It is such a pleasure to be back in Amsterdam for more than just the obvious reasons. I had the opportunity to play here several times last year, all due to the amazing people behind Fatform, an independent festival of art and music.

There are no corporate sponsors for Fatform. Almost all the artist that participate have been more or less living on site for the past few weeks, creating site specific pieces and installations and generally converting a 3,000 cubic meter parking garage and office space into one of the biggest exhibition spaces in all of Holland, for the duration of the show.

This year there are 55 contemporary Dutch and international artists participating from as far away as Japan and South Africa, making this installment of Fatform quite possibly the biggest art expo to take place in the Netherlands this year. In addition to the visual arts, an entire lineup of live music and dj sets is programmed for the opening party tomorrow, of which I am lucky enough to receive the closing time slot. It should be epic!

I attended my first Fatform fest last year (their second festival all together) and really appreciated the community vibe that permeates this show. It was important for me to come early again this year to meet the artists and lend a hand in the creation of the project. The vibe of the site is one of a highly dynamic artist commune, with volunteers preparing meals each day for the entire crew and days of hard work being celebrated in the evenings with cold beers, music and friendly conversation on the roof top, all while enjoying the sunset over the skyline of Amsterdam's Bijlmer neighborhood. Since I arrived here Tuesday, the transformation I have witnessed is stunning. Everything is about in place for tomorrow's opening party, Present Forever. Doors open at mid-day and I'm due to go on around 8PM on the roof deck of the structure. There will be an after-hours I'll be playing as well to keep the good vibes going into the night. If you happen to be in Amsterdam, come out and see what's going on in the Bijlmer!

Fatform Facebook Page
Official Site

[more behind the scenes photos after the break]

I've been meaning to write about how amazing it was to be a part of the CHIC show last Thursday at the Galway Arts Festival in Ireland but my travels have prevented me until now. Now that I have a minute, one week later, it all seems like a hazy dream.

CHIC took the stage playing their first record and a personal fave of mine, "Everybody Dance", and the tunes didn't stop for the next hour and a half. The eclectic crowd was groovin' from jump go and the events big top venu took the form of a sweaty disco party as opposed to an Irish arts festival. The man that's produced tracks for everyone from Madonna to Daft Punk didn't let the crowd down as he and his stellar backing band tore through versions of "I Want Your Love" and, my personal favorite song of all time, "Thinking of You", written for Sister Sledge.

After the show I got to spend a bit of timing chatting with Niles and the band and they could not have been cooler. I told him what his tunes mean to me and how much I love the uplifting, unifying vibe of everything he produced and dude gave me a big hug. It was a special moment.

For the after party, we moved across the river to the Festival Club where we could look back to the big top, reflecting in the water, as we kept the party rolling to some deep disco grooves. I had the pleasure of sharing the decks with Ger Reagan and John Daly, two Galway guys that have paid there dues and know their tunes! Respect to all involved for putting on such a great event, including the amazing Laura Rigney and the always on point Scary Mary.

On the ferry to Ireland before the gig, I had some time to get the laptop out and work on some beats. I had a copy of an unreleased track that Nile had produced for Fonzi Thornton that I had been dying to give the edit treatment to. I stripped out most of the vocals and rebuilt it around the groove with a bit of the refrain left in tact. I got to premiere it at the after party, which was cool, and now you can download it here, if you like. The name of the tune is "I'll Change My Game". Enjoy!

Nile Rodgers, the man behind 70's disco supergroup Chic and producer of countless classics for artists such as Sister Sledge and David Bowie is a personal musical hero of mine. Tonight I have the honor of djing the after party for his concert here in Galway, Ireland! I can't tell you how excited I am to play this gig and, hopefully, get a chance to meet the man himself. I've got a serious set planned that pays tribute the man and other tunes of his era

Chic are in town as part of the Galway Arts Festival and their show under the big top tent kicks off around 8PM with opening act, Nouvelle Vague. If you are on the Emerald Isle and not already planning to come to this show, sort it out and get down there! People are still talking about Chic's performance at the Electric Picnic several years back and you won't want to miss this opportunity!

I am excited to announce I have a new, two track EP out today available exclusively through Juno! The style of both tracks is pushing that future Go-Go sound being championed by some DC area producers such as All Good Funk Alliance. In fact, the track is out on Rusty Belicek from AGFA's label, BIBB.

