SIREN guest dj MADSCIENCE

Guest DJ MADSCIENCE

I'm sorry Miss Jackson, but Jesse - aka MADSCIENCE - is the reverend of sass on the dance floor. If he doesn’t get you dancing, no one will.  Jesse and I have been working together for years and playing off one another’s vibe with absolute ease.  Jesse brings a production background - producing for multiple pop artists - and has catapulted to the top of the most-sought list of DC DJs over the last few years.  And it’s no wonder - he simply kills it every time, mixing the perfect blend of pop, hip-hop and guilty pleasures so well it makes my heart smile and floors erupt.  I have no qualms in saying he’s one of the most talented DJs on the east coast and he will prove it to you in his second SIREN gig.  Here are some of his favorite Girl Group tracks:  

MADSCIENCE'S FAVORITE GIRL GROUP JAMS

BrownStone -  "If You Love Me

3LW - "Baby Ima Do You Right"

Cherish - " Do It To IT"

Total -  "What About Us"

SWV - "Anything",  "I'm so into you"

TLC - "Scrubs",  "What About Your Friends"

En vogue - "En Vogue", "Never Gonna Get It"

Salt N Pepa - "Push it"

Mary Mary - "Praise Him"

Blaque - "Bring IT All To ME", "808"

24K -  "Don't Go There"

Little Mix - "Salute"

Fifth Harmony -  "Bo$$"

SIREN guest dj DELLA VOLLA

Wesley Dolla Volla (DJ Della Volla)

Della Volla and I go way back to ’06 and if anyone loves girl groups more than I do - it’s definitely him.  He has always been had a phenomenal ear for pop music  - whether it’s rounding up new sounds for KickKickSnare or helping spearhead parties like Pop Goes the World and DJing at events with me since ’10.  To say I’m comfortable with him in the DJ booth is beyond an understatement.  Expect his set to be UK GURL GROUPS galore, as there is no bigger fan of acts like the Sugababes, the Saturdays or Girls Aloud.

DELLA VOLLA’s TOP 10 GURL GROUPS

1. Sugababes

2. Destiny's Chid

3. Spice Girls

4. TLC

5. En Vogue

6. Girls Aloud

7. Saturdays

8. 2NE1

9. Danity Kane

10. Little mix

DELLA VOLLA’s TOP 10 GURL GROUP SONGS

1 Sugababes "Push The Button"

2 Destiny's Child "Jumpin' Jumpin'"

3 Spice Girls "Say You'll be There"

4 TLC "Silly Ho"

5 Girls Aloud "Something Kinda Ooh"

6 The Saturdays "If This Is Love"

7 En Vogue: "Never Gonna Get It"

8 All Saints "Never Ever"

9 Little Mix "Wings"

10 Danity Kane "Bad Girl"

SIREN guest DJ JACK RAYBURN

SIREN Guest DJ Jack Rayburn 

Jack’s ear for the eclectic was one of the things that drew me to him when I originally asked him to be a part of a SIREN back in the spring of 2011.  He knows how to decipher what good pop music is and always comes with his A-Game when he DJs at SIREN and other parties.  A must-experience is his periodic VIDEO TIME MACHINE night at NUMBER 9 (this Saturday, invite), where all of these things are on vivid display as he takes us through the decades of quality pop and makes you want to create a bar-side dance floor.  He’s absolutely a doll to work with and is sure to kill it on the downstairs.  Expect a good mix of girl groups from all over the world during his two hours of making you shake it in tight spaces.  

Don’t miss his set from 11:00p - 1:00a in the downstairs bar!

JACK RAYBURN’s TOP 10 GURL GROUPS

1. Bananarama
2. Destiny's Child
3. Dream
4. Eden's Crush
5. M2M
6. Pussycat Dolls
7. The Spice Girls
8. TLC
9. Sugababes
10. The Veronicas

JACK RAYBURN’s TOP 10 GURL GROUP SONGS

1. C'est La Vie (B*Witched)

2. Damaged (Danity Kane)

3. This is Me (Dream)

4. My Lovin' (En Vogue)

5. Hold On (Wilson Phillips)

6. Not Gonna Get Us (t.A.T.u)

7. Saturday Night Divas (Spice Girls)

8. Red Dress (Sugababes)

9. Shoop (Salt-n-Pepa)

10. Louder (Parade)

SIREN welcomes guest dj SAM BLODGETT

SIREN celebrates the old and the new this Friday at its flagship party, the 4th Annual ROBYN RIOT at one of DC's gems of a venue, the Green Lantern.  We celebrate for the fourth time the leading lady in our dancing lives, Robyn, and also welcome a new DJ to the fore - Sam Blodgett.  

