Exclusive Q&A with Dance Diva Andrea Carnell

Dance-music diva Andrea Carnell will be making an appearance on October 24th at 9 pm at the iconic Stonewall bar on Christopher Street through Sobel Promotions. Barbara Sobel arranged our getting together to talk about that & much more! Space in the intimate venue is limited, so come early!

Dj Buddy Beaverhausen: Hi, Andrea! I understand you will be the first dance-music diva to perform at the historic Stonewall Inn through Sobel Promotions. How are you feeling about this gig right now? (Next Tuesday, October 14th.) 
Andrea Carnell: Oh my God! I'm very excited about performing at Stonewall. It's a part of history for Christ's sake! I've been there several times for other events and when I performed on a float a few years back for Gay Pride, our float stopped right in front of Stonewall and I was singing "You Used to Know" by Xaviera Gold/Ralphi Rosario. I just went with it and it meant something to me; so does my upcoming show. It means something TO ME. Sobel Promotions came to me about the show and without hesitation I said "HELL, YES"!

DBB: You're a Billboard charting disco diva. Could you tell our readers more about that? 
AC: My songs "At Last," "Not the One" and "You Used to Know" were my Billboard Dance chart hits. "You Used to Know" being my highest charting top-ten hit! I REALLY LOVE THAT SONG. My most popular song, though, would have to be "OPEN UP YOUR HEART" Erick Morillo used that for one of his compilations a few years back and I swear that really helped my tiny l'il career! [laughs] But I am proud of that!

DBB:You currently live in NYC. Were you born and raised here? And what are your favorite things about living in The City? And least fave? 
AC: I was born in North Carolina and mostly raised here in NYC. I love NY because without it, I doubt I would have lived any other life. My life has been REALLY exciting and cool! My least fave thing about living in NY is the fear that I'll get bored of it. (But hasn't happened 100% yet!)
 
DBB: What music did you grow up with? Who were your favorite vocalists? Who were your idols?
AC: EVERYTHING WAS PLAYED IN MY HOME AS A KID. I love female singers the most though. My influences are: STEPHANIE MILLS, LINDA CLIFFORD, TINA TURNER, PHYLISS HYMAN, MADONNA, DIANA ROSS, INDIA, KRISTINE W., LADY MISS KIER, XAVIERA GOLD, DONNA SUMMER, THE ROLLING STONES, BETTE MIDLER, ULTRA NATE, U2, THE CURE, REINA, DEBORAH COX, CEE CEE PENISTON, SUZANNE PALMER, STING, JOHN KANO, JOHNNY VICIOUS,WHITNEY HOUSTON, INAYA DAY, AMUKA, KIM SOZZI, PATTI LABELLE, CHRISTINA AGUILERA, ARETHA FRANKLIN, ROCHELLE FLEMING, LOLETTA HOLLAWAY, JANET JACKSON, CHER, BARBRA STREISAND, FERGIE, JODY WATLEY, BEYONCE, AKON, YOLANDA ADAMS, P. DIDDY, MARIAH CAREY, CELINE DION, PRINCE, LUTHER VANDROSS, MICHAEL JACKSON, ANNIE LENNOX, GLADYS KNIGHT, THE OJAYS, BRIAN MCKNIGHT, KIM ENGLISH, JENNIFER HOLLIDAY, EN VOGUE, MARY J BLIGE, CHANTE MOORE, HEATHER HEADLEY, GWEN STEFANI, KEYSHIA COLE, MISSY ELLIOT, CIARA, BOY GEORGE, ERASURE, GEORGE MICHAEL, PHIL COLLINS, ELTON JOHN, ANASTACIA, KELLY CLARKSON, FANTASIA AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON!
 
DBB:How do you keep in such fantastic shape? 
AC: A body shaper! [laughs] No, seriously, IT'S HARD. I love to eat and my weight fluctuates!

DBB: Outside of your hits, what work have you done onstage and/or in the industry? Have you been a back-up singer and, if so, what did you think of "20 Feet from Stardom"? 
AC: I was in a few lil plays here and there. Nothing major. I've never been a back up singer and I'm not opposed to it. I would do it. And I love Darlene Love and I believe 20 Feet from Stardom shined a beautiful and much deserved light on her AND MANY OTHER SINGERS!
 
DBB: Any good backstage stories (by that I mean gossip) you can share? 
AC: Lord have mercy! JUST MY OWN STORIES WOULD SHOCK. I won't speak on them though. It just always becomes a back and forth, he said she said, so I remain silent to avoid the stupidity! I have been mistreated and pushed around though!

DBB:How has the industry changed since you first started, it seems to evolve at such an accelerated pace? 
AC:Well, I'm proud dance music became mainstream again but I do feel like smaller artists in the dance community have been ignored and pushed out to a degree!
 
DBB:Anything new we should be aware of? 
AC: I'm a bit of a computer geek so you'd be surprised at the career I'm pursuing. And artistically... well, I keep my eyes open for anything that would interest me and I try to get in there to audition and give it a shot. I really love COMEDY. I even want to do stand up!

DBB: What music do you listen to on the radio? And what do you do when you just want to relax? 
AC: My music tastes change daily, only because I LIKE EVERYTHING! And I enjoy relaxing with my friends and I love alone time. I LOVE MY OWN COMPANY!

DBB: How did you meet/ sign on with NYC's primo promoter, Barbara Sobel? 
AC: Barbara seems to be devoted and wants to work [closely] with artists, so I'm all for her efforts to succeed!
 
DBB: Any last shout-outs before we see you at Stonewall?
AC: I just hope people swing on by. IT'S ON A TUESDAY AND IT'S AN EARLY 9 PM SHOW - SO NO EXCUSES! Have a lil fun, laughs and dance with me.

DBB:Thank you, Andrea, look forward to seeing you October 14!

Exclusive Q&A with Dance Music's Next Star: DeVonde Williams

I met Devonde Williams at the Queens Pride event at Icon in Astoria. She was backstage supporting her famous cousin, Inaya Day, who would perform later that night. I recall her as a ball of positive energy (much like her cousin). Now it is DeVonde's time to step into the limelight with a new dance single called "Jump In" with Lucius Lowe. Expect dance remixes from Sobel Promotions. It is DeVonde who will grace Icon's stage this time and I look forward to being there to see her at the single's release party on September 12th!

Dj Buddy Beaverhausen: You have a big event scheduled for the not-too-distant future at the club, Icon, in Astoria. Can you share any details with our readers?

DeVonde Williams: This is going to be a high-energy grand event with a lot of love, laughter and of course singing and dancing. You will just have to be there to understand the magnitude of how GREAT an event this will be!

