Out of Office.

If you haven’t noticed, I’m taking a break from the whole blog thing. There are a few reasons for it, but foremost among them is that I’m interacting and sharing my passion for music in different ways than when I started this… and really, that was what was fueling this blog anymore. 

I’m not saying I’ll never post here again, I’m just saying I’ll be doing so way less than I used to.

Because I love tumblr and don’t much care to leave it, I’m starting a general content blog (aka a regular-ass tumblr) over here. If you’re sore about me slowing my roll over here, then you can follow me there.

Thanks to everyone around the world for reading. I’ll be back here someday.

love,

josh/dj arbiter

4 months ago  /  Notes

515 Alive — TODAY

It’s a party at the end of the world. No, seriously. We’re gonna end this bitch, because there won’t be a damn thing left to do after this party.

515 Alive is the annual Christmas in August of all things DJ — it is the only Urban and Electronic Music Festival in Iowa, and as such, it’s a chance for ravers, DJs, and noobies alike to gather at one spot. Each year I’ve been (as a spectator), it’s been an absolute blast, and I’m excited as ever to earn a spot in this year’s lineup.

Since the list of DJs is SO huge, I’ll rattle off a few of my personal recommendations for each stage, but that doesn’t mean you should avoid any of the acts I don’t list — you don’t get into the 515 line-up by being a shoddy DJ. 

All times are (obviously) PM, unless otherwise stated.

The Big Show Stage

4:30-5:15 — Mike ‘All Night’ Long (An OG of house music in Iowa… Unmissable.)

6:00-6:45 — DJ Uplift (Another top-notch house and techno guru from Cedar Rapids.)

7:30-8:15 — Matt Rissi (The hardest-working DJ and promoter working in Iowa right now, hands down.)

9:45-11:00 — Brad Goldman (The man who runs 515 Alive. Sheer energy in music.)

The Lime Lounge Stage

7:00-7:45 — Beat Resonance (Iowa’s kings of crunk. You will bounce to them.)

7:45-8:30 — DJ Avant Garde (Iowa City’s prodigal son returns.)

8:30-9:15 — Kinky Kyro (This dude is weird, but so, SO good.)

The Bass Camp Stage

6:15 - 7:00 — DJ Arbiter (‘sup.)

7:00 - 7:45 — KAGE (Rumors are that he’s got a whole new set ready to unleash.)

10:00 - 10:45 — HooDTeK (Glitch music at it’s finest. He’s out there, but in a good way.)

10:45 - 12:15am — Dirty Talk (Girl power from Minnesota in the form of heavy electro and dubstep.)

The House That Jack Built Stage

10:45 - 12:15am — Vinyl Bitchie and Jen HA! (Girls that play house music better than most guys. ‘Nuff said.)

————-

Probably got some original DLC coming for y’all in the next week or so too… See you at 515 :)

5 months ago  /  0 notes

Vacations are for being lazy.

Exit Swag v1, enter vacation to Key West.

Exit Key West, enter return to (a pretty fucking great) reality, with a stop in Des Moines first.

I know it’s been a hot minute since I’ve posted an update, but there’s a big week ahead for readers and ravers in Iowa, along with some mixes/tunes/news you ought to be aware of, no matter where the hell you are.

Shows:

Tuesday - $PENCELOVE, Konsept, and Arbiter — Flight School @ Yacht Club — $3

I’m playing with two pretty legit dudes from Omaha at one of my favorite places on earth for my second appearance there this month… There’s just something about summer dance parties at Yacht Club that make them so much more special. Pretty good primer for two slightly larger parties…

Friday - 12th Planet, Jesse Jamz, and KAGE — Blue Moose (Iowa City) — $15/17

If you’re paying any attention at all to the direction of American dubstep, 12th Planet has most assuredly popped up on your radar multiple times. He’s done collabs with Datsik and Skrillex, he’s remixed for MIA and Le Castle Vania, he’s without a doubt someone with oodles of talent. 12th Planet is yet another artist to ride the ever-growing rave wave in Iowa, and with two other blog favorites on the line-up, you’ve got Friday plans sorted (until the insanely early hour of 12am — who throws a dubstep show that ends at 12?)

