Eye (Ambivalent Remix)

Sidney Frost – Superfling

Plastic FM – Anonymous (Matt Star Remix)

Zev – Forget The World (f/ Beckford)

Quasimoto – Green Power

Black Christmas

Look out!!

Craziness is about to be had this Saturday in the VIP room of First Ave and chances are that you will get there before it sells out! This weekend get ready for Loud and Clear to present two amazing DJs who get down with these interviews (by: Aaron Bliss and Lil Aaron) and special Jackcasts. And also will be getting down this Saturday from 10pm – 2am(ish) up in the VIP room of First Avenue Nightclub, Minneapolis, MN.

Hyperactive

Hyper, you started your career in Chicago in the early 90’s and at that time there was so much amazing house and techno coming from the city. What was it like to be apart of that time period?
Hyperactive: My career started in the mid 80s, and at that time the music coming out of Chicago was House.  We didn’t have nearly as many sub genres then, but they came quick as music quickly diversified.  No other time in my history was music as intoxicating for me as the 80s.  When you hear that phrase suck in the 80s, it has a different meaning for me.  Not only was this a time where Chicago House music was igniting but real Hip Hop and B Boy culture was taking root as well.

What artists influenced you the most? How do you think this experience added to your career?
I think about this question often, and I really have to say as whole the original jack masters, Farley, Hurley, etc..  Although this goes back some time, I always circle back to my roots as a listener and dj.

Speaking about influences…  What was it like being mentioned on Daft Punk’s “Teachers”?
It’s certainly flattering.  I met Thomas Bangalter through my booking agent back then, Fab G, and had the chance to get in the studio for a day when I was in Paris for a gig at the Rex Club.  All this was prior to their album and this song.  I took it  as more of a shout out, but obviously it meant something much more.

A number of people feel that some of your best work was released on a label called ‘Contact’.  What was your relationship to this label?
Contact was my label and was a P&D deal with the geezers who owned the Hip House record shop at that time.  They also started up UC and from association with the store it lead to the label and having some funding to get some music out.  Under the P&D deal it freed me up to not have to worry about anything other than A&R and my own writing.  Reptilian Tank, Jazzcore, Chicago, were tracks from that era on Contact.

You took a short break from the game and recently seem to really be back in full swing. Why the hiatus, what made you want to come back?
No matter what I tried to do when I was taking a break, sorting out personal matters and soul searching, I couldn’t escape the calls for gigs, for remixes, demos, etc.  Coupled with all that I simply missed my life as an artist and dj and chose to re-devote my time and energy to something I dreamt and chased as a kid.

Tell me about your label 4 Track Music, Who’s on it and what do you have coming up for us to look forward to?
4 Track is myself, Audioinjection, Kaufman and Ferdinand, Bip Soup, Contact classic re-releases, and some remixes of new and previously released tracks on Contact.  There’s a lull in he storm as I’ve been plotting out the next 5 years of what I want to do with the label and some new artists, and naturally some new product of my own.  I’m also setting my sights for getting me and a crew on tour in the US and overseas.

Like a number of people still making music you came from 909’s and Juno’s, now everything is digital in the studio.  How hard/easy has it been making the switch? (Tell us a little bit about your current set up compared to your days on Contact)
There was a time when I first started to switch over to sw based producing less than a year after I dumped a few grand into some new hardware gear and it was so frustrating picking the right sw and getting my head around it.  Although I used a ton of analog gear from the very start I always used a Mac for sequencing.  That was probably my saving grace in transitioning over to sw based sequencing which I do now.  I spent the early years in proper recording studios with a core group of friends who were musicians and engineers which helped me later on in my career.  At the beginning I really didn’t know crap about midi, h/w, s/w, it was actually kind of comical.

We are all looking forward to having you back out on December 19th, 2009.
What should we expect to hear from you this time around? Are there any new artists we should keep our ear out for?
It will be an emotional roller coaster.  A lot of new material.  There’s so much new music coming out, it’s hard to pin down any one artist being there’s so many contributors.

What was your inspiration for this mix?
This is the first mix since April.  The best way to put it is that it’s like a painter who’s been in a creative drought and returned from wandering and is inspired, and creative again.  Amongst many of the creative arts, it’s hard to imagine a world without music.

Interview by: Aaron Bliss and Lil Aaron

Matt Rissi

Matt, you seem to visit Minneapolis quite a bit. What is it about Minneapolis that you think stands out?

The people are what stand out for me…  Cultured & Knowledgeable individuals in a small metropolis environment that lack a big city attitude.  Everyone’s so humble & I love it here.

Over the course of the last decade Minneapolis has sort of become a home away from home.  Our friends up your way make it a great destination for me & I always look forward to awesome experiences when we come up.  It’s nice to be surrounded by like minded people that I’ve come to know pretty well while playing music or getting dirty on the dance floor.

How did you become such a part of the local scene here? (Tell us a story!)

I started coming up to the cities around 1997 for Mile High & Intellephunk parties.  We’re all techno people down here & the line ups that Woody & crew were putting together were pretty hot in those days.  We ended up including both Woody & the I*Funk folks in some smaller shows that were going on in Iowa & we eventually all sort of grew our relationships & connections from there.

I was inspired by the way that these people made techno happen.  From the sound systems that were set up to the talent that was booked to the concept that all of these elements formed to push.  We have a similar vision of this music & our friendships are what lead to the bridges that have been built between Iowa & MPLS.

