Archive for September, 2008
DeadMau5 USB Head - The future of DJ and Event Promotion
Update: He’s now selling this: https://killthe8.com/merch/pages/7277/DEADMAU5_USB_Mau5_Head.htm
Here’s what comes on it:
DEADMAU5 USB Mau5 Heads.This ingenious little replica mau5 head lights up when plugged in to your computer, and contains live and press photo’s and a 1 hour mix from the man himself!
It measures 6 inches in circumference around the “head” part and four inches from ear to ear 
I’m so bored with CDs as a form of promotion. Sure they are cheap and easy to get now but they lack the something special that people remember. Here’s an idea that I’ve wanted to do for a while. USB thumb drives are so much cooler, especially when they are shaped like a red mouse head.I grabbed this article for PRWeb.com. You can read more about it here too.
Toronto DJ Deadmau5 (pronounced ” Dead Mouse”) loads a creative mouse head USB flash drive with content. It includes an hour-long live audio mix, ergophobia.com content, video content and Deadmau5 wallpaper.
New York (PRWEB) September 16, 2008 — Don’t be surprised when you begin seeing desk and laptops with a bright red, smiling mouse head connected to its USB port. It’s the latest collaboration between Deadmau5 and technology new-comer Aderra Inc.
Toronto DJ phenom Deadmau5 turned to Aderra Inc when he was trying to find a new way to reach his fans. His search resulted in a bright red smiling Deadmau5 head loaded with Deadmau5 and Ergophobia content created by Aderra Inc “Live Events in a Flash”™. http://www.aderra.net
Deadmau5 used Aderra’s recording and duplication platform for his live performance in New York on July 18th at the Fillmore. Immediately following the Ergophobia sponsored event, attendees were handed a whimsical mouse head that contained a live recording of his DJ set along with additional marketing material from both Deadmau5 and Ergophobia all on an easy to use flash drive.
” We worked directly with Deadmau5 to exactly replicate the signature mouse head mask he wears in a USB flash drive. Along with the live music recording and hilarious videos of Deadmau5 in London and Miami, sponsors Ergo Phobia included computer wallpapers of the latest designs from their clothing line.” - Ed Donnelly, President http://www.aderra.co.uk
In addition to “Live Events in a Flash”™ technology, Aderra has been making waves in pre-loaded content delivery as well. Aderra USB flash drives were recently summoned as a branding vehicle for Sony Television Entertainment which used the platform to deliver a Seinfeld branded USB wristband pre-loaded with Seinfeld content. The Seinfeld wristbands have been passed out across the country to college students nationwide with hopes of introducing the brand to a new fan base.
It’s been apparent for several years that advertisers are aware of the power of the Internet. Aderra Inc. USB flash drives now offers advertisers a way to capture offline users and deliver them directly to the content and online destinations of their choice. http://www.aderra.net
Deadmau5 immediately understood the power of Aderra’s USB technology platform and jumped on the opportunity to promote his live performance as well as his sponsor Ergophobia.
Deadmau5
www.deadmau5.comErgophobia
www.ergophobia.com
10 Years of Bedrock: John Digweed mixes “Bedrock 10 Past, Present and Future”
I read today on Filter27 that Digweed is putting out a new compilation to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Bedrock Records. I can still remember the feeling I had when I popped in that first Bedrcok mix. It was house but with an edge and a tribal rhythm that was both sexual and dangerous. Many have tried but I still think Digweed is the best at creating that dark mood. Here’s the article from Filter27.com. Check the Heaven Scent video at the bottom of the post.
To coincide with the tenth anniversary of Bedrock parties in London and the fast approaching 10th anniversary of Bedrock Records; John Digweed releases the triple-disc mix Bedrock 10 Past, Present and Future through his own Bedrock Records. Compiling and mixing a stunning collection of remixes that shine new light on the label’s back catalogue alongside the cuts that are currently representing the distinguished Bedrock sound.
CD’s 1 and 2 are mixed by the man himself. The third disc is an unmixed affair and features original tracks from Funk d’Void, Jim Rivers and Charlie May (Pindrop) plus unreleased remixes from Guy Gerber, POB, and Chab.
The compilation will be released in October through Bedrock Records.