A DC resident, Sam has surfaced with a great new party in the District called BUTCH QUEEN that basically focuses on shaking your ass non-stop for hours - and that's just what the doctor ordered for SIREN.  Additionally, his skills are beyond his experience and he brings his A-Game every time he plays.  This boy is definitely one to watch in the scene and worth every sweat stain on the dance floor.

Sam is a welcome addition to the plethora of amazing DJs that've graced the stages of SIREN and MAJRmusic events, including Nacey, Wesley Della Volla (who returns this week), Aaron Riggins, Cale, Vanniety Kills, Matt Bailer, Ca$$idy, Shea Van Horn, Charlie Kordes, The PocketGays and countless others.

He had a few words to say about what Robyn means to him, his favorite Robyn tracks and his own party: 

Robyn is probably my favorite pop star ever. I first heard her on Z95.7, the Bay Area's finest radio station in the 90s -- they had Robyn's early singles on heavy rotation. I have distinct memories of singing along to Show Me Love and Do You Know (What It Takes) with my mom in the car when I was 8. Robyn Is Here was one of my favorite albums growing up. If it were a record, it would be worn through.

Yes, she's great because writes fantastic songs and is an extraordinary performer but (maybe this is my fantasy) she also seems like a top quality human. I'm very drawn to her story: she walked away from a huge record deal after Robyn Is Here's success because she didn't want to compromise her artistic integrity. It took her years to recover that success, but she did it on her own terms, with her own record label. And now she's a household name, at least for the gays. Talk about the power of perseverance.

And then 2012 came along and I found myself front and center at the infamously sweaty U Street Music Hall show. She came on for her encore, and it was Show Me Love (of course). I was blissing out. And then, while she's mid-chorus, she reaches out, touches my hand, and sings the damn song straight into my eyes. After 18 years of living with her music, that was pure magic.

TOP 10

1. Girl and the Robot (Robyn/Royksopp)

2. Hang With Me

3. Show Me Love

4. Dancing On My Own

5. Time Machine

6. None of Dem

7. Do You Know (What It Takes)

8. Indestructible

9. Just Another Girlfriend

10. Konichiwa Bitches

About Butch Queen

Butch Queen started as three friends fooling around with DJ equipment in my living room. The three of us (Kris Sutton, Dioni Rey, and me) share a love for hip hop, house, 90s RnB, Baltimore and Jersey club music, and more, and we weren't hearing a lot of those jams out at bars. Eventually our impromptu in-house dance parties grew big enough that our apartments were too small and we kept running out of booze. So Butch Queen was born.

We're also hoping to create a diverse, inclusive party -- one that is mixed gender and mixed ethnicity (like the three of us). DC's scene lacks that sometimes. But above all else, our top three priorities are loud bass, strong drinks, and low booties. Everything else is just gravy. Really awesome gravy.

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 .

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?]:

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.

SIREN DJ Charlie Kordes Tells Us Why He Beweaves in Beyoncé

I wanted to give the other DJs for Friday's big event a chance to say what BEYONCÉ means to them, and what their TOP 10 favorite songs are.  So, first up is Charlie Kordes.  Charlie, a guy I've known for years to have stellar music tastes, is not only a great person (and friend), but really brings that positive energy to his performance.  

He is on first on Friday (10:00-11:30p), and is sure to get you dancing during the 10:00-11:00p OPEN VODKA upstairs.  

"10.  Smash Into You

9.  Ring the Alarm

8.  Naughty Girl

7.  Lose My Breath

6.  Sweet Dreams

5.  Jumpin', Jumpin'

4.  Get Me Bodied

3.  Love On Top

2.  Beautiful Liar

1.  Why Don't You Love Me

What can you say about Beyonce?  Unashamed of who she is and willing to put it all out there she puts everything out there from inane sugar pop songs that make your booty bounce to soaring ballads that make you wonder if this woman has ever heard of restraint.  I love Baby B because she continues to reinvent herself while always staying true to her roots and sound.  She is pure fun and while every album is guaranteed to have a few songs that you love right off the bat the best comes to those who continue to listen falling in love more gradually.  That is Beyonce's magic... making you fall in love with her, even if you do everything to resist her bootylicious charms.  Damn you B.

xoxo,

Charlisse"

GUEST DJ spotlight : DJ DAVID MERRILL, POCKETGAYS

I'm so excited to be spinning with some of the best music tastes in the district TONIGHT at The ZOO BALL! It's going to be so much fun. I am so excited. Here's some awesome background info about the other DJs, as I'm sure you're tired of hearing about me. Haha... Check out (if you haven't already) my TEASERMIX for tonight! -> http://bit.ly/leUsmO (GET YO' ASS PUMPED!)