Saturday - Dillon FUCKING Francis, Arbiter, Ill + Natti, Basstoven, Hector, Wildcard, and HooDTeK — Gabe’s IC — $10

Here’s a better bang for your buck… while 12th Planet is fun and all, NO musician out there (and I do include every artist that comes to mind presently) can combine sexy, danceable, and aggressive sounds like Dillon Francis can. I cannot underscore how big this show is for EDM in Iowa — it is going to be the best show of the year, without any debate. Better yet, this one goes until 2am, there are gobs of great supporting acts (myself humbly included), and rumor has it that Dillon wants to rage with everyone for afties. This is worth a commute and several times the ticket price — don’t be stupid, be here.

Music and stuff (aka the real reason anyone comes here)

New mix from Nemo is fire as usual. Dubstep flavours.

I sat by and offered opinions as KAGE did the dirty work on this low tempo mash-up. The Jabba laugh at the beginning was my meager contribution.

T.E.E.D. — Blood Pressure. Late to the party on this one, but I’ve had it on repeat all week.

-There are two very big shows coming to Gabe’s IC during the first week of the UIowa school year… I’m cannot say more just yet, but I advise you to keep your ears to the ground, as these are two more massive EDM events for everyone to enjoy.

-It’d appear that a full-length Deadmau5/Cypress Hill album is coming soon. Asked by DJ Chuckie about it on twitter, Deadmau5 responded that we’d hear more “all in good time” — hardly an affirmation, but definitely an indication that a collaboration exists.

6 months ago  /  1 note

SWAG v1 is TONIGHT.

There was a time where I was not sure I wanted to take a gig so close to coming home. 

That was a really DUMB time.

SWAG v1 takes place tonight in Iowa City and will be featuring the absolute best in the midwest, including blog faves KAGE, Colossus, Audiomatic and Ricco Suave (as Blackman and Robbin), Crowd Control and Beat Resonance.

—-EVENT INFO—-

SWAG v1

Gabe’s Iowa City (330 East Washington Street, Iowa City, IA)

19+ entry/21+ to drink

$8 tickets (avail. on the door)

Set times

 Upstairs

 10:15 - Zeaphy

10:30 - Colossus

11:30 - Arbiter 

12:30 - Beat Resonance

Downstairs

10:00 - Kage

11:00 - Blackman and Robbin’

01:00 - HoodTeK

6 months ago  /  0 notes

[MIXTAPE RELEASE] Sarcasmix Vol. 1 — UK Bass

It’s over. 10 months, countless nights out, countless hours spent DJing, countless incredible times I had with amazing friends… oh and I suppose I went to university in the UK too. It’s incredibly strange in a wonderful way to be able to say that I lived in England for a year (note the past tense).

It’s a superbly bittersweet feeling— on the one hand, I’m very happy to return home and get started on the next big thing, but on the other, I know that a part of me is left behind in England and that said part of me will never be reclaimed until I go back.

To mark that, I reflected a bit on my musical style and how it’s changed as a result of where I was. This mix features predominantly UK artists (along with a French guy and a Canadian or two thrown in there) showing off a patently UK sound— deep, dark basslines and broken beats, combined with euphoric tempo and lightning-quick pace. Each Sarcasmix volume will have a different sound to it, but all of them will carry the level of intensity that the UK could instill in me where the US could not (no offense to my American friends).

Crack open a cold one, it’s America day— only proper to celebrate it with Chinese-imported fireworks and tunes from the country we defeated for independence.

