The Gough Street Sessions

DJ Nutmeg on the Mix

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:00:37 -0700

I was first introduced to Denver’s Kenton Schawe (a.k.a. DJ Nutmeg) amid the madness of what turned out to be my favorite party at Burning Man last year. It was Monday night at the Rock Bottom sound camp and a small group of us decided to hold a ‘soft opening’ of the camp for the early arrivals. Within an hour the old army tent that housed the Rock Bottom sound system was completely packed and a party that would last well into the following morning was underway. I was approached by Kenton a couple of hours into our soiree who asked if he could join me on the decks for a few tracks. What ensued was a three-hour tag team effort between the two of us that was far-and-away the most enjoyable set I played all week long.

A seasoned jock with fifteen years of experience behind the decks, Kenton has shared the bill with some of the world’s finest DJs (John Digweed, Paul Oakenfold, DJ Dan, Bassment Jax and Mark Farina just to name a few) and has twice been named Denver’s “Best Club DJ” by Westword.com. And as one half of the production duo known as Dog Fight (along with fellow DJ-producer Eric James), Kenton has also made a name for himself as a successful producer.

This week on the podcast DJ Nutmeg treats us to a bangin’ techno set recorded live from an underground party in Denver back on June 26th. Enjoy Boys and Girls!

There are two ways you can get this mix:

- By subscribing to The Gough Street Sessions Podcast in iTunes

- Directly from SoundCloud (best for those who don’t use iTunes)

Track List
1. I Know - Kaiserdico Remix
2. Delivery - Broombeck
3. Purple Pills - D-Unity
4. You Know Whats Up - Rudi Stakker Remix
5. I Feel Like Dancing - Richard Dinsdale
6. Take Over - Glitter
7. Can You Relate - Joris Voorn Remix
8. 2012 - Gabriel Rocha
9. Cameleon - Citizen Kane
10. Nevada - Marco Baily
11. Gecko - Mr Blink
12. 333 - Fm Radio Gods
13. Hausgeist - James Harcourt
14. Say What - Gary Beck
15. Nasty Secrets - Rene Walther
16. Supagroove - Dino Lenny, Meck

For more information on DJ Nutmeg check out his SoundCloud and Facebook Fan pages.

A Love Supreme (2009)

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 06:21:21 -0700

This is a deep house mix I featured on the podcast last summer that I’ve had several requests to repost. I’ve found this soothing mix to be particularly useful when I’m faced with a challenging week (as I was recently). I hope you can get some use out of it too. Enjoy!

(Thanks to my mom, Lucia, for the Gough Street vox promo! It cracks me up every time I hear it. Love you, Mom!)

There are two ways you can get this mix:

- By subscribing to The Gough Street Sessions Podcast in iTunes

- Directly from SoundCloud (best for those who don’t use iTunes)

Track List
1. "Cascades Of Colour" (D. Tenaglia) - Ananda Project
2. "Flute Olenza" - Francesco Bonora
3. "Happiness Is Free" - Onda
4. "Shaded" (Compuphonic & Kolombo) - Cari Lekebusch
5. "Lost In Memory" (Aki Bergen) - Doomwork
6. "Hard Drama" - Eloi Brunelle
7. "I Love This Feelin'" - Cosmic Belt
8. "Nightly Expectations" - Mankz
9. "96 Degrees" - Macaluso
10. "Foot and Mouth" - Inland Nights
11. "The Rhythm Track" (Jimpster) - Milton Jackson
12. "Gush" (Blagger) - Trentemoller
13. "Mystic Smile" (Robert Babicz) - Pr.morriarti

DJ Zach Moore Live from Ruby Skye (6-18-10)

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 07:08:07 -0700

Last Friday was a pretty special occasion for me playing Ruby Skye for the first time because it was one of the very first clubs I frequented after I was introduced to electronic music ten years ago. And it was also the last of the major venues in San Francisco I had not yet played since I started DJing seven years ago.

For those of you that aren’t from around these parts and don’t know the venue, the building that houses Ruby Skye is a historical landmark, a turn-of-the-century Victorian playhouse built in 1890 with over 15,000 square feet to get your groove on. It’s also home to the best sound system in San Francisco and a state-of-the-art light show. Since I carved out my niche as a DJ in the Burning Man community several years ago, I don’t spend much time at Ruby Skye anymore. The club is located near Union Square which is off the beaten path from SOMA (South of Market Area) where most Burning Man events take place, and the promoters at Ruby don’t typically feature DJs who play my style of techfunk and breaks. But there isn’t a more beautiful space in this town for experiencing great DJs and if you’re ever passing through San Francisco I’d recommend adding Ruby Skye to your list of things to do while you’re here!

Many of my early memories of Ruby Skye were of the great progressive house DJs (Sasha and John Digweed for example) that often played there. And I admit I was feeling a little nostalgic last Friday which is why I decided to begin my two-hour opening set with an hour of progressive house (a style I rarely play these days). The second hour I played more of my normal fare (tech funk and breaks) to set up the headliner, DJ Icey.

I was pretty pleased with how the recording came out and I hope you will be too. Enjoy Everyone!

There are two ways you can get this Mix:

- By subscribing to The Gough Street Sessions Podcast in iTunes

- Directly from SoundCloud (best for those who don’t use iTunes)

Track List
1. Colache (Third Mix) - Luis Junior
2. Astor (Glimpse Remix) - Robert Babicz
3. Jardin Nights - King Roc, Dimitri Nakov
4. Swell - Ozgur Can, Patch Park
5. Life In Technicolor (J T V Dub Mix) - Joe T Vannelli
6. Sunrise - Technasia, Renato Cohen, Erik Escobar
7. Breaking Love (Zoutman 'I Like Vocals' Remix) - Larrikin
8. Hollow (Robert Babicz Saturn Rings Remix) - Pole Folder
9. Splattery Mass (Francesco Pico Remix) - Devoice
10. Dogtown (D-Nox & Beckers Remix) - Infusion
11. Hoo Cha Cha - John Acquaviva, Olivier Giacomotto
12. Devi8or (Original Mix) - D.Ramirez
13. Divine (Santiago & Bushido Remix) - Dino G, Lex Da Funk
14. Divine Act (Elite Force Mix) - Meat Katie, Roland Clark, Wolfgang Gartner, CLASSIXX
15. Heartbreaker feat. John Legend (Wolfgang Gartner Remix) - MSTRKRFT
16. Travellin' (Elite Force Remix) [2008 re-mash] - Black Twang
17. Bangkok (Krafty Kuts Re-Rub) - Boris Delugosh
18. Simmer (Zero B remix) - Myagi & The Root Sellers feat Norma Mcguire
19. Gyromancer (Stanton Warriors Remix) - PMT
20. Move Ya Body (Original Mix) - Slyde
21. Dip & Get Low - Stanton Warriors
1. Dude Descending A Staircase (Stanton Warriors remix) - Apollo 440

Special thanks to:
Spundae
Syd Gris
Ruby Skye

J Dub Ya [Pink Mammoth] on the Mix

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 07:08:46 -0700

This week’s guest DJ, J Dub Ya (a.k.a Jonathan Will), is one of the cornerstones of the crew that, in my humble opinion, currently owns the title “best day party on the playa”. Of course I’m talking about Pink Mammoth and if you’re planning to be at Burning Man this year, make sure you stop by the Pink Mammoth camp for some soulful, sexy house on a perfectly EQ’d sound system (and you won’t have to look too hard to find some very nice eye candy while you’re there either!).

