guest dj spotlight: DJ LEMZ

SHIFT is proud to bring back DJ LEMZ to open tonight! This boy has talent, is a prodigy if I have ever seen one, and is one of the few openers to break my nerves and draw me to the dancefloor before I go up and play. He has a huge future ahead of him, and we are really excited to bring him back before he becomes the star he's destined to be. Seriously, do not miss this boy's set (10:00p-12:30a), or I'll kneecap your grandma.

LEMZ is a Baltimore-based producer and DJ who knows how to keep a dance floor moving and wanting more. Born in California and raised in Baltimore, Lemz has been living in the best places to soak in influence and talent. He has been DJing for 8 years strong and does not plan to stop anytime soon. By the age of 20, Lemz has toured internationally and shared the stage with Shunda K, Rye Rye, Dave Nada, Peaches, AC Slater and Bird Peterson, with plenty more to come in the near future.

At the moment, Lemz has been working hard on a full-length album, which will be released Summer 2010 through Dark Planet Records. The album is going to be in collaboration with various artists, including Dark Planet’s own Sherell Rowe and The Roll Wit Us Allstars. The release is set to be a genre-bending hybrid of Electro, Baltimore Club, Hip Hop, and everything in between.

When it comes to a live DJ set, Lemz knows what it takes to get a room packed and make the people go crazy. His sets have a distinct feel to them, coming at the crowd hard but keeping the energy as high as possible the whole time. He is quickly becoming a master at building his sets into something indescribable but creative, incorporating a live performance with collaborative artists and live production of original tracks.

Down the line, Lemz hopes to rock dance floors all over the world and spark creativity and influence in as many people as he can.

3 tracks: SHIFT favorites!

Here are three tracks you are sure to hear on Saturday at SHIFT! They are three tracks I love to play, always get the crowd rolling, and will probably be in my arsenal for a long time. Luciana is my favorite dirty skank. I love her more than my luggage. Teeth is maybe my 2nd favorite Gaga track (behind only Dance in the Dark). Lastly, Drop Down is the dark, heavy, infectious side of electro dance that I love. It's completely new rave (which is what I often consider my sound as a DJ to be) and makes me shake it like a shameless prostitute on a budget. SUCH good times! I'm so excited for Saturday. Hurricane SHIFT will be a category 6!

fresh: Robyn 'Hang With Me' video & mp3 (album version)

Robyn is my favorite pop star, and I cannot say that enough. She has this ability to take control of a song and make it completely hers, while surrounding her given talent with the best producers in the world who know how to enhance it. It's quite astounding. Her next release, in the series of three EP's, is Body Talk Pt. 2. The first single, Hang With Me, is more addictive than heroin-laced cocoa pebbles, and one of the better written songs I've heard in years from a pop star. Enjoy the video and mp3. Download HERE.

essentials: discobitch & deadmau5

Here are two filthy dance tracks (by Discobitch & Deadmau5) that get me rolling. They are essentials for any party, any dance-heavy night out, anything that requires the most visceral of experiences... except for massages... very bad for massages unless it has an extremely happy ending. On a sidenote, I am so excited to see Deadmau5 on Thursday at 930 Club! It will be the perfect warmup and inspiration for Saturday's HURRICANE SHIFT!

fresh: kaskade ft. martina (of dragonette) vidja

remix monday : robyn none of dem

Today in Remix Monday land, we travel once again to the Robynhood. None of Dem has been tearing up my iTunes for a while. It's a pretty amazing track in its own right (look up previous entries to listen/download), but these two remixes hold their own, I must say. One of them, the Criminals remix) was used in my TeaserMix. Check'em:

Hurricane SHIFTeaserMix

Every TeaserMix takes its own shape. This month I definitely was in a very pop-laden, rave-heavy mood. I wanted a build-and-explode factor, and I think I succeeded. Being a Hurricane theme, I wanted it to start big and destructive and finish with a bit of carefree serenity... you know, minus all the deaths and superdome rapings. Now, doesn't that sound AWESOME!.. and the mix does too! I hope you dig it. If not, f*ck you! JayKayJayKay.
Moar Ghosts N Stuff - Deadmau5
None of Dem (Criminals remix) - Robyn
Symphonies (Dada Life remix DJ MAJR edit) - Dan Black ft. Kid Cudi
Spaceship - Benny Benassi ft. Kelis et al
Hot N Fun (Boys Noize remix) - N.E.R.D.
We Never Close Our Eyes (Lazrtag remix) - Scanners
Kickstarts - Example
Hello - Martin Solveig ft. Dragonette
Come On Girl (Wideboys vs. DJ MAJR remix) - Taio Cruz ft. Luciana
Everything You Wanted (RAC remix) - Kele
California Girls (MSTRKRFT vs. DJ MAJR remix) - Katy Perry
Animal - Ke$ha

