Upside of Down: House Mix Saturday: DJ Erok - The Cut / We In Cloudz - WKND

I have eclectic tastes, but I always enjoy a good beat. I've recently been inspired and prompted to post a new house mix, something I've never really done before. I've added house and electro tracks to my mixes when they fit, but this is the first time I recorded a full house/electro mix. Take a listen, and while you're at it listen to my DJ friend Nick Mourgue and his NYC house party crew WE IN CLOUDZ. Deep, funky, house and electro for your weekend!

Fort Knox Five - To the Breaks of Dawn MIX

Fort Knox Five, a must see/must listen in the Washington DC DJ and music scene, always drops the best funk mixes, full of killer breaks and masterful DJing.  This one is another great mix from FK5 crew.

Upside of Down: Quincy Jointz Energy

Here's a mix for your weekend - incredible, positive funky energy - latin rhythms house sounds and bouncy hooks to keep your head up and your eyes open.

This mix is from Quincy Jointz, a funk DJ out of Germany. I've been listening to him for years, alongside funk and international sound staples like All Good Funk Alliance, Ed Banger and more.  Enjoy this upside of down!

Upside of Down: Elite Force Breakbeat Mix London 2013

Here's a bangin breakbeat mix from Elite Force out of London. This DJ is known for his breaks, which are much more popular in the UK and Europe than in the US. It's certainly not a "downtempo" or "chill" mix like you'd generally find on my site, but like all musicheads I enjoy many different styles and tempos, so I share this as part of the "Upside of Down" feature. Breaks are close to my heart as so much of what I love about DJing is the rhythm and percussion. Enjoy!

The Upside of Down: Freestylers ft. DV - Calling Me Home

UK breakbeat and jungle legends Freestylers are back this summer with their fifth album, and the first single - "Calling Me Home" - is a balanced breakbeat banger that I'm LOVING right now. Get it free here:

Henry Pope - Source Festival 2013 Mix

Great to hear another awesome mix from my boy Henry Pope out in Los Angeles, spinning an awesome set of eclectic tunes, with heavy bass and a range of chilled and uptempo beats to give the audience a lot of flavor. You'll hear funk, dub, trap, hip hop, glitch, breaks and even brazilian beats in this mix. And many thanks to Henry for giving me some props and glad he was able to use some tracks that he dug from my own sets and blog posts. Enjoy this mix, its dope!

Ymbelydredd (Them&Us Remix) - Gwenno

I first heard about beatbox pioneer Killa Kela a few years ago at the Boom Festival in Portugal, and I've been a fan of Basement Jaxx for years. Now, Killa Kela and a former member of Basement Jaxx - vocalist Ami Carmine - have partnered on a new project called "Them & Us." The duo is producing excellent remixes using Killa's beatboxing prowess and Ami's vocals, and just released an original EP. Check out their latest - the amazing remix of Ymbelydredd by Gwenno, plus a new track off their EP.

Ymbelydredd (Them & Us Remix) is also offered as a free download:

Weekend DJ Set: Henry Pope - Early Summer Set

Henry Pope - a producer and DJ from Venice, CA - sent me his latest DJ set this morning and I've been listening to it all day. It's an awesome mix of deep bass, hints of dubstep and great hip hop tracks that combine for a downtempo summer chugger. This is the epitome of how downtempo music can carry so much energy and take a party to the next level. It's got so many great tracks from amazing artists, new and old, including Notorious BIG, Outkast, Pretty Lights, Bassnectar, Masta Ace, Nosaj Thing, and even originals from Henry Pope himself. 

I couldn't wait to post this as a "Monday Mix" - I had to share it today, it's that good. 

Track List:
1. Phutureprimative - High Rez
2. Wyatt Lamond - Shadows End
3. Sugarpill - Bomp
4. Outcast - I Love Way You Move
5. Deathsar - Wiz RMX
6. Wick it the Instigator - The Weatherman
7. ???? - Space Dub
8. Bruza - Cock Back
9. Wick it the Instigator - Future Crunk
10. Painty Raid vs. D.Veloped - Iz You Rollin
11. Notorious B.I.G. - Notorious Thugs
12. Paper Diamond - Power RMX
13. Beats Antique - Cat Skills (Inspired Flight RMX feat. Scarub)
14. illesha - Smoke and Mirrors (Ample Mammal RMX)
15. Nasty Nasty - Sweaty Bodies
16. Lana Del Rey - National Anthem (Tennsnake RMX)
17. Gorillaz - Stylo
18. Tango In The Attic - Easy Bones (Inspired Flight RMX)
19. Polish Ambassador - Bust a Move RMX
18. Nirvana - Molly's Lips
19. Henry Pope - Delirium
20. RLS - Teu Sorriso
21. Lunice - The Name Dunnit (Henry Pope RMX)
22. Masta Ace - Born to Roll
23. Bassnectar - When I Grow Up
24. Nosaj -Empires (STS9 RMX)
25. Heyoka - Thingamabob
26. Nate Dogg - Regulate (Polish Ambassador RMX)
27. 9th Wonder & Pete Rock
28. Nosaj Thing - Coat of Arms
29. Nas - The Message
30. Getto Boys - Mind Playin Trick on Me
31. Minnesota - Oakland Baby Master
32. NastyNasty - Dirty Dirty
33. J. Atlas - Rainmaker

The Upside of Down: Show Review & DJ Sets - Matthew Dear & Sleepy + Boo at Le Poisson Rouge, 6.14.12

Last night I attended Basic NYC, a house party at Le Poisson Rouge. Resident DJs Sleepy + Boo kicked off and guest Matthew Dear followed. The show was spectacular. For one, Poisson Rouge has quickly become one of my favorite NYC venues. There's no dress code, the crowd is all about the music and NOT about the "scene." The music is consistently amazing.

Before I get into the show, this post represents a slight departure from the "downtempo" music I normally share. Its difficult to segment music all the time. I find myself often wanting to share the uptempo or dance oriented music that I listen to as well. Balance is important, and uptempo is complimentary to dowtempo, its simply necessary. So with this post I'm starting a new feature: "The Upside of Down." Posts with this tag will feature more uptempo stuff that I'm enjoying when I'm not chilling with my favorite downtempo tunes. Don't worry though, this does NOT mean I will be writing about downtempo any less, just that I will be adding more uptempo flavor! Now onto the music and show:



Resident DJs Sleepy + Boo have curated the Basic NYC party for years and they are known house DJs in NYC, also hosting a monthly party at Cielo in the city. They describe their brand of house music as "thick drums, big basslines, hypnotic grooves and tripped-out sci-fi synthesizers." Unlike many house DJs, this duo keeps their mixes interesting by playing a variety of tempos, rhythms and sounds. It also helps they've created a really cool aesthetic in the club - their stage backdrop is a curtain of luminescent bulbs that create a waveform in time to the music. It also creates psychedelic swirls and visualizations.



Matthew Dear came on around 1:30AM and dropped heavy beats immediately. By that point, the crowd was well warmed, and he took us to an even deeper, tribal place. Matthew Dear (a co-founder of Ghostly International and featured artist on the label) is known around the world as an experimental electronic music producer and house DJ. His original work has a dance pop quality, but not the kind the mainstream kind that makes me groan. His DJ set certainly delivered - very heavy and deep, with all the right peaks and drops to keep the crowd grooving with him. AND I was excited to see he uses Traktor for his DJ sets - my personal DJ software of choice :)

Check them out some pics below and listen to sets by Sleepy + Boo and Matthew Dear. I suggest listening to these on some device where you can get the true bass experience. Enjoy!