August Top 5

1. Rainer Weichhold - Reis (Heartik Remix) – BLUFIN
2. Michael Mareno – Mojito (Original Mix) ACTIVE – INGREDIENT
3. Luca Agnelli – 7 O’clock (Lee Van Dowski Remix) – ETRURIA BEAT
4. Sabrina Carnevale, Sonartek, Francesco Passantino – Don’t Stop (Original Mix) – TRACTOR
5. Darkrow – Let’s Groove (Ronan Portela Remix) – DATAGROOVE

July Top 5

1. Munch – Ankara (Original Mix) – SHE/IT
2. Chus & Ceballos – Afrika (Coyu 10 Years Later Mix) – STEREO
3. Shaun King – Conspiracy (Nima Gorji Remix) – - MICROFREAK
4. Danny Leblack – Das Spigel (Original Mix) BLANCO Y NEGRO
5. Eric Cadillac – Redneck Rumble (Original Mix) – EMPRO

June Top 5

1. Dura – Vibrachi (Original Mix) – AETERNUM
2. Emrah Celik – Combiotic (Joseph Creatura Remix)R – HYTHM ROYAL
3. J. Migri – Now Is The Time (Frank Garcia Remix) – DARKSIDE DIGITAL
4. Gonzalez, Gonzalo, DJ Chus – One Night In Havana (Original Mix) – STEREO
5. DJ Simi – George’s Trap (Original Mix) – KENPO

The Purist, Freaky Flow

Scumfrog @ Pop Nightclub, March 2010

Questions With…A Clubbing Couple

Shaun Proulx – Leading Light
Publisher, GayGuideToronto.com/Host: The Shaun Proulx Show / 103.9 PROUD FM, 3-7 weekdays/Contributor and Columnist: The Globe & Mail / Xtra!
Photos: Kenny Lee
By: Miss Raquel

You were in finance back in the day and left to delve into your creative side. That’s quite the switch of industries. What made you jump the financial fence?

“That was about being honest with me and taking a plunge without knowing exactly what I was leaping into. Finance satisfied me in my 20’s because it sounded good and looked good and I made good money, especially for a guy who ultimately hates math.

But I knew I loved being creative and was good at it and didn’t want to ever look back having never tried. As much as doing so gave me heart palpitations – giving up a solid reliable income, selling my house, reinventing myself – it was also very liberating and proof to me to always being true to yourself.”

You’re host of your own radio show on PROUD FM. How is it doing radio? And how’s the view you get in the studio while doing your show?
What’s the most laughable thing about being a radio host?

“I love radio – more than I thought I would. I originally saw PROUD FM as an opportunity to expand on the writing I’ve done over the years, to spotlight queer issues and have the conversations I believe are worth having. There aren’t many queer people in the world who get the opportunity of a platform like this, so I feel lucky. The show is creative and a thousand laughs a day and I get to meet and chat with fascinating people. Plus, Mark Wigmore, who co-hosts with me and produces the show is a blast to work with, a true straight guy in all ways. He’s a good sport, has uber-thick skin and its fun to be in our fishbowl of a studio four hours every day.”

“As for the view, the PROUD FM studio at Church & Wellesley streets overlooks the KFC and the alley adjoining it, so think lots of crack deals, some BJs, and two summers ago I watched a stoned chick in a wheelchair lift herself ever so slightly up off her seat, pull her pants off and piss onto the KFC parking lot during rush hour – while having conniptions about it on-air. I thought I was going to wet my own pants.”

You’ve been able to cross the boundaries; from the conservative side such as writing in the Globe and Mail (Globe Style and Globe Toronto) to writing provocative articles on such topics as crystal meth to HIV. Not many writers get this opportunity. How have you been able to do this? Or did it just happen to go with this way for you?

