"Rumour" - CHLÖE HOWL

Learn her name... she is kinda going to be a big deal.

MS MR covers LCD SOUNDSYSTEM

...and it ain't too shabby, y'all.

Enjoy: 

"Partition" (Matt Bailer v. MAJR club re-work) - BEYONCÉ

GET IT HERE

SIREN Guest DJ CHORD Talks Beyoncé

DJ CHORD BEZERRA joins us for a very special Mrs. Carter Christmas tomorrow night at SIREN.  Chord and I go back to the days, years ago, when I was running and DJing my first party - SHIFT - at local watering hole Cobalt and he was bartending.  Soon after such, he began DJing there as well and his career has really taken off thanks to his own talent and ingenuity.  Now a resident at Cobalt for years and a new monthly resident at Bar-tini in NYC's Hell's Kitchen, Chord has definitely made quite the impression on the east coast.   

Always a warm soul to be around - full of positive energy - Chord will bring that vibrance to the Green Lantern for what is sure to be an epic yuletide celebration of the one and only Beyoncé Knowles.  He was kind enough to take the time to answer a few questions and give us his TOP 10 BEYONCÉ tracks: 

1.) Why do you love Beyoncé?
There ain’t nothing that can keep that woman down. Weave on fire? B’ keeps singing. Busted heal on stage? B’ keeps singing. Internet tells you that you are phony for lip syncing at inauguration? B’ holds a televised press conference, sings flawless rendition of the Star Spangled Banner completely a capella, drops mic and walks out. Well, ok… she didn’t walk out. B’ strutted out.

2.) What are your TOP 10 Beyonce/DChild songs? 
01. Video Phone 
02. Survivor
03. Crazy in Love
04. Bootylicious
05. Check On It
06. Beautiful Liar
07. Lose My Breath
08. Telephone
09. Countdown
10. Run the World

3.) Anything else you feel like adding, feel free... 
I'm looking forward to putting a ring on it and having a blast this Friday! No not that ring…. The other one .

NEW VIDEO: "Team" - LORDE

You have to respect this young woman.  She's sharp, vision-forward and can reproduce her music live. Here, Lorde shows us she is not letting the fame (and money) from "Royals" go to her head and made a wonderful video for a song I consider superior to her first single.  I consider this track maybe the third-best on the album (with "Royals" being fourth) and I'm really happy she made a proper video for it.  Lovely.  Just lovely.  

I just can't wait to see if she releases the two best tracks from her debut LP "Pure Heroine" - "Ribs" and "400 Lux."

"Youth" (Disco Fries remix) - FOXES

I know this is a few months old, but I have been playing it non-stop today and figured I'd share with the masses.  The original track by FOXES was one of my favorites of the summer and this DISCO FRIES remix does it dance justice.  Enjoy, if you haven't already:  

unreleased BRITNEY | MAJR club edits

Get it.  Get it.  

Here are some simple, DJ-friendly club edits for y'all out there who want to bang out the new BRITNEY before it gets released Tuesday in the USA.  Enjoy!  

Get a MAJR ❤ on.

"Elastic Heart" (Steve Pitron & Max Sanna remix) - Sia ft. The Weeknd & Diplo

Sia finally takes a moment away from writings songs others cannot do justice to deliver us the recurring gift that is her tremendous voice.  Here it is remixed by Pitron and Sanna, who have a penchant for delicate dance pop that still has enough umph to make you lose it on the floor.  I'm a big fan of this.  

DOWNLOAD (radio edit)

New LILY ALLEN Song/Video

Lily Allen has returned and done so in the only way she knows how: cleverly and provocatively.  She's simply superb, and even though I do not love the auto-tune (it's a bit cacophonous) I appreciate what she's trying to convey with it.  She is a viciously sharp talent and it is glorious to have her back.

WELL DONE!

I can't wait for the new record.

"Shot at Night" - The Killers v. CAZZETTE

Add immediately to your workout mix: 

Kudos to CAZZETTE and The Killers.  Look at all the good you do.