(And if you happen to be in San Francisco on June 19th, stop by Mighty where I’ll be playing alongside Jonathan and the rest of the Pink Mammoth crew to help raise funds for their return to Black Rock City this year.)

In addition to this fantastic mix of signature Pink Mammoth house grooves, Jonathan was also gracious enough to do this detailed and thoughtful Q&A for us on his musical background and his experiences with the Pink Mammoth clan. Enjoy Boys and Girls!

There are two ways you can get J Dub Ya’s Mix:

- By subscribing to The Gough Street Sessions Podcast in iTunes

- Directly from SoundCloud (best for those who don’t use iTunes)

Track List
1. Tides (C's Movement #1) - Beanfield feat. Bajka
2. First Day (Original Mix) - Kollektiv Turmstrasse
3. Clap Your Hands (Original Mix) - Karol XVII & MB Valence
4. Motown Calling - Shades of Grey
5. While he Sleeps - Adultknapper
6. Chicago Groove - Tapesh
7. One Night In Tokyo (Mathias Mesteno Remix) - Shur-I-Kan w/ Erakya Badu Live tool
8. Nesrib - SIS
9. Message From Chi-Town (Mic Newman Remix) - Jet Project
10. Aphrika (Original Mix) - Seth Troxler
11. Roses (Bangana Remix) - Clarisse Muvemba
12. Summertime feat. Ost & Kjex (Extended Vocal Mix) - Jamie Jones
13. Funkin A (Aki Bergen Remix) - Jalabee Cartel
1. Beautiful Otherness (Tom Middleton Remix) - Bent

ZM: Jonathan, where are you from originally and how long have you called San Francisco home?

JW: I was born in San Diego and moved to the Bay area until I was 7. I then followed my mother to Minneapolis . . . the home of Prince . . . where I spent the majority of my youth. I also traveled to Japan and Amsterdam living there for a year a piece. But I had to get my little *ss back to the US before my counselors could find reason to kick me out of college. I’ve been in San Francisco for the last 4 ½ years and found it to be one of the only cities I’ve lived that has been able to cure, or at least quell, my wanderlust. This beautiful city and I have a lot of love and I’m grateful to call San Francisco home.

ZM: Tell us about your musical background. How long have you been DJing? Who/what inspired you to try your hand at it and can you tell us how you got your first big break? Finally, how has your style changed since your first started?

JW: While I’ve been DJing for about 8 years, I first started as a rhythm guitarist in a punk rock band called Keyser Soze, released a CD on my own, now defunct, imprint Mind-rifle records, and played many underground shows at a time when the hardcore and punk rock scene was going wild. I loved the raw attitude, freedom, idealism, and intimacy while still being driven by community, the underground culture fostered. That underground appeal has stayed with me throughout my music career as I continue to strive toward taking risks and defying categories. I did, however, lose my appeal for my natty dreads, nose ring, and, thankfully, for my exquisite taste for malt liquor! LOL!

In 1999, I broke up with my band and moved to Japan. Fortunately, in Japan, I was exposed to Jazz (Miles Davis, Eric Trufaz), Dub (Burning Spear, Israel Vibrations) as well as Funk/House (Jameriqui, Delight, Parliament) and so much more. I really wanted to explore and experiment with these other inspiring musical styles. I also really liked the autonomy and creative freedom of Djing, which allowed me to play all kinds of music that interested me in new, fun, and genre-bending ways. So that, I suppose, is how I was reborn as a DJ.

I’ve had many fortunate breaks, my first big one being very early on, when a promoter asked me to play his night at the Speakeasy after hearing me DJ at a house party. I said, of course, thinking I’d have time to prepare when he said, “Great! See you tomorrow night!” I was brand new at this, new decks, all over the place with music, and I could barely even set up the system then. So I jumped in . . . and that is when the (sink or) swimming lessons began!

At the time, I was a much better promoter than I was a DJ. I started promoting nights at the Kitty Cat Club, The Loring, and later, the Varsity. I was fortunate enough to play with some very talented DJs, each one of them giving me advice on how to grow and become better. At that time, I approached DJing like a rock show, bringing in guitar players, percussionists, vocalists, whatever I could think of to make the experience more live. This started getting people dancing at my gigs and I became more and more interested in keeping them dancing! That’s when I found house . . .or maybe that’s when house found me.

Then I moved to San Francisco, found Burning man, and got “jumped” into Pink Mammoth . . . each new door opening another. Now, I use mostly house/tech house as my forum, while weaving in all the genres that inspire me (jazz, dub, funk, latin/afro, electro etc). It’s like a sonnet, where you have your forum, but you can express almost anything within that forum. I like to have a well-balanced set. I believe the set doesn’t just start with me, but builds upon the DJ before and continues with the DJ after. I like to bring in a soulful element to the dubby after-hour sets and sometimes in the evening (or day) sets when the need for a little more grit or dirtiness calls. I aspire to add something different and unique to each party or venue ….hope to bend some boundaries…and, if all goes well, MOVE people through my music.

These days, people like Lee Burridge inspire me; I’ve been lucky to play with him on big sound systems to ones much more precarious LOL. Not only does he rock no matter what the circumstance, but also he has fun doing so, making everybody feel like he’s your friend, playing for you. I’ve enjoyed the live energy/show of the Martinez brothers or Spirit Catcher, the subtle effect workings of Jimpster, and the patience and risky mixing style of Soul Clap. What has been inspiring me the most is great producers and the application of great production.

I’ve been in the studio more and more, doing some originals, re-edits and remixes and the more I produce, the more I appreciate what modern day producers are adding to their tracks. Lately, I’ve been into some really deep, dirty, jazzy tech house with a smooth edge, which I’ve got a lot of in this mix. I still like to incorporate some soulful vocal hooks but keeping it a bit raw, unpolished and effected. To me, this sound is very sexy and it works at many different times of the night.

ZM: Do you have any words of wisdom you'd care to impart to all the burgeoning DJs out there just getting their start?

JW: Play a lot. Practice. Make mixes, listen to them, notice what you like and don't and re-make. Go to shows of DJs that you really like, and look at what they do behind the decks. Listen to their mixes. Collaborate with people. Have a good work ethic, stand behind your shows, promote them; give value. Don't worry about what everybody else is doing… find what is unique about you and your style and go with it. Surround yourself with good people.

ZM: Tell us how you got involved with Pink Mammoth. What has it meant to you to be a DJ with that crew? What will you remember most about your experiences with them?

JW: I was playing at an underground warehouse party in SOMA before one of the PM DJs who really dug my set. I was asked to play their annual holiday party. I did. And after that, I think I played every PM party since then- except one when I was out of town.

Being a part of PM, as a resident DJ, and working behind the scenes has been rewarding on so many levels. It has also taken a ton of work in organizing; brand strategy, promotions, fundraising, throwing big parties and helping coordinate our camp at Burning Man, Lovefest etc. We really stand by everything we do, so we put a lot of work into it.

We also have to continually evolve as a collective, and all of our DJs as individuals, as well. We each have unique styles. We push and inspire each other. Sometimes we drive each other mad, of course, but we have a lot of love for what we do and for each other.

I’ve had so many pleasant memories with Pink Mammoth. We’ve recently played a 15 hour marathon party in Miami at Winter Music Conference with DJ T and have been thrilled to play with such amazing talent as Lee Burridge, Spirit Catcher, Jimpster, Martinez Brothers, Marques Wyatt and many other great DJs and friends. I think that’s the power of a great group of talented people coming together in their love and commitment to great music.