I originally put the B-side (Holy Ghost) together for a gig I had in DC, paying tribute to the town's musical heritage. Rusty came across it online and asked me to put together one more track in a similar style so they could release it (Don't Touch That). Little did I know at the time, he and a few other producers were working in a similar vain, revamping DC area go-go grooves with added synths and fattened up baselines. And thus a new genre is born.

This is a bit of a departure from my usual steeze but I've always loved that mad go-go syncopated percusion and have wanted to do a project like this for a while. Listen to the ep below and check out other tracks being done in a future go-go stylee on this blog!

I had a great time playing in London last Saturday with an old mate from San Francisco, Stuart Partridge, and new mate, Patrick Foley, from NICE DJs INC. Special thanks to the bar staff for letting the reunion cary on a bit later than planned and much love to the S.F. mates in attendance... Mickey Blue Eyes, Jakey, Marisa and Charlotte, formerly of Om Records!

My set started off with an update on a couple classics, courtesy of the Pied Piper crew, a bit of disco and progressed into some good old funky house music. There are more than a couple classics here that remind me of my days (and nights) in San Francisco. Stream the mix via mixcloud below or just go ahead and download the whole affair via mediafire. Enjoy!

track listing >>
Talking Heads - Burning Down The House (A Pied Piper Remix)
Stevie Wonder - Superstition (Pied Piper Pure Dubhouse Mix)
The Metaphysical - Whole Bit
Ghost Of Venice - Disco Love Affair
Moodyman - I Can't Kick This Feeling WHen It Hits
Tal M Klein - Redlight
6th Borough Project - Iznae (Baba Black Edit)
Liberty City - Some Lovin
Papermusic - Downtime
Recloose - Dust (Sine Qua Non Re-Dust)
Boris Dlugosch - Keep Pushin'
Todd Terje - Ragysh (Blondish's Moloko Edit)
Butch - Big Futt
Andhim - Extragold
Format:B - Gospel (Super Flu's Antichrist Mix)
Cheek - Venus (Sunshine People)
Superhuman Happiness & Cults - Um Canto De Afoxe Para O Bloco De Ile (Juan MacLean Remix)
Nuyorican Soul feat. India - Runaway (Mongoloids In Space Mix)
Dj Sneak - Yo Number One
Ego Valente - L.O.V.E.
Phil Weeks - Brain Damage
NTFO - Adjective feat. Gabby (Private Mix)
Wagon Cookin - Come Into The Light (Chus & Ceballos Dub)
Kenny Brian & Dj Xaero - Guiro Pao
Joey Negro feat. Taka Boom - Can't Get High Without U (Philly World Mix)
Raze - Break 4 Love (Sine Qua Non Edit)

I'm very excited to be playing in London again this Saturday! I'll down at Honey & Venom, just off the Tooting Beck tube stop, to play the night hosted by Nice Djs INC. I'll be joined on the decks by former San Francisco resident, former manager of Tweekin' Records and old friend, Stuart Partridge. Expect a heavy dose of deep and funk house grooves all night long!

I'm hoping to see a lot of old friends come out for this gig... people I know from San Francisco, Rio de Janeiro and yes, even London! Come on down, let's get drunk and have a boogie!

Check out this mix from my man, Stuart, to get you in the mood!

Ireland, you've been fekin' amazing but it's almost time to hit the road again. Much love and thanks to all the people who have made this visit so wonderful!

If you are in London, come down and see me this Saturday. I'll be at Honey & Venom with djs Stuart (Tweekin) and Uncle G. House music all night long! Stay tuned for more info.

This week, the year long sailing event known as the Volvo Ocean Race concludes here in Galway, Ireland. The town is expecting almost a million people to flood into town for a weeklong celebration. Each day this week is dedicated to a different country that was a port of call during the race. Today is Brazil Day and I will be helping to commemorate it by djing the stage by the sea in the Salt Hill Village neighborhood. The area has been draped in green and yellow and a replica of Cristo Redentor has been erected on top a building by the sea. The air will be filled today with the sounds of samba, capoeira, axe and whatever I decide to play when I go on at 7PM. If you're in town, come out and celebrate! Viva Brazil!