John and Daniel make up the quickly rising group LA Riots known for killer remixes. Since the inception of this duo, their tracks have rocked many a party and also have recently been featured in the IHEARTCOMIX compilation CD done for Scion.
I caught up with John recently at the poorly organized mess of a festival Hard 13 in Los Angeles to chat with him more about the duo’s growing success:
bisouK: Tell our readers about the inception of LA Riots
John: Daniel and I have known each other for a while, we both go back to the NC drum & bass scene in the late 90’s. We both ended up living in LA, he started DJ’ing electro, and we decided to try writing an electro track. Things took off very quickly from there.
John: Adrian and Mike had recently picked up their first act MSTRKRFT and were on the lookout for a promising hometown act. We were it. This was very early on, before they called themselves Undocumented.
bisouK: Your remixes are known to be killer, when can we expect some original tracks?
John: They’re coming. I’ve put a lot into finding our sound and its taken some time, I want it to be something very cool. The first few are close to completion, I’m really excited about getting them out there.
bisouK: How do you find tracks to remix?
John: The labels hit us up with offers, and we choose the ones we like.
bisouK: What would you say is the overall identity of LA Riots as a brand?
John: Dancefloor killers. . that’s what we do.
bisouK: You’re known to be the behind the scenes guy, can you tell TM readers about the differences in roles between you and Daniel?
John: He’s the DJ, I’m the producer. We both recognized how strong we’d be if we teamed up, and the dynamic works really well. I’m only behind the scenes in that I’m not the primary performer.
bisouK: Fave festivals you have played to date and why?
John: I don’t go on a lot of the gigs, I mostly only roll out when its local, so I haven’t been at a lot of the festivals we’ve played. For me, it was the first Street Scene in San Diego. It was very early on in LA Riots, the first show where we had all access, free food and drinks, and a trailer. That was a fun time.
bisouK: What are the goals you try to accomplish when making remixes and how do you differentiate your sound from others?
John: With the remixes, I tried to distinguish us from others by remaining as true to the original music as possible, while making the track kill an electro dancefloor. Most producers do their own thing, and throw in a few samples of the original over it. I liked to work in as much of the original as possible. I’m talking past tense though, our production sound is shifting big time, I’m not currently taking any remixes, and my approach to remixing may change after finishing the originals. Our sound is at a turning point, so we’ll see.
bisouK: Where do you see LA Riots transitioning and moving into in the next few years as the scene changes? Any new influences we should look for in your upcoming releases?
John: Rock. On the production end, a lot more rock. My favorites of the originals I’m working on could be on a rock radio station’s daytime playlist and can also kill a peak hour dancefloor. The first few completed originals will most likely be along these lines. I also have some deeper, moodier tracks cooking, and some straight up dancefloor tracks.
bisouK: Finally, what do you want to see happen when people listen to your music?
John: I want them to feel like a badass on the dancefloor.
LA Riots will be playing in SXSW on the 19th, 20th, and 21st. Definitely a show to catch if you’re in Austin, Texas!
Late of the Pier first caught my attention as remixers, producing tunes infused with electro, rock, and pop elements with a dark edged tinge. They are now releasing “Fantasy Black Channel“, their debut album. The full length release gives you a better sense of who LOTP are as a band. “Fantasy Black Channel” pushes stylistic boundaries, contains infectious hooks, and the wide scope of their soundscape gives each track its own sound, dishing out a little bit of something for everyone.
The fan’s and critics are all over it, and in agreement, LOTP is a “hot buzz band“, to keep on your radar. Over the past year, the Nottingham four some of comprised of Sam Eastgate (vocals/guitar), Sam Potter, (synths/samplers), Ross Dawson (drums/percussion) and Andrew Faley (bass), have been receiving massive acclaim and extensively touring Europe. They make their highly anticipated US debut this March and April, hitting SXSW, WMC, and all points in between.