DBB: You happen to be cousins with a major dance-music diva. What was it like growing with her?
DW: Well I can say there was NEVER a dull moment! From jumping on and off beds to falling off beds, singing and dancing all over the place we had and still have a ball! Our family is VERY IMPORTANT to us. Our family is so close-knit, we grew up more like sisters than cousins.

DBB: What kind of music do you like to listen to. And what recording artists, outside of Inaya, have influenced you?
DW: I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MUSIC! I believe music has a healing power! I LOVE ALL genres of music! Funk, r&b, jazz, neo-soul, classical, folk, pop, gospel, rock, rap. I love Jill Scott, Billy Joel, Ella Fitzgerald, Barbara Streisand, Mahalia Jackson, Billie Holiday and my three musical GENIUS friends in my head: Prince, Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder. The list goes on but I MUST say the sweet, sultry tone of Gladys knight I just LOVE!

DBB: Tell us about Heartshare & your involvement there.
DW: Heartshare human services is an agency that I have been dedicated to for nine years that helps improve the life of people with developmental disabilities and special needs. I am a supervisor in the day program and I help the individuals develop to their fullest potential [regarding] common life-skill goals that we often take for granted. It is very rewarding and I am delighted to be a part of such an organization.

DBB: You're from Brooklyn, where I also live now. Any special summer events there you're looking forward to?
DW: I grew up in Sunset Park I look forward to so many things from the free concerts at Wingate Park to the festival on 18th Avenue. There is no place like Brooklyn! I love it.
DBB: I'm in Bay Ridge, so we're practically neighbors!

DBB: What are your plans, right now, as a singer with a growing career? Do you see yourself following in your cousin's footsteps as a dance diva?
DW: There is no one on this earth, living or dead, like Inaya. My prayer is that I can come as close to her professionalism, her energy, her brilliant mind and her vocal skills and performance. My plan is to keep pushin keep on pushin to the top. [winks]

DBB:I hear from producer Barbara Sobel that dance remixes of your latest recording may be forthcoming. Is that correct? And how do you feel about that?
DW: That is correct and I am ecstatic beyond measure.

DBB Picture this: You walk into a club, they're playing you singing your song and everyone's dancing to it. How do think that you'd react?
DW: I would be super duper elated and would join in on the dance floor.

DBB: Is there anything you like to do more than sing?
DW: No, not really but I love to dance and I love to cook. If I have a bad day, I dance like no one is watching and when people eat my food they feel my love!

DBB: If you had to describe yourself in one word, what would it be?
DW: [Laughs] Wow, my mother would say fabulous but I say humbled.

DBB: Thank you so much, DeVonde. Look forward to seeing you at Icon in September!
DW: No, thank you! And, yes, I will see you in September.

Barbara Sobel's ICONic Birthday Bash

The Queen of Dance Music, Sobel Nation's Barbara Sobel, held court in the cozy corner at the club, ICON, in Astoria, Queens, NYC, the evening of April 27. She was crowned and bejeweled by club owner and music producer ("Love Goddess") Nick Lion in our elite coronation ceremony.

On the ride in, my driver's radio played Belinda Carlisle's "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" just before my destination. It was a harbinger of Dj Ian Ford's hot stream of '70s-'80s-'90s dance hits. Indeed, "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" was one of them. We also heard Donna Summer, Dee-Lite, Pet Shop Boys, Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Alicia Bridges, Pamala Stanley, Chaka Khan and so many other iconic divas of those decades. And Barbara is determined to bring a type of fun and exuberance back to modern dancefloors via Sobel Promotions, featuring a long list of the best remixers, of whom Ian Ford is one. (Check out our recent interview: http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-barbara-sobel-birthday-social.html )

I asked Ian about his name, which I've seen also spelled as "Fford." He told me the double-f spelling's old hat and that he only used it, initially, for distinction. But once his career ascended on the LGBT circuit, he no longer needed to do that and now prefers the original, traditional spelling of the name.

Ok, you djs out there, remember: Ford has a better idea when it comes to mixing a hot and seamless set as he did for Barbara's birthday.

I met Barbara's friends, Karla and Tracey. Tracey told me about her work with Timber-S Cat Rescue, having just returned from one of their events. Karla is the manager of Trylon Vet Care, where Barbara brings her cats. Unfortunately, none were present at the event.

Nick & Ben

It was a true pleasure to finally meet Nick Lion's husband, Ben, with whom I enjoyed chatting at the bar. Of course, ICON excels in its service and friendly, no-attitude staff of beautiful men. It was raining men at the club for Barbara's special night. In fact, Ian prominently played the Weather Girls' hit when the go-go god (a/k/a stripper) entertained us all, though he was most close-up and personal with Ms Sobel and her circle of friends. After all, she was the birthday girl and this night was in her honor, and that included having a groove thing shaking right before her.

Special thanks to our waiter, Martin. Queens born and bred, he is just a sweetie and quite guileless and unaffected, despite the stereotypes people might harbor about New Yorkers.

Eric, our bartender, was also especially friendly and exhibited such grace under pressure on the job behind the busy bar. Just as cute and cordial as can be.

Thank you guys. And thanks to all of the ICON staff. By far the best!

Eric, Buddy B, Nick & Martin

I left, taking a shot of our go-go god, my chariot awaiting. WKTU on the car radio, sailing home while listening to more blasts from the past; songs like "Rhythm Is a Dancer" and --  believe it or not -- "Heaven Is a Place on Earth." On this night, that place was called Icon in Astoria.

At home, of course, I listened to the music on Sobel Nation Radio over the Internet:
www.sobelnationradio.fm

Our go-go god

 

To Martin, Eric and all the young men at ICON tonight, and also to my younger self, I dedicate this music video:


More pictures from Barbara Sobel's ICONic event below:

It's raining go-go gods, ladies & gentlemen!

Spin, Baby, Spin! Ian Ford (nee Fford)

Our bartender Eric & I. He's wearing the new Icon t-shirt

ICON's Marilyn-themed VIP Lounge

The Barbara Sobel Birthday Social Exclusive Q&A

I'm eagerly anticipating my return to Icon, in Astoria, this weekend, to celebrate dance-music mogul Barbara Sobel's birthday. Club owner Nick Lion will be there   http://blabittobeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2013/09/q-with-love-goddess-and-icons-nick-lion.html; Dj Ian Ford (Fford) will be spinning http://longisland.ourcityradio.com/stations/dance-news/long-island-city-radio-presents-dj-buddy-beaverhausen-qa-dj-remixer-ian-ford. It should be a blast! 

Barbara is the head of Sobel Promotions, Sobel Nation Records, runs the Sobel Nation Network Radio Stations, and works for Our City Radio (Dance Channels)/ Queens Our City Radio and someone I've come to consider a personal friend (though I haven't actually seen her since December, at the Get Out! Awards at X/L). Most artists who work for Barbara Sobel feel part of her family and benefit from her guidance and generosity. It was a joy to have the opportunity to interview her ahead of the Icon birthday bash.


