Jack The Box

Jen Hits the City Pages with yet another jam packed post on Bassgasm2

It’s almost that time, bass fanatics. Woody McBride’s second takeover of First Avenue in six months goes down in just one week. Next Friday, more than 60 DJs will descend upon the club and play some of the funkiest, ear-splitting, heavens-opening tracks known (or not known) to man for nearly 10 hours. For most people, this sounds like hell on Earth, but for a certain group in the Midwest, bound by years of partying in dirty warehouses together, this is simply bliss. Last week, we introduced you to 3 DJs on the roster, and this week we’re bringing you another three, something we’ll do all next week leading up to the big day (July 23). Oh, and one other thing: Gimme Noise has THIRTEEN PAIR of tickets to the show to give away next week, so if you want to go, stay tuned. For now, it’s time to meet the sexy one called Heavygrinder, Chi-Town’s own Keith Mackenzie, and NYC’s longtime favorite, Christian Bruna …

Jolly green DJ

Getting to know… HEAVYGRINDER

Free Downloadable mix: “Lethal Injection”

Tracklist:
1. Groove Armada – Paper Romance feat. French Soler
2. Nylon Pink – Fluff (Audiostalkers & HeavyGrinder Remix)
3. D.H.S. – House of God (Electric Soulside Remix)
4. De Bos – On the Run (Ralvero Get Down Remix)
5. The Cat – Ain’t No Disco Music feat. Ninelives
6. Stupid Fresh – Ghetto Electro
7. DJ Fixx – Shake It feat. Sporty-O (Electric Soulside Remix)
8. Discotech – IMMIA
9. Owl City -Fireflies (Mightyfools Remix)
10. Punk Rolla – Upside Down
11. Mastiksoul – Taking Me Hi feat Zoey (Bingo Players_Remix)
12. Tocadisco – Better Run feat. Nadia Ali (Afrojack Remix)
13. Major Lazer ft. Afrojack – How I like It (Beatauce Remix)
14. Nadastorm Rework – Make Some Noise
15. Vandalism & Angger Dimas – She Got It (Curtis B Edit)
16. Kid Kaio – Hey
17. Boris Dlugosch – Bangkok (KraftyKuts Rerub)
18. Gooseflesh – Dodgems (Cyberpunkers Remix)
19. Fenech Soler – Lies (WolfChild Remix)
20. Ellie Goulding – Under The Sheers (Kids At The Bar Remix)
21. Cyberpunkers – OMG
22. Jason DeRulo – Watcha Say (Rusko Come Ere And Say That Remix)

Gimme Noise: How’s 2010 treating you?
Heavygrinder: It’s been well. Have been playing in different states and working on more releases and working on including my own vocals on tracks.

What’s your favorite memory of Minneapolis?
Headlined an all female dj party with DJ Heather a few years ago and had a blast. Really looking forward to that great crowd that appreciates the music. It’s an honor to be featured along side with many of the artists on the line up.

Do you miss record shopping now that the industry has gone digital?
Yes, I definitely miss record shopping but the digitalization has made it a lot easier for us to get the tracks that we want.

Give us your favorite quote from someone who will inspire us:
“Music doesn’t lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.” -Jimi Hendrix

Thoughts on trends in the EDM scene right now?
I have noticed the decline in the house scene… as I use to play morevstraight house music and dnb.  Have also noticed the sudden rise in the dubstep scene. Kids love it.

Yeah but can you catch a fly in those

Getting to know… KEITH MACKENZIE

Free Downloadable Mix: http://www.sendspace.com/file/adz06k

Current Top 10 Chart:
1. Sporty-O – Booty Jiggle
2. DJ Icey – Seville
3. Nylon Pink - Fluff
4. Sandro Silva – Blaze
5. DJ Fixx and Sporty-O – Shake It Sporty
6. Sidney Samson – The World Is Yours
7. Ill DJ Chris B and DJ Icey – What We Do
8. Kultur and Colombo – 123 Breakbeat
9. Deekline and Dustin Hulton featuring Sporty-O – Apple Bottom
10. Curtis B and Whiskey Pete – Keep on Movin’

How is 2010 treating you?
It’s been excellent so far!  I’ve gotten to play at some really great places this year including London, Rome, Cadiz (Spain), Hawaii and more!  I’ve been keeping super busy with my label “illeven eleven” putting out about 4 releases per quarter.

What are your current creative projects?
As a label, we have an album from ATL phenom rapper Sporty-O called “International Wingman” coming out in mid July.  It has productions from some of the biggest names in Electro, Breaks and Dubstep in the package.  For myself,  Ive been doing alot of work with DJ Fixx and Curtis B and have about 5-6 things slated to come out before the end of 2010.  Also working on a breaks meets electro meets house and techno mix with my boy Serch from here in the CHI

What’s your next production release?
A remix of LaZRtag’s song that they did with Whiskey Pete on the vocals called “Young Hollywood”  coming out on my label “illeven eleven”  I did the remix with Curtis B.

