DJ Cruze

Yes, it’s been awfully quiet on the DJ Cruze website recently hasn’t it? I thought 2008 would be the year of more than 1 post per week but so far I’ve been wrong. Sorry about that.

So what’s been going on then? Well, I’ve been struck down by the winter vomiting bug not once but twice in the past month so that has wasted a week of my life. Aren’t viruses annoying?

Other than that I’ve been sorting out a new gig in Germany which is on the 23rd February 2008. I’ve been hassling the promoter for the details and flyer for the gig but he’s being slack so I’ll post the details when I get them. I think the gig is in Sinsheim but I’m not 100% sure! It’ll be an old school, retro night full of the funky old tunes from the early to mid 90s so expect plenty of madness and scratching! Remember the good old days in Vibration!

I’ve also been hitting the studio pretty hard as I’ve got lots of projects that I’m working on. Firstly, I’m going to be having a full release of my “Cease” track from a few years ago but it’s getting a bit of a 2008 remake. Gone is the St. Etienne vocal sample and instead we have some wicked female vocals. The vocal isn’t finalised yet but it’s sounding great. I’m going to give the production a re-rub to bring it into 2008 and with any luck it should be out in February or March on Metrogroove Records. It’ll feature a funk-filled remix from World Of Colour and probably another, as yet undecided, remix from an up and coming producer.

And talking of World of Colour, I’ve just finished a remix for their new track “Change” and it’s sounding damn funky! I’ll be playing it on the new podcast which should turn up in your podcatcher this week so look out for it. With a fantastic vocal, funky bassline and a big string breakdown, the Funkfinders remix is going to sound great on any dancefloor.

Finally, I’ve been creating a dirty electro remix for my good friend, and fellow DJ, Alex Harmony’s new tech house track “Nayati”. You can check out his version on his myspace page. The Funkfinders mix is a slab of deep, dark and dirty dancefloor madness and I’ll be giving you a sneak preview of it on a future podcast.

So watch this space for details of the Germany gig and episode #37 of the DJ Cruze podcast should appear at the weekend.

1. Marco Denmark – Tiny Dancer (Moto Blanco Mix) – 3 Beat Blue
2. World Of Colour – Change (Funkfinders Remix) – Metrogroove Records
3. H Two O feat Platinum – What’s It Gonna Be (Mo’ Funk Remix) – Ministry Of Sound
4. Kylie – Wow (MSTRKRFT Remix) – Parlophone
5. DJ DLG – Paramount (Dave Armstrong Remix) – Huge Records
6. Wawa – Outsiders – White
7. Utah Saints – Something Good (Ian Carey Remix) – Data
8. World Of Colour & Pepper MaShay – Burnin (Original) – Metrogroove Records
9. Digital Devotion – Heaven (Digital Devotion Remix) – Turbulence
10. Chanel – Dance (Carl Ryden Club Mix) – Hed Kandi
11. Raul Rincon and Terri B – Sometimes (Vocal Dub) – Tenor Recordings
12. Buy Now – Body Crash (Dirty South Remix) – White
13. Jes – Heaven (Fonzerelli Remix) – Maelstrom Records
14. Addictive feat. T2 – Gonna Be Mine (Simmons & Christopher Remix) – Gusto
15. Fedde Le Grand & Funkerman – 3 Minutes (To Explain) (Original Mix) – Flamingo
16. Armand Van Helden – J’Taime (Original Mix) – Southern Fried Records
17. Pure Dynamite & Live Element – Downtime (Live Element Twilo Remix) – Gossip Records
18. NJoi – Yellow EP – New Black Records
19. The Feeling – I Thought It Was Over (Tom Middleton Dub Mix) – Island
20. Jody Watley – I Want Your Love (Wideboys Club Mix) – Gusto

1. Addictive feat. T2 – Gonna Be Mine (Simmons & Christopher Remix) – Gusto
2. H Two O feat Platinum – What’s It Gonna Be (Mo’ Funk Remix) – Ministry Of Sound
3. World Of Colour – Change (Funkfinders Remix) – Metrogroove Records
4. Marco Denmark – Tiny Dancer (Moto Blanco Mix) – 3 Beat Blue
5. Chanel – Dance (Carl Ryden Club Mix) – Hed Kandi
6. Armand Van Helden – J’Taime (Original Mix) – Southern Fried Records
7. Digital Devotion – Heaven (Digital Devotion Remix) – Turbulence
8. World Of Colour & Pepper MaShay – Burnin (Original) – Metrogroove Records
9. Kylie – Wow (MSTRKRFT Remix) – Parlophone
10. Pure Dynamite & Live Element – Downtime (Live Element Twilo Remix) – Gossip Records
11. NJoi – Yellow EP – New Black Records
12. The Feeling – I Thought It Was Over (Tom Middleton Dub Mix) – Island
13. Jody Watley – I Want Your Love (Wideboys Club Mix) – Gusto
14. One Night Only – Just For Tonight (Seamus Haji Dub) – Vertigo
15. Delinquent Feat KCat – My Destiny (Wideboys Remix) – MNB
16. Alphabeat – Fascination (Bimbo Jones Main Mix) – Charisma
17. Made In London – Galaxy – CDR
18. Lil Wolf – Deliver Me (Original Mix) – Rebirth
19. Hagenaar & Albrecht – What Would We Do – CDR
20. O+G Project feat. Evo – Bad Ass (Ortega & Gold Remix) – Musica Diaz

