It's September 1 today and in the Philippines, it's the start of the Yuletide season (hehe... I know, it's really quite early), but that's what we've gotten used to and let me be the first one to greet everyone an early Merry Christmas!
Also, another better way to start the month for music geeks (like me), than kicking off the Christmas season, is to welcome another new resident DJ/contributor in the house,
Stevie Velasco a.k.a. DJ Stevie. It's really my pleasure to be able to include my buddy,
DJ Stevie, in our ever growing roster of Pinoy DJs and contributors, as I remember that he was among the first ones to ever invite me back at his blog, featuring
me as one of his resident DJs too and my mix of some
Soulful Jazzy Chillout House, and I really appreciate it buddy. Thanks again! :D
Hailing from Hayward, California, his interest in DJ'ing started around the peak days of mobile DJs in the Daly City, California area where he would watch in awe as mobile DJ groups like Spintronix, LiveStyle (Qbert’s group) , Skyway Sounds, etc., would duke it out on 4 Turntables with quick mixes. Everyone he knew in high school either belonged or was affiliated with a group so he eventually decided to start his own mobile gigs as well.
During the late 90’s, he did residency stints for bay area promoters Via Manila, Club Manila (SF, LA and NYC), and Fusion spinning mostly commercial dance anthems.
A born-again like experience occurred to him when he stumbled upon Mark Farina spinning a 4-hour set at a local party and he describes that it was the first time he heard raw house that deep and was hooked ever since and never looked back. He also held a biweekly residency @ Glaskat as well as one nighters at 1015, DNA Lounge among others.
His favorite labels in house music include Amenti, Drop Music, Aroma,
DAE, Tango, OM Records, NRK and Myna. There are too many artist/producers, he mentions, but among his faves are Inland Knights, Olivier Desmet, Giom, Da Sunlounge, Bryan Jones, Chuck Love and Fish Go Deep, Joshua Heath, JT Donaldson, Lance Desardi, White Lotus Society and The Littlemen. Currently, he and his group of friends host a monthly event called Retro Manila in the Bay Area.
With a fulltime job as dad and an Oracle Database Administrator, he does what he can to share his love for House music by doing one nighters, gigs, hosting mixes online, hanging out at record stores or forums.
He was able to play at the last WMC (Winter Music Conference) held in Miami alongside DJ Heather, Olivier Desmett and Fred Everything. Nice one bro! :)
He also hosts a bi-monthly online show every 2nd Saturday of the month (10 PM EST; 10 PM PST) with the same name, "That Kinda House," which I highly recommend for house freaks out there.
Today's excellent set is a proof of
DJ Stevie's love for house music especially on the deep and funky side with artists like Kinky Movement, Tommy Largo, Greenskeepers, ECB & DJ Heather to name a few (
DJ Stevie is a true blue househead indeed).
Tracklist:
1) Neighbour - That Kinda House
2) Tommy Largo - Make Me High
3) Lawnchair Generals - When I Think
4) Formidable Force - Zip Jumper
5) Kinky Movement - Be Bop
6) Kinky Movement - Gotta Be Smart
7) Groove Federation - Hey Baby
8) ECB & Dj Heather - Picture of You
9) Kirby & D
amien Bailey - I Like It
10) Random Factor - Without You
11) Edmund - True Love
12) Greenskeepers - NY Lady
13) Groove Federation - Can Read Ur Mind
14) Groove Federation - The Beat Goes Boom
15) Rob Brown & Leon Louder - The Throwdown
16) Johnny Fiasco - The Message
Steve Velasco: This is my first new series of 80s Retro tracks remixed in house beats hence the title. Most of the remixed tracks here are from bootleg vinyls I have collected over the years. As you can see from the track listing, I have included many rare bootleg MJ tracks. Hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed putting it together. More to follow!