‘Brilliant’ -Rolling Stone ‘This band are the future’ – NME ‘Grand retro-futurism’ –Pitchfork ‘Strange & Exciting’ -Blender ‘A wild pastiche of pogo-friendly pop music…Late of the Pier isn’t so much late as right on time.’– Interview ‘The most thrillingly imaginative album of the year’ -The Fly
LATE OF THE PIER ON U.S. TOUR SPRING, 2009
March 18 – 21 Austin, TX South by Southwest
March 24 Jacksonville, FL Jack Rabbits
March 26 Miami, FL Gansevoort Hotel (DJ set)
March 27 Miami,FL Vagabond Hotel (DJ set)
March 28 Miami, FL Bicentennial Park
March 30 Atlanta, GA The Earl
April 01 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
April 02 New Haven, CT Yale
April 03 Brooklyn, NY Studio B
April 04 Philadelphia, PA TLA
April 07 Washington DC 930 Club
April 08 Boston, MA Paradise
April 09 Montreal, QC Les Saintes
April 10 Toronto, ON Kool Haus April 11 Chicago, IL Branded @ Congress Theater
April 14 Seattle, WA Chop Suey
April 15 Portland, OR Holocene
April 16 San Francisco, CA Popscene
April 19 Indio, CA Empire Polo Grounds
It’s the wave of new media – When traditional places like TV networks incorporate non-mainstream music into their off shoot website products to add personality and showcase something fresh. What’s the latest example?
Definitive Jux’s artist Cage is coming out with a new album this year that will be available for FREE for download on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim.
Unfamiliar? Cage is an American rapper from New York, who does self described progressive rap and no longer condones drug use with his lyrics. His life was so tumultuous growing up (imagine helping your dad shoot up heroine) that Shia Lebeouf is making his directorial debut shooting the video for “I Never Knew You” here in rainy Los Angeles, which will actually lead up to a feature length film with Lebeouf playing the young Cage.
Cage’s new album (and the first in 4 years) will be the follow up to 2005’s highly praised Hell’s Winter. Vice Magazine called it “strictly for the grown, warped, and sexy” which sounds right up this Trash alley.
If you like the track below, you can find the I Never Knew You EP this spring on Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) and if you’re in the beautiful Austin, Texas at SXSW you’ll be able to see his first official performance this year.
Culn’Sweet are no strangers to the hustle and flow of circling their music ’round the blogs. Back in Nov 08, they were featured on the maddest blog of all, Mad Decent. Persistent through and through, this post has been long overdue on Trash and the culprit, lack of time, has surrendered. Comprised of Dj’s Spin Laden, Teenage Wolf, and Mario Barrio, the Dj/art collective have been throwing it down in the South of Texas and Mexico, infiltrating their style of what they call, “hard dance rave, jacking, ghetto, and fidget”, which you can also catch on their blog, Tejano Bounce.
“The scene in Mexico is really starting to catch on to the heavy bass sounds and extends further than Monterrey”, says Dj Teenage Wolf. And Culn’Sweet have a knack for pushing this sound, along with their best friends, MIAU Collective, whom they often collaborate with. Their monthly residency, “Fidget Disco” at Black n Tan, in Austin, Texas, is all about that. “We’ve played alongside and hosted with some of our favorites – Dj fame, juiceboxxx, Dre skull, Congorock, Zombie disco squad, Jak z, Scott Cooper, Rampage, Dj Sega, Toy Selectah, Suave, Bouncy Brunch Crew, and we have Wongo, Justin James, Gigibarocco, and Hijack, lined up for upcoming parties.”
Culn’Sweet are no strangers to SXSW, as it’s right in their backyard. This year they’ll play alongside label Dj’s from Pottymouth, Nightshifters, Brick Bandits and more. The future is looking bright for these eager young things, so what else is in store? Dj Spin Laden has an upcoming release on Acid Jacks label, Idiot House and Culn’Sweet Dj’s are preparing for an Ep release on Vicious Pop Digital, due out this summer. Catch Dj Teenage Wolf at The Heist, LA on 2/26 and enjoy these 2 mixes made by Teenage Wolf and Spin Laden, just for Trash!