1. Chanel – Dance (Carl Ryden Club Mix) – Hed Kandi
2. NJoi – Yellow EP – New Black Records
3. The Feeling – I Thought It Was Over (Tom Middleton Dub Mix) – Island
4. H Two O feat Platinum – What’s It Gonna Be (Mo’ Funk Remix) – Ministry Of Sound
5. World Of Colour & Pepper MaShay – Burnin (Original) – Metrogroove Records
6. Marco Denmark – Tiny Dancer (Moto Blanco Mix) – 3 Beat Blue
7. Jody Watley – I Want Your Love (Wideboys Club Mix) – Gusto
8. One Night Only – Just For Tonight (Seamus Haji Dub) – Vertigo
9. Delinquent Feat KCat – My Destiny (Wideboys Remix) – MNB
10. Alphabeat – Fascination (Bimbo Jones Main Mix) – Charisma
11. Addictive feat. T2 – Gonna Be Mine (Simmons & Christopher Remix) – Gusto
12. Made In London – Galaxy – CDR
13. Hagenaar & Albrecht – What Would We Do – CDR
14. O+G Project feat. Evo – Bad Ass (Ortega & Gold Remix) – Musica Diaz
15. Out Of Office – Break Of Dawn 2008 (Club Mix) – Frenetic
16. Pure Dynamite & Live Element – Downtime (Live Element Twilo Remix) – Gossip Records
17. Ernesto vs Bastian – Unchained Melody (DJ DLG Remix) – Nebula
18. Made In London – Two Fat Amigos – CDR
19. David Jordan – Sun Goes Down (Hi Tak Dub) – White
20. Scalambrin & Sicily Pleasure – Some Girls – Oxyd

Have you ever watched something that has really motivated you? Well I found this video of legendary Swedish House Mafia member and amazing house music producer Steve Angello online and it just blew me away.

I have always been a very technical house producer and I understand some of the more technical aspects of production, but sometimes you see a few simple tips that can make all the difference. In this video he’s putting together a new track for the Future Music readers and he makes a funky, distorted electro track with only a kick drum, a hi-hat and a bassline. He also discusses how to compress your bassline to make it swing with the track and if you watch some of the other videos which appear on the side of this one, you’ll see how he arranges his tracks. You’ll learn more about music production in half an hour of watching these videos than you will from reading any books or websites. Awesome stuff!

Check out some of the other Future Music videos from Stonebridge, Coburn and The Freemasons too for more top producing tips.

1. Jody Watley – I Want Your Love (Wideboys Club Mix) – Gusto
2. Chanel – Dance (Carl Ryden Club Mix) – Hed Kandi
3. Delinquent Feat KCat – My Destiny (Wideboys Remix) – MNB
4. Alphabeat – Fascination (Bimbo Jones Main Mix) – Charisma
5. NJoi – Yellow EP – New Black Records
6. Addictive feat. T2 – Gonna Be Mine (Simmons & Christopher Remix) – Gusto
7. Made In London – Galaxy – CDR
8. Hagenaar & Albrecht – What Would We Do – CDR
9. O+G Project feat. Evo – Bad Ass (Ortega & Gold Remix) – Musica Diaz
10. Out Of Office – Break Of Dawn 2008 (Club Mix) – Frenetic
11. Pure Dynamite & Live Element – Downtime (Live Element Twilo Remix) – Gossip Records
12. Ernesto vs Bastian – Unchained Melody (DJ DLG Remix) – Nebula
13. Made In London – Two Fat Amigos – CDR
14. David Jordan – Sun Goes Down (Hi Tak Dub) – White
15. Scalambrin & Sicily Pleasure – Some Girls – Oxyd
16. Adam K & Soha – Twilight (Original Mix) – Rebirth
17. The Feeling – I Thought It Was Over (Tom Middleton Dub Mix) – Island
18. One Night Only – Just For Tonight (Seamus Haji Dub) – Vertigo
19. Mark Brown – The Journey Continues (Thomas Gold Dub) – Positiva
20. Dave Armstrong & Redroche – Love Has Gone (Wez Clarke Remix) – Hed Kandi

It’s that time of year again when I give you the “Best of …” podcast. Apologies that it didn’t come before 31st December 2007 as promised but I was in bed full of the winter vomiting virus which wasn’t fun at all. So here are the bad boys, the heavy hitters, the killer tunes that rocked my dancefloors in 2007 all mixed up into a hot 74 minute mix.