Have you been to Minneapolis before?
This will be first time and Im really looking forward to it!  Ive heard only good things about the scene in Minneapolis. Im super excited that Bassgasm will be my first party there, and judging by all the hype around it, it looks as though Minneapolis knows how to get down! Additionally, breaks do not get that much exposure in the midwest so Im glad to bring my flavor there.

Are you influenced by any Twin Cities artists?
I used to buy Freddy Fresh records back in the day =)

How do you feel about the industry going digital?
I for sure miss record shopping, the feel of vinyl and the sound as well.  However, Im cool with the industry going digital.  I like playing/doing re-edits of stuff and this is not stuff that we used to do back when we played vinyl.  if we did a re-edit of something and wanted to play it, we would have to get dubplates and it takes time and money!  Now, I can re-edit a song in the hotel the night of and play it immediately Dubplates  were fun though!  I definitely miss vinyl but am content DJing digitally.

Dark. Brooding. Bruna.

Getting to know … CHRISTIAN BRUNA

Free Downloadable Mix: “Kiss The Future”

Top 10 Chart:
01. Kabuki feat. Jeru The Damaja – Watch Your Step – V Recordings
02. Christian Bruna – Imagine That – Liquid Brilliants
03. Netsky – Eyes Closed – Allsorts
04. Kabuki feat. Jenna G – Just Hold On (Serum Remix) – V Recordings
05. Camo & Krooked feat. Tali – Verve – Audio Porn
06. Eveson – Found A Groove – Liquid V
07. Dave Owen – Still Waters – Influence Records
08. Eveson – So Fine- Liquid V
09. Camo & Krooked – History of The Future – Audio Porn
10. Gridlok – Bottomfeeder – Project 51 Recordings
Gimme Noise: How is 2010 treating you?
Christian Bruna: Not bad, I’m alive and well. My family and children are healthy, and I feel like it’s the early 90’s again, in more than one way. I’ve been doing things that I’ve enjoyed since I was a youngster, recreational activities such as painting (graffiti), and skateboarding. I’m feeling very positive in regards to this second phase of my life.

Why do you think you were booked to play Bassgasm 2?
The experience and knowledge based on years of doing my thing here in NYC. The competition is fierce and many people succeed, but come and go. Very few can stand the test of time. Looking forward to Woody’s parties and seeing how the Mid-West brings it!

What kind of vibe are you playing this summer?
I’m basically trying to cram in some of the best Jungle/D&B from the last 15 years or so into one power-packed roller coaster of a ride. In the wise words of the infamous KRS-ONE, “Edutainment” is how I’d best describe it.

Which artists are you inspired by lately?
Camo & Krooked, Netsky, Serum, Mutated Forms, Savage Rehab, and others…

What do you think has changed most about the scene over the last 5-10 years?
The word Rave is practically non-existent. Promoters, press, and the media are using the word “Festivals” more and more, as opposed to the word “Rave” and its negative connotations. EDM genres are being mixed up more than ever, even crossing over into Jam Bands and more live pa’s.

How do you feel about the industry going digital?
I think it’s great since I get most of my music sent to me from all over the world via AIM. I already have too much vinyl and wouldn’t know what to do with it if I kept buying. I do miss the act of buying and sellingrecords at a record shop. I used to work at the now defunct Satellite Records here in NYC for many, many years.

Tell us your favorite quote.
I don’t know who said it first, but it’s my favorite. “Feel The Force, Don’t Force The Feel.”

With only about 7 weeks to till the best music festival in the world (imho) I found it necessary to feature one of our friends to the North. The latest addition to Jack The Box is an interview and podcast from John Johr.

I first met John last year just before Movement Detroit (DEMF) when my buddy Grimace introduced us. Grimace says..”Aaron you gotta meet his guy your gonna love him, great DJ, right up your alley!” Seriously,  that’s all he had to say, because he really knows his shit. Taking Gimace’s advice I went on-line, started looking and found a couple mixes of his… “DAMN!” I said.

Smooth, deep, and sexy rhythms is all that needs to be said.  John shows a side of Techno and House music that can only come from Detroit. His mixes are tight and so well composed that you have to feel it to believe it (notice i didn’t say hear it?) John’s sets are just that “Body Music”

I was able to sneak John away for an interview to talk about his time with Paxahau, the current sound of Detroit, and much more, not to mention some of that “Body Music” I was telling you about.

John Johr JackCast016

**CLICK HERE FOR DIRECT DOWNLOAD**

**What are your impressions of the Midwest dance music scene?

I love the Midwest scene! It has qualities that you’ll see no where else in the world and that makes it great. Having lived in Detroit my whole life it’s been amazing to have institutions like Motor, Recordtime, Submerge/UR, and even places like Motown/Hitsville USA in my back yard. Not a lot of people have been or are as lucky to have so much great music and music history so close to home. I’ve also been very lucky to have attended or worked at the festival (Movement or also known as DEMF early on) every year. In my eyes the Midwest dance scene has a lot to offer. Some of the best dj’s and producers in the world have come from the Midwest. I feel pretty lucky to be honest.

