DMb | Dance Music blog & Podcast

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

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…)

This was recently posted on the Coachella.com website. It’s a cool time-lapse video shot using a tilt-shift lens to give it that “miniature” feel.

Coachella has just announced its dates for 2011 and the whispers are getting louder as everyone speculates as to the headliners this year. The three-day festival in Indio, CA betwee Los Angeles and Phoenix has earned a reputation for being the top music festival in the United States for Indie, Rock, Hip Hop, and Electronic Dance Music. This year’s event will take place on April 15-17th.

There have been whispers of headliners such as Blur, OutKast, Kanye West, Daft Punk, or The Rolling Stones. You can also expect Dance Music stages from The Do Lab and Pure Filth.

Get your tickets now.

We wanted to drop this mix on the DMb Podcast for those of you looking for some new music to listen to while traveling to visit family for Thanksgiving as we gear up to kick the Podcast back into full swing. If you’ve been out clubbing in Hollywood lately then you’re sure to have heard these guys DJing at one of the many spots around town where they hold residencies.

From Miami to Chicago, across the Southwest and Los Angeles, DJ EQ and Kod3r have rocked clubs, celebrity parties, radio shows, red carpet events, and everything in between on the way to becoming two of California’s favorite DJs. These two can be heard playing an eclectic blend of music from Hip Hop and Dubstep to Disco Funk and Indie Electro all in a night’s work. Check out their websites for a listing of current spots to see them DJ.

From the Funky Disco and Indie Dance to Dubstep, this mix is sure to have a little something for everyone.

Enjoy!

Podcast: Download (Duration: 56:23 — 64.6MB)

Mix Info & Tracklisting (more…)

Kye Gibbon aka Foamo, the 22 year old DJ/Producer from High Wycombe, UK has quickly risen to superstar status with his remixes and productions for some of the top artists in Dance Music. Foamo can be found all over the UK and Europe, and has toured Australia, America & Canada along with many guest mixes on BBC Radio 1, Kiss FM and other stations around the world. His residency at the Chew The Fat! club in London and at We Love Sundays at Space in Ibiza have created quite the stir with his legendary sets.

his productions and remixes have been supported by many DJs such as MSTRKRFT, Armand Van Helden, Diplo, Kissy Sell Out, Annie Mac, Rob Da Bank, Pete Tong, DJ Zinc, DJ Craze, Bloody Beetroots, Crookers, Drop The Lime, Steve Aoki, Zinc, & many more…

We’re excited to have this DJ set from Foamo rocking out the Hard ElectroHouse, Fidget, Nu Disco madness!

Enjoy!

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:07:09 — 76.9MB)

Mix Info & Tracklisting (more…)

Atlanta based and internationally known, Le Castle Vania, commonly known as Dylan Eiland, quickly escaped the local trappings of his hometown in Georgia to play music around the world. Atlanta’s burgeoning music scene allowed him to develop his passion for music and nightlife, and he soon gained notoriety with his riotous DJ sets and penchant for production, which made him a household name in the dirty and distorted, indie-electro scene. He has DJed along side some of today’s hottest acts, such as Justice, MSTRKRFT, Simian Mobile Disco, Busy P, Uffie & Feadz, Kavinsky, Soulwax, Surkin, Para One, The Presets, Steve Aoki and Crystal Castles. However, Dylan prides himself on more than simply pushing vinyl for the masses. He’s also an avid producer and engineer; when not on the road he’s locked in the studio writing tracks from scratch and remixing his favorite bands. The attention he received from his remix of “Black Eyes” by Indie darlings Snowden (Jade Tree Records), quickly put Dylan on the map, the track continues to rock dance floors worldwide.

His signature sound blends grinding disco punk with strong electronic beats and catchy synth leads, resulting in banging electro music that is dark and dirty but somehow equally uplifting and dancey.

Two weeks in a row of great mixes coming from Atlanta boys. This week it’s a dirty filthy ElectroHouse Indie Dance monster!

Enjoy!

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:23:28 — 95.5MB)

Mix Info & Tracklisting (more…)

Hailing from Atlanta, transplanted to NYC, DJ and producer Ashley Jones aka Treasure Fingers has been making it rain in the Disco with innovative remixes and original tracks. Jones is far from a new jack, having racked up over a decade of international club experience and studio chops as part of the legendary drum & bass group, Evol Intent. As Treasure Fingers, he’s found a way to merge his diverse influences and deep history into a signature sound, packed with intricate basslines, chopped-up, gritty synth melodies, and party-ready drum breaks. It’s already captured the ears of everyone from rock groups Snowden and Miike Snow to house legends Romanthony and Roy Davis JR.

‘Cross The Dancefloor’ was Treasure Fingers debut, an inescapably catchy, vocoder-laced dance gem that two-steps over genre boundaries. Treasure Fingers has kept the momentum going with official remixes for numerous artists including Little Boots (I Am Sound), Chromeo (Vice/Atlantic), Estelle (Atlantic), Empire of the Sun (EMI), Kid Sister (Downtown), Kid Cudi (G.O.O.D/Sony), N.A.S.A (Epitaph), and James Curd (Om) (remix went to #1 on the Beatport Club Chart).

We are super excited to have this funky Nu Disco Indie Dance mix from Treasure Fingers for you this week!

Enjoy!

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:00:00 — 68.7MB)

Mix Info & Tracklisting (more…)

Starting out throwing parties in east London in 2004, they quickly moved on to making music because there weren’t enough tunes around that sounded like what they wanted to hear at the time. Their first 12” came out in 2004 “Be You (Beep Beep)” on their own label Cassette Records which built up a great reputation & released a handful of 12”s by Simian Mobile Disco, Meatboys (now Jackpot), Elektrofant & Zongamin. All releases amazingly packaged with hand screen printed sleeves. Soon the releases and remixes started flowing including remixes for: Digitalism, Peter Bjorn & John, Yelle, Lykke Li, Robyn, Tiga, and Miike Snow.

PJU are currently in their studio in London, W10, working most of the time when they’re not touring, and finishing off new material for their first album and working on their Tshirt label Stiff Couture.

Punks Jump Up party in the house.

Enjoy!

Podcast: Download (Duration: 37:40 — 43.1MB)

Mix Info & Tracklisting (more…)