01. Baobinga – State of Ghetto Jackin
02. Dj rockid – Girls (mighty fools remix)
03. Aniki – Evil Nugget (Van Villian remix )
04. Breakdown – Feel this
05. Doubble 99 – RipGrove (ant brooks & twisted blitz mix)
06. Blatta & Inesha – El Ritmo Barbara
07. yacek – Stoopid
08. Pete Vaydex – My Orange Vacuum Cleaner
09. Rob3 – The Chase ( Rampage Remix)
10. Tom eq – I need you
11. lissat & voltaxx – Let there be house (Dj bam bam remix)
01. Kazey & bulldog – For da Real G’s (french fries rmx)
02. lazy flow – Don’t Stop
03. dj rob 3 – Xplosion
04. Crookers – Alarma
05. Ursula 1000 – Zombies (hijack remix)
06. Mikix the cat – Wuz
07. edu k – Raver lovin (nadastrom remix)
08. Jon Kennedy – One time
09. Solid Groove Sinden – din da da
10. Destroy disco – Bring that lead back
11. Calvetron – like dat (aspin dipace remix)
12. Crookers – what up ya’ll
13. Dillinja – twist em out (proper villains remix)
14. Blackfinger – umf (supra1 remix)
15. Piddy py – giggle riddim
We have 2009 and London/Manchester trio We Have Band, have a brave cover from the Buffet Libre Dj’s REWIND covers project, ‘West End Girls‘, by pop geniuses, Pet Shop Boys. They sing this so effortlessly, I don’t mind it being a cover at all. In fact, I’m rather glad they chose Pet Shop Boys to cover; perfect timing with PSB’s ‘revival.’
As 2008 neared its final months, there was a plethora of music that I didn’t get around to mentioning, including, We Have Band’s debut single, ‘Oh!‘, released 11/24, via the 50 Bones label. “Oh!” had a variance of remixes that came in droves from the likes of Micachu, Gentlemen Drivers, Andrew Friendly, Plugs, and Yo! Majesty.
While the repetitive “Oh!” was racing around in our heads, We Have Band’s “You’ve Had Band (Demo)”, was working its way ’round the blogs and “Hear It In the Cans (DIY Version)”, was picked up for the 6th compilation on the Parisian label, Kitsuné Maison. We Have Band is currently writing and recording songs for their upcoming album and have a list of gig dates (including SXSW in Austin, TX) that can be found on their myspace. Undoubtedly, the self described “disco-rock trio”, are taking shape, so keep an eye out!
Franki Chan (iheartcomix) has taken on a new role this December: Santa Claus! December 25th via beatport, Franki is releasing the new EP for FUTURECOP! (in a partnership with Southern Fried Records). FUTURECOP! does 80s-ish instrumental sounds and Franki says that he’s super pumped about this release. The tracks they’re releasing are the stuff people dream of remixing…
Franki’s newest iheartcomix signee is sounding promising because not only is he known to have great taste (with Heartsrevolution on his label and recently completing a tour with Toxic Avenger), but he’s also known to throw some bangin’ parties… especially, in my memories, at SXSW every year in Austin, TX. Last year I have the distinct memory of being on a rooftop garage jamming out to Spankrock at his party.
The FUTURECOP! EP is releasing everywhere on Jan. 29, 2009 and the latest tour dates are 1/23 in NY and 1/24 in LA thus far.
*All posts will follow the ‘TM Best of 2008 Readers Poll’, until it is over.
Trash Menagerie best of 2008 Reader Nomination’s are in, now it’s time to have your final say and vote on the top Artists, Tracks, and Events of 2008. Vote 3 times in each category, be sure to check back to see how the votes are being cast, poll’s close New Year’s Eve @ 12:00am.
Nick Catchdubs was nice enough to give us his new mix AND an interview. He is one of my favorite New Yorkers and his label with A-Trak, Fools Gold (maybe you have possibly heard of it?) is killing it right now.
4AM: How and when did you meet A-Trak?
Nick Catchdubs:Roxy used to do Friday night parties on Bowery – I want to say the club was BLVD? Dust La Rock, who would later go on to be the Fool’s Gold graphic designer, did the flyers, it looked like the back of a dollar bill with a Debbie Deb quote about “fog machines and laser rays” on the top. One night, A-Trak and I DJed together, we got booked to do shows in San Francisco and LA soon after, and over the course of hanging out we realized we had a lot in common with music, humor, and haberdashery. From then we just stayed friends, sending mp3s back and forth and talking shit.