Get the podcast downloaded here:

[00:00:00] N’Dea Davenport – One Day My Love (D’Ramirez 12″ Mix) – Dozer Records
This tune came out in the early part of 2007 and was a huge tune for me even though it didn’t get much commercial success in the charts. It has a great vocal from the Brand New Heavies ex-vocalist, N’Dea Davenport and features a dirty bassline from one of my favourite electro producers in 2007, D’Ramirez.

[00:05:45] Camille Jones – The Creeps (Fedde Le Grande Club Mix) – Data Records
Originally coming out in 2006, the Fedde Le Grand electro house mix of this electronic track by Danish beauty Camille Jones just pushed it into 2007. Featuring a fantastic vocal and a wicked remix by man of 2007, Fedde Le Grand, it’s got to be in everyone’s best of chart for last year. The vocal on this track is haunting and I love it.

[00:11:52] Andrea Doria vs LXR – Freak Me (Dave Spoon Remix) – GI Recordings
Another big producer from 2007 was Dave Spoon. He captured the electro house scene by storm and produced some of last year’s best dirty house remixes. This remix of “Freak Me” by the Italian producer Andrea Doria is no exception. Initially sounding like Sly and Robbie’s “Boops” from the late 80s (yes, I’m that old and I remember it well!) it then steps up a notch and gives us some fantastic distorted synths and a disturbingly dirty breakdown. A peak time stormer!

[00:17:48] Dragonette – I Get Around (Van She Dub Mix) – Mercury
Although signed to a major label, the Canadian band Dragonette seemed to be big on the underground scene but didn’t get as much exposure in the mainstream press. Here we get a lovely electro dub of their track “I Get Around” from Australian band Van She and it just rocks. A repeated “I Get Around” vocal drives this track and the pumping, compressed bassline shook the dancefloors I played this on. Let’s hope both Van She and Dragonette get some more tunes out in 2008.

[00:22:56] Larry Tee – Licky (Herve Goes Low Remix) – White
Larry Tee apparently invented the term electroclash. Did you know that? Neither did I. He’s an old school producer who produced a lot of the big “electroclash” acts from the mid 2000s. This Herve remix takes us back to the old rave days with it’s sirens, deep and pumping bassline and chunky rave stabs. A definite club tune which might not sound so good on your ipod unless you’ve got better bass response headphones. Even then it might just hurt your ears, but in a good way!

[00:27:41] DJ DLG – Your Eyes (Original Mix) – Eyezcream Recordings
It’s been a good year for Canadian producer DJ DLG with his big 80s sampling tune “Your Eyes”. A solid but repetitive track that builds up and up until it drops a killer breakdown.

[00:32:41] Mighty Dub Katz – Magic Carpet Ride (Young Punx Remix) – Southern Fried Records
A cheeky Norman Cook re-released his classic “Magic Carpet Ride” under his Mighty Dub Katz moniker. This time we get a deep and dubby remix from The Young Punx. Although it’s been out a few times since the mid 90s, this mix worked well for me and everyone loves its cheeky ballroom, breakdown!

[00:38:03] Axwell – I Found You (Remode) – Axtone
The biggest tune of 2007? Yes, quite probably. Axwell takes us back to an early 90s breakbeat rave track with this anthem. Featuring a Faithless style arpeggio, some phat and funky breakbeats, some old school pianos and a great vocal from Charles Salter it was the monster tune of last summer. Rave on!

[00:43:48] Armand Van Helden – NYC Beat (Original Mix) – Southern Fried Records
The year wouldn’t be complete without a killer track from Armand Van Helden! A dirty bassline? Check! A punk-funk 80s vocal? Check! Some dirty beats with some wicked percussion? Check! A massive tune? You bet!

[00:49:03] Sia – The Girl You Lost To Cocaine (Stonebridge Club Mix) – Monkey Puzzle Records
The Swedish house music producer Stonebridge takes the surly Sia away from his usual piano-tinged remixes and gives us a filthy basslined monster. Amazing haunting vocals are layered on top of this tough house track and it became one of my favourite tunes of the year.

[00:55:48] Coburn – Razorblade (Malente Remix) – Great Stuff
More tough stuff comes from those cheeky boys from the UK, Coburn, who gave us 2005’s killer track “We Interrupt This Program”. “Like Kylie on acid” is how they describe the track and who am I to argue? Given a cheeky rerub by German producer Malente it builds up with a big old bassline and some bit crunched breakdowns. Club music for the world’s dirty dancefloor!

