VICTOR CALDERONE
"People, beautiful things, producers, DJs, friends and lovers," is what rising star, Nicole Moudaber, credits for what musically influences her. The dance phenom has graced the decks everywhere from Ibiza to NYC and plans on spreading her sweet techno sounds even further. Her first full length EP "The Journey Begins," released in August, has been a hit creating a lot of buzz propelling her to book and fill tour dates in Europe and North America. "Tour has been fantastic so far with sold out shows everywhere and I'm having a great time especially on my long sets," Moudaber says. Besides different accents, she says the vibe is exactly the same everywhere. "We're here to party and fly away on incredible music all night." Currently, Moudaber is in the works of launching her own label, MOOD Records, by the end of the year as well as spinning out new releases. Get to know a little more about her story below and get a feel for her music here. Be sure to check out Moudaber's upcoming shows in NYC, Oct. 5th at Provocateur and Oct. 6th at Pacha.
How did you get into DJing/producing? I was a promoter before I got into producing. I had to step out of the music world for 3 years to build / refurbish a house in Ibiza I bought, the only way I wanted to step back into this world was through making music. Things spiraled from there, bookings came afterwards, won an IDMA award this year at the WMC in Miami for my remix of Carl Cox's single "Chemistry" for Best Minimal / Techno track category. And "The Journey Continues"…
How would you describe your DJ/song selection style? Mood based? Depending on venue? My styles vary depending on the venue but still within the realm of my sound, from deep house all the way to big room techno. You debuted on BBC Radio 1's Essential Mix. Tell us about that experience. A great experience of course, when I got asked to do it by Pete Tong and the Radio 1 team I thought to myself, 'That's going to be a two-hour mix of what I really love.' I'll be able to share with everyone. The response was amazing. How would you describe your relationship with Victor Calderone? How was it working together? I've known Victor for quite some time now, our relationship is not only professional but also we're very close friends, so the combination is very special. Our collaboration on the EP "The Journey Begins" on Drumcode was a big hit, it reached number 4 in the techno charts on Beatport, supported by all the usual suspects of house and techno. How do you hope to differentiate yourself being that the EDM world is predominately powered by males? This is certainly not in the scope of my hopes. There are great male DJs out there, like Carl Cox, Richie Hawtin, Danny Tenaglia and Adam Beyer to name a few, and also amazing DJs like Magda, Cassy, tINI and Maya Jane Coles. We're all very different and unique and our only hope is to share our music with everyone. Any producers you have/hope to work with in mind? Too many to mention! I got asked recently to remix Alanis Morissette's new single which I thought was interesting. I also have plans to work with Skin from Skunk Anansie, an incredible voice that moves me a lot. There are also collaborations coming soon with Adam Beyer and Danny Tenaglia.
Winter Music Conference is almost upon us, and for those of you who haven’t quite mapped out your party plans, you’re in luck; here at Joonbug we’ve already done the heavy lifting.
Joonbug is proud to present our guide to the Winter Music Conference opening weekend. Saturday and Sunday’s star-studded lineup promises unlimited debauchery, mischief, and of course, brilliant techno music. So grab your skimpiest bathing suit, your highest stilettos, and your earplugs (for those of you who can’t handle bass in your face) and get ready to have your minds blown.
Flexibility? Maybe. (Bending over to turn tables doesn't exactly equate to touching your toes.)
Dexterity? Definitely.
Introducing Eric Harary, a producer and DJ who's sounds are making quite a chant around the city. Praised by the likes of Danny Tenaglia, Eric has been the opening and closing act for legendary big-room DJs such as Boris and Victor Calderone. Playing clubs from Dubai to Toyko to Russia, this Brooklyn boy is about to explode on the American dance music scene.
Eric opened up to Joonbug about where's he been and where he's going, (all, of course, with a courageous attempt at hot yoga...)
Face it, all good things things come to an end eventually. We won't get all existential on you, so let's put it in language most revelant to your current lifestyle: Gone are the good ol' days of goons pumping juice in the Tiana Beach parking lot.
Over the last four years, residents of the multi-milion dollar vacation homes lining Dune Road have obstinately (and rightly so) argued from the end of the infamous Neptunes Beach Club, that little shanty of a party place that, once, long ago, hosted headliners who's crowds really brought the alphabet to the party. Recently, increased police presence, random searchs and that damn scary German Shepherd (let's call him Hans) at the door clearly, and we repeat clearly, steered you away from any wrong doing.
It’s almost Saturday. You’re gearing up for your regular haunts: gettin’ the extra push-ups in while your girl goes to H&M for yet another high-waisted skirt. But this weekend, try something different. Something secret. Something dirty, raw and pounding. (No, not that!)
We are talking about BLKMarket Membership’s party this Saturday, featuring France’s Jennifer Cardini and UK Fabric’s Craig Richards, playing alongside residents (and founders) Fahad and Taimur. Famed for playing minimal before it was known even as such, Jennifer’s a pioneer in the techno community; in the mid 90’s, she was resident at Rex Club (where she still hosts a bi-monthly party, named after her own record label, “Correspondant”) and Le Pulp, a small lesbian club in Paris known for underground and avant-garde music. At the forefront of the electronic music scene, Jennifer regularly enthralls crowds at London’s Fabric, Berlin’s Panorama Bar, and Toyko’s Womb. While she was busy packing her records-- “Moodyman and Sandwell District stuff”-- the down-to-earth Jennifer graciously made time to chat with Joonbug about her upcoming New York City gig and her plans for the remainder of 2011.
