Another Year and Top 10 Tracks

I just want to thank EVERYONE who has read, commented, shared and embraced this blog. Without you all, we would not have the opportunity to EXPRESS what we do. Damn it has been three years and I am still kicking.

2013 is another year for greatness, positive vibes and amazing music. I do not consider it a new beginning; rather a year to transform House Music to the masses through writing to many who are willing to understand our World a little more. I have not given up on this music since it has not on me. I can still remember the time I fell in Love with House Music and the grip it has had on me since. It saved my Life!

Speaking of saving lives, I got ten tracks that were bangers this year that gave so much LIFE on the floor. Here are a few that did it for me (In NO particular Order):

Lamone - My Favorite Things:  Now anyone who knows me knows I am not big on the holidays. However, I downloaded Josh Milan's Holiday albums with wonderful artists such as Dawn Tallman, Lamone, Cinnamon Brown, Sandra St. Victor and others to make it oh so soulful. The Honeycomb Music camp made me appreciate vocals, soul, harmonies and music even more.  Tyrone Francis banged this at December's Tambor Party and the Spirit took over me. I was in tears of joy. Give thanks for these wonderful voices. If you want to download the album, go here: Honeycomb Christmas

Timmy Regisford feat. Mikey Dance - Shining (Sean McCabe Remix): When I first heard this track, I was like, 'Alright, let's see how this will sound' Gotta admit, at times I have a biased ear. I LOVE when vocals and production come together properly. Sean McCabe did justice with the remix of Timmy Regisford's track. I am a big fan of Mr. McCabe and I can truly say that this track needs to be played. I kept playing it over and over at home. Dancing to it is such a release.

SMT feat. Shea Soul - Just Fine: This track is just SMOOTH!! I heard it a while back when I was at The Gathering and I was hooked. I kept listening and KNEW that I had heard the voice before. Shea Soul never disappoints when it comes to tracks that she is on. The David Harness mix is HOT TOO! To be honest, I like all the mixes on this track. Now go and beat that to the ground.

Jazzmatik and Boddhi Satva feat. MiSSuM - And Other Worlds (Kai Alce Vocal Remix): If this banger does not make you move, I dunno what will. Kai Alce put his damn foot in this one and I cannot stop moving to it. It reminds of how House Music should be: Melodic, Vocal, Soulful and damn RAW! You better get it, homie! ATL REPRESENT!

Tuccillo and Kiko Navarro feat. Amor - Lovery (Yoruba Soul Mix): Maaaaaan Osunlade better stop playing. When I first heard this track, I thought out to loud and said, 'Goodness gracious! What a banger to get the summer going right'. Many DJs rock this track to get the masses on the dance floor. It always works and that is why it is on this list.

Mr. O and Funk Deepstar feat. Ckenz Vocal - I Got This Feeling: Big ups to South Africa for this one. Not your typical South African banger. The SoulCandi camp does it again. They never disappoint. I heard this track at Tambor Party during Stan Zeff's set. Me and Yoli Chisholm were blown away and I HAD to ask. Paid for my download and the rest is history. Get it!

Atjazz and Jullian Gomes - Overshadowed (Atjazz Galaxy Aart Dub): OH MY GOODNESS! I really do not think you all here in the STATES understand how damn genius Atjazz is. Sleep on this dude if you  must my fellow Americans, but he is the TRUTH! We gotta get him stateside. SOMEONE. ANYONE?! Carlos Mena played this banger at one of his BEMBE parties here in Atlanta and I fucking LOST it! Words cannot describe the feelings I had at that moment when  this track came on: Nostalgia, Love, Pure and RAW emotion, the ability to move freely and dance like no one is watching. Atjazz's tracks usually does that to me. However, this track here: OH MY GOODNESS!! Thank You for producing this with Jullian Gomes. WARNING: Not for all DJs to play and for the faint of Heart. Just being real.

