Last week Jack Tripper aka Dylan T aka Dyjomat aka Bad Boy Dill (ha!) joined me in the studio for the first show of 2012. His was the first to tweet to the new Twitter account and in doing so earned himself top seeding on In My Room. A self-confessed vinyl junkie, Jack Tripper’s influences and tastes span the history of “dance” from disco to present day. He’s been djing for a number of years and his passion for both his craft and the music is evident. It seemed like he had a little story to go along with each record he pulled out and over the course of the 2 hours, between his knowledge and the collective wisdom of www.discogs.com, I felt like I was getting an education in electronic music!

Armed with a bag of records, Jack Tripper laid down a wonderfully eclectic set of electronic music.  In fact, he was on such a roll that we were a bit pressed for time when we had to squeeze in a little Q+A  at the end of the set! Regardless, the man’s taste in music is terrific and his crates run deep;  I was shocked by how few of these tracks I’d heard before! Some standouts for me are highlighted in bold below but the whole set is a great sampling of Classic House, Detroit Techno, Chicago House, Garage, Tech-House, Deep House, Nu-Disco, Electro and Rarities.

You won’t be disappointed…

Jack Tripper-Live on In My Room-Jan.11, 2012

Tracklist

1. Members Only Historical Archives Vol.7 – Shooting Stars
2. Acid Washed – General Motors, Detroit, America
3. Matthew Dear – Little People (Black City) [Mark E Dub Version]
4. Gavin Russom – Night Sky (The Mutant Beat Dance Adjustment)
5. GB’s – ??? [Gomma 86]
6. No Regular Play – Takin’ U Back
7. Pantha Du Prince – Fountain Drive
8. Shinto – Hikkurikaese
9. Ost & Kjex – Zwei Jahre aus Kloh
10. Rebolledo – Steady Gear Rebo Maschine
11. Gui Boratto – Azzurra (It’s not the same version)
12. Midnight Magic – Beam Me Up
13. Virgo Four – Sex
14. Marcel Knopf – Lone Gone Home
15. Traxx – XTC 4 Luv feat. James T. Cotton
16. Round Two – New Day
17. Gwen Guthrie – Padlock (Larry Levan Mix)
18. Girls on Top – I Wanna Dance with Numbers
19. Xanadu – Computer Communication
20. Key-Matic – Breakin’ in Space
21. Crash Course in Science – Flying Turns
22. No Smoke – Koro Koro (Black is Black)
23. Joe Smooth – Promised Land
24. George Benson – Love X Love (Koko Southport Edit)
25. Oliver Koletzki & Fran – Arrow & Bow (Channel X Dub Mix)
26. Micheal Mayer – That What I Told Sanchez
27. Ost & Kjex – Milano Model
28. Appaloosa – Intimate (Instrumental)
29. Red Motorbike – ??? [White Label]

Chiclet, an old friend of the show,  stopped by the studio for the last show of 2011 to deliver a special set of all her favorite sounds.  Recently featured in The Grid, Chiclet’s energy and enthusiasm behind the decks is infectious and it’s no doubt why she’s one of the most consistently “in-demand” DJs in Toronto.  Weaving together Filtered Disco House, Nu-Disco, Electro-House, Tech-House, Bass, Baile Funk & B-more these 2 sets are a great snapshot of  the fun, upbeat and dancefloor destroying sounds Chiclet is known for.  Sorry, no trance this time…but maybe, just maybe, I can convince her to put together an exclusive set for In My Room?

