Afro Monk

Dear Readers,

It has been awhile since I wrote a post that doesn’t have to do with a specific release or spotlight. I’ve been meaning to write a piece about the website but I’ve been quite busy. I just recently relocated back to Miami, FL.

The website has been around for over two years now. It’s crazy to think it has been that long. It seems like it was just yesterday when I built it. The purpose of this website was to post music I found and help support my friend’s music.

Recently I’ve seen an increase in music blogs and resources online. There’s so much music out there that people are finally using online mediums to share and promo new music. I’m happy to see this evolution of online promotion because it gives chances for new producers and DJs to gain exposure.

The format of this blog is a bit different as I mainly write about people I’ve personally connected with online. The site after all is Afromonk.com which is my DJ name and story of my experiences tied together with music. I want to give readers, fans, and music lovers more than just a download link. It’s important to me as a DJ to have a personal connection with the music versus just playing what’s hot or popular. I actually take pride in making sure that all the music I do play out to a crowd is by people I personally know versus just scanning through Beatport for something that’s in the charts.

The main goal of this post is to let my existing fan base, readers, new visitors, producers, and people interested in getting a featured on the site know that this website is designed for a specific sound. Afromonk.com, has no plans to expand into something huge and ultimate resource for electronic music. The objective for this website is to provide a place where SPECIFIC niche of music will be written about. Ultimately what I’m trying to say is that there will be NO BROSTEP. The site will always be a niche site and for people who are interested in the softer chiller side of electronic music.

I recently started a Turntable.fm room, glitch / chill dubstep / IDM. The purpose of the room was to create a room where I could create a place to listen/play music that I love and can sit back and listen to at work. We have a great following already and it continues to grow. The reason for this is due to the fact that we are extremely picky and have no problem with trolling the crap out of heavy dubstep. The room is designed to follow a specific format.

I have no problem pushing this specific sound. This does not mean that it’s all I support but in the current state of dubstep and electronic music we have people like Skrillex introducing the masses into electronic music. My goal is to create different mediums such as Afromonk.com, Turntable.fm room, mixes, etc… that promote a sexier side to electronic music. The influx of people interested in electronic music is great but there’s too many websites/blogs that push things due to the fact that they are popular or fit a generic genre. We’ve seen a rise in some massive websites overnight but catering specific to this sound Skrillex, Bassnectar, Nero, Flux Pavilion, etc… It’s not that these producers don’t have diversity but it’s more of the fact that people are constantly promoting specific major artist and sound.

I had a talk with my talented new writers Ed and Tara about this and let them know that Afromonk.com will continue to push a softer chiller side to electronic music. We encourage you to send us e-mails about anything new you hear about that fits to a setting where you’re lightning one up and just want to take in the music. It doesn’t even have to be electronic music per say but have a lounge chill feel to it. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy trip-hop and wish there would be more music created in that realm vs aggressive bass sounds that have become so extreme.

For the love of God realize that this website will not promote or post anything that resembles BROSTEP. If you can’t close your eyes and relax while listening to the music chances are we won’t consider. CHILL SEXY MUSIC PLZ.

Thank you for all the support over the years.

I’m sorry if any of you take this post as something negative but understand there are thousands of dubstep blogs out there now that post the heaviest filthiest sounds out there. This site is designed to be a contrast to this trend of music.
Please send any music you feel that fits into our goal to Demos@afromonk.com.

- JM

I have been known to be quite the advocate of anti-Brostep. Recently I was interviewed by a local music blog here in Dallas and was asked if I were to ever play Rusko and my thoughts on the whole brostep thing. The response in the online text clearly says No I’ll never play it. I want to clear things up on that. I’ll never play Rusko because it generally is music most people have heard. Why play a Rusko track if everyone in the crowd has probably heard it and every other DJ rinse the crap out of the tune. If Rusko wants to send me some dubs then sure I’ll consider it when I do want to take it to a hype level.

I never had anything against the guy more so that I had something against the DJ and people who would play Brostep ALL through their set. It’s as if going out was a competition to see who could play the dirtiest set in the night. Yeah sure crowds love to get wild and go crazy. He even describes that the music isn’t really heavy metal which I referenced in my interview as well yet there are guys like Borgore who are saying fuck it why not throw some metal into a set and break the club out into a pit. Yeah sure it’s fun but please when every DJ is doing that all night it’s a bit aggravating.

When I do actually go out to a bar/club it’s for the music and there use to be a time where dubstep didn’t mean brostep and their wasn’t such an emphasis on melting peoples faces off. I cringe every time I hear “melt face” in some sort of way. Variety is key. My only concern is how this take on playing more melodic stuff is a major trend. It’s as if melodic is the word of the time now just as deep was for awhile. Even in a recent interview I saw Datsik do with the homies in Seattle, Splatinum, said how he is starting to do a lot more stuff with melodies and making it more ‘melodic’. Don’t be a cop out now and only play melodic stuff or deep stuff. Give the journey of music different landscapes. Hell throw in a little ghetto crunk in there sometimes to ha.

Much respect to Rusko for this even though it seems like it’s a bit overdue haha but we all knew that even one of the Brostep kings couldn’t possibly be that bro. Despite being one of the kings of Brostep the issue is what he and the sound has amassed in the American DJs who do this all the time.

I’ve been following the music called dubstep for quite some time now. I’ll be frank with you, I’m nobody. I’m just observing what I see and telling you how I personally feel. This is from someone who has been listening to the music, going to shows for the past 3-4 years, and ultimately my take on what’s going on right now.

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.

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.

March 13th Glitch.fm Hijack – Late Night Dubstep Session – Old & New Dubstep Mix

March 9th Glitch.fm Monday Night Show – Liturgy of the Hours – Afro Monk

Febuary 22nd Glitch.fm Monday Night Show – Liturgy of the Hours – Afro Monk

Here are links to some of my most recent mixes that I’ve recorded for Glitch.fm.
I’ll have Munkz mixes uploaded soon. We still need quite a bit of practice.
Been running into some serious hardware problems lately but should be sorted this Monday.
The two of us have been on a rut lately but things are coming together.
Our event Slippery is on March 27th during WMC and plan to rock it!!

Constructive criticism is appreciated. Been playing tons of old dubstep tunes.
Tonight during that hijack I wanted some practice with dubstep since DJing a party this up coming Saturday. Going to play a little of everything from the beginning stages of dubstep to the brostep of today. Should be a good time. Maybe I’ll stream some of it.

Thanks for checking out some of the mixes =)