DEMENCHA » dance

The 54th Grammy Awards Set To Showcase EDM Segment [02.12.12 on CBS]

Chris Mills — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:48:27 +0000

The 54th annual Grammy Awards coming up this Sunday, to be hosted by LL Cool J, will now include a special electronica/dance segment performance featuring Lil’ Wayne, Deadmau5, Foo Fighters, David Guetta, and Chris Brown. I’m not necessarily sure what Weezy, Breezy and the Foo Fighters have to do with “electronica”, but this year’s Grammy’s should be quite interesting if you’re into that “techno bullshit”. ?uestlove (of The Roots) is also reported to be presenting an award, just an FYI. The Grammy’s will air on CBS this upcoming Sunday at 7:00 p.m. Central.

COSMO BAKER LIVE @ RIOT ROOM (JAN. 20th) + EXCLUSIVE Q&A

Chris Mills — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:20:40 +0000

Philly-based DJ and producer, Cosmo Baker, is a real student of music and a true master when it comes to rocking parties. Having collaborated with the likes of King Britt, ?uestlove of The Roots and tons more, Baker’s buzz stretches beyond his origin of Philadelphia to further reaches of the globe. While rocking as part of The Rub DJ crew alongside DJ Ayers and DJ Eleven, their joint ragers (started in 2003) built a legendary foundation on the East Coast. Cosmo Baker holds rank as one of the top dogs in the DJ business, spinning everything from hip hop to funk, house to disco and electro wrapped up in a true-to-the-artform style of mixing, turntablism and anticipation for what can work. As reported HERE, one nine year-old in Hawaii even included one of Cosmo’s CDs in a time capsule back in 2007, citing that “I think that’s what a lot of kids like now…I want to see what kids will like in the future…” We’re not sure which of Cosmo’s CDs were given up, but we are sure that whoever opens that time capsule years from now will have some serious funk on their hands. On Friday, January 20th Cosmo is set to unleash his aforementioned funk on the Riot Room in Westport KCMO (4048 Broadway), which you should RSVP TO RIGHT HERE (and get your presale tickets for a measly $5 HERE).

Below you’ll find a quick but very interesting Q&A we recently did with Cosmo in anticipation for what is guaranteed to be a wild night at Riot on Friday the 20th. Here, he talks about his recent gig in Dubai, his long-standing friendship with ?uestlove, Philly’s “big brother/little brother dynamic” with NYC, and what is sure be to another busy year for him.

Demencha: I saw on your website, cosmobaker.com, that you traveled to the Middle-East recently. What country were you in and what took you there?

Cosmo Baker: Yes man, I went to Dubai. It was really an amazing experience, and the city – and country – are pretty wild. Dubai is like Las Vegas in the sense that it’s incredibly opulent and there’s nothing that’s too extreme – aside from the over the top drugs and sexuality that’s so prevalent in Vegas. But there’s also the old world which is just as potent, and really amazing. And people over there party like crazy, which is why they brought me over there. I ended up doing one show but that ended up turning into a bigger project altogether that I’m involved with and am very excited about. With that being said, I’ll be spending a lot of time in the region in the near future. I was also supposed to hit Beirut, Istanbul and Tel Aviv on the past trip but things got shifted and I didn’t want to spend the holidays by myself 6000 miles away from my family. But sooner than you think, I’ll be back there doing the damn thing.

CM: What was the most fun DJ gig you had last year? No festivals, please.

Cosmo Baker: Hah! But one of my favorite gigs was when I played Flow Festival in Helsinki this summer, over there with so many people I adore… But other than that, I don’t know. There were so many good shows this year. I think maybe the first one that came to mind was The Do-Over in Portland in July. So much fun, such energy, crazy vibes flying all over the place. Do-Over is such an amazing party, so I think I’ll stick with my choice.

CM: Tell us about your friendship with ?questlove from The Roots. How far back do you guys go?