————— 

Sarcasmix Vol. 1 — UK Bass

1. Pianorama (Dephas8 Remix) — Habstrakt

2. Roof Back — Minnesota

3. Guilt — Nero

4. Boomer — Jakwob

5. United Kingdom — Benga

6. Left The Room — Skream feat. P-Money

7. CTO (Croydon Takeover) — Skream

8. Next Hype (Ashburner Remix) — Tempa T

9. Everyday — Rusko

10. Louder (Doctor P & Flux Pavillion Remix) — DJ Fresh

11. Louder (Drumsound & Bassline Smith Remix) — DJ Fresh

12. Shoreless — Camo & Krooked

13. I Remember (J Majik & Wickaman Remix) — Deadmau5 & Kaskade

14. War Machine (Arbiter Rage Edit) — Reso

15. Lassitude — DJ Fresh & Sigma

16. Tonight — Danny Byrd & Netsky

17. Where’s My Money? — TC

18. Mr. Muscle — Rusko

19. Smack Your Bitch Up — Benga

20. Days Go By (Mimosa Remix) — Dirty Vegas

21. Flying Into Tokyo (Azedia Remix) — Magnetic Man

Special thanks to Emily Duffy for coining the name for this forthcoming series of mixes.

This mix is dedicated to all of the many incredibly wonderful individuals who went to extraordinary lengths to make me feel at home during my stay in the United Kingdom for nearly 11 months. I feel blessed beyond words to have had this opportunity and I will be grateful for this time forever and always.

If you enjoyed the music that you heard in this mix, PLEASE support the artists by seeing them live or buying their merchandise. This mix is exclusively for promotional purposes and is not intended to infringe copyrights nor is it to be sold at any price.

7 months ago  /  3 notes

Everywhere and (almost) back.

Holy canole, I blink for one moment, and by the time I open my eyes again, I’ve done 4 shows in as many nights, gone to London (and back) for a music festival, took off to Dublin for five days, got a cold, went back to London, and now I’m just 11 short days from moving out of the UK. Time needs to stop going so damn fast.

Updates to the blog, naturally, have decreased as the hectic nature of my travel schedule has increased, but two blips have popped up on my radar that I wanted to pass on to you all:

[New Mix] June Mix - Luka

I had a listen to this on my way into London this morning, and I have to say that Luka’s found his fire again (if it even went away in the first place). A bit harder fare from the Midlands-based DJ than what you might initially expect, but it’s territory well-explored on his part. There’s even a good bit of moombahton/core in there, if you’re so sexily inclined. Download this if you need some pre-drinking tunes that will turn your small party of friends into a goddamned riotous gathering.

JUNE MIX by lukalukaluka

[Big Show Alert - Iowa City, USA] Crowd Control and Electrocity at YACHT CLUB

Crowd Control (aka Jason Hoth, aka the moombahton don of midwest) is making his DJ debut tonight at Yacht Club. Rumor has it he’s got a slew of new stuff, including originals, hidden up his sleeve. Closing for him are the always wonderful Electrocity. Cheap drinks and big beats — this is an essential summer dance party tonight, one worth rearranging some plans and driving to town for.

Figure - Aliens Moombah Too (Crowd Control remix) by Crowd.Control

Dada Life - Unleash The Fucking Moombah! (Crowd Control remix) [D/L INSIDE] by Crowd.Control

Skrillex - Reptile (Crowd Control remix) [D/L INSIDE] by Crowd.Control

7 months ago  /  1 note

Good Riddance (The Time of Your Life)

For those of you in Iowa City who may not be aware, Mikko Rodney Kuusisto-Wolf, the guy behind the Yacht Club Tuesday dance parties, is up and moving to Chicago at the end of the week. The final dance party that he’s personally over-seeing is tonight, with Beat Resonance and DJ Paradigm.

Most people would take this opportunity to say something nice and meaningful about Mikko, but I’m tempted to say otherwise.

Temptation wants me to say something along the lines of:

‘Fuck you Mikko Wolf.

You’re an asshole. You will not be missed. Iowa City will be better without you. You like terrible music, you book terrible music, you ARE terrible.

Your humor is so deadpan that I’m shocked you even have a pulse. It’s clearly an indicator of your cold, hollow shell of what those who do not know you would call your soul.

Mikko is the type of person whose idea of promotion is creating a facebook event page four hours before the actual event. These pages typically consist of gibberish, mass repetition of meaningless words, and boasting about DJs that no one has ever heard of.

