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Justin Kleinfeld ~ Are you ready to jack? Get ready… The acclaimed Ministry Of Sound “Sessions” series continues to push the best names in dance music, whether they’re the hottest one-to-watch or the most established veteran, they scour the world over to deliver the optimum level excitement in every release. The 9th in the series comes from the legend himself, Mr. Curtis Jones, giving us the two sides of his musical character from his Cajmere moniker of the finest house music to the twisted but quirky beats and vocals of Green Velvet. Curtis Jones has long been heralded as one of the true greats to come out of the U.S. dance scene with his productions having always received a ridiculously large amount of support and attention from DJs across the board. He played a key role in nurturing the Chicago house renaissance of the 1990’s with his seminal label Cajual Records and gained immense success in 1993 with the Cajmere single “Brighter Days” (vocals by Dajae) that is featured on th...

Justin Kleinfeld ~ BBC Radio One DJs Rob da Bank and Chris Coco are two musical evangelists who have dedicated so much time to the pursuit of new sounds that their own mothers probably struggle to recognize them. Luckily for us, Rob & Chris' family relationships are their problem, not ours, and we can sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labors in the form of Listen Again. This double-CD compilation features a selection of celebrated and undiscovered gems from across the musical spectrum. Listen Again enchants, entertains and promises to introduce even the most jaded listener to what could well be his new favorite band. In everything they do, Rob & Chris have both found ways of taking the best of what is perceived as “fringe,” “leftfield” or “niche” music and presenting it in a way that highlights its mass appeal. This is exactly what they achieve across the 26 tracks of Listen Again. For every established act like Hard Fi or Jose Gonzalez, there are little known ge...

Stacey East ~ What is left to do after being on top of the electronic music industry for more than a decade, what achievement outshines traveling the world performing in front of hundreds of thousands of people at venues like Red Rocks and 3-Com Stadium, remixing Madonna (twice both #1 on Billboard), Paul Oakenfold (twice), Seal (#1 on the Billboard), Frank Sinatra (The first official estate commissioned electronic remix ever), David Bowie, America, Curve, The Crystal Method (#2 on Billboard), BT, Keoki, Carl Cox & Markus Schulz? What could be more rewarding than being featured on MTV, and producing tracks for Sandra Collins, D:Fuse, and DJ Rap? What can you do to top mountains of critical and popular acclaim in magazines like Rolling Stone and URB, barely being edged out for a Grammy nomination and a Dance Star award, licensing tracks for films like Tomb Raider and Bad Boys II, television powerhouses such as Buffy The Vampire Slayer and CSI, and spicing up video game soundtrac...

Stacey East ~ At the young age of 23, ear and eye-catching DJ Lea Luna has quite a handle on the club scene. She is a lifelong musician: playing keys for as far back as she can remember, and spinning records since she wasn't even of age to get into the clubs (in the underground rave heydey, 1999). When a 16 year old girl begins sharpening mixing skills and stacking up an arsenal of records and CDs that soon in her life, what potential does she already have in the club industry when she turns 21? DJ Lea Luna will tell you. She's already played all over the country at some of the most prestigious clubs and events the commercial electronic scene has. Last year, her remix sets and her 6-foot-blonde stage prowess handed her the rockstar nickname "bootlegs."Her crowd-shaking mix of big-room club, house, progressive, rock, and retro landed her in the DJ booths of clubs such as Avalon New York and B.E.D. Miami. Not only clubs took notice. She even rocked the stage with ...

Tim Yoder ~ Interview with DJ SHIVA Describe your style as of late? I have been mixing things up a bit lately. Although I am well known for banging the hard stuff, not much hard stuff has really been up to my standards lately. I have found myself getting into what I describe as more "minimal funk". Not so minimal as to be boring (if I wanted to listen to a sink dripping, I would stand in my kitchen), but clean, round sounds, with lots of tweaky noises, bleeps and bobbles. Lots of Adam Beyer's latest, as well as Thomas Schumacher (he is INSANE), Oliver Koletzki, Marc Houle, Ozgur Can, and so on. I have always liked techno that twists yer brain, and I am finding these artists are pushing those boundaries, but still keeping it good and funky. I have also gotten WAY into a new genre coming out of South London called dubstep. Think hiphop/broken beats, with dub influences and thick SUBBASS. Lately I have been playing more dubstep gigs than techno gigs, mostly because ...

