I Have a soft spot for this local DJ, would luvvv some DJ lessons from CTRL_ALT_DLT he is a pro! Read what he has to say about his music and showcase at Decibel Festival 2011..Check out this song of his below as well as his preview mix for the festival here 

DD: You’ve got a Decibel Festival preview mix online, I’m listening to it now, sounds very smoooth. What can you tell readers about the upcoming Sweatbox Showcase at Decibel which you are hosting? I absolutely love the venue it’s being held at (The Woods). 

This will be a very techno-centric event, featuring two of the most creative and active producers/DJs in the game right now. Camea and Tim Xavier are two artists that have grown into serious powerhouses in the world of techno, continually producing and releasing quality tracks on their labels Clink and LTD400 and DJing all over the world, while still maintaining an underground aesthetic. Their music ranges from tough and driving techno all the way down to some dark and weird warehouse-style psychedelia. Very excited to hear what they’ve got in store and honored to be hosting it! The Woods is a very cool spot, and should be perfect for this kind of event—SMALL. DARK. LOUD. HOT.

DD: What’s an especially fond memory you have at past Decibel Festival’s?  

It’s tough to narrow down only one experience but I’ll mention something about last year’s edition, definitely one of the wildest years to date. Our friends from Portland, the whole Alga rhythms crew, rented this awesome house right on The Hill, it was like something out of The Real World, complete with a hot tub. Sunday morning turned into a madhouse with Soul Clap, Tanner Ross, Tim Green, Derek Plaslaiko and a few other DJs I’m forgetting, tearing that place up for hours. It was the party that wouldn’t quit and ended with Derek and me tagging for a couple hours, at like 7pm, to a handful of people that had been there since the morning—crazyness, and a huge inspiration for our Still Going party at Electric Tea Garden this year, which starts at 5am Sunday morning. 

DD: Showcase you’re most excited to see? 

Lot’s of good stuff going on this year. Excited for the Blurring the Lines showcase with Martin Buttrich and Cyanwave. Also looking forward to the Deep Foundations showcase with Mike Huckaby and Deniz Kurtel, although it’s too bad that Motor City Drum Ensemble had to cancel, as that was one of the artists I really wanted to check out this year, that’s how it goes though. Really stoked for the Flammable showcase with dOP and Kate Simko, that will be on helluva way to close out this year’s festival. Also, can’t forget the action we’ve got planned with the Sweatbox Showcase, Clink Afterhours at ETG, and Still Going! I’ve got a feeling this is gonna be a great year for the festival. See you all soon!

http://www.sweatboxseattle.com/

– Jimi Jaxon

My buddy Julianne is studying abroad in Germany. Got a haircut from miss Johanna and told me I should check out her music. I did, and now she is here! 

DD: I listened to your “Into The Beat” mix all the way through, couldn’t stop! What songs on there do you like the most? What mindset were you in when this was recorded? 

Thank you for listening. I would say that one of my favorite tracks on this mix is Murr ft Rosina “My Best Dress (Adam Marshall Remix)”  because it has a really groovy bass-line and has this quite “douchy” female vocal that I love.

I was actually a bit stressed out when I recorded this mix, ’cause I had the worse month of my life before this day (moving house, moving studio and bad travel experiences) so I hadn’t had the chance to unpack all of my records or set up a proper DJ table yet. But somehow it worked out quite well, I found the perfect records to play together and then recorded it in one go. The mixing isn’t 100 %, but I’m happy with it for what it is.

DD: Being from Berlin, I bet the scene there is incredibly vibrant. What’s you’re experience been like in that part of Germany? 

I am Swedish and moved here about 3 years ago. I’m used to the Swedish scene (which was the reason for me to move to Berlin at that time) so for me everything has been an 100% improvement. Every night that I’ve been going to gigs or shows has been more interesting the the times I’ve been out back in Sweden or anywhere else I’ve been. It’s just different and I think that people that go to the clubs I go to here are in general more interested in the music and not so much in getting laid or drunk. Mind you, this is only my personal opinion and I might be wrong, hehe.

I have met so many incredible people here that I would never meet if I didn’t live here and I would also not get as many opportunities to gigs or collaborations. Mostly because I spend more time making music or listening to music here then I did in Sweden, since every one I know here is doing the same things it’s nothing wrong or weird about it. Back home I was at my work 24/7 and never had the extra energy to socialize or play records after work.It comes more natural now and I’m just starting to learn all about it.

DD: My friend Julianne is studying abroad around there. She said you were cutting her hair and mentioned that you do music. How did the haircut turn out? 

As far as I remember, it went very well. :]

DD: What got you interested in becoming a DJ?

The first time I went to Panorama 5 years ago and saw such energetic and inspiring dance-floor. It was Aaron Carl who played that night I think, and I remember how incredible it was to see him master his dance floor. People were like puppets moving to the music he played.  It was amazing and I thought a lot about this afterwards; imagine to have the opportunity to share your favorite music with like-minded people and dance together and set the mood for everyone. I just wanted to try it out for once, so I did 1 year later and it was the best thing I’ve ever done. House music has literally changed my life and it has taken me to places and people  I would never discover without it. 

DD: Last words? 

It IS a spiritual thing as far as I’m concerned. :]

Find this grl on Facebook and Soundcloud 

– Jimi Jaxon

Look out for this girl. I have great feelings about her musical future. Natasha Kmeto will be performing at the dB In The Park Showcase (free and all ages) alongside Eprom, Salva, Comma, Ill Cosby and moar. 

DD: You were my favorite act at Bumbershoot’s EMP Sky Church stage, hosted/curated by Decibel Festival. You have some heavy beats, nicely balanced with your beautiful voice. How long has it taken you to get to this point artistically, expressing yourself with such ease? 

