VERBOTEN DECEMBER 2014 MUSIC LINEUP
“Even to newcomers of New York City’s electronic music scene, local party organizer and latest Brooklyn techno haven Verboten is widely (and globally) renowned.” — Time Out New York
The Big Brooklyn Holiday Toy Drive, benefitting local kids in need, takes place at Verboten this month, with a special event on December 11. Verboten is offering reduced admission to any Verboten event through December 15 with the donation of a new, unwrapped toy or game (for children 14 years of age and under. Find more information atbigbktoydrive.com.
December 2 Time Out New York + Verboten present (BELVEDERE)RED with Audiofly / Nicola Zanatta / Niki McNally
December 5 Don’t Be Leftout: Danny Howells / Matt Tolfrey / jozif / Maron Sharabi
December 6 Detroit Love: Carl Craig with “Mad” Mike Banks [live] / Moodymann / Chuck Flask / Keith Kemp / Danyelino
December 7 PopGun presents Max Cooper / illich Mujica
December 11 Bromance BMC Homieland Tour: Brodinski / Paraone / Gener8ion / Louisahhh!!! / Sam Tiba / Myd
December 12 Justin Martin / J.Phlip / Monty Luke
December 13 Sasha [extended set] / Stadenco
December 18 Subverse-NYC & Fourth Temple present Contact: Youngsta / Truth / Amit / Max Mischief b2b I.N.I. / True Nature / Vik Rai
December 19 Subversions: Matthew Dear / Paco Osuna / Aril Brikha / Michael Gracioppo
December 20 Push The Night presents Lost & Found Showcase: Guy J [open to close] / Guy Mantzur / Matt Lange / Brian Cid
December 26 Moon Boots
December 27 Susanne Bartsch presents KUNST
December 31 Verboten + Bespoke pres NYE: All That Glitters…:Lee Burridge / Andhim / Matthew Dekay / Bedouin / Mike Khoury
Khadija Bhuiyan for VerbotenNewYork.com
December 2 Time Out New York + Verboten present (BELVEDERE)RED with Audiofly / Nicola Zanatta / Niki McNally
In honor of World AIDS Day, Time Out New York and Verboten present the (BELVEDERE)RED benefit concert. General admission tickets include two complimentary (Belvedere)Red drinks, or get one of 60 dinner tickets ($90) to enjoy a three-course pre-show spread from chef Chris McLaughlin. A portion of ticket proceeds will go to the World AIDS Fund.
Made up of Anthony Middleton and Luca Saporito, Audiofly’s 2005 EP ‘Release Yourself’ caught many ears, propelling the duo to a new level. Fairly quickly, the pair’s groovy, melodic and undulating take on house music started to create a huge fan base in the press, in clubs, and in production, with uber-imprints Get Physical, Mood Music, Kickboxer and Renaissance calling on their talents.
Italian-born, NYC based techo/house DJ Nicola Zanatta has been making waves in he New York City scene for several years. Combining his deep melodic grooves with his penchant for dark and dirty bass lines, Nicola Zanatta has played alongside the likes of The Martinez Brothers, Davide Squillace and Martin Buttrich. Those who have experienced his soulful sets will tell you that their time on the dance floor was nothing short of an audio odyssey.
December 5 Don’t Be Leftout: Danny Howells / Matt Tolfrey / jozif / Maron Sharabi
With his passion for all styles of music and over 20 years of experience, Danny Howells has created a unique, eclectic sound that has established him as one of the most in demand DJs in the world. He has a way of combining cutting edge grooves with crowd-pleasing dynamics that enable him to connect with his audience. Nearing the end of a world tour, Danny Howells stops by Verboten to deliver the deep, sexy, futuristic, tech funk house he is known for. Fans can get pumped for the show with Danny’s latest mix for Cadenza Music Source to Cycle podcast on Soundcloud.
Acclaimed DJ/producer and Leftroom label-head Matt Tolfrey knows a thing or two about crafting music that is experimental yet playful, underground yet shot through with glitter and glamour, boundary-pushing yet unpretentious. His DJ sets acknowledge the trends without becoming a slave to them. His production references the history of electronica but adds a resolutely contemporary edge. World-wise international DJ, cross continent party planner, and all-round infectious personality, Tolfrey is summed up best by Seth Troxler as, ‘Matt Tolfrey, the last great British DJ’. His Don’t Be Leftout parties kicked off in late 2013 and have since travelled to Amsterdam, Rome, Paris, Miami, and Chicago, and now the party arrives in Brooklyn. Listen to his latest podcast on Soundcloud here.
