Upcoming events !!!

It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting....

Photog: Paul Trepanier

I have not posted a blog entry in nearly a week. I do apologize but life has been hectic, I have not felt well, and I am saving any spare energy for the month of November.  To be honest, I feel that I have a block of negative energy that I just can’t kick…

Exciting News:

 

I sincerely want to thank everyone that has been reading my blog & providing such positive encouragement. The Life of the Party has readers in Canada, USA, UK, Hong Kong, France, Netherlands, Denmark, Brazil, Germany, Singapore, and Spain. I’m certain that we will soon hit the 1,000 hit milestone.

Tonight is the DJ Magazine Top 100 DJ Awards ceremony at the Ministry of Sound in London England.  It is estimated that over half a million people voted from 235 countries, so who will be in the Top 100 this year? Personally, I voted for Chus & Ceballos, Victor Calderone, Danny Tenaglia, Sharam and D-Formation. It’s hard to narrow down the choice to only FIVE, but I felt this was representative of the DJs that I liked the most this year.  

The website “In The Mix” claims it has a leak of the results...while I do not mind waiting a few hours, check it out yourself at http://www.inthemix.com.au/news/intl/48396/DJ_Mag_Top_100_results_leaked_early_yet_again

To sum it up: 1. Armin Van Buuren; 2. David Guetta; 3. Tiesto; 4. Deadmau5; 5. Above & Beyond; 6. Paul Van Dyk; 7. Gareth Emery; 8. Markus Schulz; 9. Ferry Corsten; and 10. Axwell. Interestingly, I have seen 9 out of the 10 top 100...all except Paul van Dyk. And none of the DJs I voted for are in this leaked Top 100...just goes to show you how much I know about music :P I will post the official version once it is out :)

Upcoming Events

Friday October 29^th BUDDHA BAR scandalous Halloween party with Ryan L., DJ Lemy and Chris Endo, woop dont forget to dress up !  

* As one of my previous blog post states, I love this place – esp on Friday nights.

Event listing on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/specialkrox#!/event.php?eid=169682496376298

THEN SCAREO at Stereo presents the VIVA tour with Steve Lawler, Leon, David Pher.

Tickets are $35. Available online through http://www.stereo-nightclub.com/  Ottawa & Montreal though Onaversal Promotions – Jason Jesse (613-866-8468) or Paulo Cardoso (514-572-2269),

* As a side note: last year Scareo was just unbelievable – pumpkins hanging from the ceiling, spooky decor, great costumes, simply put = extremely well done, best Halloween party I have ever been to!

Event listing on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/specialkrox#!/event.php?eid=104811742915357

LOBBY’s 2^nd anniversary on Friday November 5^th, 2010 by invite only!

Event listing on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/specialkrox#!/event.php?eid=155195387851485

Cedric Gervais with Etienne Ozborne at SOTTO November 5^th, 2010

Tickets are $20. There are a few early bird tickets left at $15 ! Available online at  http://www.wantickets.com/EventDetail.aspx?e_id=135972, or again through Onaversal Promotions - Jason Jesse (613-866-8468) or Paulo Cardoso (514-572-2269)

Event listing on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/specialkrox#!/event.php?eid=111467575584098

On top of these events, I am dedicating the month of November to...STEREO! It is their 11 year anniversary, and as you can tell or know, for me - Stereo is home.  Please stay tuned for more articles about why I love Stereo, if you want to submit your own paragraph or two on why YOU love Stereo I would be more than pleased to post it.

November at Stereo:

5/11 Misstress Barbara & Maus

6/11 Danny Tenaglia & Behrouz

12/11 Lee Burridge & Tiefschwarz

13/11 Victor Calderone with Nicolai Torreiro & Joubin

19/11 Richie Hawtin, Layo & Bushwacka

20/11 DJ Vibe & Stephan Grondin - maybe?

26/11 The Martinez Brothers & Filsonik

27/11 Chus & Ceballos and David Penn

** My birthday on Friday December 10th at Buddha Bar...details to follow ;)

Interview: Danny Salvaje

Get to know the DJs that are making you move on the dancefloor! 

Hi everyone ! Seeing as Jimmy Strip & Danny Salvaje are both closing for Mark Knight on Friday October 22nd at Circus Afterhours MTL, I thought it be great to get to know Danny too.  Support our local DJs in the international sphere, we have got great talent right here. * BUT...Before you start reading the interview, check out Danny Salvaje on SoundCloud and listen to his stuff while you read ;) http://soundcloud.com/dannysalvaje 

                                                                                                             

DJ/Producer Name: Danny Salvaje aka "DJ Lift"

* Scratching your head about how to pronounce Salvaje? 'Sal-Va-Hey' which is spanish for "Savage" 
Birthday: March 9th, 1977                            Sign: Pisces
Occupation: Software Consultant

Current City: Ottawa & Montreal
Marital Status: Got married on a beach in Cuba right after Valentine’s day [can I just say, Aww romantic!]