Dj Buddy Beaverhausen: You are a Taurus by my reckoning, Ms Sobel. I didn't realize we were born under the same sign. What Taurean traits do you have according to the zodiac?
Barbara Sobel: I don't follow the zodiac much, so I had to Google the traits. [Laughs.]  I do have to say the majority of traits I do not have. I am not self-indulgent (sorry, I am not a mani/pedi type gal), materialistic (No Gucci for me), or lazy (I work 365 days a year including holidays and haven't been on a vacation (and it was a working vacation) since 2007).  I am extremely patient, and have to be working with all the personalities and nuances of the music business, stubborn (as Julian Marsh can attest to), and possessive.

DBB: Well, all the best people are Tauruses in my opinion. Cher! Grace Jones! Bono! Adele! Queen Elizabeth! Me! What do you think we all have in common?

BS: I think that all those people are very open minded, liberal and believe in equality to all. They have all seen injustice against humanity whether it be towards the LGBT community, poverty, discrimination etc, and they didn't sit by quiet and actually did something. Not to mention they think outside the box, have had more haters than they can mention

DBB: You went to Hofstra and NYU, where you got your Masters in Social Work. Where did you think you were headed at the time?

BS: I am very proud to say that I am a LCSW-R, passing my State Boards. When I was in high school, my father, Robert Sobel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Sobel) installed in me the importance of an education.  I was one of the originators who worked with AIDS patients when the disease first came about, and was very active in ACT-UP.  I was known as the Angel Of Death in the hospitals.  When doctors and nurses saw me enter a patient's room, they knew the patients disease and knew that it would soon be time.  I have always wanted to work with the terminally ill and help them die (sorry, I don't sugar coat it.)  Nothing is more gratifying to be with a person at the time of their death.  I don't believe anybody should die alone, and we all know how many people did just that at the beginning of the AIDS crisis.

DBB: What influenced or directed you toward a career in dance music?

BS: I actually got my start with the band Culture Club, before they were famous. I started out writing fanzines, then message boards.... and slowly my career took shape as my work started to get noticed by the actual bands and they hired me.

DBB: When did Sobel Nation initially kick off?

BS: Sobel Promotions (www.sobelpromotions.com) kicked off in 2010. Yes, four years ago. I was working for another promoter and had a different view of how things should be run. I saw first hand the drama that was going on in this business and experienced it. Heck, when I started I had a two hour conversation with some people in the business who stated they will destroy me and went on to try to blacklist me, telling their friends not to associate with me. To this day, the 'clique' remains and I have even had Billboard Reporters who are part of the 'clique' say publicly they would not play anything related to me. I laugh at this type of behavior and it proves my point and why I started Sobel Promotions. To some, it isn't about the music. It is about the drama and the 'cliques.' After I started Sobel Promotions, we continued to grow with radio stations and a record label.  The Artists, DJ's, and Record Labels within my promotion company have formed a nation.... a family.  When one of us succeeds, we all succeeds, when one of us fails we all fail. We may have significant others in our lives, but truthfully, the only one who understands the craziness of this industry and lifestyle is another musician.  Sobel Nation is a family. We all have different personalities like any family. We have our quirks. We fight. We make up. Not all of us get along like any family. However, we are all respectful of each other. The oneness and family atmosphere which I have developed is exactly why I started Sobel Promotions, and quite truthfully, I haven't seen anything quite like us out there and I look forward to the continued growth and addition of new members.

DBB: Sobel Nation is on fire now! So many great dj promos. What do you think are some of your hottest recent remixes right now?

BS: Ah... I am not going to choose one, because if I promote it, the single is "The Best Of The Best." Every single is special in their own right, and I can't say that a House tune is hotter than a Trance tune. All my singles are hot, and all will make somebody out there happy.

DBB: Tell us about Sobel Nation Radio if you will.

BS: Sobel Nation Radio consists of Sobel Nation Radio which plays dance music and the Sobel Promotions Station which plays music only from the songs I promote. I may be the only promotion company with its own radio station. Some of the songs I promote may be difficult to place on mainstream radio, and I believe everybody in my company should get radio airplay.

DBB: You have a birthday bash coming up at Icon in Astoria this Sunday. Not everyone gets feted in such a grand manner by club owner Nick Lion, with Ian Fford spinning. Are you excited about all this? (Because I am.)

BS: I am very excited.  Not only is ICON the hottest club in Queens, but also because I get to meet Nick and IANNNNNN for the first time.... and Ian may not survive it :)

Barbara lays healing hands on dance-music artist eric Alan

DBB: Can't wait to see you on Sunday. We'll talk some more. Any shout-outs I can add to my piece?

BS: I would like to shout out to everybody in my promotion company. I am not going to single people out, because then I will leave somebody out and they will get upset I better give a shout out to my mother or she will kill me. I also want to always thank my vet Dr. Wyler at Trylon Vet Care,  and my best friend Karla Wallach. Without him I wouldn't be going to ICON because they take care of my cats. Also a special shout out to Priscilla Ragsdell. Look, Priscilla. You are now famous and I am doing all this to impress you. Ricky Clawson MJS and everybody loves Raum, Who is Chris Colby?, Joe Gillan send cat treats, Mike "Fa La La Jolly" I Love StoneBridge, Leigh Denyer stay away from sharks,and Mixgeselle..... just remember.  You will not be a part of any of this.

In all seriousness, a special mention to Julian Marsh, Leo Frappier, Ronnie Matthews, Kevin Unger, Gary Cannavo, you were there with me from the very beginning and stayed despite the craziness and didn't listen to the drama. 

In all further seriousness, thank you for all the people who believed in my vision of creating a family.... They believed that it should be about the MUSIC and supporting each other.  Not drama and high school games or 'cliques.'

I would also like to shout out to all the fans of the artists, DJ's and Record Labels within Sobel Nation. Without you, I wouldn't be here and neither would the artists. Keep listening and thanks for all the support!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Sobel

--

The Sobel Nation Network Consists Of:

Sobel Promotions, The Sobel Nation Network of Radio Stations, Our City Radio (Dance Channels), Queens Our City Radio & Sobel Nation Records
www.sobelpromotions.com

www.sobelnationradio.fm

Exclusive Q&A with Producer Joseph Borg of Les Grooves

It is always such a pleasure to conduct an interview with contemporary talent in the dance music world who have such a strong, defined aesthetic. Exactly why this Q&A with Montreal's Joseph Borg was a joy for me! Please check out his fantastic new album, Les Grooves, available at Beatport, iTunes, Amazon and Juno. Thanking Barbara Sobel of Sobel Promotions for arranging this Q&A.

