Episode 10 - Donis

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. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancetothemusic/support

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. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancetothemusic/support

Belinda Becker is a DJ, dancer, writer, actor and mom. Originally from Kingston, Jamaica, Belinda is well known on the NYC DJ scene having been inducted into Paper Magazine's Nightlife Hall Of Fame. She has spun at such venues as Nell’s, Lincoln Center, and Joe's Pub. Having returned from a residency at Indochine in Dubai and a cultural center opening in Cuba, Belinda presently has weekly residencies at Dumbo House and Temple Bar as well as doing other events. Her music encompasses many genres including reggae, latin, afro-house, afro-beats, amapiano, soul, funk, R&B, disco, house and old school hip-hop.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancetothemusic/support

Merlin Bobb, a Brooklyn native and renowned DJ, is widely credited as a pioneer of the house music scene. His success in the industry has recently earned him recognition from Boiler Room, who invited him to perform his first live DJ set in 2022. Merlin landed his first mix show on WBLS and quickly became a favorite among dance music fans. Over the years, he experimented with different techniques and musical styles, pushing the boundaries of what was possible with DJ-ing. This signaled the start of a long and illustrious career in the entertainment industry. Merlin's influence extended far beyond the DJ booth. As an executive at major music recording labels like Atlantic and Elektra Records, he was instrumental in introducing the burgeoning house music scene to a wider audience. He also signed and hired prominent dance music DJs and producers like Frankie Knuckles, Timmy Regisford, Roger Sanchez, Kerri Chandler, David Morales, Louie Vega, Tony Humphries, and Pete Tong to sign artist, produce remixes and help spread the house music sound. Merlin co-founded Club Shelter, a legendary nightclub that quickly became the epicenter of NYC's house and dance music scene. The Shelter brand and culture it sustained continue to reverberate around the world's house music scene to this day. Merlin has recently returned to DJ-ing, much to the delight of his fans, and continues to be an influential figure in the world of house music. https://www.instagram.com/djmerlinbobb/?hl=en Recorded in LIC, Queens on 8.28.2024. Hosted by Mari Ella --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancetothemusic/support

Deeply entrenched in the underground deep house music scene for more than 25 years since the early 90's, Jenifa Mayanja staked her claim in New York and paid her dues the old fashioned way.  Throughout the course of her career, Ms. Mayanja's profile has maintained a coveted underground buzz earning her a revered place in the house community and a reputation for being an innovative, fearless and respected musical ambassador for house music culture and for women in the music business.  While other DJs place value on mass exposure, Jenifa Mayanja’s DJ ethos is about introduction & preservation of house music culture, while injecting love and the craft of djing back into the game. She has played at premier venues like Panorama Bar, Fabric London, Lux Lisbon, Rex Club while mixing it up with gigs at beloved events like “Freerotation”, Djoon, “Kala Festival” and at Picnik Montreal appearing in a Boiler room event. Currently Jenifa holds a monthly residency at Public Records in New York called “Back to the Deep” playing alongside several luminaries such as Wajeed, JT Donaldson, Kyle Hall, Scott Grooves and Lady Monix. As a label owner, Jenifa is the creator of  Bumako Recordings label, started in 2007 which introduced the world to Jenifa’s signature naturalistic deep house sound. Jenifa Mayanja was also part founder of the now defunct Sound Warrior Records, the label dedicated exclusively to releasing music by other women producers.  The uniqueness of her production aesthetic has seen Jenifa as a sought after remixer and guest producer for artists such as, Seb Wildblood, CC Disco, Conclave, Lauren Ritter, Coloring Lessons and Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange for SecretSundaze in addition to her own releases which include three albums. In the last couple of years, Jenifa has decided to bring her experience and knowledge to others through first educational initiatives, then formally introducing a mentoring and coaching program called “The Music Life Mentor” that works with music creatives at all levels to overcome mental and practical roadblocks to success. https://www.instagram.com/jenifamayanja MARI ELLA --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancetothemusic/support

Shawn Dub is a seasoned DJ & record collector from Long Beach, CA who now resides in Brooklyn, NY for over a decade. Shawn started djing in the 2000's where he put work in with many various underground parties in LA and San Fransisco before making his way to the big city. His extreme technical skill, deep crates, and passion for getting lost on a dance floor allowed him to hold down residences at Output, La Poisson, Doris, and I Love Vinyl. Currently, he is the buyer and in-store curator at one of Brooklyn's prominent record stores - Human Head. He has a residency at Public Records called Sol Follow. Sol Follow is dedicated to the hard working often unsung music lovers around the world - he is accompanied by guests who are avid music collectors and lovers of a good party. Shawn Dub is one half of the notorious Records Before Rent show on the Lot Radio - with Sticky Dojah. In 2019, shawn dub joined kels as a resident dj with Detroit born party maneater -where you can expect to be taken on a sonic journey that defies expectations and challenges the status quo. Wherever you may catch shawn dub playing records you can guarentee to be in a room filled with music enthusiasts who thrill the unknown for the freaky and unexpected. Each time shawn steps behind the turntables it is a wild ride though the uncharted territories of sound and the dance floor becomes a canvas for sonic experimentation. https://www.instagram.com/shawndub365/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancetothemusic/support

