Every Friday we spotlight the hottest cats behind the decks in the MHC, grilling them to gain some insight on what it takes, exactly, to get the party rocking, to find out about their most treasured crate digging experiences and what they really think when we stumble up to them half cocked and ask them to play that new song by such and such -- you know, the one that goes... This week's subject: DJ Ivy, who temporarily relocated to North Carolina but will be jetting back and forth for gigs, including a pair this weekend, one tonight at Beta and another tomorrow at Boulder's b.side Lounge.
Name: Ivy
Club night(s): Throwing Black Bridge crew showcase parties, and various clubs, concerts, and underground parties.
Style(s) of music you spin: Disco, house, techno, funk, downtempo, tek-hall, dub-hop. Sets are always catered to the show.
So what's your story, in 100 words or less? Professional downhill mountain bike racer turned music nerd. The Orb's "Live '93" album put me over the edge and I was determined to get into electronic music. One of my roommates hobbled together two turntables from his Salvation Army dayjob, DJ Ejay gave me a handful of records, and that was that. This is my 14th year doing this. I was musically raised by the Humble Souls, milehighhouse, and Unity Gain crews that I am honored to be a part of.
Name of a track you can't get out of your head: Ahhh funny you should ask. I've been in track-repeat-in-my-head-nightmare mode for about 2 straight weeks. The Chateau Flight remix of The Juan Maclean's "Happy House". I love the cut, but holy hell - 2 straight weeks? I have insomnia problems too, so I'll often wake up at 3am, and it just picks right back up where it left off. I once got CNC Music Factory's "Gonna Make You Sweat" stuck in my head for an hours-long mountain bike race when i was a teenager - I thought I was gonna slit my throat on the trail with a burly cactus needle then - but this 2 weeks thing is getting completely out of control.
Name of an artist you're currently championing in your DJ sets: I can assure you that it changes all the time, but I'm totally freakin' on Tensnake right now. Beautiful German disco.
What's been your best crate digging experience in another country (if you've had a good one)? ?uestlove questioning how I came to get my Dj Spinna Michael Jackson remixes not in Tokyo.
Best club experience in another country (again, if you've had a good one)? Getting to dj at the legendary Dub Club night in Vienna, Austria. I was on a personal high, having just gotten married in Spain one week earlier. My wife and a handful of my closest friends all had a smashing good time!!
Musical mantra: Whiskey for my men, beer for my horses.
Favorite DJ experience: We had a trio - Pete Wall on sax & flute, Tian Chi Chi on his huge percussion setup, and me on the decks. We opened up for a sold out Herbie Hancock show at the Boulder Theater. We were all extremely honored to say the least. Thanks KP!
Worst request: "Can you play anything but this?" Although I'm always completely and utterly floored when anyone actually seriously requests Britney.
Worst club faux pas you've committed: In my opinion: I was djing on the catwalk at 8150 in Vail (now gone). I accidentally knocked the 30 pound dj coffin lid down into the fully sold-out 800 person crowd. It miraculously missed the people below, thus saving lives, and keeping me out of court.
In someone else's opinion: Englishman Aphrodite (the world's highest paid drum 'n bass dj at the time) screaming in my face that "No one is allowed to ever mix out of (his) record!!!", and promptly body checking me out of the dj booth. He can bite me.
Most treasured vinyl score: Nova Scotia - Loose Leaves - Airtight Records. My favorite house cut of all time. My man Todd Colletti apparently went out of his way to find a copy for me - after I repeatedly and abnoxiously begged him for his copy week after week for at least a couple of years. I think a few of my vertabrae relaxed upon receipt.
What other music-related projects are you currently working on? I'm always working on our recording label, Black Bridge. I work hard to promote the homies and try to help us all get to the next level. Currently getting Denver's Spaceflight Orchestra remix by J-Boogie and subsequent music video out the door. www.blackbridge.tv
What's something happening in the local music scene that should be getting more attention? The Communikey crew has been putting on excellent events and festivals featuring very cutting edge audio and visual artist performances from a slew of international talent. They've really raised the bar in Colorado, and I know that a lot of music enthusiasts are missing out.
What elements would your fantasy club night entail? All of my friends together gettin' down at Watergate (lower level) in Berlin with free PBR and whiskey.
Question we didn't ask you but you often ask yourself: How can the kids walk with their pants so low?
Next time we can see you spin: Ginger Snaps party at Beatport Lounge (in Beta) on Friday, Oct 30th, and then Black Bridge and Buffalo Exchange team up for the second annual Night Cleaver party at b.side Lounge in Boulder on Halloween night.
Download: Ivy's Slug Bug, Episode One mix:
Tracklisting:
1. Acos CoolKAs - Free Flight - Tirk
2. Phoreski (aka Richard Gateaux) - Air Shark - Rare Wiri Records
3. Kenneth Bager - Fragment One (... And I Kept Hearing) : The Revenge Remix - Music For Dreams
4. Max 404 - She Spelled Sex - Eskimo
5. Social Disco Club & Maia - The Way You Move : Greg Wilson Version - Bear Funk
6. Greg Wilson - DD and Rakim - Redux
7. Nick Chacona & Anthony Mansfield - Slow N Low - Hector Works
8. Godz Kidz - The Pop (2009) - Smash Hit Music
9. Jayson Brothers - All My Life - Faces Records
10. In Flagranti - In The Silver White Box - Gomma
11. Ilija Rudman - Dance Disorder : Faze Action Remix - Bear Funk
12. Rockmaster Rus B - Zulu Freeze Frame (Breakbeat Junkies Disco Hustle Edit) - Baffin Island Beat Brigade
13. Matthew Bandy - Preservation - Lust4House
14. Robert Strauss - Miami Jammin' : Recloose Remix - BBE