One name that has been gaining increasing attention from the who’s who of the electronic music community is London-based DJ and producer jozif. Since his 2010 releases on Wolf + Lamb and Vitalik gained mass support alongside an RA podcast mixed entirely of his own productions and edits, he has been charming the pants off the international circuit with his productions and DJ sets alike.
December 6 Detroit Love: Carl Craig with “Mad” Mike Banks [live] / Moodymann / Chuck Flask / Keith Kemp / Danyelino
Carl Craig is described as a creative visionary, an electronic music icon, an esteemed Grammy-nominated composer, a world-class DJ and an ambassador for his native city Detroit. The prolific producer/ DJ has few equals in terms of the artistry, influence, and diversity of his music. His remixes discography boasts some of the most desirable names in music, making him one of the most sought after remixers in the world, and his Planet E imprint has given a home to a wide range of Detroit-based artists.
Michael Anthony Banks, better known as “Mad” Mike Banks, is an American techno producer. He is the co-founder, along with Jeff Mills, of US record label Underground Resistance and was a key player in the “second generation” of Detroit techno.
Moodymann represents the second wave of homegrown Detroit electronic music masters. Utilizing classic soul and jazz samples, low-slung bass lines and an approach to drum programming that is diametrically opposed to the tendency to push the tempo faster and faster, Moodymann has achieved classic status thanks to gems like “Sunday Morning”, “Shades of Jae”, and his remix of Innerzone Orchestra’s “People Make the World Go Round”. His latest studio album, self-titled Moodymann is available now on iTunes.
December 7 PopGun presents Max Cooper / illich Mujica
Max Cooper’s hybrid live/DJ performances explode from delicate, reflective electronica, into abrasive noise within a moment, but just as fearlessly throttle back to moments of stillness and silent beauty – within the same track, across three or four hours of playing, or within the space of a couple of expertly chosen samples. His latest track and lead single off his upcoming ‘Kindred’ EP “Origins,” is streaming now on Soundcloud.
Venezuela born, New York based DJ/ producer illich Mujica is known for creating one of the most well-regarded electronic dance music parties in New York City: Techtonics, along with DJ partners Luis Padron and Azadi. Mujica’s influences are diverse, ranging from Nine Inch Nails, The Cure and Depeche Mode, to Prodigy and Daft Punk, to Aphex Twin, Richie Hawtin, Sasha and John Digweed. The result is a dark but elevating, authentic, high-energy musical sense delivered in the form of sophisticated track-selection and refined mixing that leaves everyone always asking for more.
December 11 Bromance BMC Homieland Tour: Brodinski / Paraone / Gener8ion / Louisahhh!!! / Sam Tiba / Myd
‘Homieland Vol. 1’ is the first Bromance compilation including Brodinski’s first single “Can’t Help Myself” plus the debut single from new signee Gener8ion and 17 exclusive tracks from Para One, Louisahhh!!!, Sam Tiba, Myd and many more. Listen to the “Homieland Vol. 1 mini-mix” by Guillaume Berg here.
Since the inception of the Bromance label co-founded with his manager Manu Barron, Brodinski hasn’t stopped increasing his collaborations, most recently working with fellow French producer Gesaffelstein to co-produce two singles on Kanye West’s Yeezus album, and with rapper Theophilius London on Bromance #11. Brodinski’s love for the hip hop scene naturally drove him to collaborate with artists such as Danny Brown, Evil Nine or Kaytranada who released EP on Bromance. Watch the official video for his latest track “Can’t Help Myself” feat. SD, the first single from his forthcoming album due early 2015, here.
Para One is the beginning of a new exploration of sound: traditional rap, IDM and techno beats in 8-bit, and deconstructed grooves. His critically acclaimed first solo album Epiphanie was released in 2006 by Institubes, followed by constant touring in Europe, North America and Japan. Known for his technical ability as a remixer (for Daft Punk, Bloc Party, Justice, Boys Noize and more) as well as a producer (for Birdy Nam Nam, Slice & Soda and more recently Micky Green), in 2007, he composed the soundtrack of the movie “Water Lilies” and directed his own movie “It Was on Earth That I Knew Joy” in 2010. His second solo album, Passion, was released June 2012.
GENER8ION is a new pluridisciplinary entity, at the crossing of music, art and fashion.
Universal but radical, “The New International Sound” is a post modern tribute to our multi-faceted world. An anthem to the present, expanding beyond genre and scenes.