Tracklist:
01. Fortunatro & Montresor - Imagine (Estroe Remix)
02. Pole Folder & CP - Dust (Charlie Mayhem Cold Shoulder Dub)
03. Tom Mangan - Chutney (Tom Mangan 2008 Remix)
04. Steve Lawler - Rise’in (Steve Lawler Powder Powder Remix)
05. Bedrock - Santiago (Chab Remix)
06. John Digweed - Warung Beach (Jamie Stevens Remix)
07. Bedrock - Emerald (Seismic Dub)
08. Gutterstylz - Dirtbox (Bruce Aisher’s Resurrection Rewind)
09. Science Dept - Repercussion (Danny Howells Remix)
10. Bedrock - Beautiful Strange (John Digweed & Nick Muir’s Even Stranger Remix)
11. Guy J - Save Me (James Talk Remix)
12. Bedrock – Heaven Scent (M.O.D.E. remix)
CD 2:
01. Bedrock- Forge (Tom Middleton Remix)
02. Guy J - Lunar
03. Jim Rivers - Empathy
04. Saints & Sinners - Pushin Too Hard (Bruce Aisher Remix)
05. Christian Smith - Flyer Talk
06. Moonface - U Get So Give (Paolo Mojo Remix)
07. Shmuel Flash - Chilling Moments (Kazell Influx Audio Remix)
08. John Digweed & Nick Muir - Aquatonic
09. Misstress Barbara - K10 (Alan Fitzpatrick Remix)
10. Tom Mangan - Chutney (Size 9 Reinterpretation)
11. Guy Gerber - Stoppage Time (Outro Edit)
CD 3:
01. Bradler & Dualton - Six Hours Later (Original Mix)
02. Pole Folder & CP - Dust (Charlie Mayhem Cold Shoulder Dub)
03. Fortunato & Montresor - Imagine (Estroe Remix)
04. Morgan Page & Gregory Shiff feat. Astrid Suryanto - All I Know (Jim Rivers Space Disco Remix)
05. Nick Muir - Gravitation
06. Steve Lawler - Rise In (Steve Lawler Powder Powder Remix Edit)
07. Bedrock - Santiago (Guy Gerber Hotrod Dub)
08. Funk D’Void & Toby Izui - Sensei
09. Pindrop - Madhouse
10. Guy J - Lunar (Late Night Friday Remix)
Bedrock - John Digweed - Heaven Scent
Music Videos at www.roxwel.com
Burning Man Pictures
Burning Man was absolutely amazing. I’m still in shock from how much fun I had and met some amazing new friends. Too many stories to recount here so I’ll just let you check out the pictures.
Richie Hawtin talks about how he uses Traktor live
Found this on Resident Advisor.
I saw Hawtin at Coachella in 2007 and he hadn’t quiet perfected his setup. His set was a bit off and some of his effect usage was off. I missed him in Houston but reports were that things were as tight and as clean as people have come to expect from him.
I agree with him when he talks about using the computer to free him up to do more creative things with his djing. Rather than looking for a track, searching for the start point and beat matching, he’s free to mix more tracks at once, loop, add in effects etc… Bottom line, beat matching is not djing. Creating a mood and building and releasing energy over the course of your set is the true art of djing.
Adam Freeland Interview - New Album coming
Brit Adam Freeland makes a new home on the West Coast
Duke Shin
And there he was, the superstar DJ standing before thousands of tent moppets dancing in the mid-day heat, mashing up Daft Punk’s “Aerodynamic” with a Speak & Spell’s disembodied voice spelling out “O-B-A-M-A. You are correct.” As the kids danced harder, one obvious question would be why a British DJ would be so interested in the potential future President of the United States. Course, it makes a bit more sense when said DJ is Adam Freeland, who absconded to sunny Los Angeles about eighteen months ago. So what prompted this move?
“A girl,” he sheepishly laughs into his phone as he cruises to LAX en route to weekend gigs in Austria, England and Portugal. Although his love-relocation might not have worked out in the end, Freeland decided to stick around. “I wasn’t expecting to like LA as much… [but] 360 days of sunshine a year is enough to win over an Englishman who’s used to rain and miserable-ness!”
It would be easy to paint Freeland’s apparent support of Barack Obama as simply playing to the festival masses, but there’s one element persistent throughout Freeland’s musical career that will sound familiar to anyone following the senator’s presidential campaign: change. Freeland’s meteoric rise to the jet-setting musical elite began with the successes of his “Coastal Breaks” mixes, leading to 1998’s “Tectonics,” which made Freeland the poster boy for nu skool breaks. But by the time it came for Freeland’s artist-album debut, it became apparent that instrumental dance tracks like those featured on his previous breakbeat mixes were not the next step in his career. 2003’s “Now and Them” (as Freeland) garnered big attention for its punkish attitude and breakout single “We Want Your Soul.” Since then, Freeland has become more visible remixing tracks from the likes of Silversun Pickups, Shiny Toy Guns and Marilyn Manson than relying on his former breakbeat persona. And following the release of his “Hate” EP (released December 2007), one wonders exactly how much of Los Angeles’ rock-to-electro scene has influenced his sound. The world will find out soon, as Freeland has been hard at work at his next artist LP.