**For those of us that dont know Paxahau and Movement could you Tell us a little bit about your work with Paxahau?

I started with Paxahau in early 2005. My main role back then was doing party set-up’s and street promotions, as well I was invited to be one of the resident dj’s. As time went on my role progressed into doing the audio archives and internet promotions. We took over the festival in 2006 and though it’s a lot of work I’ve learned more from that then anything else I’ve been involved in throughout my life. It’s been amazing to work with such a dedicated team of guys and show’s what can be accomplished with a lot of hard work.

Movement 2010

**Are there any new and exciting things planned this year for the Festival? Any little secrets you can spoil us with?
There’s a lot of amazing things planned for the festival this year, Plastikman Live for instance, but I’m guessing everyone’s seen the pre line-up already. Let’s just say it’ll be worth the wait to see the rest of the line-up (and really, I’d hate to get fired!!! haha!)

**What’s going on in Detroit these days?  are there any regular parties or radio shows going on at the moment?

There’s a handful of nice weekly’s going on, Monday night’s in Ann Arbor at Necto if you want your drum & bass fix, there’s a couple fun Thursday weekly’s if you need some house or techno in your life. Also, there’s a great monthly party on Sundays, called SunDayBeats hosted by Auxetic, which is always a really fun time. Currently on Tuesday evening’s from 6-8 Paxahau is hosting a weekly webcast where you can tune in and here some of Detroit best local dj’s and get up to the minute Movement news. Other than that really, it’s mostly one-off events that keep our dance music scene alive. I, unfortunately, don’t get out as much as I used to. Between working in the studio and my *real* job I don’t have much time anymore. It really bums me out because there’s good music all over the city on almost any given night, though, you sometimes may have to hunt it down.

John Johr

**Detroit is constantly producing top notch producers and DJs, some would say more than any other city in the US, Besides yourself, are there any new guys coming up that we maybe haven’t heard of yet that we should keep an eye out for?
Well you may or may not have heard of him but my good buddy Eric Johnston is making some of my favorite tunes right now. The guys on fire!!! He has a few releases coming out on labels like Leftroom and Archipel and he actually just moved to Vienna so he’ll be greatly missed. Keep an eye for his new release’s though, so on point. I guess the other kid who’s really been on the tip of everyone’s tongue lately is Kyle Hall but I think most everyone who’s into dance music has probably heard about him already (if you haven’t… you’re really missing out!!!) Oh, and I could never forget Matt Abbott aka Secrets…. He’s writing some really cool stuff at the moment. He also throws on hell of a party. His new project that he’s doing with a few guys is called Gary Springs Hunting Club, so amazing. Also, the stable of established artist’s that have come out of Detroit is ridiculous….. Lee Curtiss, Seth Troxler, Ryan Crosson,  and Shaun Reeves, their work has spread worldwide and the Visionquest project is about to jump off.  We’ve got DTM doing their thing, Dj Seoul, T. Linder, Darkcube, etc, they kill it all the time. Luke Hess and Bryan Kage aka Reference and their Beretta Music label….. I mean damn, it’s pretty out of hand! There’s so many more people too, it’s insane, I know I forgot a bunch more as well… sorry guys!

**Are you currently working on any new projects?
Things have been pretty busy lately. Last year I had my first European tour which was incredible. Everyone says the first trip overseas is really eye-opening and Europe far surpassed my already high expectations. Playing for the Cityfox guys at Alte Borse in Zurich and also Watergate in Berlin were huge highlights. Really though, I guess I’m always working on new projects. I’m constantly in the studio working on new tunes. Also, I’ve also been helping with my good friends Matt Kingsley and Nima Bararsani with their new booking agency (Bonus Level www.bonuslevel.us ). Keep an eye for Bonus Level events this year, there’s a few things on the horizon with them this year.

**So the rumors are true! I did hear that you are working on a few music projects and that you have really started to take on the production side of things… Any new releases on the horizon?
This rumor is true, as of late I’ve made production my main focus. I have my first digital release coming out on the UK based label Left’d (Leftroom’s digital sub-label) which I’m very excited about. It’s truly honor to have my first release with Matt Tolfrey and his crew. Other than that I have a handful of tracks I’m wrapping up right now that seem to be a step in the right direction. I’ve only been seriously writing music now for about two year’s so I’m picking up more and more as I as I go. Everyday I’m in the studio I learn something new and seeing my projects come together has been really fulfilling. I just moved in with my friend Lee Curtiss, so I’ve been working with him a lot lately, he Seth, Shaun, and Ryan have really helped me a lot and given me creative direction and I’m very grateful for that. I really couldn’t be more excited about this coming year.

Left Room

**Last year you toured for a short time with a team of artists from Paxahau, do you plan on doing this again this year, and can you tell us a little about it?
Last year Chuck Flask and I did a few Movement festival warm up parties and they were all a blast. I’ve already kicked off the season with  two warm-up parties in Austin Texas, one at the legendary Stubbs BBQ at the Spin Magazine 25th anniversary party and the other at my great friend and Detroit ex-pat Jon (E)ric’s U Funktion party, both where so much fun. Stubbs was really interesting because I shared the stage with Courtney Love and her newly reunited band Hole. It was their first show in ten year’s, It was pretty cool, I’ve never been a part of an event like that. Really, this year,  we would like to get out to as many cities as possible to promote Movement. We have an event set-up right in Grand Rapids MI which I think will be really fun. If any other show’s pop up we’ll definitely get all the info as soon as we can.

