Dance To The Music – Détails, épisodes et analyse

With four decades of djing under his belt, Rich Medina is the text book definition of a working DJ. From legendary (club) residencies in NYC to creating the first US based event dedicated to Fela Kuti, to teaching Hip Hop culture in Ivy league institutions, Rich has a resume that spans over decades, disciplines and genres. A true B-Boy through and through, he still travels the world to present his musical taste and vast record collections to clubs, festivals and universities. Since 2021 he is co-owner and music director of Dante's Hi-Fi in Miami.

www.richmedina.com

Recorded on 10.15.2024 at the Ladies of Hip Hop x Snipes Studio in LIC, Queens.

For episode 18, I had the pleasure to chat with none other than "Berlin's Queen of House" Cinthie (  @cinthie6025  ). We talked about her early DJ years and how they compare to today's club experiences, women in production and how to sustain longevity in the (electronic) music scene. German producer, DJ, label and record store owner Cinthie has become one of the most sought-after artists in the contemporary electronic scene. The last decade has seen her become an unstoppable force who has a touring schedule that takes her across the globe to perform at leading clubs and festivals across Europe, Asia, the Americas and beyond.Cinthie's knowledge of house music's foundations is second to none, as reflected by the vast vinyl collection she has been building since 1995. Her DJ sets cleverly join the dots between the past and the present and plot lines between the swing of New York, the rawness of Chicago and the energy of Berlin. They're stripped back and emotive, whether deep or vocal, and always married to an irresistible groove.In the studio, Cinthie has mastered the art of making maximum impact from bare musical essentials. For more than 20 years her timeless house sounds have come on labels like Heist, Aus Music and her own 803 Crystal Grooves, and in 2020 gave rise to her adventurous and accomplished debut album Skylines - City Lights. Cinthie's DJ-kicks mix in 2022 was another high-water mark. It's a revered series that had a big impact on her in the nineties, and her own entry is one of house music's best.

Coflo brings a true dancer’s touch to house music. As a life long student of the American style of house dance and the Afro-Brazilian martial art Capoeira; Coflo looks to infuse his dance and movement experience into his musical productions. A true house head; he hopes to honor the beautiful culture and community that raised him in his home of the Bay Area in California, USA. In 2018 Coflo joined the American house music beacon Ocha Records as head of A&R and Label Manager for artist and owner Carlos “Casamena” Mena. It was at this time Coflo also began releasing as a staple artist on the Ocha talent roster. Originals and remixes spread quickly through DJs and collectors internationally with his breakout single “Stress Relief (Don’t fuck with me right now)” remixed by house music legend Osunlade. Coflo’s musical ideas caught the ears of Osunlade; bringing him to Yoruba Records initially as a remix artist and mastering engineer. In 2021, Coflo joined the official artist ranks on Yoruba Records with his debut collaboration “Soul 2 Souls” with SACRED H3ART. 2022 for Coflo was all about "Peanut Butter Lover," a track that stuck in clubs like, you guessed it, peanut butter! It's Coflo's signature: fun and honest in club music with an irresistible groove, earning love from DJ legends like Anané, Osunlade, and Louie Vega.Coflo's 2023 has been epic, remixing Ron Trent's "Black Magic Woman" for the fresh label "Sacred Medicine” crafted by the American house music pioneers Joe Claussell and Ron Trent. With a decade of hits across famous labels like T’s Box, Local Talk and Atjazz Record Company, he's not just a studio wizard; he's a DJ booth hero, known for his energetic beats and eclectic style. Coflo hopes to continue to bring a unique view from a dancer’s perspective to house music. Focusing on crafting something new and evolving with each passing release.

Instagram - http://instagram.com/coflothesoulshifter

Bandcamp - https://coflo.bandcamp.com/

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/5cyFgv39M8BX9gjW2czyMk

Twitch - https://twitch.tv/coflo_

Youtube - ⁠https://youtube.com/@co⁠flo

Recorded on 1.13.2024 in Fremont, California.

Hosted & Produced by Mari Ella

Native to New York, musclecars is a DJ / Producer duo consisting of Brandon Weems and Craig Handfield. As musicians, they equally share an admiration for the art form. Their desire to blend genres and express their appreciation for music is focused around their community- the end goal is to bring people together. Through a regular stream of high quality mixes and multiple outstanding releases, they’re constantly turning heads in underground circles. 
In 2018 they launched ‘Coloring Lessons’, a party that was aimed to add value to their city’s nightlife culture. While the party and sound is not genre specific, it is heavily focused around house, disco, jazz, and soul, embracing the musical elements of their black and brown ancestors. The monthly party's intention is to bring New York City's dance music scene back to what it was during the golden era of NY nightlife. They aim to spread the music that has been influential to them, and share it with a younger generation of their peers.
In 2020 the pair launched the label Coloring Lessons Records. The label, like the party, is intended on building up artists from their city and beyond, with the sound indicative of the Coloring Lessons ethos- which is sharing music created and inspired by their ancestors of color, and teaching younger generations about the roots of this music.

