xxxo petropolis
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Let's Play a LoveGAME
Hello, lovers. By now spring has finally arrived in the Big Apple, and everyone's got the fever. Whether you're sweating in the gym, bedroom or dancefloor, LoveGAME is here to cool you off. I didn't get to make a Valentine's Day mix this year, but this somehow feels more appropriate. Its dance pop sensibility isn't for everyone, so just take this heart-shaped lollipop...and suck it. <3
Friday, April 8, 2011
SprinquiNEXT: The Return to Life
First, there was Enter the Sprinquinox. No one can be told what the Sprinquinox is...
Then came Bubble Pop Electric Youth, a pink and poppin' blowout from Uptown Doodie Brown.
Last year was Spectacular Springtacular (in the words of the vernacular), presented online in all its glory.
NOW, prepare yourself to get seriously happy. This is SprinquiNEXT...The Return to Life!
Then came Bubble Pop Electric Youth, a pink and poppin' blowout from Uptown Doodie Brown.
Last year was Spectacular Springtacular (in the words of the vernacular), presented online in all its glory.
NOW, prepare yourself to get seriously happy. This is SprinquiNEXT...The Return to Life!
Special thanks for the dazzling vocal stylings of Miss Whitney Campbell
and to the City of New York for being ambient gold.
*Note for iPod/iPhone users: be sure to put the download into a playlist,
otherwise iTunes likes to do it's own thang :)
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Enter the Sprinquinox
Sitting high on Cloud 9 in the Petropolis Stu-stu-studio, I'm ready to unleash a wave of springtime happy silly craziness on you. This year's spring mix will drop in just a few short weeks, but in the meantime I wanted to give you something to get things moving.
Many of you already know of the Sprinquinox, a mobile holiday I created in 2007 purely just to celebrate spring, my favorite season. Each year we do something different, the only guideline being fun in the sun, maybe food and drinks as well. The coinciding mix for the inaugural Sprinquinox took me in a new direction, using friends' vocal talents as interludes throughout the mix. It is a journey, to say the least. No one can be told what the Sprinquinox is. You have to experience it for yourself.
Enter the Sprinquinox is dedicated to the memory of Quent Reese, 1977-2007.
The promise of a new day!
Petropolis
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
In Like a Lion
Happy March, everyone! Spring is approaching, and I’m practically bursting at the seams with excitement (and caffeine). RRRAAARRR!!! But first, this is to be the one and only post I will ever write on the subject of Lady Gaga. Here we go…
In the beginning, there was this super blonde, shoulder pads-and-bangs person that invaded my So You Think You Can Dance program. Was she foreign? Who did she think she was coming out like a star? Then she blew up, and gained immense popularity in the gay scene. I thought the songs were catchy and dancey enough, but I lumped her in with all the other pop/R&B fluff that (at the time) I despised. I think I resented her even more because she did have such a…fierce gay following, and I didn’t understand what all the fuss was about. Did we really need another dance diva?
Then came the VMA performance with the blood. For the first time, I saw performance art that appealed to me. I like weird and certainly don’t mind a bit of shock value, plus she was singing live which I appreciated. Maybe there was something to her after all. Research time! Several acoustic piano performances on YouTube later, I realized that she has some real musical talent, both in voice and piano. What was happening to me?
Then the Bad Romance song and video appeared, and I immediately crossed over. Either my sensibilities changed, or the songs got better, who knows, but I was sold. More weirdness and extravagance followed, and I was happy now that she was moving away from her former incarnation (although I now like all her previous songs). Telephone, meat dress, etc. I’ve been along for the ride. But I’ve never known what side of the is-she-for-real-or-is-she-a-packaged-product debate I stood on, until recently.
Let’s get one thing straight. Yes, she’s famous. She’s now admitted to studying the sociology of fame and planning her every move. Of course there are things that are said and done for dramatic effect, but one thing I don’t doubt is that she loves her music and fans. There’s such a backlash about Born This Way sounding like Madonna. Everyone is influenced by other artists, and she’s 23 or 24…is it surprising that early 90s Madonna would have influenced the kid? Aside from two lines, I don’t hear the Madonna reference. To me it’s just reminiscent of late 80s/early 90s optimistic, anthemic pop that (in my world) is sorely lacking, and is exactly why I LOVE the song. And the video creates a character, concept and mythology, which I love. Bottom line, I am happy someone is sending out this message of acceptance in a time when I’m still told I don’t deserve the right to marry. You go, girl. Express yourself.
