21st Century SPACE RIDERS: ONLINE HOUSE MUSIC DISC JOCKEYS
Kisha Toure
2008
“The one thing I can say about this House Music scene is that it’s always changing.” This is James Vincent’s answer to my lamentations over the dissolve of “The Shelter”, the longest running underground House Music Party in New York. Since 2001 I had been a regular attendee of the weekly dance party, now defunct due to reasons beyond the average partygoer’s power. “People get into this for different reasons.” “JV”, as he is affectionately known, has a handle on the climate of the house music scene that is both easy going and insightful. James Vincent is a Chicago native and current New York resident. JV is one of scores of DJs who hosts their own online radio show.
Cyberjamz.com is one of several websites that serve as a platform for House music to continue as a thriving sub-culture that ironically manages to win Grammy Awards. Other sites include XMRadio.com, JerseyDJs.com, HandzOnRadio.com, Live365InternetRadio, and a host of others. That driving, pulsating, upbeat, down tempo, sensual, erotic, post-disco era necessary music, are the life force of dance floors, nightclubs, lounges and households of those who remember. There are music festivals designed around House music and its related bedfellows including Drum n Bass, Jungle, Techno, Deep Tech, and Spacey Dub. The Southport Weekender, Miami Winter Music Conference, Collective Minds and Soul Summit Music Festival are just a few of the festivals and conferences that highlight House music.
Online radio shows have moderators who make sure the program is moving smoothly, resolve problems as they occur, investigate recurring problems and maintain the server. The DJ logs on to the server that allows him or her to stream live on the website. The server handles all of the functions of the station: chartroom, listening ability, logging on to play shows and the like. When you log on you are in real time, with an acceptable predetermined amount of delay. The DJ clicks on the appropriate link and airs their show.
This music evokes emotion through memory; good, bad or indifferent-all unforgettable times. They remember a time when the music they heard in their individual houses on record players began being played in park jams, block parties, and in the clubs. House music is fundamentally music that was made and/or played in your house. Rhythm and Blues, more familiarly known as “R&B,” is associated as the lifeblood of music for many 20th century African-American households. This music was then deconstructed, remixed, and recreated into new sounds and arrangements. “The Chicago sound is primarily the home of House, ‘the inception’” as JV calls it. Whenever they were of age (or of age via fake I.D.s) youths would gain admittance into clubs and party the night away. There were rituals of systematic sneaking-out-of-the-house, or as an alternative to those who were fortunate enough, there were High School parties where the well-known DJs of that time would play.
I was surprised to hear JV use the term “sock-hop” when describing some of his earlier parties at Whitney Young Magnet High School in Chicago. I associated this term with dances held at schools primarily in the 1950’s. JV has a youthful face with an ancient sense of understanding. He has agreed to let me watch him work as he presents his weekly show “Urbansoul Sessions” on Cyberjamz.com. I am apologetic for being any distraction whatsoever, all waved away with a smile and encouragement to conduct the business at hand.
My obvious first questions inquired of his influences and how he got into House Music, which he credits to his family, his uncle in particular, who is a musician. Growing up with music in the household made him appreciate Jazz, Funk and Soul. His instruments include Piano and Drums (percussion). He has a good collection of Miles Davis pictures, including one with a full set of teeth framed into a smile. He remembers his first Parliament Funk concert complete with the Spaceship landing on the stage. “That was the first time I ‘felt’ music and then to see them, visually?” JV studies the Dao and uses his turntables as instruments of homage to the creators of the music he plays. “I use these as healing instruments ...I’m just a vessel; I convey the feelings that those musicians and artists felt.”
I asked him about his format and what determines his line-up: “Well my background is College radio. My job is to ease you into your week. I always open up with, ‘Conquistadors Los Chocolates’ aka ‘Black Conqueror’- because I am a Black Conqueror.” JV is playing one of my favorite songs at the moment “Turn Me On” by Black Coffee featuring Bucie. One thing that I instantly noticed about JV was his ability to mix the new with the classics. Papa Wemba “Peace” and Santana’s “Mirage” were played alongside “Blue and Deep” by Jephte Guillame featuring Wiltrud Weber. He made the distinction of (Paradise) Garage Classics being simply Chicago Standards. “The Garage” is one of the signature House music parties that resound throughout the House Community. In the New York community, most of the first memorable club going experiences was born on the dance floor in The Garage. JV reminisces that, “Larry Levan, (Resident DJ for The Garage) cleared many a floor but broke many a record doing it,” referring to debuting new music. When asked of his personal influences in the industry: “As far as DJ influences I would have to say Merlin Bobb, Timmy Regisford (WRKS) and Tony Humphries (WBLS). When I moved here is when I totally got into Tony.” JV responds to my favorite question: Your favorite House Party? Any rituals? JV smiles: “Going somewhere ritualistically? In my peak? I would have to say Tony Humphries at Zanzibar. Rituals...well you gotta take a disco nap. I traveled solo and I stayed light-handed. You had to have an extra T-shirt or layer.”