Fav TV Show? Jersey Shore - I think the boys on that show are hilarious!

Fav drink? Tequila & Corona, but I’m also a big fan of hot sake!
Strange fact? I have a step-daughter that is 9 years younger than me...Ya I know!
Fav quote that describes you? "When emotion is expressed through sound" - Danny S

What was your first big party? My intro to the MTL house music scene was at BeachClub August 2005. I never in my life saw such a wild crowd partying like that before, even working as nightclub security for 5 years in Ottawa did not prepare me for this! Then my first massive party was Bal en Blanc 2006 which was the first time I started to pay attention to the DJs; however I still didn't know the music very well and was completely clueless about DJing!

One of your best party memories? (this is only one of many) I was also at the event that Jimmy Strip refers to at RedLite 2007 - except I didn't really know him at this time. Like Jimmy said it was a mind-blowing event and we all heard some of the best progressive house music ever. Since then and to this day the features of that night such as Sultan , Mark Anthony , Cesar "Bass" Romero remain some of the best prog house producers I have ever seen.  And I don't think the fact that they all live in Montreal is any coincidence. I think it is one of many examples that Montreal is a major hot spot for house music and is home to many world class talents.

Describe your style: The sound of Danny Salvaje is a blend of musical influences from both Montreal and Ibiza. Genres of preference: Progressive House, Tech House and Techno. My style is essentially music with attitude, sensuality and intensity - music that makes you want to move your body while taking your mind on a trip.  It will include and sound like - deep base lines, tribal rhythms, some vocals, sweet melodies with dark or dirty effects and a driving beat. I specialize in big room underground sounds.

Where do you want to take your DJ career? Not sure. In the past 3 years that I have been a DJ so much has happened that I never really had time to stop and think of what I want in my future because I have been so focused on the immediate goals I have. The bottom line is that I want to reach my full potential whatever that happens to be is what I’ll accept.

Who taught you how to spin? I was introduced to house music in a serious way in the fall 2005, but I first touched decks and a mixer for the first time in June 2007. I thank Phil Fairhead (DJ Dr.Phil) who is one of the best DJs and producers I have ever seen for helping me get where I am today. It was Phil who gave me my first after-hours bookings and has been a big help to me as a producer. He definitely was a significant influence on who I am today. But with that being said I have many other influences too like Jimmy Strip.
Did you have a previous musical background?  Yes, it started at a young age participating in the grade school choir at age 8 which led to joining the school band and then becoming a member of the High School Concert Band and Jazz Band. I took some music classes in High School and was learning up to 5 instruments at the same time - brass, percussion, guitar & piano. This has helped me as a producer in which the understanding of musical theory really helps!

Why do you like to DJ?  All my life I have been a performer; I have always felt at home when I'm on stage and in front of an audience. So DJing for me is another way of expressing myself to others in a positive way that has become an important part of my life.  What continues to attract me to DJing is seeing so much positive energy being spread out to so many people at the same time! Developing a connection with people through the music is very gratifying for me.

How did you & Jimmy come to DJ together? We were friends before we started to DJ together. It started with the two of us hanging out at various places and practiced together just for fun. We both always had a very similar taste in music and always had a good time when we hung out together. But what really lead to both of us DJing together was when we both became resident DJs at BPM Afterhours in Gatineau; we were friends and playing at the same club with a similar sound that led us to play together.

What was the best piece of advice you have been given in respect to DJing? Play the music you love and be true to your passion. Be yourself! Have fun!

What would be the one piece of advice you would give someone new trying to get into the industry? My advice is to be prepared to work very hard and invest a lot of yourself into it. But do it for the right reasons: For the love of the music and to give something positive to others.

THANK YOU Danny Salvaje !!! Cant wait to see you Jimmy on Friday night. Again, guest list can be granted if you ask Jimmy & Danny nicely - with limitations of course. Or, tickets available online at http://www.wantickets.com/ or through King Louis, only $20 !

