DJ'S ARE TO PARTIES WHAT AIR IS TO LIFE -
WE NEED THEM TO MOVE AND FUNCTION ACCORDINGLY.
~EJW
I've always been a fan of DJ's but it wasn't until I moved to the DC area that my appreciation evolved into something more than 'the guy at the party who plays the music'. It takes a pretty special individual to get and keep a crowds attention and energy up and flowing for the duration of his or her set. There's an art to DJ'ing because you're not just playing what's current and hot but rather giving us a taste of what you're into. And based on the DJ's taste in music, that determines their ability to move a crowd wherever he or she goes. At least that's my take on it.
THE DJ ROW
Artwork by Bua & David Garibaldi
The DJ Row is pleased to welcome a new crowd favorite....QUIET BOY
or Listen to Handz on Radio every Monday morning from 9:30am - 11:30am
"I' am a die hard QUIET BOY fan."
-Ellen
I'm super excited to introduce DJ Maniak to the row...
He's a very good friend of mine and a great dj and for the past couple of weeks I've been living inside his music because he finally agreed to burn me a copy of his work (some friend!).
Needless to say, my boy is talented.
DJ Maniak is old school funk, techno, a little disco and a twist of house.
His mixes are available for listening at:
DJ Maniak's style is truly an infusion of all genres of dance and popular music. Maniak's dj roots were established in the late 80's in Detroit, spinning house, disco, classics and 'techno'. As he progressed thru his collegiate years he infused hip hop and reggae sounds as well as turntablism into his arsenal. After a relocation to Maryland and time away from the decks, Maniak returned to the scene dj'ing events for a variety of promoters, private events and was the FABA HU Homecoming Dj for two years.
Maniak also traveled overseas to South Africa over a four year period where he played hip-hop for several promoters in Johannesburg and Cape Town in addition to making radio station performances in both cities. Maniak is currently honing his skills in house music production but is committed to re-establishing his 'skillz' on the decks playing across all genres of popular dance/club music. Dj Maniak also had a radio show on "Warrior FM" for a little over a year, playing house, lounge, classics and disco.
DJJamil "Jahsonic"Hamilton of Marvin's and the U Street Music Hall...
...is a dj I came across at Marvin's a few years ago. The first time I heard him play, I thought to myself, hmmm...this guy is interesting. I went back a couple of times and the same thing happened....he kept surprising me with the most unique tunes and beats. The type of music you don't hear often but when you do you lose your mind in excitement. I noticed the crowd reaction last week when he played Fela Kuti - Water Get No Enemy. The entire room went nuts and for that moment...the DJ was God. It was incredible to watch and even more incredible to be a part of something that made a room full of people happy.
Same thing happened recently on Labor Day weekend.
I went to a backyard house party also known as Ray's Boom Boom Room where Jamil DJ'd a mixture of old and new school tunes. This was the mother load of house parties complete with a DJ booth, mic, lights, speakers...I thought I was in a club instead of a residential neighborhood. The crowd was so ridiculously amped that at one point EVERY hand was raised in the air as we all got completely lost in the moment. It felt like a rock concert. It was amazing!
Check out
"INTERVIEW: DJ Jahsonic – Mixing up Monday Nights and Beyond"
by Sondai
www.thecouchsessions.com
That same night I met DJ Adrian Loving. I missed his set but I look forward to seeing and hearing what he's all about.
DJ Adrian Loving of the Donovan House, the Beacon Hotel, and POV at the W Hotel