Chiclet – Live on In My Room – Dec.21,2011

Tracklist

1. Lbck – Instant Party
2. DJ EQ – Triple Disco
3. Engarde – Fresh80 (Cryptonites Remix)
4. Fonzerelli – I Love Music (Dub)
5. Lbck – Bra and Panties
6. Calvertron – Everybody
7. Coeur D’amour – All Is Love
8. Lbck, Chuuwee – Real Caviar feat. Chuuwee (Instrumental)
9. LXR vs Andrea Doria – Freak Me (Phonat Freak mix)
10. Phonat – Set Me Free (Tanzanian Disco Stampede Mix)
11. Lionel Richie – All Night Long (Rico Tubbs Remix)
12. La Zebra – Business As Usual
13. Plastique de Reve – Favela Norte
14. Fellloww – Different Reality
15. Francesco De Argentis – All Night
16. Gregor Salto, DJ Gregory – Canoa
17. DJ Daniel Cast, Da House Brothers – Magalenha (Carnival Mix)
18. The Chemical Brothers – Horse Power (Popof Remix)
19. Alan 1 – Concertmate (Bobermann Remix)
20. DJ EQ – Freakin’
21. Turntable Mafia – What You See ( DJ EQ Diabolical Disco Remix)
22. Manuel De La Mare – La Musica Me Hace Mas Feliz (Space Mix)
23. Denzal Park – Filter Freak ( DCUP Remix)
24. Solidisco – I Need It
25. Emynd – Hangin On
26. Kid Alex feat. Kimo Green - Fame
27. Le Tigre – After Dark
28. Quakers & Mormons – New York Town (Lenno Remix)
29. The Faint – Battlehymn For Children (Tensnake Remix)
30. Arcade Fire – Sprawl II (Tommie Sunshine Quaalude Edit)

Last month, in November, Mr.Tunes and I dj’ed at Rasputin Vodka Bar together and afterward, while I was sniping tracks from his playlist, we started talking about his recent forays into “live looping” and the new EP he was working on. It had been almost a year since he was last on the show and I was interested to hear his new material, especially since I’d just finished “stealing” a nice handful of tracks on my USB drive.

In this episode, Mr.Tunes raised the bar for guest appearances on In My Room. Click below to hear an eclectic dj mix, new original material by the man himself, and a live performance of Mr.Tunes’ new love: live looping.

Oh, I took over for last 20min or so and played a set of quirky, dreamy, loopy, and reverb-laden nu-disco.

Sounds like: Tech-House, Deep House, Jazz,  Nu-Disco, Dubstep, Electro, Live Looping, Experimental

Mr.Tunes Live on In My Room  - Dec.7, 2011

Tracklist

1. Billy Wright - Summer Love (Beyond There Remix)
2. Barry Styles - Jazz Dancer
3. Rachid Taha - Ya Rayah (Edit Version)
4. Flat Earth Society - Psychoscout
5. Presk - Devour
6. Renegades Of Jazz - Karabine
7. Urban Myths - Without You (Dubwise Mix)
8. Captain Planet - Samba Radiante 2011
9. Chris James, The Egyptian Lover - Lets Get Intimate
10. Session Victim - We Want To Thank All Our Friends
11. Landslide - Parables

Interview

1. Mr. Tunes – d.matter *** EXCLUSIVE ***
2. Mr. Tunes – Portugeasy *** EXCLUSIVE ***
3. Mr. Tunes LIVE LOOPING SET!
4. Mr. Tunes – System Exclusive *** EXCLUSIVE ***

Interview & Switch!

1. Walter Jones – I’ll Keep on Loving You
2. Soul Clap – Noneadawhitestar
3. Cole Medina – Medina’s Magic
4. Tiger & Woods – Gin Nation
5. Tensnake – Holding Back My Love

French Vanilla is a globe-trotting, Toronto-based DJ known for her versatility and ability to blend various genres of electronic music, but her real passion is House music. In this week’s episode, French Vanilla delivers the goods with a dj mix aimed squarely at the dance floor. And, she’s no slouch on the decks either! A keen controllerist, she’s got a lot goin’ on in this one: 3 track mixes, overdubs, and cheeky sample work.

