DOWNLOAD HERE (tracklist after jump)

Along with providing music reviews and opinion pieces here at The Couch Sessions, I also run my own site, a brother site of sorts to the Couch Sessions, True Genius Requires Insanity at TGRIOnline.com. As with most blogs we (I have a staff of eight along with me) attempt to provide comprehensive coverage of all music, however, we have a particularly strong lean toward dance music, with an emphasis on Baltimore club. To that end, TGRIOnline.com is now presenting compilations of our favorite sound. Entitled #MOARCLUBMUSICS, the mixes intend to be a combination of club classics that everyone knows, integral tracks by those key to the sound, tracks made by those just as deeply influenced by and fans of the sound as we at the site are, as well as providing an introduction to those we feel will be major innovators keeping club music alive for the next generation. The mix is curated by the site, namely me, and mixed by DJs we feel are indicative of and aspiring to the level of legend that the sound has generated.

VOLUME 1

DJ Pierre is a rising star. Still under 21, he was already voted the 2009 Best DJ in a Club by the Baltimore City Paper. He’s risen quickly to prominence and spins weekly throughout Baltimore and has amassed quite the sizeable following in the past year. His developing production style and his skills as a DJ will be clear and obvious by the end of the mix.

From current scene godfathers like Emynd to legends like KW Griff, Scottie B and Rod Lee, to those influenced by the sound like DC’s Nouveau Riche crew, Philadelphia’s Federation Sound collective and NYC’s Cousin Cole, alongside criminally underrated local talents like James Nasty, and the youth of someone like Murder Mark, this mix indeed achieves the impossible and is everything to everyone.

1. Partysquad – Rage – Top Billin
2. Sound Of Stereo – Velcro – N.E.W.S./Lectroluv
3. Dooze Jackers – Got Line – White Label
4. Telephoned – Dancin On Me – Fools Gold
5. Clipse – All Eyes On Me – Star Trak
6. Pase Rock – Nights (Nadastrom Remix) – Dim Mak
7. Sound Of Stereo – Button (BeatauCue Remix) – N.E.W.S./Lectroluv
8. Break Yo Self – Gucci Mane feat. Lil B. (Diplo Remix) – Asylum
9. Silver City – Victoria Jam – Deep Freeze
10. Congorock – Babylon – Fools Gold

DJ Fashen – January 2010 Charts Mix

(Spotted via Different Kitchen)

DJ Stylus – Live at Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar
Download Part 1 | Download Part 2

Where the party at? Those in the know are already hip to the fact that DC has some of the best DJ talent in the world, and The Mix is a new DJ series which profiles said talent in their native environment–the dance floor.

You might know DJ Stylus, aka The Vibe Conductor, from his affiliation with the Soul Controllers show on 88.1 WMUC, to his recent Michael Jackson tribute set which killed. Stylus is also a contributor to the Washington Post Going Out Gurus on top of his weekly DJ Gigs.

Last Friday, Stylus played H Street DC’s newest hotspot, Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar, and he breaks down the set like this:

Have you been to Little Miss Whiskey’s on H St yet? It is quite awesome and I think it’s about to be the next hot spot. I played there on Friday and had one of the best nights in the booth that I’ve had in a minute. Great mixed crowd and only one stupid request all night. Folks danced up until the final second and I didn’t play any corny records. I planned to play a lot of rock, current electro stuff and pop, but I was actually able to go pretty deep on ‘em and get soulful. Some Brazilian hotties even came in at the end and I obliged their request to take it to Bahia. Totally unexpected.

I was not in the building that night, due to other commitments, however we are all graced with 2 hours of Stylus’ 4 hour set which includes the likes of Little Dragon, David Bowie, Ryan Leslie, Prince, Bugz In Da Attic, and more. Check the tracklist, this is one of the most diverse sets to drop anywhere in the city or the country for that matter.

You can check DJ Stylus every Monday at Marvin or at The Vibe Conductor Blog.