I had the privilege of being on an Online Radio Show, the host being a dear friend of mine, Ian Rock, one of my partners in music. We co-hosted a short-lived poetry event called “Mother of Pearl” that featured live poets reading their poetry over instrumentals of various genres of music. Ian would also play consisting of airy vocal arrangements, lush acoustic strings and driving dubbed beats between the poets. On a cooler than usual afternoon in June, I read some of my poetry to accompany his online radio show, “Eclectic Dance Sessions” on Cyberjamz.com. Ian played his hard-to-find treasures, and a great deal of new music from around the world that we here in the states are often not privy to. I read my poetry and advertised for my upcoming single “Nightfall”, soon to be released on Traxsource.com, an online music store. I was hosting an afterwork/after-hours party at the time, “The AsOne Party”, at Sapphire lounge in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. My experience on the show was enthralling, and I received positive feedback and encouragement to do it again.
Ian sat the computer monitor next to me, and urged me to go online and speak to people. I was reluctant, and only looked on for responses, but I remembered that there was a little world going on between the listeners in the chat room. I later learned that there are specific greetings, nicknames, fake names, temperaments and relationships. I met several DJs through the chat room and finally, I was granted the opportunity to interview a few.
DJMinx, Detroit
HandzonRadio.com
How did you get into House Music?
I frequented a club at the suggestion of several friends called “The Music Institute.” Derrick May was the DJ every Friday night. The grooves were off the hook and the crowd was dancin’ hard! I’d not heard House really before going to this spot, but I immediately grew to love it going forward!
Who are your influences? Why?
Derrick Mayyyyy!! The man was a fire every time I saw him! Every mix was on point and every track was a banger. I wanted to start spinning because of the excitement he caused while workin’ those turntables!! My mentor (Jerrald James) Pushed me to become a DJ because I told him of my interest every time I left The Music Institute. He was always there for me. Sarena Tyler is very important in my music life as well. I’ve learned a lot from her in this business and she is still there for me today.
How do you prepare for your show? What determines your line-up?
My programming depends on how I feel the day of my set. I may or may not program my sets (It’s rare that I do), I just make sure I’m familiar with the music and I go for it!
What is your signature sound?
Four on the floor soulful vocal tracks and deep sounds. Bass…I need Bass!!
What was your favorite House Party? What was your "getting ready" ritual?
HA HAHHHHH! I guess my favorite House Party would be one that consisted of people ready to party…not just stand around and chat. When they’re ready to go...so am I!!
In preparation for my groove (starting at home) I have everything laid out that I’m going to wear, and some music rockin’ in the background as I dress…adding garments to the beat! From easin’ my pants on to the kick drum to snapping on a necklace to a high hat! Once I’m at the club and have my room temperature bottled water, I look around to see what the crowd is responding to and then pull out music I think will make them dance. As I mentioned, I usually just go for it without a programmed set.
DJ AppleJac, Atlanta GA
HandzonRadio.com, Massive Groove.com
How did you get into House Music?
I got into house mainly because I was growing weary of the stagnation of Hip-Hop. House seemed to have a lot more energy and there was more respect for the music and love for the culture, or so I thought (laughing).
Who are your influences? Why?
There are a lot of influences, but I'd definitely have to say that if it weren't for DJ Spinna really kinda taking me under his wing when we'd be in Miami for WMC, introducing me to people and just making sure I was connected with the right people, and Kerri Chandler, Dennis Ferrer and Jovonn really taking the time to give me pointers on the production end, I'd probably not be doing what I'm doing as far as House Music is concerned. I'd also like to say that people like Kai Alce, Ron Pullman, Cullen Cole, Aphrosoul, DJ Punch and DJ Kemit, were very integral in my learning curve as well. They schooled me on a lot of stuff and I'll always be grateful for their willingness to help me. I also must thank Calvin Morgan from SWEAT for giving me my first opportunity to play House and step out of the "Hip-Hop DJ" box.
How do you prepare for your show?
I try to have some sort of blueprint for what I wanna play, whether it's making sure I have new stuff or just really good stuff that maybe people haven't heard before or haven't heard in a while, but still keep it open enough to go where the vibe takes me.
What determines your line up?
Again, I just try to go with the vibe. More so when I'm playin out than on the Internet because you have more of a tangible, "back and forth" dynamic with your audience in a club. For me personally as a DJ, I'm an open book. I think people can tell what I'm feeling by the tunes I play or how I deliver them. Sometimes that's not always a good thing, but I think I'm very honest as a DJ, maybe too honest sometimes (laughing).