Working with Mikko Wolf is like working with a stable Gary Busey: all of the drug-fueled craze and furious ramblings about nothing with none of the fun antics.

Mikko is a hipster of the worst kind: a hipster that hates other hipsters and previous incarnations of his own hipsterdom. He is the neo-proto-archetypical hipster. If he were funny, I’d half suspect him of being Carles from Hipster Runoff, but he’s not. He’s just an asshole who thinks he is.

Fuck you, Mikko. I’m glad you’re leaving and I hope Chicago burns to the ground in another great fire upon your arrival and that it’s your fault.’

However, I usually try to resist temptations when possible, so I won’t launch into a diatribe about his countless negative qualities.

In total and complete seriousness, Mikko really is a stand-up guy and a wonderful person to work with. I’m am quite saddened that I will not have a chance to collaborate with him in the foreseeable future.

While he’d probably be among the first to downplay his role in the massive resurgence of dance music scene in Eastern Iowa, he is single-handedly responsible for turning a sparsely attended night in a dive bar into a destination for international dance acts.

He went from iPods plugged into a soundboard to mash-up guys on laptops to DJs from labels like Trouble & Bass and Fool’s Gold demanding chances to play at Yacht Club. Furthermore, he did this on fucking TUESDAYS, with people turning out regardless of the horrendous weather or finals they may have had the following day.

Beyond the dance parties, Mikko has proven himself as a promoter who knows his shit better than anyone else I’ve yet worked with, all without displaying hubris. You would never guess from a simple conversation with the guy that he’s bro-noodled with Chuck Inglish (of The Cool Kids), Database, The Hood Internet, Deathface, Flosstradamus, and probably more people I don’t even know about.

Mikko’s commitment to bringing quality acts to Iowa City, regardless of his personal taste, is something I greatly respect and aim to emulate in my own scouting endeavours.

Plain and simple, anyone who has had the immense pleasure of working with Mikko in any capacity should feel incredibly lucky. His bizarre sense of humor, brutal honesty, and commitment to always pushing the envelope one step further has left an indelible mark on several music scenes in our college town and I can only imagine him leaving the same mark on Chicago in a few years time.

The dance parties will be continuing without Mikko’s personal presence (he’s still organizing them through the web and with help from fellow IC promoters), but they will never be quite the same. If you’re out in Iowa City tonight, go buy that man a drink.

So, Mr. Kuusisto-Wolf, farewell.

As Billy Joe Armstrong of Green Day once said (probably while applying eye-liner and thinking of ways to further sell out his no longer relevant 90s pop-punk band), “I hope you have the time of your life.”

8 months ago  /  1 note

Nemo welcomes you to Summer.

Seems like every time there’s a bank holiday in the UK, I end up listening to drum and bass for the most of it. Combine this bank holiday with the fact that I just turned 21 and that tomorrow is also Memorial Day in the US, and you’ve got a great beginning to what looks to be an amazing summer all over the world.

With impeccable timing once again, the tireless DJ Nemo (aka Scott Neal) has put out a duo of bass-heavy mixes to get you ready for some proper hot-as-hell rage fests.

Bassbin Murdura (Dubstep)

Despite the violent title, this mix does a pretty great job of blending some sunny vibes in with the bass bombs, making it ideal for sunny day listening or late-night post-lash durrrt. Heads who like their dubstep mild need not apply.

Summer Mix 2011 (Drum and Bass) Download HERE via MediaFire

Probably my favorite Nemo mix of the year so far, specifically because it’s what he does best: drum and bass. I kid you not, Scott knows this genre better than most English ‘heads’ and as a DJ whose spent time in both the US and UK, I can’t think of a guy more deserving of a few sets in the UK than this dude. This mix is pure ear sex.

IF YOU’RE IN IOWA, you can catch Nemo and Dan ‘Dub D’ Dillard (performing as Beat Resonance) this Tuesday at Yacht Club IC with DJ Paradigm. It’s the last dance party that will actually be personally overseen by that dick Mikko Wolf… but more on that later.