Tracklist:

Part 1 (Download Part 1)

Tigercity – Other Girls
Little Dragon – Constant Surprises
Sergio Mendes – Yes, Yes Y’All feat. Black Thought, will.i.am & Chali2na
King Britt presents Sylk 130 – All The Way Live feat. Capitol A
Blackalicious – Make You Feel That Way (DJ Eurok Kenyatta Mix)
Ohmega Watts – Platypus Strut
Alice Russell – Somebody’s Gonna Love You feat. Quantic
N.E.R.D – You Know What
Chromeo – Opening Up (Ce Soir On Danse)
Dayton – The Sound Of Music
J Boogie’s Dubtronic Science – Inferno feat. Lunar Heights
Speedy Consuela – Sukka Suited
Estelle – Star
David Bowie – Let’s Dance
Tortured Soul – Enjoy It Now
PPP – Dirty Secrets
Digital Underground – Kiss You Back
X-Clan – Funkin’ Lesson
Wale – Good Girls
Ryan Leslie – You’re Not My Girl
Restless Soul – Turn Me Out feat. Shea Soul & Motet
Skillz – (For Real) He Don’t Own Me
Ty – Sweating For Your Salary
Robin Thicke – Magic (Mark Ronson remix) feat. Wale & Mary J. Blige
Michael Jackson – Billie Jean (Opolopo remix)
Q-Tip – Manwomanboogie feat. Amanda Diva
Cameo – Rigor Mortis
Rare Essence – Body Moves
Chuck Brown vs. Jackson 5 – Chucky Baby/ABC (Illo Rework)
Jamie Foxx – I Don’t Need It feat. Timbaland
I Don’t Need It (Album) feat. Timbaland
Cheri Dennis – Portrait of Love feat. Yung Joc
Prince – 17 Days
Shannon – Let The Music Play
George Kranz – Dinn Daa Daa (dub)
Sygaire – Deux Mille Deux
Amy Winehouse – In My Bed [Bugz in the Attic Vocal Mix)
Anane – Let Me Love You (Masters At Work Mix)
Mr. V – Put Your Drink Down
Omar – It’s So

Part 2 ( Download Part 2)

The Roots – The Seed (Live On BBC Radio One’s Worldwide)
Bloodfire – Funky President (Yes We Can!)
War – Galaxy
Fela Kuti – Shakara
DJ Gregory – Block Party
Nathan Adams & Zepherin Saint – Circles
Enya vs. Stevie Wonder – Master Blaster (Foremost Boadicea)
Huey Lewis And The News – It’s All Right
The J.B.’s – Funky Good Time
Outkast – Morris Brown
Sleepy Brown feat. Big Boi – Margarita
Outkast feat. Sleepy Brown – The Way You Move
Che Grand – Sex Shooter remix feat. Apollonia
Status IV – You Ain’t Really Down (Acapella)
Prince – Raspberry Beret
Bill Withers – Who Is He (Henrik Schwarz Edit)
Wham! – Everything She Wants
The Jacksons – Blame It On The Boogie (live in Amsterdam)
The Jacksons – Blame It On The Boogie
Michael Jackson – I Can’t Help It (Tangoterje mix)
Stevie Wonder – Another Star
Louie Vega Featuring Raúl Midón – Cerca De Mi
Bah Samba – Tired Little One (Yoruba Soul Vocal)
Michael Jackson – P.Y.T.
Bugz In The Attic – Booty La La
Janelle Monae – Lettin’ Go
Jazzanova – Look What You’re Doin’ To Me feat. Phonte
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam – I Wonder If I Take You Home
Junior – Mama Used To Say
Hall & Oates – Say No Go
Doobie Brothers – What A Fool Believes
Aretha Franklin – What A Fool Believes
D’Angelo – Spanish Joint
Jussara Silveira – Adalgisa
Bah Samba – Don’t Let Them Get You Down

Introductions are always easier in warm weather. Hence why the good folks from Funkadelic Freestyles, the increasingly-popular weekly independent hip-hop radio show out of The George Washington University in Washington, DC, picked the summer season to broaden their audience. With a tremendous amount of help from their like-minded hip-hop peer, FWMJ of Rappers I Know, they’re proud to present their first-ever collaborative mixtape featuring all new and original music from artists like Oddisee, Danny Brown, X.O., Finale, Kay of The Foundation, Che Grand, Senor Kaos & DJ Spinna, Trackademicks, Akrobatik, Mr. Lif, and many more. The first volume of music bears the title ”The Off Season,” in reference to the lengthy summer hiatus between college semesters. It’s hosted by radio personality Jamie Benson (aka jben.ok) and mixed byJerome Baker III with special appearances from co-hosts Jay Promo, King Carter, Unkle Scooty, and Sneakaman Dan.