4AM: How did you and Trizzy eventually come up with the Fools Gold idea?
NC: He ran the Audio Research label in Montreal for almost a decade with his brother Dave, and realized it had such a strong history as an underground/indie hip-hop label that his new, more electronic-influenced stuff wouldn’t fit. He decided to do a new label and asked me to start it with him. I had already helped out with the launch of Mad Decent (I designed the logo and some of the original Bonde Do Role art, and was brainstorming a lot with Diplo in the early days) and this was an opportunity to get more deeply involved with putting out new, original music. We came up with the name and concept, and then just went from there putting out records.
4AM: Did you have any idea it would take off like it has?
NC: I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t always part of the plan!
4AM: How many hours a day would you say you listen to music?
NC: I’m going THROUGH music constantly – mostly just to check out all the new songs that came out that day, find stuff to play when DJing, or give people a once-over on MySpace. But as far as actually sitting down to fully digest albums and mixes, I only get to do that when I’m traveling or in the car. But I do try to schedule chores around the house around particular radio shows – taking a half hour to do the dishes during DJ Enuff or Mr Cee’s Old School At Noon.
4AM: Best gig ever?
NC: Hmmm – there’s been a bunch of really good ones. “End Times” with Caps N Jones a year or two ago (Switch was randomly there and introduced himself at the end of the night, I was geeked) and the recent Wale “Mixtape About Nothing” release party are two local ones that come to mind right away. Whenever I play with Diplo it’s always fun – just this Sunday we did the Mad Fools party in Central Park and the afterparty at Santos Party House, and over the past year we rocked New Year’s Eve in San Francisco, the New Yorker Festival (old folks get loose!) and a Mad Decent party at Studio B that was the first NYC Blaqstarr show. They were all great.
4AM: Worst gig ever?
NC: Not gonna hurt anyone’s feelings by naming the corporate event in question…
4AM: Most glamourous star studded models and bottles gig ever?
NC: Do “hipster celebrities” count? Lets keep that bag of snakes closed, I’m gonna go with this private Rihanna show at Highline Ballroom that ended up being really fun and unpretentious. I was worried about having to corny it up but I mostly played dancehall.
4AM: Best request ever?
NC: A girl asked for Outkast “Bombs Over Bagdhad” during a set of fast tracks. Yes, of course I can do that!
4AM: Worst request ever?
NC: Bee Gees.
4AM: First record ever bought?
NC: The first records I bought with my own money were Guns N Roses Use Your Illusion 1 and 2, but the first record I ever picked out in a store was the Garbage Pail Kids soundtrack. I couldn’t tell you any songs that were on it, I just loved the Garbage Pail Kids. Who doesn’t?
4AM: Last record you bought?
NC: The Syclops I’ve Got My Eye On You CD. The last mp3 was Lee Jones “Aria” on Beatport.
4AM: First DJ mix that made you say “this is what I want to do” to yourself?
NC: I was collecting records and listening to DJs on the radio all my life, but it wasn’t until the summer I graduated college that I realized it was where I wanted to go with music (which is pretty late in the scheme of things – I had been playing in bands and things like that up to that point). There were a few mixes I heard all around the same time that made the lightbulb go off – Spinbad’s ’80s tapes, Mark Ronson’s promo mix for Digiwaxx for his Here Comes The Fuzz album, and most blatantly, Hollertronix’s Never Scared. They were each presenting music that I liked in new combinations – I figured it would be fun to do that on my own.
4AM: Describe the perfect weekend
NC: Friday night getting real paid, Saturday night going to someone else’s party as a private citizen (but still drinking for free), Sunday walking around (no rain), catching a movie and a good meal.
4AM: Favorite place in NYC to DJ?
NC: My apartment. Sorry, city, but you are going through a “transitional period” right now.
4AM: Favorite DJs/producers right now that are not on Fools Gold?
4AM: What song have you played out so bad that you never want to hear it again?
NC: There’s always a time and place for Calabria horns. ALWAYS.