“I’ve always followed one rule with everything I do in my career which is to be authentic. When I pitched myself to PROUD FM I told them I could only promise to be myself on-air, and the same is true of the stuff I write. I just talk about what’s going on, whether it’s fun slice-of-gay-life stories, or something more serious like my private issues with crystal meth. Actually, it was being able to write an authoritative story about meth that got me in the door at the Globe to begin with; friends joke that meth was a career boost for me because that led to tons of professional publicity across various mainstream media in North America. As far as Globe Style, I just started pitching ideas – I love fashion and follow it out of interest anyway, and turn out they like my take on it. It’s the happy accidents that come from that one rule I mentioned I follow!”

You also wear the hat of co-founder and editor for GayGuideToronto.com where you also write the column, “Step into My Parlour” where you do celebrity interviews and your blog, “Loose Lips”. What dirt can you offer on a celebrity? Which one has been the best interview so far? Why?

“Until I interview Madonna and Oprah, my top interview so far is Joan Collins, although I’ve had the chance to talk to other people who most would consider above her stratosphere. But Joan, Madonna and Lady O are my gals, and when I was a teen I was addicted to and obsessed by TV’s Dynasty and Joan Collins as the original superbitch. I had her pics all over my locker, my dad bought me (pointlessly hopeful) the Playboy she appeared in (great article), and I used to write ‘Joan Collins was here’ on all my desks in various classes, to which the kids in those desks after me would write back, ‘Hi, Shaun!’. The year Joan Collins married Peter Holm, that Swedish pop star, a girl in my French class made me a Peter Holm voodoo doll for Christmas. Like, obsessive. So sitting down years later next to Joan Collins when she did that awful play here in Toronto was ludicrous and wonderful and I still have the photo of her and I and my big, shit-eating grin on my desk. As for dirt … she wears a wig.”

What’s been something you have written in “Loose Lips” which hasn’t been true and caused a stir?

“I suspect a lot of what I satirize celebrity-wise isn’t true, hence the disclaimer when you visit my blog. I search the headlines and have a giggle from there, plus report on The Young and the Restless weekly, as this is work that needs to be done. Anything else I write about in Loose Lips, be it a local community bit or sharing behind-the-scenes details from my show is totally true to the best of my knowledge.”

Let’s talk about GLBT. You have several platforms to be able to educate many people on same-sex marriage and HIV/AIDS. How has this been for getting the overall message across? Have you experienced any backlash from any groups, individuals, media, etc…?

“I’m lucky to have these platforms, and I know it. I think messaging we do about queer issues works because it’s never done without a sense of humour or without passion. Especially with straight audiences – it’s educational in a non-threatening way. And when the audience is queer but living in a part of the world where they’re oppressed, I think we demonstrate what can be achieved in terms of queer equality.

As far as backlash goes, I’ve had hate mail and phone calls, such as once when I published a story on Gay Guide Toronto (GGT) by a man who had chosen to get infected with HIV. I published that because I know his story and feelings are less uncommon than we’d think, and that they were worth putting out there, but the phone call at 4 a.m. from someone wishing I ‘got AIDS’ wasn’t fun. When I wrote about my experience using meth in a diary form for Xtra!, I was accused of glamourizing the drug by a few people after it came out. But I’d rather rile people up with what I talk about than put them to sleep.”

You’ve been on stage in Paul Rudnick’s “The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told”, and had the lead in “Die Mutter” and you co-produced “DecAIDS – Anything Is Possible” which was your first try at documentary filmmaking and it won several awards. Any plans to do more in the way of stage or film?
Is so, what can we expect?

“When I was a little boy, my mother was tucking me into bed and asked me for the first time what I wanted to be when I grew up. I told her, ‘An actress.’ She corrected it to the masculine and probably died a little death, but it’s still a deep desire I’ve always had. And what I have done has been really satisfying. But I’m also very satisfied and motivated just to make a living as a creative person – despite what Stephen Harper thinks about art and ordinary Canadians. There are two TV developments on the way but I’m not able to talk about them yet.”

What’s your favourite track you’ve gotten to play on PROUD FM?

“I’ll go with the first song that popped into my head when you asked: ’Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order. It was the perfect song when I was a teen and ranks on my all-time list of favourites to this day. So to sit there spinning it during a show with my name on it is ridiculous.”

Which song made the charts and you don’t understand why?

“Anything sung by Celine Dion. Why don’t we just spoon sugar into our mouths, instead?”