“I had the best time playing the BLKMarket party last year,” Jennifer exclaims. “You can really feel that they are music lovers, and that’s key for a nice party!” In case you haven’t indulged in the dirt of New York’s underground electronic music scene, BLKMarket throws techno and house parties at dark, secret locations usually not disclosed until the day of the event. How’s that for mystery? So while the rest of New York City is fist pumping at District to Victor Calderone, or shrugging their shoulders at going to Pacha (because where else is there? asks JoeyJuice) you'll know the clandestine cave for crass, raw beats. It will be an adventurous trek to Brooklyn, well worth the illegitimate partying way past 4 am.
Booking predominantly techno artists, BLKMarket brings in DJs and producers New Yorker’s don’t usually get to experience. (Which means, European artists). But Jennifer doesn’t really notice a different between the European and American circuits. “I don't like to think there are differences between countries. For me, it's always a matter of promotion, how much the promoter cares and what kind of audience they bring,” she says. In this case, no-attitude, no-frills. (The last-minute disclosure of BLKMarket’s space discourages divas.)
Influenced by the Detroit-techno and Chicago-house scenes, Jennifer’s been at the decks for over 15 years, long enough to perfect her craft and keep things interesting as she experiments with new sounds and styles. Her audience is always entertained. “It works cause I play whatever I like and I cross genres,” Jennifer explains. “I could not play 2 hours of minimal for example. I like to drop people and win them back, like a roller coaster. This allows me to jump from one thing to another and try to surprise them... I hope!”
Jennifer has a few surprises of her own in store of the end of the year, one being “to get married in New York... Kidding!” she adds. Her first time playing in the city after the passing of the state’s gay marriage law, Jennifer, a known lesbian with a distaste of emoticons gushes, “I’m so happy for New York. It’s great! I’m afraid the Vatican will allow it before France does...” Aside from her busy touring schedule, her 10+ year residency at Rex Club, Jennifer’s time is devoted to working on her new album, planned to be released by the end of the year. She’s also very er new record label, Correspondant, where one of her favorite producers, New York’s Abe Due just did an “amazing remix.”
On your walk through Gramercy to the 4 train, you spot it. EVOLVE stamped on the front of a puffed-out chest. You and this creature are united by one thing. Well yes, chimpanzee heritage, but one other thing. Music.
Music and fashion have breed like two eager gorillas to create culture since... forever. Chopin’s music constrained women in corsets. Duke Ellington eloped with hemlines to reveal the female thigh. Kurt Cobain kept you (and your girl) in the same flannel shirt from October to June. Today, the modern house music-clubber distinguishes himself from his hipster brethren not just by caked-on layers of Axe Instinctual Bodyspray, but by a variety apparel so high-maintenance you'll be in your parent's basement for another five years. (A least you've still got the Beamer).
Don't lie. It hurts to be at work today. It hurts to celebrate your independence, we know.
Particularly if you danced all weekend at Governor's Island for the Dance.Here.Now.
So here's to the weekend party. Grab some of the hair of the dog that bit you. (That never hurts, especially at lunch time.)
If you feel good today, here's to what you missed.
Friday night premiered "the tent," a construction that domed over the concrete, much like a smaller version of last weekend's tent at Vegas's Motor Speedway for Electric Daisy Carnival. The black interior provided the perfect surface for AG's lights to do their magic, flashing and blaring the crowd as though they were in a kaleidoscope. The lights also reflected off a giant, hollow octagon stationed between the DJ and visual screen, creating a unique cage-like effect. And, while very few party-goers wore red, white and blue, there was no shortage of glow-in-the dark orange painted onto hands that pumped 150 beats per minute into the air.
You can’t help it. You leave state and everyone gawks. No, no booger in your nose. Is it your high top Dunks? Your blow-out? Your puma-like walking pace?
Whatever it is about you, it’s decidedly New York. And you can’t escape it. That’s why at the Winter Music Conference you share dance space with the same people, attend the same parties, at the same places. (The following can be combined for all plausible possibilities: Danny Tenaglia, marathon, Space Terrace, Victor Calderone, Boris, Surfcomber, Shelbourne.)
But hold on. These names are at the very end of a long line of local NYC DJs-- Exacta and Merritt, Sleepy & Boo, Tedd Patterson, Cevin Fisher-- who’s local residencies have led to (inter)national success.
Below is a list of the top 5 upcoming New York City DJs. Support your local scene and go see them while they still play for free before midnight.
1. Michael Anthony
Prophetic even in name, Michael Anthony sees himself as “herding an eclectic mix of wolves of sheep.” Revolutionary and brash, he explains how he got into house music; “I thought it was fascinating how some DJs just made the crowd straight up blow them for hours on end. I kind of thought to myself, wow, I want a crowd to blow me too. Then, it all kind of meshed together.” (Sex, music and Michael Anthony).
Acne. Bad breath. Greasy hair. Glasses. All reasons for being uncool in high school.
Listening to house music and rubbing shoulders with a prickly naked dude in the 7 am "Sea of Men" at Victor Calderone? Cool. Even you, Straight Guy, loved it, but definitely remembered to bring five girl friends with you next time and stay back by the bar.
In case you, like most Americans, are ignorant to history, here's a little lesson: When House first began in Chicago, New York City and Detroit, it was primarily targeted at the gay community, and thus could never reach pop potential until sexual stigmas were broken. With last week's passing of same-sex marriage in New York, it’s safe to say that this is a culture that is ready to accept House and the freedom it represents.
 |
 |
 |
 |