**What is your current DJ and music production set up?
My current DJ set-up is really simple, 2 turntables w/serato & vinyl with a x-one92. My studio set-up is pretty simple right now as well. I’m just using Ableton with a ton of plug-ins, a couple of midi controllers, and a pair of KRK Rokit 5’s. I guess money is the main factor with my studio set-up….there’s a ton of stuff I want and not enough to get all of it!

Thanks so much John for sharing with us, cant wait to see you again in Detroit for the festival!

Interview by Aaron Bliss

Be Sure to keep an eye out on John’s new releases and catch him at the festival this year were he will be playing the main festival and my guess is that he may pop up at an after hrs maybe.

Thanks for all your support and thanks for reading Jack The Box – The Midwest at Night.

Doc Martin

In the beginning there was Jack, and Jack had a Groove…  Ok, ok,  I know, heard that before but…

I will never forget the first time I heard that played on a big system. When I hear it,  there are a few people that come to mind and Doc Martin is one of them.

To me, Doc Martin has been a musical mentor in a way. I will never forget getting my first Doc Martin tapes after a friend returned home from a visit to California.  The music was soulful, deep and techy at the same time, it really has a taste of everything.

Every time I saw he was in an issue of URB Magazine I would buy on site, anything and everything. If it had Doc Martin on it I would NEED it.  I still do!  I have great memories of buying his mix tapes, as a matter of fact I would obsess over them and call every record store I could find (pre-internetz) out of the back of scene mags and buy all the tracks I could off the track listings. I would even go as far as to play the tracks over the phone to the clerk and say “what is this? I need it!!”

As a matter of fact,  the one time controversial “Flammable Liquid” mix tape I am proud to say I own every track on that tape and cherish everyone of them. Took me years to accomplish this goal, to me, they are not tracks by the artists but “tracks from Doc’s tape” its funny how that works out.

Why Doc Martin at Black???

Doc Martin in his element

I really wanted to get people in our scene to know who Doc is and why he is so important. His professionalism, modesty, and passion for the music are second to none. Hes been rocking the decks since 1986 and shows no sign of slowing down. Rocking some of the worlds best clubs and staying relevant as ever almost 25 years later.

To Round it off Doc left us with a little gift! I recent recording from San Fran. You never know what to expect from Doc Martin Other than quality but here is just a little taste of one of the many sides of Doc Martin, Enjoy!

DIRECT DOWN LOAD

*Doc, you have played a key role in the US scene (and world wide) for close to 25 years. What do you think has been the key to staying relevant especially in a time when so many young artists and DJs are coming up?
I think one of the reasons for that is not to sell your sound out every time a new trend in music comes along. I personally love all kinds of music, if it’s saying something. In a set from me you could hear house, acid, techno, disco, on the new,and old tip. There are many DJ’s coming up who have something to offer. I think that’s a healthy thing.It keeps things interesting.There’s no need for attitude. It’s not a contest,of who’s the best. To me it’s about getting people involved in a groove. I think that’s why I get along with a lot of the new producers, and DJ’s.

*You have seen lots of changes in the music, What are the biggest changes you see recently?
I think one of the biggest things is all this fragmentation amongst types of music. There are so many different types of House, and Techno. To me this is ridiculous, To let things like this divide a dance scene. In EUROPE it’s more about the party. Coming together for the common good of the music. I’m friends with many different type’s of DJ’s. I tend to look at the person first. There are many dj’s in my own genre that I stay clear of, because they are not good people, or always running someone else down.

*What are your thoughts on the American dance scene?
I think there are a lot of people who care again.I see people from all parts of the US. coming together to save, and rebuild their scenes. A lot of clubs who were owned by people who were into the music, are now owned by businessmen. So they look at the top 100 dj’s according to some magazine, and book their clubs accordingly.I’ve seen the return of the massive as well. Big all night dance events, for the 18,and overs. I think for the most part there is no radio support for dance music. There are mix shows for commercial artist with dance remixes. House has been around for over 25 years!
I have never given up on the US scene,and never will!

*Tell us about some of your projects, Sublevel the store, Sublevel the Party and your connection to Stussy..
Sublevel the party has been going strong. Lillia,and I decided on New Years 2001 that I should stay in LA,and do an event. We wanted to something outside the clubs, that would represent the kind of party we would like to go to. So we got a loft in downtown Los Angeles. We went in and fixed the venue to our liking. We brought in the kind of sound ,and light’s we wanted. We created a place you could go in and lose yourself for nine hours , or so. We opened the doors at 10pm,and I put my last record down at 11am. Nine years later we are still going strong. The Stussy Connection came from,someone who used to go to all the shows in the early 90’s. They like the parties, and what we stand for.

*Do you have any current music productions or remixes in the works?
There are a bunch of Sublevel songs coming out this year. We are also going to be releasing tracks through Sublevel Berlin. I’ve been getting hit up for a bunch of remixes as well.