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* Danny Salvaje Website * 

http://www.dannysalvaje.com/

 * Search Danny Salvaje and DJ Lift on YouTube *

http://www.youtube.com/v/1p_7-WFbpog&hl=en_US&fs=1&
http://www.youtube.com/v/XhV4SgGuvbM&hl=en_US&fs=1&
http://www.youtube.com/v/q4oLw_Zqr5E&hl=en_US&fs=1& 

* SoundCloud *

http://soundcloud.com/dannysalvaje

Interview: Jimmy Strip

Fresh off his birthday party at Buddha bar & Sunrise afterhours in Ottawa, Jimmy Strip will be closing for MARK KNIGHT at the Circus afterhours Main Room in Montreal on Friday October 22nd ! That's right ladies & gentleman, Jimmy Strip & Danny Salvaje will be closing for one of the best international DJs on the circuit right now. AND, The Life of the Party has an exclusive interview with Jimmy before this big event ...

Circus Flyer

DJ Name: Jimmy Strip
Birthday: October 13, 1980         Sign: Libra
Occupation: Artist, Tattoo Artist, DJ
Current City: Ottawa, Ont

Favorite animal? Monkey
Fav food? Steak
Fav drink? Jack 7UP

What was your first big party? Bal en Blanc in Montreal at the Olympic Stadium in 1998 with a lot of friends from Montreal. I think Misstress Barbara was spinning at the party... But at the time the song Musik by Express was huge & I remember that track playing at the party, and trying to find it for months after; it was definitely a turning point.

What was your best party memory? Three years ago at Redlite with Sultan, Ned Shepherd, Caesar Bass Romero & Mark Anthony - some of the best music I have ever heard at a party. After leaving that party, I really wanted to explore DJing

Then what happened? I started researching music to find a style and to build my library. I really wanted to have that figured out first since technique could be learned and come more easily.

Describe your style:  Everything that is good ! I dont want to put limitations on what I do and dont spin, but I look for quality, good base lines, melodies, vocals, basically flow. I dont like anything too aggressive, or those whistles and bells that get annoying. So I would describe it as progressive, tech-house, with blends of tribal.

Where do you want to take your DJ career? As far as I can possibly go with this, while getting the most amount of people dancing and having a good time. 

Have you set any goals for yourself? Yes, I would love to start playing in Toronto, across Canada and even play in the USA.  I would really like to start producing too.
Long terms goals? To play in major clubs in Ibiza, Miami, NYC, and at the major music festivals such as WMC in Miami and BPM in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Who taught you how to spin? No one person taught me, I watched and was guided by quite a few people actually, such as Andree L, Davy Pacheco, Dr. Phil, Caesar Bass Romero, etc. I picked up a few small things from different people and put it together myself.
[As a side note, Jimmy is helping me learn how to DJ, and he is a great teacher!]

Did you have a previous musical background? Nope, none. My background is actually in competitive break dancing. I did it for 8 years and made it to the Canadian championships.  Actually my love of dancing has helped me to DJ because it helps me follow the beats and feel the music.

What was the best piece of advice you have been given in respect to DJing? Keep you headphones on ! by Andree L

What would be the one piece of advice you would give someone new trying to get into the industry? Do it for your passion of the music, and not in hopes to gain popularity ! You have to do it for the right reasons.

And I couldnt agree more Jimmy - well said. So that wraps up our interview with Jimmy Strip - please remember to go see him and Danny Salvaje close Circus afterhours for Mark Knight on Friday October 22nd.  I know I'll be there ! And we know it's a big deal if Im going to Circus...hehehe aw

Tickets for Friday's event are only $20 ! and are available through King Louis at 514-497-5464 and online on wantickets.com

If you cant make Friday's event, I urge you to go see Jimmy live SOON! He provides uplifting energy in his sets...you will not want to miss one minute, not even to go to the bathroom.  Jimmy can be found playing at Buddha Bar, BPM afterhours, BeachClub - clubs in Ottawa & Montreal.

 

Jimmy & I at Buddha Bar

* If you are thinking about getting a tattoo, I would personally recommend Jimmy. He did my tattoo on my inner ankle, and I was really pleased with the results. You can see his work on Facebook by searching for "Jimmy Strip". 

__________________________________________________________________

Jimmy Strip Facebook Fan page & Twitter page

COMING SOON

Miscellaneous Monday !

Last Thursday I posted my review about Black & Blue, but I thought it would also be a good idea to post other peoples opinions - someone new to the big party & a party veteran.  Therefore, I asked my best friend Audrey to provide commentary seeing as it was her first BIG party with thousands of people in a large venue with multiple rooms.  As always, she was a pleasure to party with & really took it all in. So this is what she had to say:

     Black & Blue was great! The overall feel of the party I loved. The immense blue balloons hanging from the ceiling in the House room to the lights and Egyptian backdrop in the Trance room, it was all very underground. The people there are of all ages, all with pleasant attitudes, and with the same focus in mind: FUN  & MUSIC! The energy from the excitement of the crowd in itself is something you have to go and experience at least once in your lifetime! It was a great opportunity to experience new DJs, new music, and an entirely new venue. For me, Black & Blue was a hit - I would definitely go to this event again!

