Meoko Gets Lost in Miami
I distinctly remember watching the 6th Rebel Rave ‘Get Lost’ video from Miami’s 2011 Winter Music Conference. Beautifully shot, edited and sound tracked by Jocie Cox and David Terranova, it visually wriggled itself through dark techno tunnels onto sun drenched disco terraces whilst capturing the plotted madness of a beautiful, blue sky punching crowd. The video’s recap made the hair on the back of my neck prickle to the sounds of Maceo Plex, (who at the time had just exploded under that moniker, was making some serious waves and whose unreleased ‘Her Security’ track had me weak at the knees that entire March) Deniz Kurtel, Dyed Soundorom and a colossal 18 other acts who schmoozily pounded their way through 17 hours of the tracks of 2011 that one simply couldn’t escape – no matter how hard you tried. Topped off with guest vox from Trox at the end of the night it was only natural that upon my first trip to Miami WMC this year, there was one party I wasn’t going to miss...the 7th edition of ‘Get Lost’.
Whichever side you sit on in regards to the brand that is Crosstown Rebels, there is no denying that to have reached the type of success that dominates house charts and event listings across the world, they’re doing something damn right. Headed up by Damian Lazarus, the Rebels have become a seemingly unstoppable force within dance music; spread generously across parties and festivals, EP’s and LP’s, podcasts and press...and to boot, their own notorious Rebel Rave’s. Getting deep in the rave worldwide, Miami’s Rebel Rave edition ‘Get Lost’ counts as one of their most sought after. Held at Miami’s most reputed electronic venue the Electric Pickle, step inside and there are two rooms to choose where to get lost in first. The pitch black option on the lower floor or the light and lazer adorned option up above. The all day event in a sun drenched city, of course, needs another option which is where the Pickle’s huge cement back yard becomes a playground of netted army covering, shimmering disco balls, barbecue, picnic tables and luscious trees for shade.
Craig Richards – Photographed by Amin KO Beydoun
Arriving in time to catch the later part of Damian Lazarus’s early morning set, the rebels boss walloped his way through dark, stodgy tech house in the fittingly heavy weighted room laden with shoulder rubbing bodies and artists alike. Followed by Art Department, the atmosphere lifted slightly with vocal laced jams and rubbery bass lines which Kenny threw himself around to in the red lit booth in his typical performance manner. Squeezing down the packed staircase the rebels newest recruit, Italian Francesca Lombardo was certainly holding her own as she spun confidently through a set which included tracks such as Giom’s remix of Zeitgest’s ‘I Dance For No Reason’ and her own unreleased material which stirred the floor nicely. Heading out of the darkness and into the light, Craig Richards opened the terrace which expectedly, was where it was at, and remained at, for the duration of the day. Having seen Craig play so many times over the years, in so many contrasting scenarios he never fails to outstand me. Do I ever recognize a single track he’s playing? No. Have I ever heard him play the same record twice? I don’t think so. Do I dance my ass off to his mish mass of bass lead constructions that snarl with sexual energy every time I hear him? Yes. Enough said. Craig Richards is a God.
Nipping back inside to catch jozif, the London dj and producer is another artist that rarely disappoints. Sliding between emotionally charged divinity such as Steffi’s ‘Sadness’ and into James Silk’s disco infused ‘Juicebox‘, jozif’s eclectic range was sumptuously deviant, mixed on point and as always with him, presented with a bucket load of infectious enthusiasm. Well over the darkness of the inside rooms I headed back to the terrace where Leftroom boss Matt Tolfrey was going back to back with Culprit boss Andrei Osyka from Droog. Still high of the success of their collaborative Leftroom vs Culprit party earlier in the week, they tag teamed a chunky and classic cross continental set, leaving me with a memorable Get Lost highlight.
Matt Tolfrey & Droog – Photographed by Elena Gorelik
An afternoon of scorching heat passed, broken with interludes of drink runs in the dark hole of the lower floor and followed by shaded breaks under the trees for momentary crowd throbbing relief. Sets from Infinity Ink and Fur Coat came and went and whilst they kept me dancing, they didn’t blow me away by any stretch of the imagination. Next up to take to the stage (unlike last year’s ground level booth, this year’s addition of a stage detracted slightly from the friendly back yard vibe I was expecting) was a young man whose name has been doing the rounds as of late, Amirali. Snapped up by Damian Lazarus who was in search of something “different” a couple of years ago, the saying fresh blood has never rung more true when it comes to the young Iranian producer. Up until his single teaser ‘Beautiful World’ dropped just weeks ago and his imminent ‘In Time’ album comes out in May, (both on Crosstown) Amirali has never put his name to a release and only performed his debut live show on NYE 2011. Seeing and hearing the 100% solo performed show, the reasons Amirali has been crowned the ‘next big thing’ by just about every dance music publication out there were revealed. Intricate percussion coupled with fat, flubbering bass lines and strong kicks were underpinned by his own deep and smooth vocals and melodic synth patterns. Amirali held my ears attention and kept me moving for the duration, something that can’t be said for many of the younger acts that day. The world’s unanimously voted no.1 DJ Jamie Jones was up next and made his way through his set with an expression less face for the most part. Putting forth a selection of fantastic tracks that were either less than perfectly mixed or hindered with technical difficulties, Jamie Jones’s expression changed to fury and eventually resulted in him throwing his hands in the air whilst signalling to the equipment as a reason and apology for the far from silky smooth set you’d expect from “No.1”.