*You also do a live set now with your singer Lillia. What is this project and how is it performed?
Lillia and I have been doing Sublevel Live for 9 years. We’ve performed in the UK, US, DEMF, Japan.Berlin, and everywhere in between. It’s been really good to perform,as well as DJ. We also Performed in Denver for a show after O’bama’s acceptance speech for the democratic national convention. We perform with Live Vocals, Effects, Mackie mixer, CDJ’s, and turntables. There is no stop start between every song.Just a constant flow.

*You have played here in Mpls in the past, usually a much larger venue, We cant tell you how happy we are to have you play for us in a more intimate setting. For an artist that travels as much as you do, can you share some of the pros and cons of both?
For me it makes no difference. The music I play usually translates in both settings. I’ve had amazing experiences in both type’s of settings.For example I played a 12and a half hour set in a small club Osaka Japan , Or at Sublevel with 1000 people for 7 hours that felt like 2 hours. If the crowd is into the music It always goes by to fast.

*There are a few questions I love to ask in all my interviews because I really think it give some insight to the person and their music tastes…

*When your not listening to house and techno, what non-dance music are you listening to?
Reggae, Funk, Rock.

*What are a few new artists that you think are really blowing your mind right now?
The new Freaks stuff(Ouch)  Jamie Jones, Argy ,Peter Kruder(Not new,but a new sound for him),Dixon,Henrick Schwarz, Revenge, Melon, Michel Cleis to name a few.

*What are a few of those artists that seem to always blow your mind after all these years?
Robert Owens, Brothers Vibe, Tyree, Chez Damier, Blake Baxter, Carl Craig, King Britt, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

*Gear question:  What are those big knobby things I see in all the youtube videos that you have on your records?
They are record weights. I use them to keep feedback issues down to a minimum. Your records are also less likely to skip with them.

Thanks Doc for the time and thank you for coming to play for us.

Story and interview by Aaron Bliss

KEEP UNDERGROUND

Be sure to Come out to Black Saturday February 27th Located at First Ave’s  VIP Room!

Doc Martin at Black

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JACK THE BOX

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

For this edition of Jack The Box, we’ve decided to part ways from our standard interview and really delve into the boxes (or laptops) of our next guests at Black.  Dustin Zahn and Steve Centrific will be doing a special 4 hour back to back set this Saturday and we have to say, we’re pretty excited about this pairing…Zahn is at the forefront of a talented new crop of US artists that are beginning to make waves in the international techno community and Centrific hands down is one of the best DJ’s in the Midwest techno community.

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Dustin has released music on notable labels such as Adam Beyer’s Drumcode and Truesoul labels as well as Radioslave’s Rekids imprint. (Len Faki’s remix of his track Stranger (to stability) has been charted by pretty much everybody this year).  Having two heavyweights like Beyer and RS in your corner really speaks volumes to what Dustin has accomplished.  Fresh off his first gig at Berghain this past Saturday, we caught up with Dustin to see just what music the Enemy label boss is digging right now.

Dennis Ferrer - Hey Hey

Dennis Ferrer – Hey Hey (dub) – Objektivity

I don’t really give a shit about deep house, but I rate Dennis Ferrer fairly highly. While more recent tracks of his like ‘Transitions’ and ‘Sinfonia Della Notte’ were undeniably heavy on the sunshine emphasis, this track sounds like Carl Craig went on a 3-day bender at Berghain. The vocal version is a bit too mainstream for me so having the instrumental available is great. The bassline is epic (in a good way) and the white noise blasts don’t make me want to shoot myself. I will be playing this for a while.

Gary Beck - Over to You

Gary Beck – Over to You – BekAudio

I have been playing about 5-6 of Gary’s tracks in each set the past few months and they’re equally great. I picked this because it’s the debut for his new label and he deserves some free publicity. Honestly, Gary’s tracks aren’t rewriting techno and they’re not completely innovative, but they’re still great stripped down, hypnotic club tools that fit very nicely into my sets. What can I say? They’re just cool! They’re jams and I will take quality jams over hits any day of the week! He and Edit-Select are also teaming up for a remix on my label which I am very happy about. Stay tuned.

Newworldaquarium - The Force

Newworldaquarium – The Force (Ame Remixes)

Here’s the problem, with Ame…’Rej’ was such a huge hit that much of their work released after it has been under appreciated. I’ve been playing the dance floor mix from this record, and when it hits me at the right time, it’s one of my favorite tracks of my set. The synth falls in that weird category of neo-Detroit/soul/whatever and the percussion is more reminiscent of jazz or funk band rather than a 909 workout. When it comes to the classic definition of techno, “man vs. machine” this is arguably the most “techno” record I’m reviewing here. The reality is, most techno heads will pass over it for the latest side-chained white noise fest on Beatport.

The Detroit Experiment - Think Twice

The Detroit Experiment – Think Twice (Henrik Schwarz Remixes)

This record isn’t new…it came out in February but for me, it’s the record of the year. The only people I’ve seen play this record besides myself were the Wighnomy Bros at DEMF ‘09, and it was a show stopper. Henrik Schwarz is an amazing producer but he always puts cheesy vocals over his tracks so I can’t really play them. With this EP, he skips the vocals and heads straight for the jazz-techno explosion. Saxamaphones and techno can go sour real quickly, but I have watched even the toughest critics lose it once the track climaxes about 2/3 of the way through. While most producers rely on the typical tricks of big reverbs, whitenoise, delays, filters, and more to create dynamic tension (admittedly myself included), Schwarz proves that all it takes is a little human funk to blow the place up.