EnaWadan - I'm Still Standing: Brother ain't that the truth! Carlos Mena brought this cat to the masses with 'Forever' on his Ocha Records label. Thankful and blessed that he came back FULL force with this banger. This track makes a sista feel good when she is dancing and yet again, NOT every DJ can play this track. With the release on Offering Recordings, it set a whole new standard to vocals and ancestral energy. When I hear this track, it sends off positive vibes and great energy to the dancers. A banger, indeed!

Ralf Gum feat. Monique Bingham - Take Me To My Love: When I tell you that this track can NEVER get old, believe it. Regardless of what sound of House you may play, this track is a club banger. Ralf Gum and Monique Bingham have done it again. With Ralf's stellar production and Monique's smooth vocals, you cannot go wrong. I LOVE THIS TRACK!

*****FLako feat Dirg Gerner -Lonely Town (K2 REMIX): Alright Kris Klayton AKA Karizma AKA Kaytronik, I am calling you out on this one! How you gon' produce this foolishness and NOT put it out?!?!?! I heard this track and seriously started screaming at the top of my lungs. When I tell you that this is EVERYTHING that I needed for 2012 when it came to Music HANDS DOWN, this is the ONE!  I put stars next to this because I WANT THIS RELEASED! Hell, I am pretty sure most of your fans want this out. YET AGAIN: ONLY CERTAIN DJs can play this. Kai Alce rocked this shit during one of his sets and I lost it. People were lost as me and a few others were losing our minds. Seeing people go to the booth and ask what it is guarantees that it is a banger! DAMN YOU PUT YOUR FOOT IN THIS ONE, Kris! THANK YOU!!!!

If you want ANY of these tracks, PLEASE PAY FOR YOUR DOWNLOAD. Amazon, iTunes Store, Traxsource, Beatport, Juno and other paying sites. Thank you all and LOVE!

The Gathering PRESENTS Anthony Nicholson

CURRENT TRACK: Floating Points - Love Me Like This PURCHASE HERE...




What better way to celebrate my homie, RamonRawsoul's birthday, than to have Chicago's own, Anthony Nicholson come down and bless the A with goodness? Big ups to Karin, Kai, Ramon and all who do this amazing event every month. Without you all, I would have no where to go. For real. Love You all!

Now mind you, the last time the Chicago cats came down, Jamie 3:26 shut the place down and destroyed the dance floor RIGHT after House In The Park. Big ups Jamie! Oh, I cannot forget Julius The Mad Thnker coming down and putting a whoopin' on all of us. Stayed on the dance floor the entire night. Many were appreciative of the range that both cats provided. I love my fam! Mad LOVE!

When I think of Anthony, I think of the raw and deep sounds hailing from the Southside of Chicago. I envision 45s blaring out soulful tunes that keep the sound of the movement together. When Glenn Underground came down, it reminded me of how similar their styles are. Raw, organic, eccentric, full of soul and Yes, may I say it, BLACK!

Sometimes (NOT all of the TIME), I get an heir of superiority from certain DJs. They look down on our city as if we do not know the sound and its origins. As soon as the music starts flowing and people are feeling it, their energies shift and at the end of the night, it is all LOVE.

A sista is not gonna lie: I was a bit nervous meeting him due to the simple fact that I have been a fan of his work for years now. A real humble man who brought in the goodness from beginning to end. At the end of  the day: Thank You so much for sharing with us.

Ramon warmed up the crowd with a mixture of goodies to satisfy any palette. The room filled up nicely and before midnight, we were getting it in. There are still tracks I have not heard of that these gentlemen played. Kai brought the heat with that damn goodness from Karizma. When is 'Lonely Town' coming out?! He put his foot in that. Oh, did I mention, it was DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME?! A sista was delirious in the music and on a high. Seriously. I have not had that feeling in a long time. I think us gaining one hour to beat it out on the dance floor did it. My body is STILL feeling it!

ONCE AGAIN: Thank YOU, gentlemen! I approve of this goodness!

P.S.-  I LOVED IT!