"Silhouette" - Active Child ft. Ellie Goulding

Absolutely GORGEOUS.  Just exactly what I needed tonight and I'm so happy I stumbled across it.  Ellie Goulding is superb as always and Active Child made the perfect lullaby.  

Check it out.

Also, check out all of the Rapor EP from Active Child below: 

"On Top of the World" (RAC remix) - Imagine Dragons

I'm not a huge fan of IMAGINE DRAGONS, but this is typical RAC goodness.  The drop is simple, gorgeous and intoxicating.  Enjoy: 

PU$$Y NOIR returns to SIREN for the BRITNEY BASH

 MAJRmusic's flagship event, SIREN, is pleased to bring back its resident KWEEN, Ms. PU$$Y NOIR this evening for SIREN: The BRITNEY Bash 2.0.

What can we say about Pu$$y?  Well, she isn't your typical pussy.  She loves to get wet, scratches before she hisses and tears down the curtains out of principle - not fun.  

She's superb.  Easily our favorite performer in the city and BRINGS IT every time she's there.  She has been with SIREN since the beginning - WAY BACK in June 2010 - and is a delight with which to work.  She is daring and epitomizes fierce in all she does.  In the first BRITNEY BASH (March 2011) she put on a tittie gun and did "Toy Soldier" ... a jaw-dropping performance.  It will be difficult to top such a performance, but if anyone can do so, it's the brilliant Pu$$y.

Don't like Pu$$y yet?  Well, get on it... I know you'll lap it up:

PU$$Y on Facebook

SIREN guest dj DELLA VOLLA serves up some Spears-ness

To say that Wesley Della Volla is a friend to good music is an understatement.  He's more a liaison to all things sonorous.  He's also a brilliant DJ I've seen develop over the years and I'm really happy to be associated with him, as a whole.  Definitely check out his KickKickSnare - an amazing music blog/page that has helped expose some of the best of modern pop.  

Also, his overweight cats are fabulous. 

DELLA VOLLA took the time to give us his top 10 BRITNEY tracks:

1. Toxic

2. Overprotected

3. Stronger

4. Kill The Lights

5. Born To Make You Happy

6. I Wanna Go

7. Boys

8. Radar

9. Piece Of Me

10. Work Bitch

[What are yours?]:

fresh: "Think of You (RAC v. MAJR edit)" - MS MR

I am in love with this track and have been for most of the summer.  MS MR, in case you don't know, is the band of NEON GOLD RECORDS co-founder Lizzy Plapinger.  Neon Gold is responsible for some of the best acts of the last 5 years, including: 

Passion Pit

Marina & the Diamonds

The Knocks

CHVRCHES

St. Lucia

Foxes

Icona Pop

Monarchy

The Sound of Arrows

The Naked and Famous

and let's not forget the played-ad-nauseam Gotye.  

When RAC remixed this track, I knew it would be superb... and I was right.  Well done, boys. 

So, I took the track, cut it up, sped it up and manipulated some of the levels to give it a little dancefloor punch.  Enjoy (hopefully): 

a little trip down memory lane

An old mix I made that basically still is everything I love about music.  (Feb 2011)

This still rocks my world... So many memories: 

thoughts: new VV Brown = WTF? or FTW!

Here's a new video that seems to be in line with Ms. VV Brown's recent departure in sound... What do you think?

Honestly, for me, I'm not a huge fan... but that just may be the shock of such a paradigm shift in sound.

Monsieur Adi just made your weekend (remixes of Beyoncé and Mikky Ekko)

Thanks to KICKKICKSNARE (especially the gloriously sexy Wesley) for the heads-up on the Beyoncé remix.  Good stuff.  Hopefully her album doesn't suck as much as her publicist.

As far as Mikky Ekko - what a difference the remix made.  That song is absolute asscrack without the sonic assistance of Monsieur Adi.  

Well done.

new video: "Think of You" - MS MR

The newest single/video from MS MR, from the LP Secondhand Rapture.  Kind of in love with this right now: 

M.I.A. = Still Amazing [new video!]