Cosmo Baker: Well he’s a few years older than me but we go back to the early or mid 90s. As a youngster everyone used to hang out on South Street in Philly, and when they were still in high school they used to sit out on the corner of Passyunk and South playing tunes. They were called The Square Roots then, and it was Ahmir, Tariq, the bassist was Josh Abrams and the keyboard player was Scott Storch. Yes – THAT Scott Storch. Anyway, there was this “hip-hop” store around there called The Lay-Up and it was the first place in Philly that brought in a lot of the designers like PNB, 555 Soul, Ecko and lines like that, as well as being the place that imported a lot of the hot mix tapes from New York. This was around 1993 or 1994. Now the thing was that The Lay-Up became the place to hang, the epicenter and gathering place of the hip- hop community of Philly at the time. I actually ended up eventually managing the place, but before that we would hang and watch videos and listen to mix tapes, bomb black books and all that
good shit. They had turntables in the back so I used to come down and DJ and often Ahmir would come in as well after playing on the street corner for hours on end. We just hit it off on a musical level, and were friends ever since. It always marveled me on how innate his talent for DJing was, but eventually I realized that this thing called talent kind of superseded application and genre. If you’ve got it you’ve got it.

CM: How rich is Philly’s music scene? And since you’ve lived in both of the following places, is there a kind of second-city-itis that Philadelphians hold themselves to when looking at New York?

Cosmo Baker: Incredibly rich and incredibly soulful, which is something that kind of comes from the tough living atmosphere of such a working class city. And the sustainability of being able to be an artist is something that Philly definitely offers, although sometimes to detriment because the comfortability the city offers doesn’t always light a fire under the ass of people to strive for bigger and better things. But straight up there was always a big brother / little brother dynamic between Philly and New York, with Philly always trying to play catch-up. That’s one of the reasons why the Philly DJ culture excelled in the way it did. It saw it’s lane and it ran with it.

CM: Give us one youtube link to a good example of Philly soul, and tell us why it rules.

Cosmo Baker: Well first of all, TSOP. Second, the REAL NATIONAL ANTHEM. Third, The
PHILADELPHIA FUCKING PHILLIES.

CM: I’d like to think that most DJs are basically required to do genre-jumping, at least to a degree, in these days and times. Would you agree with that? And what are the most poignant sounds over the years that have landed you where you are today as an internationally-respected DJ?

Cosmo Baker: You have to remember that with the true essence and structure of DJing in the sense of nightclub DJs, – from the hip-hop jocks to the DJs in the nightclubs that spun at the original places like The Loft, The Gallery, Paradise Garage… They all were well versed in crossing genres when they played. It’s a more modern thing to have such specialty niche-locked DJs. Personally I just find it boring and restrictive and unchallenging. And as for what sounds have landed me where I am, that’s a little bit tougher to answer because with me it’s more an amalgamation of everything before. The whole being more than just the sum of its parts. But I’ve always listened to a lot of jazz and the concept of that free flowing improvisation in jazz has definitely effected my DJing both in the sound of things but in the application of the craft.

CM: What specific styles of music are getting your crowds off the wall when you gig, now in 2012?

Cosmo Baker: The majority of stuff that I play these days is dance music and disco classics and a lot of them are my own edits and shit like that. The idea of bridging the gap and going from A to B to me has always been kind of this undercurrent. But I still play rap music when I can cause of course I love it and so do people. But a lot of rap and contemporary R&B is such tepid pop music these days. Don’t get me wrong – I love pop music, but it doesn’t excite me as much as other things.

CM: What do you have on deck for this new year? Releases, shows, other projects, etc.?

Cosmo Baker: Boy, let’s just say that this is going to be a very big year for me. Let’s just hope I can make it to the finish line – which will be December 21st of this year, if those pesky Mayans are correct…

KC-Based Beats/Electronic [2011 Music Picks]

Chris Mills — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:26:59 +0000

With more artists in KC doing experimental, beat music derivatives this year, I thought this separate chart would only be right. I don’t think I had near as many favorite local beats to refer to when the Demencha writers put together their 2010 music picks last year. But in 2011, some said that electronic music exploded with more bang than in any other 365-day span, and somehow I imagine Skrillex being some kind of poster boy for this resurgence. Seems to me like music is easier to create nowadays and all these kids in their 20s who’ve been messing around with earlier versions of Fruity Loops in their bedrooms for the past five years are finally getting the hang of it and cranking out some real jams. I also think that dubstep’s BPM tempo (particularly arriving in Verizon commercials while the Dirty South still reigns in rap) has helped its crossover appeal in the United States much more than any style of electronic music has seen in years.