DJ Spinna is an anomaly. As a world-renowned DJ, producer, remixer, label head, promoter, curator, and influencer-- Spinna has crafted his artistic vision since the 1990s. His musical spectrum spans all flavors-- from Hip-Hop [as founding member of The Jigmastas], to Soul and R&B [authoring remixes for Stevie Wonder and Mary J. Blige] to Jazz and Funk [reviving productions from Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd, Betty Carter, Al Jarreau, Eddie Kendricks] to Electronic/Dance and Soulful House [transforming Shaun Escoffery’s “Days Like This” into a worldwide dance floor anthem]. His prolific studio work led to his 2002 cult-classic LP, Here To There, released on the iconic BBE label. 
DJ Spinna is synonymous with ground-breaking, annual tribute events. Since 2001, “WONDER-Full” has celebrated the Guest of Honor, Stevie Wonder. “Soul Slam,” 20-years strong, is the authoritative Michael Jackson vs. Prince party. At Spike Lee’s “BK Loves MJ,” DJ Spinna commemorates Michael Jackson’s birthday in Brooklyn. In 2001, Motown tapped DJ Spinna for a brilliant remix of Michael Jackson’s “We’re Almost There.” 
DJ Spinna’s collaborations with Stevie Wonder include remixes for “My Love Is On Fire"  and “Sweetest Somebody.” In October 2012, Spinna performed an opening DJ set for Stevie Wonder’s United Nations Peace Concert. 

Spinna has blessed global dance floors across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the United States.
Every week on Apple Music Hits, DJ Spinna’s “Here To There Radio” features two hours of themed selections that showcase his versatile expertise and massive vinyl collection. On Twitch, he has amassed 20,000 followers spinning live, marathon sets and interacting with his chatroom on two weekly shows, DJ Spinna Presents Journey and Galactic Quiet Storm. 

DJ Spinna is undoubtedly the master of all genres with over 1200 music credits. Whether spinning the classics or releasing new music, DJ Spinna’s passion, professionalism, prowess, and pure vibes are felt with every note. 

In this conversation DJ Spinna talks about his history, his early confirmation of him being in music, his first club experience, as well as his view on traditions when it comes to DJing and the advice he has for newer up-and-coming DJs.

www.djspinna.com

Recorded in Long Island City, Queens on September 13, 2023.

Hosted & produced by Mari Ella.

In partnership with Ladies of Hip Hop x Snipes studio.

The New Jersey based producer, DJ and Strength label boss was referred to as "the dancer's DJ" in Resident Advisor's 2009 feature on the US east coast house renaissance, a title honestly earned given his background as a world traveling house dancer and resident at New York's esteemed HouseDanceConference. He's been steadily reinforcing that description ever since, with a well-received run of rhythmic, dark, stripped-down productions for his Strength Music imprint.

http://strengthmusicrecordings.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dj_qu/?hl=en-gb

Recorded on August 5, 2023 in Long Island City, Queens NY.

Hosted & produced by Mari Ella.

https://www.mari-ella.com/

In partnership with Ladies of Hip Hop x Snipes Studio.

https://www.ladiesofhiphop.com/thestudio.html

Deon is a Detroit native whose roots stem from the crates of family. Growing up hearing many different styles of music was the initial inspiration.
His career began in 2015 as resident DJ & organizer for the monthly hip-hop showcase "Bluecollar Gentleman". 
Around the same time, working with Theo Parrish to promote the Music Gallery party series and eventually spending years behind the scenes at Sound Signature. That work would culminate in a co-curation role for the DJ Kicks compilation “Detroit Forward” (K7 Records) where he enlisted artists that represent the progressive sounds of today. His own track, "North End Funk", was selected to join the mix, making his production credit debut.
With over a decade of experience in Detroit's music community, Deon has been seasoned by the many worlds within. Ranging from the city's hip-hop scene to the world of underground dance music, and even serving as resident DJ for DeSean Jones' Urban Art Orchestra, all of these worlds inform the musical range in his sets.
Inspired by everything from jazz, funk, & soul, to more modern black dance music forms like hip-hop/r&b, house, techno, & broken beat. His sets aim to employ elements from all these forms with culture in mind.
Aside from playing gigs, Deon also enjoys programming events of his own such as the "Healin' Session" party series and the music and art exhibition, "Black Music".

https://soundcloud.com/deonjamarmd

https://www.instagram.com/deonjamar/

Recorded on July 1, 2023 in Long Island City, Queens NY.

