It hasn’t been a secret on here that I’ve relocated back to my hometown Miami. Truth is I haven’t really made it a point to tell anyone except my close friends. The music community is so vastly different here and knew I was giving up a lot moving back to this market. It’s not meant to be taken in a negative sense. Unfortunately the music I’ve been playing/pushing doesn’t really have much presence here. We all know the meccas are Colorado & California.

I was lucky enough to discover a market in Texas that allowed me to do what I’ve always wanted to do… Play glitch-hop. I became extremely involved in Texas and turned my life focus on music for the most part. I’d go out every night and actually network/talk to people. I’ve always been shy and moved to Texas only knowing my roommate. Texas was a scary move but once I got there it took me for one of the best rides of my life. I was only in Texas for a year but it feels like I was there for over five years. The amount of talented artist is overwhelming! The festival crowd is full force and plenty of homegrown events.

Now that I’m back in Miami I’ve started an entirely new lifestyle. I know that bass music popularity has reached a new height but it has also left me much to be desired. I don’t want to become that bitter old man complaining non-stop. I’ve decided to put this mix out there to target the Miami audience and nightlife but at the same time tip my hat goodbye to this sort of style. It’s fun, party, dance, and rave out music but truth is I’m burnt out and have been for some time now I’m sure. If you follow me on FB and Twitter you’ll know what I’m talking about. I’m a mid range bass hater. Yes, I admit it.

It’s time to focus on a positive new attitude and something different that will brighten my spirits. 2012 will be the start of many new things. As I said my lifestyle is quite different now. I don’t go out anymore and I’m going back to my anti-social recluse ways. My nights consist of me laying around my dream apartment on the beach listening to chill out lounge music and playing video games. My roots are in trip-hop/downtempo/lounge. I’ve decided to focus on that for 2012 and create a sister site that will built around that vibe. Expect a soft beta launch around Feb 2012.

This doesn’t mean this site will be executed!!! Ed and Tara have been doing an incredible job and I’ll still be writing post but come to understand I won’t be as active. It’s time to expand the market. I’ll still be around at all the events but keep in mind Miami doesn’t offer acts that I’ve been spoiled with while living in Texas. The bass scene is very alive here but it’s very brostep/moombah oriented which truthfully I can’t vibe with. Along with the sister site launch there will be a new weekly event that will be created to support the new movement here. I’m super excited to see how this pans out.

Now about this mix. It was designed on the fly to get you moving and sing along. There are times where I need to get motivated to go out to the club or bar and these tunes get me all hyped. They are mostly top 40 remixes with me giving them an extra umphhh to them and adding my glitches live. It’s been over a month since I’ve played or even mixed since I’ve been so busy with the move. Not to mention like I said I’ve kept myself isolated in Miami so not looking actively to play out. It was fun to rock out in my new studio to this. Anxious to see what the reception of this mix will be.

I hope you enjoy and have a happy new year!!!

-Afro

Sounduo is a collaboration of Zach and Will which brings a live element to what many of us call dubstep or dub hop. Zach plays drums live while Will is behind the computer and guitar. Right now they are located in Miami where they met at The U (University of Miami). Will is originally from DC and Zach from Orlando. They are revolutionizing the game in Miami and proud to give them some light.

These two are bringing to life a new sound to Miami and can’t be happier to hear about them. As I was born and raised in Miami starting a DJ career there can be tough. The market there is one of the toughest and cliche out there. You’ll find your typical big names out there that everyone knows but extremely difficult to find something new and cutting edge in the moment out there. When Sounduo was brought to my attention it gave me hope for the future of Miami. Incorporating live instruments into the dubstep game isn’t a new thing but for Miami this is leaps and bounds compared to what is going on there. You’ll be lucky to find a dubstep producer out there who plays their own material let alone one or two of their tracks when I last was there. After watching a few videos and tracks on soundcloud I had to write about them. These guys are easily the best producers I’ve heard who reside in Miami.

Sounduo plays all originals and would be described as digital dub. They are heavily influenced by dub music and reggae. Now add the electronic vibe of dubstep, throw in some hip-hop beats, add some live musicians, and you’ve got yourself the formula of Sounduo. They are not the only ones doing the live thing as Miami has been curating some other live bands which seem to be uniting, Afrobeta, organicArma, and Telekinetic Walrus and The Pride of Ions.

The thing that got me most excited about Sounduo is that this only means more is to come and the East coast is starting to catch up. I can not tell you how big the contrast is in music compared to the both. Having live electronic groups appearing is just the start but I believe after talking to Zach and Will there is a lot ahead.