8 months ago  /  Notes

[MIXTAPE RELEASE] Knockout

It’s about damn time. I’ve been trying to get a mix as good as better than Overture turned out since, like, February or some long-ass time ago. I’m happy to say that I think I’ve done it, and just in time for Summer.

I would like to especially thank fellow KDPS alum Kat Perdock for putting together the amazing artwork you see above. She busted her ass on a strict timeline while balancing this with work and illness, and made a cover that’s cool beyond words. I’m really indebted to her.

Enjoy the mix and thank you for the love you guys give me every day :)

josh

—————————

Knockout by DJ_Arbiter

Tracklist

1. Magic Fountain (Kissy Sell Out Remix) — Art vs. Scienc

2. Bust ‘Em Up — Crookers & Savage Skulls

3. Beat Down (Dillon Francis Remix) — TAI

4. Show Me Love (Morrison’s Moombahton Remix) — Robin S.

5. Get Ur Freak On (Alvaro & Punish Moombahton Remix) — Missy Elliot

6. Producto de Boogie Down — Freqnik

7. Take It Back (Dillon Francis Remix) — Toddla T

8. Reptile’s Theme — Skrillex

9. Da Funk — Daft Punk

10. We Are Your Friends — Justice vs. S.I.M.I.A.N.

11. Renegades of Babylon/Babylon — KAGE & Congorock

12. The Joker — Felix Cartal

13. WTF (Deekline & Tim Healey Remix) — Tittsworth feat. Kid Sister and Pase Rock

14. Turbulence — Laidback Luke, Steve Aoki, and Lil Jon

15. Bass Cannon (Getter Remix) — Flux Pavillion

16. A Milli (Instrumental) — Lil Wayne and Bangladesh

17. Bigger Than Hip Hop — WTF & Dead Prez

18. One Kid (Diplo Mashup) — Nicki Minaj vs. Sleigh Bells vs. Swedish House Mafia

19. Where Is My Mind? (Bassnectar Remix) — The Pixies

20. Dat Ass (Crizzly Remix) — Logun

21. No Problem — Chase and Status

22. Gold Dust (KAGE K-Theory Edit) — DJ Fresh

23. Gold Dust (Mike Allison Refix) — DJ Fresh

24. All Night — Jack Beats

25. Stickin’ (Kissy Sell Out Remix) — SonicC

26. To Protect and Entertain (Crookers Remix) — Busy P and MURS

27. Autonomy (Lucky Date Remix) — Zedd

28. Lyposuct — D.I.M. & TAI

29. The Bottle Song — R3hab

30. Senses And The Mind — Sidney Blu

31. Phat Planet (Mark Knight and Funkagenda Remix) — Leftfield

32. Arguru System (JonB Bootleg) — Deadmau5 vs. Mark Knight & D. Ramirez

33. Gold — Mumbai Science

34. Back 2 The Ghetto (Krafty Kuts Remix) — Tim Healey & Calvertron

35. 4th Of July (Rusko Remix) — Kelis

36. Whip My Hair (Crizzly Remix) — Willow Smith

37. Everyday (Netsky Remix) — Rusko

38. Sweet Harmony — Danny Byrd

39. Such Great Heights — The Postal Service

40. Damn It Feels Good To Be A Gangster — The Geto Boys

41. End Credits — Chase and Status feat. Plan B

42. I <3 U So (Skream Remix) — Cassius

This mix was recorded and arranged in May of 2011 in Birmingham, UK.

This mix is dedicated jointly to Tim Harper, Oscar Byrne, and Livy Timson — all of whom made me feel at home in a foreign country for the past nine months of my life and all of whom I am eternally grateful to have met. It’s also worth noting that each of their musical tastes has rubbed off on me a fair amount.

If you enjoyed the music in this mix, please SUPPORT THE ARTISTS by buying their merchandise/music and/or paying to see them live. Requests for free copies of the individual tracks will not be honored. This mix is for non-profit distribution ONLY and is not intended to infringe upon any copyright. All tracks are the intellectual property of their respective producers and remixers.

8 months ago  /  Notes