You’ve said to “Follow your bliss.” What’s your bliss?

“Anything that makes me feel mighty real, as Sylvester would sing. The list is long from there.”

What should people never be afraid of?

“Taking a chance on making changes to live a deeply satisfying and joyful life. It’s the whole point.”

By: Miss Raquel

1. What Star69 production from any one of your signed artists you feel best reflects the label?

There are too many to mention as I have so many different styles and I’m constantly changing. As far as my labels’ sound I would have to say Celeda – The Underground (for back then) and any Offer Nissim track (for right now).

2. What is one key element to running a label?

Having lots of experience. After 20 years in this industry you learn a lot and experience is a very key element to success as you’re always learning.

3. What kind of artists/sound do you look for in an artist(s) to be on Star69?

Artists who have substance to their music and the special quality that makes them better than your average artists

4. Your DJ career, your parties and running the label are all connected to complete the Star69/Rauhofer brand. What’s one key obstacle you’ve had to overcome so far?

If you work hard you can do anything u want in life and overcome any obstacles so nothing becomes difficult as long as you believe in yourself

5. Of all your remixes what one is your personal favourite?

Chirstina Aguilera- Beautiful

6. What is your most favourite and least favourite genre under the electronica umbrella?

I can go from any genre to another on any given night I like anything and everything that has quality to it regardless of the ‘genre’

7.Preference, DJing or producing?

They both go hand in hand but I’d have to say DJing

8. Excluding New York and Vienna, if you were to relocate yourself for a new weekly residency in another city abroad, where would you go?

Paris or Los Angeles!

9. Dream gig?

I don’t think a dream gig actually exists because no matter how nice the location or venue is if the crowd isn’t right then it doesn’t really matter… there’s no specific ingredients for a dream gig it just naturally happens as you can never program a perfect night ahead of time

10. If you had to change one thing in your life, what would it be?

Life is supposed to be as it happens so I wouldn’t want to change anything and I have no regrets!

11. Where in the world do you see yourself retiring?

Ask me that question in 30 years ?

12. Who is your inspiration and biggest supporter, excluding your fans?

Madonna…actually. She’s a fan too

13. Other than producing, remixing, and DJing, what three things do you enjoy doing that may surprise most people?

Photography!

14. Most bizarre, interesting or downright weird thing you’ve either experienced or saw while working?

Yoko Ono showing up in my DJ booth at 4am at the Roxy and orgasming on the mic to some tribal beats

15. What can we expect from the “I Love…” series?

I Love Paris is upcoming and is featuring a lot of big hits.

By: Miss Raquel

We met at The Guvernment (Guv) on Easter long weekend in 2000. It was right at the end of the night during the last song, Time to Say Goodbye by Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli. Our friends were talking and we kind of just grabbed each other and started dancing. When the club closed, we all went to one of our classic Sunday morning parking lot parties and chilled for a bit there. Later that evening, we all hooked up at the Comfort Zone and that’s where the first kiss happened. We’ve been together ever since.

Danielle – I was in the Scene for one month…I started out really late. I was from a small town so my weekends consisted of getting hammered and going cow tipping.

Nick – My first “scene” night was January 29^th 2000 and I celebrate my anniversary every year.

To be perfectly honest, we haven’t really encountered any obstacles in the Scene. It’s been the time of our lives.

There was this one promoter who had an interest in Danielle. She turned him down, of course, telling him she was with me and he then threatened to have me kicked out of Guv. He didn’t know that I had built up a great relationship with Charles (owner) by then so that would’ve been a neat trick. Funny enough, this promoter and I later became friends and worked together in a limited capacity.

I think it has to be the same night for both of us. The proposal happened August 17^th 2002 on the Guvernment stage with 2500 clubbers watching. I figured that with all of those people there, she couldn’t say no. Mark Oliver and the TUNE! Posse banner helped to make it perfect. You know, people still talk about that night.

Yes actually. Our best friends Rick and Steph met New Years 2000 I believe. This year they will be getting married. It’s rare to meet people who meet in the Scene and have a lasting relationship. But it does happen! You can find love in the Scene.