I did forewarn a lot of people that dubstep was about to see a big backlash in 2011, and it proved to be true. Am I happy to see Matty G at the Midland here in in a few weeks? Yes. Do I like the vast majority of dubstep tracks and mixes I listened to this year? No. I intentionally refrained from downloading or seeking out much dubstep this year, and seemingly every time someone referred me to something “so sick”, I couldn’t help but cringe after the drop.

For this local beats/electronic chart I’ve come up with to round out 2011, I’ve included 10 really slick compositions and official releases. The Excision, Datsik and whatever else that I’m still not sure how to dance to was left at home in my external, though. Beyond that, these were my favorite beats out of our area this year. Thank you for reading and listening on Demencha.com…

10. Leonard DStroy – “Sunnshine”
Sunnshine by Leonard Dstroy

This was my personal favorite from Lenny’s Inner Exit EP, which came out earlier this year. But with a brand new album out on Elm & Oak today, 2012 looks to be shaping up quite nicely for Lenny. “Sunnshine” sees him incorporating some jazzy horns and KRS-One’s “Woop, woop!” vocals which he’s using as a kind of territorial track marker on much of his recent work and live sets since crossing over from the local underground hip hop base, and breaking new ground for himself amongst an audience of glowstickers.

9. FreeKing – “Unreal” (DJ Mix)
FreeKing-Unreal by FreeKing

HAM. This mix plays out like a workout tape that FreeKing (FKA Rob Lee) made for a friend in need of a cardio soundtrack. Not only that, but this guy absolutely reigned at one of the Kansas City Techno parties at The Union in Westport over the summer. This brand of unrelenting techno is exactly what I needed for a lot of my long drives and work day motivation.

8. Archi & B-Stee – “Can’t Stop”
Archi & B-Stee – Can’t Stop by Think 2wice

Locals DJ Archi and DJ B-Stee cooked up a really cool moombahton flip of After 7’s “Can’t Stop”, hanging on to the chorus for the most part. While I decided that I did in fact like moombahton this year, I’m still not sure if this music is going to stick around very long. I still think moombahton is best appreciated when it’s played in a club and girls are getting down to it. In those instances, it can be pretty electric. But aside from David Heartbreak’s “moombahsoul” derivative, you might not be able to get into moombahton by just listening to it in your headphones at home. Archi and B-Stee have great anticipation for what can work on a dance floor. Trust in these two to stay on top of burgeoning club sounds in 2012.

7. Moodymatic – “Ampex Frequency” EP
Ampex Frequency EP by MOODYMATIC

The super-weird beat music movement gained even more steam in 2011 and showed everyone that current bass music doesn’t have to clock in at exactly 70 BPM and be completely ridiculous. I munched on these crunchy, glitched-out beats from North KC-based, Bmoody, and Midtown-marinating, Dan Matic, for a good part of 2011 and almost broke a tooth in the process. The whole Footclan are constantly making beats and putting them up for free download.

6. Sinjin Hawke & Morri$ – “One Kiss”

Barcelona-based dream beat weaver, Sinjin Hawke and Lawrencian, Morri$, came together on this “One Kiss” track just a few weeks ago. I’ve really been feeling this rush of melodic bass music that became more blogged about in 2011. A lot of the Team Bear Club sound (Morri$’ crew) comes out in this really shiny, fun take on trap-styled beats. After interviewing Morri$ at his crib in LK just about two weeks ago (check back for our Artist of the Month Feature in mid-January), it sounds like this guy could start making some rather massive moves soon.

5. Topp Boom – “Planet L.O.V.E.”
Topp Boom (aka Luke Rocha) – “Planet L.O.V.E.” by DEMENCHA MAGAZINE

Our Featured Artist of the Month for December, Luke Rocha aka Topp Boom, is still on that analog tip, but that doesn’t mean this track (and a lot of the music on the Symbol Heavy crew site) isn’t fantastic. Depending on how you look at it, the dustiness of the sample-based, “Planet L.O.V.E.”, may even enhance its beauty. With very little use of modern computer programs and technology, Topp Boom really turned out a gem here. But you will need to turn it up.

