Archives for posts with tag: Drake

Jimi Jaxon shares his newest mix, opening for Machinedrum w/ Tracklist

2015/04/23 //
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I remember the first time I interacted with Machinedrum aka Travis Stewart. I was given the opportunity to perform at Decibel Festival 2012’s Warp Records Showcase, opening up the night for Jimmy Edgar, Clark and Travis. It was the highest profile show I had played so far, and the challenge was just what I needed to think bigger and further develop my own voice. I remember him coming on stage towards the end of my set when I was playing some Slick Shoota, bobbing his head and singing along. From then on, I become more and more enamored by this man, both for his hefty amount of quality productions, and his friendly demeanor. Daft Punk are still my main dudes, but I watch them from afar. It’s just a pure gift to cross paths with Machinedrum over the years since that Warp show. He is truly one of the most talented and visionary artists around. I was there at the Vapor City Live debut at dB Fest 2013, the Jets show that same year, Vapor City live in Portland in 2014, and now this Machinedrum show at Crocodile in 2015. Once again, I felt like this was a culmination of everything I had learned, and another challenge to better myself and add my own energy into the night. This wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for the artists creating these songs. Followers of this site should recognize a few friends that have come through in interviews over the years. Big shout-out to my favorite producer to come thru Disco Droppings, XI, whose on the very first track of the mix. Shout-outs to Embassy Recordings, Broodlings, Slick Shoota, HxdB and WD4D, who you’ll also hear. And respect to DJ Rashad and the Teklife family, who you’ll see represented..

It was a total joy to work with The Crocodile on this show. Thank you to all the staff, and especially Shaina for allowing my intern Beck Ninneman and I to bring in additional lights, and granting us some brand new subs. The vibes were fierce and rowdy. It was that show I’ve dreamed about since I started, where everything just clicks.

Tracklist

XI – Trinary

The Bug – Skeng (Kode9 Remix)

Broodlings – Two, Three (Embassy Recordings)

Stray – Chatterbox (Original Mix)

WD4D & Suttikeeree – Up On Something (Unreleased)

At The Drive-In – Pattern Against User

Ital Tek – Challenger Deep

Nine Inch Nails – Survivalism (Jimi Jaxon Remix) (Version 1)

DJ Rashad – Ride Dis Dikk (DJ Earl Remix)

HxdB & DJ Cure Feat. MC ThinkTank – Sound The Alarm (Firestar Soundsystem Remix)

Mincha & Ghost Town – Aberdeen (Howie Lee Remix)

Drake – All Me (DJ Paypal x DJ Taye)

Fracture – Loving Touch (Original Mix)

Rvdical The Kid – Tokyo

DRJ – With You

Etherwood – Unfolding (feat. Laurelle Robichaud)

SpectraSoul – Light In The Dark (Feat. Terri Walker)

DJ Jy – Kesha Wif The Fatty ;] (Drippin x Slick Shoota Remix)

Pascal – P-Funk Era (Original Remix)

DJ Rashad, DJ Spinn, Alix Perez – Make It Worth (Original Mix)

DJ Earl, DJ Taye – Wurkinn da Bass (Original Mix)

Shy FX – Bambaata (Dillinja Remix)

 Video Credit: Cameron Jessup

Mix also available on Mixcloud, Video also on Vimeo

– Jimi Jaxon

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Jhene Aiko – Soul Master

2014/02/09 //
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The most recent quote on Jhene Aiko’s Tumblr reads, “Sunshine all the time makes a desert.” This arab proverb is perfect for Aiko’s attitude towards life and music. To paraphrase from a past interview she’s said, “I just believe in progressing through life..I really take things that most people would see as negative as motivation..tradegy etc., those are the things that make me even more motivated and inspired.” It can be easy for some to hear her music, her voice and instantly be drifting away in a kind of bliss. But there is darkness, and complexity within the beauty.

Jhene is about a year older than me, a Pisces, born March 16th 1988 (raised in LA). While I was trading Pokemon cards and playing video games in 2002 (Jhene was probably doing that too:)), she was getting her music career started, contributing vocals to past R&B group B2K. It was fun to realize I had heard her voice way back then and not noticed. You can spot Aiko in their video for “Uh Huh” (my favorite of theirs).