Tracklist
1. Soulful! “Intro”
2. Danny Brown “That’s Just The Way It Goes”
3. jben.ok x Dela “Introductions”
4. Senor Kaos x DJ Spinna “Summer Madness (ATL Remix)”
5. Che Grand “Life’s Grand” featuring Nicky
6. Spank Pops “Beautiful Noise”
7. K-Beta “Summershine” featuring Shydi
8. Akrobatik & Mr. Lif ”Beast Mode”
9. Nicole Hurst “When You’re Gone”
10. the OTHERSIDE “Ms. Cloud 9?
11. Finale “Agony” produced by nick tha 1da
12. Truthlive “80’s Baby”
13. 1.O.A.K. “The Lovecats”
14. Oddisee “We On To Something”
15. jben.ok x Knowledge “The Newest Addition”
16. Trackademicks “Nothin’ On Me”
17. Lyriciss & Pro’Verb ”What You Mad For” produced by Soulful!
18. Houston Rock Its “The Beast”
19. X.O. “All Around The World” produced by Team Demolition
20. Kay “Sloboogie” featuring Franchelle
21. Scanz “We Cool”
22. Kokayi “Prayer”
23. jben.ok x Chris “Daddy” Dave “Outro”

Download The Off Season Vol. 1 HERE

Volume 1: The Off Season will be available for free download on Tuesday, August 4th, 2009 – a week before Funkadelic Freestyles returns to the airwaves for their season premiere – on RappersIKnow.com , FunkadelicFreestyles.com , and RealMangoJuice.com. Volume 2: Back In The Game, featuring more new and original music from Blu, The ARE, Hassaan Mackey, Random, and others, is set to be released on August 18th.

Rappers I Know is web portal, creative shop and boutique music label focused on highlighting unknown and under-recognized talent in Rap and Soul music and the Arts. The project was established by FWMJ and his peers in the Houston underground Hip Hop community as a platform to present, promote, and distribute local Houston music to new audiences using word-of-mouth buzz and a strong independent work ethic. FWMJ and Rappers I Know has helped promote, market and break such artists as H.I.S.D., The Niyat, Nicolay, The Foreign Exchange, Little Brother, J*Davey, Tanya Morgan, Kay, The Foundation, K-otix, D. Rose, Illmind, Strange Fruit Project, Chris “Daddy” Dave, The Luv Bugz, Black Milk, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Pacific Division and many others.

Funkadelic Freestyles is live on-air every Tuesday night, beginning August 11th, from 8-10pm EST on WRGW Radio at The George Washington University in Washington, DC. Featuring in-studio interviews from artists in the independent hip-hop realm, including Wale, Oddisee, Torae, Tanya Morgan, Kenn Starr, and many more. Visit GWRadio.com for listening info and FunkadelicFreestyles.com for special Thursday night shows through August 28th.

Download: Jerome Baker – Live at Local 16

If you don’t know who Jerome Baker is, you will after this year. Not only is the DC DJ (and Couch Sessions contributor) spinning 5 nights a week in DC, but he’s taking over the West Coast this fall in addition to some more surprises dropping soon. Last week Jerome dropped a mix at the Glass House/Kevin Lance Murray’s Local Wednesdays event at Local 16. Check this mix out, and also if you’re in DC, Local Wednesdays drops every week on U Street.

The fact that Washington, DC now boasts a seven day a week underground party scene is fairly amazing, all things considered. For the numerous taunts and teases the city receives, from being a city of transient non neighbors, to that of being so polarized along racial and socio-economic lines that unity of any sort, on much of anything is virtually impossible, DC’s ability to persevere, namely in the DIY dance and electronic music community is commendable. Friday’s Blisspop Summer Extravaganza event at 9:30 Club wasn’t even so much a celebration of the talents of the DJs, so much as it was a notification of acceptance of our city on a national and international landscape. Nadastrom and Tittsworth, the closers, are INTERNATIONAL superstars these days that get namedropped in the same breath as globetrotting party starters du jour like Diplo, Steve Aoki, Rusko and so on, and so forth. It must be noted that in the mind of this author that it seems as though every time Nadastrom or Tittsworth comes back to the DMV after an extended absence, namely at a Blisspop party, the crowds are larger, louder and more knowledgeable of not just the music of the headlines, but of the culture in general, and that’s nothing but a positive. Will Eastman, a cultural curator of sorts of the Capital City, does well at these parties to support our “superstars,” while at the same time surrounding them with our city’s top stalwarts and rising talents as well, which was more than apparent as Dmerit, with their funky French electro, Bobby Jae and Ken Lazee’s populist mixing, and Eastman’s stellar ear as a selector proving that DC is not just a two horse city.