You people get ready for a euphoric, exuberant, badass spring, cuz it’s comin’ straiiiiight atchya.
Petropolis
In the beginning, there was this super blonde, shoulder pads-and-bangs person that invaded my So You Think You Can Dance program. Was she foreign? Who did she think she was coming out like a star? Then she blew up, and gained immense popularity in the gay scene. I thought the songs were catchy and dancey enough, but I lumped her in with all the other pop/R&B fluff that (at the time) I despised. I think I resented her even more because she did have such a…fierce gay following, and I didn’t understand what all the fuss was about. Did we really need another dance diva?
Then came the VMA performance with the blood. For the first time, I saw performance art that appealed to me. I like weird and certainly don’t mind a bit of shock value, plus she was singing live which I appreciated. Maybe there was something to her after all. Research time! Several acoustic piano performances on YouTube later, I realized that she has some real musical talent, both in voice and piano. What was happening to me?
Then the Bad Romance song and video appeared, and I immediately crossed over. Either my sensibilities changed, or the songs got better, who knows, but I was sold. More weirdness and extravagance followed, and I was happy now that she was moving away from her former incarnation (although I now like all her previous songs). Telephone, meat dress, etc. I’ve been along for the ride. But I’ve never known what side of the is-she-for-real-or-is-she-a-packaged-product debate I stood on, until recently.
Let’s get one thing straight. Yes, she’s famous. She’s now admitted to studying the sociology of fame and planning her every move. Of course there are things that are said and done for dramatic effect, but one thing I don’t doubt is that she loves her music and fans. There’s such a backlash about Born This Way sounding like Madonna. Everyone is influenced by other artists, and she’s 23 or 24…is it surprising that early 90s Madonna would have influenced the kid? Aside from two lines, I don’t hear the Madonna reference. To me it’s just reminiscent of late 80s/early 90s optimistic, anthemic pop that (in my world) is sorely lacking, and is exactly why I LOVE the song. And the video creates a character, concept and mythology, which I love. Bottom line, I am happy someone is sending out this message of acceptance in a time when I’m still told I don’t deserve the right to marry. You go, girl. Express yourself.
You people get ready for a euphoric, exuberant, badass spring, cuz it’s comin’ straiiiiight atchya.
Petropolis
Monday, February 14, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
That's a Wrap 2010
Hey Everyone!
It's an old but true saying, hope springs eternal, at least for me it does. Which can keep me on a crazy rollercoaster at times, but as Bjork once said, you can't say no to hope, can't say no to happiness. I've got some exciting job prospects on the horizon, and of course this is always the time of year when I'm hunkered down in the studio, tinkering away at the spring mix. I've also been having a creative surge lately, so I hope you don't mind more goodies coming your way--this spring is gonna be jam-packed with 'em! For now, enjoy this little video postcard. Happy New Year!
(You can also view at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZeAwjrPZws)
P.S. If you haven't already, gone and git dat golden nugret already!
(or visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1acbVqRh3U)
Saturday, January 1, 2011
White Wolf
Happy New Year! As I'm sure you know, I've survived my first blizzard and am sloshing along with the rest of the locals (and tourists). The weather up here (and dealing with it) is different than anything I've ever experienced, but I'm learning quickly. Although the Solstice may have passed and the days are slowly growing longer, there is still a long, cold haul ahead. I'm discovering that winter can be a visceral, brutal beast of an experience, but a delicate, hypnotic creature as well. It is with this in mind that I made White Wolf.
*New Year's Day warning: White Wolf is not suited for hangovers. Best enjoyed on a pensive snowy stroll or whilst stalking barefoot through a moonlit enchanted forest.
*New Year's Day warning: White Wolf is not suited for hangovers. Best enjoyed on a pensive snowy stroll or whilst stalking barefoot through a moonlit enchanted forest.
*A note for iPod/iPhone users: once downloaded, be sure to put this mix into a playlist before syncing. Otherwise the files tend to get separated...
DOWNLOAD WHITE WOLF
DOWNLOAD WHITE WOLF
P.S. The holidays are over, it's a new year, and we all need a little ray of sunshine to look forward to. It gives me great pleasure to bring you the first Golden Nugret of 2011. For those in the know, this needs no explanation. For everyone else, stay tuned and it will all become crystal clear...
*If you have trouble with downloading or Quicktime, you can get it at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1acbVqRh3U
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