Sounds like: House, Commercial House, Filtered Disco House, Electro-House, Tech-House, Tribal, Bass

French Vanilla – Live on In My Room – Nov.30,2011

Tracklist

1. Protest the Hero - Sequoia Throne (Conway Remix)
2. Grant Nalder - Guilty Pleasure
3. Joey Negro, Z Factor - Keep On Jumpin’ (Luigi Rocca Remix)
4. Light Year - Marcellus (Malente Remix)
5. Kid Cudi - Pursuit Of Happiness (Hatiras Remix)
6. Marcus Maison & Will Dragen - Storm
7. Metodi Hristov - I Hate Latino
8. Fatboy Slim - Ya Mama (Push The Tempo) (Moguai Remix)
9. Squeeeze - Doop (Manuel De La Mare Remix)
10. French Fries - Senta
11.  Pony Pony Run Run - Hey You (Stereoheroes Remix)
12. Ou Est Le Swimming Pool – Dance The Way I Feel (Armand Van Helden Club Mix)
13. Freestylers – Bounce To This
14. Tiko s Groove & Mendonca Do Rio - Me Faz Amar (Brian Chundro & Santos Remix)
15. Cazaette vs Adele - Set Fire to the Rain (A Stupid Hole Bootleg)
16. Nero - Innocence (Feed Me Remix)
17. Alex Kenji, Starkillers, Nadia Ali - Pressure
18. Nero - Crush On You (Brodinski Remix)
19. Bart B More, Drop The Lime & AC Slater - The Bass
20. JayDee - Plastic Dreams (Plastik Funk Tribute Mix)

—Interview—

21.  Carl Cox - Nexus (Foamo Mix) vs.  Daft Punk - Technologic (Female Acapella)
22. Nightriders - Hey (Nom De Strip Remix)
23. Dopefish - Django!
24. Peter Gelderblom - Waiting 4
25.  Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Van O Remix)
26.  Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll (A-Mac Moombahton Edit)
27. Sebastien Drums & Avicii - My Feeling For You (Original Mix) vs. Auntie Flo - Oh My Days (Alejandro Paz Remix) vs. Daft Punk - Around the World (Chris Moody Remix)
28. No Body - We Speak American (Jay Robinson remix)
29. Alex Kenji & Federico Scavo - Get Funky
30.  Mark & Stevens - Freak Emotion (Sonny Fodera Remix)
31. China & Tom - The Ladies (Carlo Lio Remix)
32. Mike Vale - Pretty Woman
33. Miike Snow - Silvia (Hook N Sling & Goodwill Remix) vs. Felix da Housecat - Silver Screen Shower Scene
34. The Weeknd - Rolling Stone (Grandtheft Extended Dub)

Chiclet

Wed. 10pm-12am EST

In My Room

twitter.com/imrradio

Photo by Nadia Pejic

I met WestsideWax a few years back when I was living near Bloor-Lansdowne in Toronto.  We were both active posters on Tribe.ca and started bumping into each other at techno jams in the west end.  In 2008, WestsideWax started up a part-time dj school and co-ordinated his launch with ComeUnity‘s graffiti activism event that spanned the alleyways and sideroads from Dundas West subway station to Keele.  The majority of the graffiti you see out the window while you’re riding the subway between those two stops was put up over that late summer festival weekend in 2008….

But I digress, he invited me to perform and showcase Serato (which was relatively new at the time) to his new students and prospective students.  Afterwards we chilled at his place and I was blown away by the depth of the dude’s crates of techno and his commitment to the art of all vinyl djing.

A true “head,” WestsideWax has been djing for nearly 30 years and his dedication to the art of djing and the spirit of rave are an inspiring and welcome relief from today’s constant distracted barrage of disposable novelty and “cookie-cutter” music.

His first set is a trip down memory lane with Industrial, Post-Punk, Rave, Classic Chicago House and Techno. After our interview, a Techno set to close things out.