Miniature water pistols? What's a dance party without a parcel of water pistols?
Photo credit Max "max_imus" Freed (http://www.twitter.com/max_imus)

What's a birthday without a candy filled Little Mermaid pinata to hang?
Photo credit Max "max_imus" Freed (http://www.twitter.com/max_imus)

If DC is going to make any waves on the national forefront, it will be due in large part to crafting an identity, or giving the nation a sense of what DC parties are all about. This is where DC’s transient and cold nature comes in, as, if you read the Washington City Paper, we abuse lots of drugs and alcohol, which says nothing about really having a good time, unless, well, that’s your bag. Blisspop reflected a great DC party angle, that of ribald and outlandish debauchery, as, between Dave Nada and Will Eastman, and a great number of other local DJs, there’s a strong indy and punk rock background, which lends itself well to the type of anarchy loosed upon the event.

You had Dave Nada dancing while swaddled in a DC flag while throwing down Nadastrom’s Beatport #1 single, the Soul II Soul’s “Back to Life” sampling “Pussy.” Then, there were all manner of soccer scarves, ketchup, or pickle juice or mayonnaise filled condoms, as well, there were pocket water pistols filled with water spraying the throng, and the coup de grace, in celebration of Dave Nada’s birthday, a pinata, filled with candy, that Nada savaged like a madman with a stick, a moment certain to be frozen in this observer’s memory for quite some time.

Will Eastman with pickle juice filled condom as Tittsworth murks the DC faithful.
Photo credit Max "max_imus" Freed (http://www.twitter.com/max_imus)

Dave Nada with soccer scarf.
Photo credit Max "max_imus" Freed (http://www.twitter.com/max_imus)

Musically, what can I say. Dmerit, Bobby Jae and Ken Lazee played the role of able openers, a difficult one in the DJ world, as you just can’t throw down hard, rattling basslines or 140 BPM manic jams, but you’re playing solidly, rubbing the sticks to start the flame, Dmerit really showing tons of promise, Micah Vellian heavily involved as a producer for Will Eastman’s debut solo effort and the work of himself and Output Message definitely worth a listen. Bobby Jae and Ken Lazee got busy and even threw in Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” for good measure in one of those congruous incongruity moments that we can thank Girl Talk for. Will Eastman’s Ruby Isle “So Damn High” remix is always a winner (director Kylos who provides Blisspop’s fetching visual backdrops promises a complete video VERY soon), and he, from a technical standpoint was really on point to be point of being phenomenal on Friday night.

And the closers. I tend to believe that Dave Nada, Matt Nordstrom and Jesse Tittsworth turn in the kind of performances they turned in in DC on a fairly regular basis. That’s what makes them who they are in the dance universe. Making the commonplace memorable is the type of thing that a chain restaurant strives to do in their credo when they serve you spaghetti and meatballs. The energetic, musical firebrand, crowd murking, wall rattling raucous mania associated with Nadastrom and Tittsworth, when accepted as commonplace, makes memories that if commonplace, you’re either living life quite well at the edge of a lighting bolt, or completely nuts. There’s a love of music apparent in the productions crafted by both performers. There’s a joy of being DJs, of having no real limits, of being able to use wobbling, drunken dubstep basslines that can wake the dead, of sampling just about anything and with some deft turns of talent making it INTENSELY musical, or having at your fingers the world of music, and in Tittsworth’s case dropping Drake and Trey Songz’s collaboration from Drizzy’s So Far Gone mixtape “Successful” as a soulful, melodic and even ponderous dance break in the midst of his three hour piledriving powerslam of music.

At the end of the day, Blisspop didn’t reinvent the wheel. Even better, if you’re full of hate for the entire hipster, DJ adoring community, it probably didn’t rate as important on your radar. But, if you’re a lover of music, and a believer in it’s power to producer such positive concepts as love, peace, happiness and unity, then this was a celebration of that. We’re all broke, we’re all struggling, and, let’s face it, times just ain’t right. Friday night, a slew of uber talented made things a little bit better. And that’s wonderful.

Kudos.

Nacey (l.) and Steve Starks. The most potent DC connection since Doug Williams to Ricky Sanders. Photo by Sexy Fitsum/iLLIMETER – http://illimeter.com

Nacey – Lose Your Love

What DC has known for awhile now is that Columbia, MD natives and friends since high school Nacey and Steve Starks, two-thirds of the Nouveau Riche triumvirate with Gavin Holland, are two of the most underrated DJs and producers in the country. The reason why the rest of the country didn’t know, is, well, Nacey and Steve Starks are also two of the most humble DJs and producers in the country, opting to let their mixing and skill speak louder than their marketing and voice. However, with a less than inspiring Winter Music Confernence spurring on the talented duo to replace thir humility with quiet confidence, Starks and Nacey have rolled out the most consistently solid remixes of the year, Nacey gaining the big prizes from Mad Decent and Discobelle, along with tracks rapped over by former Yo Majesty! rapper Shunda K, and Starks quietly honing his craft, a musical viper waiting for the right time to attack. Amd that right time was this past Tuesday, as the duo released their debut EP, a six song compilation of completely original tracks and reworkings of popular tunes as well, a clear shot to DJs everywhere that the duo are forces to be reckoned with.