 
Wow! Thank you so much!  I’ve been making music in a variety of genres and styles since I was 15 years old, but my solo project is about 2 years old.  I feel that all of my experience as a musician and also being a huge fan of music has led up to where I’m at now.  I feel like I’ll always be striving to better express myself. 

DD: How does the electronic community in Portland relate to Seattle? What about Seattle and Decibel Festival do you enjoy most? 

Portland and Seattle are both such awesome cities that have been consistently amazing for me. Obviously, I live in Portland, so I have a little more experience with the scene here, but every time I go to Seattle I have an excellent time and hope to have many more!  I love the energy of a big city and Seattle has a really unique, comforting feeling to me.  Maybe it has something to do with being closer to the ocean, which is always refreshing. I dig all the wonderful architecture and the depth of culture the city has to offer.  Decibel is so fantastic because it curates and celebrates the very best in electronic music.  It’s truly an honor to be a part of and I’m so excited for this year’s fest.  You guys rock!

DD: Who created that profile pic of you (seen at top)? It’s amazing! 

Thank you! That picture is actually the cover art for a past release of mine called “Expressor.”  I conceptualized it and then Carly Birkey took the photo and my brother Alex did the pencils and inks.  He’s actually an amazing comic book artist.

DD: Last words? 

Just that it was a pleasure to meet you and that I look forward to seeing you again at Decibel.  Thanks so much for the support!  

http://natashakmeto.com
http://twitter.com/natashakmeto
http://facebook.com/natashakmeto

– Jimi Jaxon

Get ready for a massive onslaught of Decibel Festival performing artist profiles! I wanna show off these strong local and not so local guys. Apolinario Ancheta’s boat party show is not included with your pass, so head over here to grab a ticket.  This show will include performances by Wolf + Lamb’s Slow Hands, Tiger & Woods, Deniz Kurtel and moarrrr

 INTERVIEW

DD: You’re performing on the “Slow Boat Cruise” showcase on the final day of Decibel Festival 2011, have you played on boat parties before? Last time I was on one everyone was dancing pretty hard!  

This is a double win for me actually, because this will be my first time playing on a boat and at Decibel – I’m pretty excited to say the least.  The boat parties are always a great time though, all the people look great and are having fun; the environment lends to a different type of experience, you know?  

DD: Who are some artists you’re most excited to see at Decibel? Hopefully you’re able to relax a bit and enjoy some of the many aspects of the Festival.

There’s always so much good music at Decibel, it’s a great opportunity to check out some new people that you normally wouldn’t see if you were back home. But for my own excitement, I’m really looking forward to seeing Jimpster, dOP, and the incredible lineup on the Slow Boat party.   

DD: Last words? 

This year’s festival is going to be great. For anyone who hasn’t been, it’s well worth it and should be put on the calendar.  I’ll be around various venues throughout the festival, if you see me moving about come say hi -it’s all about the music!

Check out more tunes on Soundcloud  

– Jimi Jaxon

So! This feature has been in the works for a while. Ben, with whom I did this interview below is a close friend and former work buddy over at Victor’s Coffee House. Since hearing about this 3-piece band of his I was anxious to share it with the world. If you’re in Seattle tomorrow, Aruvius Thud will be playing their last show for a while over at The Hideout (1005 Boren Avenue, 21+), I will most certainly be there! In the future keep your ears peeled for my remixes of this band, forthcoming on my label, 7 Deadly Records. Alright, here we go..

DD: What got Aruvius Thud interested in the sound your currently producing? It’s got an almost medieval quality.  

A medieval quality you say… that seems to be a reoccurring description of our sound, though there was never any concious effort on our part to make it that. Our original intent was to create what we called an “analog” band; by which I mean nothing digital. The plan was all acoustic instruments, voice, and recordings to be done on analog gear. So perhaps, that is where the association of our sound with something of antiquity comes about. As we progress as a band we have made some compromises to that original vision as a matter of practicality, but i think at the root of our music is something very organic from which I hope a multitude of manifestations may grow. 

DD: A wonder with the words. What are some of your most unconventional influences? 

I would have to say our unconventional influences include flowing water, bird songs, trees (both standing and fallen), and the relationship between vast landscapes and the dream state.

DD: How did you feel about your performance at the 2011 NW Folklife Festival? I thought it was mesmerizing! 

Mesmerizing… thank you! Overall we felt good about our folklife performance. we were very appreciative of the turnout. Everybody listened so attentively that we all got shaky nervous, so I don’t think we played to the best of our abilities. At the end of our set one of those extreme old time folklifers (with the folklife hat, t-shirt covered in a decade worth of folklife buttons and schedule in hand) came up after the set and said it was the best he saw all festival. so that made me feel all right about being so nervous. Good times.

DD: How do you feel about your music being remixed? I’m in the process of re-working those 3 Aruvius Thud demo songs I’ve been listening to.

I’m excited to hear what you come up with. I think danceability is definatley something that our music lacks. I’m quite curious to hear how you would translate it. Actually I want to hear it right now. why am I not listening to it right now? 

DD: Cause it’s in the works! What’s the best encouragement you’ve gotten as an artist?  

The best sort of encouragement for an artist is when their art escapes the personal association with the artist. As if a person could listen to a song, or look at a painting, not knowing anything about, or even who the artist is and feel like it came from them. Or like when you get the feeling of, how did they know that I knew this before I knew that it was something that I already knew?  That sort of thing.

DD: Any final words? 

Don’t know what else to say… thanks for paying some mind to the band and for giving your time to support the efforts of others. you got a good thing going with your blog.  I look forward to the thud remixes via Jimi Jaxon.

Aruvius Thud on Facebook

See ya’ll at the Hideout tomorrow,

Jimi Jaxon