It happened again, this being about the fourth time in as many months. I was on my side hustle driving ride share to help ends to meet.
The woman that I picked up was a bit more conversational than the typical rider. Even more unusual, she immediately launched into asking my age. Needless to say, I was taken a bit off guard.
After I (sorta) answered her question, she called me ‘Zaddy‘.
Yep, this has happened a lot over the past year actually. The most ironic part of this is that physically, I am not in that good of shape of late. In the midst of this pandemic, I have done my fair share of sitting on my ass and binge-watching Netflix. So this person’s observation did not match my self view.
I was (and am) grateful for this. It disrupted a rut I have been in for the last half of 2020.
And to remind myself from falling back into that rut, I made this remix as a reminder. I have slowly been ramping up working out again despite the cold and despite staying away from gyms to reduce Covid-19 exposure.
Yep, I have moved Stay House (again). Hopefully, this will be the last time for as long as we are being affected by this pandemic, the reason I started so much live streaming in the first place.
Mixcloud provided a nice home. It will remain my home for pre-recorded mixes as it is still the best place on the net where the copyright licensing is proper. Take downs were happening on Facebook and Instagram in the middle of live streams. Thus the move to Mixcloud for those performances.
But after some changes that happened on the primarily gaming platform of Twitch permitting DJs range without less take-downs, I decided again to move again. After a test broadcast, it seems we are in for some serious plusses.
The video part of the stream was much more stable and the audio quality was also impressively better. The first was expected. The second was not.
I know. I’ve been too quiet. For those who are interested, it’s a short-long story to be discussed another time.
However, some of it has been productive. North East Regional has been set for release on Jan 4th, 2021.
Associated with the release is a line of graphic t-shirts that I designed. These are available to members of the So So Freshclub at my mGrooves Musiclabel website and social media channels.
There are 4 tracks on the North East Regional EP. I went down the rabbit hole into Tech House and Techno styles in this set of tunes.
For the design of the graphic for the gear, I altered a map of Amtrak’s north east regional route map with the name of the first track I was inspired to make super-imposed over top.
Take a look at the designs. Give the tunes a spin. Join So So Fresh at the level most comfortable for you! We are going to kick off 2021 with purpose!
I haven’t said anything since the pandemic reached the United States, but I will say it now. I miss deejaying in front of people.
I have tried to be a good sport about it. In all honesty, playing in a studio or room is just a flashback to a deejay’s beginnings. Also in all honesty, it’s old–and boring.
Stylo, Jenny, and Jeffrey at Butter March 30 2019.
How I long for a return to those last Saturdays of the month of the last few years; the excitement, the anticipation, the nervousness. Yes, even after many years of being a DJ and the honor of doing some large stages like the gallery opening for Art Whino in their 1st space in Old Town Alexandria or Future Classic shows as a part of the Winter Music Conference in Miami Beach, I still get nervous before every show.
Every show I am consumed with the emotion of wanting to putting the best forward. I know you want to have a good time. I want you to have a good time too. I want to revel in the afterglow, watching all of you file out of the space laughing and smiling.
This is especially sweet when the show is before a group of people who don’t quite know what to expect, like the crowd at the patio bar Mezcalero in Long Beach, or the way a random group of graduate students mixed with Metal or Punk Rock heads pour upstairs at Ottobar for Butter. The transformation from trepidation to celebration is nothing but sublime.
Don’t get me wrong! I love the regulars too. It’s just a different type of love! They roll in and help get the party started with no prompting. They are also very gracious in explaining how they were looking forward to the night all week. I still blush in gratitude every time this happens.
So yeah, this pandemic is old. Boring. And it’s a huge steaming turd.
Yet, I will persevere. I am hoping you will too. Butter, or something like it will return. I will return to the decks in a live capacity when we all can do so in optimum safety.
