Uptown Magazine - November 10th
Top 100 DJs
DJ Mag’s annual Top 100 DJ list was recently revealed. For some, this list is a barometer of what’s happening worldwide; for others, it’s a popularity contest that doesn’t really represent what’s going on in electronic music culture. However you look at it, the past couple years have seen the rebirth of festival culture in North America, the growth in popularity of dubstep, the resurgence of big club events and the embrace of social networking by most DJs. Dance music culture is riding a high wave not experienced since the glory days of the late ’90s or even the disco era. In many ways, electronic music’s influence is stronger than it has ever been. While big-name trance DJs still are represented in the list, it feels like a changing of the guard, with French electro house superstar David Guetta taking home top spot, knocking off four-time champ Arman van Burren, and holding off Tiësto and Deadmau5. It’s no surprise dubstep hero Skrillex takes home the trophy for Highest New Entry into the list, landing at 19. While he may have only cracked the Top 20, he’s king in North America right now. Interestingly, no drum ’n’ bass DJs made the cut, marking the first time big names such as Andy C, Grooverider and Fabio weren’t represented. In a more disturbing trend, there were also no female DJs represented in the Top 100. High profile party rockers such as Misstress Barbara, Magda, Shortee and DJ Rap didn’t garner enough votes to be included. Is this because their fans didn’t support them or because the electronic scene is still a bit of an old boys club?
TEDx Manitoba
If you want to be part of the TEDx Manitoba action next February, you have until Nov. 27 to get your application in for one of the coveted spots in the audience. This is the second TEDx gathering in Manitoba, and it’s being held at the MTC Warehouse on Feb. 9. If you don’t get a spot, you can watch the live stream or view any of the presenters on-demand after the event.
MP3 of the Week: Apparat – Song of Los
Taken from Apparat’s new album, The Devil’s Walk, Song of Los is the type of simple, melancholic electronic music that is difficult to pull off without coming across as corny. Song of Los will make you forget that Postal Service hasn’t put out another album and it looks like the Junior Boys are going to break up.
Video of the Week: Speed Dial 7 – Pure Evil (featuring Pip Skid)
Wonderfully weird filmmaker Mike Maryniuk has teamed up with the Marathon of Dope crew again, this time for a new video for Belgium’s Speed Dial 7’s track, Pure Evil. Fellow troublemaker Pip Skid guests on the 16mm, hand-processed video from the former l’Atelier-National du Manitoba member. Speed Dial 7, Pip and DJ Co-op are currently on tour in Europe. They recently opened up for Antipop Consortium’s founding member Beans in Paris.
