DEMENCHA » house music

For your consideration: Madeon

Sam — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:38:47 +0000

If you’re looking for a soundcloud page to get lost in, I have located one for you. Of course my all-time favorite is anything that makes its way onto Star Slinger’s hallowed harbor, but stealing my attention currently is Madeon. Sometimes channeling Chromeo or RJD2, he’s got more than a bit of Daft Punk swag about him. Which is completely understandable from a 17 year old DJ/Producer from Nantes, France. But before you hate him because he’s younger than you, from a cool place like Nantes, and has a promising music career, give him a listen and try and tell me the kid can’t mix his ass off. If I were you, (luckily I’m me instead) I’d keep an ear on this particular Frenchman.

Red Bull asks, “Who’s The Best Party Rocker in KC”? UPDATED

Chris Mills — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:58:51 +0000

~~I’m not sure what this Red Bull Thre3Style business is pertaining to because the “about” section of their website is rather outdated, but~~ this event boasts practically an All-Star lineup consisting of some of our area’s tightest DJs, with recent BET Master of the Mix winner, MO’s own D.J.P. as the headliner. This will be a hell of a show. Area DJs getting into this thing are Bobby Keys, Brent Tactic, Magnum, CEO, SKU, B-Stee, Who and JT Quick. Even though SKU doesn’t live in KC anymore, I’d say he’s probably the favorite. The event is hosted by Shawn Edwards of Fox 4 News with judges from Doomtree’s management team, u:move, and DJ P himself. Each DJ will have 15 minutes to wow the judges and prompt asses to shaking. And apparently, they’re required to include at least three different genres of music in their set. The winner of the KC leg will then go on to test the best from around the country who’ve made it equally as far in Orlando, then Chicago for the Red Bull Thre3style world championship of sorts.

Pat Nice & Jason Kidd @ The Riot Room [01.28.12]

Chris Mills — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:29:09 +0000

[pictured: Pat Nice]

I don’t have a jpeg flyer for this, but Pat and Kidd always throw it down proper. 4048 Broadway. Westport KCMO. No Cover.

D/L: Todd Howard – “Gone for Good” [DJ Mix]

Chris Mills — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:32:57 +0000

Courtesy of Kansas City Techno comes Todd Howard’s latest mix. There’s some plush grooves in this mother. When it comes to Todd Howard mixes anymore, I don’t even preview the soundcloud embeddings, just go straight to the download button. You should too. Do it. Now!

Todd Howard- Gone for Good- January 2012 by Todd Howard

Tracklist:
Hamid- If I feat Valentina (Jay Shepheard Remix)
Jona- Quadrant
DJ T. feat. Khan- Leavin’ Me (Daniel Bortz Remix)
WhoMadeWho- Every Minute Alone (Life & Death Rework)
Avatism- Upon The Daze
Fink- Make It Good (Tennis & Tale Of Us Remix)
APP- Smiling Faces
Pawas- Micro Bomb
Fur Coat- Space Ballad feat. Argenis Brito (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Remix)
Kyodai- Mi Rumba (Genuis Of Time Beats)
Yapacc- Bad Girl feat Fadila (Wildkats Remix)
Balcazar & Sordo- Everynight 24/7 (Catz ‘n Dogz Remix)
Bazar- Hard To Find (Danny Daze Love Dub)
My Favorite Robot- Forest Fires

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

TONIGHT: Deep Space HD w/ v.j.Ones, Jack & Jill @ Czar

Chris Mills — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 23:40:31 +0000

Mark Jones’ multimedia club spectacle including video, lighting and techno and house is something worth checking out tonight at Czar (15th & Grand in KCMO). Accompanying him are Jack & Jill (pictured above), two of KC’s more experienced EDM DJs repping kansascitytechno.com to the maximum. Though it was uploaded earlier this summer, here’s a video that might offer some insight as to what you’ll be getting into tonight:

D/L: Z-Sonic – “Worldwide Wax” (Global Bass DJ Mix)

Chris Mills — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:21:28 +0000

KC-based producer/turntablist, Z-Sonic, has a new mix out called “Worldwide Wax”. Though we’d like to think of him as being adept at various forms of music performance, this mix is special because it was recorded with 100% vinyl. In a way, Z-Sonic is kind of a throwback artist. He raps, scratches, still busts out the vinyl from time to time, but maintains a finger on the pulse of current dance music sounds around the globe. The latter two points are what this mix is all about. Also be sure to check for kansascitytechno.com where they’ve been posting a lot of really hot sounds over the past year or so. One more thing, don’t forget to hit the Newsroom in Midtown for Z-Sonic, Ruckspin, cQuence and Brent Tactic every other Tuesday night.

ZSonic – Worldwide WAX (Global Bass DJ Mix) 100-140BPM by ZSonic

TRACK LIST:
Shazalakazoo feat. Wikluh Sky- Plus 49
Flight Of the Conchords – Boom
Shazalakazoo – Istraton
Enduser – Return Of The Kourma Lover (Mad E.P. Remix)
Ekova – Starlight In Daden (Aurora Remix)
Kadebostan – The Souk
Photek – 101 (Boddika’s Drum Machine)
Marcus Price & Carli – Var E Näääken (Bok Bok Remix)
Dubbel Dutch – Mad Loopz
SaBat Machines – Valium Gitan
Shazalakazoo feat. Zanillya – Bula Bai
Octa Push feat. K-Tronik – Legos
OSC – Shot Like This
Rob Smith – Living In Unity (Wonderful World Mix)

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.

D/L: Uriah West – On The Fly Mix (Nov. 2011) [House]

Chris Mills — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:35:05 +0000

Fresh off an opening gig for Mark Farina at Blvd Nights in Kansas City just a couple of weeks ago (Frisky is back), it looks like Uriah West might have caught a bug or something, with this being his first soundcloud entry in seven months. But according to his bio, he began spinning and learning an appreciation for house music after meeting the KC-based Deep Fix guys in the early 2000s. Then he moved to Denver and played clubs (The Church, among others) and house parties until about 2007. Currently, he runs his 5280 music label out of Denver and is apparently traveling for gigs a bit as well. People were hyping him up a bit to me personally before the Farina gig at Blvd Nights, and his latest mix, which is really doing it for us right now, tells the story.

UriahWest OnTheFly Nov2011 by Uriah_West