LOUISAHHH!!! (a name chosen ‘as a war cry or a shriek of delight’) has honed a style that is hard but deep, tough but tender. A fateful meeting with French techno wonderkind Brodinski spiraled into a fast friendship and eventual collaboration for Bromance Records. With “Let The Beat Control Your Body” and “Nobody Rules The Streets” becoming peak-time anthems, and explosive vocal collaborations in the realms of both deep house and new techno, LOUISAHHH!!! was getting ready to release her own productions into the world. 2013 brings about LOUISAHHH!!!’s first serious solo EP on Bromance records. Supported by dynamic, emotional, ferocious DJ sets rife with technical finesse, LOUISAHHH!!! maintains that ‘she is thrilled to be alive’, and that her music is an active expression of this.
Hailing from Northern France, Myd is a young dance producer from the Club Cheval crew. He previously released tracks on Sound Pellegrino and produced a dozen remixes. He and his Club Cheval have been known for their digital, blasting tropical sound, infused with a nerdy blend of over-the-top-ness that can be puzzling at first, but quickly transforms you into a joyful, bouncing creature.
As a former ancient history student, Club Cheval’s Sam Tiba has always been fascinated by forgotten languages, by those defunct ways of expression that seem so far away now they just exhale otherworldliness, like alien speeches. And that’s in some ways an aural equivalent of these old languages he is searching for through his music-making and wild, versatile and crowd-rocking DJing.
December 12 Justin Martin / J.Phlip / Monty Luke
Justin Martin initially attracted the attention of the electronic music community in 2003 with his first record “The Sad Piano” on Ben Watt’s Buzzin’ Fly label. Mentored by fellow super producer Claude VonStroke, Justin was intrinsically involved with the development of dirtybird records, appearing on its first four releases. His sound is typically described as “melodic and tough” with his music encapsulating both melody and emotional depth, yet always with enough undeniable ass-shaking properties to translate to the floor.
J.Phlip discovered house music in her hometown of Champaign, Illinois, just 2 hours south of Chicago. Her proximity to Chicago’s famous house scene tremendously affected her sound, but the distance afforded her the freedom to incorporate a variety of other influences into her repertoire. Her sets posses a fun, “lets-not-forget-this-is-
dance-music,” feeling and simultaneously keeps you guessing about what might come next. Her collection spans house, tech house, deep house, techno, booty bass and pretty much anything that make you shake your ass.
Monty Luke is a revolution in sound – a forever push towards the forward thinking; a man unafraid to explore the space beyond the assumed boundaries of electronic dance music. In mid-2008, he relocated to Detroit and began work with his mentor, techno legend Carl Craig, and produced the un-nerving and hypnotic “Panik Attack.” 2009 saw the release of yet another single, the nebular “Art, Love, and War.” With each track, Luke has expanded the horizons of techno music. In 2011, Monty launched his own imprint, Black Catalogue. The label is focused on raw, underground electronic music talent. Monty Luke is determined to bring his outer-galactic, unapologetic, jack track music to our world and back again.
December 13 Sasha [extended set] / Stadenco
DJ/producer/remixer Sasha is recognized as one of the worlds’ most innovative icons of the electronic genre. If there are boundaries yet to be broken, then you can bet that Sasha has got them in the crosshairs. Since 2011, he’s carved a new way with his increasingly pivotal Last Night On Earth imprint, the label that has introduced into its family fiercely forward-thinking producers like My Favourite Robot’s James Teej, Simon Baker, ThermalBear, Ejeca, Ghosting Season, Max Cooper and Knox. Then there was the arrival of the long-awaited third album in his ‘Involver’ series in 2013, the intricate and challenging Involv3r. It combined on one disc Sasha’s peerless command of dancefloor sensibilities and on the other his skilful exploration of beatless soundscapes, featuring his exclusive interpretations of tracks from The xx, Blondes, Little Dragon, Benjamin Damage, Foals and ThermalBear.
After receiving a music education from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, with a focus on music production and engineering, Stadenco gradually transitioned to playing the quirky, dirty house that he is known for today. Stadenco has shared the decks with the likes of Craig Richards, Loco Dice, James Zabiela, Chris Duckenfield, Tom Middleton, Stacey Pullen, Damian Lazarus, Pete Heller, and Kevin Saunderson.
December 18 Subverse-NYC & Fourth Temple present Contact: Youngsta / Truth / Amit / Max Mischief b2b I.N.I. / True Nature / Vik Rai
Youngsta should need little introduction. One of the figureheads of dubstep since the very beginning, resident at scene-defining club night FWD>>, and the DJ who first played some of the genre’s most-loved anthems, he continues to be a hugely active figure in dubstep’s development. His weekly show on Rinse draws deep for new music, helping to expose talented new producers, and the founding ethics that defined dubstep in its early years still remain at the heart of his sets.