Dj Buddy Beaverhausen: Hello, Joseph, welcome to our Q&A for Leave It to Beaverhausen, Our City Radio and Dance World Radio.
Joseph Borg: Thanks it is really great to be here!



DBB: I understand you currently live in Montreal by way of Toronto. Where were you born and raised?
JB: I was born and raised in Toronto. But I never really felt I belonged there. After 10 months in Montreal it feels more like home than Toronto ever did.



DJBB: What kind of music did you listen to growing up and what music influenced you? What music influences you now?
JB: Strangely, the music that inspired me as a child wasn't any of the precursor electronic music that you might think such as Depeche Mode, New Order or other early electronic bands. I was always really into classic rock music like Zeppelin, Hendrix, The Doors, Cream, Jefferson Airplane, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. In fact, I still love all that stuff. If you listen to my music you can really hear the influence of that early rock music. Oddly enough, those recordings are still my greatest inspiration in electronic music. Sure, it sounds nothing like that modern beats you will hear in clubs, but since it is so close to my heart it really sparks my creativity every time. I just chose electronic music because I love the amount of freedom you have, and the fact that you have total control over the sound spectrum without involving other musicians.



DBB: Your new album, Les Grooves (Alpha Milk Recordings; being promoted by Sobel Promotions), has recently been released, so let's focus on that for now. "I don't want to just make another bunch of club anthems here. I have been there already, and although I think I will do more of that in the future, this time I really wanted to shed any kind of template. Experiments like these are what contributes to an artist’s growth," you've said. What made you decide to make this kind of artistic departure? A virtual leap into the blue, no?
JB: Well, I have done this a couple times before so its not really into the blue. Ten years ago, I recorded an album called Away under the Hibernate alias, released under System Recordings. It was EDM, sure, but it was radically different from anything else that was – or is – out there. It really combined many different elements just like Les Grooves does. I just feel that every once in the while I have to take my skills and make music that is MY music, not just me imitating some genre, or expanding on a genre slightly. It is important to do and I think every real artist has to do this a few times. The Beatles did it with Sgt. Pepper and now I am doing it with Les Grooves.



DBB: I was very impressed by the eclectic nature of Les Grooves and its striking variety of electronic music. Did you intentionally set out to display your mastery of various genres with this effort?
JB: I wouldn't say that, no. I don't try to impress with versatility. I just have it, and it comes out with the expression. I have a broader music background than most folks, so when I want to make a statement, I call upon various aspects of it. Not to show the world how well-rounded I am, though. I do it because I feel like that is what a musician should do: create something new and make a statement.



DBB: The kind of trancey, noir-ish qualities of "Alive and Free,""Coming" and "Smooth Ride" are undoubtedly cinematic in style. I can easily imagine them as part of a soundtrack for a film by Cronenberg or David Lynch. Well crafted and beautifully soulful, really. What inspired them? And is film scoring one of your ambitions at this stage of your career?
JB: Thank you! I'm blushing. Yes I DEFINITELY want to score a film or three. I would drop everything to do that in a heartbeat. That is just something I feel I would really excel at.
DBB: I think you would, too.  
JB: Interesting question. "Alive and Free" was actually inspired by the death of a Canadian actor. For the life of me, I cannot recall his name right now as he was not a massive celebrity. This question is uncannily applicable though because both "Coming" and "Smooth Ride" ARE actually soundtrack songs... but for films that have not been made yet. I am in the process of writing two scripts which I plan to turn into movies one day, and both scripts were literally born out of those two melodies. One script is called Smooth Ride and the other has no name yet. Throughout the films – if they ever get made – there are many different variations of those two songs. The entire plot, all of the characters, and all of the photography exploded out of the embryo of those melodies. Music really, REALLY inspires me to create motion picture ideas.



DBB:  I have to say I found all Les Groove's tracks to have a theatrical quality. "Le Burlinage," for example, has a nice, lounge flavor and "Sexy Bitch" is distinctly designed for dancefloors. And yet, I could also imagine them in the background of those settings within a film. "With You I Dive" and "We Love Darth Vader," likewise, had cinematic qualities to them, in my opinion. Was that something you had in mind when you conceived this album as a whole? Or is it just that way to my ears?
JB: Neither. I don't set out to make cinematic music - it just happens - and you are certainly not the first to notice the phenomenon. If I had a half penny for every time someone says that, I could probably buy into Universal Studios. There is just something about that way I work musically that results in a cinematic tone. I just make things flow in dramatic way. There is nothing choppy about my approach, and it is filled with a ton of real life emotion because I apply my experiences to my music. This is what gives the music that motion picture vibe. 



DBB: One thing I have to say is that I had fun listening to your album. It's not always that way. "Fun" isn't always easy to sustain over an entire album. Yet yours does that. It's buoyant, playful and full of surprises. Like the '80s New Wave quality of "Paradise." What inspired that?
JB: Ha. Buoyant eh? Cool. Yes, I try to make my music animated. Most EDM producers just try to create digital ear candy but I try to give my music a soul of its own using covert measures. I think that soul is what creates the buoyancy you are observing. I really love that compliment! Playfulness is definitely something I experimented with on this collection, and something I never really touched on in previous efforts. Everything I had ever done was always really intense, so I wanted to incorporate some humor on this album. "Paradise" wasn't really inspired by anything in life. Oddly enough, it was a new filter box I had just purchased:  the NIIO Analog Iotine Core Dual Filter Bank. This thing is pure analog and it just sounds so sick. I was coming up with strange, quirky sounds that I had never heard before with it, and those sounds eventually became "Paradise." Every single sound except for the bassline (made on a vintage minimoog through a phase pedal) and the vocals was created using this filter bank. As you can se,e I am very old school!

DBB: When it comes to movie scores, Joseph, what are some of your favorites?
JB:  Good question... and an easy one. Anything by Ennio Morricone.
DBB: I just knew it!
JB: "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" was amazing, as well as the rest of the "Dollars Trilogy." For the era, I also enjoyed his work on The Untouchables. I just love his use of distortion on natural sounds on the earlier soundtracks. Giorgio Moroder is also pretty amazing, and I loved his work on Scarface.



DBB: Les Grooves stands out in its singularity and uniqueness. I don't think you'd be able to release something like this today if you were working for a major label. What are your thoughts of creating and performing as an independent artist on an indy label?
JB: It is great because you can do whatever you like without people breathing down your neck with completely asinine perceptions of what creativity is supposed to be. The downside, of course, is lack of funds to get the music to reach people's ears. Major labels spend too much time searching for artists who conform, but what they should be doing is throwing around their money to influence the masses to open their minds a bit. It is possible, but most people working there are just lazy, weak and too afraid of losing their jobs.