M.I.A. returns - and the world rejoices...  

Mathangi Arulpragasam is still a phenomenal balance of glamorous and raw.  I dig the track and don't hate the video.  It is, above all, comforting to see her back making music and invading dance floors instead of sitting back in her studio and producing other artists (but we do thank her for doing so with Rye Rye) at her record company (N.E.E.T. Recordings).

PS: the reference to Janis Joplin in the breakdown of this track makes my heart smile

Handshake (Amtrac remix) - Two Door Cinema Club

Things I Love 

1.) Two Door Cinema Club

2.) Well done ambient chill-pop

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

"Ooh La La" (MAJR remix) - Britney Spears

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

So, Britney returns with a song that isn't absolutely horrible, but it felt disjointed and I was bored and wanted a project... so ta dah!

This song sounds extremely similar to SEAL IT WITH A KISS, to me at least.  What do you think?

SIREN presents: dj ADAM KOUSSARI-AMIN

Back in the days of my first (and dearest) party, SHIFT, there was always an attendee who would lose his mind in all the right ways to all the best songs – and that was Adam Koussari-Amin.  

After my promoting partner and I chose to end SHIFT at its peak (because God knows I have no idea how it could get any better), Adam came up to me and expressed how upset he was that there would be nothing like it to go out and dance.  Then, Adam took the kind of initiative I adore and kicked that void right in the balls.

In conjunction others (previous SIREN and SHIFT guest DJs The PocketGays and Jeff Prior), Adam helped spearhead CTRL, which is now arguably DC’s most popular monthly dance party - recently celebrating its 1-year anniversary with much hoopla.  I am proud to say that it if SHIFT inspired it, this party has done it justice and then some.  

  

Adam is a brilliant musical mind with a wonderful sense of dance.  His ability to find joy in so many genres resonates to the dance floor and will be on display when he pays homage to the Doyenne of Dance – Ms. Robyn Carlsson – on Friday. 

I recently asked him what he loved about Robyn and what his 10 favorite songs are.  

In his own words:

01. Time Machine

02. Criminal Intent

03. Bum Like You

04. Love Kills

05. Who's That Girl?

06. Cobrastyle

07. Dancing on My Own

08. Fembot

09. Crash and Burn Girl

10. Get Myself Together

Why do I love Robyn?  One word: talent.  Ever since I randomly heard Cobrastyle on that new fangled music service Pandora years ago, I've been entranced by her ability as an artist to produce original and unique music that's consumable for all tastes.  Amazing electropop beats, fantastic vocals, and one of the best, larger than life presences I've had the chance to see perform live add up to some of the best dance music and music period in the past few years.  I couldn't be happier to be paying respect to the best alternative pop star in the industry...and so, we dance to the beat!

I cannot wait to welcome Adam to the party which has paid host to so many superb DJs who were their way to or already at the top over the last 3 years:  Aaron Riggins, Shea Van Horn, The PocketGays (Devon and Brett), Wesley Della Volla, LEMZ, MadScience, Charlie Kordes, Jeff Prior and many others.  

Cheers and welcome, Adam.  You rock.

 May the spirits of SHIFT and CTRL work together to COMMAND the ALT. 

"Young & Beautiful" (Myndset v. MAJR edit) - Lana Del Rey

The newest in a long line of danceable cutter songs.  Hooray LANA DEL REY!

Charlie Kordes returns to kick some DJ ass for Madonna

"Madonna. How can you not love a woman who constantly reinvents herself and drives so much of music culture? But... when I really fell in love with Madonna was in a cabin next to the Allegheny River. I was seven years old and I vividly remember making up my very first dance routine to "Open Your Heart" which was playing on repeat from a radio recording on my tape deck. It was the first time a song just made me want to dance. I felt free and not like the little kid from middle of nowhere Ohio. Through the year Madonna continued to impress, reinvent, and be a constant part of my music rotation. So yes, I love Madonna. Bitch helped be grow up and taught me if something wasn't working to just reinvent it."