DJ DAVIL MERRILL

"I have a musical background as a keyboardist (since age 6), and I've been DJing since the 80s. I played all the big clubs in Florida back in the 80s & 90s, including the Copa, Parliament House, El Goya, and Tracks. I left DJing for awhile to pursue a career in computer science, then returned to what I really love, music. I've been DJing for a year since jumping back in, and just loving it.

Stylistically I love House music, especially Electro House, but I'll play anything that makes me want to shake my ass and DANCE HARD. I fucking love scorching hot remixes of old songs of all genres, including country, disco, folk music and rock, especially songs that you would never expect.

I'm resident at Truck Stop and CODE, which I also produce, and the Club Queer weekly radio show."

THE POCKETGAYS (Brett Andriesen & Devon Trotter)

"Born in the 80s, the Pocket Gays came dancing out of the womb to so of the best that pop music had to offer: Madonna, Donna Summer, Culture Club, Prince and David Bowie, and on and on... Off to a good start the wee Pockets forged through the plaid-clad 90s and and post 9/11 2000s, filtering out all that was terrible in music to form tastes that are beyond impeccable.

Having started their own Sunday (School) party at Local 16 the Pockets burst on the scene with giant ambitions. Eager to show DC what they got, the Pockets began DJing at major clubs and parties like WTF at Town, SHIFT at Cobalt, and the all-but-forgotten Pink Sock at Wonderland, with a spattering of nights at Velvet Lounge and the almost fabulous Rendezvous.

Meshing their East Coast/West Coast/European influences, the Pocket Gays are ready to lay down the best indie-, electro-, brit- pop and hip hop for you at SHIFT, so get ready to shake your money maker!!

BAM!! Sickening no?!"

Needless to say, these are great guys who will make you do what SHIFT does best: DANCE.YOUR.FACE.OFF. (which, btw is the only time you'll ever see me end a sentence with a preposition.. hahaha). Oh, lord, this party is going to be insane!

guest DJ spotlight : DJ vAnniety Kills

SHIFT has the privilege of hosting one of the best DJs in the city tomorrow, DJ vAnniety Kills. Annie Nguyen, one of the sweetest people I've met in the business, is a truly talented lady behind the decks. She can spin using almost any program, on any platform, and does so with a great sense of crowd management. Last time she was with us, she was downstairs and blew me away with her song selection. To say she's eclectic is an understatement. She dropped everything from Blur to hip-hop, and did so flawlessly.

This month she takes it to the upstairs main floor from 10-12:00/30, and is sure to get the crowd warmed up and set ablaze before I go on around 12:15. She is a true professional and I, (y'all know I'm neurotic about this), will not have to worry one second about her relationship with the crowd. She will be amazing and make you crazy bitches dance your face off. Get there early enough to see one of the best DJ has to offer. So. good. She promises to play a "harder, darker, sexier set" than usual. I'm excited. Be sure to check out her regular gigs at Mie N Yu, Cobalt, and a plethora of other local joints HERE.

DJ vAnniety Kills

SHIFT Presents: DISCO HO-DOWN

UPSTAIRS 10:00 - 12:00/30

$7, 21+, $3 PBR

guest DJ spotlight : Coffee&Bars Boys

The Coffee&Bars.com Boys, lovingly known as The Cirrhosis Twins in my home, are made up of the talented VJ (and brit-pop guru) Wesley D, and Coffee&Bars creator (and music buff) Josh McD. These two boys have interesting stories, and are sure to bring their unique blend of pop, indie dance, and glorious kitsch to the fore on Saturday at SHIFT Presents: DISCO HO-DOWN.