4. Motorboater – “Lessons”

This joint came out on Motorboater’s 2011 album, Sport, through the local indie champs at The Record Machine. I’m still not exactly sure how this guy performs when he plays out, but “Lessons” really hit the spot.

3. Miles Bonny – “We” [DRplus2 Remix]
We [DRplus2 REMIX] by Miles Bonny

DRplus2 (FKA Dr+) churned out an amazing beat disc over the summer. Oddly enough, I can’t remember if this track is on it or not, but that doesn’t matter because you can grab all of the official “We” remixes on Miles Bonny’s bandcamp page (including flips from Tactic and Chrissy Murderbot). But DR’s beat disc was never released online. If you don’t have one, and can enjoy any kind of hard, glitchy beats, you might want to hit him up. DRplus2 remains one of the most brilliant young producers out, and his remix of Miles’ “We” was one of my favorite local tracks of 2011.

2. Ghost – “Autoscopy” (beat album)
Fallen by Ghost_816

Citing Dr. Dre, 9th Wonder and Oscar Peterson as some of his main influences in an interview with us earlier this year, the classically-trained, 21-year old hip hop producer known simply as Ghost flew under the radar of a lot of local hip hop heads this year. But I fully expect business to start picking up for him a lot more in 2012. There’s not necessarily much pop potential in his beats yet, they’re just really solid hip hop jams intended for really solid rappers. But until Ghost starts serving more beats out to vocalists, I’ll hope and pray that none of them fuck anything up because these tracks stand out on their own already.

1. Nezbeat – “Children of the Ghetto”
Children of the Ghetto by Good Hair (Nezbeat & Joe Good)

One half of Lawrence hip hop duo, Archetype, and wonderful beat-maker, Nezbeat, really outdid himself here. I distinctly remember my jaw dropping at my desk as I got to the 1:45 mark shortly after getting his Good Hair project (a lost album of sorts, featuring former KC rapper, Joe Good) this year. Nez leaves plenty of room for his own singing throughout the melody-drenched airiness and bent-up bass. Deep and inspiring, “Children of the Ghetto” is one of the most rewarding tracks I’ve heard out of KC/Lawrence (and beyond) all year.

New Music From Cole Medina (LA)

Chris Mills — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 23:10:26 +0000

After Cole Medina went on a soundcloud tear earlier this year, only to take nearly all of his music down in the name of saving upload space we’re guessing, it looks like he’s got new things brewing with labels Gimme The Loot and House Arrest. With his recent soundcloud uploads, (the first of these being one day old), Cole remains one of our favorite newly discovered remixers of 2011, though he has been putting it down on the West Coast for years. Search the shit out of Cole Medina’s name on google, youtube or wherever else and throw yourself into a sea of badass disco and funk edits.

Here are two of our favorites out of his new batch:

All That I Need Is U by cole medina

Gansta Boogie Disco by cole medina

Mingle Bells w/ Miles Bonny DJing @ Method [12.16.11]

Chris Mills — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 01:08:04 +0000

Live at Method’s relatively new location, 1817 Wyandotte in Kansas City, MO.

The Union’s 1 Year Anniversary, w/ Norrit, Steez Harvey, LC, & More [12.9.11]

Chris Mills — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 23:35:38 +0000

(photo courtesy of Brooke Northern)

While the work week rears its ugly head once again tomorrow, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. The Union’s 1 year anniversary party this Friday should serve as the shining event that you can look forward to, blinding you of whatever it is you do Monday through Friday, 9-5. Just remember to bring a willingness to get down, as The Union’s rambunctious crowd has maintained a rep for partying harder than any other venue in Westport over the past 12 months. Sweat out the problems and troubles of the looming week this Friday with the stellar DJ names noted in the flyer above.

EZ Brothers – “Sex Talk” [Mix]

Chris Mills — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 23:01:19 +0000

Kansas City-based DJ duo, The EZ Brothers, just unleashed a new mix yesterday, right in time for their show at Global Dub Festival tonight at the Midland Theater featuring Benga, Zeds Dead and a long list of other dance music junkies both local and non. Consider this a sample of what to expect at the show tonight downtown.