Nacey’s three songs reflect his diverse interests, with a particular investment n his love of Southern bass and appreciation of an upbringing saturated in Bmore club. The EP kicks off with “Lose Your Love,” where Nacey deftly handles one of the most emphatic disco breaks of all time from the extended mix of The Emotions’ “Don’t Wanna Lose Your Love,” where the sisters sing the title as chorus over horn stabs, and with the aid of the break from “Doo Dew Brown,” and ambient noise, creates a perfect track that doubles as the perfect breakdown at the height of a Bmore club specific set, or to jazz up any disco mix. It’s a hit for sure, and I FULLY expect to see it showing up all over the place this summer. “Money on the Dressa” turns a sample of Bun B’s iconic voice from “International Playa’s Anthem” into a gangstafied house banger, replete with samples of a shotgun loading and shooting, squealing car tires and violin strings over a futuristic and hollow breakbeat, creating the perfect soundtrack if Major Lazer wasn’t a Jamaican freedom fighter but a Dolemite clone. “Work For This” may be the most sonically lush and mentally stimulating of the three tracks he delivers on the EP, taking what sounds like a sexed out Trina sample and creating a classic house jam, lush Arabian horns mixing with jazz horns over a syncopated bassline to create a sexy, sexy, sexy club heater that is certain to get the ladies moving seductively on the dancefloor.

Steve Starks on the other hand is similar, but with his deep house and funk explorations is a different DJ entirely. “So Sexy,” his first EP track, plays as an homage to Green Velvet (i.e. Cajmere of “Percolator” fame’s later project), all distinct spoken word vocals, deep synthy basslines and tinny hi hats with congo drums, it’s a classic deep house track, a retro fit for these most interesting times. “You Don’t Want None” follows next, a far more bass heavy and big sounding Bmore club exploration than Nacey’s smooth as silk “Lose Your Love,” it sounds like a Brick Bandits type club cut, the enormous filling sound mirroring what Philly has done with the early 2000s work of Debonair Samir and others. He closes his section and the EP itself with his most accessible for the current sonic atmosphere track, “Don’t Let Me Go” (Dub Mix f/ Manulita) featuring samples of heavy and orgasmic breathing, it’s a very dubbed out mix of a classic sexy club jam, and certain to be a necessity in the Serato boxes of any DJ looking to create the perfect mood as nightcapper to a night of playing nerve pounding wobbly basslines.

The EP is clearly aimed at creating noise and being relevant to the current set of producers and DJs presently making noise in the mainstream. At the same time though, neither Nacey nor Steve abandon what stylistically brought them to the forefront, instead weaving it into a set of tracks that are certain to continue the trend of DC infiltrating the club music mainstream.

DOWNLOAD EP HERE

The Maxwell Mix

I remember Maxwell being the dude who’s music everyone would play when we had female visitation at the dorms in Hampton. Anyhow dude has always kept it very cool, very soulful and did it the right way. Not a whole lot of flashy videos and/or ad campaigns, just soul music done properly. I know he is a heavy part of the downtown NYC scene now, constantly letting his art evolve and mature. His newest album drops July 7th so pick that up, but give this mix a listen (and download) because its done well, its a nice (re)introduction to his music, and its something else to listen to other than “beat beat beat beat beat”.

Download: DJ Ayres’ The Rub Michael Jackson Tribute Mix

Senari: For those who may not know who you are, tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? What do you do?

DJ Ayres: I’m Ayres Haxton, I grew up in rural Mississippi and I’ve been DJing in New York for 11 years. I do a party called “The Rub”, which is the first Saturday every month at Southpaw in Park Slope Brooklyn… this summer we are celebrating our 7 year anniversary. Cosmo Baker and DJ Eleven are my partners in that and we’ve also traveled a lot as The Rub. I have a record label with Tittsworth called T&A Records, dedicated to putting out club music on vinyl, and I do a dance music party called “Flashing Lights” with Nick Catchdubs from Fool’s Gold, and Jess Jubilee.

Senari: Coming from the south… what kind of music did you grow up on down there?