Sounduo will be planning a Florida tour in July and expect to hear a lot more from these two. I can’t wait to go back home to Miami to visit and get to kick it with them. After talking to them for awhile over Skype it makes me so happy to have an act like that to support in Miami. I can totally see these guys on the festie circuit real soon.

Much respect goes out to Zach and Will!

Decided that last nights live mix should be online. There are some issues here and there since was hijacking my audio stream and sending it out to glitch.fm server but ohh well it’s all about sharing music with you. I had a real good time recording this mix. It showcases more of what I’ve been doing in live sets. There is more of a chill feel to this one but that’s sorta the mood I was in last night. Lately my live sets at clubs have been way more hype but this is the sorta stuff I’ve been listening to on my free time when just hanging out.

Expect anything when I’m playing out live though. The middle of the mix I just wasn’t feeling to progressive build I had started and brought it back down to how I was feeling. All I play really depends on how I’m feeling in the moment. I have no problem forcing drastic bpm changes. It’s always going to be about where I want to go.

Hope you enjoy!

Thank you again to Elena for the interview. Glad to see how much coverage everyone is getting. Believe and go out there and things will make its way around. I wish I could respond to everyone but I never imagined for this to become what it was. Thank you to all the artist out there expressing themselves. It’s truly a honor to have people share so much with me.

Be sure to check out my recent mix to get a small idea of what comes about all the music my friends send me. Going to be posting a new mix once I hit 1,000 followers for Winter! Hope you all enjoyed the amazing show in the sky for the Winter Solstice! Thank you again to everyone who has come to visit this site.

Happy Holidays! Will be seeing my top 5 for 2010 soon!

INTERVIEW: Afro Monk Interview

I was actually introduced to the music from listening to the West Coast producers. One of the first dubstep tracks I heard was from White Boi. Considering when I find something I like I need to know everything about it and master it. The bass wobble and sounds are what captured me. I dug so deep and discovered everything I could find. I listened to Mary Anne Hobbs Dubwars show at least 30 times when it came out and Benga’s essential mix. Burial hypnotized me like he did to the rest of the world. I keep diving in deeper and deeper. I made sure to never miss a Plastician show on Rinse.fm and chat it up with them on MSN asking for track names and following every label and release. It consumed me finding dubs and names of upcoming producers.

Fast-forward 3 years now and honestly I try to stay away from playing any dubstep. I definitely do and there’s no question that I’ll probably never stop but its different now. Money and greed have entered the picture.

The average person who uses the term dubstep is most likely into what is really filth, aggressive, dirty, bro, etc… dubstep. Everyone thinks it’s some sort of joke when the term Brostep is used. Yeah laugh it up because it’s true. Point your gun fingers, drink the cheap beer, dance around insane, rage, and create mosh pits of madness. Take a step back and you’re looking at frat house breeding ground. We all like to have fun but this isn’t where it was when the music first got coined dubstep. People can’t stand labels but they MUST exist. How is it that you expect everything to fall under one name? Don’t take offense to subgenres even if it’s called filth or brostep because that is the perfect word for it and it becomes the name for the subgenre. People don’t want it to stick because they don’t want to admit to themselves they part of the trend and doing/playing what everyone else is into. After all God forbid it not be underground or indie. All you who doubt it go to a Borgore or Rusko and look around at the crowd and you think about all this.

Future bass, post step, deep, etc… Are all these new names any different from when it first started?! Names need to be made so when I’m talking to someone about a particular sound they know a general idea of similar artist. If I use dubstep people think Datsik, Excision, Rusko, Flux Pavilion, Nero, etc… What if I’m talking about Mala, Horsepower Productions, Pinch, etc…? See what I’m talking about. Dubstep has evolved into many other categories and that’s very GOOD.

Evolution needs to happen.
Now why am I writing this all? It’s because the genre of dubstep has blown up! Rusko’s involvement with Britney Spears on her name album will escalate everything to a new mark in time. The mainstream is catching on. I’m begging you people stay in this for the LOVE of the music. Dance around, enjoy yourself, spread the love, support your local artist and djs, & most of all don’t give into the bullshit. There are many people who are going to try to make a buck off all of this. Stay true to the music and don’t do it because you want to be famous, popular, or make money. I see it more and more susceptible to all this. If you’re going to get involved set yourself apart and do something different. To make this bigger and better it means bring your own take not want everyone else is doing. Be original.

I use to be so bitter about the whole community. I’ve let out my frustrations but figure it would be best that they be documented. At the end of the day I want to see more passion and genuine people looking to get involved because they just want to help further along the evolution of everything not because they see the money and fame behind it. We all want to be rockstars but seriously the real ones never made it long term if that’s what their focus became.

