The other big reason is to help give a final publicity push in support of WordCamp Chicago 2010. The TWO-DAY event will be THIS WEEKEND–Saturday, June 5th and Sunday, June 6th.  If you have an interest in online publishing, blogging or anything Web-related, you owe it to yourself to check out this event.  For more details go to wordcampchicago.com.  This is only the second WordCamp Chicago; last year was totally off-the-scale!

Since DMA’s inception in 1993, one of the primary goals has been to demystify the process of creation, champion ground-breaking technologies and “pull back the curtain.” We love to debunk myths and openly discuss some of the “tricks of the trade” when it comes to dance music production, remixing, and promotion.

WordPress is the ONLY reason why Dance Music Authority has been able to get back on its feet.  No, we definitely don’t think “we’re ALL THAT.”  And, yes, we have a looooong way to go, but we also have an agile software platform that can do anything we need it to do…and a mammoth user/ development community “watching our back” and constantly pushing the envelope.

We hope you enjoy our WordPress story.  What’s yours?…  -J. Medley

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Dance Music Authority (DMAclub.com) Settles Into A Comfortable Groove With WordPress

Helping to bring a deceased print publication “back from the dead” is no easy task, but thanks to the brillant online publishing platform WordPress, Dance Music Authority is back on its feet and moving forward at DMAclub.com.

Even though this endeavor got off to a very shaky start, once we switched to the WordPress platform, we immediately started to get major traction.  Perhaps the funniest part of the story is the fact that WordPress is a free solution.

In our initial efforts to bring DMA back, there were a lot of false starts.  Several platforms were suggested, with several associated price tags–ranging from $2,000-$15,000!  During this initial phase, we always felt like we were at the mercy of the designer/developer, which was exacerbated by the fact that ALL of these developers ultimately became impossible to reach a one time or another.  From our vantage point, this was totally unacceptable.

Frustrated by myriad developer issues, we jumped on a drag-and-drop HTML publishing program.  The program had a lot of cool features, but it did not provide a way for us to easily showcase our primary content in an organized fashion.  For example, we always fealt that we were just throwing our pluggers up against a wall, with absolutely no organization whatsoever.  Moreover, the process was way too labor-intensive.  When we wanted to add a new item to a page, we had to manually push everything down.  This was definitely not the answer.

Fortunately, after the 2008 Winter Music Conference, several magical things started to happen once we got back in Chicago.  The most profound event was the switch to WordPress (April, 2008).  Once we made the move, we never looked back.  Blogging is a major joy, and we now have time to focus on music and video production…as well as learning as much as we can about in the inner-workings of WordPress.

Yes, WordPress has become a new obsession for us.  We love “getting under the hood” and messing around, and have learned so much more about the Web thanks to WordPress.  The WordPress user community is a massive collective where learning is encouraged.  We look forward to contributing to the community by helping to spread the word about this amazing product.

At Dance Music Authority, we have always been about passing along useful information.  Well, WordPress is more than an informational nugget; it is a robust total content management system.  I prefer the term content management solution, as opposed to content management system, because WordPress is just that–a solution, an answer.

Migrating to WordPress has been a TOTAL solution for us and we feel obligated to “share the knowledge” by helping to spread the word.

To be continued…

–J

WordCamp Chicago 2010

The Chicago Mart Plaza
350 West Mart Center Drive
Chicago, IL  60654

Tel: +1 312 8365000 Fax: +1 312 2229508

Push “pause” for a moment each day to just let loose and enjoy the boundless creative options currently available.  Today, you can have everything you want when it comes to music production; prices are down and quality is through the roof!  There has never been a better time to download some tracks from your favorite vendor and “go off” in the lab.

Remember cue burn, scratchy crossfaders, horrible-sounding samplers with limited memory?  Those are all issues of the past thanks to the technological gains made over the past decade.  And yes, we are compiling a list of breakthroughs that have transpired from 2000 to present (we round up).  More on that later.

