Hot off the decks with Bobina!
March 9th, 2010
Just when you thought that the Italians were taking the electronic dance scene by storm, in comes Russian producer, Bobina , like Ivan IV, the first Caesar of Russia. Establishing and creating a name in Moscow for himself since 2003, Bobina is best known as Russia’s number one DJ. You wonder how did Bobina born as Dmitry Almazov is able to gloat this esteemed title. Well, he was not musically trained nor was his parents in the music business; they actually wanted their son to go into the transport business with them in Moscow. “When I went into my first steps in electronic music my parents were not really happy about that – they guessed how difficult it should be to get a name even just in Russia. But nowadays, they really feel good about my work and hobby at the same time -electronic music.” He certainly did make a name for him and his country.
For starters, Bobina accepted the award for Dance Nation of the Year at the Ibiza Dance Music Awards. This is a huge honor among industry peers and Dmitry was selected to receive this high-status award for his country, Russia, as he is the one that puts Russia on the map. For Dmitry he shares, “Well I was surprised. Every year they choose a country of “Dance Nation” and then chose one person from the country which should come to Ibiza and get the award. Of course, it’s always a big honor to get [an] international award and I was double happy that it was dedicated to my country.” He also climbed those long steep stairs landing on number 16 in the DJ Top 100 this year. As well as being the only Russian to be in the DJ Mag Top 100 in consecutive years of 2006 and 2007. On the stateside here in America, Dmitry is the only Russian DJ to perform at the annual Winter Music Conference in South Beach! That’s a massive unique fact especially if you’ve attended this event and know that this is the monster electronic industry symposium here in the US.
In 2005, Dmitry started his own record label, World Music Club. “I met with a guy Nikolay – that time he had experience to do legal exports of CD’s to Russia and I knew quite a lot about electronic music. So we decided to do World Club Music and license club stuff for our country. Of course we did (and still do) a lot of trance music. I basically do A & R work for World Club Music – choose the music we’ll release.” In January of this year, Bobina released his fifty favorite tracks of 2009 in an hour mix. He is currently on tour for his sister album to the original 2008 release, “Again.” This one though is remixed by trance originator and innovators like, Ferry Corsten and Gareth Emery. It also features Swedish producer, Markus Schossow on his remixed version of “Go Get Vodka.” Dmitry expresses, “The main target is to play in countries where I never been before – of course it’s very interesting for every DJ to explore new things.” He stays true to his country all the way around as he has started to incorporate Russian music in his sets, “Anton Firtich, Ilya Soloviev, Arty, Abstract Vision, Elite Electronic, Proff, and Alexander Popov- They produce really cool material in my opinion.” This doesn’t stop Bobina as he plans to release two singles and an album by early 2011.
Bobina wants to continue his global conquest and on his adventure list are countries, Japan, Australia, Cyprus, and Italy. His visits to America leave him loving the Los Angeles area, whether it’s the “In N Out burger, “which is really exotic for a Russian guy” or day at Universal Studios/Magic Kingdom. So what are this “Russian SuperTsar’s” favorite pastimes these days? His comment, “I think its girls (laughs) and internet at the moment!”
Due to the horrible snowstorm last year, Bobina is scheduled to come back to CLUB GLOW on March 13th, 2010. Dmitry shares his anticipation for this upcoming tour date, “I have never been to Washington DC and am really excited about the city.” I can’t wait to get a follow up from Bobina’s GLOW experience after his debut here. Stay tuned!
Glow is a weekly EDM event in washington DC Clubs, held every Thursday at Lima and Saturday at Fur.
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Q and A with DJ Dan before his show at Glow Thursdays at Lima Nightclub DC!
March 9th, 2010
DJ Dan is back and he has twenty years of watching and being part of an industry that has transmogrified from vinyl and wax to mp3’s, CDs, and computers. He can be referred to the “Frankie Knuckles of the West Coast” as he embeds disco, jazz and funk sounds in his tracks. DJ Dan voyaged up and down the West Coast, Seattle- Los Angeles-San Francisco, taking the spirit from each city he encountered, he seasoned and spiced his flavor into what would be an electro, funky, and disco recipe all promoters were demanding for their clubbing menu.