ZM: I've always felt that what makes the dance community we're cultivating in San Francisco so unique is the massive influence Burning Man has had over it the last ten years. Burning Man-based collectives like Pink Mammoth, The Space Cowboys and Opulent Temple throw events year round that have their own brand of music, dancing, costumes/dress, art and even an ideology that are all heavily influenced by the Burning Man experience. What in your opinion makes the scene in San Francisco so unique?

JW: Yes there is definitely a connection to Burning Man and San Francisco beyond the fact that it originated at Baker Beach here. I think it boils down to creativity and idealism, and people that want to really live their fantasy, and make it happen.

San Francisco embraces a joie-de-vivre-love-life attitude and an ethos that can be summarized like this: "Come as you are, as freaky as you are." There is a festival here every week. I remember driving home from work and at a red light, I looked to the car next to me and there was bearded man in a pink tutu outfit. And I thought it was strange . . . not that a grown bearded man was in a tutu . . . but that I wasn’t the least bit shocked and just smiled Just a typical Sunday in SF. You don't get that level of expression outside big festivals in most places.

There is an incredible amount of creativity and talent in this area. Just the DJ talent alone, is mind boggling. Even top International DJs have to really work it and "prove" themselves here. It’s like the Apollo of DJing ... you just can't be lazy.

I think this about sums it up. The Chronicle did an article for the centennial anniversary of the 1906 earthquake, and then asked the question, “If it is inevitable that another HUGE earthquake is coming, why do so many people live here?” Someone replied that the fear of living a boring life was far more devastating than not living a full life in fear of an earthquake! So I hope my music inspires people to do just that…take the risk worth taking.......

Spesh [Loöq Records] on the Mix

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 19:30:53 -0700

Few, if any, have made a greater impact on the SF electronic music scene than this week’s guest, Spesh (a.k.a. Stephen Kay). He is the man behind the longest running electronic music event in San Francisco history, the Qoöl Happy Hour at 111 Minna Gallery (1995-2010). He is one half of the celebrated production duo known as Jondi & Spesh (coined “the dons of progressive house” by MixMag). He is the co-founder of one of the most respected labels in the business, Loöq Records. And as a DJ he has been moving dance floors with his signature progressive sound for nearly twenty years.

Last month I had the privilege of sharing the bill with Spesh at Shine Dance Lounge for the ‘Shackled’ monthly and he was kind enough to let me record his set and archive it here for your listening enjoyment. You can get the recording (a gorgeous, 60-minute progressive house mix) via the The Gough Street Sessions Podcast in iTunes or directly from SoundCloud if you’re not an iTunes user.

Track List
1. DJ Yellow - Dancing With The Stars - Simon Garcia Remix - [Composite]
2. Oliver Moldan - Noctun - Original MIx - [Jetlag]
3. Gary Beck - Elisse - Original Mix - [Bek Audio]
4. Quivver - Yeah Yeah - Original Mix - [Bedrock]
5. Solee - Dubtale - Original Mix - [Renaissance]
6. Devoice - Splatterty Mass - Francesco Pico Remix - [Kompressor]
7. Joe T. Vannelli - LIfe In Technicolor - [Drum Beat]
8. Nick Storynoff - Kings Of Dirty Gold - [Nightshade]
9. Maher Daniel - 24 Hours To Go - Spesh RE-Edit - [Proton Ltd.]
10. Jesus Gonsev - Superclass - [Tenor Recordings]
1. Beat Factory - Baroque - [Baroque]

But before you fire up that iTunes player!!!!......make sure you take a few minutes to read this thoughtful and insightful Q&A I had with Spesh earlier this week. If you have any appreciation for electronic music and the DJ art form do yourself a favor and read this interview.......

ZM: Spesh, as one of the great pioneers of the progressive sound in San Francisco what are your thoughts on the state of the genre today. It seems as though techno and tech house are dominating the charts these days and many of the great progressive artists are focusing on those and other styles. Is that a fair assessment in your view?

Spesh: Sure, that's a fair assessment. What I loved about progressive circa the 1990s and early 2000s was the fact that it was such a versatile sound that it could contain within it elements as diverse and seemingly disparate as techno, breaks, trance, and even what we think of these days as minimal. Is some of the techno and tech house you hear these days actually an evolution of progressive house, or did these progressive artists jump genres? I think what we are seeing with progressive now is just the natural evolution of a genre. These evolutions are often interesting to watch as the genres borrow from each other according to whatever sound happens to be popular at the moment. At the other end you may get a progressive track with the stripped melodics and short phrases of a techno track, or conversely a track that declares itself to be techno, but which borrows some of those deep yet epic bits from progressive. I think what drives the evolution in general is the need of the artists themselves to evolve, and to define their own sound, constantly evolving the sound of the day. Artist. Sound. Genre. Which one defines the others?
 ZM: What are your thoughts on the technology (the CDJ, Ableton, Traktor, etc.) that is being used in DJ booths these days?

Spesh: I love it. If it works for you, use it!
 ZM: In a recent interview, Justin Rushmore of Fingerlickin' Records (which will soon be closing up shop after 12 years) said the MP3 has resigned many artists to giving away music for free, which raises their profile so they can get more gigs, and that is how the modern day producer profits from his/her music.
Your label, Loöq Records, which you started with your production partner, Jondi, is also going on its twelfth year. In your view, how has the advent of the MP3 changed the way you run a label?

Spesh: The devaluation of music (and movies and other entertainment content) in general is a big factor in the business now. For dance music in particular, this is compounded by the proliferation of new artists and labels that the switch to digital has enabled. Before digital distribution was firmly in place, when it came to releasing a dance track, there used to be a cost and logistics barrier in place. How good is your track? Did you want to invest the cash to master press and ship vinyl records? These were big questions because the time and money that needed to be invested in order to put a track out was far greater than it is now. Today the product never leaves digital form, and the cost of getting a digital release out there is so much lower. Without those barriers in place, we are seeing more dance labels and more dance music than ever. What this means for Loöq Records is we have to work a little harder to continue to be heard above the din. But with new challenges comes new opportunities. We've never slowed down, and the releases we have the privilege of putting out just seem to keep getting better. The scope of sounds we are putting out is also growing to encompass much more than the dance sound. It's an exciting business. I guess that's why we keep at it!

ZM: Earlier this year you and your partners at Qoöl decided that, after 15 years, it was time to end your weekly Wednesday happy hour at 111 Minna Gallery. That had to be one of the longest running electronic music events in all of North America. What an institution that party was! We're all going to miss it. Can you talk about what that event meant to you? What was it like watching it grow over the years? What will you remember most about that party? Finally, what new ventures can we expect from Qoöl in the future?

Spesh: First, let me say that Qoöl lives on in the form of new events happening around the city, so do continue to keep tabs on us (qoolsf.com).

But as for that special happy hour that started it all, that great 15 years of weekly Wednesdays at the 111 Minna Gallery, all those moments over the years, what did *that* mean to me? More than I can express.