“I’d say this album I just finished is definitely influenced by being in LA, just because the musicians I’ve worked with I couldn’t access from being anywhere else in the world. The [”Hate” EP] was actually just instrumental cuts that didn’t make the album. The album’s more song-based… [but] that EP is more influenced by the current Parisian sound than it is LA.”
Those Parisian influences could be seen taking hold in Freeland’s contribution to the venerable Global Underground mix series, with 2007’s “Mexico” installment featuring remixes and productions from Etienne De Crecy, Mr. Oizo and Justice. “To me a lot of the Ed Banger stuff is the attitude that kind of got me excited about early days of breaks, y’know, before it kind of, long voyage, went very generic,” Freeland explains. “I’ve always said I’m a rocker trapped in a DJ’s body, and… things come and go… [The French tracks] got that sort of fuck-off rock [and] punk-rock attitude to it. It’s not about tasteful minimal high hats—and it’s still tasteful, don’t get me wrong—but it’s maximal… I can’t play a whole set of that stuff, but I like it.”
“I can’t play a whole set of that stuff, but I like it” might be the only accurate description for Freeland’s evolving sets. Despite his ribbing on “tasteful minimal high hats,” his mixes often contain a few techno-leaning tracks, and he even had Brazilian techno visionary Gui Boratto remix 2007’s “Silverlake Pills.”
“The fundamental kind of glue that keeps it all consistent for me is my love of snare drums. I’ve always loved house music but, it’s like, I couldn’t ever stand the straight 4/4 kick drum… I look at producers like Todd Terry or LTJ Bukem, for example, and they’re people who’ve just got one sound and ran with it. That’s their sound,” he explains in reverence—before candidly admitting his own limitations. “My personality type couldn’t do that. I tire to quickly… I need to be constantly inspired by new stuff, and that obviously influences what I do… I sometimes see if I’d just taken one sound [and] really honed it in exactly and just totally [ran] with that, it would be a way bigger thing, but it’s just not me… I can’t do that!” he chuckles. Even Freeland’s speech pattern reflects this rapid-fire attitude, as he leaves sentence fragments hanging when a new idea bubbles forth. Like, for example, his new album that he’s hoping to release early next year.
“I literally finished it today… I’m really happy with it—it’s definitely my biggest, most ambitious project to date. I took almost three years making it, so I’m pretty keen to get it out there.”
Freeland’s admitted love of shoegazer, drone-rock, snare drums and rock sneers will be on full display, with contributors including Twiggy Ramirez of Marilyn Manson fame, punk hellcat Brody from the Distillers, Gerry from Devo, and most surprisingly, Joey Santiago of the Pixies.
Absurd Recordings
Got hit with this link today and have been jamming these sets. Start at the top and work your way down.
Politics and Music
Got a few videos dealing with the conventions and music. First up is Z-Trip rocking the show for Obama. Z-Trip is def one of my favorite party rocking djs.
Video originally from URB.
DeadMau5’s spoof on the 08 Presidential election.
Next is Rage Against The Machine leading a protest during the RNC. I was one of 25 photographers lucky enough to photograph them at Lollapalooza and I can honestly say they are a force of nature.
Originally found on LATimes.com.
Peep a few of my pictures from Lolla.
What a great year….
I’ve had an amazing year thus far. Highlights have been
- Buying my first house, painting the walls, replacing the light fixtures and fans, moving in and getting settled
- Playing in Chihuahua, Mexico on Feb. 1st, hangning with Marcos Barrera and Jesus Prada
- My buddyTyler’s bachelor party in Los Angeles in March with Alex, Mike, Kenji, Tyler, and Jacob.
- Austin Electronic Music Festival - opening for Infected Mushroom and Deadmau5
- Opening for Adam Freeland @ SKY on April 17th
- Coachella in April, highlights were Justice, Modeslektor, Sia, Santogold, Autolux, Junkie XL, James Zabiela, Prince, etc…
- Bryan Krueger and his new wife Amy’s wedding in Ft. Lauderdale in May
- Tyler and Jessie’s wedding in Austin
- 5 year anniversary with my girlfriend Sedef
- Trip to San Francisco for my father’s 60th bday in June
- Chris Fortier @ SKY for my birthday on June 20th
- 6th Annual Semiaudiks Boat Party on Lake Travis with music and dancing by Paco, Tarek, eVL-E, Reverned Pain, Alex, Che, Angela Nations and myself on July 1st
- VIP and Photo pass at Lollapalooza, sightseeing in Chicago
- Marcos Barrera @ SKY on August 8th
- Steve Porter @ SKY on August 15th
- Roadtrip from Amarillo to Black Rock City - Burning Man with Justin, Dustin and Kenji. Krueger and Amy were there too.
Coming UP:
I’m taking a two month break from DJing, drugs, alcohol. I’m going to focus on working out, eating healthly, hitting the studio and building up ideas from next year in terms of music and art.