These words are from guest DJ (for Friday/tomorrow's SIREN: 10 Hail Marys - A True Blue Madonna Tribute), and one of my favorite people, DJ Kordes.  DJ Kordes got his big club debut right here at SIREN.  A favorite of mine, and any people in DC, Kordes (or simply Charlie to everyone else) has been a regular DJ at Duplex Diner, as well as many-a-house party.  After hearing him the first time, I was not only impressed, I was quite floored by his sense of danceable music.  He has that x-factor/intuition required to mold his own dance floor loves with those his audience would enjoy; to play from the proverbial venn diagram.  And, this is quite honestly why it will be his third run as a DJ @ SIREN (he also did the Beyoncé Ball and 2nd Annual Robyn Riot), and I could not be happier with the choice.  I want him to keep coming back and making me dance.  

Kordes will be taking up the 'vital hour' from 11-12:00 on Friday.  He is the perfect kind of DJ for the job, as he is skilled beyond his experience at building a crowd.  And, he also plays just prior to my first set (12:00-1:00)- which should speak volumes (if you know me) on how much I trust his skills.  Kordes' favorite three Madonna tracks are definitely interesting, as well:

1. Human Nature

2. Express Yourself

3. Vogue

The attitude of Human Nature + the uplifting honesty of Express Yourself + the daring sass of Vogue basically sum up Charlie as a person and a performer.   When asked to be a part of 10 HAIL MARYS, Charlie was excited and ready to pounce on the opportunity.  He transfers this same enthusiasm to the booth, and people relish in his energy.  I cannot wait to hear what he plays on Friday, as he honors the queen.

 Nature - Madonna from sueños de seda on Vimeo.

So, DON'T MISS IT:

11:00-12:00 SET (right after the 10:00-11:00 open vodka hour) 

Tomorrow's SIREN Guest DJ RAD Gives Us Madge Realness

SIREN is elated to welcome DJ RAD to the booth for 10 HAIL MARYS, on Friday.  The only other DJ I know whose stage moniker is also his initials, Ryan Adam Duncan has been a friend and fellow music-obsessed DJ/promoter colleague for almost 5 years.  Soon after I produced SHIFT, he developed the monthly party Pink Sock at Wonderland in Columbia Heights, at which I was able to guest DJ (March 2010).  

Here's an example of his style (aside from Madonna): 


One of my favorite parties, Pink Sock went into hibernation for a couple years until recently rewoven into the programming of Number 9 - one of the best bars in DC.  Ryan has also guest DJ'd with me on multiple occasions for (a party which shall never be replaced) SHIFT, which still owns many records for attendance, liquor sales, questionable makeout dancing, and confetti-stained footwear - especially when he was able to share the stage.

To say RAD is a massive fan of Madonna is a gargantuan understatement.  When pondering who I wanted to have guest DJ, it was easy (in addition to SIREN favorite Charlie Kordes).  The first time I met him, he was wearing a torn Like a Virgin-era t-shirt, True Blue-era top hat, and an array of her signature necklaces/rosaries.  He almost always drops an old school Madge track in his sets, with flawless execution.  His adoration for the Queen of Pop, especially her Bedtime Stories/Erotica era, will be a perfect balance to my True Blue/Ray of Light, as we destroy the floor Friday night.  

It also helps that he's a hell of a fucking human being and one of the nice, most genuine people you'll ever meet.  

RAD's TOP 10 MADONNA VIDEOS

1. Express Yourself "Blonde Ambition Tour"

2. Vogue - MTV Awards 1990

3. Hung Up

4. Open Your Heart

5. Everybody

6. Lucky Star

7. Papa Don't Preach

8. Fever, Girlie Show Tour

9. Beautiful Stranger

10. Human Nature

In his own words:

"Madonna is my biggest role model. Hands down. Her entire life has basically been a text book documentary on how to be a flawless human being. The first time I remember hearing Madonna on the radio, I was driving in a car with my Mom...

...and "Erotica" started to play. It was so different than anything else I'd ever heard at the time. I was like, WHAT IS THIS?! My Mom's reaction was, "Turn this filth off! That slut!"...

