Episode 27 - Charlie Dark

Dj, @run.dem.crew Founder, public speaker, community builder, mentor, Yogi, lululemon Ambassador - are just a few of Charlie Dark's job titles.Charlie Dark is a poet, DJ, co-founder of Attica Blues and founder of Run Dem Crew. Dark is also a Lululemon Global Running Ambassador.In 2023, Dark was awarded an MBE as part of the birthday honours list, for services to running and to young people.https://www.instagram.com/daddydarkrdc/

Fuse together Detroit Jazz Master Marcus Belgrave & Techno Pioneer Mike Banks and you get a musician who understands the theory and styles of each while continuing to push both genres forever forward.https://www.4evr4wrd.com/

Ann-Marie Teasley, also known as The AM and most recently AMX, is a violinist turned techno upstart who made her entrance as a guest DJ on NTS radio and clubs throughout Detroit and NYC before releasing her first EP 'Black Majik' on Tresor Records. Following her debut in S. America, The AM began producing records under the alias 'AMX,' which is the monicker she uses most frequently.She runs a monthly DJ residency in Detroit called Realms of Techno, which is also the name of her newly created label.

A DJ, writer, and avid record collector, DJ Etta’s sets take a free form approach, ranging from naughty boogie disco to enveloping house to classic, golden era hip-hop, mixed with a cohesive grace and effortless musicality. She occupies most of her time scheming with her party Blueprint, curating for Moods, or working as a staff member at the legendary Submerge Records. Over the past 7 years, under the tutelage of the likes of the legendary John Jammin Collins and Rick Wilhite, she's played at festivals such as Dweller, parties such asInterdimensional Transmissions and has put out mixes through Honcho and The Lot Radio.https://www.instagram.com/discointelpro?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Born in New York, some of his earliest musical influences included his mother’s love for soca music and the distinct Caribbean rhythms of his culture. An appreciation of Jazz would be further guided by his father’s expanding audiophile home system. Moving to Detroit in 1980, the start of the decade where Techno would take formation, put him at the center of music history while simultaneously working at the now famed nightclub “The Music Institute”Relocating to Atlanta to attend Morehouse College, he took it upon himself to bring more of the authentic House and Techno flavor to his new home, playing at numerous clubs and bars in the metro area. Eventually this led to DEEP, his aptly-named, game changing decade long Saturday night residency at local club MJQ, where he would bring guests such as King Britt, Steve “Silk” Hurley, Peven Everett, Kerri Chandler, Phil Asher and Joe Claussell.It is during the 2000s that Kai really sets his stride. 2002 saw the release of his first production, ‘The Kaizer EP’, on Brett Dancer’s seminal deep house label Track Mode. After a few releases on other labels such as Moodymann’s Mahogani Music, Deep Explorer & Real Soon. A few years later he would co-found the Labor Day weekend outdoor event House In The Park with DJ Ramon Rawsoul which now has over 15,000 attendees.2008 saw the creation of his label NDATL and the first edition of his annual Deep Detroit. NDATL stands for the cities that have played a role in his musical development: New York, Detroit, ATLanta. Which is home to many of his own productions and A List producers such as Larry Heard, Mr. G, Theo Parrish & Mike Huckaby to name a few.e has recently curated the boutique Kai Alcé Eyewear line. “The Kaizer” never stops moving. A love of life, mixed with his flair for originality, willingness to experiment and devotion to the dancefloor has cemented his place as a pillar in American dance music history. Whatever comes next from Mr. Alcé, you can be assured that it will be classy, soulful, fulfilling and funky. www.ndatl.comRecorded on April 7, 2025 in Brooklyn, NY.

Sabine Blaizin, DJ, Music Producer, and Event Curator, is a prominent DJ and cultural advocate focused on African diasporic music. Founder of Oyasound Productions which merges traditional rhythms with electronic music, she spins a diverse mix of Global Soul, including House, Afrotech, Afrobeat, and Haitian Roots. She continues to influence the scene with her creative vision and dedication to cultural advocacy. As an activist, Sabine continuously celebrates and elevates the cultural heritage and artistic evolution of the African Diaspora. In this capacity, she is the Director of Programs at the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute. Sabine ultimately seeks to create new scholarship through the African and Haitian diasporic lens of music, culture and spirituality. Recorded on February 24, 2025 in LIC, Queens NY.www.oyasound.com

DJ, record collector and sound system designer Mo Yasin has been a staple in NYC nightlife for pretty much a decade. Virgina born and raised in a Sudanese household, he started djing in his basement while in middle school. Exploring more of different genres while working in record stores after the move to NYC, he dived into sound system culture and the building of speakers during 2020. Since then he has developed his sound system design business and DIY event practices to contribute to the city's dance music culture and further his craft as a DJ.https://www.instagram.com/_moyasin_/?hl=enRecorded on 12/17/2024 in LIC, Queens NY.

The Brooklyn-based DJ, producer and instrumentalist has become the go-to man for parties that ooze rhythm and heart, his DJ sets, live shows and BDA (Bring Dat Ass) nights channeling house, techno, acid, disco, electro, hip-hop and Latin into a genre-less (who needs a name for this anyway?) entity interested in moving bodies and feeding the feel-good, all while keeping honesty and emotion at the forefront. https://toribio.bandcamp.com/ Hosted & produced by Mari Ella. Recorded on October 29th in LIC, Queens NY.

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.

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.