Danielle – Besides meeting Nick, it would have to be the wonderful and interesting people I have met. I am very close to a lot of them and those relationships I will always treasure.

Nick – Other than meeting Danielle, I’d have to say that proposal night. It was something else.

Danielle – Ummm…can I say 2 Live Crew at System Soundbar! I got a lap dance from the “Me So Horny Girls” haha.

Nick – People always ask me this question and I can never single one out. I’ve seen to so many incredible shows. Bad Boy Bill at Aria, Carl Cox At Guv 2005….yah so many!

Definitely meeting Paul Oakenfold in the Kool Haus. I wanted to get a picture with him but his manager couldn’t work the damn camera. By the fifth and successful attempt, Oakie was pretty irritated and the scowl on his face was the best picture I could get.

Danielle – Haha yes its true!

Nick – um, yah, amongst other things…What can I say…It was always on a Sunday.

Danielle – I am excited about the new chapter in our lives but I don’t think it will ever be over. However, we have new responsibilities and with that come sacrifice so I don’t get to go out every weekend. Big deal! I’ll still go out for special events and that’s when you usually see everyone anyway.

Nick – I am very excited to be a father. I do still have a duty to perform with the liquid nitrogen system which I operate at the Guvvy so I am still there most Saturdays. I don’t really go out to other parties though. I just do my thing on Saturday night and that’s all I ask for.

By: Miss Raquel

I think that’s really just a by-product of my enthusiasm for the music – I just happen to have made a ton of tracks over the last couple of years, and some have been hits and some haven’t. It’s certainly very gratifying to know that people enjoy a lot of the music I make, and I think I’ve been lucky enough to find a winning formula.

Can’t beat a nice cup of tea to get you started in the mornings, but in terms of music then over the last couple of years my inspiration has been Miles and Wolfgang without a doubt, those guys are unstoppable.

I still have actually yet to hear a DJ that isn’t one of my mates play one of my tracks in a club. Electro is actually not very big in Vancouver right now, so maybe I need to get out a bit more, as I’m sure there are at least one or two DJs playing my tracks.

Back in England there used to be this old rave dance called ‘Big Fish, Little Fish, Cardboard Box’ (look it up on YouTube), and so I used those lyrics in a track I produced called Big Fish, and then that just seemed to be a good name for the label.

Has to be the Lotus Sound Lounge in Vancouver, not necessarily the best sound, or the best equipment, but certainly the most fun to play. Probably one of the friendliest and happiest crowds out there.

As a relatively new artist I would say I’m still in the process of refining my own style. I have dipped my toes in other genres, without a big deal of success, and so I think it’s important to allow people to get a firm grip on exactly what it is you do before taking any really big risks. That being said, I have a few currently unreleased projects that are really going to push the boundaries in terms of what you would expect from me.

The best thing about remixing is it takes all the nasty sound engineering work out of the way and lets you just focus on making a good track. It’s like getting a Lego set and you can just put all the pieces together to make something great, without having to worry about making the pieces themselves.

Is it worth it for an artist to produce a video?

I think for the majority of artists, no, there’s definitely no point in making a video. It takes a certain amount of buzz for a track to break through to the mainstream and even tracks that would make it to no.1 on sites such as Beatport, would flop as mainstream tracks. I think there’s currently a very big gap between the underground and commercial scenes, and I think a lot of artists would like it to stay that way.

I’ve never taken my unfinished wine home, I didn’t’ know we could do that! I’ve actually only played in Toronto once, and it was mental. I played at The Guvernment and then at Comfort Zone, and it was quite an experience, so hopefully I’ll be back there again sometime this year.

Vancouver is kind of a strange one right now, I’m not really sure what’s going on with it – we have some amazing nights there for sure, but the Olympics wasn’t quite the clubbing extravaganza everyone was hoping for, and I think a lot of the smaller promoters lost money, and it feels like it’s struggling a little right now.

