The past few weeks of work have incredible. I haven’t felt this stoked DJing in almost a decade. The positive energy and enthusiasm from party goers has been fantastic. With most major restrictions lifted, dance floors were opened after almost two years of their relegation to an illegal activity. It’s crazy how much everyone has […]
Read More Back in EffectAs this year’s New Year’s Eve festivities ended and I changed out of my fancy sweat pants and made the long commute from party headquarters in my living room to bed, I didn’t even think of the coming significance of the next day. For many the new year is a time of renewal, but for […]
Read More 8 YearsWell, here we go again. Yes, it’s our annual round up of our favourite Alternative songs, but we find ourselves back in a lockdown with dozens of cancelled gigs pondering the meaning of life. This is all getting a bit exhausting. As if this whole pandemic and associated BS wasn’t enough, this year our corner […]
Read More ALTERNITY 2021December is shaping up to its old ways this year. Five shows this week and six next week making my Christmas break non existent. It’s kind of par for the course when you’re a working DJ. It least hopefully it is. Busy is good and you gotta make hay while the sun shines. The year […]
Read More Get BusyThings are starting to get a little bit more back to normal, but we still have a bit to before all restrictions are lifted and we can really drop the hammer and get back to business as usual. It’s been a long strange and challenging trip these past couple years, but I’m staying optimistic that […]
Read More RANDOM TRACKSIn the world of music, band members doing solo projects or side projects is nothing new. The fact that some groups stay together for any significant length of time is impressive when considering the amount of ego and artistic differences that can emerge in such coalitions. As a creative, eventually you will reach a point […]
Read More Behold The HRSMNHere’s our latest assortment of gems and jams that have been getting some serious spins in venues such as the work van, my patio, and new workout playlist. With light beginning to appear at the end of the tunnel, and music brethren from around the world beginning to perform again, I think we’ve seen the […]
Read More Beats & Pieces: Spring 2021Finding the time to write something as simple as an update has proven to be more difficult than I had imagined. Having your career pulled out from under your feet takes a bit to get used to and it turns out for me, it was around 6 months of fear and uncertainty before I decided […]
Read More The PivotIn a year most of would like to quickly put in the rear-view mirror, it’s important to get a healthy dose of perspective and find some silver linings, as allusive as they may be. For one, I think overall as a species, we are much cleaner. Hand washing regimens bordering on the psychotic mixed with junkie like […]
Read More Alternity 2020Hey, did you guys grab your binoculars and check out the super cool Saturn and Jupiter conjunction? Ya, me neither. I mean, I saw some photos on Instagram and that’s just gonna have to be enough. With optimal viewing time clocking in around 4am in this neck of the woods, it rests just outside a new sleep schedule. […]
Read More ConjunctionIt took me awhile to put two and two together after watching Aluna’s YouTube performance video. A friend suggested we check it out and something happened as the last minutes ticked down on the 45-minute performance. I came to the realization that for the very first time in my illustrious entertainment-binged 2020, filled with escapism tendencies and […]
Read More AlunaBeen a minute. I’m working on a couple pieces that need some time to marinate before we fire up the stove, again. It’s been a crazy month and things are starting to look less than ideal as the nights get colder and longer in the 604. So, I figured it was time to send up […]
Read More Cold November RainPhoto by: Khachik Simorian A few months ago the harsh realities of being a DJ in the middle of a pandemic became abundantly clear. Oscillating between a steady rotation of shock, depression, and aspiration as spring turned into summer, with the hopes of starting to get back to normal in the fall. At the latest. […]
Read More The Saga ContinuesGood producers can capture a vibe and an essence that fits perfectly to a particular artist. This can be said of all genres and is especially true when it comes to hip hop. There is something magical that occurs when a beat maker goes digging and finds the perfect elements to chop and program and fit everything […]
Read More Something About That VibeSqueezing every last drop out of summer is something I try to do every year in September. This month often provides some extended days to enjoy the city’s sweeter spots without wading through the typical summer crowds. School’s back, vacations are wrapping up and for most it’s time to pick up the pace and get to […]
Read More Time to Chill AgainAlbum Review: King’s Disease by Nas
Read More King’s DiseaseIf you’ve been part of the hip hop and electronic music scenes in Vancouver, Los Angeles, Ibiza or Berlin in the last decade or so, chances are you’ve heard of Motoe Haus. Maybe you even ran into him posted up outside a club after one of his marathon DJ sets and had a bit of a […]
Read More Catching Up with Motoe HausNew album from Disclosure
Read More New Music From DisclosureCheck out my latest Deep house, chill and downtempo picks!