     The music was INCREDIBLE! I had only been to House music parties before, and it was exactly what I was used to: Chus & Ceballos, Mark Anthony, and Hernan Cattaneo (AMAZING!!!). The Trance room was so different: the style of dance, the crowd, and evidently, the music were a complete change for me.  Luckily, Chloé and I went in the Trance room as Gareth Emery was spinning & he was fantastic!!! He was energetic, smiling, and interacting well with the crowd. Gareth was able to get me really excited about his music. He opened my eyes to a different genre.

     Being my first BIG party, I had no idea what to expect. I will be honest; it was a little overwhelming at times, but only because everything about it blew me away! There was so much going on, I was not always sure what to focus on or how to take it all in. There was no way for me to prepare for it mentally. My main recommendation for you, if attending your first large event, is to go in with a purpose (ie. excited about a specific DJ). It will give you a sense of completion and satisfaction once it is all over.

The party veteran that I was refering to is Joe Juarez - Dj event producer, Ottawa Canada.  Over the years, he has DJ'd all over & boasts impressive bookings & parties. So this is what he had to say about the party:

BBCM Foundation has once again proven that they are by far the top big party House/Electronica event producers of Montreal. The key word here is consistency. BLACK & BLUE always does a stellar job at carefully selecting and booking the premier underground scene DJ's to create a special vibe and atmosphere. The production, sound, animation, and performances are also top notch.

This year they added a second room featuring some amazing Tech Trance DJ's such as the legendary Marco V. I am not a huge Trance fan but I ventured into the room and was pleasantly surprised by the vibe, quality and energy of the room. The House room was pretty amazing all night with the like of ROSABEL, CHUS & CEBALLOS, MARK ANTHONY & HERNAN C. DJ Paulette's performance this year was a little too circuit like & commercial sounding and interrupted the flow of the night. No big deal though, it gave many of us the chance to check out the Trance room.

             Remembering that Black & Blue is a fundraiser and that BBCM is a foundation to support the HIV/Aids cause also adds high value to this event. So cheers to all involved with this year’s amazing BLACK & BLUE! See you next year and gracias! 

Thank you Audrey & Joe for your great commentary!

MEDIA: With no cameras allowed in, I did sneak a few pictures and two videos with my iPhone...the quality really isnt good, but at least you get an idea of what's happening...a bit...turn down your speakers because there is a lot of static!

" Dear Marco V, I love this song, thank you for playing it " 

"Gareth Emery - my future husband", haha gosh sometimes Im silly

I forgot to mention my outfit...while a blue wig was very theme appropriate, it was itchy & hot so it ended up in the garbage near the end of the night. And if I had a dollar for every person that asked Audrey & I about our eyelashes, we would have easily had $1,000 :) And really, I look for any excuse to wear my party princess LED light up skirt so I was happy to wear it :) Unfortunately no clear pictures :(

Audrey & I in front of Gareth Emery

 

*** Stay tuned this week as I will be posting an interview with...Hint: he is playing at Circus on Friday night! ***

Track of the Day

Underworld : Always Loved A Film
* Can you feel it? Heaven !

SIDE NOTE : When it's all about the music....

House: it's all about the music !!!

Ever notice how most DJ's, producers & promoters in the industry are men ??? It is no secret that the electronic dance music industry is male dominated! As a female party princess actually in love with house music, I enjoy interacting with people who have the same passion, with the DJs that spin the music & with the producers who make it. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that most people that I interact with in the scene are MEN. I will be the first to admit that yes I do get excited when I meet or talk to a DJ/producer whose music I like :) And, I do try to network as much as possible! But regardless of who they are & what gender they happen to be, I love talking to different people about their various passions / interests / loves because you can see the sparkle in their eyes, hear the excitement in their voices & most times, learn something new. Everyone has a story!

When I go out to a club, it is first and foremost to hear the music and dance amongst my friends! The last thing I am concerned about is “picking up” a guy, or better yet, hooking up with the DJ ! I am a young single female, so I do notice when there is an attractive guy around…But this certainly doesn’t mean that I am trying to get with all the guys that I am simply talking to…shocking revelation, I know! Next time you see me talking to the DJ, relax & dont jump to conclusions please. Guys and girls can just be friends!

*_*

Party Review : Black & Blue !