WestsideWax-Live On In My Room-Nov.23,2011

Tracklist

Cabaret Voltaire – C.O.M.A.
Revolting Cocks – No Devotion
The Safehouse – Exactly
K.Alexi Shelby – My Medusa
D.A.F. – Brothers (Gabi’s Mix)
Phuture Pfantasy Club – Spank Spank
Colourbox – Manic II
Starlight – Numero Uno (Club Mix)
49ers – Touch Me (Sexual Version)
M.Doc – It’s Percussion (House Mix)
Two Of A Kind – Like This
On the House feat. Marshall Jefferson – Ride the Rhythm
On the House – Pleasure Control
Levon Vincent – Man or Mistress

—INTERVIEW BREAK—

Blackman – Trapped
James Ruskin – Indirect World
Frankie Bones – Deputy of Dub
Freddy Fresh – Tether ft. DJ Slip
S.Bichnell – A2 (Club Tracks S.B. Project Pt.2)
Mike Parker – W+P
Space DJz – Lights
Damon Wild Vs. Function – Friction
Fast Eddie – Player Face
DJ Slip – Crowd React
DJ Shufflemaster – Appear Again
Terence Dixon – ????

photo courtesy of: http://jubal.westnet.com/hyperdiscordia/hodge_podge.html

This week’s show was a hodge-podge grab-bag affair. I went into it with a couple of “bookends”  in mind: the delightfully campy Senor Coconut cover of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” and Scissor Sisters’ “Electrobix.”

What do you think of the journey between them?

Sounds like: Quirky, Electro-House, Fidget, Bass, & Filtered House.

gl.tch – Live on In My Room – Nov.16, 2011

Tracklist

Senor Coconut – Beat it
Mika – Big Girl(Bonde Do Role Remix)
WhoMadeWho – Flat Beat
Larry Tee – I Love U (The Bulgarian Remix)
Black Noise – Rocking it
Azzido Da Bass – I Want U (Azzido Da Bass Mix Part 1)
Senor Stereo – I Am The Beat feat. Louisahhh
Uffie feat. Pharrell Williams – Add Suv (Armand Van Helden Vocal Remix)
Fake Blood – I Think I Like It (ECSTACY EDIT)
Audiobullys – Hit The Ceiling
Dagio – My Life Right (Extended mix)
Telex – Do worry (Kid Alex Remix)
The Marlan Jacksons – Steal Your Bike
Mastiksoul – Cumbia de Bogota
Drop The Lime – Sex Sax
Tiga – Move My Body (Only4erolmix)
Kelevra & Jaimie Fanatic – We Are All Kidz feat. Whiskey Pete, Reid Speed & Mike Balance
Far Too Loud – Start The Party
AC Slater – Jack Got Jacked (Udachi Remix)
Gingy – Swagger (Barletta Remix)
Young Nutz vs. Escobar &Vito – The Raver (Kraymer Remix)
The SoniXx – Losing Control
Scissor Sister – Electrobix

Earlier this month local party-rocker Duzi was on the show and offered up a lesson in the “new-ish”  Tropical genre of electronic dance music – think bass-heavy and slightly off-kilter rhythms punctuated by insistent snare drums and aggro synths.  His first set was a mix of Tropical along with some Bass and Dubstep-influenced tracks and then we took a break for a short interview  before  he carried on with a mix of big room Electro-House, Fidget, and Bass sounds.

As a testament to his talent, drive, and his ability to mix multiple genres of music,  Duzi still has a monthly residency in Regina and he has performed alongside the likes of:  Skratch Bastid, Team Canada,  Huggs, LA Riots, Mat the Alien, and many others.

Duzi- Live on In My Room – Nov.9,2011

Tracklist

Bart B More - Music Music Music
Kill The Noise - World (Torro Torro Remix)
Adam G, ImanoS - Move With Me (Gianni Marino Remix)
Sandro Silva - Told Ya
Sgt Slick - Like This (Angger Dimas Remix)
Sidney Samson - The Street Is Ours
Congorock feat Mr. Lexx - Babylon
Tommy Trash - The End (Rob Pix Remix)
Angger Dimas, Christian Luke - Chiquila (Sandro Silva Remix)
Nouveau Yorican - Chiuso (Gianni Marino Papua Remix)
Sheen Bros. Ft. Greg Nice - It’s So Hot Part 4 (Prod by Torro Torro)
Diplo & Oliver Twizt - GO
Felix Cartal - The Joker (John Dahlback Remix)
In Flagranti - Ex Ex Ex (feat. Natalie Smash – Riton Mix)