Digital music is easily accessible and relatively inexpensive.  Download your tracks and start mixing–that’s it.  From a DJ’s vantage point, it could mean taking a few extra moments to just listen to some tracks that may be outside of your normal programming style and then try mixing those records with your regular rotation.  Having some fun in the lab means just that; enjoy the process, without expectations.  Musical ideas–whether for DJ battle routines or song lyrics–can manifest at any time so be ready!  The key is to consistently engage in the process of creation and to have a mechanism in place to capture new musical ideas.  In other words, have the tape running to emulate a live performance scenario.

It’s all at our fingertips, and we are floored by what we are hearing on the web.  So hit us up and we will help spread the word about your masterpieces to the best of our ability.

Peace & happy holidays!

– The DMAclub.com Family

Music blogs and LEGAL download sites are the rage and the trend is likely to continue.   People love music–particularly during tough economic times.   Fortunately, music and online niche communities (like DMAclub.com) are more accessible now than ever.

Support your favorite artists by downloading their work or showing up at their shows.  Make a comment or submit an interesting post to your favorite blog; feedback is viral and has a real impact.  Yes, there is a paradigm shift in full effect relative to how we produce and consume media, but that is a good thing.  For whatever reason, we completely overlook the critical fact that, now, the power is now fully in our hands, and we have the full ability to take the dance genre to the next level.  The marketplace is global and our world is far more immediate than ever before.

So, do your thing in the lab, just be sure to hit us up so we can help spread the word.  We’ll all have a blast in the process!

Be on the lookout for an exciting new feature in the space very soon.  Until then, please be patient with us as we load up on lots of new, beautiful pluggers.  We apologize for not being able to post anywhere near the amount of flyers we have received, but we definitely have a remedy for that issue.

Thanks again for your continued support!

-DMAclub.com

Over the course of DMA’s five-year “coma,” we’ve watched as popular nonlinear video editing (NLE) software dramatically decreased in price…yet became exponentially more powerful. Moreover, with today’s NLE suites, you can do far more than just edit; you can create broadcast-quality motion graphics or even 3D animation—yes, animation!

Upon viewing Davide’s demo reel, we were immediately floored! His sense of timing is spot-on, and his self-produced audio track is catchy and bangs hard. The real gift here is the fact that Davide created this masterpiece all by himself, using Adobe After Effects and Apple’s Final Cut Pro for the visuals, along with Apple’s Logic Pro for the audio. We’re big on video and effects here at DMAclub.com, so be on the lookout for some hard-core production tips and tricks down the road.

For now, we hope you enjoy Davide’s demo reel. We find ourselves playing it over and over trying to steal ideas—and there are lots of good ones in this 2:00 video. If you like what you see, consider dropping Davide a line via MySpace (myspace.com/davidefiore); he may have time for client/label requests.

Have some fun in the lab!

–J. Medley

DJ Lugo Rosado & The Legendary Technics SL 1100a Turntables

With the March Miami musical madness about to jump off, now is a great time to reflect upon dance music’s past and celebrate how far the genre we affectionately call “electronica” has progressed. Whether you prefer deep house, techno, trance, DnB, High NRG or freestyle, there is no denying that the dance genre has gone through several revolutions, and the new wave is just beginning.

DJ Lugo Rosado is someone embodies the term “constant evolution.” When I met him at the end of the Hot Mix Five’s 2007 reunion concert, I was immediately floored by his knowledge of the history of Chicago-style hot mixing. As we reminisced about parties, venues and gear from back in the day, Lugo mentioned that he had a pair or Technics SL 1100s. I nearly passed out. One look at a pair of 1100s can underscore how far DJs and the art of hot mixing have come.  I’ll go on the record and say that things are definitely better today, but it’s fun to reflect upon the past.