...which only made me more intrigued. I figured out who she was and was immediately obsessed. She was perfect. I did some research. Became even more obsessed with earlier Madonna. I feel like I've been studying everything Madonna since then. I'm basically like Maureen McFarland. Her best friend from her youth. I taught Madonna how to insert a tampon! I couldn't have asked for a better role model. She moved to NYC with nothing but her ambitions, her talent, her beauty, and $20 in her pocket and became MADONNA. She is also the ULTIMATE shameless slut $ucce$$ story (wear a condom)!!! She broke through societal barriers, social norms, and confronted sexism and homophobia, all while looking flawless, grabbing her crotch, and giving anyone who had a problem with it the middle finger. And she's still making us dance! And I hope she never stops."

Additionally, for your enjoyment, here's a video of the two of us (along with many others) dancing on a booze bus on the way to see Robyn.

Madonna MAJRmix - 37 songs | 57 mins

One of the most tedious mixes I've made.  So difficult to piece together some of Madonna these tracks- especially with production qualities varying from 1983-2006.  It was worth it, and then some.  I CANNOT WAIT for Friday's Madonna party: http://www.facebook.com/events/490789950983345/

DOWNLOAD

[Intro: A Tale to Tell]

Impressive Instant

Get Together

Express Yourself

Hollywood

Hung Up

Don't Cry for Me Argentina

Into the Groove

Celebration

Ray of Light

Material Girl

Dress You Up

Burning Up

[Interlude: The World]

Open Your Heart

Vogue

Where's the Party

Forbidden Love

Deeper and Deeper

Lucky Star

Jump

Like a Virgin

Borderline

How High

Die Another Day

Holiday

Everybody

Music

Papa Don't Preach

Beautiful Stranger

[Interlude: Abandonment]

The Power of Goodbye

Human Nature

Candy Perfume Girl

La Isla Bonita

Secret

Erotica

Who's that Girl

Like a Prayer

[Interlude: Vulnerable]

True Blue

new PHOENIX!

PHOENIX RETURNS!

One of the best dance rock bands in the world (to ever exist) returns with a vengeance... Fucking woot.

Their new album, BANKRUPT!, is out April 22nd.  The album art is below:

Madonna Spotify Love

I started to make a MADONNA playlist on Spotify, and it seems I have a daunting 60 tracks I consider her best.  As I did so, I definitely was increasingly aware of how 'True Blue', 'Ray of Light', and 'Confessions...' definitely were the cream, and how 'Music' and 'Bedtime Stories' do not get nearly enough credit.  For an artist whose first single ('Everybody') was released when I was 3 months old, it was quite the literal lifetime undertaking.

What do you think?  Any songs I didn't consider properly?  Or, just give me your top 10 - here's mine: 

01. Open Your Heart

02. Drowned World/Substitute for Love

03. Impressive Instant

04. Live to Tell

05. Like a  Prayer

06. Take a Bow

07. Burning Up

08. Material Girl

09. Get Together

10. I'm Addicted

Control - Rhythm Nation MAJRmix

Got in a serious JANET mood today.  Yes, ma'am.

GET IT

"All Men Are Pigs" (demo) - Studio Killers

Songs from Studio Killers are few and far between, but all three I've heard are pretty phenomenal.  [Check out the other two here: ].  They return gloriously with this little demo, here.  Enjoy: 

GET IT

"Miss Atomic Bomb" (Felix Cartal remix) - The Killers

For all The Killers fans out there who have lost hope in the band whose album I consider the biggest flop of 2012, there's still hope in the remixes of their material.  Soon to be electro legend Felix Cartal who has consistently made music beyond his 25 years, cleans up Brandon Flowers & Co.'s recent abortion of a single, Miss Atomic Bomb.  Enjoy: 

GET IT

Monarchy returns with "Disintegration"

Monarchy returns with this nü disco track which is so gloriously synthetic hipster homosexual, it shops at Urban Outfitters.  Vocals by Dita Von Teese - which I'm sure is her real name.

GET IT