EZ Brothers – Sextalk by EZBrothers

1. JWOW – Klang
2. Alan Fitzpatrick – Moon Palace
3. Cirez D – Full Stop
4. Cirez D – Mokeba
5. Wolfgang Gartner – Menage Trois
6. Feed Me ft. Kill The Noise – Muscle Rollers
7. Dallas K – Front Back
8. Le Castle Vania – Nobady Gets Out Alive (Noisia Remix)
9. ShockOne ft. Phetsta – Crucify Me (Part1)
10. The Others – First Flight
11. Sebastian – Love In Motion (Skrillex Remix)
12. Bare & Muffler – Bloodsport
13. Emalkay – Flesh & Bones
14. Rye Rye ft. Robyn – Never Will Be Mine (Kill The Noise remix)
15. Phetsta – Drunk In Tha Club
16. Xilent – Choose Me
17. Ali Love – Diminishing Return (Alvin Risk Remix)
18. Evol Intent – Under ft. Jackie B
19. Oh Tebins – Opening Night
20. Oh Tebins – Wake Me Up

The Gusto Lounge has found a new home in Westport [Grand Opening This Weekend?]

Chris Mills — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 22:19:28 +0000

The Westport venue formerly known as Hell Bar, formerly known as Karma, formerly known as Johnny Dare’s club, formerly known as Sanford’s (feel free to add on), will be seeing an official re-opening under the Gusto Lounge guise, possibly this weekend. The old Gusto was located at 38th & Broadway in Midtown and functioned for roughly 20% of a decade, until it was shut down a couple of months ago. The grand re-opening at 504 Westport Road was supposed to have occurred tonight, but due to some unforeseen circumstances, you might have to wait a bit longer until you can get your Schlitz on. I personally loved the location of the old Gusto and its Top Shelf dance space on the second floor, and that Midtown feel that the old Gusto presented without quite as many Westport d-bags (just sayin’) venturing North on Broadway. Bottom line? Westport just got some added kick to its nightlife scene.

Frisky! KC Presents – Mark Farina LIVE @ Blvd Nights [10.28.11]

Chris Mills — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 19:25:39 +0000

People who’ve never seen Mark Farina spin live before seem to always ask the same question prior to. “Will he play Mushroom Jazz or house?” From personal experience, I can say that the last time he played at Czar Bar, Farina got busy with a mixture of both styles making for a best of both worlds scenario. His Mushroom Jazz steelo is a downtempo, yet still danceable answer to the silky house music he’s become known for when he’s flying around the world dousing thousands of people in the good ole’ American house sound. For those who don’t know, Mushroom Jazz Vol. 3 (2001) actually included an old instrumental track from Kansas City’s legendary Basement Khemist hip hop group, “Vibrate”:

There’s not a lot of hip hop heads out there who pay as much attention to the Mushroom Jazz series as they probably should, and not enough house music heads already familiar with Farina’s MJ editions to make the connection between the two. But Farina essentially cosigned on Joc Max, J Lee and Taha with that addition to Volume 3.

In short, Mark Farina knows what’s up on some good music. Swing through to Blvd Nights on Friday for the costume party and get down.

SUPERB! w/ FSTZ, Jason Kidd, LC & More LIVE @ The Union [TONIGHT]

Chris Mills — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 20:46:51 +0000

The latest edition of the Think 2Wice & Lotus Camp presented Superb parties at the Union is cracking off tonight. With some of KC’s finest selectahs in FSTZ, Jason Kidd, LC, cQuence, Lenny D and Steez Harvey aka Shaun Duval, you will NOT find a better place to dance tonight (see HERE for more on why). We’re specifically looking forward to what’s probably DJ Kidd’s first public spinning in a while (years?). LC admits that he hasn’t heard Kidd play out since about 2001 and that Kidd has been in family man mode for a while. We’re just familiar with him from an interview Kidd did several years ago alongside Pat Nice and DJ True in the old KC zine, Neptune. What can we expect from Kidd tonight, having never seen him spin before? We hear that he’s big on ghetto-house and ghetto-tech, two styles that are super rare to hear in KC. Plus the company he’s kept with local house music icons, Pat and True, should be enough to speak volumes about this event.