DMb | Dance Music blog & Podcast

San Francisco DJ and producer MyKill has often been cited as “one of the most energetic dj’s in the Bay Area”. His passion for music and love of entertaining takes him to different audiences every weekend. Having performed in almost every major club in the Bay Area he has held residencies at various venues such as Trigger, 1015 Folsom, Paradise Lounge, Fahrenheit (SJ), and the Beauty Bar as well as playing signature party nights from the likes of Blow Up, Bootie, Electro Pop Rocks, Glam, and the Academy of Sciences “Nightlife” event. Hailing from Phoenix originally he’s performed all over the Southwest, Mexico, California, and now even holds a current residency in Anchorage, Alaska. Known for playing a wide variety of sounds from Electro to House, Hip Hop, and Club music all seamlessly mixed together with his own signature style and energy. He’s also known to release mixes on a regular basis and received quite a bit of praise on his “Club Killers” series documenting the new marriage of electro and top 40 music.

With over thirteen years experience behind the turntables he recently entered the world of production and signed with the upcoming SF label Solid Bump Records. While his dj sets tend to include a mix of just about everything his productions are focused more on the “French style” of funky and filtered house music His first release “Love Story” on Pleasure & Pressure Vol 2 was met with stellar response. The EP was #1 on Turntable Lab for 4 straight weeks and the single was featured in the latest Party Ben mix which aired on House Nation 99.7FM. He was recently interviewed by SF Station and invited to do a mix for Ross FM’s show “The Bounce” on Pulse HD Radio. With features on XLR8R.com and a number of music blogs, MyKill now looks towards the future with new remixes, another single, and eventually his own EP on the label.

DMb resident DJ MyKill back with another mix that’s definitely going to be in out top downloads. Sorry for the late Valentine’s day edition.

Enjoy!

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:05:40 — 75.2MB)

Mix Info & Tracklisting (more…)

Let’s start this off with a Mr. Skeleton Interview then move right into the podcast this week for some Dirty Ass Wobbly Electro Bass.

Thanks for taking some time to do this interview for readers.
No Problem at all. My pleasure. Thanks for having me !

So have you lived in Los Angeles your entire life?
Yes Sir. I have been living here for 22 years.

What do you like best about living here?
Hm….That’s a tough one. One of the reasons i like living in LA is because it’s a city… I love the city life: graffiti, skateboarding, crackheads, crime, homeless people, assholes & good looking women. What isn’t there to love about this place haha.

It’s supposed to be Winter here in LA but it’s another amazing sunny day today, I guess this is why it’s so expensive to live here.
Hell yeah ! The Weather is amazing, it is always so damn nice. All these other places (pardon my language) get FUCKED with their shitty ass weather. That’s most def why it’s so expensive to live here..that and the HOLLYWOOD bullshit. >>>you ain’t gettin’ famous son !!

We (DMb) just recently posted that video of you working your magic behind the decks, do you have any regular spots you play out with either a DJ or Live set?
I am more of an inside kinda guy haha. I don’t have a residency at any club right now. I like the idea of playing at random times… In my opinion when you become a resident at a club..You kind of just become a dj and less of an artists. I thought about getting a residency a while back, but it just didn’t feel right. Playing out every week isn’t my main goal. My main focus is to make music that people will really love & enjoy. Simple as that.

What do you think of the LA scene right now and who are some of your favorite locals?
The Los Angeles scene is great, but it isn’t great for a person of my sound.
You can’t really play “RAWWWWWW EURRRRUHHHHHH SKIZZZZZERRR UMMMMMM” bass songs at the clubs out here. There are only a few spots you can play bass heavy tracks at. If i played a little bit of “Yo Yo” (hip hop) and some “Hey Hey” (pop music) mash-ups. Then i think i would be loving the LA scene & would play out every night haha. Some of my favorite local artists…I can’t think of any that i like off the top of my head. I can name some of my favorite artists in general. Is that ok ? haha.