The event was my conception and I never thought it would go as well and last as long as it did. It became greater than Jondi and I, and almost too much to fathom. But in that environment, so much flourished! Hundreds of DJs got a chance to spin, Thousands of clubbers had a weekly party that they truly owned, and big name DJs popped in just for the experience of playing to that special crowd. Who can forget the floorboards bouncing like they would break when the whole room went nuts to a special track, the complete characters who showed up every week to rub elbows with regular downtown working folks, young and old alike packing the dance floor, the lines around the block in the dot com heyday, Qoöl Qards, forged Qoöl Qards, and Qoöl Qards for sale on Ebay and Craig's List, Peter the crazy Dutchman on the door, records skipping as the crowd overtook the DJ's stage, and staying for the last song as the lights went up then leaving to go home (or to an afterparty!) at 10pm?

Of course that is just the top line. The important part is that so many people have their own special memories of the nights. This is one of my favorites, shared with me shortly after we announced we were shutting the Wednesday event, "Even in times of need Qoöl was there, we were a depressed lot that 9/11 Wednesday but true to form, Jondi and Spesh kept it open for those who needed to take comfort in something familiar in times of upheaval." (you can read more memories like this on the Qoöl Happy Hour Facebook page or here). And most special of all I think are all the lifelong bonds of friendship and even marriage that resulted from the night. This I think is what makes me most proud of all....

ZM: Finally are there any words of wisdom you’d care to impart to all the DJs out there just getting their start?

Spesh: I'll leave the advice about getting gigs etc. to someone else. As for your approach to the music, once you learn the mixing basics, think beyond the tracks. Think SET all the time. By that I mean always try to mix your sets so people forget about the individual tracks, and instead attach themselves to the ride. Take them up, or down, or sideways, but always be taking them somewhere. Take them slowly or quickly, imperceptibly, or overtly, depending on your style and the temperature of the dance floor. Of course the tracks that you play matter (the old Jamaican term for a DJ was in fact "selector"), but your approach to putting the tracks together will be the key to defining your own sound.

Oh, and get fitted for musician's ear plugs right away and learn to DJ with those in your ears. You'll still be able to hear all the sonic detail when you're out banging it in the clubs, and you'll be saving your ears for use down the road....

A warm and hearty thank you to Spesh from all of us here on Gough Street!

Podcast photo courtesy of John Kane (art direction by Xian).

J*Labs on the Mix!

Fri, 4 Jun 2010 07:38:02 -0700

It’s always fun for me to dedicate some time on the podcast to an up-and-comer who has recently made a successful transition from the bedroom to gigging on a regular basis. This time around that DJ is J*Labs (a.k.a. Jackie Peters), a Connecticut native who only just started spinning in February and is already making her mark on the dance scene in her current home base of Los Angeles (wow!).

A fellow breaks junky with an voracious appetite for new music, J*Lab takes advantage of the countless hours she spends in front of her computer scouring the web for beats that make the room bounce. She plays most flavors of breakbeat including, but not limited to, booty and funky with a sprinkling of electro house and dubstep.

This week J*Labs has passed along a fresh nufunk/mash-up style mix for our aural pleasure which I think you’ll find all the more impressive when you consider that she’s only been mixing for a few short months.

Finally, if you live in L.A. or you happen to be down that way on June 18th, you can catch J*Labs doing her thing live at the Chicks with Decks party at Area 33.

There are two ways you can get J*Labs Mix:

- By subscribing to The Gough Street Sessions Podcast in iTunes

- Directly from SoundCloud (best for those who don’t use iTunes)

Track List
1. My Girl (Phaze 5 Re-Rub) - Temptations feat. Amaze
2. Damn! - Featurecast
3. Beat Don't Stop - A.Skillz vs. Beatvandals
4. Its Your Thang (J-Roc Big Beatin Beastie Edit) - Beastie Boys vs. Isley Brothers
5. Gypsy Breaks (Breakbeat Junkies vs. DJP Remix) - Basement Freaks
6. Boom ChakaLaka - Hayz
7. Just Let It Go (The Fort Knox Five Mix) - Nick Thayer feat. NFA
8. Blessed - Orelha Negra
9. Feelin' Kinda Insane - A.Skillz Vs. Beatvandals
10. What Make Ya' Dance (Kraak & Smaak's Dutch Oven Remix) - Basement Freaks
11. Drop A monkey On It - JRoc (Sould Out DJ's)
12. Papa Was Stoned (Fuzzbox Remix) - Fort Knox Five
13. Shab Ruffcut Remix (Oliver $ Edit) - Daniel Haaksman
14. The Spirit of '75 - Fort Knox Five
15. Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - Funkonomics

J*Labs wishes to thank her friends and fellow DJs Rick Arigo, C-Brads & E-Jag for their support as well as Curious Josh for the photo.

Aaron Pope's Summer Session

Fri, 28 May 2010 06:51:25 -0700

For dance music junkies like me there is no better way to usher in another San Francisco summer than with a fresh mix from this week’s guest DJ/producer, Aaron Pope. Over the years Aaron has been a source of seemingly countless summer soundtracks and those of us that head out to the Black Rock Desert for Burning Man every year have been especially appreciative of that fact. His mixes are always a part of the CD rotation for the six-hour drive in the hot August sun from San Francisco to Gerlach. So you can imagine how excited I am to pass along “Summer Session”, an exclusive electro house & breakbeat mix that Aaron recorded for The Gough Street Sessions podcast this week.

I first met Aaron in 2004 when he was with The Deep End. He was one of the first DJs I got to know in that crew and someone I will always credit for helping me get my start in the deep pool of DJ talent that is San Francisco (Aaron was the first to book me at my all-time favorite venue and home-away-from-home, Shine Dance Lounge, a.k.a. “Cheers for Burners and DJs”). Aaron’s Burning Man days are behind him now, but he’s still making his mark on the SF dance scene as both a DJ and, more recently, a producer. I had the good fortune to get Aaron’s insights on both facets in the Q&A session you’ll find below. Enjoy...

Aaron Pope – Summer Session
“Since summer is here I wanted this to be a mix full of warm and sultry tracks. Some of the songs are pretty bangin’, but they all remind me of outdoor parties on warm nights (we don’t get enough of those here in SF). Hope you enjoy.” - Aaron

There are two ways you can get Aaron’s Summer Session Mix:

- By subscribing to The Gough Street Sessions Podcast in iTunes

- Directly from SoundCloud (best for those who don’t use iTunes)

Track List
1. The Young Punx – Ready for the Fight (Black Noise Destroy the Disco Edit)
2. Foamo – Jookie
3. Fatboy Slim – Weapon of Choice (Lazy Rich Remix)
4. Uce – faces
5. We Have Band – Divisive (Tom Staar Remix)
6. Plaza de Funk – Get Crazy
7. Aaron Pope – All About This
8. Snoop Dogg Ft. Kid CuDi – That Tree (Clockwork Remix)
9. Tensnake – Coma Cat
10. Black Eyed Peas – Rock That Body (Chad North vs. Ming Remix)
11. Calvin Harris – Flashback (DJ Kue Remix)
12. Rosko – Love2Nite
13. Crookers – Put Your Hands on Me (Solo Remix)
14. Myles Dyson – Anthem
15. Libex – Liftered
16. Sekta – Peterpan (Julio Bashmore Remix)
1. Nneka – Heartbeat (Chase & Status Remix)

Catching up with Aaron Pope:

ZM: Aaron, where are you from originally and how long have you lived in San Francisco ?
 AP: I grew up in Berkeley, and went to college in Santa Barbara, so I definitely consider myself a California native. I moved down from San Francisco from Lake Tahoe 10 years ago. 
ZM: Tell us how you got your start as a DJ? Who or What inspired you to take that leap? And how did you get your first big break?
 AP: I started getting really into dance music when I lived in Tahoe, especially because there were some SF house DJs who used to come up and spin at the Red Dog. Some friends of mine up there bought some turntables, but it took me over a year before I was brave enough to touch the equipment. Once I did, I was hooked. When I moved down to San Francisco I bought some cheap tables and started practicing and buying records.

