Interview: Chromeo

Dave 1 (aka Dave Macklovitch) has been busy as hell of late. In addition to being a prolific hip-hop producer, the Montreal native has been pulling duty as Vice magazine's rap editor and is about to release a second album for Chromeo, the cheeky synth-funk outfit he created with his high-school friend, Pee Thug (Patrick Gemayel). He's also working on his thesis in French literature at Columbia University, mind you. After Chromeo's second DJ set in the wee morning hours at the SpiderPussy party, we sat down in Circa28's downstairs lounge for a little powwow about Miami. [KEEP READING...]

Interview: The Pinker Tones

On their albums, the Barcelona-based Pinker Tones deliver robust helpings of world-influenced electronica, puckishly mashing dance anthems with bossa nova, breakbeats, indie pop, '60s European film soundtracks, and anything else they can squeeze in. The live show takes it up a notch by adding DJ Niño and offering a performance worthy of an '80s glam band. Following their intimate, but spirited set at PS14, we sat down for a quickie with the two main Tones, Mr Furia and Professor Manso.

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Interview: Bruce Tantum, Time Out NY

The only thing better, in our minds, than leaving snow-white New York for the shorty shorts and tank tops of Miami, is seeing snow-white New Yorkers actually wearing shorty shorts and tank tops in Miami. So it was especially good to see Bruce Tantum, longtime New York dance-floor fixture (he remembers Danceteria; do you?) and clubs editor for Time Out NY, properly defrosted from the snowstorms that hit Gotham last weekend. Naturally, we couldn't resist pelting him with our usual barrage of questions… [KEEP READING...]

Interview: DJ Heidi

As we wander down Collins Avenue like lost, drunken, sunburned children, Team Flavorpill is bound to bump into some interesting characters. We decided to take advantage of the situation and bring you quick 'n dirty interviews from the DJs, producers, promoters, and general party-makers that we meet on the street. Last night at the Immigrant Records bash, we sidled up to Heidi, proprietor of Phonica Records in London. Here's what she had to say about muscles, minimal, and her residency at Monza …

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DJ Contra: makin' Miami happen

Since his arrival in Miami, Contra has consistently lent his deft hands and acute ears to the promotion of the city's DJ culture. Originally from DC, Contra first made a name for himself hosting The Underground, a hip-hop/soul/funk shakedown at the venerable indie radio station WVUM. In 2005, he left town to tour as feisty lyricist M.I.A.'s backup DJ, returning a year later to claim regular gigs at Purdy Lounge, the Pawn Shop, and Skybar. Just back from making the rounds with Spank Rock at SXSW, Contra offered us some insight on the Miami scene. [KEEP READING...]

Let's Get Lost: Crosstown Rebels defy bedtime

If you travel the party circuit, Damian Lazarus is one of those figures you bump into everywhere: a hotel pool outside Benicàssim, Spain; a double-decker bus in Mexico City; a cozy afterparty in Berlin (naturally). Lazarus deserves his surname, having parlayed a career as a music journalist into a second life as a globetrotting DJ and keen-eared A&R man. We caught up with him to find out what's in store for his label Crosstown Rebels and its annual WMC blowout.

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Hella International: Stones Throw takes WMC by storm

WMC is known as a house-music haven, and for good reason, but there's always a little hip-hop that slips through the cracks. This year, LA's Stones Throw label is determined to make its mark on the conference, providing a home for underground flavors of funk and soul. To that end, the label has launched Hella International, a box set of three 12-inch singles featuring cuts from Madlib and Karriem Riggins, J Dilla, Arabian Prince, Aloe Blacc, J Rocc, and more, plus remixes from Four Tet, Dabrye, Koushik, and Madlib. Rounding out the set's fetish-worthiness is the stunning cover art, coming courtesy of Dutch design hero Parra. [KEEP READING...]

Made in the Shade

Mike Bindra is a legend in New York nightlife: as general manager of Twilo around the turn of the decade, he was responsible for electrifying the club's Friday-night marquee with superstars like Sasha & Digweed, Carl Cox, Sven Väth, and Richie Hawtin. Today, he and Laura de Palma run the promotions company Made Event, booking just about every kind of electronic music in just about every club in New York. Last summer they brought the massively popular Paul van Dyk to the massively populated Central Park; at the opposite end of the spectrum, underground technorati Loco Dice and Josh Wink graced a Made Event night at Shelter in February. This year marks Made Event's sixth consecutive year producing parties at WMC.

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