3 NEW tracks! - dragonette, cut copy, kele

Here are three new tracks to get you ready for the weekend. First we have Dragonette doing their best impression of Le Tigre. Next, we have Cut Copy returning from disco hell and dwelling in indie pop-dom. And, lastly we have Kele, my favorite black gay vocalist of Bloc Party, proving to us that RAC really can go toe-to-toe with any remixologists out there. I'm really excited for all these tracks. Download away...
Our Summer - Dragonette
Where I'm Going - Cut Copy
Everything You Wanted (RAC remix) - Kele

Sorry it's been a while since I updated... I took a little vacay to refresh my love for new music and drink my feelings... and boy do I have some good sh*t for you guys! Stay tuned. -Mikey/DJ MAJR

fresh: robyn on letterman

just what i needed

essentials: martin solveig w/ dragonette

In 2009, French DJ/Producer Martin Solveig teamed up with Dragonette to produce one of the best tracks of the year, "Boys & Girls," and in 2010 they are at it again with a new song called "Hello." The latter has been dominating my playlist over the last couple weeks, and now it's time to do so to yours.

remix monday : designer drugs pop overdose

I love Designer Drugs, as many of you know, and to celebrate their glorious return to Washington, DC this weekend (Saturday the 17th at U-Hall), here are a couple more of my favorite remixes by them! I chose the three most pop-heavy of their remixes for this... but that doesn't mean that DD's signature aggression is not splattered all over them. I hope you start to love them as much as I do. I'll see you on the dancefloor Saturday! Enjoy!

SIREN TONIGHT!!!


Mikey Adolphson (DJ MAJR) and Aaron Riggins are so excited to have you guys back to APEX for SIREN! It's going to be even better than our launch party over Pride weekend, this time with an ALL-KYLIE BACKROOM by VJ Wesley D and the best of bitchpop (gaga, la roux, peaches, etc) and Oh-Oh's (2000's dance... you know, all your guilty queer as folk-era pleasures) all mashed together all night long on the dancefloor, ... with LASERS, FOG and BUBBLES!

In celebration of the release of their new albums, we are going to heavy on the Kylie Minogue and Kelis, as well as making sure you rock it old school rave-style with the best of 1997-2003 dance.

Listen/Download the NEW SirenSamplerMix: http://bit.ly/aeR9hw


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A portion of the set list from last month:

You Don't Appreciate Me - Amuka
I'm a Slave 4 U - Britney Spears
Here Comes the Rain Again - Eurythmics
Rendez-Vu - Basement Jaxx
Songs Remind Me Of You - Annie
Music - Madonna
Fire in You New Shoes - Kaskade ft. Dragonette
Gotta Get Thru This - Daniel Bedingfield
Bad Romance - Lady Gaga
Momma's Place - Roisin Murphy
Faster Kill Pussycat - Paul Oakenfold
Hollywood - Madonna
Heavy Cross - The Gossip
Fuck the Pain Away - Peaches
It's Not Right But It's Okay - Whitney Houston
Acapella - Kelis
Stronger - Britney Spears
Invisible Light - Scissor Sisters
Zero - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
I Turn to You - Mel C
Dirrty - Christina Aguilera
Remedy - Little Boots
Dancing on My Own - Robyn
Everyday - Kim English
Heads Will Roll - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Rocket - Goldfrapp
Dance in the Dark - Lady Gaga
Crazy in Love - Beyonce
Sandstorm - Darude
Love at First Sight - Kylie Minogue


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Siren: the big goddamn gay dance party done right. See you there!

dj majr gets older


That is all. Thank you.