Amirali Live – Photographed by Amin KO Beydoun
Leaving the now dipping sunshine in need of a Mr.C fix, the epic veteran DJ held the upstairs room captivated with a velvet smooth set of furious tech house with generous lashings of acid to boot; dressed in flowing white layers and effortlessly stealing Damian Lazarus’s 2011 cape clad crown for ‘best dressed’.
As the night wore on final sets came from Maceo Plex and The Rebel Team (Lazarus, Jones & Troxler), both played out to a highly strung, exhausted but very happy crowd. Showcasing old and new, established next to upcoming and with such an extensive amount of artists spread over three different areas; you’ve either got to have superhuman powers or the stamina of a twenty year old (I have neither) to catch everything that the Crosstown Rebels ‘Get Lost’ marathon has to offer. There were acts whose every last beat had me hooked, there were acts I wish I’d caught but didn’t, they were acts that I wasted my time on but hey, I was supposed to get lost right?
Hannah Briley
Damian Lazarus – Photographed by Elena Gorelik
MEOKO asks the Get Lost artists and their guests...
"Where would you like to get lost, who with and what would you take with you?"
Matt Tolfrey – “In fabric Room 1, with my brother and an old Sasha mix tape”
jozif – “At Twilo, with John Digweed and a pocket full of dreams”
Droog – “In Tokyo in the middle of the night, with my girlfriend and a joint”
Inxec – “At home, with Tolfrey and a lot of good humour”
Ryan Crosson – “In Yellow Stone National Park, with my girlfriend and a swiss army knife”
Francesca Lombardo – “On the moon, with ET and loads of Bob Marley records”
Richy Ahmed – “In Space, with my wife and a video camera”
Rob James – “In a police station, with Worzel Gummidge and something you probably shouldn’t publish on the internet”
Nittin – “In Miami, with jozif and loads of naughtiness”
Subb-an – “On the moon, with all my friends and loads of sick tunes”
Kate Simko – “In The Villa, with my friends and family and my entire studio”
Bloody Mary – “Everywhere with everyone and hmmm....I’d take my CD’s & I-pod”
James What – “In cosmic paradise with Juno (don’t ask) and coconut water”
Geddes – “The Philippines, with my girlfriend and a blanket”
Damian Lazarus – “Here at Get Lost Miami 2012, with everyone that’s here today and all the music that’s being played right now!”
Craig Richards – “Oh...uhm, I don’t know – can you email me?”
London 'REJAM' Culture
If you don’t know the name REJAM by now, you really should. After a year of throwing distinctly underground parties with a distinctly cool crowd to match, REJAM is celebrating their first birthday Bash this weekend. An all-encompassing brand that includes a weekly radio show, REJAM is doing things differently!
WWW.REJAMMUSIC.COM
The weekly online radio show, hosted by residents Jack Doyle & NPD, is a place for residents and guests to showcase the music of underground artists - both signed and unsigned - much like the parties. The launch event kicked off last year at famed London venue, Public Life, where Terje Bakke of Soulfooled massively impressed. Since then, guests have included Noi Doi & Rainer, Murmur’s Tom Demac, DC10 resident, Andrew Grant, with a consistent focus on the resident DJ too.
https://www.facebook.com/events/371171926250120/
Fast-forward to 2012 and Rejam has maintained the underground crowd to compliment their underground soundtrack. The first birthday sees Perlon duo, Soul Capsule, a.k.a Thomas Melchior and Baby Ford, swing by Crucifix Lane this Friday 20th March to play alongside Romania’s Club MIDI residents Mihigh & K.D. Chriss, plus Max Vaahs & Manuel Schatz and residents, Jack Doyle & NPD.
Rejam set out to create a party for real music people, and with the cutting-edge bookings that we’ve seen from these guys, there’s no sign of things slowing down. MEOKO is giving away FREE entry to a lucky winner and a friend,plus a copy of Perlon Germany’s Bums 4 Higher EP from Melchior Productions Ltd. To enter, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with 'REJAM' in the subject heading. Winners will be announced on Friday 30th March on the MEOKO Facebook page.