My first breaks were from friends giving me gigs at their house parties, and some fundraisers at small venues. Mixed Elements was really the first big promoter to give me a shot and I ended up playing for them for several years. I owe those guys a lot. Things just progressed from there with the Deep End, breaks crews, other residencies, etc. My career has taken a lot of twists and turns, for the better, and I’ve been really stoked to be able to experience so many different facets of dance music.   ZM: I've always considered you to be one of the more versatile DJs in San Francisco . There doesn't seem to be a genre you can't play. Was that your goal from the very beginning or is versatility something you acquired in your later years as a DJ? 
AP: When I first started spinning, all I wanted to listen to and play was house music. That was it. I never listened to the radio and I never played any other kind of music. Everybody thought I was super obsessive, but that’s what I felt I needed to do to become a great house DJ.

But then after a while I got antsy and started re-listening to the 80’s hip-hop music of my youth, from the era when hip hop was just developing and it was really jazzy and funky, and I started to get really into a wide range of rhythms and speeds. I’ve developed a big love of what I call ‘Funk n’ Chill’ music, a mix of all types of mid-tempo, and I really appreciate those gigs where I can create that type of vibe.

These days I strive to continue playing a wide range of modern dance music in a manner that makes sense to both myself, and the people dancing.    ZM: You're one of the resident DJs at The California Academy of Sciences for its weekly "Nightlife", which has grown into an absolutely huge party drawing thousands of people every single Thursday.
Tell us how you got involved with that event. 
AP: The Academy is where my day job is, although I had spun at several of their Third Thursday parties before I actually began working for them. The Nightlife parties have been a huge hit and my experience is that it’s because everybody has a really good time at a unique place, dancing drinking and learning. I love my gigs at the Academy because they are 4-hour events and I can start really slow and funky and just keep building until a dance floor develops. Kind of a dream gig with the incredible backdrop of a aquarium, planetarium and rain forest.    ZM: It seems your focus over the last couple of years has shifted from live DJing to production. Is that fair to say? What influenced that decision? 
AP: It’s not really so much a decision, because actually I always, always love live gigs, but it just sort of happens when I spend a lot of time in the studio – I’m out and about less in the scene, so I get booked less. Sometimes I have to choose between being social and making better music, and making music often wins. I’m actually trying to do a better job of balancing the two these days, but in general I’m really happy with how I keep music incorporated into my life.

I will admit that although it’s a thrill to hear another Dj spin a track of mine to an enthusiastic dance floor, it’s much better to be able to drop it myself.
 ZM: Tell us a about your partnership with fellow producer Chad North. How long have you been working together? Any big releases on the horizon from the two of you that we can look forward to? 
AP: My partnership with Chad began just before he moved to New York (almost two years ago). We’ve actually done the lion’s share of our collaboration over the internet. For some reason it works really well for us, and every track we’ve worked on together has ended up being released, except, ‘Off the Wall,’ which we have high hopes for. Chad is pretty much a musical genius, and our respective skill sets complement each other well. We are both extremely busy at the moment but we always seem to make time for our projects together, so we’ll be releasing some new material at some point. I feel lucky to work with Chad and I know he’s had a blast too.   ZM: Finally what sage advice would you impart to all of those burgeoning DJs out there just getting their start?   AP: In giving advice to aspiring DJs, I don’t want to start throwing out clichés they’ve heard a million times. My specific advice is to really love music and make sure you go to a lot of clubs and parties so you can get to know promoters and make friends, but don’t fall into the trap of getting too sucked into the partying lifestyle. Have fun, but remember to keep some balance in your life. You’ll last a lot longer in the scene you love if you do....

Pecoe [Breakzlinkz] on the Mix

Fri, 21 May 2010 07:40:41 -0700

This week’s guest, Pecoe (a.k.a. Ross Miles), is the tireless one-man outfit behind BreakzLinkz: a comprehensive, up-to-the-minute breakbeat blog where visitors can link to countless mixes from both established and up-and-coming jocks all over the world (And it’s free!). Pecoe is also an excellent DJ in his own right, as evidenced by this impressive NuFunk/Rock/Pop mash-up which I’m pleased to pass along to you through the podcast this week. Last but not least, Pecoe was kind enough to indulge me in a short Q&A about his musical background and what inspired him to launch BreakLinkz. Check it out...

ZM: Pecoe, I know you make Perth, Australia your home today. Did you grow up there?

Pecoe: I was born in Penrith, Sydney in 1973. There i grew up till the age of 8 when we moved over here to Perth.
ZM: Tell us a little about your musical background. How long have you been a DJ?
Pecoe: Dance music became my foundation pretty much after my 18th birthday (the legal age here to attend night clubs). So from 1990 onwards this is what I did. In 1991, I attended my first underground rave party called "Telepathy". This was a new and amazing experience for me as I remember dancing my ass off for 10 hours straight. So early Euroclub classics and other early breaks classics such as Bombscare by 2 Bad Mice were a main influence for me. I became a regular for pretty much any rave at that time while also attending various nightclubs throughout the 90s. I got my first pair of turntables around 1994, crappy cheap ones with a little wheel as a pitch control and proceeded to buy all sorts of vinyl which I still have to this day.
ZM: Clearly, you have a passion for the broken beat, but is there a specific style you’re really connecting with these days? And who are some of your favorite artists within that genre?

Pecoe: Today I'm very influenced by the Nufunk genre. I guess as you get older things change and I hate to say it but you can get sick of too much of one thing. Don't get me wrong I still love breaks and the early days of that style from artists like BLIM, Soto, Chris Carter but most of those artists have moved on and I guess so have I. At the moment Nufunk is where it’s at and I think you'll see a boom from this genre if not already so. Some of the artists that I have been listening too lately are, Stickybuds, Funkanomics, The Goodgroove Crew (Featurecast, Slynk, etc...), Philly Blunt and Matty Blades.
ZM: How long has BreakzLinkz been around and what inspired you to start it? What do you consider the greatest challenges and the greatest rewards of running it?

Pecoe: I started Breakzlinkz in June 2007 after a few years of posting breakbeat dj sets on various forums throughout the world (I was inspired to share by Spliff and ThePantyInspector. These guys were everywhere back in the day).
I thought to myself why not create my own site to do what I like doing best? So getting a blogspot address seemed the logical thing to do. Over a period of time I purchased a .com address and received a great amount of support from various people from all over the world. It's getting to a point now that people send me stuff to post on my site and I no longer need to go and look for new music which is great as I get a whole selection of music from famous artists to some dude in Hungary. (I’d also like to thank Sonia from Push Promotions who sends me a lot of my stuff too!)

There's no challange for me running Breakzlinkz. I find it very rewarding helping a scene that helps me!