Joe Hensen ~ Interview with DJ MAZI ~ photo courtesty of TCA So I read that you were born in Iran, what originally brought you to the states? I moved to the U.S. when I was 12 with my family. We came here because of political turmoil in Iran. What got you into spinning records? Ever since the age of 16 I was going dancing at a club here in Chicago called Medusa's. Essentially what got me into spinning was my love for dancing. In 1990, my freshmen year in college, I got a chance to mess around with some turntables and a mixer. We were at my girlfriend's house around Christmas time. Her brother had pulled out his old DJ gear and by the time we left their house I ended up commandeering the entire set up. Getting behind the decks was more or less an accident. If my ex's brother hadn't pulled out those decks on that day who knows what I'd be doing now. Can you play any instruments? I play the guitar and my keyboards badly. Whats the difference between th...

Well, I wasn't particularly fond of the new layout, so I ditched it for now. I am beginning development on a new backbone, but I really hope to be able to keep much of the same structure. With any luck at all, the whole change will be mostly transparent. Anyhow... the cover this month is from back in '01 at a little night called Echobass Mondays, held at the former Club Evos in the west bottoms of Kansas City. This event, along with others such as Stylus Fridays & The Wednesday Perk would ultimately help pave the way for electronic music in Kansas City to emerge out of the underground. Each of these nights in had their own significant contribution to the shape of things to come and the people that I met in these humble beginnings will always be remembered. Without them, none of this would have happened. My thanks to them. Specifically, to DJ Fitzroger, who allowed my camera to snap that first shot. The shot to the right is of the whole krewe from last month's ...

I've been away too long and I'm glad to be back in time to be here for our change into autumn. The weather might be cooling off but the decks are remaining hot as ever. The electronic music culture is out there waiting to welcome you to a brave new world if, your up for a little excitement. Let me show you a few places that I know that can get you started in the right direction. Whether it is the music or the culture, TUNE IN, TURN ON, AND DROP VINYL!!!! Welcome to Candyland for the soul. Home (Vocal Mix) - E-Craig - Reset Records Massive driving trance that breaks down into a ENYA vocal, and then right back at it again. Absolutely, F@cking genius!!!! If you don't know Enya's breathy celtic singing style, you are lost in a bad place with little hope of redemption. The cast of the Lord of the Rings will have to take on another quest to save your ass from the darkness which has beset you. Direct Dizko (Sander Van Doorn Remix) - Unknown - Konverted Agressive poun...

Justin Kleinfeld ~ Novermber 21, 2006 - Fresh off his killer run as the mastermind behind the critically acclaimed DJs ARE ALIVE project, DJ / Producer The Scumfrog will soon release his long awaited new mix CD – “Mega Scum.” This album is an attempt to inject a feeling of freshness and fun into the increasingly stale DJ Mix market. From the outrageous – if not scary – cover art to the spanking new and exclusive tracks, Mega Scum is a whole lot of fun from top to bottom. “Mega Scum” is packed to the hilt with a number of exclusive tracks, including The Scumfrog’s own "Durty Extra" and his remix of The Simple Minds new single “Different World” (not available commercially in the US) Another MEGA exclusive is White Leppard’s “Come Save Me;” the hot collaboration between influential members of the NYC nightlife scene (including Gaby Dershin from Astro & Glyde, Swamy - the modern day version of Michael Alig - and The Scumfrog). A true exclusive, the White Leppard boys a...

Justin Kleinfeld ~ November 21, 2006 - NYC - Hybrid need little introduction in the world of electronic dance music; Mike Truman and Chris Healings have been writing, producing, touring and DJing all over the globe for the best part of a decade and have amassed nearly 250 productions to date. However, you really haven’t heard anything yet! Brace yourself for I Choose Noise, Hybrid’s third and most complete artist album to date. Nothing quite matches up to the sheer beauty and complexity of Hybrid’s I Choose Noise. Healings and Truman have long been known as one of the most technically adept production outfits in the industry and it’s personified on the new record. A heavy breakbeat backbone is supported by sublime sounds of the 36-piece Seattle Orchestra and a score co-written by white hot Hollywood composer Harry Gregson-Williams. Rock legend Perry Farrell stopped by and lent his voice to the epic “Dogstar,” and even brought his Porno For Pyros mate Peter Distephano along t...