Junk Department Presents Watergate 10 Years
Infamous Berlin club Watergate, celebrates a decade at the top and are bringing their most important players to a London warehouse in celebration. On Sunday 6th May, Watergate will be taking over the main room with BPitch label head Ellen Allien, Mobilee duo Pan-Pot, Marco Resmann, Lee Jones and the club’s musical director, Metro. All these DJ’s hold Watergate very close to their hearts; be it through heading up a compilation in the Watergate series, throwing nights at the club or playing regularly. This line up represents everything that’s great about Watergate and for one night only, the club is bringing a piece of Berlin to the capital.
Tickets
http://www.residentadvisor.net/forum-read.aspx?id=180568
Joining Watergate on this monumentous night is air london. The talent agency and record label has already thrown two sold out events in London and this one should be following suit if ticket sales are anything to go by. Some of the agency’s biggest names will be coming down to play including Tim Green, Glimpse and Burnski, to represent the very best in London DJ talent today.
Junk Department are the guys behind the whole event, who, with their love of music and partying, haven’t put a promoting foot wrong yet. As big fans of Watergate and air london, there can no better partnership than between these three powerhouses as we prepare ourselves for the mother of all Bank Holiday parties.
MEOKO is giving away FREE entry to a lucky winner & a friend, to win, simply tell us how old is Watergate this year?
1) 5 Years
2) 10 Years
3) 15 Years
Please send answers to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / Winners will be announced on the 1st May.
Tickets available on RA
http://www.residentadvisor.net/forum-read.aspx?id=180568
Through the Eyes of ...Matt Tolfrey
When Luke Solomon and Derrick Carter’s The Classic Music Company re-mastered and re-released their epic back catalogue in 2010 there were whoops of joy heard across the globe; from every DJ who had missed the opportunity the first time around through to every classic house music fan who simply wanted to enjoy the decade long discography through the comfort of their own stereos. Whilst the re-release and subsequent re-launch of the label was welcomed with open arms, it came amidst speculation on how the label were going to move forward and re-instate their legacy as one of the most respected and dare I say it, ‘classic’ imprints out there. Re-releasing what they already knew worked was one thing, but moving on and making new waves was another. With the promise of fresh blood injected into the label and a successful European tour proving they were still as popular as ever, The Classic Music Company made their next move – the first edition of a compilation mix CD entitled ‘Through The Eyes Of...’
The compilation’s concept invites friends to explore the Classic catalogue with free reign to create a mix of “the forgotten gems, the overlooked cuts, the head scratchers, missing links and secret weapons.” With the intention of steering clear from the labels obvious biggest hits, the Classic Music Company’s vaults are opened, showcasing the depths of the catalogue and encouraging a less obvious result. First friend to rise to the challenge was Leftroom head honcho Matt Tolfrey. Introducing the mix with his own ‘Classic Collage’ featuring elements of Black Box’s ‘Caterpillar’, Derrick L Carter’s ‘Where U At?’ and Oneiro’s ‘Oneiro Say – Shhh!’, not only does Tolfrey begin with intrigue but displays dedication to the job, seizing the opportunity to really make this his own.
Perusing through the best part of the late nineties, Tolfrey’s chosen additions of Herbert’s deep, balmy ‘Love & Happiness’ remix of Rednail Kidz + 1 and Jean Caffeine’s upbeat and funk ridden ‘Jean’s Afterthought’ divulge the truly timeless character of the imprint; their sound and transitions into one another sitting as comfortably in 2011 as they did back then. US duo Home and Garden make two stand out appearances, most notably with ‘The Count Of 3’ – possibly their finest ever output with its long drawn out synth chords and tinkling key melodies that lull you into some subdued state of mind. Contrasted with the bellowing bass lines and crisp hats of Nail’s ‘(I Don’t Wanna) Hurt U’; Tolfrey’s arrangement has you happily fist punching the air at times too.
Taking the compilation duties even further, there are three exclusive remixes from Tolfrey himself. 2002’s epic ‘Fantasize’ from Rob Mello featuring Cecille’s sultry and electro tinged vocal see’s the bass line pitched down and the arrangement stripped back; allowing the wiggling b-line it’s now deserved and selfish moment. Brett Johnson and Dave Barker’s dirty acidic techno track ‘Stucco Homes’ from 2003 has the acid bled out and replaced with cutting hats and a thoroughly modern tech house demeanour that make the creepy “I can’t see my face” vocal suddenly less disturbing. Tolfrey’s final remix doesn’t quite cut it, but in saying that – I’m unconvinced that any remix could top DJ Ali’s ‘You Don’t Know’? Tim Fullers prince-esque vocal fused with tight crunchy beats are of the quality that in my opinion, should be left alone. Radio Slave and Jacob London’s remixes back in 2003 couldn’t match the original and sadly, neither does Tolfrey’s attempt. What all three modern interpretations do effortlessly though, is sit side by side Classic tracks from over a decade ago showing a real understanding of what elements stand the test of time.