You are with Rot10 Musik. Who is Rot10 and do you have any further involvement with them other than being an artist on their roster?
Rot10 Musik is my online family & my first label. I will always be working on new projects with Rot10 for as long as live. Expect a lot of stuff coming from me & all of the people that are working with Rot10 !!

How did Rot10 hear your music?
Here’s the story.
A friend of mine Matt Sayers commented on my Soundcloud. I saw that he was releasing through rot10 & i wanted in haha. I got right to work on some new tracks exclusively for Rot10 Musik..I was hoping they would enjoy the tracks & would want to pick them up. I sent the songs over to Rot10 and BOOM got a response the next day. That was how i got my first Ep.
Damnnnn that was a good day haha !!!

Do you have any advice for new producers either in the studio, marketing yourself, or anything else?
My advice to any new producer is to work on music as much as you can and as hard as you can, never ever doubt yourself & last but not least enjoy it. If you LOVE what you do, good things will come your way !!

Do you have any rituals or methodology you use when prepping to write music?
I go on YouTube for a few hours and watch a bunch of random videos. It’s always a good way to get an idea for a new track. Plus its also a good excuse to watch really fucked up videos without feeling like your doing nothing haha !

What equipment and/or software do you use for writing music and do you have any favorite plugins?
I use Ableton. I was using VST’s for my basslines when i first started producing, but then i got so annoyed with the fact that it wasn’t hands on enough for me !! So i did some further research on hardware i thought i might like… I tested some synths out and i found my baby haha !! I Still rock VST’s but its only for FX work & tweaking my sounds !

“Don’t make any noise when the music’s playing. I don’t like any noise when the music’s playing.” That’s such a great sample, and you seem to find lots of great ones to use in your tracks. Do you have any method to searching and collecting samples?
Hours & hours of YouTube..You never know what madnesss you can find on that site haha ! I don’t have anything interesting to tell you like “I go into libraries and listen to really old history tapes” Even though i should now that i think about it…wait wait do they even have tapes in libraries? Where the hell did i get that from haha.

What kind of music do you listen to when not listening to dance music?
Those Poor Bastards – Sick & Alone. I will listen to that song over & over & over again. I also listen to a lot of oldies like: Bobby Darin, Little Anythony & The Imperials, The Marcels, Gene Chandler, The Dell-Vikings….I can go on forever.

Going to Coachella?
Not this year.

Favorite Food?
Pizza & McDonald’s. (Yes. McDonald’s is now a food of its own)

Favorite place to eat?
Panda Express, Denny’s or any place that isn’t 10,000 bux to eat. You know…that top of the line food.

How long does it take you to get ready to go out?
Why ? What are you planning on doing… This is getting weird ahha. What are you going to ask me next. When do you fall asleep. Good luck trying to break in…I NEVER SLEEP !!!! 0_0

Do you sleep on your side, back, or chest?
There ya go again with the questions haha! If i slept i would sleep on my chest so i can do cock push ups.

What was your last traffic violation?
I drive like an 80 year old woman…so it has been a while so i got pulled over for a traffic violation. I would say going 20mph in a 10mph zone at some national park when i was 16.

Lastly, please tell us about any new music, gigs, or other gossip you want to share with everyone.
I just finished up Two Remixes one for Stereoliez & another for Apparatus. The Stereoliez remix will be up on SoundCloud the 15th of Feb & the App remix will be released later this month. I am currently working on remixes for Defunct/Mr. Eyez ,Roto Mafia & Blood Shake. Lastly I have a collaboration with the Lovely Vocalist Circe. That pretty much sums it up for the next two 1/2 months haha.

Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions and I’m sure we will be seeing a lot more of your name in 2011. Please keep us posted on future Mr. Skeleton news.
No Problem at all! Thanks again for having me do this interview. There will def be a lot more Mr. Skeleton in 2011.

Hide your kids, hide your wife…Mr. Skeleton is in the building and he doesn’t play nice.

Enjoy!

Podcast: Download (Duration: 57:21 — 65.7MB)

For more info on Mr. Skeleton check out:
SoundCloud
ROT10 Musik
Twitter

Tron-esque graphics add a futuristic feel to this roller-derby pinball match.