Mike Zelazek ~ A stroll down the Queensway from the gleaming Bullring and fire-bombed Dubliner bar will lead you to one of Birmingham, England’s, greasier superclubs—Air. On a typical Saturday day eve, the queue starts growing beneath the Industrial Revolution era arches and squishy, chip-littered sidewalks much later than an anticipated Eddie Halliwell night. In preparation for the new national hero of hard house and hard dance, club-goers in Birmingham must squeeze by Air’s edgy security staff into an Amazonian atmosphere with steam machines creating rain clouds on the lower level. By the 1:30 a.m. headliner set, everyone in the club is moist to some degree. While the comparative lateness makes Plump DJs after party less attractive to a foreigner, the group attitude and energy is evocative of advice avidly taken from the Human Traffic “screaming kettle” pep talk. Upon the national brand of the weekend warrior ethos, Halliwell has increased the brightness of his own spot...

Justin Kleinfeld ~ From behind his drum set, he set the disco beat in America and Europe, becoming the first French disco superstar and giving rise to Modern-day artists like Daft Punk, Groove Armada and Bob Sinclar – all who have sampled his work. We now present you with Cerrone’s greatest tracks mixed together by one of today’s hottest dance music talents. New York – French Producer Cerrone is one of the originators of disco. In 1976, his epic “Love In C Minor” became a breakout hit, selling more than 3 million copies worldwide. His follow-up release “Supernature” was another smash and went on to sell 8 million copies. In total, Cerrone has sold over 30 million records worldwide. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Cerrone’s top productions and his role in igniting the global dance phenomenon, Recall Records will reissue this artists most celebrated albums – “Love In C Minor,” “The Golden Touch,” “Cerrone’s Paradise,” “Cerrone 3” and “Hysteria.” In addition to these vital re...

Betty Kang ~ November 11, 2006 - Miami - The Southeast's newest diverse music event-returns to Miami's Bicentennial Park Saturday, November 11. The event's promoters Haddad Productions are pleased to announce Duran Duran, Daft Punk, Tiesto, Gnarls Barkley, Modest Mouse, Common, Thievery Corporation, Kinky, Los Amigos Invisiblies and more than 50 bands and DJs on 5 different stages for the day-long fete. The U.K. mega-group Duran Duran's appearance at BANG! is a special live-performance engagement they are making in the midst of recording a new album. Duran Duran is one of the most successful British bands with a career celebrating 25 years of continuous chart success and more than 70 million records sold. French electronica duo Daft Punk's stunning new live show-cum-space ship has been hailed as the must-see act of the year after their first US appearance in eight years at Coachella 2006. Other new additions to BANG! include: Common, Roger Sanchez, Kinky,...

Brent Crampton ~ Interview with Sonia Hassan & Ron Trenty ~  Club culture beyond the cocktail: Africa Hi-Fi "This music is a higher form of communication; when it is channeled and used properly, when the sound is correct and the energies (of the people) in the room are vibrating together . . . that's when it all happens." This is music according to Ron Trent, co-creator and resident DJ at Africa Hi-Fi. "Yes," replied Sonia Hassan, the 'harmonious' host and fellow co-creator of the night. "Emitting that energy, the DJ has it, and they're spreading it - that's the vibration bringing all into one." Relating the DJ and dancers as the priest and congregation, while sitting in a high-rise apartment in downtown Chicago, Trent went on to say, "That's why the DJ as god thing is garbage, because we (the DJ) are connected to that dancefloor." Hassan and Trent: two people with a clear purpose, coming together to make a d...