Dear BBCM - organizers of the Black & Blue party,

*** Thank you for organizing such a fantastic party !!! ***



Trance Room

For my first Black & Blue party, I absolutely loved it ! While I have been to Bal en Blanc many times, I can now say that I prefer Black & Blue.   

Overall Excellent: WHY?

* The energy, vibe & atmosphere were fantastic. The people in attendance were genuinely into the music, dancing and having a good time. It's amazing to see thousands of people dressed to a particular theme - black & blue, which keeps things interesting (if I had things my way, there would be more holidays & themed parties!). The DJ stages and lightning were well done, but not over the top so there was a bit of a dark underground feeling to the party.

* For an $85 ticket, I felt the party was well worth the price.  The party was extremely well organized - the line-up to get in was quite long at around 12:15 am so naturally I expected a long wait but was pleasantly surprised when it only took about 15 minutes to enter, check our coats & pass security! There were plenty of drink stands with minimal lines, and friendly staff.  

* The DJ line up was incredible (for the most part)! With so many DJ's in the House & Trance rooms, it gave party go-ers a chance to see DJs that they might not normally choose to see, while giving these DJ's more exposure. It's great hearing new unreleased upcoming tracks from these DJ's, but it is also nice to hear some classics, or older songs. Cheezy to say the crowd went to nuts when Denis Ferrer's "Hey, Hey!" was played but it was fun.

Marco V - once we arrived and settled into the party, we waited for Marco V to begin...and did he ever start his set off with a BANG!  One of the first tracks he played was his massive hit "Unprepared" ~ and it certainly wasnt long before the crowd was into it & loving it. As much as I would love to stay that we stayed for his entire set, we just couldnt; his set was getting to be a bit much, and I knew Chus & Ceballos were going to start any minute.  But for the hour or so that we did see, I loved every minute!

* Be sure to catch Marco V's TopTenMix monthly podcast on iTunes at : http://www.marcov.nl/mix/podcast_november.xml  



Chus & Ceballos - strangely enough, we watched Chus & Ceballos from the back of the stage since there was tons of room to dance, we could still see them perfectly & it was just too crowded for us at that point.  Musically, C&C delivered (especially considering they were coming off an 8 hour set from Pacha NYC)! It was a fantastic high energy thumping set with brilliant track selections :) These two know how to work a room & how to work a crowd!!! I am always sad to see these guys leave the DJ booth, but for all you Chus & Ceballos fans, they will be spinning at Stereo on November 27th !!! These two just know how to have fun & it shows. 

* Check out Chus & Ceballos' Facebook Fan Page for more info : http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=150103&id=15561937139#!/chusceballos

Mark Anthony - two thumbs up ! From what we saw, he was great with uplifting energy & smooth track selection. Unfortunately, our legs needed a break during his set so we didnt really catch enough of his set...so I'll simply have to see him again...hehe.

Suprises?!?

* Gareth Emery: I do not really like trance, especially in a big room, but Mr. Gareth Emery had me sold !!! As I watched him spin, his energy, track selection & vibe took me to a trance world that I loved, and I quickly realized that I was watching my future husband in action :P The trance beats were not too overwhelming - his style is described as "essentially trance, with lots of house & progressive influences" so it was perfect. I'll be certain to check out his recently released debut album Northern Lights!     

* Gareth Emergy podcast: http://www.galexmusic.com/podcast/gareth.xml
* Facebook Fan page :
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=150103&id=15561937139#!/garethemery
* Official website at http://www.garethemery.com/

* Hernan Cattaneo: This Argentinian DJ was an excellent way to end the night! His beats had the perfect combination of dark and sexy that was inspiring & moving. For most of his set, all I could think was that he would be another perfect match DJ for Stereo. PLEASE PLEASE come to (((Stereo))) !!! I cant wait to hear more from Mr. Cattaneo & see him again.

* Hernan Cattaneo's podcast : http://podcast.hernancattaneo.com/feed
* Facebook Fan Page : http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=150103&id=15561937139#!/hernancattatneo
* Official Website : http://www.hernancattaneo.com/

HOT dancers - such a teaze for the single ladies!

 Meh?:

* I liked that there were plenty of concession areas, but really $6 for a bottle of water is a bit much!  Had the drinks been well priced, I would have definitely bought more instead of continuously filling my water bottle from the water fountain. Request: please have Gatorade or Powerade available ! Yes, water helps to replenish, but when it's hot & you're dancing hard, you need some electrolytes to help keep you going (and, apple/orange juice just doesn't do much good).   

