First Big Break

I can't begin to describe how blessed I feel right now.

Just three short years ago, my career as a professional DJ began. This was the point when I started getting paid for gigs. I had only touched a mixer for the first time, a year before.

After tonight, I've played or headlined at every single club in Vancouver that I enjoyed going to. The Lotus, The Cecil, Fortune Sound Club, and 560 Nightclub.

Tonight will be my debut at Ginger SixtyTwo, and the surprise to me was that I'll be playing the headlining slot at 12:30am-close. Ginger is in the top 3 best clubs of Vancouver IMO, so this is a HUGE honour.

I try my best not to toot my own horn, but it's almost surreal. Knowing my place in this industry but standing up for myself, has gotten me much higher up the ladder, than demanding for it and sabotaging others ever would.

I walk my own path, carving it out of fresh and original terrain. It may seem easy because it's happening so quickly, but this is one of the toughest uphill battles that I choose to continually face. Thank you for reading, for listening and supporting my dream!



For Real,

Trios

Jimmy Bell Exclusive Interview

The first time I met Jimmy Bell was in Cabo, Mexico during a festival in the Spring of 2011. The professionalism he displayed under extreme pressure, made him stand out from most of the other talent and management involved.

I can honestly say that interviewing Jimmy has taught me a lot, and given me an inside look in the mind of one who is on the cusp of breaking through. I hope it does for you too.

Jimmy doesn't say much about himself, because his hard work speaks for itself. I think that after reading this, even someone who is not musically inclined, would be inspired to chase their dreams. Just read on to see what he's already accomplished so far!



: Ok first off, what kind of projects are you working on right now? Ones that you're allowed to talk about at least.

: I am currently working with a few international record labels at the minute, remixing and working on original productions. I recently collaborated with some producers which came out on Hed Kandi, and our last big release was with Warner brothers in February this year which did really well.

I have been in the studio most of the summer preparing for the end of 2012 and 2013. I'm also looking forward to performing again for the Amsterdam Dance Event in Holland during October, a big festival in Mexico, and of course having 3 dates this summer with Frisko and Pukka Up (London) playing at Space in Ibiza.


: When you first decided to be a DJ (how long ago?), did you think you'd be where you are now?


: I first learned about dance music from my brother. I was around 14 or 15, which was 17 - 18 years ago...wow! And I worked for a year to buy my first set of Technics 1210 turntables! They have proven to have been a very good investment for me.

I always knew I had a good talent regarding electronic music, and hoped it would take me around the world, doing something I love.


: What was the biggest challenge you've faced to get where you are now?



: The biggest challenge is believing in yourself and taking risks. Sometimes taking risks to follow your dreams are scary. But I believe if you really want to achieve something, you have to gain experience and work hard.

I actually don’t really like flying that much, so I overcome that by thinking about the bigger picture. Also when travelling to different countries, you have to adapt sometimes musically, which can be challenging. But I have learned from experience and am well prepared for most situations.


: What kind of advice would you give to your younger self?


: I would teach myself to embrace technology. It’s come a long way regarding DJ'ing and producing over the course of my DJ career.


: In a parallel universe, what would you be doing for a living?


: I would actually love to become a Chef. I love cooking for friends, and think im getting pretty good at it. I find I’m most productive when German techno is playing in the background.


: What is your 1 year goal, and 5 year goal?



: My one year goal is to have a few more big releases under my belt and continue making music I love.

I aim to travel and perform in the USA as well as touring Europe, hosting events and performing. I also want to help expand the Frisko Brand; with close friends whom I have met over the years travelling and performing. Together I want to teach children about music in DJ Schools, and giving back something to the community. A DJ school sounds like the next step for me.

Replay Value

Why are we so fascinated, with always having what's new? No wonder why a lot of the old schoolers are bitter. We are being taught to only value what's new, and the words "Oh man, that song is so old" is actually a thing.

All music, if it comes from the heart, is timeless. Music is the sonic expression of human emotions, and we've pretty much felt the same emotions since the dawn of man.

After listening to "today's hits," it's clear that most current music is lacking the content and depth that it used to have. "Let's get drunk and hook up!" is not very inspirational, but it sure markets well to drunk singles at the club (and even not so single).

Before the times of complete corporate sovereignty, all artists had significant control of the music they wrote and released. There was a message, a journey, a story, a connection.

Music pollution does exist, and the garbage accumulates in our minds.



For Real,

Trios

Endangered Originality

I do not strive to be the best at what's already been done, I strive to do what has never been done.

Water Your Lawn

I'd like to tell you a story of how inspired I was from this past weekend.


Hosting a show on your own can be very nerve wracking, tiring and stressful. Most people don't even think about the amount of work that is put into a party, even on a small scale.

Nevermind the promotions, the Facebook blasts, the invites, the booking of talent/staff, and ALL the things that happen before the show.

