If you are anything like me, you got into dance music because you had an insatiable need to discover and explore. The countless genres, nearly limitless in their number and complexity, drew you in and kept you captivated. Remixes of remixes, rerubs, bootlegs and mash-ups always left you wanting more. But then, as your knowledge developed, so did your tastes, and as the glow of the honeymoon faded so did your interest.
You got bored. It’s fine, it’s totally natural, it happens to the best of us. We already spoke at great length about the “mainstream” and how banal it has become but we never addressed what you can do to satisfy your itch for creativity and originality. Exploring the Underground is our look at whats happening outside of the mainstage. I’m moving out of the big rooms and big clubs, and into the warehouses – where the music is all that matters and the word “predictable” doesn’t apply.
For those of you unfamiliar, the Verboten brand and their parties have been taking the NYC underground by storm. Run by true risk takers and music enthusiasts, Verboten has been developing the underground scene in NYC for some time now, bringing deep and tech house to the masses. You won’t find a progressive DJ on their playbills and you might not recognize any of the songs being spun, but you will have one of the best times of your life. The crowd at a Verboten show is different too, a refreshing change from neon-tutus and “Party with Sluts” t-shirts, comprised instead of true house music fans; the types that listened before it was popular and will continue to listen long after it’s popularity has faded. If you are looking for a Beatport Top 10 set you should look elsewhere, but if you are looking for something inspired and unique, a Verboten party is your best bet in the NYC area.
Art Department’s recent and quick ascent up the international DJ ranks has been undeniably impressive. Formed in 2010 and comprised of two Canadian born DJs, Johnny White and Kenny Glasgow, Art Department are known for their deep melodic grooves and experimental downtempo beats. You won’t find big builds and face-melting drops here, just raw and primal dance music. Their productions are innovative and exciting, the type of dance music that locks you in and refuses to let you go. The drops may be subtle and the beats simple but the experience is anything but predictable. When Tone of Arc grabbed the mic and began singing “Goodbye Horses” (of Silence of the Lambs fame) it was readily apparent that this was no ordinary DJ set, rather it was a movement, an exciting departure from what we’ve come to expect out of dance music. Their name says it all — Art Department is more interested in creating aural artistry than predictable party music. Their sets are an experience, and one that needs to be enjoyed live to truly appreciate.
For a taste of what an Art Department show is like, check out this set from June of last year in Barcelona. It may be different from what you are used to, but if you are looking for something different, put on a good pair of headphones and give it a chance – you just might like it.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/19459225″/]
Or check out their Essential Mix from October 2011.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/26128152″ /]
To continue to satisfy your itch for new music, be sure to listen to the rest of the talent on the No. 19 imprint for more unique and inspired dance music.
And now the fun part, here’s where you come in; aside from our usual coverage of all the big names and big events happening in NYC this summer, we want to hear what you want us to cover. Use the comments section below to let us know about smaller events, underground parties and up and coming talent that you think needs to be represented on Dancing Astronaut and I’ll be there to cover it.
About time we see am article like this… There’s a bubble about to burst and this isn’t it. Let’s see a behind the booth with some of the visionquest guys…maybe Guy Gerber.
Great grooves, and really solid writing too. Well done Spada.
this embodies me in a nutshell. I love big room house parties with everything hot in Club Land, but also i like to explore untapped domains of electronic music. Style like these are what really lured me into electronic music, their appeal is strictly for music enthusiasts and connoisseurs, not posers whose music preference is a fickle obsession, contingent upon the masses and radios. Still though, I have yet to stumble upon the ever so elusive and captivating “blood rave”.
Good article. Saw art department a few weeks ago and they were fantastic. Keep this coming.
Are you guys gonna post the rest of the pictures to fb? There’s only one picture in the album.
josh wink verboten party highline ballroom nyc august 3rd
Keep an eye out for Guy Gerber and Lee Curtiss booked for something special in August.
Facebook was acting up, putting the rest up now.
um first off the guy grabbing the microphone that started singing was Tone Of Arc aka Dead Seal, second it is more than obvious you don’t know much about the scene your attempting to venture into. Better off finding someone who does. The learning curve is a lot steeper then venturing to your first ‘underground’ party.
check out any BLKMARKET parties. marco carola did a 10 hour set MDW in a brooklyn warehouse and marcel dettman and ben klock went b2b for 5 hours last friday night. pure, banging techno.
the techno scene is insane right now in nyc and miami. plenty of great parties every weekend. tell your miami crew to go to space and check out a sunday morning afterhours set. 3 weeks they had guy gerber, nic fanciulli and joris voorn all together – that is INSANE. miami also has treehouse and the electric pickle.
i appreciate the change of pace with the article but it contradicts the orher 99% of DA posts. the boring crap you refer to is over half the things DA posts about. make a cumulative effort as a team to cut the popular stuff and just leave the impressive.
you guys are getting big and have connections – use it for something unique since you have the power to affect listeners and readers.
an easy pick: digweed, DT and pleasurekraft @ gov’s island. going to be sublime!
Verboten party. They announced their coming lineups
Black market doesn’t want press, they want to be under the radar. They wouldn’t even allow coverage of this sort. they embellish the secret underground and will never allow mass appeal, it what keeps their dedicated following happy and the artists they feAture happy to continuously play for them
Thanks for the heads up, all fixed now. I also do not pretend to know about the “scene I am attempting to venture into” rather, I am listening to the requests of our fans and expanding our coverage and my own personal experience into different scenes. That’s the point of dance music – asserting some sort of “elitist” scene with a “steep learning curve” is really against the whole idea don’t you think?
invite the kid and ask him not to write a piece. share this music with those that are interested in it. i’m sure he would be happy to dance with you and not write about it.
i’ve given this blog plenty of shit for only covering the chart toppers so i gotta i’m giving you big props for running this piece. i was bummed on your ultra coverage when i experienced the best day of music of my life that sunday at the UMF Worldwide Stage (+ Gui Borrato) and none of you had any idea that was going on. your songs of the weekend only covered the main stage. it was sad, but i am glad you are venturing deeper into the music. enjoy the dancefloors that aren’t surrounded by velvet ropes this summer
Good job DA for branching out and listening to your readers. Applause
so good to see you guy stepping out!
First off if you noticed the party’s attendees then it would be rather redundant of me to refer to the underground as ‘elitist’ especially if I am speaking with a more knowing tone. Second I was simply commenting on the fact that as a so called news source how could you properly provide accurate news when your as inexperienced as the majority of your demographic? Your fans ask for news and for that news to be provided by people who actually know what the hell they are talking about
Keep an eye on the up and commers. The openers and finishers of the parties. The guys who come in before the headliners and create the uprise. Talent is all over New York, and coming out to support friends we consider family is how this scene was created.