He not only created sounds, DJ Dan is responsible for forming the 90’s house group, “Funky Tekno Tribe.” Even so, Dan knew what the music heads wanted and brought then undiscovered French act, Daft Punk to America. We all know how well that went for them and for us.
The 80’s and 90’s were the days for DJ Dan, but now he’s back with his first ever artist album, Future Retro! It represents the sound that shaped his career as well as what contoured his sound. So even if you were still in diapers when Dan was paving the house scene, this release will teach you a little lesson in electronic music history. LL Cool J said it best and is a testament of DJ Dan, “Don’t call it a comeback, I’ve been here for years.”
DJ Dan was very polished in his interview with me, that he left me absolutely no choice than to publish this old skool Q & A style!
GLOW: Tell us about your new album, “Future Retro”; the first part is old school tracks that are remastered, and the second part is dedicated to the new sound that you have.
DJDAN: Future Retro is a concept album that I have put together- to not only express my current sound, but to also pay tribute to the artists that have inspired me growing up. On the retro part, I chose tracks that I wanted to re-interpret with a modern day twist. Every single element in these re-creations have been re-done and re-sang from scratch in my studio. It was quite an undertaking to get just the right vocalists and musicians together to pay homage and to compliment these legendary songs. I am thrilled with the end result and truly hope that it touches people in the same way the originals have touched me.
GLOW: Talk to us about your best productions on this new album (pick one from each side).
DJDAN: I would have to say the best one from the retro side is Operator. The original was an early eighties freestyle classic originally done by Midnight Star. I worked on this one with Uberzone because of his vast knowledge of this era and his amazing studio filled with the best vocoders and keyboards I have ever witnessed in a single studio. I had Blake Lewis from American Idol re-sing the vocals and then Uberzone and I did our magic in his studio, using various vocoders and synths to really give it that retro eighties vibe. On the Future side, I am going to say that Chopshop is my personal favorite. It really represents my breaks, electro and techno background and is by far the funkiest one on that side.
GLOW: How has time changed for you in the last 20 years, in DJing/production/music, personal life and your view on these new budding artists?
DJDAN: Obviously technology has changed the game quite a bit and there are some things that are wonderful about it. I used to carry two 45 pound boxes of records with me every weekend and now I carry 3 times that amount of music with me but on CD’s. I miss the vinyl but not the pain of hauling those boxes everywhere. Technology has also helped in the sound quality of the music coming out now, things I used to dream about are now available such as better compression, cutting up samples faster, internal synths, the list is endless. I also think it is great that many new up and coming artists can get their music out there faster via blogs, etc. It definitely has helped getting hype going faster versus the old school method of relying solely on the label. As far as my personal life, I feel much more grounded these days. I have been very blessed in my path and really look forward to all the wonderful things I have coming up this year.
GLOW: If you could pick one artist today that reminds you a little of yourself, who would that be?
DJDAN: Lil Jon or Lil Wayne
GLOW: Do you think the west coast sound has changed dramatically from when you started it?
DJDAN: Every sound has changed from that time. That’s why music is so great; it’s always an extension from the day before. The best example is how funk inspired disco which inspired house which inspired techno……..and so on. The wonderful thing about this music for me has been the fact that I can pull from so many genres and throw them all into one set. That’s what creates the excitement and anticipation on the dance floor; it’s like showing everyone your photo album and telling your story along the way.
GLOW: Tell us about the remixes you have been doing over the past months?
DJDAN: I have been doing some really exciting remix projects over the past 6 months and it has been probably the most studio work I have ever done in such a short time. I have remixed many of my own singles off my album such as Drop Hits, Voodoo Ray and Operator. I have also remixed Loops of Fury, 3 remix singles for Lady Gaga, Janet Jackson, Space Cowboy, Diddy, Trent Cantrelle feat Princess Superstar, Fort Knox 5 Feat. Afrika Bambaataa and just now finished a remix for Black Eyed Peas
GLOW: When’s the last time you played DC? What do you think about GLOW DC and the scene here in comparison to LA?
DJDAN: The last time I played in DC was at Ultrabar on Sept. 17, 2009. GLOW DC is consistently solid! The thing I love about the DC crowd is that there is a real passion for all things funky and there is just always something really raw about the vibe which reminds me of the old school days in San Francisco. The West Coast club scene is still great but is definitely a bit more “table service” oriented than the old days. Don’t worry though; LA and San Fran still have an awesome underground scene as well as the mega clubs.