DJ Ayres: My parents are from the Mississippi Delta, and they were really into Delta Blues more than anything. So when I was a little kid, the music playing in our house was Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, BB King and so on. My grandfather was a classical composer and went to NYC every year to pick out clothes for his clothing store… he would bring back lots of classical records. So when we were kids, we heard Peter and the Wolf and the Nutcracker a lot. And we also listened to some records my mom got for us: Thriller, Cats, Annie and so forth. As a teenager I liked punk stuff, some electronic stuff, and I got into rap really early. When I was 8 years old, I remember having a dubbed tape of The Fat Boys, and I liked LL Cool J and the Beastie Boys, and all the music from the Breakin’ movies. Then when I was 13 my uncle gave me a copy of It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back and after that I got deeper into it.

Senari: What’s the best record of all time? The most perfect record…

DJ Ayres: Perfect record…. Notorious BIG – Ready To Die is a perfect record.

Senari: What’s the first record you bought on your own? How old were you?

DJ Ayres: I’m not sure. One of the first things I bought with my own money on cassette tape was LL Cool J’s Walking With A Panther. I remember buying Information Society on 7″… that may have been my first vinyl record I bought for myself.

Senari: When was that? Late 80s?

DJ Ayres: Early 90s… so there must have been stuff before that but I don’t remember anything specific.

Senari: My first purchase, that I remember, was Jagged Little Pill.

DJ Ayres: Is that Alanis Morisette?

Senari: Don’t act like you don’t know!

DJ Ayres: I missed out on a ton of white people music because of where I grew up. But I definitely had some dubious tapes. That band LIVE, for example. NOFX… and the first Green Day album.

Senari: You know, I grew up in small town outside of Baltimore – we had a raging hardcore/punk scene. I feel like it was that way all over.

DJ Ayres: We didn’t get a lot of tours. The first tour I saw was Public Enemy. I did see Fugazi when I was like 16 though.

Senari: That counts. So, tell me how you started DJing. What was your first gig?

DJ Ayres: Mark Ronson lived on my hall when I was a freshman at Vassar. And a guy named Jamie Hodge, who had records on Plus 8, which was Richie Hawtin’s label. So I saw them DJing, and I started buying records because I was really into the Stretch Armstrong show, and some of the stuff that he played, you could only buy it on vinyl at Bobbito’s Footworks and Fat Beats. I started DJing by playing records on WVKR in Poughkeepsie, and I had a big pair of speakers so I started doing parties. Paul Nice lived in Poughkeepsie and would DJ at Vassar sometimes, and Mr Vince, and Darshan Jesrani, from Metro Area.

Senari: House parties?

DJ Ayres: Yes, but there was also a campus bar called “The Mug” where the good DJs played, and I started doing that weekly when I was 19. It’s so crazy to think back on Ronson spinning for $50 and having to bring his own turntables and mixer and 5 crates of records.

Senari: Haha, that is nuts! When did you move to BK?

DJ Ayres: I moved to Brooklyn in 1998. My girlfriend at the time, who is now my wife, is from Queens. A lot of my friends grew up in NYC, so it was the fun, easy thing to do at the time.

Senari: Tell me how the Rub got started. How did you meet Cosmo [Baker] & [DJ] Eleven?

DJ Ayres: Okay, so in 1999 I was DJing in bars and house parties and stuff mostly in the East Village and Fort Greene. I did a loft party for my friends, and their roommate was friends with Eleven, so he played with me there. Then when he was at Rawkus [Records], I would go get promo records from him and spin with him sometimes. By the time The Rub started, we were working together a fair amount.

Cosmo… he and I had met through ESPO and Max Glazer at On the Go magazine back when I interned there in 1997-1998. So we would bump into each other… back when he still lived in Philly and would come up here a lot. I booked him at The Rub the second time we did the party and kept bringing him back every few months until he moved here. Then it was sort of solidified that Eleven and Cosmo were the residents.

Senari: As part of The Rub, and individually, you’ve DJed, collaborated, toured with so many people… from Hollertronix to Ghostface… who was your favorite to work with?

DJ Ayres: It’s hard to pick a favorite because I’ve done so many things. Bun B was incredible to tour with… but then opening for Chemical Brothers was really nuts and really different. I will say that in terms of my career, Dave 1 from Chromeo helped me out a ton. He sort of discovered me through the Hip-House CD I did with Cosmo, before we were touring much. He had me open for Chromeo in NYC a few times and put me on with his brother A-Trak at their first CD release party. Then A-Trak played The Rub and didn’t hit us in the head for money, and in 2005, Cosmo and I went on a 6 week North American tour with A-Trak. That helped us tremendously to get exposure in 30 other cities. And Chromeo is great live.

