First Wedding Gig in Years and Musically Curating Weddings in the Future?

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I have done a few weddings my day. In High School I did a lot of mobile DJing and had quite a few wedding gigs. Over the years of DJ raves I have been asked to DJ a few raver weddings, mainly I would come on for a hour at the end of the reception so that the couple could re-live some rave memories. I haven’t done a reception from beginning to end in at least 25 years.

So last night I DJed at Rob and Melissa Wright’s wedding (CONGRATULATIONS!) and it was a blast for me. I have been nervous in taking this gig because the last thing you want to ever do as a DJ is fuck up someone’s big day. Rob left a lot of room open for me to do what I wanted to do musically. He has a few songs that he wanted of course but for the most part he just let me do what I felt was right. He told me from the beginning that he felt I would choose the right music for the moment. So last night I played classic standards, downtempo and trip hop, 80’s new wave, 90’s rock, chilled house, neo-classical and all kinds of other goodies and I kind of wouldn’t mind to do it again. I of course did a lot of the mic work and announcements but I find that very easy to do.

Best parts of last night are for me:

1. Playing DJ Krush – “Song One” – Young Asian couple asks if I am playing DJ Krush to which I said yes. They said they loved DJ Krush.
2. Playing ABC – “The Look of Love” – Groom exclaims this was his favorite song in highschool.
3. Playing Echo & The Bunnymen – “The Cutter” – Groomsman starts playing air guitar and singing aloud.

End of the night, the Event Coordinator said I did a great job. I told her this isn’t something I normally do, to which she said “Yeah I can tell, the music was good”. Made my night.

So what I am thinking is maybe do a wedding just once a month. No more than that. I don’t want to be a wedding DJ. But, I don’t mind curating a wedding musically. To me, music is essential to life events. It ties memories together. The right song can take you back to an exact moment in time. So what I would want to do is instead of strict playlist or the normal wedding bullshit music, is allow me to craft a soundtrack to your wedding that will be filled with new favorites, classics and some surprises taking the couples taste in music as a starting point. Would be interesting.

While I won’t be actively searching for wedding gigs, if you would like to talk to me about curating your big day please email me.

New Mix - Deep Moments (December 2015)

I was asked to provide a mix by LRCN for the DI.FM 16th Anniversary Progressive Special that was aired over the weekend of December 11th. Since I just got a new DJ Set up (another blog post about that soon), I was wanting to play with it a bit and took this as a opportunity to test out the new system. I don't really play progressive anymore (at least what people say is progressive these days) so I took a more melodic deep house approach. To me these sounds remind me of what progressive trance and house was in the 90's. Deep, melodic, atmospheric, etc. This is a great mix for a Sunday chill session. Check it out!

Tracklisting:

Above & Beyond feat Zoe - “Fly to New York” [Tom Middleton Remix] (Ajunabeats)
Wish & Javier Orduna - “Earth Under Auroras” (Nightclours)
Zaki - "Beautiful Makings” (Mauk Music)
Ulf Bonde - “Blossom For Me” [Justin Jay Remix]
Edu Imbernon - “Fixing Fires” (Fayer)
Noir - “Luminere Brilliante” (NM2)
Mars Bill - “Sweet Delusion” (Intacto)
Andhim & Elderbrook - “How Many Times” [Kant Remix] (Black Butter Records)
P.A.C.O. & Chemical Surf - “Walking Back” [Tube & Berger Edit] (Kittball)
Sascha Braemer - “Monogomy” (Hive Audio)
Boss Axis - “Something Behind”

Live at Revival One Year Anniversary (11/10/15)

It only seems like yesterday when I was asked to DJ for my first time at this new Tuesday night House Club in Alhambra. Alhambra? I am from the area and although I know of some good venues in that part of town, none of them were know for quality House music. My how things have changed in a year. Now, this spot is going off and growing by leaps and bounds. I am super happy to be part of it. For the one year anniversary I DJed along side Eddie Amador and Charles Feelgood. The place was packed...to the point where we couldn't let any more people in. The vibe was just outrageous. It was just so much fun. My next time at Revival is in February of 2016 but you can be guaranteed that this spot is great EVERY Tuesday night with some amazing talent that is tastefully curated by promoter Jose Marin. If you haven't gone, make sure you check it out. It is certainly the place to be in Alhambra.