DBB: You're a veteran of the progressive house music scene. What do you think of the state of dance music today and of the current club scene?
JB:  I think it is too conformity based. Too much stuff just sounds the same. As I said above, people are just too afraid to stick their heads out and really create something different. Gear and software today has the capability of really making some interesting sounds, and I would like to see producers approach that endless abyss with more of what I refer to as "the responsibility of the artist to push boundaries."



DBB: Fantastic, I wish you all the best in making a difference and I support it. Thank you, Joseph Borg, for sharing your thoughts with us. I highly recommend Les Grooves to discerning dance music fans around the world. Any last shout outs? And what are your plans to conquer the dance music world at this point?
JB: Just more of the same. I plan on creating unique, passionate music that use electronic          instruments to create something with a soul. Thank you for having me! Shout outs to Ennio Morricone and Giorgio Moroder!

Exclusive Q&A with Club Dj/Remixer Steve Amoroso

Dj Amoroso was spinning at Icon on the club's opening in December. We said hello, but Steve was already busy spinning so there was really no time to talk. Therefor, I was so grateful (with special thanks to Barbara Sobel) to be able to learn more about the fabuloso Amoroso when he agreed to do this interview.

Dj Buddy Beaverhausen: Hi, Steve! It's such a pleasure to finally get to interview you since I heard your set at Icon's opening night. You're now resident dj there on Wednesday nights' Fierce. What can club goers expect from your sets, and are they indeed promised to be fierce?

Dj Amoroso: I’m glad you asked! Wednesday nights are indeed nothing short of fierce. Patrons can expect to hear something new and fresh or even classic at times. I believe music shouldn’t have rules, and being different is what makes a party memorable and unlike the rest. I believe most of us are tired of hearing the same songs over and over. I remember when people used to go out to discover new music, to hear songs they never heard before and fall in love with them. My fondest memories of some of my favorite songs is where I first heard them, usually at the nightclub with my friends dancing our asses off and screaming, “What is this track? Oh my God!” I don’t get the same enjoyment hearing music for the first time on the radio, tv, internet; it’s just not as special an experience. I look to recreate that experience as best as I can during each and every one of my sets. If I can make life long memories through my music or even one song for one person that night, then it was all worth it. Music-wise, you’ll hear a mix of all sorts of house music, with the goal of making everyone shake their asses off. I am also bringing in my very talented special guest DJ / producer friends now every week, who are both well-known locally and internationally, and that will turn you out each and every Wednesday.

I see that you live in Astoria, the neighborhood in Queens where Icon is located. Does that make your bringing your records and equipment to the club convenient; less of a schlep for you?

Records, no [laughs], it’s been a long time since I’ve brought out the milk creates with vinyl records but I would love to one day, especially since it is so close to where I live. I literally walk to and from Icon; it’s about a 15-minute walk and I’m not lugging records or CD’s any more. I recently went all digital spinning on USB sticks. All my music loads up just like a CD on the Pioneer CDJ’s at Icon and I can bring hours, even days, worth of music on one tiny stick.

How did you become a resident dj at Icon? What brought you there in the first place?

It’s actually been years in the making. One of the owners always really enjoyed my sets, and constantly compares me to Danny Tenaglia, who is my biggest influence so that’s the biggest complement anyone can give me. Since the first time he heard me, he always said, “When I open up my next club, you are going to be my resident.” The rest is history.

You're a native New Yorker, so you should know the score by now. Grew up in Brooklyn (where I currently live). What was it like growing up there and what music did you grow up with? What dance-music influenced you in your youth?

Growing up in Brooklyn was great! The block parties, backyard bbq’s/pool parties, Coney Island, and the pizza… fooogettaboutit! Since it is such a melting pot I was exposed to many different cultures and music growing up. From freestyle played by my Aunt and Uncle’s in the late 80’s, to hip hop and alternative music in the early 90’s, to dance hall / metal / industrial / dance music in the late 90’s. It was in the late 90’s that I was first introduced to trance, dance and house music, I was a big fan of Daft Punk which led me to the clubs. Shortly after, I was out seven nights a week in Manhattan. Armed with my fake ID, I headed to Roxy, Tunnel, Sound Factory, Exit, Lime Light, Centro Fly, World and Vinyl. My biggest influences dance music-wise during this time were Peter Rauhofer, Johnny Vicious, Jonathan Peters, Tony Draper, Erick Morillo, Danny Tenaglia, Green Velvet, Hex Hector, Junior Vasquez.

You have some remix work upcoming from Sobel Promotions. Can you tell us anything about that?

Yes! I’m currently putting the finishing touches on a remix I did with my record label partner John Spinosa for KC and The Sunshine Band’s latest track “I’m Feeling You." John and I are also collaborating on two other remixes for Sobel Promotions: aremix to a remake of “Baker Street” by RexKwondo, and a new song by Toca's Miracle singer Coco Star called “AC/DC.”

What was it like to dj at Cielo, as you did very recently, as that chic spot in Manhattan's trendy meatpacking district has become something of a legend?

Amazing, every time! I’ve spun at Cielo more times than I can count and every time is like the first. The vibe in there is unreal, the crowd is always the best, the sound system is beyond amazing, and the DJ booth… Mama mia! Cielo has been open for a little over 10 years now, and for god reason, it’s, as they say, “where house music lives” in New York City. Aside from DJ’ing at Cielo I have spent some of my best nights on that dance floor as a patron.

What do you feel sets you apart from other club djs on the scene right now? What makes an Amoroso set special or distinctive?

My sound has been described as very New York but has been praised internationally too. I’ve done it all from day parties, to night, to afterhours, to gay, to straight, to upscale, to underground, and I have never gotten pigeonholed because I believe most people can relate to my sound; even those that don’t usually listen to house music have told me that they love the way I do it. Genre-wise, I blend new tracks with that classic house sound, upbeat, in your face, latin and retro, lots of drums, and most recently I’ve gone back to my roots playing primarily deep b/c. That’s the music that’s inspiring me most right now. I also love throwing in classics whenever I can because some are just timeless, go so well with the new deep house coming out, and bring back so many fond memories. I guess most of all what makes my sound distinctive is that it’s so hard to describe, but it’s most definitely “house.”

Steve, when you have time off and you can just kick back, what do you like to do?

I love spending time with my 10-month-old daughter, she’s the most important and precious thing in my life. When I’m not working on music or DJ’ing, I love just spending time with her, taking care of her, watching her grow and making her laugh/smile as much as possible.