GLOW: What would you do if you weren’t DJing? I heard you were into design and clothes, is that a rumor?
DJDAN: Yes, that is true. I studied at Seattle Central’s Thomas Edison School of Design. I have always loved creating whether it was in the kitchen, on paper, or anything that has to do with stimulating the senses. Music has always been my true passion and Djing had become my obsession through my college years. I think if I were to do something other than Djing I would continue in design or become a chef.
GLOW: Who’s your favorite fashion designer right now? Electronic device?
DJDAN: My favorite designer right now is Diesel, that has remained the same for years. As far as electronic device, love it or hate it, you can’t beat the Iphone!
GLOW: Where do you see yourself in another five years?
DJDAN: I will still be rocking underground beats and be producing and remixing as much as I am now. I also hope to be getting into doing more music for film and TV.
(Interview by Dee Sanae)
Come see this legendary house producer and pacesetter, as the West Coast meets the East Coast only at CLUB GLOW DC! Glow is a weekly EDM event, held only at the best DC Nightclubs, Lima on Thursdays and Fur on Saturdays!
For more information on DJ DAN please visit: www.djdan.com
Future Retro Tracklisting:
1. Operator ft. Blake Lewis
2. Can You Feel It? (Album Version)
3. Baby Wants to Ride (Album Version)
4. Tribute to Voodoo Ray
5. Your Only Friend (Album Version)
6. Fascinated
7. Let Me Love You For Tonight
8. More Bounce to the Ounce ft. Bigg Robb & Sure 2B (Album Version)
9. Come On & Get It ft. LP
10. Chop Shop (Album Version)
11. Drop Hits (Album Version)
12. N20 (Album Version)
13. Hit the Drummer
14. In Your Area
15. Disco Request
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DJ Rap put on a crazy show at Glow Washington DC!
March 9th, 2010
Club Glow has gone global. DJ Rap brought the wild rumpus straight to the living rooms of 5000 fans as she streamed live during her set at Lima Restaurant & Lounge. Turning her computer to the crowd, back to her and then dancing something fierce, Rap cultivated an air of glitz, glam and red carpet pageantry which was appropriate, as certain celebrities (who shall remain nameless) were in attendance… TMZ eat your heart out!
She was able to predict the future through music, knowing that Friday morning every witness to her exclusive set would be announcing, “last night a DJ saved my life from a broken heart.” Most hearts were broken regardless, as the night couldn’t last forever. Rap brings an energy few of her contemporaries can match. We’ve seen the “Jesus pose,” and DJs jumping around the booth, but it’s not often we see a DJ slam a shot of tequila, swing her hair wildly like a rock star and then run into the crowd at the end of her set because she wants to dance that badly. That is DJ Rap, the definition of a true entertainer, a true DJ of the people. Even the most sharply dressed patrons of Lima were forced to shed their blazers, loosen their ties and dismiss any worries of sweating through their fresh pressed button downs. When the DJ loves the music so much that they’d rather be in the crowd, you know it’s “Good Times.”
The truly special aspect of Thursday night, Rap commented, was her preparation. “I’ve spent the last five months making music for tonight, and for Miami in a month. The majority of music was white label and promo tracks off Impropa.” Many of those songs, she noted, were being played for the first time ever in public, her personal favorite being Campbell’s remix of “Good Times.”
So what does DJ Rap think of DC Clubbing? “It’s really good to be back here… It reminds me of Ibiza… It just keeps going, like Duracell!” And there you have it folks, an artist whose career has withstood the test of time comparing DC Nightlife to Ibiza. That is how sick our scene is. Charissa – you have an open invitation to return whenever you like.
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Markus Schulz headlines at Glow Washington DC 3/6/10!
March 6th, 2010
"I get to see music not just from the eyes of a DJ but from the eyes of a clubber." –Markus Schulz
Everyone wants to be something when they grow up. For a little boy born in a town called Eschwege, Germany, Markus realizes now ,in adulthood, that his life has travelled beyond his imagination. DJ Mag 2009 votes marked him a lofty spot at number 8. Globe-trotting went from a daydream to physical actuality with his career of DJing, starting his record label, Coldharbour, and Schulz’s Global DJ Broadcast. Let’s focus on GDJB for a moment, which inevitably became his conduit to how the rest of the world would embrace music. His layovers in different cities were broadcasted via his internet radio show and shared with anyone who had a computer and a connection to cyberspace. Markus highlights other tracks that are making people dance on his show and gives supports to the future of dance music.