[00:62:18] Bodyrox ft. Luciana – What Planet You On (The Slacksons Mix) – Phonetic Records
After the massive success of their track “Yeah Yeah” last year, Bodyrox are back with another huge electro house cut. The Slacksons turn this into a potential house music classic with it’s building bassline and twisting percussion. This is how all house music should be!

[00:00:00] Axwell & Sebastian Ingrosso vs. Salem Al Fakir – It’s True (Original Mix) – Axtone
And finally a somewhat under-exposed Axtone track which may get more play in the Ibiza in the summer of 2008. In my opinion it has the potential to be the new Stardust or Modjo. It’s a fun and funky summer tune which showcases Salem’s smooth vocals and Axwell and Sebastian Ingrosso’s funkier house roots. You can’t help but smile when you hear the the electric guitar followed by the brilliantly simple “it’s true, life will smile for you” chorus. A great way to finish off my “best of 2007 mix”. Life will definitely smile for all of us in 2008.

So I hope you enjoyed this years, or should that be last years, “best of …” mix. I think they are all awesome and I hope you do too! Big love to you all for the support you give me and for all of the comments on the site. I hope 2008 brings more listeners and more funky house music!

Seamus Haji is one of my favourite producers. He’s as super-talented producer and DJ (although I’ve never actually seen him DJ myself) and you can always rely on his remixes and productions to fill my funkier dancefloors. So before Christmas I found this great interview with him on blip.tv via the DJ Sounds blog. In it he talks about how his awesome remix of Tweet’s “Boogie Tonight” influenced Ministry of Sound to create the “group” Booty Luv and the other tunes he is remixing (…the interview is a few months old so most of these mixes are out now). He also talks about his DJ’ing techniques and how he’s no longer using vinyl. So check out this great interview from an awesome producer and you might learn a few production tips.

A big happy new year to all of the DJ Cruze listeners and readers! A few days late but better late than never.

Apologies for not posting much over Christmas but it’s all been a bit hectic as I’m sure it was for you guys and girls. I’ve also been full of a cold and on new year’s day I got struck down with the norovirus which has been sweeping the UK at the moment. That has meant two days in bed and not very nice symptoms! (Read the article as I’m not telling you here.) This means that the “Best of 2007″ podcast has been delayed by a few days and should be posted over this weekend. Sorry about the delay.

So what’s in store for 2008 for you guys then? Well, for me I’m hoping to do a lot more DJ’ing as it took a bit of a back burner during 2007. I should be back in Germany in February but I haven’t finalised the date yet. I’ll let you know when it is confirmed. I’ll also be doing a lot more production in 2008 as I’ve got some exciting opportunities in the pipeline. I’m currently working on a new remix for a record label in London so I’ll give you a sneak preview when it is finished. It should be going onto a promotional CD in January or February. Hopefully I’ll be getting a proper vocal on my Christmas bootleg as I felt it was quite a funky tune which could benefit from a good female vocal. So look out for some DJ Cruze productions in the first quarter of 2008.

1. Rihanna – Don’t Stop The Music (Simmons & Christopher Remix) – Def Jam
2. Jody Watley – I Want Your Love (Wideboys Club Mix) – Gusto
3. Alphabeat – Fascination (Bimbo Jones Main Mix) – Charisma
4. Delinquent Feat KCat – My Destiny (Wideboys Remix) – MNB
5. Ernesto vs Bastian – Unchained Melody (DJ DLG Remix) – Nebula
6. David Jordan – Sun Goes Down (Hi Tak Dub) – White
7. Chanel – Dance (Carl Ryden Club Mix) – Hed Kandi
8. O+G Project feat. Evo – Bad Ass (Ortega & Gold Remix) – Musica Diaz
9. NJoi – Yellow EP – New Black Records
10. Out Of Office – Break Of Dawn 2008 (Club Mix) – Frenetic
11. Scalambrin & Sicily Pleasure – Some Girls – Oxyd
12. Adam K & Soha – Twilight (Original Mix) – Rebirth
13. The Feeling – I Thought It Was Over (Tom Middleton Dub Mix) – Island
14. One Night Only – Just For Tonight (Seamus Haji Dub) – Vertigo
15. Mark Brown – The Journey Continues (Thomas Gold Dub) – Positiva
16. Dave Armstrong & Redroche – Love Has Gone (Wez Clarke Remix) – Hed Kandi
17. Deadmau5 – Arguru (EDX 5un5hine Remix) – PinkStar Records
18. Pure Dynamite & Live Element – Downtime (Live Element Twilo Remix) – Gossip Records
19. Loverush UK – Different World (Future Freakz Remix) – Loverush Digital
20. Freestylers – Push Up Word Up – Data Records