The original “Rhymes Delight” by Jayforce was a huge track, and was always a regular in my sets so I jumped on the opportunity to remix it, and I’m really pleased with the way it turned out. Obviously the X-Press 2 remix is a big favourite of mine, that always goes down incredibly well, but the biggest cheer always comes from my remix of Violet by Stonewash and Fagault, which was probably the first track I did that really got me noticed.

Visit Lazy Rich – Myspace l Big Fish Recordings

By: Miss Raquel

1. What are your various monikers and what kind of sound can be heard from each?

I do have a few yes; its fun to stretch and see what can be accomplished if you just put your mind to it.
Jeff Bennett – Tech-house/minimal on labels like: Poker Flat, Treibstoff, Kickin
Eddie Silverton – Lounge/Chillout on labels like: Café Del Mar, Ministry Of Sound, Hed Kandi
Don Imuze – Reggae/dub/roots.

2. From all your 100 singles, which one(s) are your favourite. Why?

Oh boy! Swapping on Poker Flat a few years ago still tickles me when I hear it, also “Strange Items” that was released on James Zabiela´s label Hearing Aid still feels real nice to hear, although I did it as a Detroit track with its nice strings and pads it was instantly recognized in the “Progressive” crowd which still surprises me.
But I have to say that I’m constantly looking into the future and not into the past.

3. Your Eddie Silverton moniker is popular with Canadian Scenesters, where do you get the lounge/downbeat influence from?

I’ve always been very passionate about lounge music so it came very natural for me to start producing it as well to please my inner self, and hopefully others as well.

It’s a great compliment for me production wise to as I can copy production ideas between the genres.

4. You have a heavy Detroit influence, what other city anywhere in the world which you feel exports a unique sound?

That’s a tuff one, for a long time after Detroit I was very influenced by anything from Germany but for the last two years I’ve turned my ears towards the Far East like Russia, Ukraine etc.

They have a totally different cultural background and don’t share the same consistent feed of electronic music as in Europe when growing up. This in return will bring a lot of fresh air into the scene.

5. Of the many venues you’ve played which one has your favourite DJ booth?

My tour in Australia was by far the most exciting and inspiring experience as a total, fantastic country. The Mint in Buenos Aires is an excellent club, Mar del Plata, Fabric in London, Wow! It’s very hard to choose.

6. Kung Fu Dub & Phunctional Loungin are your only labels left of the three you used to own (Azurite, Maskros Music, Phunctional) what do you have planned for 2009/2010?

Both of them have some very nice releases scheduled, on Phunctional Loungin I have an album scheduled by Minus Blue, a fantastic lounge artist, and an album by me as Don Imuze. Plus quite a few singles and remixes as well.

On Kung Fu Dub I will continue my own output but there will also be more releases by other artists, some newcomers but also some well known names.

7. You live in Sweden. What is the scene like there compared to Canada?

As I have yet to visit Canada I can’t really do a fair comparison, but the scene in Sweden has recovered after the massive police raids a few years back where they had formed a “RAVE SQUAD”. Just the name is funny, and the waste of tax money that went into arresting thousands of people getting a 1-3% of positive result on their drug test. This didn’t exactly encourage new promoters and there was a big gap in the scene. But now the scene is back and growing with quite a few new clubs popping up here and there.

8. Words of advice to any upcoming producers?

Listen to others a lot but do your own thing.

Have fun doing it but be very consistent in your approach.

If your production doesn’t sound as good as you’d like, it’s just another step closer to sounding just right.

Just as your parents didn’t give up on you learning to walk, don’t give up your dream because of some setbacks.

Jeff Bennett Links

www.jeffbennett.info
www.eddiesilverton.com

www.myspace.com/kungfudub
www.myspace.com/eddiesilverton

Questions With…James Zabiela, a Pioneer

“So far, Chicago because I get to take long walks and it reminds me of Southampton (UK). There’s tall skyscrapers, it’s like the movies!

(There’s two clubs), Spybar, a smaller venue and Vision, the bigger one.

Experimental. “I feel more experimental (by playing at This is London).”

“Mostly locals go to the clubs. Roots (nightclub) is really cool, it’s medium sized and some of it is outside”

“I was a graphic designer. I did both (DJ and design) until I got signed onto Sasha’s label, Excession. This got gigs for me.”