Markus Schulz performing live at GLOW back in September
Projects, releases and a new artist album are on the agenda and will be completed by this summer. Las Vegas is the next metropolitan CD release in the series that is out on Armada Music. His decision to pick this city was based on its renovation of LV nightlife. “Vegas has reinvented itself. It has always had a strong clubbing culture. Back in the day it used to be a rave city, actually a most massive rave scene. But the ones [promoters] that used to come pick me up in raver t-shirts and UFO pants…They have grown up, and now run the clubs. They are responsible for transforming the clubbing scene to an international Mecca. Now DJs come in from all over the world, not just California.” With Vegas already having the entertainment substructure with world-class shows, it makes it easier for it to be a remarkable bash. “It’s nothing new to host big shows like that, with promotions, hospitality… It’s one big party. The party doesn’t end in Vegas when the music and the club closes.” One of Markus’s inspirations came in the form of his single on this mixed CD titled, Sin City. He used his alter ego, Dakota (This came from the street he lived on in Arizona). “When I think of music for Las Vegas, it’s multidimensional. I make it accessible to clubbers and stiletto heels.” For Dakota, there will be a second album release in 2011. So keep your eyes peeled.
Markus Schulz loves playing at DC Clubs
Markus does have something to say about DC as we elaborate on his city travels. “It has a small town vibe, but it’s a world-class clubbing area. Everytime I go there, it feels like a family. I feel honored that the DC scene has embraced me.”
“Dark Heart Waiting” is Markus’s latest single and work with Los Angeles based singer, Khaz. “This song talks about the darkness inside of you, everyone has their dark side and trying not to fall into demons. You try to fight them off and to be quite honest with you, that’s how I feel, is a big part of me too. It’s an everyday battle with people.” Markus admits to me that one of his battles is depression, which is quite a common daily struggle for people in general. When he goes to the club and everyone is really into the music he tells me, “It’s hard for people to think of their problems because you are part of the whole atmosphere and having a good time.” The debut of this single will be out during WMC.
The best DC Nightlife, brought to you by GLOW
The interview quickly turned into one that people rarely get to see when they look at Markus Schulz. He is one filled with inspirations and wants to continue to pass that along to generations to come. With his many ventures he remains true to that by supporting new talents on his label and using it as a springboard for talents like, Rex Mundi, tyDi from Australia, and Lentos (Barnes and Heathcliff). “Rex is very talented and supported by Carl Cox and Armin van Buuren. Tidy won the bedroom DJ contest about 5 or 6 years ago. I am very proud of him. Lentos remixed my Dakota track, “Johnny the Fox” and they have some original stuff out there that’s doing great.” When I asked him about his experience with his global experience, Markus shares his innermost feelings, “I think that I have become a citizen of the world and I feel like I’m at home when I am in those countries. It doesn’t matter if I’m in the Middle East, North America, Europe, or South America. I am a chameleon when it comes to different cultures. I can brand my radio show and expose other people that don’t get to travel and experience the vibe in a club in Asia or Australia ,for example. My goal is to show people that the world isn’t much different in relation to music. I want to inspire the next generation of artists, and hand down my vision, and have them take it to another level. The beauty of dance music and instrumental music is that it is open for interpretation. Markus’s personal influence came from Larry Levan and Danny Tenaglia, handing over a distinctive movement adding their persona to music.
As we close, Markus ponders on a single that he already released, “Do you dream?” “I felt like I didn’t dream anymore. The older you get and the more experiences that you have, I always wondered if people still dreamt? With that song and even now, I feel like if you don’t continue to dream then you don’t come up with new goals; set new standards. Dreaming keeps you alive and you sometimes forget especially when your life has exceeded anything that you can imagine.”
- Dee Sanae
Come check out Markus Schulz on March 6, 2010 at Club GLOW the hottest EDM party in town!
www.clubglow.com
For more information on Markus Schulz
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DJ Rap Tonight (Thu 3/4/10) at Glow Thursdays at Lima!