Levon Vincent - Late Night Jam

Levon Vincent – Late Night Jam – Ostgut Ton

Levon has been making quite the name for himself lately. Like Dennis Ferrer, he generally surrounds himself in the deep house scene but lately his productions have taken more of a techno turn. Much like “Snakes On A Plane,” the title is a literal description of what it really is. A track like this probably doesn’t stand a chance of catching on here in the states. It’s long, drawn out, and substitutes consistent groove for dynamics. In my opinion, that’s a perfect formula for making a stand out, show-stopping track to play mid-set during the early morning hours. Don’t let this description fool you, it’s about as big room as big room gets. I love it!

Gary Beck - Yah Yah - Figure

Gary Beck – Yah Yah – Figure
Another record from Gary that should be out soon. It’s the flip side to a record shared with Edit-Select and also contains a digital only, “Lime wire” or some shit like that. Anyway, it’s total “in the zone” hypnotic techno which is exactly what I prefer to play when I’m out of town. This one has sampled some sort of super weird record, possibly from the 30s or 40s is my guess. It may not be for everybody, but it’s for me and it’s perfect for those times of the night where everything no longer makes any sense.

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Steve’s Centrific’s production career kicked off with releases on seminal midwest label, Drop Bass Network.  Dark, hard, mindbending, midwest acid techno at it’s finest.  Steve is a DJ’s DJ…long known around these parts for his marathon sets and the ability to pull tracks that not many others would, and make it work.  Steve is also the man behind Intellephunk, one of the Midwest’s longest running event crews.  We now get to take a little sneak peak into what goes into a Centrific set…

Speedy J - Klave

Speedy J & Chris Liebing – Klave – Rekids

Speedy J tracks are always a huge tool for me! I am always excited for a new one to appear….

Just as much as I love an old forgotten one to resurface!!!!

This new one is the best!!!   F**K a cowbell, more Klave!!!

Dustin Zahn – Bees

Dustin Zahn – Bees – True Soul
Zahn and I have been collaborating throwing events etc since 2003. But I didn’t always play many of Zahn’s tracks.

Then about 2 years ago his tracks became a huge part of my sets. This one really has been my fave for several months because it sounds like a rattle snake! I could loop up the intro to this forever before playing the rest.

DVS1 – Running

DVS1 – Running – Klockworks
I have always loved Zak’s DJ sets. Over the last couple of years his music has become better and better.

I’m glad the rest of the world will finally know how talented he has become. This whole release makes me shiver, and sometimes it rules to be from Minneapolis!

Jpls - Combination02

Jpls – Combination-02 – Minus

This track has also been looped forever in most of my sets for the last 6 months or so.
Super hypnotic in such a cryptic way!

I really connect with this track, It takes me where I wanna go and has a sort of vertigo effect on my brain!

Willie and the Family "live"

Willie and the Family “live” -Whiskey River- Columbia
I know its a country record but its no mere country record really trust me!
I always love to play a fish out of water at the right time. I played a at a psy trance campout
a few months ago. Every few hours we would crank this gem up and drink from a bottle of “Jack Daniels”….
It made for a great time I have to say!

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Be sure to Join us this Saturday for Zahn and Centrific, amazing vibe and tons of sound and a chance to get one of our new Black shirts!!

Link to FaceBook invite

Particle People Present - BLACK

**Post by Aaron Bliss, Jesse Jakob, Centrific and Dustin Zahn**

Droid artists are no stranger to Minneapolis, in 2007 The Particle People began a tradition with out even realizing the power of this collective.  Since then we have had return visits from Acid Circus, and Drumcell so make sure to come out and experience the next member of the Droid family…   Audio Injection

Audio Injection aka David Flores aka Broken Rules has been hooked on electronic music since his introduction to the culture in the early 90’s. By age 15 he was DJing at clubs and undergrounds around Southern California mixing all varieties of techno, house, and hardcore techno.

His career as a DJ eventually moved to music production and David’s early releases were HardCore and Industrial Techno on labels such as Monoid, Industrial Strength, and Third Movement. Around the same time, he began a relationship with our friends at Droid Behavior (Eat, Sleep, Shit, Techno). Since then David has been at working with the funky minimal side of techno as well and after a few collaborative releases, remixes and live sets with the Droid label head, Drumcell, David joined the resident roster of the infamous Interface warehouse series.

An amazing Discography that includes releases & remixes on labels Droid Rec, 4 Track, Tora x3,
Stimulus and others, Audio Injection continues to shape his own sound while releasing thumping minimal techno with a funky twist.