I think people can have very stereotypical ideas of what the "swingin' life" of a club dj is like but I know it can often be a lot of blood, sweat and tears. What can you tell us, from your own experience, about leading that life? And what day jobs might you have had to take on to help support your passion and true calling?
I haven’t had a day job for six years now. It’s been a struggle but I believe every artist needs a starving moment to test his or her true passion. I’ve done the ramen noodle and peanut butter and jelly diet, lived in a rented room in Queens not knowing when my next gig (paycheck) is coming in. The last couple of years have been great for me, though. I’m not rich but I make enough money to pay my bills while doing what I love, and that’s all I ever wanted. I have bigger aspirations and work hard every day to make a better life for my family. Most people think it’s just a party lifestyle, but there is so much work behind the scenes. I love what I do. My biggest reward is making someone’s night, having people dance/smile/laugh/carry on. Going out dancing is a release. My job is to have all these hard-working people in the club forget about their day jobs, their worries and their stresses. My job is to make the people on the dance floor forget about all that and dance the night away. You can’t put a price tag on that, and it makes all my hard work behind the scenes worth it.

Your views on the club scene 2014?

It’s getting better and better every day! EDM is on its way out, and deep house is on it’s way in. The quality of music had been a little dull and redundant in the EDM scene for a while now, the fact that Daft Punk took the GRAMMYs this year shows that dance music is going in another direction and the club scene is evolving rapidly. Most of all for me, the new club scene is a breathe of fresh air! If your readers want to see the future of dance music that’s blowing up in the scene, I’d tell them to Google, “Disclosure - F For You ft. Mary J. Blige.”

Steve, thank you for your time and cooperation in doing this Q&A with me. Before we conclude, what might you still like to say to our readers around the world?

I believe great music saves the world, keep your ears open, try new things, you never know when that one song might change your life or how you view things. Music has changed my life in a positive way. I am humbled and blessed to be able to share my music with you, and the rest of the world. Thank you for taking the time to read this Q&A with Charles and I. God bless.

Dj Buddy Beaverhausen’s Exclusive Q&A with Singer Amrick Channa of UK’s The Voice

Queens Our City Radio is proud to interview recording artist Amrick Channa who comes courtesy of us from Barbara Sobel of Sobel Promotions (www.sobelpromotions.com).  Anrick has topped the charts and toured around the world and recently appeared on UK’s The Voice TV show.  This artists does it all from eating hot dogs to writing his own material.    Marching to the beat of his own drum and taking no hostages we are proud to present Amrick Channa.

Dj Buddy Beaverhausen: Thank you for doing this Q&A with me for Queens Our City Radio. First off, could you generally describe your musical style for us?

Amrick Channa: Thank you so much for considering me for this interview! It is my pleasure. OK, with regards to my musical style, I would describe it as a mix of House music/EDM genres. As I work with many different labels and producers, it depends on which release you’re listening to. So it can be funky house, soulful house, progressive, deep, tech, EDM, etc. However, one thing you can be assured about is that irrelevant of the genre, you will always get powerful soulful vocals and catchy hooks with my tracks.

 

What vocalists influenced you? Who are the recording artists out there right now — the singers — that you admire the most?

Initially, the vocalists who influenced me were the big belting soul divas! Although I grew up in the era of Whitney Houston, Prince, Madonna and Michael Jackson, it was when I heard the glorious belting soul drenched powerhouse diva vocals of Jocelyn Brown on Snap’s ‘I’ve got the power’ and Loleatta Holloway on ‘Ride on Time’ by Black Box and Martha Wash on C&C Music Factory’s ‘Everybody Dance Now!’ was when I decided I wanted to command crowds with my voice! I then looked into the history of house and went back to disco: Chaka Khan, Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor etc.  Then, as I progressed as a singer and learnt about it as an art form, I fell in love with Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, George Benson, etc. These days its rare that a singer makes me sit up and take notice; I tend to look more into the work of the backing vocalists of these legends such as Lisa Fischer who’s worked with Rolling Stone and Luther Vandross, Chaka’s backing singers, Mariah’s backing singers etc. I find Adele, Amy Winehouse, Emeli Sandi, Katy Perry, Gaga, etc. very nauseating and boring.  They’re good at what they do but not gutsy enough to grab Amrick’s attention!

 

When you were growing up in London, what music did you listen to?  What first inspired you to perform?

I grew up surrounded by pop radio and soul music of Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin and Chaka Khan but also the greats such as Whitney Houston, Madonna, Prince and, of course, Michael Jackson! I remember the flamboyancy of Boy George and Culture Club and then George Michael, Gloria Estafan, Paula Abdul, etc. But the voices which inspired me were through the sampling on Black Box, Snap and C&C music Factory: of my favorite divas Martha Wash; Jocelyn Brown, Loleatta Holloway and Chaka Khan!

 

You compose many of your own songs (“Revolution,” “Freedom,” “Can’t Hold Back”). Can you share your musical background with us?

I was into the underground House sounds of the late 80′s and remember Inner City and Jungle Bros and Marshall Jefferson being in the top 40 charts. Then, in the UK, there was a huge explosion almost a movement of youth called the Second Summer of Love and this was Acid House and the Rave scene took a hold! Yes, people I know the USA had raves now but we were 25 years ahead of you guys! [Laughs.] My influences in music come from the legendary DJs who educated me on the house music sounds and the soulful vocals I have come to love. Todd Terry, Masters At Work, David Morales, Frankie Knuckles and Tony Humphries.  And then labels such as Defected and Subliminal. My early work was very much soulful house such as ‘Can’t Hold Back’ but then the young European producers love tougher pumping sounds hence ‘Revolution’ and ‘Give It Up,’ etc.

 

What’s headed our way from Amrick Channa now that you’ve signed on with Sobel Promotions/Sobel Nation?

The amazing support and love I have received from Sobel Nation/Promotions, I almost feel I can achieve anything and conquer the world! Barbara and the Sobel family do a fantastic job of taking care and promoting their artists worldwide. So, with this experience and knowledge, I feel I can really do anything!  I have some exciting projects which are ready for release this year and as always I will ensure Sobel Nation are the first people to get to know of these! (Even though sometimes, being forgetful, I get told off by Barbara!) [Laughs.]

 

How do you feel, generally, about being an independent artist whose music is released on indie labels? How does it suit you and how do you perceive the indie marketplace today as opposed to music coming from the major labels?

I have mixed feelings about the two.  On one hand, I love working with indie labels as I feel I have more control over my work and what I do, whereas with the big labels, you are beholden to what their ideas are and plans for you and your music. However, I’ve not been happy recently with the fact that some indie labels cannot be bothered to give me the credit I deserve as a singer and writer of the songs. And I absolutely HATE HAVING MY NAME IN A SMALLER FONT COMPARED TO EVERYONE ELSE’S!

 

You’ve toured internationally. What’s your view of the global club scene right now? 

It’s sad as a majority of club promoters are not seeing the value of having a live singer in their club.  Its a culture that’s being lost but I do believe it will come back.  The economy means there’s not much money, but you have to invest to make money! And no clubs are doing that right now. However, in general, I feel the club scene is at its peak at the moment as it has gone crazy in the USA and places such as India and Australia! So it’s truly a global phenomenon!