* While the DJ line-up was stellar & the dancers were talented, I found that the live entertainment was annoying. Thank goodness these only lasted for 5 - 10 minutes & were pretty infrequent! Some of my friends who attended previous B&B's said they usually liked & were impressed by the live shows, but agreed that this year was not the best. Oh well, BBCM you have one year to find new live acts...please :)

* DJ Paulette was just NOT good ! Maybe I am being a bit harsh, but really, I haven't spoken to anyone who enjoyed this set. The mixing was okay/decent, but the track selection was NOT good...Her style is described as "house, electro, progressive", so it would have been better if she was BEFORE Chus & Ceballos, not after. She certainly ruined the great vibe that C&C had created!

- But in all fairness, had DJ Paulette been good, maybe I wouldnt have ventured to the Trance side...so thank you DJ Paulette, because I did not like your set, I discovered Gareth Emery & had a great time on the trance side!

* The sound was great for a large party. My only comment would be that as people leave the party the sound needs to be adjusted accordingly = turned down! With tons of people inside the room, the sound gets absorbed into the bodies; so as people leave, the volume needs to be turned down because it seemed to be getting louder & louder.

* Finally, as my last comment, I would just like everyone to think about their personal hygiene before, during and after an event. Is this so difficult ??? I will discuss this topic at a further date since it seems that too many people are missing the boat on this...and the rest of us are suffering for it. 

* Please note these are just my personal comments about the party, and they are rather small in the grand scheme of things.

~ * ~ Thank you Black & Blue !! ~ * ~

* Count us in for next year *

Thanksgiving !

For all those Canadians reading my blog, I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving !  Make sure you take a bit of time to reflect on what you are most thankful for :)

I thought for this blog post I would share some of the music I am most thankful for:
PODCASTS
Definition : "a series of digital media files that are released episodically" - Wikipedia
Why I love house music podcasts ? Most are easy to listen to with tracks being mixed into flowing sets & they are FREE ! Also, track listings are usually included so if you like a particular song or all of them, you can find them again. Just beware of the podcasts where the host talks too much = very annoying & distracting.  If you are an iTunes fan, check out their podcast sections; there are thousands to choose from!

Top 10 podcasts  I recommend (in alphabetical order) :

1. Cityscape Sessions is a monthly mix series featuring guest DJs & the best tech-house and techno from around the world. Brought to you by Wide Angle Recordings & host Blake Sutherland http://www.wideanglerecordings.com/cityscape/podcast.rss
2. Crobar BoraMusic HouseCast - resident DJ Barish Turker, hosted by James Butler, produced by Bora Celik   http://boramusic.com/bmpodcast.xml
3. Glenn Morrison's Sequence Radio - featuring live mixes from around the world and showcasing the most upfront records handpicked by one of the world's most forward thinking & critically acclaimed DJs  http://feeds.feedburner.com/GlennMorrisonsSequenceRadioPodcast-Episode001
4. House Nation UK is funky deep electro ass shaking music direct from the UK. Mixed live by Lee Harris.  http://mashed.libsyn.com/rss
5. MarcoV TopTenMix - every month, Marco V brings you his top ten favorite tracks  http://www.marcov.nl/mix/podcast_november.xml
6. mobilee records podcast - freshly sqeezed from Berlin http://www.mobilee-records.de/podcast/feed.xml
7. Pacha NYC - featuring resident DJs and special guests direct from America's #1 Megaclub  http://feeds.feedburner.com/pachanyc
8. Radio 538 : Dance Department - the best beats to go  http://radio538.nl/538/xml/rss/dancedepartment.jsp
9. Sander Van Doorn Identity - every week SVD brings you the best in fresh new trance, tech-trance, tech-house, and house  http://sandervandoorn.iemusic.co.uk/podcasts/SvDIDENTITYPODCAST-itunes.xml
10. Sharam's Wildcast - showcasing the latest favorites of all genres of dance music taking you inside the brain of Sharam & his latest productions and remixes
    http://sharamtayebi.podbean.com/feed

* Please note I did not provide the descriptive information of these podcasts, it was copied from iTunes.

Party Tip: when you subscribe to these podcasts on iTunes, they automatically download as soon as a new one is available. If you dont like the podcasts, you simply unsubscribe & delete, or you can also just download by the episode.  Tons of options based your preferences.

What are your favorite podcasts?

Nowadays, there are websites that can turn YouTube clips into MP3 files, which makes finding & listening to your fav music even easier.  Some of my fav tracks on Youtube include :

Deadmau5 - Raise Your Weapon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhQ7lajxsIw
* Listen to the whole track ! If you have never heard it, it will catch you off guard at around the 5 minute mark. I love everything about this track !!!
* If you are a dubstep & Deadmau5 fan, check out his new track "One Trick Pony" on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2pi21t_Rmw Im not really a fan but you may like it ...