March 4th, 2010
Print out the flyer to get in Free before 11 to DJ Rap at Glow!
The world’s number 1 female and a right proper DJ regardless. Charissa Saverio, aka DJ Rap has “the whole package” according to Billboard. From spinning, producing and remixing to owning her own label, modeling and doing commercials, Saverio really knows how to work the music business. She should, being that she helped usher in many of the UK’s most popular genres of music, specifically drum and bass and electronica. But don’t get it twisted, Rap is also a fierce progressive DJ. According to her, she’ll be bringing “beats for your feet, vocals for your mind, strings for your heart and bass for your groin,” to Club Glow this Thursday.
Rap muses about how she was exposed to EDM. “When it first started in England it started in pubs…It wasn’t a DJ culture…I remember the first time in a pub…we’d get on the mic, we’d all be drunk and pretending to rap, which is how I got the name Rap, you know, amongst other reasons… The first time I went to a proper rave was in Hackney, on Wallace Road in an obscure dusty warehouse.”
Rap’s most famous work is her album “Learning Curve,” which received rave reviews from Rolling Stone and went multi-platinum. Her most famous track off that album is “Good To Be Alive,” which was remixed by Deep Dish among others.
“I’m just trying to make pieces of work that I’m proud of forever,” says Charissa, “and I hope kind of classic, in the respect that they’ll still be played.” While she considers drum and bass her forte and has recently released tracks with her new DnB band, she also makes it a point to mention her love to showcase house, the genre of EDM that got her into the scene in the first place. Her work has been remixed most recently by Austin Leeds and Starkillers.
Come out to Lima Restaurant & Lounge this Thursday to experience one of the Original Gangstaz of electronic dance music. Glow happens every Thursday at Lima DC Nightclub and every Saturday at Fur Nightclub.
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Mark Knight’s awesome show at Glow!
March 2nd, 2010
The Toolroom Knight himself, Mark Knight was in DC for a romping good time Saturday night at Fur Nightclub. He entered the booth with pep in his step, head bouncing and an ear to ear grin, all which indicated his intent to seriously throw down. Carefully sifting through his arsenal, Mark selected a few CDs and promptly stuffed them in his back pocket as if music, not what’s in your wallet, had become the accepted currency of Club Glow. He was preparing to make it rain.
It’s no wonder that Mark’s famed “Toolroom Knights” parties have risen to such popularity in recent years. He mobilized the room, diagnosing the palpations of the crowd and adjusting accordingly. One might say he put partygoers on a shock cart, cranked up the voltage and blasted them to life.
In recent interviews Knight has done his best to steer clear of questions asking him to define “the Toolroom sound,” as he doesn’t want his label or artists to be pigeonholed into one style. Fair enough, but there’s no denying that on Saturday night, Glow DC bore witness to Mark’s sui generis brand of music. Not your traditional house, a little tribal, somewhat techy, it could be described as underground made for the big room. It was fabulous.
As smoked saturated Fur’s main floor the only thing you could make out were shapes and shadow. Dark, unhinged, sweaty grooves elicited wildly enthusiastic cavorting on the floor all night long. Lights darting to and fro, spotting on Mark and flashing on the crowd allowed the urge to give in to one’s most primal instincts rise from the pits of our stomachs.
According to Knight, “Djing is 80% reading the crowd. I want to push them down one road and pull them down another. I have records I want to play but it’s about getting there in a way that’s palatable to your ears. A DJ could put his head down and do it, but then…” and all he could do was shake his head. Mark Knight, an artist whose goal is to tap into the souls of his audience and will them to truly live achieved just that Saturday night at Club Glow.
So much could be said about the sound, the feel, the vibe, the party, but words will eternally fail to describe the Toolroom experience. It’s truly some of the most intelligent and instinctively satiating house in existence.
Glow is held every Saturday Night at Fur Nightclub and every Thursday at Lima, and is one of the best DC nightclubs, bringing the best in house, trance, progressive, electro and more to the DC clubs scene
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Cedric Gervais brings some SoBe to Glow at Lima Lounge!
March 1st, 2010
Glow Events DC
With the atypical weather DC has been facing, a trip to Miami is just what the Dr. ordered. Since we couldn’t transplant Club Glow onto Ocean Blvd, Cedric Gervais was gracious enough to bring a little bit of that SoBe heat up north.