What is your signature sound?
I try not to get into "signature" anything because it crystallizes you into one particular way of doing things. And I think that the fact that I've been playin other genres/styles of music before I started playing House, there's something to be said about being able to fuse all of those things into one energy, not just box it in to always be "four on the floor". So if I had to "call it" something, I'd say "Boundless Dance Music" circa 2009 Sounds of Mecca Entertainment (laughing).
Favorite House Party you ever attended? What was your "getting ready" ritual?
My favorite party I've ever been to would hafta be the "Disco Forever" party at WMC in 2004. That was the party where I "got" House Music, and there was no turning back after that. In terms of a "ritual," I always pray before a set, be it on the Internet or at a club or wherever. My friend Syl told me once that I need to honor my gift by honoring the Creator OF that gift, so before each time I spin, I thank Jah for using me as an instrument to touch the people, because you never know what people are going through, and that two hours or however long that they're listening to you could make all the difference. It's a gift that I'm honored to be entrusted with and one I do not take for granted.
Greg Gauthier, France
HandzonRadio.com
How did you get into House Music?
Sad story: my neighbor gave me his records collection and his system before he died from aids around ‘91, I was 17...few weeks later someone gave me a tape from Frankie Knuckles recorded on a radio in NY, I was hooked!
Who are your influences? Why?
Back in the days Regisford, (Danny) Krivit, Knuckles, Morales ‘cause these are the first guys I’ve heard playing house with soul… I also like all kind of music not only house: R&B, jazz, salsa, old French, music etc... I always try to put some of that in my shows.
How do you prepare for your show? What determines your line-up?
In my show I usually play the songs that had a good response 3 days before at my weekly party ; "dance culture" at Djoon, I’m also more free to play songs you can't dance to , and I like that!
What is your signature sound?
I play everything that is soul, could (it)be African soul, gospel, Latin or whatever....even if its just a beat it got to have some soul in it. To me it ain't no worst music than house with no soul!
What was your favorite House Party? What was your "getting ready" ritual?
Favorite party: underground network, shelter, 718 sessions, libation, ANBHP (Aint Nothing But a House Party)....and of course dance culture every Sunday at Djoon ;) Not eat too much, so I can dance!!!! Calling my friends, a good Disco nap and I’m ready!
TBass
Radio.JerseyDjs.com
How did you get into House Music?
I got into House Music when I lived in Baltimore. A friend used to come and tell me about this club he went to, and said that I should check it out. This spot in Baltimore was called Odell's and their slogan was "You'll Know If You Belong". The first time going, I was 16 back in 1986, and I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I knew I found my music and my sound.
Who are your influences? Why?
My influences as far as DJing are concern would be a few people: DJs Camacho, Karizma, Kerri Chandler, Tony Motley, Louie Vega, and I have been compared to Larry Levan (I never got to hear him play.). I love the way these DJs would command the crowd and made people dance, cry, laugh, and feel the music. As far as music is concern, my influences are many, because I love many different types of music. I can be soulful, afro, tribal, Techno, electro, funky, tracky, vocal, classic, punk, 80's top 40 and other various styles when I spend. It all depends on my mood.
How do you prepare for your show? What determines your line-up?
To be truthful, I don't prepare for a show or a gig. I basically try to figure out what my first song is going to be and go from there; I try not to worry about the rest, because that depends on the crowd. My thing is, I could be playing a hot song and the crowd may not be feeling it, so, then I have to switch gears and find something to bring them back and then take them to the next level. Anyone that is preparing and or practicing for a show is never prepared for the crowd (my opinion ... lol).
What is your signature sound?
I guess my most standout sound is my soulful side...... since I love sounds. The songs with instruments in it get me most, and then you add a great singer on it...... I'm done, “flat-lined” as they say (laughing).
Favorite House Party? What was your "getting ready" ritual?
So far my favorite House Party was when I used to play at The Mirage (downtown Newark, NJ). This club/bar was located down the street from The Zanzibar and we had fun playing. At that time I was the opening DJ Friday and Saturday nights. On Friday I used to open for DJs Mike Harris and David Camacho, and then turn around and open up on Saturday for DJs Naeem Johnson (WBLS) and Jihad Muhammad. Those was learning times for me. I had no ritual for going, just came to play and then enjoy dancing when I was done.
Enjoying House Music, whether online or live, is an activity that I engage in on a daily basis, whether getting ready for work, during work, after work affairs, or nightlife pleasure. Everyday I speak to someone who loves house music. Most of my friends of different backgrounds and interests come together on one accord for the love of House music. I talk to DJs regularly and often give my ear and voice for feedback. I feel my place among the House Music community and I am constantly developing personal and professional relationships within the industry. I am growing and changing, just like the music.