Nic Fanciulli Remix - Two Dots
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huAd3EZszWI
* Yes, I realize this is an older track from the beginning of the year but I still love it...so simple, and yet it says so much
Lyrics: "two dots joined by a line, they reached, detached by a crime, how [mis/ir/dis/ir] responsible when the line is stretched, how [mis/ir/dis/ir] responsible when it becomes a triangle"

Timo Garci ft Amber Jolene - Lady Luck (City Lights)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SD9nqmxYEc
* Again, not the newest but wow!!

Well, there you have it - some of my favorite music that I am thankful for !
ENJOY ! xox

PS: Black & Blue is tonight !! Im very much looking forward to this event - stay tuned to catch my review in a few days time :)

Victor Calderone

After having missed Victor Calderone at Stereo Montreal this past weekend, I was inspired to write a short blog entry about this legend.  

Check out this recent interview with Victor by Art of Electronica to get you started :

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1618055008365&ref=mf
Credits: AOE TV via Facebook

Having seen VC live at least half a dozen times in Ottawa & Montreal, I can say with certainty that he knows how to deliver!  With being a Stereo resident, his "EVOLVE" nights are always popular & well received; he spins dark dirty beats from open at 1 am until close (usually 11 am or noon) with what appears to be relative easy & coolness.  If you have not experienced an Evolve night, please do so - you will not be disappointed!
* As a side note, my mother once told me she wanted to go to Stereo...I told her sure, anytime she wanted to go, I would take her. Her response: well no, I want to go when Victor is spinning ! LOL   

VC knows what he is doing! Originating from NYC, he has been in the business for about 20 years now doing everything from recording & producing tracks, touring the world to hosting his podcast!  Throughout the years, VC has been continuously "evolving" to create new sounds & push the mainstream boundaries.  

To get an idea of VC at Stereo please watch this amazing video:

A Journey in (((Stereo))) with Victor Calderone

http://vimeo.com/12327019

Credits: directed, filmed & edited by Christian Pomerleau; produced by Gridspace

The first time I became more familiar with Victor was when my good friend Lee had lent me the Evolve CD for my drive home back from BeachClub.  Marty, Justin and I discovered who VC was & what his music was about.  And from there, the rest is history!  

    

I have had the pleasure of meeting Victor many times!  He has always been a gentleman, even when I was being a bit weird. It seemed that everytime I met VC I would ask him the same question : "Hi Victor, do you remember me? I just loved your set..." He would say yes, listen to me blab about his set, and take a picture with me.  Finally, one time he stopped me and asked me why I ALWAYS asked the same thing because his answer was always the same, YES he remembered me!! haha. Since then, it has become a bit of a joke within my group of friends.  

Sometimes I wonder what VC must think of his crazy fans...but I guess that comes with it?! Another time Lee & I had run into him on the street in Ottawa after his show.  Lee then proceeded to tell him : "hey man, Evolve changed my life, yes sir Evolve changed my life!" hahaha priceless...

Victor & I - BeachClub summer 2008



Victor & I - NV Ottawa, 11/09

You can check out 3 of his podcasts on iTunes:

http://podcast.victorcalderone.com/victorcalderone

Be sure to buy his tracks on Beatport! 

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Offical Webpage:

http://www.victorcalderone.com/interface.htm

Facebook Fan Page:

http://www.facebook.com/victorcalderone#!/victorcalderone?v=wall

MySpace Page:

http://www.myspace.com/victorcalderone

Ava Chloé

An overview:

I thought I would explain my views & direction for my blog.

The Life of the Party : Articles, Interviews, Pictures & Sounds.

Why? Simply because I am truly passionate about house music and want to share
my Passion with you.  I had been contemplating the idea of a blog for a long time, but suddenly last week the creative juices got flowing & I was bombarded by ideas.  And, here we are. I want to thank everyone for their support & encouragement so far – especially you Audrey; it really does means alot to me!

While I am only blogging about the music and parties for now, I hope to also DJ ! You see, I am quite intrigued by & attracted to the power and/or control a DJ has over the dance floor...a DJ’s attitude, set and energy can make or break a party...

You can expect 3 to 4 new posts per week, but as you all know life and living can get in the way!!!! I will also be contributing to the RhythmWORKS blog (http://www.rhythmworks.ca/).  Stay tuned for more information!

