I have a new mix to share with you, over on Tropical Events' Soundcloud page. I'm calling it "Set the Table". This mix is a live recording of my opening set on New Year's Eve for a cozy 120-person event that took place in the hills above Los Angeles.
The playlist that I assembled for this mix contained lots of classic tunes of the "sassy and swanky" variety, along with some newer tunes. It got me thinking about this subgenre of downtempo and my love affair with it.
The music that was coming out in the mid-90s and late 90s was my initial exploration into downtempo, inspired by the Moontribe resident downtempo DJ of that time,Tha Roman. Roman's mixtapes and CDs were well-loved in my household, some of which were played so often that I had to replace the copies, I wore them out so much. I have hazy memories of putting on one of his mixes on repeat as I would get home from a night of revelry, fall asleep, and wake up hours later having listened all the way through multiple times.
Fast forward to the MP3 revolution in the early aughts - I started finding the tunes from those beloved mixtapes online and, armed with a meticulously-maintained music library database I had begun, my exploration turned into a mission to locate as many of those tunes as possible. It was a tricky feat in those days, as tracklists were not common and there was no Shazam or the like. Each time I would find a tune, I would clap my hands in glee and would Google the artist, the remixer, and the label, hungry for more. I'd dare say I've never stopped since.
I hope you enjoy this mix!
Tracklist:
Encounters - Reverie (Hibernation Remix)
Audialist - Serpent
TJ Rehmi - The Alkhemist
The Dining Rooms - Pure & Easy
Boozoo Bajou - Bakar
Zen Baboon - The Odd Lion
Jet Jaguar - Awry Smile
J Boogie's Dubtronic Science - Le Booty Cinematique
Øhmar - Above Duality
Giyo - Imaginary Friends
islandman - Rest In Space
Lurob - Down The Road
Govinda - Union of Body and Sound
Danny Breaks - Transmit Fantastic
Ill Gotten Gains - Mr. Cool
Catching Flies - Sunrays (Moods Remix)
pheel. - afterglow.
Mama Oliver - Eastwest (Stoned Together)
J Boogie's Dubtronic Science - Afros in Ya
Moonspatz - Kali
Timewarp Inc. - Top 5 (Feat. Rxn)
Kero One - Groovin'
P.S.O.I. - What You Gonna Do
Zen Baboon - Sabo de Raia
Tosca - Orozco (Dubphonic Dub)
General Elektriks - Bloodshot Eyes
Bombay Dub Orchestra - Monsoon Malabar (International Observer remix)
Trippin Jaguar - Kampa Kaima