 

Any chance New York City clubgoers can catch you any time in the near future?

It would be a dream come true to be able to perform in New York! And if anyone can help make it happen it’s the lovely Barbara Sobel!

 

What do you think sets you apart from other singers on the contemporary dance/club circuit? And what really energizes you about a crowd?

I’m not into being ‘safe’ when I sing. I like to belt it out and have fun with my vocals. Also, I’m extremely talented when it comes to jamming live on the mic and a great deal of huge DJ’s have told me they love it as I have such a vast knowledge of disco, soul and house vocals that its almost like they’re playing with acapellas in their mix except its me doing it live on the fly! Also, what sets me apart is that there’s no one else doing what I do and looking the way I do as I’m a British born Indian with a Turban who doesn’t fit the traditional mould!

 

A very unusual look for a dance artist!  Do you design your look based on your religion or fashion?

I’ve been brought up as a Sikh which is an Indian religion. However, I’m not a traditional or religious guy for that matter. But this is how I was brought up by my parents and whereas many Sikh’s these days cut their hair etc to try and fit in, I decided to go the other way and fight stereotypes and show people that I might look one way but don’t make assumptions because I’m gonna shock the hell out of you! Especially when I start belting out with my voice which can be pretty loud! Also, I love creative people; I love the New York Club Kids from back in the day and people like Leigh Bowery, Boy George, Madonna, Andy Warhol, etc., all the creative crazy types! So I try and utilize their philosophies in my look. It’s not about copying them, but rather to be inspired by them and to be creative with one’s own look. I love Jean Paul Gaultier and Vivienne Westwood. Anything a bit wild and crazy, I’ll wear it! I have absolutely no hesitation! Also, recently, I was told by A-list celebrities on The Voice such as Will.I.Am, Kylie Minogue and Ricky from The Kaiser Chiefs that they loved my amazing look!  So why should I care what anyone else thinks! [Laughs.]

  
What was it like auditioning for The Voice?

It was amazing! It took over two months to get to the Blind auditions part on TV.  I found out I beat 50,000 entrants from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England to be in the top 150 finalists who made it to the TV part. There were about four stages you have to pass before you can make it to the TV! The BBC crew were wonderful and it was a fantastic experience. Since being on the show, it has helped generate a huge amount of interest in me and I’m hoping to sign with a reputable management agency who can help push and promote me in the the right direction. Obviously Sobel nation is doing that with my music, but this is more about getting more exposure to the general public as opposed to staying within the realms of clubland.

 

Just before our Q&A, I was listening to last year’s “Can I Get Some Love” by PlayOne. Very strong vocals by you and Sandra (Berkovic). Could you tell me a little about your involvement in that? How did you hook up with DJ Fresh Jay & Darko Juranovic who, correct me if I’m wrong, are based in Croatia?

Darko and DJ Fresh Jay I have known for a few years now. One of my songs with Slovenian DJ Angel Anx was featured on a compilation CD they compile for the Croatian beach parties in the summer. Kind of like spring break in the USA. They then approached me to work with them but we never found the right track. However, [for] ‘Can I Get Some Love,’ they asked if I could redo the vocals but they only gave me 24 hours and the key was too high. So I only ad libbed around it and told them to do whatever they wanted with those. And few months later, I find that it has over 253,000 hits on YouTube! And clubs around Europe are loving the track. It’s now been signed to a bigger record label with remixes and a video forthcoming! So I’m looking forward to working on new projects with them. They are based in Croatia but tour around Europe and also have base in Las Vegas. They’re gonna be huge!

 

Amrick, thank you so much for taking out this time to do this Q&A with us. I like to wrap up, generally, by asking if there’s anything you’d like to add that, perhaps, we haven’t covered, or if there are any shout-outs to the very international readership at my blog, Leave It to Beaverhausen, and at Queens Our City Internet Radio?

It’s been my pleasure so thank you! I feel I’ve got my message across about who I am and hopefully people feel they know me a bit better.  I’m on a mission to be the face of dance music on a global scale and I want to do it on my terms. I also want to show people that I might look this way but don’t stereotype me! Also, I love shocking people as I do have a twisted sense of humor! I’d like to give a big shout out to the Sobel Nation family of amazing artists and DJ’s and most of all the fabulous Barbara Sobel who works tirelessly to promote us all and who gives so much of her time to all of us. Also she’s fiercely protective of us and she has an equally twisted sense of humor like me! Haha! I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say how much she is appreciated!

Exclusive Q&A with Producer/Remixer/Dj StoneBridge!

Sten Hallstrom, known professionally as StoneBridge, is an amazing producer/remixer whose work has been influential to international dancefloors since the 1990s. A big thanks once again to Barbara Sobel for arranging this interview with this absolutely essential and iconic figure of the modern dance music scene.

Dj Buddy Beaverhausen: Hello, Sten. It's such a privilege and pleasure to have this opportunity to conduct this interview since I've been a fan of your remix and production work since the '90s. Let me start off by asking how you find the dance music industry has changed or evolved since you first became involved in it? 
Sten Hallstrom: Thank you, love doing interviews so I can tell things people didn’t expect or knew. It’s very easy to just say it’s totally different and nothing like it used to be, but that would be too easy. It has of course changed dramatically in many areas, but the main difference is that there is no patience and no one wants to wait for anything. When I started, I had friends in London taping late night radio shows and sent over via regular mail so you you got the thing a week or two after broadcast, then listened to the shows, made notes and maybe - with a lot of luck - you got a record 2-3 months after. In some cases a year later. I remember Stockholm DJs having lists in their pockets in case they came to a second-hand store with a couple of crates of vinyl. Now you can find a mix online the same night it’s done. It leaks out of studios, friends, cracked drop boxes, you name it. And with the no wait and anticipation, the technology being available to a lot of people, we have a lot of music coming through and it’s hard to keep track of it. I do see many labels going back to proper A&R again, working the songs longer and I think this is a good development. 

You currently reside in Stockholm, Sweden, where you were also born and raised. What kind of popular music influenced you growing up? And was there an "ah-ha!" moment when you heard something that made you want to become a songwriter, a musician, a music producer? 
We do have a healthy music scene fueled by our free musical education; you basically sign up for piano or guitar and it’s done, but when I grew up it was pretty grim with rock n roll or super tacky pop blasting on radio. Then disco came and it was huge even though I was an up and coming guitar player at the time. When disco developed into new romantic and more synth, I started buying a lot of singles and, by the time my sister’s graduation party was happening, our dad felt he could save a buck and basically told me: Stone, you got records, you’re the DJ. I took it super seriously and bought a whole rig and, before I knew it, I was playing all the graduation parties that spring. As summer came, I started a club as I loved playing and that’s pretty much how I got into it. A few years later, me and five other Stockholm DJs set up a mix service called SweMix and we did re-edits of the hottest tracks and put on vinyl. Of course we got busted and had to get permission but magically survived and started signing artists. One of them, a dentist called Dr Alban got a huge hit with a song called "Hello Africa" and money started to flow in, but half of the crew wanted to remain underground so we split up and I started my current company, StoneBridge Productions. 