Join the boys from Loud and Clear at Black in the VIP Room on Saturday November 21st. To learn more visit www.audioinjection.com and www.droidbehavior.com

Jackcast003 w/Audio Injection direct download here

Dave, it’s becoming a bit of a tradition with me to ask artists at least one question about their thoughts on Minneapolis .  This being your first time to Minneapolis , what are your expectations? Are Vidal, Vangelis and Moe saying good things about us? *wink *wink –

Well this will be my first time there and yes I’ve heard lot’s of good things from the other Droids, also from DJ Hyperactive! I don’t really know what to expect, but I hope the crowd digs my sound, and if all goes well, go back and play more shows!

Tell us a little bit about your two alias’s…  Who is Broken Rules and Who is Audio Injection?

Broken Rules is my alias for the harder projects, which include hardtechno and industrial/hardcore, I’ve released a lot under that name and still do this day, I work with Lenny Dee, owner of Industrial Strength records…..I grew up listening to the harder stuff as well and it always had a place in my heart. Also a great way to relieve stress hehe.

Audio Injection is the name I use for my techno/minimal projects, I started releasing under Audio Injection back in 2007, although I’ve had that name since 2002, but just didn’t release anything back then, it was more of a site name than producer name. Lately I’ve been focusing more on Audio Injection because I’ve always had love for techno since I was a kid and it just keeps growing more and more these days. I have a lot of remixes and projects coming up with Droid and other labels…..so these days I keep the two separate that way when you hear either name, you know what you’re going to get.

When I look at your discogs sites you seem to be a busy man.  What is it like being one man but two artists at the same time?

Yeah it’s pretty crazy haha! When I first started with the 2 different projects/alias I didn’t think it was going to be like it is now, I get remix opportunities all the time and labels asking for music which is good and keeps me super busy! Sometimes it’s hard when you’re working with 2 opposite genres, like the harder stuff with the more stripped down minimal stuff, but also you get ideas from both genres, and they end up working out.

Are you working on any new music projects that you would like us to keep an ear out for?

Yes definitely. Drumcell and I just finished a couple of remixes for Chris Liebings CLR label which should be out by the end of this year. We’re also working on putting out more Droid records, and also focusing on the Droid digital label, which I have a release coming up soon with remixes from Monoloc, Miro Pajic, Acid Circus, & Rene Walther. I’ve also been really busy working on remixes by myself, and also working with Drumcell on another Droid record.

How is it… being part of a scene like in LA?  At the moment it really seems to be a great place for Techno. Does this seem like an overnight explosion or a gradual change? How has Droid Behavior been a part of this movement?

Man it’s great! The techno scene is growing more and more here and it wasn’t an overnight thing, Droid has been working at this scene for years and they’ve put a ton of hard work and thrown lot’s of legendary parties, it’s really a great thing to be a part of. Just recently they did their 7 year anniversary of Interface, which had Chris Liebing, it was madness. Droid is definitely at the forefront of this movement in LA.

Another tradition in these interviews has to do with my own personal addiction to all things tech.  Tell us a little about your set up for DJ and for Production. Software, Gear, we love to hear all bout it!

My studio set up is pretty simple, I’m mostly software and plugins. I use FL studio for all my sequencing, then drop that into Cubase for editing and mixing. Sometimes I use Ableton live too, for laying down ideas when I’m not in my studio. I also have a couple of hardware compressors, just for some color, and a Roland JP8080 synth, for some cool twisted sounds. My DJ setup is also pretty simple, I switch between Traktor Pro and Ableton Live…..Traktor I use for more of a DJ set with NI Maschine as my controller, where as in Ableton I use as a DJ/Live set with the APC40, I cut parts of my own tracks and mix them with full tracks, as well as play other peoples music together, sort of like a live mashup.

Interview by Aaron Bliss

Back in April The Particle People were visited by Ben Klock. While on a short visit to the US (NYC and Minneapolis only) with a special night at BLACK we were able to find out why he was on the tip of everyone’s tongue. He was modest, nice and simply blew the dance floor away with an amazing mix of new and classic techno and house. This set was a perfect example of the raw gritty underground sound of US (mostly Midwest) and German dance music coming from Berlin at the moment, most noticeably a little club you may have heard of recently called Berghain.

While in Minneapolis Ben not only was able to see what the Midwest was about, Ben even took home a little piece of Minneapolis by signing our very own DVS1 for KlockWorks005. While here he interviewed for Tanya Norman from IPR and recently with us at Jack The Box for a followup. What Follows is the followup interview and below is the original interview from Tanya and Ben Klock from April.

To top it all off we were also able to get hold of a recording of that night for JackCast002 Ben Klock Live@BLACK…

JackCast002 Ben Klock Live @ BLACK MPLS

Right Click and save here for Direct Download

You recently visited  Minneapolis, What were your impressions of the American Techno scene before coming and what are your impressions now? Specifically  Minneapolis …
Well I have to say before I had the impression that it’s a very small scene there and this was approved. But in the end it’s more about quality than quantity. And there were some people who were really into it – especially in Minneapolis. And it was great fun playing there, because people seemed to really appreciate.