--------------------------------------------------------------

There are two ways you can get Pecoe’s Mix:

- By subscribing to The Gough Street Sessions Podcast in iTunes

- Directly from SoundCloud (best for those who don’t use iTunes)

Track List
1. Wilson Picket - In The Midnight Hour  2. Wilson Picket - In The Midnight Hour (Dj Wood Mix)  3. DJ Czech - Joker  4. Bee Gees - Yo Should Be Dancing  5. Katalyst - Uprock This  6. Bob Marley - Duppy Conqueror (Fort Knox Five Remix)  7. Monophonic - Bulgarianized  8. Michael Jackson - Billie Jean  9. The Stone Roses - Fools Gold  10. Superbreak - Then Came The Beats  11. The Chordettes - Mister Sandman (Pecoe Edit)  12. RJD2 - The Stranger  13. Cut Copy - We Fight For Diamonds  14. The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony  15. The Herbaliser - Gold Rush  16. Stanton Warriors - Or Is She  17. The Police - Every Breath You Take  18. Marc Bolan & T-Rex - Get It On  19. Big M Bootie - Mercy Beats  20. Funkanomics - Mr Boobs (Instrumental)  21. Queen - Another One Bits The Dust  22. Bob Seger - Night Moves

"I Know U Got Sol" [DJ Sol on the Mix]

Fri, 7 May 2010 21:44:12 -0700

Music has always been in the blood of this week’s guest DJ, Sol (a.k.a. Dave Sol Bailey). He comes from three generations of musicians including his father, Rich Bailey, who was a sax player in his own jazz group. So it’s no small coincidence that Sol himself took a shine to music from a pretty early age. Growing up in Los Angeles in the late 70s and early 80s Sol found inspiration in the newly-emerging hip-hop sound of that era (e.g. Kurtis Blow, Grandmaster Flash, The Crash Crew and Afrika Bambaataa), a style that became the impetus for a DJ career that now spans three decades.

Perhaps the earliest evidence of Sol’s talent for DJing were the mixed tapes he made for his friends which by the mid 80s led to gigs at house parties all over Los Angeles. After moving to San Francisco in the early 90s to further his education in studio engineering, Sol discovered an underground music scene that was only just beginning to flourish. It was within this community, at events such as the infamous 'Space Children', 'Full Moon' and 'Wicked' parties, that Sol was introduced to house, techno and breakbeat. Inspired by these new styles of music and energized by a thriving underground dance scene, Sol began to truly harness his potential as a DJ. By 1995, he was playing every major venue in San Francisco.

Sol’s style is always evolving but the one constant is that his music remains on the cutting edge. These days he can be heard spinning an eclectic mishmash of house, breaks and beat at his biweekly party, Vivid, with DJ Seven at Wish in San Francisco (now in its 8th year!). You can also catch Sol playing alongside The Space Cowboys at their annual Breakfast of Champions New Year’s Day party and with Uncorked Events.

Finally, here’s a little sampling of Sol’s funky, eclectic style for your aural pleasure. This mix, entitled “I Know U Got Sol”, brings us back to the Nu Funk sound we’ve come to know so well on this podcast. Enjoy!

There are two ways you can get Sol’s Mix:

- By subscribing to The Gough Street Sessions Podcast

- Directly from SoundCloud (best for those who don’t use iTunes)

Track List
1. Stratus Quo (DJ Sol edit)  - 6th Borough Project
2. Ya Need A Funky Band (Da Wiesel remix) (DJ Sol edit) - Basement Freaks
3. Nappy Riddem (QDUP Foundation Remix)  - Nappy Riddem
4. Millions Ways To Swim feat. Tal M. Klein (Audited Beats Remix) -Quincy Jointz
5. Right Place, Wrong Time (Fort Knox Five Remix) - Dr John
6. Food Run Feat Michael Conner (Jayl Funk Remix) - Camels on Duty
7. Sisters Of Soul, Brothers Of Funk (Greg Wilson Version) - 6ix Toys
8. The Place (Flashbaxx Remix) (DJ Sol Edit) - Quincy Jointz
9. Think (Club Mix) - Globe by dj Max & Gabb
10. Killa Soundboy (Featurecast Remix)  - Fort Knox Five feat. Sleepy Wonder & Zeebo
11. Deep South (BadboE remix) - Layo & Bushwacka
12. Electric Feel (Nate Wize RMX) - MGMT
13. Life Gets Better (Original Mix) - Ed Solo & Skool Of Thought

Smoove [Newsbreakz] on the Mix

Sat, 1 May 2010 21:14:22 -0700

If you see a plume of black smoke rising from the crossfader on the mixer then you know Smoove (a.k.a. Ian Chang) just got off the decks. That was the case again last Saturday night at “Shackled”, a rockin’ up-and-coming monthly at Shine Dance Lounge, where Smoove provided the perfect climax to a fantastic party with one of his signature breakbeat sets. And guess who just so happened to be there to record it for your listening enjoyment?

If you’ve spent any length of time in the San Francisco dance scene, Smoove needs no introduction. He’s been igniting packed dance floors (and wearing out crossfaders) with infectious booty-shakin’ beats for almost ten years now. But if you aren’t from around these parts (or don’t get out that often) here’s a little more background on this week’s talented guest DJ.....

Rising out of the 90's Drum 'n Bass scene in San Francisco, Smoove quickly became a fixture on the underground Breakz circuit in 2001 DJ'ing with The Space Cowboys and their mighty Unimog. These days his signature power-funk breakz sound can be heard every weekend all over San Francisco's night life, from underground warehouse parties to his residencies at The End Up, 1015 and Mighty. All his hard work in the night club trenches has earned him membership in Nitevibe.com's DJ Dream Team since 2004 and was voted Best DJ 2008 by the readers of the S.F. Bay Guardian in their annual "Best of the Bay" issue.

Taking his sound to the airwaves, Smoove has been featured on XM Satellite Radio’s Thump Funk show (XM 80) as well as Below Zero on Energy 92.7 and was a frequent guest on Future Breaks on KUSF. Currently, he can be heard on Fog City Funk every Wednesday night at 8pm PST on Nu Skool Breaks Radio (nsbradio.co.uk) In 2004 he, along with Donna Matrix, started publishing the underground magazine NewsBreakz and more recently launched NBz 2.0 (newsbreakz.com) the on-line version in late 2008. Simply put, Smoove is one of the quintessential taste makers in the San Francisco Breakz scene today and can always be relied on to bring a big party fun sound that makes the crowd go giddy on the dance floor.

There are two ways you can get Smoove’s Mix:

- By subscribing to The Gough Street Sessions Podcast

- Directly from SoundCloud (best for those who don’t use iTunes)

Track List
1. "Apple Bottom" - Deekline, Sporty-O, Dustin Hulton
2. "Don't Push" - Party Style
3. "Dynamite Love" - Freestylers vs. Krafty Kuts feat. Dynamite MC
4. "Shifting Gears" (Stanton Warriors Remix) - Plump DJs
5. "Take It To Da House" - Cut & Run
6. "2 Freaks" - Rennie Pilgrem & B.L.I.M.
7. "MGMTBooty" - Slyde
8. "Big Pimpin' Boots" - WHT LBL
9. "Get Dirty Baby" (Friendly Remix) - The Booty Bouncers
10. "You Got The Love" - Crisp Biscuits
11. "I Got Know How" - WHT LBL
12. "Bam Bam" - Deekline & Ed Solo feat Big Booty Kim
13. "Boot Vibrations" - WHT LBL
14. "Konichiwa Bitches" - Robyn

DJ Nugz [Footprint Recordings] on the Mix

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 22:28:16 -0700

In keeping with the recent change-o’-pace theme on the podcast, I’m pleased to pass along this soothing, skillfully-arranged downtempo mix entitled ‘Don’t Let the Smooth Taste Fool You’ from Oakland’s DJ Nugz (a.k.a. Brian Cox). I wish I could spend a couple more paragraphs singing Brian’s praises, because I’m a big fan and I was genuinely moved by this mix, but I’m presently engaged in several music-related projects of my own and there just isn’t the time. So for a little more background on this week’s talented guest DJ/Producer, I’ve included Brian’s bio from his website below. I also highly recommend dropping by Temple on Tuesday nights where you can catch Nugz mixing live and in technicolor! Enjoy these gorgeous melodies courtesy of our friend DJ Nugz, Everyone!