From the moment he took over, Ced came hard with it, dropping that signature sound of vivacious Miami house, allowing it to reverberate through the intimate backdrop of Lima Restaurant & Lounge. His command over Traktor and the mixer’s FX options was brilliant; looping buildups, tweaking filters and throwing in enough pink noise to really make us feel Miami. He was reminiscent of a panther stalking its prey, poised to strike, pouncing on its unsuspecting victims, in this case, riveted partygoers; among them DC local and one half of Deep Dish, Sharam.
If at any point you were waiting for a lengthy breakdown or euphoric interlude, you waited until the show was over. That’s just not Ced’s style. From start to finish he was tenacious on the 1’s and 2’s. No rest, just bouncing house. It had that endless, ‘the beat lives on,’ ‘throw your hands in the air,’ feel to it. As the effects-savvy Gervais stung our ears, ice cold blasts of smoke shot out from all directions, cooling us down in preparation for the next batch of sweaty house. When all was said and done the dance floor was full of couples getting busy, a true indication that Cedric had brought that sexy Miami warmth to Club Glow and to DC Nightlife.
Highlights of the night included Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream (Steve Angello Remix), Deadmau5 and Chris Lake – I Said (Michael Woods remix?), a sick house edit of “Roxanne,” and fellow Bullitt and Glow DC artist Jooris Voorn’s amazing track “We’re All Clean.” He wrapped things up with a proggy mix of Fatboy Slim’s forever popular “What the Fuck,” and of course, he reminded us with a little help from Sander K, that “This is Not Miami.” Thanks for the update, Ced… See you at WMC!!!
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David Guetta at Glow (with special guest Will.I.Am) was AMAZING!!
February 26th, 2010
“I’m tryin’ to find the words to describe David Guetta at GLOW without being disrespectfuuuuul.” Hysteria, insanity and utter madness just don’t do the evening justice. Aiming his hands at the crowd like guns, Guetta blasted them all night long with reckless bass. Oh yeah… he brought Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas along to help.
David Guetta firing up the crowd!
Tag teaming the turntables, David and Will unleashed the fury, ripping, stripping and shipping an endless supply of four decades worth of party music to the packed dance floor. Coalescing acappellas, drum loops and dirty house beats, they redefined the term ‘mashup.’ They crossed so many genres with house it was almost criminal. Highlights included Afrojack’s “Zeggie” (samples Lil’ Wayne – A Millie) and off the rocker mashes of Kings of Leon – Use Somebody, Pat Benatar – Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Beastie Boys – Girls, Calvin Harris – The Girls, Foreigner – Cold as Ice, MJ – Thriller, and the drum hits from Bell Biv DeVoe’s “Poison.” Every time the actual song was supposed to drop, BAM!!! dirty, filthy house.
David Guetta on the Mic at Glow!
For “I Gotta Feeling” Will removed his headphones, grabbed the mic and performed live before the beguiled Glow DC audience. He brought the house down (no pun intended). When the song was over Dave grabbed the mic and put Will on the hot seat, asking him to honestly answer which was better, The Black Eyed Peas’ performance at the Verizon Center earlier that evening or “the real party” at Fur Nightclub. Will’s response was something to the effect of, “I pledge allegiance to the party people of the world, and to the club, for which they stand, one beat, under the DJ, with liberty and justice for the club.” He then proceeded to let us know that he “got that fiya on the dancefloor.”
The crowd was electrified at Glow!
After another onslaught of past and present party favorites including “D.A.N.C.E.” by Justice, Technotronic’s “Pump up the Jam” and Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” David told the story of how the two stars met at his renowned “F**k Me I’m Famous” Ibiza party. It segued to a very special moment for DC Clubbing. They premiered what David called, “the next ‘I Gotta Feeling’.” There is no online hype about any such track containing the lyrics Will spit or the beat David dropped. It’s that new. The only thing that can be said is that Afrojack is involved and it has Will belting “What the fuuuckkk!!?!?!?!” repeatedly during the bridge. Of course to make it that much more special, Will started rapping about DC during this exclusive premier.
