It is with a heavy heart I write this today, having woke up this morning to find an email from a dear friend in San Francisco informing me of Scott's passing.

Where it not for the music of Scott Hardkiss and is soul brothers, Robbie and Gavin, I may never have moved to San Francisco and I have no doubt my life would be vey different.

Like many young ravers growing up on the East Coat in the early 90's, the music of the Hardkiss Brothers touched me on a profound level. Whenever they came to town, we were there, knowing in our hearts the night would be magical. His early works under the name God Within,  "Rain Cry" and "The Poenix", helped provide the soundtrack to our halcyon days and nights.

Long before the viral power of the internet, there were rumors circulating of this unreleased remix of almost mythical proportions; the Hardkiss Remix of Elton John's "Rocket Man". When I finally heard it played by Scott at a rave held in an abandoned North Carolina church around five in the morning with the sun streaming through the stained glass window's, it truly felt like a religious experience, impossible to really explain unless you were there. Years later, I would find myself in the Hardkiss office in San Francisco holding a copy of the original DAT tape of that remix. But that would happen later.

For me and many I knew, the psychedelic house sounds of the Hardkiss Brothers defined what we knew to be happening on the other side of the country during those years and I longed to be a part of it. We played, studied and cherished those early records as if they were audio dispatches from a different, more beautiful planet. I can honestly say the album, "Delusions of Grandeur", changed my life.

I first met Scott personally at a party he played at the Millennium Center in Greensboro, North Carolina around 1995. I was 18 or 19 years old and found myself upstairs in the artist dressing rooms, face to face with someone I idolized. I remember his kindness as we spoke and his willingness to record a promo spot for my college radio show. After the party ended, I replayed that casette tape the whole way home, listening to the words on it… "Shalom. This is Scott Hardkiss from San Francisco, California and you are listening to Future Listening with Tee Cardaci."

Through that radio show, I forged a relationship with Niven Bonar, the label head at Hardkiss and close friend of the boys. I eagerly awaited the newest promos he would send me from the West Coast and,  when a package arrived one day containing a stack of their newest single, "Acid Funk", I was ecstatic. I brought them out to our Fresh party that week, happily distributing copies to friends, and playing every mix on the record at our party that night. I also looked forward to our conversations where I would report back to him with my feedback and which songs I was charting that week. But mostly I looked forward to these conversations because it was small chance to learn more about what was going on out in San Francisco in those heady days. I'll always remember the one conversation we had in 1996 that ended with an offer to come to San Francisco to intern for their label. Their was no money involved but that hardly mattered. I had been given the opportunity, or at least a good excuse to tell my parents, to move to San Francisco were I hoped to learn from those guys whose music so inspired me. A couple months later I would be on the other side of the country, having a drink with Scott and the boys, celebrating Gavin's bachelor party in Scott's San Francisco loft. It was all so surreal to me.

Although I never had the chance to know Scott as well as I would get to know Robbie,  Gavin and the other Hardkiss family members; Niven, Wade, Charlotte and the band of merry pranksters that staffed their office, his influence on the path my life took after hearing his music was immeasurable and I am forever grateful.

It is with great sadness but eternal love that I send out my deepest condolences today to all in the extended Hardiss and Sunburn family and to all who new Scott or were touched by his music. Let us celebrate the fact that we had him in our lives and let his spirit live on through his music. Rest in peace, mate, and thank you for all the light you helped let into my life.

As part of the Wednesday Night Dj Happy Hour and to help celebrate the soft launch of Strategic Sounds Rio, I'll be playing some tunes tonight with Mr. Mary Byker, current front man of legendary 90's indie Brit band, 
Pop Will Eat Itself!

Come through and sample the selection of pan-asian delicacies and get yourself a Jarra of one of their delicious libations as we play the grooves to ease you over the mid-week hump!

I'm very excited to announce the launch of a new business venture, Strategic Sounds Rio!

We are a boutique marketing consultancy firm specializing in custom tailored solutions for our clients to develop, promote and enhance their brand through the unique powers of music.

Through this venture, I'll be able to utilize my diverse skill set in marketing and promotions as well years spent working in nightlife and entertainment. We'll be working with domestic and international brands to help promote their product through innovative campaigns focused around music an nightlife culture. As the world begins to look to Rio ahead of the World Cup and the Olympics, we'll be ready to help these brands take center stage!

Please take a moment to view the new site and, if you wouldn't mind, give us a 'like' on facebook by clicking the link at the bottom of the home page!

I'll be playing some tunes tonight (March 14) down at the Gringo Cafe in Ipanema so I thought I'd offer up a free download of a new remix of mine to help set the mood!

A remix of the future classic, Cartão Postal (Post Card in English), by the amazing Soul Jazz Orchestra from their new album Solidarity out now on Strut! The Sine Qua Non Só Alegria (Only Happiness) remix extends the original and punches it up for the dance floor, adding some serious disco percussion to drive the track as well as some tamborim drumming to spice things up even more. If you enjoy the remix, please take the time to check out the original as well as the rest of the new album by Soul Jazz Orchestra!

Hope to see you tonight, starting at 7pm, at Gringo Cafe for some post-praia disco, deep & house and funk vibrations!

Gringo Cafe
Barao Da Torre 240, Ipanema, BR.

I finally got around to uploading my set from the epic RUN VDG carnaval party at Alto Vidigal here in Rio de Janeiro! This is one of my favorite places to play in the whole world...the vibe, the people and that VIEW! When the sun comes up over the Atlantic ocean, spilling it's purple and orange hues over Leblon and Ipanema beach, there is no better place to be in the world!

The set features deep, blissed-out house vibes....some more spacey, some more chunky, swirling melodies, pianos and even some pretty vocals. Enjoy the set and spread the music, spread the love!

*UPDATE* you can now download the whole set here!