—INTERVIEW BREAK—

Bart B More, Drop The Lime & AC Slater - Cry Baby
Autoerotique - Freak (Sound Of Stereo Remix)
Benny Benassi - House Music (SonicC Remix)
Bassjackers - Mush, Mush
Bart B More - Traction (Club Mix)
Bettanoize - Heh-Oh
Hot Pink Delorean & Rory Lions - Move It!
Proxy - Raven (Crookers Remix)
Tommy Trash - Blair Bitch Project
Congorock - Sirius

“Contemporary pop waterboards us with negatives,” says Mof Gimmers. This is why the return of the proudly aspirational Chic and Nile Rodgers should be welcomed…

One of the interesting things about disco (which never ‘sucked’ nearly as much as the various numbskull rockers that berated it so) is that, like a lot of popular dance music, it was aspirational and brought about through times of austerity. 1970s NYC was a pretty lousy place to be, and yet somehow young people became royalty via the dancefloor.

Clothes were handmade or stolen and these young peacocks strolled around, lost in wild fantasy brought on by that metronomic funk, swoonsome strings and insane basslines. Disco made you feel decadent whether your bank account backed the stats or not.

And the most apsirational of the lot were Chic, with their sophisticated take on the topic of having a good time, both the dumbest and most complicated thing for a writer to ever tackle. Complicated? Think about the successes of ‘Music Sounds Better With You’ compared to the cultural failure of the 1001 hits about being ‘in the club’. Chic somehow managed to take the notion of dancing and made the it transcendent.”

Continue reading here.

Everybody Dance! Do do do do… Clap Your hands, Clap your hands!

I remember first hearing Chic as a boy while digging through my parents record collection.

They had a copy of C’est Chic and I thought it was one of the coolest things I’d ever heard. The stand out track for me back then was “Le Freak.”

Do yourself a favour. Take some time to re-acquaint with the one and only Chic!

Back in September DJ Lee MacDonald stopped by the station to drop a funky, bouncy, bumpin’ house set. Some real gems in there.  About an hour, or so, in he took a break and we chatted for a bit. Then, I hopped on the decks and went off in a completely different direction: classic electro and tough electro-breaks with some dark vocal tracks….a bit of dissonance, but hey, it was the week before my birthday and I felt like being a robot.

Lee MacDonald & gl.tch-Live on In My Room-Sep.21,2011

1.  Motor City Drum Ensemble – L.O.V.E
2.  Sound Diggers – Mans World
3.  CDR-????
4.  Bryan Jones – Pictures and Sounds
5.  South of Roosevelt – Over Me
6.  Mendo – Inocenia
7.  Jeff Service – Spitshine Tommy
8.  Bobby & Klein – G String
9.  Miles Maeda – My Hip House
10.  DJ Sneak – Babylon Fallin
11. Stefano Noferni – Disco’s Revenge
12. Francis Dilla – Dreams
13. CDR-????
14. Rosie Gaines – Closer
15. Detroit Grand Pubahs – Sandwiches RMX
16. Daft Punk – Mothership Reconnection
17. SWITCH!!!!
18. DMX Krew –  Lip Chime
19. Daniel Savio – Tough Guy Music
20. John Carpenter – The End
21. Beatfanatic – Hal & Dave
22. Daft Punk – Short Circuit
23. FPU – In the Future with Machines
24. Lolita Strap – Video Screen
25. Parallax Corporation- Invasion
26. Knightz of Bass – Space Invaders
27. DJ Technician –  Never Ever
28. Jess & Crabbe – Warlords
29. Model 500 –  Night Drive / Time Space Transmat
30. Marvul – Quaark (Syntonics Robo-Bass RMX)
31. Anthony Rother – Red Light District
32. Minticco – Clean it Up (Radioactive Man RMX)
33. Bolz Bolz – 2nd Chance
34. Asem Shama – Motherload