Your latest release on Klockworks (klockworks 005) is from one of our own locals and is very exciting for us.  Is klockworks005 the first release from artists other than you?
Yes it’s the first release from someone else. So it’s something special for me too. I was really impressed by Zak (DVS1). He is minimalistic in it’s original sense. And very energetic. I loved his short but intense performance he did at that party in Minneapolis. And I’m glad I didn’t go straight home after my set and had the chance to meet this guy. I will bring him over to play at Berghain in February.

Do you plan on bringing more artists into the Klockworks roster?
Always depends on the music. If I find something that really fits into the concept that I have in mind for Klockworks then maybe there will be other artists. In fact I’m just planning something with a new artist but it’s to early to tell more.

Do you plan on visiting the  US  in 2010?
I’m not sure about that yet. We’ll see.

You are known for playing a very wide range of records. I remember hearing a number of classics in your set from your visit.  What is your favorite dance floor track, the one you almost never leave home without?
Yes I like mixing old and new stuff. But it always changes. I can’t tell you the one favorite classic. There are too many great records. But if you ask me which one never left the bag since I bought it in 1995 it’s Tyree on Dance Mania: Nuthin Wrong.

Are you currently working on any new music projects that we should keep an eye out for?
I’ve only been doing remixes since my album came out in February this year. Brand new in the stores is a remix for Function on Sandwell District.
And then there will be a record on Deeply Rooted House, distributed by PlanetE with two older tracks of mine coming out before the end of this year.

One of the things we love to talk about on this Blog is gear. Some people are gear enthusiasts and some are minimalists.  What is your current preferred DJ and music production set up?
I’m sorry to disappoint you if you expect a large analog production park. For my productions I’m using Logic Pro on a Mac and lot’s of digital plug Ins. That’s all I need at the moment. For me it’s more about music than loving machines. My DJ set up is two turntables and two Pioneer CDJs 1000 and a Soundbite loop player.

Thank you Ben!  Interview by Aaron Bliss for Jack the Box.

Below is the interview by Tanya Norman the night Ben Klock Played in Minneapolis.

Particle People Bring Ben Klock To First Ave VIP Room by Tanya Norman

On April 4, 2009 local promoters Particle People welcomed Ben Klock to the First Ave VIP Room. Coming to the USA all the way from Berghain Club in Berlin, this respected producer and deejay was here to promote his new album One and EP Before One out now on BeatPort and where vinyl is sold. Ben was kind enough to grant Tanya Norman an interview opportunity, allowing a glimpse inside his world of Berlin techno and sharing insight into why sometimes less is more…

TN: Who inspires you?  Mentors in music?

BK: I don’t know where to begin.  I’ve been making music all my life.  I listened to all kinds of music.  In the 80’s I loved Prince.  In the beginning of the 90’s I was beginning to look for new sounds.  There are some heroes: old US guys, Jeff Mills, Carl Craig, Robert Hood.  Basically, that’s where it comes from.

TN: What kind of technology and tools do you use?  Describe your studio.

BK:  It’s not that interesting. [laughs] I changed to complete digital. I really like total recall recording.  When I worked on my album I worked on different tracks at the same time.  I don’t want to have to reconnect cables…..with digital you can really do a lot of things.  I use Logic, a little Ableton… usually a Logic user.  And some plug-ins.

TN: Your current record label, Ostgut Ton, how long have you been with them?

BK: Since I’ve been a resident DJ at Berghain, about 3 years. Ostgut Ton is the label of Berghain. The venue they had before the Berghain was called Ostgut, that is why the label is called Ostgut Ton.

TN: You’ve been deejaying for over 10 years now?

BK: For a little over 10 years.  The international bookings started about 4 years ago, coinciding with the beginning of my residency at Berghain.

TN: Did you play any instruments as a child?

BK: When I was a kid I played piano. Before I became a DJ I also played in a band and did some songwriting, playing guitar and singing…

TN:  Did you find those experiences helpful with your current productions?

BK: Yes and no.  Sometimes it is not helpful when you are too educated in music and you want to make a good techno track…you don’t want it cluttered with too many solo parts, well, iIdon’t want it… [laughs]
See the full Interview at…
http://www.ipr.edu/blog/2009/04/particle-people-bring-ben-klock-to-first-ave-vip-room/

Be sure to see Tanya’s post for video and pictures from the night as well as visit Particle People on RA for more pictures here…

http://www.residentadvisor.net/photo-gallery.aspx?set=6248

and on http://www.myspace.com/particlepeoplempls

Big shout about one of NYC’s legends. Coming up this weekend, check out this bad ass and a solid line up.

Friday, November 20th

Get your presale tickets at vitalculture.com

PROJEKTMKE

// PEZZNER seattle | om records . free range . urbantorque

//DELA milwaukee | projekt

//FORTUNE milwaukee | forUevents

Check out this LIVE PA download of PEZZNER:

AND….

DELA 10:PM

To celebrate the show our good friend Dela provided us a special deep house mix!! I have to say I really love what Dela plays and I Love what ever vibe he is on and this mix is no exception.

This is just one more way to show why we think that the Midwest is the best.

If you have appreciated what PROJEKT has done in Milwaukee over the last 2 years then please make a point to stop in and see what this crew is all about!

visit projektmke.com for more details…

BBC
2022 e. north ave.
milwaukee, wi

21+ w/ID