Senari: The Sunglasses Are a Must tour?

DJ Ayres: Yes… I just looked it up, that was 2006.

Senari: The people want to know – How did a dude who grew up on a farm in Mississippi and then attended a liberal arts college in upstate New York get so into rave music?

DJ Ayres: Well there were raves in New Orleans. Also, in the South there was a small scene for Chicago house… like, I remember “The Percolator” got a lot of night time play on the R&B stations. I remember buying Smart E’s “Sesame’s Treat” on cassette single… and The Orb and Orbital and Prodigy and all that stuff. I was talking to Nick [Catchdubs] and Fashen yesterday and remembered that I saw Information Society live in like 10th grade. Then, when I got to Vassar, I got into a lot of nerdy stuff like Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, Photek, Autechre. And when I was DJing, I played Hot Music, Daft Punk, Dee Lite… all that stuff. When Drum & Bass peaked in the US I was playing a lot of that too, around 98.

Senari: Speaking of… you run a record label with Tittsworth. He used to be a big Drum & Bass head in DC – our readers know all about him. Do you guys have anything you’re working on? Is there a dubstep record in your future? Haha…

DJ Ayres: Oh my god, the next T&A EP is Dave Nada and it is so fucking crazy.

Senari: When’s that coming out?

DJ Ayres: When this producer finishes the dubstep remix for one of Dave’s tunes. I’m not joking at all.

Senari: Which producer?

DJ Ayres: It’s a secret. I can tell you there is a Nadastrom remix on it though, it’s minimal and it’s so good.

Senari: Is there anything else you’re working on that we should know about?

DJ Ayres: There is a lot stuff I’m working on. I did a lot of remixing work in the last few years and I was starting to get frustrated that I was limited by not knowing enough about music theory. So for the last 5 months I put a lot of the production stuff on hold and I’ve been taking lessons on the keyboard, in music theory and production. I have a ton of unfinished stuff which I am going to wrap up soon… original music, and hip-hop beats, and some techno stuff.

Senari: That’s great! I’m looking forward to hearing it. Ok, so lastly, we’re dedicating this week to MJ on Couch Sessions. What are your top five MJ songs and why?

DJ Ayres: Gosh that’s hard.. okay…

The Jackson 5, “It’s Great To Be Here”. It’s such a fun, uplifting song, and the drums are so fucking tough.

Michael Jackson, “Wanna Be Startin’ Something”. The way this builds up with the drums, the bassline, then rhythm guitar and the little horn stabs come in… it’s all just a perfect storm. And his vocals are amazing, he pushes the energy up so high.

Michael Jackson, “I Can’t Help It”. This is such a sweet song. So pretty and the sentiment is wonderful… it really captures the feeling of falling in love.

The Jacksons, “Can You Feel It”. This is a cheesy pick and it hasn’t always been one of my favorites but as a DJ. I love the beat… like you could throw on just a loop of the intro and there is no way you could resist dancing. It’s funky as hell.

Michael Jackson, “Dirty Diana”. This song is CRUNK. It’s a pretty raw topic for MJ and he really goes in, he’s singing real hard on it. Crazily, someone pointed out that this was #1 on the iTunes store the day after he died. Today “Man in the Mirror” is #2, behind some Black Eyed Peas song.

I really hope people don’t push Michael’s music to the side because of all the weird shit in his personal life. Michael Jackson is so primary to me… like from being a little kid and jumping on the bed in pajamas to “Thriller” to rediscovering all his disco stuff as a DJ. Just talking about it and thinking about it again makes me really sad.

Find more info and music by DJ Ayres on his website, myspace and twitter! You can also catch him DJing every first Saturday at The Rub in Brooklyn and locally (in Baltimore) on July 17th at My Crew Be Unruly!

DJ MIX: Will Eastman Art Buzz Mix (direct link)

Will Eastman hit up my inbox today to share his latest mix for Art Buzz, a fundraiser for DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative, which is going on tonight at the Source Theatre. Art Buzz will feature works by local artists. The first 100 people through the door get a hard copy of the mix which also includes a sneak peak of his new track “Feelin.” Check it.