It was insane out there
After Will.I.Am’s guest appearance had ended, Mr. Guetta really started to hammer the crowd. They had been warmed up with familiar sounds and now it was time for him to show DC Nightlife (yet again) why he is revered not only in the mainstream but in the underground as well. Tracks like Larry Tee f/ Roxy Cottontail – Let’s Make Nasty (Afrojack Remix), a reckless acapella drop of Wildchild’s “Renegade Master,” Prezio and Marvin’s “The Riddle,” and Sidney Sampson’s “Riverside,” had the people going bonkers. Guetta was a technical deviant on the turntables; a public menace. His track selections seemed to scream, “Fuck that weak shit!!!” as he took no prisoners. If anyone could rip a club up like that, it was him. Because as the remix states, “I’m David Guetta bitch!!”
Guetta with Will.I.Am at Glow Washington DC
For an encore he spun the original mix of “Love Don’t Let Me Go.” But the crowd refused to leave, lusting for more, so more he gave them. After 2 encores, chants of “sex-y bitch, sex-y bitch, sex-y bitch” resounded through the club. The lights went off, the music came on and David spun the Koen Groenveld remix of “Sexy Bitch.” At that point he couldn’t help it anymore and got down wit his bad self right in the booth, shaking his ass with Cathy.
After all that, how could one even consider “tryin’ to find the words to describe David Guetta at Fur Nightclub without being disrespectfuuuuul?” It’s simple. And you heard it here first…
GUETTAPOCALYPSE dominated Glow!
Ravi Bayanker
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David Guetta at Glow DC on Tuesday, February 23rd.
February 22nd, 2010
.jpg "David Guetta at GLOW DC")
David Guetta at GLOW
The large majority of electronic producer/Djs do in fact need introductions when it comes to the mainstream. Sure, WE all know who Ferry Corsten, Above & Beyond, Hernan Cattaneo and Steve Angello are. Most of us even know guys like Lee Burridge, Richie Hawtin, Nic Fanciulli and Sven Vath. But most of our friends just shrug and take our word for it that these guys are musical beasts.
EVERYONE knows David Guetta. How is it that this French DJ rose from the Paris underground to the top of the billboard charts not only in Europe, but on every top 40 radio station in the US? Since when was house music simultaneously pop music in America? What happened?
Upon closer examination we find that Guetta’s love affair with with rap music bore fruit nearly 2 decades ago with his first official release, “Nation Rap” with Sidney. Keep that in mind.
Throughout the 90’s he performed throughout France spinning “sexy French house” as he loves to say, and building his reputation. Guetta’s producing career came to full bloom in 2001, coinciding with his founding of Gum Records with fellow Frenchman Joachim Garraud. With the release of his first hit single “Just a Little More Love” with Chris Willis, Guetta established what came to be his trademark sound of upbeat, wild, bouncy, sexy french house music.
The foundation had been built and Guetta made his house out of sturdy bricks like “Love Don’t Let Me Go” (2002) and “The World Is Mine” (2004). It was probably circa 2005-2006 that Guetta’s music began popping up in certain college bars across America (if the DJ was on his game). All those sorority girls going wild to that awesome ‘techno’ music was all because of David. But they didn’t care about the artist, they just wanted to pump their fists and dance on the bar.
And then came One Love. David’s 4th album allowed him to come full circle and return to “Nation Rap.” With tracks featuring Kelly Rowland, Kid Cudi, Estelle and Akon, plus his production of the Black Eyed Peas’ hit “I Gotta Feeling,” Guetta had finally done it. It may be a bold assertion, but it seems that David Guetta has brought house music to the US mainstream. And that is not a bad thing, provided artistic integrity is maintained. But with his recent release “Grrr” on Toolroom Reocrds, Guetta has made a firm declaration that he can work with pop stars and continue to produce straight house bangers, and combine the two.
The most inspiring part of Guetta’s success from a fan’s perspective is something he said in a backstage interview after receiving the 2010 Grammy for Best Remix…
Question: “In between working with everyone producing, remixing and recording, are you still going to spin in clubs? Are you still going to try and DJ?”
Guetta: (cutting off interviewer mid question) “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?! I’m a DJ first! I’m a deee jaaayy first, before being a producer, because all my inspiration comes from those on the ground at clubs. Everything comes from that. Me being a DJ.”