I arrived well before the show started, and luckily I had my friend Colin Hargreaves (wicked DJ btw!) to help me lug all the gear, consisting of:

2x sub woofer, 2x top speakers, 2x monitor speakers, lights, and an endless amount of cables. This doesn't even count the DJ gear!

Once everything was in place, it all had to be hooked up. I had only experienced setting up two speakers and one sub max, along with my DJ gear for a show, up until now.

Boy does it get way more complicated, if you add even one more piece of sound gear. One seemingly insignificant electrical error could completely sabotage the whole sound. You could get NO sound even, just from plugging one cable to the wrong input/output/left/right/etc etc.

Long story short, it was finally all ready to go. To be completely honest, it wasn't the best night for people to be going out and partying. Why? It was the first sunny weekend of the summer so everyone was at the beach, it was UFC night that night, so many big shows the night before, and the venue isn't quite located centrally downtown.

This is when the worry started to set in. What if I lose money? What if nobody shows up?

By the end of the night, as I was hauling all the gear back into storage (which took over an hour in itself after the party was done) I realized something.

All this hard work, stress, planning and execution....pays off.

I witnessed my real friends and fans gather to an unlikely place, at an unlikely time to support someone that they truly believed in. And they danced their asses off.

These people didn't need to be reminded twice about the show, they paid the cover, decided they were attending a long time ago, and all this without concern of if the party was gonna be "good." In the end, they all had a good time.

I believe that everyone involved, the DJs and the dancers, were there for the right reasons. This was not a glamorous VIP club party, this was quite the opposite. Results will never be the same, and I'm actually quite happy that they're not.

Because I do this for the music, and the people gather for the music. The night proved sustainable and this Unified Underground Movement, keeps on moving.

Thank you everyone for participating in the show, and everyone who is reading this article. Hopefully this gives you a reason to support your artist friends, because they need to eat too!



For Real,

Trios

Artist or Not

Say this with me:

I am good at what I do. I might be better than many, but there are many more who are better than me. This does not change anything about me.

My value is not dependent on others. I do not need to see others fail, in order to think that I'm doing "OK."

I will take the time to understand who I am, and why I am doing what it is I'm good at.

How willing am I to help others, knowing that I will get absolutely nothing out of it?



For Real,

Trios

Not the Same Banana

A Top 40 DJ's job is to play music that you know, so that you will like it.


An electronic DJ's job is to play music that you don't know, but you'll still like it.

April Showcase: Briser G ( underG )

Join the movement!

Briser G is doing everything he can to help keep the underground scene vibrant and thriving, in this commercially dominated music industry. Whether it's throwing afterhours events with the finest local talent, or joining forces with Systemsound to bring the best out of an outer downtown core nightclub, his underG team is always looking for ways to expand and experiment.

I can't even tell you how good of a DJ he is, you gotta see for yourself! But let's carry on with the interview :)



: What first sparked your love for music?


: Well as you know I'm Mexican, and in my country you can listen to music even in the streets. I grew up listening to banda music, norteno, salsa, and cumbias, then when I was a teenager, the underground rap movement hit my town really hard. Everywhere you went, rap was there. It was in that moment when I felt I wanted to help the music movement with my own touch, and I started creating rap lyrics with a couple of friends. We became MC's but we were incomplete because we didn't have beats.

After a while of looking for that missing person we found DJ 100. That was the first time I saw a DJ in action, but it was different because he just mixed rap & hip hop. There was scratching and cutting, which is totally different mixing than what we do, but still really cool. After that I couldn't stop thinking about DJ'ing, and the rest was history.


: Can you describe the different genres of music you listened to before minimal house?


: It was a little bit of rock, but mostly rap and underground hip hop. When I first got into the electronic movement, I just to listened to indie, electro, house, and techno.


: How was it like when you were a DJ starting out in Vancouver?


: The scene was great, a lot of good music and good vibes from people all around. It was rough just like it is now, but then there were more people with the same dream of DOING IT FOR THE MUSIC, and more people who liked to help each other (and way less jealousy and gossip).


: Who helped you along the way?


: There were a lot of people who helped me along the way, but the people who really marked my career were MR NIMA SAEEDI and Marco Tulio - AKA - SICERON. Siceron helped me by teaching me a lot tricks for mixing and gave me the roots for producing. And Nima, well that guy doesn't need an introduction because we all know who he is. He has been a solid support for me, and I have learned a lot from him. Not just musically, but also how to deal with life inside this circle, that as you know, is like a fire. You gotta be really careful, if not you will end up getting burned.


: Fast forward to now, you are the main dude behind underG Entertainment. How did you end up starting this movement?

: Good one! Well, I started underG because I realized that it's important to have your own goals and projects. Have a look at our blog, where we expose and give you a little more info about some great underground talents. And when I say "underground," I'm not talking just about house or deep house, (because there are a lot of people out there that think that way) but about all the good tunes and dudes who can make their own and singular sound.