1st Annual Atlanta Weekender + Karizma/Ian Friday + House In The Park

Can I just say this: IF YOU MISSED THIS PAST WEEKENDER, YOU ARE STRAIGHT LOSING IT!

Never had this much fun and dancing the entire weekend. I got to see peoples from all over (big ups my NYC family! I LOVE you all), dance my heart out and let out tears of joy. Once again, THANK YOU Salah Ananse for conceptualizing this idea and making it a reality. Atlanta is TRULY impressed, as am I. Oh, the consensus from people that heard you spin is that you are phenomenal! Keep it going, brother! I am here if you need ANYTHING!

Alright, back to the goodness: I got my interview with Baltimore's own, Kris Klayton, better known as Karizma. When I tell you this cat ripped his damn set - OOOOOOH WEE!! Hearing 'Chasing' and 'Rain' through the speakers gave me an out of body experience. Last time I saw him was in the UK at Southport Weekender and he did not disappoint. I missed Saturday night and I am a sad panda because of it. Nonetheless, Sunday made up for it all.

I volunteer every year for House In The Park and every year I go, I always get something out of it.

Lesson Number One: Folks never learn. Why you out at the park 4:30 in the MORNING setting up your grill and food?! It was that serious, folks!

Lesson Number Two: Hugs and Love are essential in Life.
I had an emotional moment not only because of a hug, but the song that was played. Kai Alce was banging ':Let Me Show You' by Kenny Bobien and a good friend I have not seen in a while came up and hugged Rodney Williams and myself. We let out a sigh and then tears rolled. The power of Love and support is something that I never take for granted. This individual gave me open arms when I came onto the scene at the age of 16 and it is only just that I continue to spread that as well to those who are not used to this sound called House.

Lesson Number Three: DO NOT set a park on fire.
I'm going to need for folks to get their grills in check. Why was the event ALMOST shut down because of someone and their grill?! Then people in the pavilion dancing scream out loud, 'The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire! We don't need no water let the motherfucker burn!'  Really everyone?

THANK YOU Kai Alce, Ramon Rawsoul,Kwest_on, Ian Friday, Roland Clark, DJ Kemit, Salah Ananse and SO MANY OTHERS for making Labor Day the business! So yeah, the stats of House In The Park: Fire Marshalls say 6,000 to 7,000. Let me be honest and tell you AT LEAST 10,000 EASY.

 Here are pics to prove the craziness that weekend...


Much Love

The Atlanta Weekender : The Beginning

Get passes here: THE ATLANTA WEEKENDER

Let me rewind this for a second...

One night while out getting my dance on, I greeted Salah Ananse and Nina with a huge hug and similar sentiments were expressed. Us, along with several others, are music festival lovers and have had the amazing opportunity to travel across the pond to England. We all met up in 2008 for Southport Weekender and had a blast! Salah cultivated the idea and placed it into motion. The concept in a nutshell: A series of events held in a distinct location that played ANYTHING that was of SOUL in different rooms at the same time (Afrobeat, House, Soul, Funk, etc;), hence the idea of this event. The Atlanta Weekender will be taking place at SoundTable and Space 2 (Thursday - Sunday night) and Grant Park (Sunday during the day).

I am thankful to see the idea come to the table with such amazing acts, such as: Ian Friday, Karizma, Roland Clark, Miranda Nicole and Stephanie Cooke. Oh yeah, I cannot forget some of my FAVOURITE DJs on the bill : RamonRawsoul, Salah Ananse, Kai Alce and DJ Kemit. In my honest opinion, these men encompass the TRUE sound of HOUSE MUSIC in Atlanta for me. Sure, there are others that I can mention, but in all honesty (Ron Pullman and Cullen Cole are hands down favourites of mine too!) these men do it for me. Having flashbacks as to when these men truly touched me on the dancefloor is nothing but beautiful.


