Music, style, and life. We are mGrooves. We are 4groovers…

“It’s the same and different.”  This was the refrain of someone at one of my shows as they described my music.  I had to think about it for a minute and yet it makes since.

Work that mixer!

I might start using that statement when I get the question, “How would you describe your music?”  The fact of the matter House Music is almost everyone’s music whether they know it or not–all this from humble beginnings in Chicago, Detroit, and NYC.  So I will tell you how I describe my music by telling what I do during a typical music set.

Contrary to what most people think DJs do, I do not JUST push a button and play someone else’s music–that is what a radio DJ does where as I am more of the performance variety. I actively take music, alter it, layer it with 1, 2, 3, or more other pieces of music, alter it some more, and then does it come out over the speakers to the dance floor.  I borrow heavily from Hip-Hop, Jazz, Funk, Rock, R&B, Latin, Afro-Latin, Afro, and whatever to mix with.  Some of the songs will have lyrics and hooks you recognize however not in the same form or over the same rhythm you are used to hearing.  Some will just have the bassline, drums, or other instruments as I continue to de-construct and re-construct on the fly.  (Subscribe to Stylo’s mixes and see Stylo’s Soundcloud page for examples.)

Performance DJs also tend to shop for rare records and songs.  Part of this stems from a desire to introduce people to new music, as a way to say, ‘hey, so-and-so isn’t the only person with talent’.  Also, increasingly the rarer tunes are a way to collaborate with other emerging artists, thereby increasing the visibility of all involved.  There is also this crazy overbearing nonsense major record label’s and distributor’s lobby has done to copyright–however, that is a different discussion altogether.

And about requests to a performance DJ (as if it was a radio call-in show), would you walk into a restaurant and tell the chef how to cook?

So relax. Bring your friends and settle into the mood of the night.  If you open your mind, your body will follow, leading you to the dance floor.  Likely you will find yourself leaving the club or bar at the end of the night with your friends, or with a new friend, smile on your face, legs tired for dancing a little too much, and saying in conversation, ‘hell yeah, that music was cool!  It was the same and different!”

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Now for you BSB and what you’ll likely to hear in the mix with Stylo…  There is a lot more music, but I didn’t buy it, therefore not BSB.  However you can bet you are going to hear it.  :)

Andre Harris – 10 Things Not To Say To a DJ

V/A – Disco Baby Disco EP

Rescue – Saints & Sinners EP

Cape Funk Cartel – The Ride EP

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Where you can find Stylo.

Thursday, November 3 @ Gazuza Lounge, Washington DC

Saturday, November 5th @ Gazuza Lounge, Washington DC

Friday, November 11 @ Dionysus Restaurant and Bar, Baltimore, MD