Tara’s intention is to amplify artists and uplift the crowds that engage with her sets on dance floors throughout NYC.  Tara spins a collage of soulful sounds that acknowledge the past while looking to the future and celebrating the now. Tara produces mixes and hosts misc. on The Lot Radio in Brooklyn and UpBeat on Soho Radio in London, blending music that is both new and old, familiar and unknown, across eras, genres, and continents. Tara loves nightlife, having started out as an event producer and promoter. As a member of Rare Form, she helped originate Donuts are Forever, an annual fundraiser/tribute to J. Dilla, as well as Makossa Brooklyn Cookout, a beloved Brooklyn summer hang fusing music and dancing with delicious food. www.djtara.com https://www.instagram.com/djtaranyc/reels/ Recorded in LIC, Queens on 5/9/2024. Hosted & produced by Mari Ella. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancetothemusic/support

Matthew Law is a Philadelphia-bred DJ, producer and torchbearer for the city’s rich, party rocking legacy. Now residing in Brooklyn NY, he’s joined The Fool’s Gold Records team as a DJ, A&R and remixer alongside the legendary A-TrakHe draws upon this vast musical knowledge during DJsets, entertaining audiences in cities across the globe. He’s rocked crowds alongside such DJs as BenjiB, Waajeed, SGLewis, JazzyJeff, Questlove and more. Law has also spent time as the official tour DJ for Grammy Award winning singer Jazmine Sullivan. In music production, LAW returns to his impetus for becoming a DJ in the first place; Club, Broken Beat and House, the rhythms that are closest to his own heartbeat. His debut EP entitled Rumble has already received critical acclaim and has even been featured on 2 episodes of HBO’s breakout comedy series Southside. He’s also released remixes on Fool’s Gold & Sony as well as original music on K7!/PlanetE. In 2018, Matthew released his 1st single featuring underground icon singer/producerSevenDavisJr.entitled“ICallHer.”Matthew’s toured extensively in the U.S., Europe and Asia since 2011. His versatility allows for a seamless transition from dancefloor to stage, where he executes the precision routines that have become his calling card as a widely-respected selector and member of the Illvibe Collective. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancetothemusic/support

Peter Adarkwah is the founder of the legendary London label BBE Music. The label grew from the vibrant early 90’s club scene with its first release, Stop & Listen compiled by Dr Bob Jones in 1996, opening the door to iconic series’ such as All Back To Mine & Late Nite Tales. A tonne of releases followed, ranging from Disco to Funk, Jazz to House. In the year 2000, the label celebrated Masters at Work’s 10th Anniversary with a mighty box set that featured near 80 tracks. A year later BBE Music spawned the Beat Generation Series of artist albums, notably introducing J Dilla (Welcome 2 Detroit) & a young Will.I.Am‘s first solo outing, alongside DJ Jazzy Jeff, Madlib & DJ Spinna, all of whom contributed to this seminal set of long players. A quarter of a century and well over 500 titles later, having worked with Mark Ronson, Roy Ayers, Questlove, Hugh Masekela, DJ Premier, Dimitri from Paris, Joey Negro, Kon, RZA, Laurent Garnier, Black Coffee, DJ Shadow, David Rodigan and John Moralesamong many others, BBE Music looks to the future, celebrating its rich heritage while continuing to release a bounty of fresh titles. The label’s recent projects include an expansive reissue series from pioneering Nigerian label Tabansi, new imprint ‘Batakari’ in association with Boddhi Satva and the critically acclaimed ‘J Jazz’ Japanese Jazz multi-album project, not to mention the recent landmark 500th label release: a brand new version of ‘Barely Breaking Even‘, featuring Leroy Burgess, Patrick Adams and Louie Vega. www.bbemusic.com https://www.instagram.com/bbeafrica/ https://bbemusic.bandcamp.com/ Recorded on March 8, 2024 in NYC. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancetothemusic/support

DONIS is a Dominican American DJ/Producer born and raised in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Their style is rooted in their city’s rich club culture legacy, often paying homage to the sounds of New York’s golden era while forging their own path of innovation and influence. In the DJ booth, they combine unsurpassable mixing skills with an innate ability to read the crowd, both responding to their desires while setting the sonic agenda. They explore a combination of Trans-Atlantic styles ranging from Deep House to Techno, Disco and Dembow. They have become well known in the New York underground scene playing parties for Papi Juice, Boiler Room, Dweller Festival and regularly playing at local venues like Le Bain, Elsewhere and Paragon. They have most recently worked as Music Supervisor for Head of State’s FW23 fashion show, scored 3 ads for Telfar, self released their debut EP Metamorphosis01 and has been shelling their residency at world renowned club Nowadays. https://www.instagram.com/donis.bk/ https://donis.bandcamp.com/album/metamorphosis01 https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3vllhB3sR2tTIJ61kxt4jV?si=72b6e9192d924b53&nd=1&dlsi=4c2262dffec64336 Recorded on 2.7.24 in LIC, Queens. Hosted & Produced by Mari Ella --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancetothemusic/support