Sonic architects of songs with an emotional heft as heavy as the subwoofer-rupturing basslines that underpin their work, Truth are one of New Zealand’s finest creative exports. Respected across the globe, since inception several years ago, Truth (Andre Fernandez and Tristan Roake) have, as both world-class producers and party-rocking DJs, cut a clear pathway through the international dubstep scene. Listen to their latest track “Istanbul” here.
Amit has been hailed as one of the most distinctive and original voices within electronic music, as the first music artist within electronica to begin creating music at his signature ‘half-step’ at 174 BPM. His work has been placed in the top 5 ‘Best Single’ and ‘Best Producer’ categories on the BBC Radio listener polls. His music is influenced by dub, particularly by artists such as King Tubby and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, as well as by Asian and Middle Eastern sounds, plus reggae, dub, electro, and techno. Amit has performed extensively at clubs and festivals across all continents. In the summer of 2013 Amit inaugurated his very own long anticipated imprint AMAR, releasing the four-track EP entitled The Parallel EP; listen here.
Max Mischief and I.N.I. founded Subverse-NYC, a bass music night that aims to create an outlet for the dark and minimal within the 5 boroughs, from across the US and the globe.
December 19 Subversions: Matthew Dear / Paco Osuna / Aril Brikha / Michael Gracioppo
Verboten is excited to present another edition of Subversions, Matthew Dear’s residency, with the concept of “performing with artists who inspire me by playing forward, body moving electronic music,” he states. Read more about Matthew Dear’s Subversions residency in his recent interview with Self-Titled Magazine here.
It didn’t take long for Matthew Dear to catapult himself into the front rank of micro house producers. Emerging in the early 2000s with a string of high-quality releases for Spectral Sound, Plus 8, and Perlon, Dear broke out in 2003 with the single “Dog Days.” He quickly found international success and juggled between monikers including Audien and Jabberjaw. After over a decade of exploring pop’s outer limits, Matthew Dear is no longer tied to any one genre, and is blessed with a bottomless well of creative energy.
Imagination, courage, and the incessant search for new forms of expression in the stormy affairs of techno are some of the main virtues of Paco Osuna. Through devotion and vocation, the technocratic DJ and producer has become one of the primary architects in the development of the best, most exportable, electronic music from Spain. He is also the ideas-man behind Mindshake Records. In October, Paco Osuna released Long Play, an original 8-track LP on Minus that features Paco’s trademark techno sound, music from the heart and in its most enriched form; the tracks represent the four musical styles which can be found in his legendary DJ sets. Techno in different facets, from deep sounds to funky moods, transitional moments through to stronger musical spaces and harder sounds.
In 1998 Aril Brikha reacquainted the world with deep techno soul, as his record Groove La Chord crossed generic boundaries. Is it techno? Is it house? Is it deep house? It’s everything and nothing. Groove La Chord is simply timeless. At a time when the Swedish techno sound was starting to be identified with minimal, loop-based ‘DJ tools’, Brikha was creating cerebral, emotional and spiritual electronic music. With a large gap in releases Brikha has recently reemerged from a production hiatus with a few select releases on some of Europe’s most forward thinking and popular electronic labels showcasing the width and breadth of his production style.
His affiliations with Innervisions and Motor City Drum Ensemble aside, not much is known about Michael Gracioppo. Introspective and sincere, his love-letters speak volume. One would hardly believe that these methodical works were the product of a Canadian artist – born in the hazy spring of 1990.
December 20 Push The Night presents Lost & Found Showcase: Guy J [open to close] / Guy Mantzur / Matt Lange / Brian Cid
Israeli producer GuyJ has established himself as one of the most sophisticated and emotive producers in electronic music of the last decade, with a body of work and a sphere of influence that belies relatively short time in the spotlight. Whether it be his sensual, hypnotic take on house music, his deeply textured techno or his wondrous ambient material, his work is always touched with a magic and emotion that few rival. Guy J’s latest release on Bedrock ‘Once In A Blue Moon’ (available on Beatport here) turns up the pressure until emotion pours out of the speakers.
Tel Aviv based Guy Mantzur specializes in creating electronic music that defies over-simple genre classification. Drawing influences from tech house, techno and proper progressive house, he creates his own distinctive musical template that has seen him establish himself as a top DJ/producer worldwide. He is instantly recognisable through his unique hypnotic melodies and seductive grooves, both in his productions and his DJ sets.
