Has it been two months since my last post? Poor on my part, so here we go...
The past couple of months were a bit all over the place to say the least with a vacation that included a last minute gig in Mexico and a huge show here in Calgary during Stampede mixed in with the first steps of a software transition and the production of a couple of new tracks.
Starting with the gigs, I managed to score a last minute booking at O Ultralounge in Cancun, Mexico while vacationing with Sarah and friends in Playa del Carmen. Now as with pretty much anything in Mexico, there are always some surprises and this was no exception. From the person I was to meet initially not even showing up to an early after-hours time slot in a pretty empty room to the place shutting down for elections early at 4am, this gig had everything. However, although somewhat disappointing, I still had the enjoyment of playing on a roof top under the Mexican moon with my wife and two good friends there, as well as a few others (including one guy that was loving every moment of it).
It's too bad things didn't work out as planned, however what the hell, it's Mexico! Next time however I will be pressing for a daytime booking at the Me in Cancun; they've really done things properly there in terms of poolside music and atmosphere.
Shortly after arriving back in Calgary was another big show during Stampede with none other than Markus Schulz and this time thrown into the mix, Sander van Doorn. Having been the sixth show in the past couple of years I've done, this one was pretty much par for the course - started off loud and simply got properly out of hand by the time it was done. Can't wait for the next one (details coming in the fall).
Upcoming, the gig schedule is pretty steady with an afternoon appearance for a chill session at Hotel Arts coming up this Sunday, August 8th, another Aura night that promises to be a big one hitting Habitat on August 12th, then a daytime slot at the Bow River Flow Street Festival on August 22nd. The fall has some interesting possibilities, but I always like to keep those under wraps until they're actually in place.
On the technology front, I've started the transition from using Serato over to Traktor. After a few years of happily dj'ing with Serato I've concluded that I've hit the limit of what can be done with the software. Traktor, in combination with a good MIDI controller, opens up a lot more creative possibilities such as using 4 decks along with a myriad of great effects and tricks. With a brand new NI controller on the horizon the timing for slowly switching over is perfect - considering I have to re-tag about 5,000 tracks from scratch in the process (I recently discovered that the NI library converter doesn't work on WAV files. Boo.). But, on the positive side, least I now have plenty of time to really narrow down my music to only the good stuff.
On the production front, two brand new tracks on the big progressive tip, are in the final stages of completion with one of them already getting a re-rub from 709's Ben Rama, whose production work I've always enjoyed, and the other, if I can bribe, coerce and convince him to do so, will hopefully be remixed by none other than Federico Epis. Both tracks will be released once again on the rapidly growing Jetlag Digital label as one big E.P. As a preview to the official release, you'll hear these tracks in my upcoming radio shows and as a part of my live sets over the next few months.
Thanks again for all of your support and kind words as always. For those of you in Calgary on August 12th, definitely come down and check out our Aura night at Habitat. It's shaping up to be a packed house with lots of invites going out and some great energy building around it. If things work out as we hope, the night will soon be permanently stamped into the monthly Thursday rotation (we already have another booked for September 9th if you can't make this one).