Tracklist:

Passion Pit “The Reeling” (Calvin Harris Remix)
Classixx feat. Jeppe “I’ll Get You” (Royal Rumble Edit)
Kraak And Smaak “Bobby & Whitney”
The Juan MacLean “One Day”
Gui Boratto “No Turning Back”
Calvin Harris “I’m Not Alone” (Good Life Mike Remix)
Ruby Isle “So Damn High” (Will Eastman Remix)
The Glass “Wanna Be Dancin” (Nadastrom Dub Edit)
Lykke Li “Dance Dance Dance” (Buraka Som Sistema Remix)
Dmerit “Stuck On You”
AC Slater “BanGer” (Tittsworth Remix)
DJ Gant Man “Juke Dat Girl” (Nadastrom Remix)
Queen “Don’t Stop Me Now” (Ursula 1000 Edit)
ZZ Top “Sharp Dressed Man”
Tiga “Shoes” (Mr Oizo Remix)
Outputmessage “Resurface” (Vocal Version)
Sidney Samson “Riverside” (Extended Mix)
Das Racist “Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell”
Chavy Boys “Friday Night Flu”
Rye Rye ft. M.I.A. “Bang” (Gavin Holland’s “Here Comes The Dubstepper” Bass Mix)
Will Eastman “Feelin”
Santogold Ft. Spank Rock “Shove It” (Grandtheft Remix)
Loco Dice “Pimp Jackson is Talkin Now!!!”
Matt Nordstrom, Orlando Villegas “Spanglish”
Mikael Simpson “Slaar Skaar”

NYC DJ’s Scott Melker and JayCeeOh, in collaboration with EZ Clothing, bring you “NY STATE OF MIND,” a mix that takes you by train, borough to borough, through New York City. Highlighting the most notable rappers from Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the compilation is seamlessly mixed and remixed from front to back. “NY State of Mind” takes classic hip-hop enthusiasts on a trip down memory lane while serving as a history lesson for a new generation of hip-hop heads.

EZ Clothing
Presents

NEW YORK STATE OF MIND
Mixed by: SCOTT MELKER + DJ JAYCEEOH

GRAB IT HERE:

http://www.ezclothingcompany.com/nystateofmind/

BROOKLYN

Notorious B.I.G. – Kick In The Door vs. DJ Premier (JayCeeOh Edit)
Digable Planets – Jettin’
Group Home – Up Against The Wall
Jeru The Damaja – Bitches
M.O.P. – World Famous (JayCeeOh Edit)
Lauryn Hill – Ready Or Not vs. Marco Polo (SMJCO Edit)
Lil’ Kim- Queen Bitch
Buck Shot – How Many MCs (JayCeeoh Edit)
Black Moon -I Got Cha Opin (w/ Busta Rhymes Intro)
Jay-Z – Friend or Foe ‘98
Big Daddy Kane – Long Live The Kane
Black Star – Respiration

QUEENS

Nas – NY State Of Mind Part 1
Nas – NY State Of Mind Part 2
Mobb Deep – Give Up The Goods
Capone-N-Noreaga – Blood Money
Kool G Rap – Ill Street Blues vs. First Nigga (Scott Melker Edit)
A Tribe Called Quest – Start It Up (SMJCO Edit)
Rakim – In The Ghetto (12″ Version)
Run DMC – My Adidas vs. Beatnuts – That’s That Beat (SMJCO Edit)
LL Cool J – I Need A Beat
MC Shan & Marley Marl – The Bridge

BRONX

Boogie Down Productions – South Bronx
Mad Lion ft. KRS One – Double Trouble (Third World Mix)
Lord Finesse – You Know What I’m About
Big Pun vs. The Alchemist – I’m Not A Player (SMJCO Edit)
Fat Joe – Flow Joe
Showbiz and A.G. – Catchin’ Wreck
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – I Get Physical
D.I.T.C. – Thick
Nice & Smooth – Old To The New
Diamond D – Sally Got A One Track Mind
Tim Dog – Fuck Compton

MANHATTAN

Big L – M.V.P. vs. Rockwilder (SMJCO Edit)
Jim Jones – We Roll
Children Of The Corn – A Star Is Born (SMJCO Edit)
Biz Markie – Make The Music With Your Mouth
Dougie Fresh – Back In The Dayz (Live)
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde – Genius Rap

STATEN ISLAND

Raekwon ft. Ghostface Killah & Method Man – Wu Ooh
Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Brooklyn Zoo
GZA ft. Method Man – Shadowboxing
Masta Killa – Queen
Wu-Tang Clan – As High As Wu-Tang Get
Wu-Tang Clan – Clan In Da Front
Ghostface Killah – Save Me Dear (JayCeeOh Edit)
Wu-Tang Clan – Triumph