Brent Crampton ~  November 11 - 2006 - Omaha, NE - Within a single generation AIDS has reached pandemic proportions globally. There are now over 40 million people living with AIDS. Of the 13.2 million children who have been left behind in the wake of AIDS, 95% are in Africa alone, and every 14 seconds another child is faced with losing his or her parent and taking on adult responsibilities because of AIDS. In response to this, Ultramusique.com is on a soul mission as we present, Soul Aid: A NextAid.org Benefit, which will take place on Nov. 11th, from 7 p.m. – 1 a.m. at The Omaha Press Club (scroll down for directions and parking info). A celebration of culture for a cause, Soul Aid will feature live saxophone, percussion, keys and dee jay combined in the national headlining jazz-house ensemble known as Soul System (www.soulsystem.com). Opening act will be Brent Crampton, alongside a rare appearance by LJ Munz, with host Jay 'Rhythm Souldier' Kline. Proceeds will ...

(Originally published in the "on decks" column of the December 2005 issue of phocas.net. Scroll down, read and listen.) Hailing from London, Iheanyi (Ike) Ngwaba aka Blackliquid, came to Los Angeles armed with 16 years DJ experience and 12 years of production. His intention was to spend as much time with the best of the best talent in the United States writing, producing and DJing. After a quick six years, he accomplished that goal and established a solid reputation as a one of LA's best House DJs, Entertainers & Producers, playing right alongside of the biggest names in the industry. Only recently, he finished a remix for  DJ Colette's "Hypnotized"  and I had the rare opportunity to preview that track. It is definitely hot! It just so happens that this particular track has also been released on the new compilation CD, "Femme Fatales". In addition,he has new EP, entitled "The BlackLiquid EP" that is very near release on  Mag...

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Hailing from Victoria, BC, by way of Toronto, ON, Canada, Jeff Harris aka Plastic Motive has been active in the electronic music scene for well over a decade. At the age of 27, Jeff has run 3 different production companies (Sourkee, NeXstep and Blunted By Choice), as well as two very successful weekly nights (Re-Form and Funk’N Fridaze), and has played a major role in the Canadian underground electronic music scene. Jeff began spinning under the alias Plastic Motive in 1998 and landed his first gig in little under a year. Before that he would mix cd’s and tapes at school dances and friends birthday parties. Like most DJ’s, Jeff took to music at a very young age and it was no surprise that he would aspire to share his passion with the world. From 1999 to 2005 Plastic Motive held down DJ residency spots with 6 additional production companies (ONdaFLY, Goodfellaz, Funkadelic, Impure, Embryon and 420 Pro) all in the Southern Ontario area. He describes his style as “Nu Skool Electron...

Shelli Andranigian ~ Hollywood, CA - 15SEP06 - Southern California-based singer/dancer/performer Arnold G is set to release his debut CD DRIVEN: Straight to the Dance Floor, this week on A & G Records. The album covers a number of dance genres and also touches on social issues such as AIDS awareness, hate crimes and crystal meth. Arnold G has traveled much of the world, performing in Eastern Europe, the UK and Canada along with America. He started his career as a dancer and choreographer for various recording artists in Hollywood. After a decade as a dancer, he became a print-model but his love of music brought him to singing locally in nightclubs. There he found himself winning singing contests throughout California. As a performer he has been a part of shows at The White Party in Palm Springs, Knotts Berry Farm in Buena Park, California and The MGM Grand in Las Vegas. A special marketing campaign includes extensive promotion on MySpace, Internet distribution outlets and tr...

Justin Kleinfeld ~ New York, NY - In the heavily male dominated DJ market, it’s rare to find a female DJ who can create a huge impact on the scene in a short amount of time. Miss Nine (AKA Kristin Schrot) has not only been able to outshine and make her presence known in such a world, but she has done so all within three years of picking up a record. With her eclectic taste in music, ranging from energetic grooves with plenty of vocals to a deeper, progressive sound, Miss Nine turns heads and moves feet any where she performs. With Yoshitoshi Ibiza, Miss Nine becomes the first female to mix a compilation for Washington-based Yoshitoshi Recordings, the world-renowned leader in all genres of dance music. Kristin Schrot began her career, not as a deejay, but as a model. At 16, she made it to the finals of one of the largest modeling pageants in Germany, and soon after secured a worldwide contract with Elite Model Management. Longing for more, her passion for music led Kristin to move...