Dubstep

I don't know many people who are immediate fans of dubstep when they first hear it...not many people know what it is. Dubstep is a genre of electronic music coming from the underground scene of the UK that has very heavy bass and drum lines with the use of a synthesizer. It's overwhelming at times but has a unique sound that can be appreciated and incorporated into other types of electronic music. Here's three different variations. Enjoy.

Anyone going to TAO '11 this NYE in Los Angeles?

The Line Up is as follows for now:

-Laidback Luke
-Markus Schulz
-Wolfgang Gartner
-Major Lazer Ft. Diplo & Switch
-Jackbeats
-Rusko
-Nero
-Dada Life
-DJ Reza
-Kill the Noise
ect....

Should be epic.

__________________

I'm off to New York tomorrow morning to spend Thanksgiving weekend with some friends from highschool and abroad. :) Can't wait!

A holiday really shouldn't be the motive behind my self-reflection and what I'm thankful for, it should be something that I acknowledge everyday. However, I just wanted to say that I'm really thankful for my health, my loving family, my caring and supportive friends, and the opportunities I've been given to experience life to its fullest. I do recognize how blessed I am. And though it's a natural human intention to always strive for more...I'm happy to say I'm content. I've been given everything I need. And for that I'm truly thankful.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Girl Talk & Kanye West

New Girl Talk Album-All Day is out for Free Download.

New Kanye West Album-My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is out early...heh

Ohh the joys of Internet?? and the downfall of the music industry because of such accessibility...

OR is it?? Since we're on the subject of the Internet...I'm currently in a class discussing the different genres of music that originated from prominent cities in the States with a significant musical history. It's interesting because in the mid-20th century, the "impure" particular spaces where music was made in newly developing cities across the United States became the face of cultural ambiguity and the source of intercultural communication in a racially segregated society.

Music has evolved in many ways with the transition towards modernity being synonymous with being culturally diverse. It has become an avenue for social change by transcending all cultural boundaries to create a mix of sounds that develop and recreate itself; a sound that can be reflective of various racial backgrounds. In the current modern age of the 21^st century, music still unifies and promotes intercultural communication. However, rather than being rooted on a more obvious form of space based on live performance, the Internet seems to have become the space where interaction takes place. Not necessarily in the context of a virtual reality, but definitely as virtual communication. Whether or not the Internet is seen as an “impure” space is subjective, but it facilitates intercultural communication through the easy exchange of ideas, styles, and techniques of various genres of music that are not limited to regions anymore but now globally accessible. The creation of websites like YouTube, LastFm, Pandora, and MySpace have revolutionized the speed at which music can be traded and promoted to the masses. The Internet has become a cultural phenomena that has essentially freed society of its immediate traditional views and has allowed music to expand to include a wider audience. Whether this freedom and accessibility of music constricts an artist because the avenue of which their music is marketable cannot be enforced by the record industries is a question that can be pondered. Nevertheless, the record industries have been at fault in the past for restricting artist creativity in order to commercialize their music a certain way. Maybe the Internet is freeing that bind and we're just making it back full circle to music that was created, not to generate monetary profit and personal gain, but to JUST be created and shared by a community of enthusiasts.

Just a thought.

Urban Arts Outreach

This summer I was fortunate enough to have helped out and been a part of a movement that I strongly believed in. Urban Arts Outreach is a movement to uplift local and global urban art communities by promoting reconciliation and justice, encouraging and empowering servant leaders, assist local means to meet local needs, care for people's health, and educate the next generation through the arts. They help bridge the gap between culture and church, art and purpose.

They hold "sessions" (also known as open mics, jam sessions, and practice spots for dancers) that are trusted meeting grounds for cultural expression. Sessions provide a safe-haven where people of different backgrounds can periodically participate, practice, promote, and progress together.

Urban Arts Outreach is the catalyst group involved with facilitating such a session twice a month in downtown Santa Ana called Saint City Session. The Session is dedicated to consistently meet and build connections between people through a dialog through the arts. Instead of assuming the needs of the community, we listen and assist growing ideas towards better solutions. The result is a diverse, yet relational, family-friendly environment, not limited to stereotypes of what church and fellowship should look like.

Saint City Session is organized and led by a friend of mine, Dan Emmerie, who DJs and created his own free mixtape to download. It's a track composed of classic hip hop artists and snippets of Rick Warren's message from a Purpose Driven Life.

Track listing:
1. Intro - Rick Warren*
2. What am I here for? - music by The Procussions "I'll Fly"
3. Created for a Relationship - beat by Kev Brown "Raise"
4. Love - music by Poems "Love"
5. Separation to Solution - beat by Ohmega Watts "Dedicated"
6. Freedom to Choose - music by Theory Hazit & Sivion "Decisions"
7. Call to Action - beat by Mr. J (The Procussions) "Everybody's Free"
8. Confession - music by Braille "Everything Changed"
9. Prayer - beat by Dert (Tunnel Rats) "You can do better than drums"
10. Celebration - music by Surreal & Sivion "Let the Horns Blow"
11. Recap Cypher - music by Lightheaded, Poems, Sojourn, Sivion, Surreal, and more...
12. Purpose and Passion - music by The Procussions "High Powered"

If you're a dancer, DJ, or artist who needs a place of community and practice, come check out Saint City Session in Santa Ana, California next time you're around :)

Real Talk

So I'm sitting in my room browsing through possible future prospects after college while listening to some random tunez when it really hit me: I'm done. Done as a competitive soccer player for 15 years. Done with college in a couple months. Done with my adolescent years. Done growing those extra inches I've always hoped for. Done living off my parents. This is where my comfort zone ends and I begin to cross into a world of uncertainty, discovery, struggle, doubt, dreams, and adventure. A time to explore my passions, put myself out there, and chase my endearing dreams. This is where my real life will begin.

So let's be real. My interests vary and I don't know where I'll end up in the next 5 years. All I know is that music has always been up there competing for my attention with family, friends, travel, soccer, and of course school (stay in school). Music has been my outlet, my connection to people, my happiness, and my identity. I've neglected this blog for awhile due to those other passions taking priority, but I'm writing to establish that it will again take precedent in my life.

So wherever I choose to live my life next year....this blog will be my constant.

Cheers, to new opportunities in an uncertain future.

Don't Stop Dancing Guuuuuuurll