My Friday nights are kind of unique. I come home from my job in corporate America, only to head out to a gay nightclub where I'm the DJ. Talk about non sequitur. It takes a lot of good music to put me in the mood to make that shift. So this week, I share some of my newest motivational music; my "gettin' ready music" if you will.
If I could choose someone to DJ in my life on a daily basis, it would probably be the duo of Sam Holt and Gavin Mills that make up Copyright. Their ultra smooth and sweetly soulful grooves always inspire me to keep doing what I'm doing. There are six or seven tracks by them in my collection, each deeper and sexier than the next. Their latest track "Release Yourself" featuring vocals by Tasita D'mour is a trip into the sound of Deep House. Horns and a dancing bass line mingle with the gorgeous vocals of Ms. D'mour. It's music to de-stress to, and get you ready for any evening.
Always a fan of the brighter Jungle sounds out there, lately I've been turning Dennis Ferrer's "Hit It Off / Jero" up nice and loud while picking out my records for the evening. It's got these awesome vocal loops that become the bass line throughout the song. Everything from congas and kicks to electric guitars and a Rhodes piano show up in this song. There's even a digital frog in the mix. *ribbit*
Music in the shower is an essential part of my world. I couldn't stand the fact that there was no CD player in my ex's bathroom. I mean come on, everyone loves to sing in the shower, so why not sing along with your favorite song? And even though I have a shaved head, I keep a hairbrush around because everyone sounds better when they are singing into their hairbrush microphone. Don't laugh. You know you've done it.
What do I sing in the shower? Who's column are you reading? Do you really need to ask? Divas. Big, hollerin', screamin', don't-do-me-wrong-cause-I'll-cut-you divas. Just last week I scored this prime time upbeat track by the Foreal People called "Gotta Thing". It almost made me speak in tongues it's so good. With vocals by Taana Gardner, ( an old school diva who knows what she's doing ) this track was remixed into a frenzy by Joey Negro. This is one that will light up your bathroom, your house, your car, and even an entire dance floor with diva.
Just before I head out the door to a gig, I listen to something from the beginnings of House to pay respect to the past. Tracks like "You Used To Hold Me" and "Jack Your Body" still make me smile. They paved the way for nearly all the dance music we listen to today. There would be no rap, no trance, no techno, and no hip-hop without the legacy that House built.