DJ Kenny Jammin' Jason

I’ll never forget being in high school and witnessing the legendary DJ Kenny Jammin’ Jason scratching, doing break extensions and triples on these unique decks.  Built like a tank, the 1100s had a heavy platter that screamed “torque!” Kenny would throw double copies of a record into a lush flange as he worked his Clubman mixer, sending the crowd into all-out frenzy.Kenny was breaking major ground then, and continues to push the technological envelope today with his countless mix shows on both terrestrial (Chicago’s V-103 FM) and Internet radio (1Club.FM). Kenny Jammin’ Jason will always be a legend and it’s comforting to know that he continues to bang relentlessly–LIVE!

Lugo Rosado’s 1100s should remind us that we now live in a world where practically anything is possible relative to the production, performance and dissemination of electronica. Yeah, a lot of things have changed, but for those who really love dance music, there are tons of legal options for both listening to and purchasing anything you want. Legal Internet radio is a potent option and a medium that we plan to discuss at length.

At DMAclub.com, we consider ourselves to be “open source” and have no problem promoting the work or others. Yes, we have our fledgling Internet radio experiment (DMAclub.com Radio), but we look forward to promoting other entities that support dance music. Moreover, we urge anyone to hit us up with suggestions via our contact page.

The opportunities for self-expression are virtually limitless when you consider the myriad filters, algorithms and interfaces we have at our disposal to mold our sonic masterpieces. Sure, there is the valid “button pusher” versus “legitimate hot mix DJ” debate, but the potential performance enhancements at our disposal are hard to ignore.

Now is definitely a perfect time to buckle down, push one’s own personal envelope and simply create whatever comes naturally. The array of available tools—at every price point—is totally mind-numbing, so there is no good reason to abstain from the joys of creation!

We look forward to showcasing the new tools that DJs are using to take their sets AND productions to the next level.  If you can make it to Miami next month for the Winter Music Conference or Remix Hotel, you’ll definitely see what I’m talking about!   As we have been saying for some time now at DMA, “These are very exciting times indeed…so produce!”  –J. Medley

DJ Alan King Demonstrates Perfect Blends

Happy Holidays! We all have so much for which to be profoundly thankful: family, good friends and the miracle of truly being “alive” and having the opportunity to celebrate the myriad blessings that are manifesting all around us. These are very exciting times at DMA, and we cannot adequately put into words how grateful we are for being able to get back on our feet and experience a vivid “new” world after our five-year “coma.”

As DJs, producers and fans of electronica, we REALLY have a lot to be thankful for—particularly over the last 5 years! Now is an excellent time to be in the “game” of music. If you want to produce original material, there is absolutely nothing holding you back. Today’s production tools enable aspiring artists to do practically anything they want “in the lab”—and, at a level of sonic excellence that would have been cost-prohibitive just five years ago. As the cliché goes, there is no reason to “let the music die inside of you!” So, produce!

Finally, at Dance Music Authority, we give thanks for and enthusiastically celebrate the election of our “hometown hero,” President-elect Barack Obama. It will be refreshing to have a commander-in-chief whose feet are planted firmly on the ground and can empathize with the “common” man or woman. Over the course of the brutal campaign, terms like “aloof,” “elitist” and “professorial” were thrown around to make it appear as if Mr. Obama were living in a bubble. Nothing could be further from the truth. Those familiar with Chicago’s Hyde Park / Kenwood communities know that the overwhelming majority of its residents—like the Obamas—are hard-working people who don’t run from “urban” issues, but choose to improve their communities from within by confronting challenges head-on.

Another trait effective leaders share is that they tend to surround themselves with brilliant people. A perfect example is attorney Alan King, a person who does EVERYTHING exceptionally well. He also has the unique distinction of being an Obama delegate, who represented the state of Illinois at the Democratic National Convention. Now that’s beyond awesome! Alan actually traveled with Mr. Obama on a number of occasions throughout the grueling campaign. Now, in the spirit of full disclosure, we should also mention that Mr. King is a member of Chicago’s legendary Chosen Few, an amazing collective of DJs/producers who continue to push the envelope and redefine the sound of the underground house music scene. They’re as deep as you can get—period!