4AM: Best live show you have ever seen?
NC:Portishead sounded amazing at Coachella but the show had no atmosphere. For me, the best shows are always the ones where the artists defy nature and technical difficulties to pull through, that “oh shit!” factor is unbeatable. Feist played at the Fader SXSW tent in 2005 and the wind nearly knocked her over but she just got more and more psyched by it, almost possessed. Peedi Crakk played at the Fader CMJ space two years ago after getting lost in Chinatown, pulling up to the spot minutes before curfew, and still killing it.
4AM: You used to be the editor of Fader correct?
NC: You like that segue right? I was an associate editor there for three years, before leaving to DJ and work on Fool’s Gold full-time last July.
4AM: What was the important thing you learned from working there?
NC: I had no magazine or music industry experience whatsoever when I started – I wasn’t even trying to be a writer, I was just asked to do some stories and interviews, they liked my style, and the job sprouted from there. It was total school for me. I got to travel for the first time in my life and see different artists operate in their home environments. I witnessed records go from creation to label to PR to magazines to stores (and got to learn from other people’s mistakes for free!)
4AM: What should we look out for in the Nick Catchdubs future?
NC: I just finished a mixtape for Timbaland’s new artist Izza Kizza , and an all-Fool’s Gold mix for a 2xCD compilation we’re doing with Scion. I’m really slow on the production side, but I’m working on remixes for El Guincho (out on Mad Decent) and U-God from Wu Tang Clan’s new solo single. I did a remix for MIA’s “Bamboo Banger” that is supposed to (finally) come out as well on XL. I’m working on some original music too, so I can actually put out a record of my own on my label!
4AM: What shoud we look out for in the Fools Gold future?
NC: Tons of records - Kavinsky, Treasure Fingers, Sammy Bananas, Four Color Zack and Pretty Titty, Jokers of The Scene, Nacho Lovers, Trackademicks, Bag Raiders, Congorock, Crookers, LA Riots, Malente, Kid Sister’s full album, that Scion comp, and some surprises of course…
4AM: Favorite Simpsons episode?
NC: Just one? That’s un-possible! I love them all. 22 Short Films about Springfield is my favorite now, but it always changes. Itchy And Scratchy And Poochie is up there too.
01. Pase Rock “Get Money Kids”
02. 50 Cent “I Get Money (Catch On 45)”
03. Trap House “Step Into”
04. Bad Yard Club “In De Ghetto (GrandTheft Remix)”
05. Dukeyman “Shine”
06. DJ Sega “Everybody Handz Up”
07. Machines Don’t Care “Juggs”
08. Mr Vegas “Round Of Applause”
09. Moby “I Love To Move In Here (Crookers Bass In Here Mix)”
10. Nacho Lovers “Acid Life”
11. Jamie Anderson and Content “Body Jackin”
12. DJ Big Red “Jakybodi”
13. DJ Will Roc “Replay Again”
14. Loco Dice “Pimp Jackson Is Talking Now!!!”
15. Lil Bo Tweak “K Rizzle”
16. 2 Bad Mice “Hold It Down”
17. Bassbin Twins “Woppa”
18. Loefah “It’s Yours”
19. Big Tuck “Not A Stain On Me”
20. Busta Rhymes “I Got Bass”
NC: I didn’t want to add to the pile of “new music” mixes with interchangeable tracklists – some of this is brand new, some of it isn’t out yet, some of it is “recent vintage” (or old as hell but new to me), but it all has a nice swag to it. Retro? Not retro? Most of my current favorites have similar elements (throwback house/rave samples, fast raps, dancehall vocals, breakbeats, sometimes all in the same song) so I figured, why not put a bunch together for a picture of where my head is at this summer? I hope you enjoy the listen, I had fun connecting the dots.
Pase Rock “Get Money Kids” 50 Cent “I Get Money (Catch On 45)”
“Get Money Kids” is far and away my favorite song of the past few months, it’s like Pase and Eli sat down at the computer and said “Man, the Juice soundtrack really needs more hip-house…” I usually mix it live into some sped-up Serato loops of 50 and Milk Dee to keep the $$$ theme alive.
