The slam poetry community lost one of its own last week. Gabrielle Bouliane was a flame-haired, loving, laughing friend to so many, and a damned fine poet.
I wanted to link to one of the last pieces she performed live, in Austin. If it doesn’t make you think about what you’re doing with your life, you have no heart.
You will be missed, G. So much love is going out to you. Thank you for making my life better for having been even just a part of it.
So I decided to make a mix for my friends at the Cantab. Some people have been asking me for a while now for some of the music that I play during the pre- and post-show sessions. So when the Slam Master said she was making a mix, I thought she meant a CD, and had to jump and finally get that mix done that I’d been thinking about. I wanted to bring something to the people who’d be there on the 23rd, and I was going to do a mix.
Of course, I had to do it in my usual, hurried manner, and I decided to make the mix on Wednesday afternoon. From start to finish, the mixing process took less than two hours. But since I’d done it so late in the day, I had to do the post-mix work and burn the CDs without having time to listen to a finished CD before I burned copies for everyone. I’ve been using an add-on to Toast called CD Spin Doctor to break up the finished file into tracks, and obviously this time I fumbled something somewhere in the process. So when I was driving to the Cantab, listening to what I’d done, I realized tracks 8 and 9 were switched around. It was something in the Spin Doctor editing, because each track had the right name for where it was on the CD, but the audio there was the wrong track. As I said on the open mic (and to everyone who got a copy), 8 is actually 9 and 9 is 8. Unless you have CD-text, you won’t see those track names, though.
So, there’s a new mix for everyone. I called it “A Few of My Favorite Things” and that’s what it is. There are tracks that will be familiar to anyone who’s a regular at the Boston Poetry Slam at the Cantab Lounge. There are old tracks and new (thank you to Giant Step and SPECTRE for their continuing support, still bringing me sweet tunes after all these years), and the finished project is something I enjoy listening to – I think you will, too.
There’s a high quality version as well as a low-res version for those with slower internet connections (I know you’re still out there!).
Here’s the track listing, mostly because my obsessive nature is still smarting about those copies with the mixed up tracks. Luckily, the tracks in question have vocals, and for that reason, you’ll easily tell where the mixup is if you have one of those CDs. What I recommended for those who have it is to burn another copy with tracks 8 and 9 reversed, or to make a playlist in iTunes and switch them to get the correct track order.
A Few of My Favorite Things
A Holiday Mix for the Cantab Lounge Family
- Dark Days (Spoken For Mix) – DJ Shadow
- Burn Out – Cinematic Orchestra
- Passion – Nightmares on Wax
- Rabbit In Your Headlights – UNKLE
- Ultra Light (Sustenance Mix) – The Angel
- Brother Where Are You (Matthew Herbert Mix) – Oscar Brown, Jr.
- This Room (Best 7 Version) – Fat Freddy’s Drop
- All That Glitters – Death In Vegas
- Breakfast Club (feat Murs & Supernatural) – Z-Trip
- Stiff Jazz – dZihan & Kamien
- Foreign Bodies – Herbert
- Agua – DJ Food
Here’s hoping everyone had a wonderful holiday season, and I’m looking forward to seeing you at the Cantab in 2010!
DJ Muse
In my entire life, there has been a constant. For me, this constant is music.
No matter what good or bad things might befall me, I always have music. In the last week, things have changed for me in a substantial way, and I don’t think I’ll ever be the same. For the first time, though, this loss has left me feeling like in the end, I am coming out of it better off rather than worse. Usually this is the point where I’m broken up and hating myself, and I realize now that there’s no need for that. The fault lies elsewhere, and I need to accept that. I’m trying to hold on to the good things, to be who I was meant to be, and to know that there is good waiting for me out there somewhere. It just wasn’t where I was looking, that’s all.
The music related element – I’ve got a new mix in the making. I’ve finally started diving back into my records, recording them and thinking toward a new mix, and wanting to make it something happy and house-y and jazzy and perfect for someone who lost a job, or a love, or what feels like part of their life. No matter what it feels like you might have lost, you always have something to hold on to. For me, it’s music, and I’m holding on to it for all I’m worth.
Stay tuned for the results.