Going out on a belting high, Lo Soul’s ‘Lies (Watch Your Lift)’ closes the mix with a perfect funk fuelled slap around the face, proving why Tolfrey’s programming make him the stand out DJ that he is. It’s a shame that the ‘Through The Eyes Of...’ series is digital only; its concept and content deserve to be part of a less disposable attitude than that of the ‘digital only’ realm. Whilst I can’t keep it in the case I would like, this compilation certainly won’t be leaving my playlist, much like the imprints entire output itself...simply timeless.
James What - Upcoming collaboration with Damian Lazarus
Hi James,
Happy New Year, we’re sure it’s going to be a successful one for you.
How did you spend your New Year? Any glamorous gigs, or was it a chilled one in front of the tv with a pipe?
James: I’ve been giging and travelling in Asia/Australia for the first time since November, flying back to london this week. The gigs were all fun and met some amazing people along the way.
It’s still early in the year, but have you got any gigs lined up that your especially looking forward to?
James: This year i’m really looking forward to playing at Get Lost in Miami in March, and playing on the Robot Heart bus at Burning Man In September.
You’re the new resident for Weekend Circuit, whose next event is at Basing House. Clearly London’s scene has been thriving for a while, do you think it has the best atmosphere gig wise?
James: I love London and there are some amazing parties. These days I don’t think anything beats burning man festival as far as atmosphere and music. It’s the best place to get together with friends from all over the world and share the music we love.
Given the choice, do you prefer DJing or playing live?
James: I enjoy both, but if playing on my own I prefer to DJ. I have almost always played live together with Dan Berkson and its not as fun playing live on my own.
MEOKO have been big fans of your productions for a long time, from the work you did with the Italoboyz and all the early Poker Flat material, to the latest releases on Crosstown Rebels. There’s been a real consistency in the quality of the music. How do you feel your sound has developed over the years?
James: Well generally the tempo has slowed down and the sounds are a bit more organic. Also my attitude towards sampling has changed, i never used to sample from other artists. The approach has always been the same thhough, I spend alot of time on each track always try to find something special for each tune.
Your productions have certainly inspired many other producers, are there any producers that have really inspired you over the years?
James: There are so many artist and producers in and outside of dance music that have influenced me I wouldn’t know where to start. Production wise, Some of my refences over the years are people like Carl Craig, Ame, Steve bug, Metro Area and Tiefschwarz.
You’ve been producing music for a long time now, what’s your studio setup looking like?
James: I’ve collected a little bit of equipment since i started out, but for the past year everything has been in a storage unit and I’ve been working on the road and using whatever bits and pieces i can find where i’m staying. On my trip to Asia i’ve been travelling with a laptop, a midi controller keyboard, a hard drive and a pair of Genelec speakers in my suitcase.
There’s always lots of talk about which programs are best to use, and debates about software vs hardware. Do you have any advice for producers trying to emulate your success
James: I use Cubase or Ableton Live depending on what I’m doing, both are great, but I find Ableton better to arrange dance music and of course to play live. One bit of advice is focus one making each track special, and don’t start another label just because no one wants to release your tracks, perhaps they need more work. Software and hardware are both great, but you can make amazing music with just samples and soft synths. Sometimes buying equipment can become an obsession and can take up alot of time, i’ve made more music since I stopped buying things.
Have you got any upcoming releases for us to look forward to?
James: Yes. My next release is a project with Damian Lazarus called ZOD. The track “Rise Before Zod” is coming out soon on Rebellion, the sub label of Crosstown Rebels. Then there will be some music I did with Luca C and also some more solo stuff.
Besides all the house and techno, have you ever tried your hand at producing any other genres?
James: Yes, I write music for TV and adverts and also produced two full lenght library music CDs. The last one I did was South East Asia inspired, I had lots of fun working on that. Last year I started a company called Peex with Dan Berkson and another really talented composer Pedro Botsaris to focus on that kind of work. www.peex.net
Finally, imagine this scenario James…
It’s a cold dark night in Shoreditch and you’re on your way to a friends warehouse party to get your rave on. Suddenly, out of nowhere and much to your surprise, Michael Jackson opens a door and invites you inside for a pot noodle.
What flavour do you choose?
Chicken?
Curry?
Vegetarian?
James: Vegetarian.
After the delicious food he tells you about his secret time machine in the basement. Since you’re now good friends, he asks you if you’d like to use it. Which moment in history do you decide to go back to?
James: Dallas, Texas 1984!
MEOKO are giving away one vinyl copy of 'About love / Target for the Scene' released on RA's number 1 label of the year, Crosstown Rebels + 2 Free tickets into Weekend Circuit at Basing House with the man himself. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with "LOVE" as the subject heading.