3 tracks - Siren's Oh Oh's

With the Siren party, people have often asked what the Bitchpop vs. Oh Oh's aspect actually means... Well, boys and girls, bitchpop is electro-femme music that focuses on artists such as Lady Gaga, La Roux, Little Boots, Annie Lennox, Gwen Stefani, Peaches, Dragonette, etc. Oh Oh's, on the other hand, is a celebration of novel retro - a time between 1997-2003 that has been easily forgotten - when many of us were first experiencing bars, clubs, fluorescent lighting in back rooms, and poor life choices. Today's 3-Track-Thursday is a celebration of three of my favorite songs from that era! Actually, scratch that... let me throw in one more!

fresh : new Kele

After how good his first single, Tenderoni, was, I am pretty excited to lay down a couple more new tracks from Bloc Party frontman Kele's new album. Here ya go!

sunday school's in session

This Sunday our good friends at the Pocket Gays are hosting their monthly Sunday School at DC mainstay, Local 16 (16th and U, NW). Definitely check it out, as they are great hosts, but don't make fun of their collective height... as they will stomp on your toes... really hard.




essentials: groove armada


If you do not love Groove Armada, you have no soul. I love them and am really pissed that I couldn't make it out to EDC in L.A. to see them 2 weeks ago. Apparently they opened their set with New Order's Blue Monday - see below - I'm still cringing, wishing I could have been there. In any case, here are my three favorite tracks by the always essential, eternally eclectic Groove Armada.


DJ MAJR set / photos from last month's SIREN

To whet your appetite for THIS Friday's SIREN party at Apex, co-hosted by DJ MAJR, here is his set list from the bitchpop vs. big gay 00's dance party, as well as some great photos. CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE PHOTOS HERE.

SET LIST
You Don't Appreciate Me - Amuka
Earthquake - Little Boots
I'm a Slave 4 U - Britney Spears
Here Comes the Rain Again - Eurythmics
Rendez-Vu - Basement Jaxx
Boombox - Kylie Minogue
Songs Remind Me Of You - Annie
Fire in You New Shoes - Kaskade ft. Dragonette
Bad Romance - Lady Gaga
I Learned from the Best - Whitney Houston
Momma's Place - Roisin Murphy
Faster Kill Pussycat - Paul Oakenfold
Hollywood - Madonna
Heavy Cross - The Gossip
Fuck the Pain Away - Peaches
It's Not Right But It's Okay - Whitney Houston
Acapella - Kelis
Diva - Beyonce
Stronger - Britney Spears
Invisible Light - Scissor Sisters
Zero - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Dirrty - Christina Aguilera
Remedy - Little Boots
I Like That - Richard Vission & Static Revenger ft. Luciana
Dancing on My Own - Robyn
Music - Madonna
Heads Will Roll - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Alive - Goldfrapp
Rocket - Goldfrapp
Dance in the Dark - Lady Gaga
Monster/Teeth - Lady Gaga
Crazy in Love - Beyonce
Love at First Sight - Kylie Minogue
In for the Kill - La Roux
Lady Marmalade - Christina Aguilera, Mya, Lil' Kim, P!nk
Mercy - Duffy
3 - Britney Spears








July 2010 SirenSamplerMix!

My SIREN SAMPLER is ready for this Friday's event at APEX! It's a mix of 'new-retro' 2000's dance and modern electro bitchpop, and it's so good I don't know what to do with myself. Enjoy!
Fixin to Thrill (Automatic Panic remix) - Dragonette
One More Time (Dskotek remix) - Daft Punk
Twist - Goldfrapp
Don't Call Me Baby - Madison Avenue
Commander - Kelly Rowland
Alejandro (Bimbo Jones remix) - Lady Gaga
Stuck (Thunderpuss remix) - Stacie Orrico
I'm a Slave 4 U (Dave Aude remix) - Britney Spears
All the Lovers (DJ MAJR vs. Treasure Fingers remix) - Kylie Minogue
Spaceship - Benny Benassi ft. Kelis, ATL, Jean Baptiste

remix monday : dj ollie's summer jams pt1

This past SHIFT we had DJ Ollie opening up and he did a fantastic job. So, we decided to celebrate him by posting his summer jams mix as our remix monday! Dig it:

3 tracks: pick-me-up music

So, here are three tracks (by Prince, Kelis, and Robyn.... three of my favorite bitches) that I really dig that you should learn to enjoy. They really have zero in common, except that I like them and I listen to them all when I need a pick-me-up. Enjoy!