The breakdown:

Thursday Night: The Love Sexy Party - The title says it all! Salah Ananse and Chicago's own, Kwest_On on the decks spinnin' the likeness of: Prince, Apollonia, Vanity 6, Morris Day and The Time. What a way to kick off Labor Day Weekend

Friday Night: Afrique Electrique and Distinctive: I am gonna need water and straight Aleve for this. Ian Friday will be holding it down on the decks. Whenever he plays, I seem to lose it and go bananas! The music he plays is a dancers' dream. Along with acts mentioned earlier in the post, this should be a memorable night.
Jump over to the other room and you have Baltimore's own, Kris Klayton AKA Karizma AKA Kaytronik. Having goosebumps from memories at Southport Weekender, 4:30 in the morning with 5,000 heads jamming to dopeness. All I know is, it is gonna be hot!!

Saturday Night: DJ Kemit will be in one room spinning some beautiful tunes to get the crowd going. It is suffice to say that the true heads will be in the building! Congrats on your latest album, 'Everlasting'. It is everything a music head needs and then some. Oh, did I mention in the other room we have Chicago's own, Sadar Bahar playing some wonderful Soul and Disco gems for the vinyl heads to get down with? Come with an open ear because this evening is about to be spectacular.

Sunday: Yep. I will have my damn whistle with me for House In The Park. I ain't playing with you all when it comes to my music. To my friends: Be cute and get there late if you want. Your behind will be without a parking spot and nowhere to chill. Several people learned last year. We had rain all day, but that did not stop folks from dancing. Imagine 5,000 people dancing in the name of music. IT IS ABOUT TO BE BANANAS.

Oh and sidenote: Jamie 3:26 is gonna put a hurting on us all come that night after the park. Get ready, folks!

Get your pass, folks! It is about to be a CRAZY weekend.

Oh yeah! One more thing: On Saturday night, Secrets is having a party at the Metropolitan Lofts with my fav ladies on the bill: Lynnee Denise, Sabine Blazin and DJ Fyre.

DO NOT SAY THAT ATLANTA LACKS A SCENE NOR LACK ANYTHING TO DO ON THIS WEEKEND! REST UP AND GET READY, PEOPLES!


Much <3 nbsp="nbsp">

6th Annual House In The Park

Wow, what can I say?!

Carlos Mena (Yoruba Records) kicked off my weekend and did the damn thing! Big ups to all who put it together!

This weekend has been nothing but amazing! Big ups to Ramon Rawsoul, Kai Alce, Salah Ananse, DJ Kemit, the sponsors, the City of Atlanta, the dancers, the singers and all who put it together. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I am STILL overwhelmed with happiness because of that day. AT LEAST 7k was in the building from all over the US and the World. We have Moodymann, Rick Wilhite, Colonel Abrams, Carolyn Harding and others roll through. You know your event is official when people who are not even heads roll through. Six years strong. Cannot wait for number SEVEN!

Highlights: seeing all people of all different backgrounds, just chilling, dancing their asses off. The outpouring of Love for this event has been amazing! Donations left and right. The event is the business when the Red Bull chicks pop up and people who have never heard of HITP come just for the vibe.

When Ramon busted out Culoe De Song's 'Gwebindala', I fucking lost it! I could have sworn my eyes rolled into the back of my head. I could care less what anyone was thinking at that moment. I felt my ancestors there. Seeing the young children dance made me smile. Also, when young kings and queens come up, giving hugs and saying a simple 'hello'. Now that is Love.

Having Yoli come ALL the way from Seattle. I had to hype it up and I know her experience was well worth it; by seeing peoples that I have not seen since the Winter Music Conference pop up blew me away. ATLANTA: WE ARE ON SOMETHING REAL and the rest of the music community sees it so. The icing on the cake: Having my best friend come from NY. We always shut it down.

However, at the end of it all: I cried. It was beautiful and I am glad I am a veteran of House In The Park. Much Love to all!

Photos and video:

Check out John Crooms photoblog at http://www.jcroomsphotoblog.blogspot.com