Don't get me wrong, I love the deep vibes, and house is a root so there's nothing against it. I just think people should open their ears to new things, and that is the future of underG which is bringing the minimal movement.


: With the loss of the Lotus Sound Lounge, where you were a resident on “Hollywood Fridays,” what are you doing to keep the momentum going with underG?


: Well as sad as it was to see the Lotus close since it was my second home, it has given me the opportunity to change my direction and thoughts into what my real goal is.

I realize that I love DJ'ing, but DJ'ing is not going to give me the money to eat everyday unless you are Richie Hawtin or Ricardo Villalobos. I need to do what the Meatrik's track said, "sit back and relax."

Make tunes, which is the only way to get out. Clear example, Lazy Rich. I'm so proud of that guy because he sets a very good example. Because really, in the end I don't want to just be another DJ who throws parties, you know?

I want to finish my career, leaving part of me in the music industry and in people's ears and hearts. underG is my brand and is going to represent me, and of course we are going to keep doing it real, always beside our partners Systemsound.ca, so stay tuned for new updates.

: If a rookie DJ asked you for advice, what would you tell them?

: Make music, and follow your dreams cause we know everything pays off at the end.




Thank you Briser! Now for the promotional goodies. Here you can play his newest mix set "MNML" and also browse the rest of his music!

Telegram For the City of Vancouver!

Wow, what an amazing couple of years that was! Far from the comforts of my European home and welcomed to an exciting new city and continent; this amazing opportunity to visit/DJ in Vancouver took only one second to decide, and it was the best thing to happen to me!


I recently sat in a pub back home in good old Blighty, and reflected on the friendships and achievements made over such a small period of time. Number one for me had to be winning the VNA 2010 electronic DJ of the year, then spinning a million gigs during the Winter Olympics, opening up for some of the worlds top DJs etc. etc.


But apart from all that, the thing that gets me and makes me smile, is the fact that Vancouver should be so proud to have an amazing community and love for music like it does. Never have I seen a group of close knit friends from all walks of life and jobs been so close, and that is very rare! Vancouver is very lucky to have such people like you who are entusiastic about what they do, and how much time and effort you all put it in creating a party. To me that is the most important thing I will remember about my time here.


I asked Justin Trinidad ( Fucking good DJ ps ;) ) to write this note as a thank you to all whom I have worked with and for. Being here I had the luxury of working at Vancouver's top clubs for Alan @ Barcelona and Barry @ Ginger 62 to name a few, but this would never have happened without the break I got from Joe Luciak at the Cecil :). Good old days...long live the Cecil!


Apart from its top clubs I appreciated the time I spent playing every Wednesday for Ray, Tyscon and Cassidy @ Sip lounge ( the best lounge in the city :) ). These venues all over town would be nothing without its DJs and bar stars; you all made me feel welcome and one of your own.

Big loves to Jeff Campbell, Jeff Daniels, Skla, Hollis, Shepps, Justin T., Omega, Eric Carver, Meesh, C. Alverez, Slip, JTJ, Joel Armstrong, David V., Mike Marino, Lazy Rich, Dimitri, Those Twins, Ali Sani, Aki, Sage, Dylan G, Mikas, Sebastian V B, Ben Colmen, Mike Grefner, Timeline, Browner, Fullhouse, Antonia, All good, Tyson V, Cashflow, Sean B, JT Tush, Tyler M, Kraig D, Noel Diggs, and Myles Bigelow.


And my boys the Brobots: Mike the Italian, Graham Morley, Johhny Awesome & Nicky Rage. Last but not least my Granvillain Dre Morel!


Vancouver's music scene is rich with amazing producers and live perfomers Destineak ( brilliant ), Dirty Radio! ( epic ), and my muse/inspiration the beautiful IMU.... this place is going forward!!!!

I'm sorry for the long winded thank you, just needed to say my part :). So again thanks to all the DJs, Producers, promoters ( Savio, Lewis, Jenn , Alvaro, Reza, Jessie Lawrie, Hoff, Ruby, Nadar press play, Javi, Roy & Juliet, Azim V, Sheryl Smash, Adam Mah, Hempe, Cory B, Randy the Boat, Ian Ross, Matt daddy cool, The Islanders: Jess Minty & Mykle, Rob B & Sabine lee & Alan Fair ) clubbers, staff, gogo girls, doormen, bar stars, strippers ;) and everyone who came to see me spin in my second home. Love you forever!


I'll be seeing you soon ;)

BOOM

JVG

Quality Control

CD DJ: "For every 200 tracks I listen to, 30 of them sound good the first time.


Of those 30, about 20 of them are burned onto cd's.


Of those 20 on cd's, only 10 of them I'll actually end up playing."