We are now starting to see a revolution, a fusion, a growing seed. Planted long ago by artists such as Mr. C when he was with The Shaman and continued throughout the 90’s by groups like Snap! and even today by MC Flipside. But the hip-house of then and what David Guetta is doing now differ in so many ways. Guetta has brought that dirty, gritty aspect of house, coupled it with his off the charts marketability and star power and smashed it together with American superstars. Even Tiesto has jumped in the mix, producing “Feel It” with Three 6 Mafia, Flo-Rida and Sean Kingston.
David Guetta did it!! House music is popular because it deserves to be, not because major record labels and top 40 radio stations tell us so. Only because of David Guetta can someone even mention Ferry, Sven Vath, Flo-Rida and Akon in the same article. Imagine 5 years from now, the number 1 MTV music video might belong to Mat Zo, Axwell, or Sebastian Ingrosso, but none of it would have happened without David Guetta and his sexy french house.
Look for Guetta’s newest releases including “Revolver” with Madonna and Lil Wayne, as well as collaborations with Flo-Rida, Kelis and another one with Kelly Rowland.
Guetta’s shows at GLOW Washington DC always sell out. No DC Nightclub is large enough to fit all of David’s fans. Don’t miss this show; purchase you tickets now at GLOW WASHINGTON DC.
Ravi Bayanker
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Get ready for Mark Knight this Saturday at Glow!
February 22nd, 2010
Mark Night plays at Club Glow, hosted at one of the best DC Nightclubs
International DJ/Producer, Mark Knight is known by his empire label, Toolroom Records. The Toolroom has steadily grown immensely from 2004 and have added artists such as Fedde Le Grand, David Guetta, and Fatboy Slim over the years. Since then Toolroom has become the biggest, fastest selling label on Beatport with the help of dance act, Faithless in 2009. Mark remains a force to be reckoned with, as his abilities supercede the glorified title of “DJ.” He has taken on his calling on the business side as he spearheads Toolroom, taking it from Mainstead, UK and giving it a worldwide recognition in dance music.
Marks latest release, Stopover resulted from locking himself in the studio for 48 hours with Dragon (Dirty South), and out was birthed the February 17th track released on Beatport. Mark lets me know that the story behind the name Toolroom and its success, “I set up Toolroom Records with my brother back in 2004. I often have to pinch myself when I think of how it’s grown from a tool shed outside my parent’s house (hence Toolroom Records)- to where we are now as a business, with the caliber of artists we have signed to the label and the amount of people involved with Toolroom Knights.”
As momentum takes its course in hard work and dedication, so does recognition. Mark Knight received that in the form of his first Grammy nomination for his production work on the Black Eyed Peas album, E.N.D. Mark remains humble when asked about this colossal acknowledgment, “[The] hook up for the track came through David Guetta. We worked across the net and got the track finished. I couldn’t believe it when I found out we’d been nominated for a Grammy. Nothing has changed. But off the back of the Grammy nomination, there’s some more interesting projects in the pipeline.” Mark emphasizes the new projects that will be emerging and will include him, of course, his partner, Wolfgang Gartner, D. Ramirez and Dave Spoon. The kicker happens to be the Mark Knight touch to a remix he is doing for Ginuwine, Timbaland and Missy Elliot!
Outside of that, Mark Knight has a few surprises that you will hear during the Winter Music Conference. All I could get out of Mark is it’s for mega acts, Underworld and Faithless. As he says, “It’s a bit hush, hush”, but I guarantee you will hear those tracks in his sets. The full Toolroom squad will be playing at the Terrace at Space on Friday 26th. “D.Ramirez, me, Dave Spoon, Funkagenda and a very special ‘super styling’ guest” will be there. I am guessing Fedde Le Grand?
A man that wears many hats, Mark doesn’t seem like he sways far from his Gemini dualistic traits. Busy and on the go all the time, this DJ,”loves a good cup of English breakfast tea. Not very rocking roll” (he knows). As many artists like Mark, would like to come to DC more, “I’ve only played DC twice before and both times were really good. [I am] Looking forward to coming back to GLOW, it’s a cool club and the crowd is great.”
-Dee Sanae
Come out and see what this Grammy nominated producer is all about at CLUB GLOW on Saturday, February 27th! Please visit www.clubglow.com. And as always, Panorama Productions hosts events at the best nightclubs in DC!
For more information on Mark Knight visit www.djmarkknight.com | www.toolroomrecords.co.uk www.myspace.com/djmarkknight