There are two ways you can get ‘Don’t Let the Smooth Taste Fool You’:

- By subscribing to The Gough Street Sessions Podcast

- Directly from SoundCloud (best for those who don’t use iTunes)

DJ Nugz Biography:
Brian Cox, known around the San Francisco bay area as DJ Nugz, has risen in popularity and notoriety due to his unique sound and flawless mixing. Brian is able to blend drastically different beats into music that make you feel alive. Like all great DJs, he has been able to craft a sound and vibe that are truly his own. Brian’s music is diverse, and during the night focuses on House and UK Break Beat sounds that range from deep, melodic, sexy, to dark, dirty, funky, techy, electro. During the day you can find him playing downtempo, acid jazz, and classic hip hop, along with exotic deep house and funk at a variety of places including clubs, restaurants, back yards, yachts, pools, rooftops or Golden Gate Park.

When Nugz isn’t traveling to places like Japan, Korea, Argentina, Mexico, Canada, the Miami WMC, New York City, Colorado or Vegas, he can be heard playing in prominent San Francisco nightspots such as Mighty, Ruby Skye, Temple, Mezzanine, Vessel, 111 Minna, Ozumo, Sushi Groove, The XYZ bar at the W Hotel, and most recently, the legendary 1015 Folsom. As impressive as this is, the growing draw for Nugz is due to the very sound and energy he produces. His musical repertoire is vast, and his style can't easily be described with few words.

In addition to his exceptional skills as a DJ artist, Nugz has made his mark with the events he has produced and/or helped coordinate as Sofkor Productions/ Footprint Recordings. His parties at Burning Man, and at his private loft in San Francisco, have proven hugely successful and always leave the crowd wanting more. The loft parties thrown by Nugz on Halloween, New Years Eve, and the private art showings throughout the year, have perfectly blended into the unique scene that is so distinctly; San Francisco. These events and parties are known by true SF nightlife professionals as some of the best in the city. During these parties, he shared the decks with the likes of Donald Glaude, Doc Martin, Audiofly, Maurice Fulton, Garth, Jeno, and Barry Weaver to name a few.

Nugz first began spinning records in 1995, when that was the only medium available for DJs. His education advanced as a multi-talented artist while studying at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado as a Fine Arts Undergrad and simultaneously building his promising career as a professional DJ. While living in Boulder, Nugz gained two distinct achievements. He acquired a residency at Soma in Boulder (voted as one of the top ten clubs in America by several dance music publications), and began playing regularly at the number one club in Colorado at the time; Vinyl (formerly 1082 Broadway). Bookings at both of these highly sought venues were difficult due to the vast list of world class DJ's being booked. Nugz consistently played with profound success at both of these clubs along with numerous others in the Denver/Boulder area while still at a very early point in his career. Now, he returns to Denver several times a year to rock the Rockies, and catch some freshies.

His future endeavors are something to keep an eye on as he will be releasing his first EP of original production at the end of the year, club bookings sell out, and parties continue to amaze.

A Little House on Gough Street

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:42:49 -0700

We’ve been featuring lots of peak-time techfunk sets on the podcast lately, and while I have absolutely no reason to complain about that, I’ve also felt the need to dial the intensity down just a bit the last couple of weeks. We started shifting gears last week with Melyss of Cheeky Productions who treated us to a groovy Nu Funk set. And this week’s mix, a rare venture into the deep house genre for me, will give you another week to catch your breath before we start swingin’ the heavy lumber around here again.

We’ve had a few fleeting glimpses of spring here on Gough Street and as the weather starts to warm up in your neck of the woods, I think you’ll find these soothing house tracks go very nicely with warm sunshine, blue skies and icey cold beverages. Enjoy!

There are a couple ways you can get this mix:

- By subscribing to The Gough Street Sessions Podcast

- Directly from SoundCloud (best for those who don’t use iTunes)

Track List
1. Gourmet De Funk (Can7 Taste The Music mix) - Mousse T
2. Enjoy Music (Crazy P Remix) - Reboot
3. The Money (Inland Knights Astro Turf Mix) - 62 Mile High Club
4. Sing Song (Jericho Remix) - Glocal
5. Another Way - Inland Knights
6. Something Special (Crazy P Remix) - Max Sedgley
7. Shake That Groove Thang - Troydon
8. Feel Me (Joey Youngman Remix) - Alexander East
9. Back Seat Driver - Inland Knights
10. Slippin' - Quality Control
11. Dancer - Julien Chaptal
12. Chordy - Robert Babicz
13. Happy House (Will Saul & Mike Monday Remix) - The Juan Maclean
14. It's On Tonight - Inland Knights
15. The Grooveymen (Grooveymain Mix) - Melchyor A

Melyss [Cheeky Productions] on the Mix

Fri, 9 Apr 2010 08:50:30 -0700

I’m just plain giddy about this week’s guest mix for two reasons. First, it comes to us from the lovely DJ/producer, Melyss (Cheeky Productions & Opel Productions), who has always been one of my favorites. And secondly, female artists have been conspicuously missing from this podcast since it began a year ago (a terrible oversight considering the abundance of talented lady jocks in San Francisco) and I’m happy to finally put an end to that nonsensical trend. This set was recorded live from Opel’s 8-year anniversary at Mighty back in March. Melyss opened the main room with a tasty Nu Funk set which was the perfect beginning to what turned out to be a massive party.

Also, Melyss was kind enough to indulge me in this brief Q & A about her salad days as a DJ, how her style has changed over her ten-year career and her recent foray into the realm of production......

ZM: Melyss, where are you from originally and how long have you lived in San Francisco?

Melyss: “I moved here from New Jersey in 1997 after I graduated college…I call it my dirty secret. Thank god I was able to lose that accent!”
 ZM: I know you’ve been DJing since 2000, but tell us how you got your start? Who/what inspired you to become a DJ and how did you get your first big break?

Melyss: “Music has always played a big role in my life. I was more into the “live” music scene while in High School/College. Towards the end of college I got turned onto electronic music spending many a night in NYC clubs. When I moved out to San Francisco I was immediately turned on to the west coast house music sound – which incorporated much more in the way of old disco and funk. I started collecting records before I even owned turntables. Finally in 2000 I made the leap and bought myself a set of Technics and continued to teach myself how to play. I’m not sure I can say that I’ve had a “big break” but being asked to be involved in the weekly Mayonnaise was one of the best things that happened in my 20s. It was a weekly Tuesday party thrown by DJs J-Fi (Sister SF), Chonky T & Janikowski (and later DJ Tonic). I was part of the Mayo collective for 4.5 years. It was one hell of a ride-I learned so much in those days from how to rig together a sound system with 2 shot glasses and some duct-tape to how to survive on 4 hours of sleep. Just DJing out in public weekly kept it fresh and exciting.”  ZM: You were one of the first female DJs I followed in San Francisco and I first heard you play in 2004 (or thereabouts) at one of Opel’s events. Back then you were playing primarily breaks if I remember correctly. Tell me how your style has changed since then and which artists are now influencing your sets.