Vinyl DJ: "For every hour I spend at the record shop, I'll find one, or two records if I'm lucky.


I'll pay up to $40 for a record with 4 tracks on it.


Then only play one of those tracks."

February Showcase: TJ Hooker

Tom Jeffrey stands at the frontline of this city's Underground movement, all the while remaining behind the scenes. He doesn't just play sick underground music, he throws sick underground parties. The head honcho of Subversive Events doesn't mess around, never compromising quality for fast results and always keeping it real. We have the pleasure now to be enlightened on the dark side of the scene, and with TJ's 5+ years activity, we can understand why the Underground is sometimes lacking in number, but always worthy of our support.


: So TJ, knowing your significant role in the underground scene, can you describe to us what the word “underground” means to you?

: It’s sad, that word has been chucked around by people so much lately in Vancouver, that it has really kind of diluted that word and its rep. Funny thing is you never see those people coming out and supporting the true underground parties that happen here. It makes me even wonder if they want to contribute to the scene. I’m in this to spread good music and support artists, not to win awards, or be a star.

But it goes way beyond the style of music I like or play. It’s about fighting this way of life that people get so caught up in; being told what to wear, what to listen to, how to act, and all the negativity that comes with it. Because of this, most people seldom get a chance to think for themselves. Let’s show them that there is more to life!

: You’ve got a few years in this industry under your belt, so things must be so much different now than when you started. What are some of the differences you have observed from then and now?

: Bob Dylan wrote a wicked tune called “The times they are a changin’”. They always do, and it’s a very different scene now than when I got serious about playing records. I saw big changes around 2004, in fact the reason I started to DJ was because I saw the music I love get steam rolled by garbage, the quality level of everything go down, and the true art of a real Disc Jockey lost. Most of the fun people stopped coming out, and the people who did come out, went for all the wrong reasons.

Don’t get me wrong, there is still a lot of positive stuff going on here, and I feel that people are coming to realize all of this.

I remember seeing guys like Jay Tripwire, playing vinyl on 4 turntables, and DJ Ali mixing through whole tracks. Nowadays, people hide behind their laptops, and use the auto sync button while playing low quality mp3; that’s an insult to our intelligence! You use to have to be a really talented artist to play out in Vancouver. Now it’s all about how many people you can get on the guest list or in the club before 11:00, is that really the DJ’s job? No. That’s not what it should be about. The promoters I knew worked hard and gave a shit about music, and quality. That’s how I promote.

: Who were the industry heavyweights in your rookie days?

: Tyler Stadius, Vernon Douglas, Jay Tripwire, Mike McSuede, Mathew Jonson, were the ones that were important to me.

: Did you have any mentors who helped you significantly along the way?

: If it wasn't for Tom Thomas, and Jay Tripwire, I wouldn't be a DJ. Both of them opened the door when I was trying to get my foot in it. Scott W. is a huge inspiration for me, and in my opinion the definition of a real underground DJ.

: What would you say was the biggest challenge you’ve had to face in your career?

: Dealing with all the politics. I just want to play records, throw cool parties and give people a chance to experience real music.

: You are also an expert in sound equipment. How did you branch out in that direction; did you feel it was inevitable?

: I guess just seeing the way that poor sound systems and equipment can ruin a good thing. I’m not a certified sound tech, so I wouldn't say I’m an expert. However, I do read a lot and am extremely meticulous about having good sounding gear, because I believe that people deserve it. The human ear is capable of hearing twenty millionths of a second, and when people cheap out, or neglect the quality of sound (whether it’s the house rig, monitors, or the DJ’s choice of audio format), it’s insulting to the music lovers.


: By the way, Subversive has been throwing sick parties and bringing in solid names. can you share with us this vision of yours?

: Our goal is to open the minds of people through music. We really wanted to give Vancouver a chance to see some really cool acts; to come to a party that has all kinds of extra stuff, to feel special, because they are. It’s an amazing feeling when you see someone on the dance floor lost in their own little word. Music changes lives. It’s saved mine, that’s for sure.

Stay tuned, we have Luke Hess, Rick Wade, Kink, Maetrik, Carlo Lio and more for you guys.

: Name three artists that you would book if none of them were too expensive

: Jeff Mills, Radio Slave, Trent Reznor.

: What were some lessons that you had to learn the hard way in your career?

: I stopped playing “just any” gigs offered to me. A year or two ago, a club promoter asked me to play more “commercial.” I realized that I should be more selective where I DJ and who I work with. I also realized that good friends are hard to find, and it’s important to not let business compromise that.

: When it comes to expanding your network, what has worked best for you?

: I try and work with people I believe in, and who are in it for the right reasons. Working hard and raising the bar I believe is what’s helped me big time.




Check out the [Subversive] website for all the latest news and upcoming show dates. They bring down some serious headliners, for real!

Also find live mixes from the shows right [HERE]