“It was a risky thing but I quit my job to be a full time DJ.”

“I still enjoy graphic design. I didn’t have a good graphic design job. I did kid’s birthday flyers and Burger King!”

“…There’s technically a lot going on. (It) will continue to fall into different pockets.”

“My first mixed CD I tried to get Pioneer to sponsor me, but got equipment instead. They followed me about and then asked me to do tech displays. They latched onto me.”

“I’ve been to Japan and visited the people who invented the Pioneer CDJ equipment. (Laughs) I’ve even been to their houses!”

“I get to see and use the equipment which has yet to be released. Such as, CDJs and the yet to come out CDJs with video displays!”

“(Laughs) Thank-you, its music first of all. Knowledge of the audience is important. Every audience is different in every city and venue.”

(It’s important keep) “Sticking to your guns! The technical side enables me to create and to be free.”

“Perseverance”, (It was a) step forward in production for me. Gave me motive and took me a long time to get done. “Ladytron” remix is another favourite.”

“Maybe when I’m not DJing and I’ve calmed down a bit. (It) takes a lot to do.”

“Exit Festival because it has castle walls, you see the sunset over the castle! The atmosphere is great!”

“I’d book bands (something different than what goes on now), acts, and performers. I’d book Depeche Mode. Things you wouldn’t normally get.”

“Bladerunner (movie) because it has many layers to it (and It has a) great Progressive House feeling to it, great to look at and feel to it.”

QUESTONS WITH…Fred Everything

By: Miss Raquel

Yes, I love outdoor day events. I played a boat party in Toronto a long time ago and it was a lot of fun.

Just before this tour, I was on tour with the House Of Om, traveling for 2 months, 25 dates with 3 other DJs and a tour manager. That was very interesting and different than any other tours I’ve been on. We got to play this huge party in LA (Electric Daisy Carnival) with 70 000 attendance! My own tour was also nice, got to go to Tel Aviv, Belgium, Tokyo, Switzerland, and Budapest…

Montreal and San Francisco are obvious, as I lived in both. New York was to record with Tortured Soul, Vancouver for Tim Fuller and Hollywood was for N’Dea Davenport who was in town for the Grammy’s. The Tokyo track was something I wrote on the road. I guess it’s a combination of my constant travels and the collaborations with artists from all over.

That’s a tough one. I don’t really have one but it seems that Mercyless was everyone’s favourite on it.

I did a remix of Aly Us “Follow Me” with Olivier Desmet. Defected bought Strictly a few years ago and were in touch about working together on something. This seemed to be the perfect project.

Good question! I didn’t ask! I doubt so tho.

Just to be clear, I did not write this for the Game, they just happened to pick up the track for licensing. Having said this I am not against writing something for a video game. Being a musician/producer, I think it’s a natural progression.

There are way too many sub-genres that’s for sure. I try not to take care of “labels” anymore and just go with what I like. I don’t nearly go as wide as I used to back in the day, that’s for sure.

Trends. Not really interested in them but it’s cool to see the minimal DJs in Europe playing House again. Just don’t give me the “House is back” line! House was always around, they just turned their back at it.

Every place has something for sure. Tokyo is amazing; Cape Town was beautiful, great times in Hawaii. Hard to pick one.

Fabric in London has a pretty sweet one for sure. Some clubs don’t care enough about their DJ booth. Not just how it’s built but also where it’s located in the club, which takes a big part in creating a nice vibe between the DJs and the dancers. I love closer to the floor, more intimate set up. Fabric is a huge club but somehow, when you’re in the DH booth, you feel like it’s not that big. I love that feeling.

It was a fun experience writing for xlr8r but I’ll be honest, I haven’t looked at too many magazines or paid attention to reviews in a long while.

Life and music!

Tickets to see Fred Everything aboard The Houseboat Retrospect with Hatiras and Cam Maxwell please email Scenester at guestlist@scenestermag.com.

Tickets: $50.

Cruise: Sunday July 26 aboard The Enterprise 2000

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