…and it was good.
I’ve got the sets from the Floating World AfterCare gigs up on my mixes page. I’ve got the more uptempo, fun water volleyball set from Friday night here and the more downtempo, laid-back Saturday night set here.
Enjoy…I know I did, and so did everyone else in the pool and nearby those nights. It was an amazing time and I can’t thank Skully from the NYC Fetish Tribe enough for the opportunity. I look forward to working with him again in the future.
…back to reality.
I had a marvelous time at Floating World this weekend. I’d like to say a HUGE thank you to the NYC Fetish Tribe, who put on the AfterCare pool parties on Friday and Saturday night. We had an idea going in what we wanted, and as is my usual case, I adapted to the mood of the crowd. Friday’s party was intimate but not too crowded. There were a lot of people playing – think water volleyball in birthday suits – and that night’s set reflected the mood. Saturday’s set was more crowded (everyone was ready for some after care at that point) and hewed more to the original intent – sultry, smooth and relaxing. Suitable music for floating in the water or getting a massage poolside. I recorded both sets, and need to do some editing (a program hang after the laptop upgrade and different hard drive speed on the first night) and then I’ll post the sets here.
I got so many compliments and happy smiles that I’ll be riding this high for a while. One of my favorite aspects of being a live DJ is when I feel like I’ve connected with people and helped them enjoy the occasion. This time I definitely got all that and made some wonderful friends, too (Skully gives the most awesome squeezes!). There are likely to be more parties like this in the future, and I look forward to those opportunities. As I learn about them, I’ll share them with you.
Thanks again to everyone who made my weekend so amazing. Especially the one sending me love from half a world away and sharing my Sunday sunrise. The world looks amazing with you in it.
Yes, things are happening here in Muse-land. I’ve got two gigs during the Floating World event. I’ll be playing downtempo/chillout sets as part of the “AfterCare” parties from 3-5A on August 22 and August 23 (late night Friday and Saturday). For a long time now, I’d hoped to find a way to combine my fascination with fetish and my love of music and being a DJ. This is the first chance I’ve had to put my own stamp on an event, and I feel like it’s a perfect fit.
This event is closed to registration – they actually sold out all 1200 admissions (yes, it’s that big) two weeks before it started. Sorry! But if this goes well, it might lead to something else in the future. If you’re going to be there, some see me in the pool area of the Sheraton (private party open to Floating World attendees only) and enjoy the laid-back, lovely grooves.
Don’t forget, I’ve got Atman – a DJ Muse Mix for you to listen to as you’re going about the last of your summer. It’s great music for an evening relaxing on the back porch or with your sweetie. Personally, it makes me think of Germany. *smile*
As always – thanks for listening!
~ DJ Muse
…I’ve actually finished a new mix.
I’ve also got a new gig, but I’ll save that for tomorrow.
I realized today that it’s been a very long time since I sat down (or stood up, really) and recorded a new mix. Today there is a new mix for you to listen to, and I’m very happy with it. Consider it a gift, a meditation on the way life is complex and beautiful and how the life force that animates all of us is inside to be found if only we’ll be aware of it. If you don’t want to be so hippy about it, then you can just say “enjoy life.” I’d like to thank Todd for reminding me that life is meant to be lived with open arms and heart.
Enjoy the music!
So this summer has flown by. Last night I had a wonderful party at my house with friends. The Cantab’s been wonderful fun as always, and I’m exposing people to new music every week.
In the next week I will finish a new mix – be sure to check back for your fix of warm grooves for a perfect summer afternoon with your sweetie.
Now get out there and enjoy your summer!
Welcome to my new website…
Yes, if you’ve even been on in the last long while, you’ve probably noticed something. Specifically, that I haven’t really changed a thing in a while. But that’s changing – starting now!
Present status: working on mixes, collaborating, and doing the duties as DJ for the Boston Poetry Slam at the Cantab Lounge which allows me to get my jazzy-weird mix on with my writer friends every Wednesday.
Take a look around and download/listen to some mixes if you’re so inclined. Drop me a line if you have something you want to ask or are looking for a crazy, strange and wonderfully eclectic DJ to play your unique event. I’d love to hear from you!