For my very first interview, I thought I would introduce myself

Ava Chloé

Name: Ava Chloé --

    Two years ago I created an alter-ego modeling identity Ava; so, for blogging & DJing I have used a combination of my modeling name & real name

Age : 25            Date of Birth : December 10^th, 1984              Sign: Sagittarius

When I grow up: I want to be just like my mom!

Mom & I on the Vegas strip

Likes: family, friends, healthy lifestyle, yoga, walking, traveling, fashion, modeling, raspberries, candy, tea, theme parks, cleaning, learning, beaches, sun, smiling, laughing, hearts, meeting new people +++

Dislikes: body odour, over-use of communication tools, obese people, Tequila, fish, winter, negative energy, creeps, bland clothing, poor management, no direction, fleas, snakes, scary movies, the letter P +++

Quirky fact : please do not ever offer me mint flavoured gum at parties, I appreciate the offer but...it makes me barf! Fruity gum all the way

Favorite place to party: STEREO Montreal

Favorite International DJs: Chus & Ceballos, Victor Calderone, Sharam, Avicii, D-Formation, Danny Tenaglia, Marco V (this list requires its own blog post)

DJs I would like to see: Swedish House Mafia, Avicii, DJ Vibe, Peter Rauhofer, Lee Harris, Sydney Blu, Carl Cox, many many more +++

Favorite person on the dance floor: one of my best friend’s Audrey ! Positive, brilliant, funny, caring, energetic - she is one fun gal anytime.  Just be careful, Audrey can give the energizer bunny a run for its money. I can recall many instances "Aw but can't we stay for one more song?" love it & love her!

Wish List: to go to BPM in Playa del Carmen Mexico & Ibiza Spain, 2011

Dream job: International DJ

First DJ to see live?: Bob Sinclair & Digitalism in Milano Italy at the MTV Long Night party.  I had gone to the show to see Jay-Z & Bob Sinclair, but once Jay-Z was done everyone I went with wanted to leave, so I stayed there by myself. Then, I discovered I was standing next a few people from Montreal – small world!  When I was done, the subways were closed, it was pouring rain & there were no taxis – so I jogged half way across Milan just to get to the official after-party where I hung out with Jay-Z, his crew and the other models. 

Bob Sinclair

Me enjoying the Jay-Z show

First time I knew house music was in my heart: I am going to give credit to my Beijing family for this one. I had always liked house music, but it wasn`t until Beijing that my passion became apparent & continued to grow. The Beijing family – Bruna, Sabine, Nicole, Maria, Diego, Gustavo, Daniel, Andres & I, frequently went to a club called Bank where DJ Jackie would spin whatever we wanted until the wee hours of the morning.  After 3 am, we were usually the only ones left in the club so it was like a private party with our own DJ.  At the time, Yves Larock`s track ``Rise Up`` was tearing up the charts and so it became our theme song. Some nights we requested it so many times that Jackie would play it half a dozen times, and each time we would all go crazy.  Now, every time I hear that song, I still think of the Beijing family – some of the best people I have ever met, and the amazing times we had.

Throw back to Rise Up, you know you want to listen :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoMYU_nOGNg&ob=av3e

Some of the Beijing family at the club Suzie Wong on my last night in BJ

Why "The Life of the Party"? Easter Sunday 2010, I was at Bal en Blanc with Amin. We were pumped, wearing white, just met David Guetta, and danced to his set – yes, I heart David Guetta, guilty pleasure. Once he was done, we stuck around a bit, but decided to go see Erick Morillo at Stereo.  When we arrived, the energy was much different than Bal, so I got up on the riser in the middle of the dance floor and just started dancing & dancing. Shortly after I went to go see Mr. Morillo, and he thanked me for coming to his party, said that I brought a great positive energy & that I was THE life of the party.  Thanks Amin for the great weekend!

Amin & I ready for Bal



Audrey, me, Kimio & Glenn Morrison

And while you may think it is just a fluke to have one DJ praise my party skills & positive energy, it has happened on more than occasion...This summer at BeachClub, Audrey & I had the pleasure of partying with Glenn Morrison, Oscar G, and King Louis. It was a bit on the chilly side so there really wasnt a full beach, but the DJs delivered great sets, and we got to hang with them.  GM thanked us for coming & loved our private party in the DJ hut. That night, we ended up getting not one but two phone calls from GM & King Louis blabbing about how much fun we were...aww thanks fellas, we had a great time with you too!   

There you have it, The Life of the Party’s first completed interview! I will continue to share my party stories, facts and ideas with you over the next coming months...I just couldn’t reveal everything in one shot ;) xox

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You can also follow me on Twitter

http://twitter.com/ava_chloe