As a dj, you perform at major venues all round the world. Where can fans catch you in the near future? 
I will do a March tour of the US and so far I got New York, Miami, West Palm Beach and Cleveland locked in with more to come. I did an Australia/Asia tour around New Year and Chicago, Detroit, New York in December so spending a lot of time in the US right now. 

Great! New York looksforward to having you! Can you tell us something about your new venture, Dirty Harry Records? 
I felt I needed an outlet for filthy disco that is not chart driven - not that I would mind a hit there - but the main objective is fun tracks that brings back a funky element in a sterile environment. I started it with three mash ups using known EDM vocals in the breakdowns of funky tracks and the reactions were so great when I dropped them live that I decided to set up the label and sign original tracks. The first two, Alex van Allf - Gadgets and Atilla Cetin - Just Want Your Love have done very well, way over expectations and I got a bunch of really cool tracks coming this spring. 

You really had your first major international success with your remix, in 1993, of Robin S's massive hit, "Show Me Love." What was it like to explode onto the scene in such a major way? And what was your career like before this breakthrough? 
My first club hit was a rare groove track called Jazzy John’s Freestyle Dub that broke on the London scene 1990 and I licensed it to a tiny record shop called Zoom in Cammden. Then I got a call from Champion Records, who wanted to license tracks so I gave them Ann Consuelo's See The Day, another big club hit. A few months later, I called them and asked if they had any old shit in the basement that I could remix. They said, yeah, we got this Robin Stone, Show Me Love. Production is bad, but vocal quite good and I thought it was funny that we had the same name so I asked them to send it over. The rest is, as they say, history. The thing is I had no idea it was a hit as they were scared my remix fee was going to go over the roof so I was very surprised to see it on Top Of The Pops about nine months later. 

You've produced and written for some major divas on the dance music scene. What was it like working with Ultra Nate ("Freak On") and Therese ("Take Me Away" and "Put 'em High”)? 
I have, especially in the 90’s. Ultra is super cool and pro to work with and so is Crystal Waters that I still work with regularly. Therese used to be a pop singer so when I met her, she used a cover name so I wouldn’t say no, true story. She is a very good hook writer so it was the music that spoke. 

Cher, Britney Spears, Debbie Harry, Jennifer Hudson! Quite an impressive divas list. What was the experience of remixing for these iconic women like? And who would you love to remix but haven't as of yet? 
It used to be very important to have a bucket list like that. People followed their favorite artists and there was always a lot of speculation who would remix the next single. It still is to a certain degree, but now it’s more about having the right name attached to a song to get the right exposure. I love remixing a good song like Sia's "The Girl You Lost." It was a pleasure from the start to end and not the easiest mix to do, but we both loved the result. Another unexpected hit was Texas' "Inner Smile" remix. 

Your remix work for Ne-Yo's "Closer" got you a GRAMMY nomination and, in 2012, you received a BMI Songwriter of the year award. What feelings did these awards or acknowledgements conjure up for you? 
I was really surprised with the Ne-Yo nomination actually. I think it’s a Swede thing as we are taught to not stand out in a crowd or think we’re special. It didn’t fully sink in until I was sitting there in LA next to Morgan Page and Moto Blanco, who were nominated in the same category. The BMI award for Jason Derulo was a huge victory as people have ripped off my bass line from "Show Me Love" for 20 years and this was the first one I got writer's credit for. It felt really good I must admit. 

Did you watch this year's GRAMMY Awards and, if so, can you share some of your opinions about that event? 
I did see parts of it and thought the Daft Punk show was interesting. Not that it was Stevie’s best performance, but the joy and general vibe was awesome. Of course the nominations are always a bit random, but I have been told it’s generally when they oversee something big years earlier and sort of pay back with more nomination later. 

Before there was Daft Punk, there was a distinct funk-soul-disco element to much of StoneBridge's sound. Could you tell us a little about the aesthetic or style you attempt to bring to your productions and remixes? 
I just do them with my flavor. It’s hard to say where it comes from, but Chic and Nile Rogers are definitely [people] I have been inspired by my entire career as is Jam & Lewis. Being an analytical Swede, I have of course reverse-engineered Show Me Love many times to figure out the magic and at one point it dawned on me that it’s really all about a combination of three notes. Still, I never calculate like that, I just play with the vocal and see what fits, then I make an executive decision if it’s going to be a groovy or more clubby mix. 

You attended university at Frans Schartau in Stockholm where you were a Marketing major. Have you been able to apply that background to what you do in the world of music; kind of marrying art and industry in a sense? 
This was before I was a DJ or producer. It was sort of seen with a sneer to only do two years in high school, so I signed up for that to get a better degree. It was actually really good for two things: I learned business English and got an insight in marketing and accounting. 

In recent news, you're going to be working with Sobel Promotions. Any specific projects planned at this point? 
I was introduced by a common friend, but haven’t been presented the whole picture yet, so we will start working the Dirty Harry label as it’s brand new and a clean slate. 

Can you tell us about your radio show on Sirius/XM and how has internet radio changed the music business and what do you think is the future of terrestrial radio? 
It’s satellite radio and they were smart going to Detroit getting the receivers into most new US cars so it’s a driving thing. I get so many messages from people driving for hours loving the show as it’s three hours with a replay for West Coast. I do put it on Soundcloud the day after broadcast so it’s both radio and online. I think terrestrial radio along with regular TV is doomed in the long run. With streaming services, who want someone to dictate when to listen or watch? I see Spotify and the likes cleaning up inside 5 years so it’s good to be on top of it now. 

What do you think the role and importance of major record labels is in today's musical climate and how do you feel about the fact that many artists choose to be indie? 
It’s the same thing now as it was 30 years ago. To get wide mainstream distribution, you need majors. They are so big that they can dictate terms and get the media on things. We choose to be indie as we have principles or a specific taste that maybe seem less commercial or mainstream. The ideal world is to be an indie with a hook up to a major on certain projects. I license tracks to majors sometimes if I see the track has wings, but I’m just too small to take it all the way. 

Is there anything we haven't covered, Sten, that you'd like to shout out to our readers around the globe before we conclude our interview? 
Oh, I have a tendency to ramble on so I think you got most of it covered and yes, definitely: Hi everybody! Stick to your guns, if you love it, you know there will be someone else loving it too! 

Good to hear! Thank so so very much for talking with me and to Our City Radio. We look forward to your work in 2014 and beyond, and to moving on the dancefloors to your music. 
Thank you - my pleasure!!!!