 

She toured with them for a bit, and took a break from the music industry for several years. During this time, she had a daughter and had a record label meeting that would influence the future creation of the Sailing Souls Mixtape, Sail Out EP and upcoming debut album Souled Out. She was told the classic tale, that you need to sell yourself if you want to get somewhere in the business. A play on words would change “sell” to “sail”, and that attitude of freedom and artistic integrity would fuel her future work.

 

I admire her energy and perspective on the world within and around her. She doesn’t believe in setbacks and takes each moment good or bad, as energy for her music. It’s that roll with the punches feel that’s helped give her this angelic, as well as raw presentation as an artist and person. In her Sailing Souls mixtape (Prod. by K. Roosevelt, Fistcuffs, J.LBS, Bei Maejor and Tae Beast), the relationship songs are all about one particular, unnamed person. The audience has a window into her life, and that vulnerability and honesty has connected with a massive and diverse group of individuals. That mixtape’s had over a quarter of a million downloads, and features Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Miguel, Gucci Mane, Lite, H.O.P.E., Roosevelt and Kanye West.

Her productions on that mixtape were smooth demonstrations of R&B, soul and pop, some of my favorites being “Stranger”, “Hoe Feat. Miguel & Gucci Mane”, “Real Now”, “Higher” and “Space Jam.”

 

 

Jhene lost her brother Miyagi to cancer in July 2012. She wrote “For My Brother” solely for her dying sibling, and he passed away shortly after hearing it. That fall, “3:16 AM” was released as a single from Sail Out.

In 2013 she was featured on Drake’s “From Time” off his marvelous Nothing Was The Same album, was involved in a car crash with her daughter (who was thankfully unharmed) and released her Sail Out EP (Prod. by Fistcuffs and No I.D., via Def Jam and Artium) in November. With each release, from the mixtape to this EP I hear a mighty evolution that further puts Aiko in her own creative space. It’s refreshing, organic music, that doesn’t sound anything like current mainstream cheese. The same labels that brought Sail Out are now prepping Jhene’s debut album, Souled Out (out May 2014). I’m itchin’ to hear where she takes us next.

* You can catch Jhene Aiko at Coachella 2014 *

 

Jhene Aiko – Facebook Twitter Tumblr Soundcloud

– Jimi Jaxon

References: Jhene Aiko Interview – The Truth With Elliott Wilson, Wikipedia, Jhene Aiko Interview With Manny Norte

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Drake – Nothing Was The Same

2013/10/25 //
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I connected strongly with Take Care, and recently I started listening to Nothing Was The Same from start to finish. This album, and Drake in general seem comfortable in their own skin. Its got remarkable atmosphere, a solid range of intensity throughout the tracklist and a confident attitude. The execution of melody, song structure and sonic quality are precise, representing greatness in my eyes.

 

Drake told XXL, “Take Care was about connecting with my city and connecting with my past and sort of still feeling guilty that I’m not in love with one of these girls that cared about me from back in the day. Now, I’m 26, I’m with my friends, I’m making jobs for people, I’m making memories for people that will last a lifetime. I don’t need to be in love right now. I don’t need these things that I maybe once thought that I needed to feel normal and feel righteous about myself. I think for the first time in an album I’m content—not satisfied—but proud of where I’m at as a person.”

I can feel that Drake believes in himself, and I like the way he encourages his crew and city of Toronto.

 

Production on the album was handled mainly by Noah “40” Shebib with additional support from Hudson Mohawke, Nineteen85, Jake One, Mike Zombie, Detail, DJ Dahi, Chilly Gonzales, Majid Jordan, Boi-1da, Allen Ritter, Sampha, Jordan Evans, and the man himself, Drake.

My other favorite tracks from NWTS are “Furthest Thing”, “From Time (Feat. Jhene Aiko)”, “Wu-Tang Forever” and “Connect”.

 

I should take notes from Drake. I like how he has fully embraced his role as an artist. In his mind like with all of us, there are pieces missing, voids to be filled, but the choice of what to focus on is ours. Appreciate where you are, and utilize your position to its fullest potential.

Drake turned 27 yesterday, October 24th 2013.