Matt Lange has become a name synonymous with attention to detail, precision, and musical craftsmanship, all without losing sight of emotional impact. His recent releases through Anjunadeep have been supported by many prominent figures in dance music. Matt’s recent accolades include delivering official remixes for pop superstar Usher as well as the Halo 4 video game soundtrack, co-writing/producing acts including VersaEmerge (Fueled By Ramen/Atlantic) and Glenn Morrison — for whom he earned a Platinum record — and more. In addition to his production talents, Matt’s DJ sets are notable for their musicality, diversity, and depth.
Always one to keep listeners on their toes, New York’s own Brian Cid is a leading tastemaker among American tech house artists. With a bold, inventive outlook on production and a graceful flare for delivering high-energy DJ sets, there’s simply no stopping Brian as his career continues to catapult to the top of the game.
December 26 Moon Boots
Moon Boots has been traveling the world finding solace in the soothing sounds of underground disco and R&B boogie records, returning to take Verboten on a galactic groove ride this month. Check out his latest track “There’s No Love” available for free download on SoundCloud here.
December 27 Susanne Bartsch presents KUNST
Susanne Bartsch is New York City’s patron saint of transformation and inclusion. The parties she’s thrown for three decades—from Paris to Tokyo—have provided a venue for countless creative souls and “creatures” to express themselves, come together and forget the hum-drum of the everyday. Launching in 1987, her weekly parties became the place to see and be seen for a trendsetting group of New Yorkers and ushered in a new era in nightlife, one that mixed uptown and downtown, gay and straight, chic and street. Susanne has become notorious for the beautiful, strange, and outlandishly dressed people who flock to her events. The colorful crowds have followed her for 3 decades and still gather at her current weekly bashes in New York and special events around the world.
December 31 Verboten + Bespoke pres NYE: All That Glitters…:Lee Burridge / Andhim / Matthew Dekay / Bedouin / Mike Khoury
LeeBurridge’s illustrious DJ career has spanned at least three continents and seen him work alongside some of the England’s most revered DJ’s, and he’s been featured on DJ Mag’s Top 100 poll for 9 consecutive years. When asked what kind of music he plays, he usually doesn’t have an answer but explains: “The records that can’t really be described. Those are the ones that always interest me. Wonky, Wobbly, bassline driven, trippy, melodic, mean, nasty, gentle, deep, spacious, distant and rocking.interesting not obvious.“
Dutch DJ and composer Matthew Dekay’s label All Day I Dream, isresponsible for pushing some of today’s most romantic, melancholic and emotional house music. Since breaking out into the scene with his first official release on One Star Records in 2001, Matthew Dekay has completed a metamorphosis through many styles and sounds, and has now returned to where he feels the most comfortable expressing his creativity – in underground music.
Made up of Simon Haehnel and Tobias Müller, Andhim have been honing their musical skills since their teenage years, drawing influence from a background in hip hop to create an energetic and soulful style of electronic dance music. Their unique, party-proven sound, which they describe as “super house,” has become its very own genre built from their soul and passion. The duo continues to hold up their reputation of transforming the decks into instruments themselves to create an extended sphere of music. Listen to their latest track, a remix of The 2 Bears’ “Not This Time” here.
Brooklyn’s own Tamer Malki and Rami Deejay are staples on the East Coast, but together to create something unstoppable: Bedouin. The duo’s debut EP ‘Mirage’ is available now on Beatport, and has been dubbed “brilliant” by Pete Tong.
Mike Koury’s sets continually blur the lines between techno, minimal, and tech-house. His fresh grooves, driving basslines, and dancefloor funk keep the late night revelers on their toes. He draws inspiration from the cutting edge sounds coming out of Berlin without forgetting his Chicago roots.
Verboten
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About Verboten
Verboten is a leader in the New York underground dance music scene: booking, producing and promoting house music and techno parties at a variety of clubs, boats, festivals and music conferences. Verboten was founded by Jen Schiffer and John Perez with the goal to bring high quality production, exceptional customer service and the best international DJ talent to an eclectic crowd of discerning music fans. In 2012, Verboten was voted ‘Best Party’ in Time Out New York, ‘Best Promoter’ for Paper Magazine Nightlife Awards, and nominated for ‘Best Event Promoter’ in 2013′s International Dance Music Awards. In summer 2013 Verboten hosted its inaugural summer event series StageONE on the East River waterfront and it opened its eponymous new nightclub in the heart of Williamsburg in spring 2014.