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Showing posts from June 1, 2004

the bench sequencing part 2

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by J. Phoenix ~ Images captures from Propellerhead's Reason ~ Hello again! Some of you may have noticed my absence last month. Despite my last article's promise of moving on to Synthesis, that series within this series has been difficult to complete. Synthesis is such a wide ranging subject, involving not only musical ideas, but also physics and mathematics that it is taking far longer to finish than I originally thought it was. There are many different ways to sequence a pattern as we have seen from my previous article on sequencing. In this article, I'll try to dig deeper into sequencing rhythms having demonstrated some of the lay-outs for different types of sequencers. This article will focus on tips on sequencing basic patterns for beginners; for anyone out there who's already past this point, please bear with me. Soon we will be getting into intermediate techniques in production in this series. Again, we will be using screen shots from Propellerhead's softwar

chris wren

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Interview by Staci Morgan ~ Photos by ChadWick Cipiti & ChrisWren.com ~ He's artist in an environment prone to "crazes". Yet his ability to create amazing sounds is matched only by his enthusiasm. From coast to coast, Chris Wren has shared his zest for everything from naughtie beats to club classics. Chris' style is so diverse that to categorize him as "loungy" or "main hall" is impossible. His music mirrors his life with passions that are creative and diverse enough in nature to keep him exactly where he wants to be...all over the place. Springtime in Washington means Cherry! While the line-up was packed with circuit superstars, rising star DJs offer a glimpse to the future. Anxiously awaiting his arrival, I wanted to have Chris share his thoughts on opening Cherry and his DC debut before the big weekend….which is where we begin… Chris, I know this is your first time spinning in Washington, DC. You're opening for Chad Jack, and clear

symmetry

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interview by todd ~ photos by todd & various friends of Symmetry ~ This girl blew me away in Miami and I didn't even hear her play until I got back. She restored my faith in DnB and I've been telling just about everyone I know since then. Not only that, her CD has been in the same slot of the changer in my car since the middle of March. Needless to say, I was so impressed with what this girl had to say musically, that I thought I mights just as well interview her and find out a little bit of who she was and where she got her start. Initially, Symmetry and I were going to meet at a party that she recently played at, Queens of the Underground in Omaha, NE. A late start from her home town, as well as a late start from Kansas City, mixed in with weird weather and it never really happened. We did catch up to one another by eMail just last week and had a little verbal volley. So, you're from Minneapolis and you play some really fine DnB. How is the DnB scene in the twi

solaris

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interview & photos by todd ~ Solaris is a one-of-a-kind DJ hailing from Kansas City. He plays a style of Techno that is rarely heard in the Central MidWest, but can be found pounding out of the speakers in many of the larger cities around the United States. He plays Hard Techno, has always played Hard Techno and will probably continue to play Techno until the day that falls over dead on top of his turntables. While many DJs flip flop and delve in to other genre's of electronic music, his continued dedication and devotion to this particular genre led me to seek him out for a few random questions. When did you start playing? I got my start in 96, got some turntables and records and doing the bedroom-DJ thing. I taught myself, really and didn't start playing out until 97 or 98. What do you call your specific genre of Techno? Hard Techno. Some in the Goth/Industrial compare it to what they call PowerNoise. However, I can and sometimes do play other less brutal variat

kid kameleon and ripley

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Interview by phelyne ~ Photo courtesty of Mashit Recordings  ~ Both Kid Kameleon and Ripley are outstanding djs who are modern day story tellers with their track selection and mixing skills which consist of everything from raggabreaks, dubcore, speedbeats, genreblends, wreckstep, soundclashes, beatresearch, rewinds, basshits, boomsounds, strategic experimental sampling, and intellegent trick placement. Niether have put out tracks on vinyl yet but plan to in the near future. Kid Kameleon has been djing since 1997 after becoming a jungle fan in 1996 while enjoying some of T Power's Mutant Jazz. Ripley became a jungle enthusiest during the height of ragga in 1994-1995 and began djing in 1996. Together these two DJs are currently on tour in Europe. Upon their return from their 2004 Mashit European Tour, they will be making a stop in Kansas City, then will be heading west for relocation to California around the end of July. I recently had an opportunity to talk with them and here'

alex cohen

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Interview by Staci Morgan ~ photos courtesy of The Cherry Fund ~ There is no shortage of great DJs in Washington, DC. Mirroring the rest of the country, it seems everybody wants to be a DJ, with vinyl even making a comeback at mainstream record shops across the country. But before the onslaught of “wannabe DJs”, there were patient DJs, addicted to vinyl and the art of making music their own creation. Even with the guidance of a legend, and a collection of original tracks, a DJ needs a break—a moment to catch people’s attention and bring him from the easily obscure in to the light of “the next big thing”. For Alex Cohen, it was a Sunday night this past March. Spinning for Cherry 9’s Host Party at Dream. It would become an impromptu coming out party for one of Washington, DC’s best kept secrets. As a regular club girl, I pride myself on knowing the scene fairly well, so I was befuddled that there was this amazing local DJ operating pretty much under radar. And as Alex prepares to hea

global scene

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Valencia & Ibiza ~ Story by Michael Bradshaw ~ Photos courtesy of wGuides.com ~ In the Mediterranean expanse of Eastern Iberia lays Valencia--the crown jewel of the Valencian province and the third largest population in Spain. Among rows of cypress trees and rumbling streets, the Valencian people dart through one of the most complicated and chaotic urban centers in Europe. The Velencian people are, by nature, genuinely kind however very much in tune with their urban roots. Graffiti covers every surface including the foundations of cathedrals and national monuments. Italo-disco thumps from egg-like cars packed with young people who constantly seek the stimulation of drugs and discotheques. Sex is very much a commodity here. Recently I witnessed a back-seat tumble which took place not only in the middle of the day, but in the middle of a busy intersection as well. It is obvious the people of Valencia learn and desire sex, drugs, music and life in the discotheque, at a very youn