We now invite each other back and forth to play all of the time & it’s great.  The Iowa crowd loves the way the MPLS people bring it & I think that the feeling is reciprocated when we’re up in your neck of the woods.  Throw a trip to Detroit in there every year for the festival & we’ve got memories in the works somethin’ serious.

What/Who is Solar Cathedral?

Solar Cathedral Recordings is a digital imprint that I own along with my buddy Mustafa Avdic.  In 2007 we started the label as an outlet to release our own music as well as the music of others & have since put out 16 EP’s & one LP.  We have an eclectic line up of producers old and new on our roster & have enjoyed sharing our music with the world.

You’re also a local promoter, what is it like promoting and DJ’ing in Iowa?

It’s challenging.  Aside from two or three special events every year we only have about 2 to 300 people that continuously come out to see us play in the city that I live in.  As of late a small group of bar owners have taken a liking to what we do & have presented us with the opportunity to play in their clubs more frequently.

The past two years have been crazy busy for me & I’ve been playing out an average of about 3 weekends out of the month.  This is great for me because I love to play music but it’s tough on the crowd & we burn people out pretty quickly.  Of course we’ve got our solid core of ‘heads’ supporting us but we’re constantly trying to get new people involved in our music to fill the holes left by those that don’t come out as often as they used to.

Are you currently working on any new projects? (New releases on SC?)

We’ve always got SOMETHING in the pipeline…  Our next release actually features Minneapolis duo Recon 22.  These guys are a bit outside of the norm in regards to the sound and feel of previous SC releases.  We plan on exploring different approaches to techno and this EP is a great example of that.

Mustafa has a couple of EP’s ready to go too and I think that people are going to be taking a liking to these tunes in a MAJOR way.  Dare I say his best work to date!???  Hmmmmm???  We’ve got some remix work by Habersham as well as a couple of Iowa producers that we want to highlight in the upcoming months.

I personally have been so busy DJ’ing that I’ve yet to get back into the studio myself.  I haven’t released a solo EP & that’s my next goal.  I hope to have something together in the next year or so.

Tell us a little about your pod cast mix…  What inspired this mix?

Well…  Is it just me or is it REALLY tough to put together a studio mix that one can be completely proud of?  My live recordings always turn out great but for some reason I’ve not been able to get excited behind the decks at home.  I beat myself up all week trying to get something recorded that was well thought out or planned but I kept ending up with sets that contained no heart or soul.

I trashed a few mixes & decided to stop taking myself so seriously…  I put myself in ‘vacation mode’ on Sunday (you know how it is when you’re on vacation right?) and recorded this Jackcast in one shot.  I’m pretty happy with it.  I played a bunch of music that I felt was right for the moment without thinking about which tracks were the ‘realest’ or ‘newest’ or ‘whatchu know about this shit right here?’ type of tunes & ended up blazing through an eclectic stack of old & new techno that I’ve been playing lately.

I know, I know – so taboo but fact is…  people like to know.  What is your current DJ and music production set up? (What kinds of software/hardware combos are you digging?)

Ugh…  Don’t laugh at me but…  I’m actually DJ’ing with Serato.  Being as busy as I am with my day job & my weekend gigs I’ve been telling myself that I don’t have the time to finally make the switch to Traktor.  Becoming familiar with the program, mapping all of my tracks, being able to troubleshoot the software live should I have any problems, etc…

I think I’ll finally make the switch when the NI X1 controller comes out in Feb.  I am in full understanding of the capabilities that I will have when I finally go 100% digital I’ve just yet to man up and fucking do it.  I think about it all the time…  I’m constantly coming up with scenarios in my head that I’ll be able to create when empowered with Traktor & I’m really excited to dive into it I just haven’t jumped ship yet.

Lately I’ve been using CDJ1000’s or Technic1200’s…  Whatever is a better fit for the show.  I really like Allen & Heath mixers & after owning a xone 92 for about 5 years I just bought a xone 62 and absolutely LOVE it.  I also lug around an old school Pioneer EFX 500 to run timed delay through my aux send/return.  I can’t wait to get rid of the decks & efx box though…  Soon enough!

In regards to producing…  The tracks that I’ve released were all made with Propellerhead’s Reason.  I’m actually pretty amateur in the studio & wouldn’t have any material out on release if it weren’t for Mustafa.  He’s played an important role in teaching me how to produce music & without him wouldn’t be where I am today.  I’m starting to work with FL Studio & plan on getting to know that program a bit better during the upcoming months.

Interview by: Aaron Bliss

Word em up! Come down to check out this craziness. SRSLY!/NO_LIE!! This is going to be a greatly insane night with what has lately been all sold out shows. Click on the flyer below to see it bigger and read up on the madness-ness.

Click for larger image

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!
Check out the cool Promo video that Nate Laurence and J Matthews (HotDish/BLACK resident) created to promote this upcoming party:

To learn more about this upcoming show, Contact HotDish

interview by: Nate Laurence
Lee Jarvis will be headlining for the HotDish boys this Saturday @ First Ave’s VIP room for BLACK.

If you didnt know, this is with out a doubt the best place for cheap drinks, great atmosphere, and always a good party. Hit up info@hotdishmpls.com for more information.

Click on flyer below for more info on this event.

Event Flyer