What’s my take on Dubstep? Evolve already!
Bring more originality to the table. It’s dying to be recreated.

Ps: One last thing. If things haven’t changed than why is that I have yet to see a brostep set on all vinyl… quality control people. quality control.

Live recording of my return to Glitch.fm radioshow! Tons of hiccups since it’s been awhile since streamed LIVE. Hope you enjoy! If you do enjoy please share with others! Also I’ll be looking for booking coming 2011 so be sure to let me know if you’d be interested in having me out. We can negotiate something real reasonable =)

Keep it fresh!

Special Thanks to:
Ooah, ill-esha, Samples, Elfkowitz, Stephan Jacobs, ionik, Mongoose, white noise, MartyParty, Mimosa, Omega, Wolfeus, Gladkill, Turnsteak, Protohype, Eskmo, Minnesota, NastyNasty, Nit Grit, Bil Bless, Mochipet, Chris B, Frequent-C, Chase Marz, Bil Bless, Modified Noise, Bassmectar, Graintable, S.P.E.C.T.R.E, Kastle, Lorn, Billy Blacklight, & to any person I forgot to mention.

If you haven’t heard of Lazer Sword you must be sleeping because they just did a big US tour together to show off some of their new material and man is it bumping. I had the pleasure of opening up for them here in Miami at the monthly dubstep event, Get Low! It was a honor to see them rock out live on their MPDs. They put on one hell of a show, no CDs there. Both of them work extremely well together and the sets flow seamlessly. There’s a special art when playing with someone else. They are pushing the bar and experimenting with many sounds blended together to make their own unique sound. I’m looking forward to rocking out crowds with their new material and spread the music to you all very soon! Big ups to you both and keep pushing the music out! It was a real honor to have played along side them.

Tracklist:
1. Batman
2. Batman (Lando Kal Remix)
3. Batman (Nguzunguzu Remix)
4. I’m Gone (Low Limit Remix)
5. I’m Gone (Rustie Remix)
6. I’m Gone ft. Turf Talk

Download FREE version of new single off Debut album, Lazer Sword – BATMAN

Tracklist:
1.Tar
2. Agrokrag
3. Surf News
4. I’m Gone ft. Turf Talk
5. Batman
6. Topflights ft. M Sayyid
7. 4Loko
8. Machine ft. Zackey Force Funk
9. Web Swag
10. Skybox
11. Def Work
12. FUBU
13. Owl Tats
14. Cosmic Ride ft. Myka Nyne
15. Beast’s Reprise

Now that it’s back the redesign will be possible. I’m doing a mini tour over summer but hope to get it all sorted out to a new look.

Tonight I open up for Lazer Sword in Miami for monthly event, Get Low!

I’m looking for gigs in October! email me to arrange something!
Just recently recorded a summer promo mix!

Expect some new post and info to start back up on regular basis as before! Much love to all the fans and readers!

Miami Dubstep is back with its biggest monthly, Get Low! This is one of the biggest Get Low events and celebrating it’s 15th addition with none other than Hatch! One of the original founders of the Dubstep sound is coming to Miami.

I’m happy to announce this one as well because home boy Munkz is making his Get Low debut! Spent some time with him and heard some of the tracks from his recent pool, damn. Looking forward to his set, he’s totally going to bring it. Other djs playing are resident Juan Basshead and supporting DJs bringing you the latest in dubstep are FTG of Partnerz N Grime, Gizmatix,and DS.

Get Low is as always at Vagabond in Downtown, 30 NE 14th St.
RSVP to shake305@gmail.com for Reduced Cover before 11pm.

Miami Dubsteps Queen, Gooddroid!

This weeks Fire Friday Mix goes to the QUEEN of Miami Dubstep, Gooddroid.
She is the first to play Dubstep in Miami and begin the revolution of bass.
The amount of work that she puts into this scene is unheard of.

Many other players have entered the game from different roots but in the end this woman is the first one who dropped the deep dubstep sound. It’s an honor to be a partner of hers and call her one of my best friends. I’m going to say this right now and have no problem saying it… She deserves to be called the Queen, not a princess. You have no idea who she is if you call her a princess.

You can catch her spinning at almost every commercial dubstep event or at her bi-weekly events, Friction & DOWN. She is a maverick at what she does. She’ll drop the filthiest brostep grime at Friction or Get Low and then the next night drop serious minimal 2 step garage dubstep at DOWN. Hell you can even catch her playing hip-hop and tribal house all over the beach if you want. She has no limits.

If you ever get the chance to meet her thank her for everything she has done for the Miami Dubstep scene and what she continues to do. Now go check out one of her most recent mixes.