ElectroHouse, Dubstep, and Breaks in this edition featuring: Calvertron, Beataucue, Tim Healey, Basement Jaxx, Plump DJs, Vent, Foreign Beggars, Mr. Skeleton, B.h(a)ve, Dirty Loud, High Rankin, Hirshee, and Drivepilot.

Basement Jaxx – Dracula

Calvertron – Hit Da Ground (Original Mix)

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CineSpace Hollywood closed down this past week to re-open this Tuesday Feb 8, 2011 as Dim Mak Studios with a new side entrance. Dim Mak Tuesdays was a destination for bands and artists like Uffie, The Editors, Kid Cudi, Digitalism, The Presets, Boys Noize, and Friendly Fires to get their start with Dim Mak leader Steve Aoki at the helm.

Press:
LOS ANGELES – Dim Mak founder and world renowned DJ/Producer, Steve Aoki will unveil his latest project, “Dim Mak Studios”. The dual format venue, live show and nightclub, will continue to host Tuesday nights presented by Dim Mak. Dim Mak Studios has taken the liberty of presenting entertainment on any night of the week, live acts or spinning DJs.

Premiering Tuesday, Feb. 8, Dim Mak Studios will launch “The Loft”, a weekly “pop-up party” happening every Tuesday. The Loft’s grand opening is sure to deliver a prime party with the Official ‘Cut Copy- Record Release” featuring secret guests, Uproot Andy, Samo Soundboy (Trouble & Bass), Them Jeans and new Dim Mak resident DJ Heavy Accents. Party attendees will be entering through a new rear entrance on Cosmo.

After 7 years of successful music showcases, this new venue venture will provide an interesting opportunity for Dim Mak to flex it’s auditory and design muscle.

Looks like a fresh benchmark for Dim Mak has been set.

DIMMAK.COM OFFICIAL STATEMENT
“After 7 years of bringing you the most progressive and cutting-edge music with “Dim Mak Tues- days”, a new project by Dim Mak and Founder/Owner Steve Aoki is here! “Dim Mak Studios: The Loft Series” is a new party, with a new face, same focus to bring you the next “IT” bands and DJ/producers from around the world, but only here for a LIMITED TIME ONLY. “The Loft” will run from February through August, and is expected to win over your hearts every Tuesday at Dim Mak Stu- dios!”

Avicii unleashed Penguin on the world with his Essential Mix and an unknown release date. If you really really need to play this out give this reconstruction a download until the real deal hits the streets.

Avicii – Penguin (Prophet of Ninth Dirty Reconstruction)

You read it right, Deadmau5 now has his own USB drives that you can order starting Feb 7th here.

He recently made history becoming the first ever artist of this genre to headline London’s legendary Earls Court, following in the footsteps of Oasis, Pink Floyd and Madonna.

This special edition deadmau5 USB has eyes that light up when being used. It features
exclusive footage from this recent Live show at Earls Court, recorded on December 18th
2010. Contents include…

• Exclusive film – Live From Earls Court shot in HD
• Behind the scenes footage
• Exclusive photo gallery
• Wallpapers

NOTE: This product is NOT available to territories in the American continent for some weird reason.

In 2011 Tocadisco celebrates 16 years as a DJ with almost 100 international remixes, two artist albums and 20 internationally successful singles and remixes and production for Moby, Tiga, Pet Shop Boys, New Order, Kelis, David Guetta and Fischerspooner.

Tocadisco’s first artist album “SOLO” won an MTV Award for “Best International Dance” and tracks he wrote and produced for David Guetta, for his albums “Pop Life” and “One love”, sold over 1 milion copies worldwide. He is also the proud label owner of TOCA45 Recordings and TOCACABANA, the worldwide radio show by Tocadisco, that is broadcast by over 20 radio channels including Ibiza Global Radio and Big City Beats.

This edition of the DMb Podcast from Tocadisco proves that “Nobody Likes the Records That I Play” couldn’t be more wrong.

Enjoy!

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:04:39 — 74.0MB)

Mix Info & Tracklisting (more…)