Tracklisting:

Sascha Braemer - "Monogamy" (Hive Audio)
Damian Lazarus - "Vermillion" [&ME Remix] (Crosstown Rebels)
Jhonsson - "Something" (Funkpony Records)
Fatty M & Matoa feat. Roland Clark - "Dig Deeper" (BEEF Records)
Sidney Charles - "Freak Out" (Materialism)
Disclosure feat. Sam Smith - "Omen" [Claude Von Strong Remix] (Island Records)
Russ Yallop - "Oxana" [Kydus Remix] (Material)
DJ Dozia - "Pop Culture" [Ambivalents Pop Remix] (Ovum)
DJ Roland Clark & Sante Sansone - "House Nation" [Riva Starr Remix] (Saved Records)
Chus & Ceballos - "Been a Long Time" (Stereo Productions)
Timmy P - "Larry Knows" (D-Vine Sounds)
Timmy P - "Something About The Beat" (D-Vine Sounds)
Giom - "DreamDoll" (Supremus Records)
Dudley Strangeways - "I Can't Cope" (Frole Records)
Demarkus Lewis - "Got Me Runnin" (Manyoma Tracks)

Live at Zombies From The Underground - San Diego (10/10/15)

Seriously, San Diego has it going on. I have been to some great events there the past couple of years and it just keeps growing. There are some new players and promoters along with some of the SD veterans that are making some amazing progress in the scene down there. Rock The Discotek is one of the guys down in San Diego that is making some great things happen.

Zombies From The Underground was the 4th time, I think, that I played for him and when I walked into that warehouse, well a feeling of nostalgia washed over me. It was awesome. The crowd, the vibe, the sound. All of it. It just came together and created this perfect example of what proper modern day raving is to me. Loved it.

This is my set from that night. I played mainly some hard techno with a little classic thrown in for fun!

Here is the set list:

Harvey McKay - "Wrong Turn" (Intec)
Underground - "So Get Up" [Pagano Remix] (Tribal)
Julian Jeweil - "And We" (Minus)
Danny Tenaglia - "Dibiza" [Wehbba Remix] (Stereo Productions)
Julian Jeweil - "Wax" (Minus)
Martin Lacroix - "Octopus Tangus" (Phobiq)
Nonfiction - "All You Got" [Joeski's Tech Work Mix] (System Recordings)
Matt Sassari - "Story Door" (Snatch! Records)
Joey Beltran - "Energy Flash" (R&S)
Oliver Koletzki - "Iyewaye" [Loco & Jam Remix] (Stil Vor Talent]
Jel Ford - "Overcast" (Drumcode)
Pig & Dan - "Lizard King" [Julian Jeweil Remix] (Elevate)
Adrian Hour - "Babom" (Suara)
Stefano Noferini & Bulaklak - "Turn Off" (Deeperfect Records)
Harry Romero - "Watcha Gonna Do" (Toolroom Trax)
NY's Finest - "Do You Feel Me" [Dosem Remix] (Toolroom)
Da Fresh - "Red Eyes" [Alberto Ruiz Remix] (Natura Viva)
Saccao - "Vai Vai" (Caballero Recordings)
Kill Frenzy - "Answering Machine" (W&O Street Tracks)

Live at Revival (09/22/15)

I opened for the one and only Colette this night. I always love DJing with her. Her style and grace is amazing. She just knows how to throw shit down and get a crowd going. Always a pleasure to open for her.  Check it out and download this mix!!