Melyss: “I am all about the Nu Funk sound. Prior to breaks I was primarily playing house. I will never forget hearing Plump DJs “Electric Disco“ for the first time and thinking thisssss is the sound I’m talking about! I still play a variety of funk & disco-based breaks/house. I think I’ve slowed my tempo a bit as you can hear in this set. Neighbour, Fort Knox Five, Crazy P, Kraak n Smack, Tal M. Klein, All Good Funk Alliance, Basement Freaks, Blunted Funk Records, Good Grooves, Jalapeno, Timewarp. Homebreakin’. Those are some of the artists & labels I am diggin’ right now.”  ZM: I know you’ve recently moved into the realm of production. How’s that coming?

Melyss: “In one word SLOW. It’s a learning curve. I am determined to get something out this year which is why I’ve been slowing down on picking up gigs and going out as much on the weekends. We have a studio in our apartment and my husband Big Fat Frog is so supportive and inspiring. I am also working the very talented DJ Tonic on some remixes and new releases.”
 ZM: You recently started Cheeky Productions with your husband, Craig O’Neill (a.k.a. Big Fat Frog). Tell us a little bit about that project.

Melyss: “The vision would be to build it into our very own record label, Put out some of our own music as well as those of local artists hitting on the funk/disco sound we’re diggin’. We are also working towards a “live” act together.”  ZM: Finally, as a DJ with ten-years experience under her belt and a residency with several well-known collectives in San Francisco, including Opel Productions, what advice would you give to a DJ just starting out?

Melyss: “It is all about persistence and practice. Practicing and putting together sets with intention before you play out is really important as well - it builds confidence.”

There are two ways you can get Melyss’ mix:

- By subscribing to The Gough Street Sessions podcast

- Directly from SoundCloud (best for those who don’t use iTunes)

Track List
1. 'The Hit' - Crazy P
2. 'Summertime Girls' - Neighbour
3. 'Slynk' - Whatcha Doin (Slynk Hospital Re-Rub)
4. 'What I Said' - Neighbour
5. 'Man with a Jam Plan' feat. Rubber Johnson (Fort Knox 5 Remix) - All Good Funk Alliance
6. 'University of Booginology' - Neighbourhood Romeo
7. 'Close to Mine' - Neighbour
8. 'Something Freaky' - Basement Freaks
9. 'Marge Schott's Titties' - NR
10. 'Sock it to Ya' - All Good Funk Alliance (Kraak & Smack Remix)
11. 'Mission' feat. BadKat (Funkanomics Remix) - Ed Royal
12. Track info unvailable (sorry folks!)
13. 'Brown Acid - Bootasaurus
14. 'Right On' - Mr. Strom
15. 'Rogan Josh' - The Beatslapperz (Grand Def Audio Remix)

A warm and hearty thank you to Melyss for the interview and for this tasty mix.
Also, thank you to Syd Gris for allowing me to sneak into his party to record this mix.

Soul of Man (Fingerlickin' Records) on the Mix

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:47:18 -0700

This week an unexpected treat was dropped into the Gough Street inbox by our good friend
Justin Rushmore, one half of the extraordinary production duo known as Soul of Man (Fingerlickin’ Records). It’s the second volume in Justin’s “Breakin’ in the House” series, a delectable 86-minute everything-but-the-kitchen-sink mash-up that leaves no genre unsampled.

“In recent years DJ sets have been getting back to their eclectic roots, mashing up genres”, says Justin. “In this mix I’ve taken my favorite current house, breaks, disco, electro, techno, even dubstep tunes. These are the big ones destroying my dance floors! Subfocus, Armand Van Helden, Groove Armada, Slyde, Cirez D, Elite Force, Evil 9 and more. Plus, an exclusive tune from my new project Rushmore & Fiasco ‘The Vibe’. Enjoy the Selection!” (And enjoy it we will, Justin. No worries there. I think it’s safe to say this mix is about to find its way to the top of many iTunes playlists!)

There are a couple ways you can get Justin’s “Breakin in the House” mix:

- By subscribing to The Gough Street Sessions Podcast

- Directly from SoundCloud (best for those who don’t use iTunes)

Track List
1. Groove Armada - Paper Romance (Doorly Remix)
2. Sub Focus - Move Higher
3. Young Punx - Ready For The Fight
4. Slyde - Move Ya Body
5. Louis La Roche - Super Soaker
6. Ou Est Le Swimming Pool? - Dance The Way I Feel (Kk Rerub)
7. Dirty Freek - Once Again
8. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps (Elite Force Refix)
9. Rushmore & Fiasco - The Vibe
10. Groove Armada - Paper Romance (Morten Soreson)
11. Avicili & Sebastian Drums - Even (Angger Dimas Rmx)
12. Rekchordz - Speaker Bump
13. Evil 9 - No Manners
14. Oslow - Nyzz (Blende Rmx)
15. Cirez D - Baurepost
16. Robb G - 12” Therapy (Remix)
17. Phonat - Set Me Free
18. Circuit Freq- The Filth (Zodiac Cartel)
19. Cirez D - On/Off

Many thanks to Justin Rushmore for sharing this tasty mix with the Gough Street listeners.

Dylan Rhymes [LOT49 Records] on the Mix

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 07:24:14 -0700

As a DJ he gigs all over the globe and as a producer his discography dates all the way back to the mid 90s, so clearly Dylan Rhymes (a.k.a. Marvin Beaver) has a talent for music. As accomplished as he may be in that realm, I’ve always thought that Marvin may have missed his true calling as a comedian. Creative with a quick wit and an inexhaustible energy, Marvin might just as easily be writing sketches for Saturday Night Live. Those gifts have served him well as a DJ though. While many other jocks can seem aloof and distant in the booth, Marvin is animated, playful and gregarious. He has a talent for engaging with a crowd which, along with his music, give his live sets an entertainment value that few DJs can match.

Marvin was in fine form last month at Opel’s 8-Year Anniversary celebration where he did a masterful job of lathering up the crowd in the main room with a bangin’ tech house set before turning the decks over to Meat Katie. He was also kind enough to let me record his set so that I could share it with all of you. Happy downloading, Boys and Girls, and enjoy!

There are two ways you can get Dylan Rhymes’ Mix:

1. By Subscribing to The Gough Street Sessions Podcast

2. Directly from SoundCloud

Track List
1. Robbie Rivera - 'Move' (Etienne de Crecy Edit)
2. Matteo Dimarr - 'Addicted'
3. Stephan Bodzin, Oliver Hunteman & Deepgroove - 'Rubin'
4. Matteo Dimarr - 'Drumbotto'
5. Meat Katie- 'Tension' (Tony Senghore Remix)
6. Depeche Mode- 'Hole to Feed' (Popof Remix)
7. Simon2 & Andreas Henneberg - 'Bolingo Gringo'
8. Futureheads - 'Worry About It Later' (Switch Remix)
9. Haggstrom - 'Be My Baby' (Peo De Pitte Remix)
10. Vandal - 'Spunk'
11. Zoo Brazil - 'Fancy' (Popof Remix)
12. Josh Wink- 'The Bass' (Jamie McHugh Remix)
13. Germ - 'Glitterball' (Dylan Rhymes Re-Aligned)

A big thank you to Dylan Rhymes for allowing me to share his set with all of you!
And many thanks to Syd Gris for letting me sneak into his party to do this recording!

Photo courtesy of Jeff Hubis.