 

octobersveryown.com

– Jimi Jaxon

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Joey LaBeija Interview

2013/10/16 //
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545248_10201726953471546_237158689_nPhoto credit: Nick Blumenthal

Crafting some of the sassiest and most memorable mixes I’ve heard in a while, and looking damn good doing it. It’s time to turn up the heat on Disco Droppings, Joey LaBeija is in control. In this interview we talk about his House of LaBeija family, influence, how his mixes come together and his connection to the CuntMafia Warehouse parties in New York.

 

DD You are a part of the House of LaBeija, the first voguing house ever started. You are also the only DJ in this crew. As ballroom and vogue culture continues to spread, you seem to be in an ideal central spot. How would you describe the house, its significance and your role in the whole thing? 

JL Being a 4th generation LaBeija has been a blessing. Everyone in the house is so loving, supportive, goal oriented and driven.  One of our LaBeija mottos is ‘we are a family first and a ballroom house second’. Every single one of us, even our Father Tommie, has a hustle and a struggle and it feels really comforting to know that we are all in this together. The house was quiet for a while in the ballroom scene, and as members of the house, we are all doing our thing to make sure everyone knows WE ARE BACK.  I got inducted to the house shortly after my first international gig in Tokyo. I knew that my life as a DJ was slowly but surely about to grow, and I wanted to do it in the name of LaBeija, helping bring the name back to the forefront in and outside of the ballroom community.

DD What has influenced your style as a DJ? 

JL I am not much of a voguer, I only vogue when I’m turnt up with my boys smoking blunts at the crib or when I come out the shower feeling soft-n-cunt. Ballroom music is just a fraction of what I like to play…I think growing up in New York has influenced my style as a dj more so than anything. Growing up here I was a floater, never really hanging out with one specific group of people. I went to school with guidos, hung out with punks on St. Marks, cruised for trade with fags on The Pier, and smoked L’s and drank Korbel with my ratchet bitches on the block.  Each crew had a completely different influence on me musically and I think it shows a lot in what I do.

 

DD In addition to an obvious gift with music, you have really rad style. I don’t really have a question about your style, but I just want to commend you on looking fucking awesome all the time. 

JL Thanks boo ❤

DD I enjoy the names of some of your mixes, such as “Tales From The Bedroom” and “Good Sex & Night Terrors”. Do you often think about themes when pulling together your track lists? 

JL Going into a mix with a theme in mind is really important to me. I like to think of those mixes in particular as pages from my journal because they tell a little bit of a story. I didn’t pick tracks for either of them…I recorded them live and played strictly off of my emotions. The titles came to me after listening to them. I wanted Tales From the Bedroom to be a panty dropper mix; something you could listen to while gettin yacked by your [in]significant other. Good Sex & Night Terrors is my favorite..for me, it is story about how much of a nightmare it can be balancing your hustle, loving a dude and being a bad bitch which is exactly what I was going through while recording it.

 

DD I read in a past interview that you’re planning to expand your friend CuntMafia’s Warehouse parties in New York. These look extremely diverse in terms of the crowds you attract as well as extremely successful in general. How is that coming together? I hope you guys come to Seattle, I’d love to help in any way!

JL Contessa and I are always curating something crazy. Me her and my best friend Shawn Leigh had a great success with our monthly party ‘Iconic’ this summer. I decided to pull the reins on it for a plethora of reasons, the main one being none of the venues really felt like home, which is why we moved the party around every time. But when we find the right home we will bring something back to life for sure. Throwing warehouse parties involves a lot and can be really difficult when you don’t have a rich white man fronting/investing the money for you like other warehouse parties here. Thats why I respect Contessa, she may be wild as fuck and will rage on you like no other, but all of her success is self made and self invested. She’ll take a struggle over a stack of cash any day cuz she’s ACTUALLY about that life.

DD What artists have you the most hyped right now?

JL GIRL!. There has been so much good music coming out recently it’s almost TOO much to handle. I’m really loving everything coming out from Fade To Mind right now. That Kelela Album is has been my bible since it dropped. Kingdom’s Vertical XL is genius, and I’m like crying in anticipation of NguzuNguzu’s new ep coming out. Don’t get me started on Drake’s NWTS…that album has me slow winding for hours at end. 

DD Any last words?

JL For booking inquiries contact: JOEYLABEIJA@GMAIL.COM

 

Joey LaBeija – Soundcloud Twitter Facebook Tumblr

– Jimi Jaxon

 
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