Read More Time to ChillEvery once in awhile I get a shout from a friend online about someone they think I should check out. History has taught me to always give it some consideration because more times than not these people knew what they’re talking about. They’ve sniffed out some talent and want to see if they can help […]
Read More Bounce w/ BraddickHere are some gems that don’t necessarily fit with our regular four to the flour bread-and-butter selections. The great thing about this ongoing segment is that it gives us an opportunity to venture off our regular path of genre and era. There’s a lot of music out there these days and even those in the know like […]
Read More Beats & Pieces: July 2020Photo by Brayden Law In this constantly evolving situation in the entertainment and nightlife industries, it’s best to manage our expectations. Similar to what is happening in the restaurant industry, it seems that some of the smaller establishments are able to pivot faster than the larger ones. The smaller the club, the easier it is to more […]
Read More Industry Update 2I first met Joe Pound when we worked at the same nightclub in Vancouver over ten years ago. We immediately bonded over our similar backgrounds, diverse tastes and mutual appreciation for hip hop and electronic music. Most DJs have an eclectic taste in music, or at least they should, and ours matched up on so many […]
Read More Joe Pound’s Bass House Top 5Photo by Vicko Mozara Summer 2020, am I right? Yeah, this should be one for the books. What book I’m not entirely sure yet. I just hope it’s not Revelation. All jokes aside, if we do sit teetering on the edge of the Apocalypse you might as well have some feel good tracks to light the […]
Read More Strobe Light: 4 House Tracks for Your Summer PlaylistIt’s been almost four months since the lockdown began and decimated the entertainment industry. Depending on where you’re at, perception of the severity may vary drastically. To be honest, I’m reluctant to bring up the subject as I’m sure we are all feeling our fair share of information fatigue on the subject. That being said, we just happen […]
Read More Industry UpdateWith the current civil rights movement sweeping throughout the US and across the world, it’s seems like there is a reckoning for our current society and inequitable systems that have caused so much angst and heartbreak for people of colour. While I’ve come across my fair share of close-minded and ignorant people in my life, […]
Read More The ReckoningThis downtime from shows has given a lot of DJs, producers and other creatives the time to learn some new techniques, build on some existing ones and just as importantly, catch up on some sleep. While I haven’t stumbled across as many burners as usual the past couple months, I anticipate a steady stream of […]
Read More Beats & Pieces: May 2020Right now, probably more than ever, we are acutely aware of the human need for social capital and connection. The amount we currently have in our lives might be a good indicator for how well each and every one of us is dealing with our current state of affairs. Never in the course of our […]
Read More Connection: Your Key To RecoveryPhoto by Radek Grzybowski How are all my fellow DJ’s doing right now in these unprecedented times? Existential crisis? Creative renaissance? Prolific weight-gain? Making the best of these times can be a feat in and of itself when your livelihood gets pulled from under your feet in a matter of days. Having to get sidelined for […]
Read More Roll CallThe weekend has landed and it’s time to get those bodies moving. Sure, there may not any events or venues to visit, but don’t let that stop you from having a good time! Music is the answer and the selectors here at DJ World West are strong believers in the house-music-all-life-long ethos. Can’t stop, won’t […]
Read More Strobe Light: May 2020I don’t know about you, but life has been a little weird in these parts lately. My fondness for FaceTime and hikes through the trails in my neighbourhood has increased exponentially. That’s not saying much considering since the invention of Apple’s video messaging service I have only used it a handful of times. Lately it […]
Read More Still ShiningPhoto by Emiliano Vittoriosi on Unsplash Usually in this ongoing piece I try to highlight some of the latest tracks that I’m feeling from the world of house music. This time I’ve decided to take stroll down memory lane and showcase some of the most influential tracks from back in the day that had an impact on me […]
Read More Strobe Light: RetrospectiveI’m not sure how things are in your neck of the woods, but it’s looking like most jurisdictions are getting inline with what went down in overseas because of Covid-19 and what has been taking place in my hometown of Vancouver, BC. Things are locked down and businesses are closed across the board. If you […]
Read More Isolation TipsIsolation Therapy: Day 9 Just had a funny moment in the stairway of my building. I was about to open the door when I noticed somebody opening it from the other side. I took a step back and smiled as a lady in my building jumped a little bit from being startled. […]
Read More Isolation TherapyLet’s be honest, though. It didn’t. We had some pretty clear indications here in North America well in advance of the current lockdown we are all experiencing which I like to refer to as House Arrest Lite. The data points were everywhere over the past few months from conversations with smart industry peeps who were […]