Trap House “Step Into”
Way too many WUBBA WUBBA WUBBA basslines lately, but this one still manages to stand out – a crowd-pleaser that breaks the formula juuust enough. Thanks, Australia.
Bad Yard Club “In De Ghetto” (GrandTheft Remix)
On the school bus everyone knew chants from club songs like “Beat that bitch with a bat…” and “It’s time for the percolator…” from the older kids, but no one really knew it as “house music.” It wasn’t until a party in 6th or 7th grade when this girl played “Witch Doktor” and “In De Ghetto” on cassingle that I realized a whole separate thing was going on. Sammy Bananas hit me a few weeks ago with this new mix of “In De Ghetto” by DJ GrandTheft of the Eh! Team, it chops up the original without getting too flagrant.
Dukeyman “Shine”
Shyne finally gets out this year. You know he converted to Judaism in prison? L’chaim!
DJ Sega “Everybody Handz Up”
As we continue on with the Bad Boy flips, this track is a MONSTER. I think it is gonna be on the “DJ Sega Saves Hip-Hop” EP that’s coming soon.
Machines Don’t Care “Juggs”
Lots of goodies on the MDC album, but this one is a particular favorite. Best dancehall song on the subject since Vybz Kartel “Breast Specialist”?!?
Mr Vegas “Round Of Applause” Moby “I Love To Move In Here (Crookers Bass In Here Mix)”
The Vegas song really just a vocal and some handclaps, so it’s a lot of fun to loop other shit up on top, and Crookers made it easy with their open drum intro (PS – excellent remix package on the new Moby single!) I cut the Grandmaster Caz verse with cue points but that’s not because he isn’t awesome – a few years ago Ayres and I hung out with the legend himself at the Heineken “Amsterjam” festival on Randall’s Island, where Caz was MCing the mash-up tent, also starring Diplo, DJ P, Princess Superstar and Matt and Fancy from Fannypack. Viva 2005! I think I bought Fantastic Four “Thing Hands” at Target when we got back to Brooklyn that day.
Nacho Lovers “Acid Life”
Obviously I’m biased, but this is one amazing-ass record. Something old, something new…lots more from Toronto’s premier techno scholars on Fool’s Gold very soon.
Jamie Anderson and Content “Body Jackin”
DJ Big Red “Jakybodi”
I didn’t know about this remake until A-Trak started playing it on the last label tour. It’s been in my rotation ever since, with the DJ Big Red track batting clean-up.
DJ Will Roc “Replay Again”
Dance music took so heavily from Baltimore club over the past few years, and now the veterans are going off in new directions of their own. It’s inspiring to see a label like Unruly reinvent themselves – the recent King Tutt and Chavy Boys EPs and this hypnotic, electronic Will Roc track are some of their best.
Loco Dice “Pimp Jackson Is Talking Now!!!”
I know absolutely nothing about Loco Dice, but this has been a late-night sureshot of mine, it bumps like a less zany Detroit Grand Pubahs. “We in Brooklyn baby, this is how we get down!”
Lil Bo Tweak “K Rizzle”
2 Bad Mice “Hold It Down”
Trevor Loveys and Co’s stuff as Lil Bo Tweak manages to feel incredibly current while referencing jams of yesteryear with all the samples and even the name (Lil Mo Yin Yang, anyone?). Conversely, the 2 Bad Mice came out in 1991 and sounds like it could have been made this morning.
Bassbin Twins “Woppa”
Loefah “It’s Yours”
I wish more dubstep felt like these two instead of zzzzzzzzzz.
Big Tuck “Not A Stain On Me”
Had to drop straight out of the Loefah with this. The beat is just a Beastie Boys loop, but goddamn! Another recent favorite that never really broke in NYC. Dallas rappers’ haircuts are too crazy for us.
Busta Rhymes “I Got Bass”
This isn’t a half-assed “A Millie” – Bangladesh is doing some neat shit with the Chuck D sample chorus and oddly-timed edits, and Busta’s flow is off the wall. “This shit be soundin like a thousand mosquitos buzzin/ Like hmm hmm hmm, hmm hmm, hmm hmm…”