We’re especially thankful for the video of Alan “AK” King we obtained at the Birthday celebration for Chosen Few member Jesse Saunders. We hope you enjoy this little montage, replete with a few of AK’s photos from the campaign. Definitely take notice of Alan’s PERFECT blends—he’s a true master of the fine art of LIVE mixing!

Lastly, be on the lookout for Jesse’s club footage, as well as an in-depth interview of Mr. Saunders himself—he has a lot going on!

So, “Happy holidays, y’all!” There’s nothin’ to it but to do it!

Peace!

The folks at DMAclub.com

We are pleased to announce that Dance Music Authority Radio is now online!

This was one of the final items on our seemingly endless “to do list.”  DMAclub is now pumping dance music 24/7/365, and the audio can be launched directly from this very web site. The overall functionality and playlist will be modified in short order, but we didn’t want to waste any more time tweaking at the expense of bangin’ tracks.  Be on the lookout for an eclectic mix of dance music, as well as artist interviews and special features.

If you would like to submit tracks or DJ mixes for consideration, please connect with us via our contact page and we will hit you back ASAP. Thanks again to the countless supporters around the globe who continued to show DMA major love over the course of our five-year coma. Even though DMA was defunct and unable to showcase their art, these individuals provided unending encouragement and innovative ideas for a new plan of attack. So, here we go again; we’ll simply pick up right where we left off. This time, however, it will be way more fun! Peace to all!

CLICK PLAY BUTTON BELOW FOR RADIO.

We are proud to welcome the return of one of our original members, DJ Richard C. Mink! We also thank him for his patience, fresh ideas and enthusiasm as DMA slowly came out of its coma over the past year.

We never thought it would take this long, but each “pimp slap” truly was a blessing. You can definitely expect some very insightful submissions from Richard, and the fact that he embraces the new, boundless publishing opportunities as much as we do is all-the-more exciting!

The information below is off of his website, ilovethisgroove.com, where you can sample his mixes for yourself!

Until 2004, I was featured in the VIP/Poodle Lounge at Club Mythos, now The Forum, (in Charlotte, NC) on Saturday nights playing an eclectic selection of music spanning the spectrum of Ambient, Acid Jazz, Classic R&B, House, Trance, Classic as well as Contemporary Vocal Ballads with a sprinkling of well-placed Intelligent Breaks. Mythos was reputed by every international DJ/Artist who played there as the only “World Class” club between Atlanta and Philly. It has since been reborn as “The Forum” and continues to (more than) meet those lofty expectations. Owner Andy Kastanas may be contacted about at 704-904-6815 (djandyk@bellsouth.net).

I like to use music to enhance the room’s sensuality while offering a haven for those that might need a little something different. My personal challenge is not only to make that mixture of genres sound like they belong together but also like they belong in that room – with you.

You would have also been able to catch me in Mythos’ ultra-cool back room, the Oracle, playing Nu-Skool Breaks, Progressive House and Trance on the Friday nights when there wasn’t a special event at the club. Although I thoroughly enjoyed my Poodle residency, it was on those nights that I was encouraged to spread my UK-oriented wings to their fullest.

As well, if you got to the club early on a Saturday night (or selected Icons events) you would have been treated to a healthy serving of deeply electronic, emotionally enriching tasty fare in the main room as I regularly opened for the night’s headliner, AK47 (Andy).

Historically, I’ve worked a wide range of clubs and parties from New York to Florida to Louisiana and, after a nine-year stint in Winston-Salem, moved to Charlotte in 1999.

I now reside in San Antonio.

I’ve also done Acid Jazz and House mix shows in New Orleans and Winston-Salem.

I was a featured columnist (House Work, Acid Jazz) and reviewer of import & domestic underground independent progressive house & trance for the internationally distributed industry publications Dance Music Authority (DMA) which was is published in Chicago and BPM Culture in Los Angeles.

DMA has re-launched, initially as an on-line publication (click the link above) and I have been invited to continue reviewing music as well as writing selected features and interviews.