Moon Boots – Aretha EP & Interview
The man is somewhat a mystery. His whereabouts are unknown and his identity safely contained. His music production, however, is a completely different story. I am talking about Moon Boots, a DJ/producer who took the disco world by storm last year with several tracks that caught worldwide attention. And now the momentum continues with the arrival of his first EP, “Aretha”, released today on Nurvous Records. Featuring a stellar house remix from Blisspop friend Kid Color, the original track shines through with a tropical yet soulful disco vibe that is destined for dance floor glory. Check out the EP below and then grab those tracks here.
Moon Boots – Aretha EP
Blisspop had a chance to catch up with Moon Boots and talk about mixtapes, producers on the rise and the new EP…
Interview with Orchard Lounge
We had a chance to catch up with Ben Silver, 1/3 of Chicago-based house music enthusiasts Orchard Lounge and discuss clubs, festivals, talking through turntables and their upcoming trip to Washington DC.
Orchard Lounge formed in Chicago back in 2000. How did the three of you join together and where did you come up with your name?
The 3 of us met in Chicago after Spencer and I graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. We both moved to Chicago and there we met Spencer’s future wife, the Queen B. We shared the love of similar music and collecting rare records. Way too many times we would end up spinning records until the wee hours after we would go to the clubs or shows. That was how the name came to be – I used to live on Orchard Street, and my place was a spot where we would often “Lounge” out. The next year Spencer and I became roommates and once again it happened to be on Orchard Street. Coincidentally, Bethany also lived exactly 10 blocks south -on Orchard Street. The name just stuck.
All three of you have a previous background in music prior to joining forces. Spencer with the violin, Ben with the guitar and Bethany with the clarinet. Were you each able to bring unique elements to the group upon its formation and do you still see this holding true today?
Anything from seeing your first concert to learning to play an instrument inspire and influence people in their own way. I have always felt that playing music can be very therapeutic and I love playing guitar around the house when home. I look at it in a much different way than DJ’ing and just like DJ’ing, I wanted to learn how because I was heavily inspired by different music. In the case of guitar, it was 70′s jazz guitar that really made me want to learn. That lead to a love of collecting records and really trying to understand them which is a huge part of DJ’ing and we all share that. Also we are focusing heavily on production and a background in music has been really helpful for all of us.
Orchard Lounge sets themselves apart from many others because you not only tour with DJ’s but bands as well on a consistent basis. One relationship that comes to mind is the strong bond you share with the Disco Biscuits and several other jam bands. Tell us how that came about and the differences between touring with bands vs. DJ’s?
We love all kinds of music and before DJ’ing I used to be a big Phish fan and the Disco Biscuits were another band I used to see as often as possible. We used to share DJ mixes with lots of fans of theirs instead of just focusing on people who listen to DJ’s. Later we played Camp Bisco and a number of other events which exposed some people to sounds they may not normally have been listening to like house music which diversified the listeners quite a bit. It is totally different playing with bands because we are opening and then in some cases playing a short set during the set break to get the crowd fired up. Much different than when it is our own show because like any supporting act, we are trying to get the place warmed up however some of the most fun moments we have had are when the band comes out and starts the set with a “segue”, playing over our last records. When it’s our own show, we like to play as long of a set as possible and try to take the listener on a journey for as many hours as we are given.
Which do you enjoy more: Performing in clubs or festivals and why?
Clubs.
Two totally different worlds and it’s a blast getting to play these amazing festivals, especially when in front of a huge crowd which is thrilling. However, there is a reason why DJ’s and clubs go hand in hand. There is something to be said about a nice DJ booth, a big sound-system and a room of people dancing for hours on end. That is where the magic can really happen.
Your mixes and live sets frequently incorporate the use of samples and really help bring together the many genres of music you blend together. Was this a collaborative decision or is their a leader of the “samples” brigade?
Sampling is fun to do and since we don’t really talk to the crowd, it is a way we can express a feeling..or a joke with the crowd but through the music. Bethany really has a lot of samples and it is a quirky way for her personality to shine through as well. We’re all pop culture freaks so often times we hear something and think “I should record that”. It helps us to stay current and we’d rather talk through the turntables than on a microphone.
We know you’ve got a large fan base in the Northeast and have consistently rolled thru Baltimore in the past. Who/What convinced you to come down to Washington DC for the show and are you excited to perform at U Street Music Hall?
We all love DC but this time around it was all U Street. Aside from the obvious places like Red Rocks or Hammerstein Ballroom, I can’t think of a venue where EVERYBODY we speak to says it’s the coolest venue around. Just about everybody who has mentioned U Street says it’s their favorite place to see music, so we are really excited. Since it opened, we have had fans suggesting/requesting we play there.
What can we expect from Orchard Lounge in 2012?
Original music released, more mixes and lots of sweaty nights!
Check out Bethany and Spencer’s latest mix, “The Living Room Sessions Vol. 2″ as they explore the deeper, sinister side of house music.
Lokkenic (Spencer & Bethany Lokken) – Living Room Sessions Vol. 2
And don’t forget to catch them at U Street Music Hall on Wednesday January 11th with yours truly. Doors are at 9 and it’s only five bucks. You can grab your tickets here.
Kris Menace Presents: Stars on 33 – Let The Music Guide
Christophe Hoeffel has been writing and producing music since the mid-90′s, but most are familiar with his work since adopting the pseudonym Kris Menace back in 2005. In that same year, he joined forces with Lifelike and released their debut single “Discopolis” on Alan Braxe’s Vulture Music label. It quickly became one of the year’s most ubiquitous house tracks and an instant Ibiza anthem.
Menace found continued success with his DFA project Black Van in late 2009, and his track “Yearning” was one of the most downloaded and hailed by some as the Nu Disco track of the year in 2010.
Menace has continued onward, collaborating with the likes of Alan Braxe and Fred Falke while becoming widely known for his top-notch remixing. This includes contributions for Depeche Mode, LCD Soundsystem, Metronomy, Kylie Minoque, Air, Bag Raiders and Moby. And that’s just scratching the surface.
His most recent project, Stars on 33, is a collaboration with his friends Lawrence Tompson and Radical Peterson. They have a 5 track EP on the way set for vinyl release on December 19th via Eskimo Recordings and Beatport. It could possibly be my favorite release of the year as the trio delves into a state of smooth tranquility, infusing light house beats with catchy disco synths. The combination indeed speaks for itself. Eskimo has instructed fans of Aeroplane to check it out and some may recognize the track “Something You Can Feel” from the successful Aeroplane compilation, In Flight Entertainment, released earlier this year.
The EP would make a great holiday present. Just a suggestion :)
Kid Who – Ursa Major/Ursa Minor
Allow me to introduce Kid Who, a South London based DJ/Producer who has a fine taste for deep, dark, cosmic beats. His most recent EP, Ursa Major/Ursa Minor was released on the Italian label Pizzico Nobel. A heavy influenced sound from the likes of Lindstrom & Prins Thomas is hard to ignore as the EP takes you on a space disco journey through cosmic darkness.
Kid Who – Ursa Major/Ursa Minor
Lots more on Kid Who can be found at:
Interview with DJ Kaos
I had a chance to catch up with Berlin DJ/Producer DJ Kaos and ask him about touring, his independent label, and what to expect in 2012. Also be sure to check out his new mix below.