Hosted & produced by Mari Ella.

https://www.mari-ella.com/

In partnership with Ladies of Hip Hop x Snipes Studio.

https://www.ladiesofhiphop.com/thestudio.html

Ash Lauryn balances between two worlds, with an old-school house-head foundation and a digital age suaveness, blending her skills as a DJ, writer, curator, and radio host to champion black dance music. Discovering her passion for music in her native Detroit, she was inspired to start DJing in her current residence Atlanta, taking inspiration from the legendary Kai Alce of NDATL and Vicki Powell. After seeing a gap in representation for Black millennials in electronic music, she started her blog Underground and Black, which has since grown into a wide-ranging platform covering her annual Movement Festival party, monthly NTS show, and RA podcast of the same name.

https://undergroundandblack.com/about/

Recorded on June 4, 2023 in Long Island City, Queens NY.

Hosted & produced by Mari Ella.

https://www.mari-ella.com/

In partnership with Ladies of Hip Hop x Snipes Studio.

https://www.ladiesofhiphop.com/thestudio.html

With leagues of experience operating across the Detroit and NYC scenes, Rimarkable is known for her unwavering knowledge of where electronic music comes from and where it is going.  As a first generation Puerto Rican, the Afro-Latin sound continues to have a huge impact on her sonic leanings, alongside the unmistakable ear training of the city’s techno legacy. Growing up heavily influenced by Black gospel music, her selections as a DJ, producer and broadcaster bring together a wider understanding of funk, jazz, rock, gospel and soul that is unlike any other in the biz... 

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Rimarkable started professionally DJing in 1997, first doing private events and then clubs in the early 2000s. She started producing in 2006, after she grew tired of male producers either not understanding how she wanted to sound, or luring her into the studio to hang out, then asking her to freestyle on the mic, while hitting ‘record’ and releasing music without her consent.

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A multi-hyphenate musician who has found various creative outlets over the years, Rimarkable believes in DJing and producing as a spiritual practice, exploring alchemy through the DJ art form as well as African spiritualism, healing, mental health and self- care. It’s a philosophy that eventually manifested as a lecture and classroom series called ‘The Alchemy of DJing’, a means for her to creatively engage in social justice, and empower women and youth. It’s taken her to various cities such as Nairobi and Berlin, and US institutions such as Yale and Queens Museum, and now has landed her as an Adjunct Professor at NYU-Tisch in the Clive Davis Institute, where she teaches the younger minds this sacred art of alchemy of the DJ.

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Quite literally a party starter, she’s produced an abundance of successful, long-running nightlife events in NYC, SF Bay Area, Detroit, and beyond over the past 20 years. Rimarkable has been signed to UK house music institution Defected since 2021 including the Defected Music publishing arm, and stepped up as a presenter for the weekly Defected Radio show. 2023 is Rimarkable’s year for new releases but 2022 did not go a miss, as she hopped in the Studio with Honey Dijon to write and perform for Honey's latest album ‘Black Girl Magic’.

Recorded on April 28, 2023 in Long Island City, Queens NY.

Hosted & produced by Mari Ella.

In partnership with Ladies of Hip Hop x Snipes Studio.

Stefan Ringer is a producer and DJ hailing from Atlanta, Georgia. Since he started out releasing music under the moniker REKchampa in 2010, he has garnered attention with his unique take on house, techno and everything in between. Four years later, Stefan released on legendary house label NDATL, and is a frequent collaborator with label head Kai Alcé. Stefan has a myriad of other releases and credits on various labels and has also started his own imprint, FWM Entertainment, which is home to his most recent works. Stefan has been an influential force in Atlanta’s dance community, and held a residency at Atlanta’s historical Sound Table with Ash Lauryn for 3 years before the close of the influential club. In addition he curates and produced a monthly party called “Kudzu for 3 years which became an underground dance music destination in the southeastern region of the US. Currently Stefan hosts a monthly radio show on London’s Balamii Radio, and curates the event Mood Elevator at Atlanta’s Gallery 992, Through his DJ sets, productions and contributions to the culture; Stefan Ringer is building a legacy.

Recorded on April 10, 2023 in Long Island City, Queens NY.

Hosted & produced by Mari Ella

⁠https://www.mari-ella.com/⁠

In partnership with Ladies of Hip Hop x Snipes Studio

⁠https://www.ladiesofhiphop.com/⁠

⁠https://www.snipesusa.com/⁠