TECH HOUSE

Long considered one of the biggest names in techno, Joris Voorn continues to keep listeners hooked with his signature blend of dark and groovy house. The Dutch DJ and producer sat down with Joonbug before a show at Miami’s celebrated club Space to share his thoughts on the underground, NYC, and touring.

Even though house started in America, it evolved much faster in Europe than it did here in the States at the beginning of the movement. Who do you think is responsible for the EDM we’re listening to today?

It's hard to believe that the same producer who brought us the tech house classics like ‘Body Monster’ and ‘Like This, Like That’ is responsible for the dreamy, groovy, kaleidoscope of sound that is “In My Factory.”

The debut album by Italian DJ and producer Leon is the recent house star’s first full-length body of work, just released on Steve Lawler’s VIVa Music.

A resident at the Terrace of Miami’s legendary club Space for seven years, Buenos Aires native Patrick M has made a name for himself in house music around the world. He sat down with Joonbug to talk about the global house scene, spinning in Miami, and his upcoming show in New York next week.

AM: You’ve performed with New York legends Danny Tenaglia and Eric Murillo, and you’ll be traveling there again next week. What’s the biggest difference between the house scene there versus the scene in Miami where you have a residency?

You've been going to that 46th street cave since, like, ever. The Sound Factory back step just doesn't work to Electro. Shuffling? (Yea, only in your walker!)

Jokes aside, if you like your beats dark and dirty then the unofficial place to be after this weekend's Electric Zoo is Studio 21, where Endless presents Berlin’s tech-house extraordinaire &ME.

Making his first appearance in America for nearly a year, &ME has been busy on the European club circuit, playing massive festivals like Suicide Circus and Creamfields. &ME will be supported by Eric Harary, who’s destined to be the biggest names out of Brooklyn since Tony Rohr. Eric has played along side international techno superstar Ricardo Villalobos and been featured at the best world superclubs, from Dubai to Tokyo. Offering the best of local NYC talent, Terry Nova and Damien Ford will warm up the dance floor in the same fashion of their Brooklyn rooftop parties, which have made quite a stir this summer.

My Facebook Newsfeed poses a cultural contradiction: walls wail a lament of New York City nightlife, while simultaneous posts pop up about the surge of underground parties, which do truly host superb local talent. With Electric Zoo officially breaking the barrier of electronic sub-genres, where the future of house music lies is unknown, and in terms of dubstep, scary. For those of us underground lovers who refuse to shy away from this massive event of commercial mayhem, we do it for the Sunday School Tent, (and I'll speak for myself as I "Nordic-track" to Armin Van Buuren in gleeful reminiscence of raves circa-2000.) We do, after all, only get to see many of these artists once or twice a year, because sorry guys, right now Europe's party scene is 10-fold what we have here in New York. Nicole Moudaber is one of those such artists who you should not miss next weekend.

Brazilian DJ Gui Boratto has completed work for his third artist album, expected to be released by German powerhouse Kompakt records sometime in September.

(How'd he do it with that crazy touring schedule?)

Gui gained attention back in 2004 when his self-released album "Royal House" juxtaposed Latin percussive elements with classic French house. (Ah the blending of two beautiful cultures...) The one-time architect released large number of successful singles on Radiomatique and Plastic City before Kompakt released his 2007 album "Chromophobia." Praised for its distinct sound and rich melodic tones, "Chromophobia" catapulted Gui into the spot of Brazil's premiere techno export. Listener's can except Gui to continue his heavy chromatic chord progressions in his next album, as well as feature vocals by his Luciana Villanova, who provided lyrics for 2007's "Beautiful Life." It will be very special indeed.

Hailing from Detroit, the breeding ground of techno, Vonstroke's style is not for the weak of heart. Infused with minimalist bits, strange vocal sound effects and varied percussions, Vonstroke's funky tech-house style sure makes for a good dancing time. Known for tracks like Deep Throat and Who's Afraid of Detroit, Vonstroke has made a name for himself with his custom sounds and quirky DJ personality

It’s started. Your favorite house DJ who’s spun tribal, techy beats since your first fake ID has adopted the abrasive beat that sounds much like your first car-- broken and sputtering. The electro invasion has arrived.

And you had enough this past weekend to make your pet robot cringe under the bed. Below is a list of the five hottest new house songs, sans “electro”:

1. Paco Osuna’s “What That”

The newest release off Plus 8 Records (owned by Richie Hawtin), “What That” delivers an appropriately devilish track, given the grammatically incorrect title. Every time you hear a kid slurring, “What dat is?!,” think of Osuna’s repeating vocal, “there was a filthy child... I lit the whole thing up and watched it burn.” What, in today’s recession, isn’t incorrect grammar deserving of immolation?