Read More Well, That Escalated QuicklyWhile I put the finishing touches on one of my more sizeable pieces (look out for that next week), I figured I should drop a line and share some music that has pinged my radar over the last week. Radiohead’s Creep has been covered a bunch of times and here is another one to add […]
Read More In The MeantimeFebruary 2020 With the longest January in recent memory (or is that every January?) coming to a close, I think we’re all glad to put that one in the rearview mirror. In Vancouver, we spent most of it in a see saw battle between blizzards and torrential rain. After the liquid deluge of last […]
Read More Beats & PiecesJanuary is usually a nice and mellow start to the year after an action-packed holiday season capping off with the biggest party of the year on NYE. December 2019 was probably my busiest month ever and lucky for me January has turned into a bit of a beast too. The usual onslaught of gigs as […]
Read More Hibernation?Being a DJ, I obviously have an affinity for beat-based music. It’s our bread-and-butter. I grew up on a solid diet of hip hop and when I first ventured out into the world and began to fend for myself. I discovered house music, techno and drum and bass. But like most DJs, my taste in […]
Read More Alternity 2019Lately, I’ve been spending a good chunk of my listening hours digging deeper into the tech side of house. I’ve long been a fan and love the lane this style cuts through both sonically and energy-wise. When you get the right crowd who shares your appreciation, good times ensue. I need more of this life […]
Read More Strobe LightSay what you want about social media; that it’s an incredible waste of time, it’s like the McDonald’s of reading, it’s toxic psychological ramifications could be the downfall of humanity, but it does have one redeeming quality: it’s great for crowd-sourcing. I recruited some heads in my network for some help on this latest instalment. […]
Read More Beats & PiecesI gotta level with ya. I’ve got a bunch of half-written stuff in the can here but am having trouble pulling the trigger and finishing them off. Some are pretty long and took a bit of research while others are good chunks of stuff I haven’t yet got the guts to release. It’s been a […]
Read More The BlockFirst off, I should give some props out to the super dope homeboy James Landau, who gave birth to another fresh AF instrumental project called ‘Blueberry’, late last month. His previous two works in the series ‘Sabbatical’ and ‘Sentiments’ both are solid moody numbers worth checking out, but pop this bad boy on get a […]
Read More Beats & Pieces : October 2019Sober October. What are its origins? Where did it come from? Who first coined the phrase? Why are they doing this to us!!!!? Ah yes, it’s that joyous time of year once again where we (some of us more than others) try to give up the sauce or the smoke or the (insert unhealthy vice here) and […]
Read More Sober OctoberBeats & Pieces: September 2019 Time for another installment of Beats & Pieces, featuring some random tracks that have blipped onto my radar over the past month. I like to use this monthly piece to feature some songs that don’t necessarily fit into some of my other posts that feature choice cuts from the world of […]
Read More Beats & Pieces: September 2019When word dropped down through the grapevine that John Austin was gonna be in town for a show and album release party for Soul On Ice 2, I was both stoked and a little bummed out because I knew I was already booked myself on the night he was playing in Vancouver with WC. There must […]
Read More Ras KassHere’s a little jam a came across on my Instagram scroll. More and more this is a place where I find some really cool music. Not so much on FB, which I spend less and less time on these days, but more so on the aforementioned platform and Tik Tok. These are vital channels for […]
Read More Not a TestHaving a little more spare time than I’m used to, I was lucky to find some inspiration as of late working with a couple talented songwriters/producers. It was yet another reminder of how important collaboration is in the creative process. I spent a lot of hours delving deep into my DAW of choice, Logic. I’ve […]
Read More Logic LoveEndlessly scrolling an Instagram feed occasionally has it’s benefits. Such is this case with this little jam that I found through a comment rabbit hole on a relatively well known DJ’s page. I can’t recall who the heck that was, but I do remember the comment on their post thanking them for their support. I […]
Read More Not a testTaking a break from the usual, played-out situation within the event industry, I will be taking some time to take a trip down memory lane. Working as a DJ for the past several decades has given me a wealth of experiences. Some good, some bad and some most definitely ugly. Before they fade into the […]
Read More freaky talesA couple weeks ago I played my first gig in over 18 months. Moving into film work for the past year or so, I had almost forgotten the joy that I got from mixing. While the circumstances due to the current limitations on indoor events in Vancouver, BC were not the greatest, it was still […]
Read More Back To Life
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