Wesley D has opened for ME multiple times over the years, and is also the Friday night resident VJ at Nellie's Sports Bar, one of the busiest bars in the city. It is no surprise that Wesley has been instrumental in that facility's gradual more-dance-friendly rebranding process. His strengths lie in his ability to understand what makes good pop without diving excessively into the derivative. Expect to hear a lot of fresh electro pop, including Oh Land, Example, Alphabeat, Ellie Goulding, and Frankmusik from this guy.

Josh McD is one of the more musically eclectic people you'll ever meet, which had to play a huge part in his development of Coffee&Bars into one of the more respected music blogs in the city. Unlike this one, he definitely takes the high road when it comes to reviewing... and is, well, less of a bitch. Haha. Josh makes his SHIFT debut on Saturday, and will bring his love of Radiohead, Mariah Carey, Robyn, The Killers, and Ladytron to the speakers. This will definitely balance out Wesley's style, and help create the kind of environment that SHIFT embodies: indie, electro, and pop gettin' together and makin' dancefloor whoopie.

All in all, I cannot be more excited for these two DJs to trade off before I go on at 12:15/30 upstairs. I will be spending my time trying not to dance and talking to people as they enter... which is going to be quite the task. And, after all, I think few know better how to get a ho down better than Wesley and Josh. Get excited, y'all. This is going to be fanfuckingtastic. Make sure you check out the Coffee&Bars site.

DOWNSTAIRS DJs - SATURDAY

SHIFT Presents: DISCO HO-DOWN

10:00pm - 2:45am (live music 10:30-2:30)

$7, 21+, $3PBR

Guest dj spotlight: JUNEBULLET

Junebullet is an innovator. She has captured a balance that few dual DJ/promoters attain in this city: adding to the aesthetic and making a positive difference in the community. Known to her friends as simply Maegan Wood, Junebullet helped form the FIRST LADIES DJ COLLECTIVE, an all-female crew dedicated to promoting and empowering female DJ's in the nation's capital and beyond. Since then, she has gone on to perform at clubs, parties, festivals, and events from New York to Berlin. This includes co-headlining with SHIFT resident DJ MAJR at last year's awesome Capital Pride closing party, Homo Erectus.

Today, Junebullet is an active member of the DC queer scene, with parties such as HottBoxx, Be:XX, and her current successful night: She.Rex. In addition to nightlife, she brings innovative DJ workshops and classes to individuals, groups, and community spaces. These workshops have appeared at Girls Rock! DC, Artisphere, and local clubs including the Black Cat, Lace, Dodge City, and DC9.

Check out Junebullet on Saturday at SHIFT Presents: SURRENDER. YOUR. BOOTY (2 Years Anniversary) at Cobalt. She will be trading off with Homo/Sonic resident Zack Rosen (The New Gay) downstairs ALL NIGHT. She is sure to not only keep you moving, but also make you thankful, on so many levels, that she's a HUGE part of the DC nightlife scene.

fresh: mini-MAJR-disco-mix for RAW

I have the privilege of being the guest DJ downstairs at RAW on Friday! The exciting thing about RAW is that its motif puts an emphasis on the dirty disco side of things. I like disco in doses (yes, I'm getting a little tired of the alliteration here, too), but I can never pass up a track that has both disco and electro infused.

When asked to write something about this and provide an mp3, I could not pass up the opportunity to make a mini-teasermix of electro/disco tracks. Here is a mix that was a lot of fun to make. It includes some of the biggest disco enthusiasts (Scissor Sisters, Sneaky Sound System, etc.), as far as contemporary artists go. It's so disco, you'll have flashbacks of another life when you were passed out in a pool of your own vomit and blow in the Studio 54 bathroom. Hooray!

I'll be DJing downstairs all night long on Friday, so definitely come say hi... and annoy the bartenders by dancing around the oversized bar. Enjoy!

miniMAJRdiscomix - MAJR

1-CLICK-DL

Tracklisting

Yelle favorites... for TOMORROW!

Maison @ Napoleon

Tomorrow (Thursday Nov 18)

9:00 pm - 2:00 am

$4 Beers All Night

$5 Champagne until 11!

I'm co-DJing a French music night called Maison tomorrow at Napoleon in Adams Morgan, here in DC. For you locals, it's on Columbia just south of 18th/Columbia intersection. Some highlights include a night dedicated to Yelle, who is one of the best electropop artists in France, a celebration of the new Beaujolais Nouveau, and a great DJ trade-off of me and DJ TMY! It should be a hoot. To get you ready, here are my two favorite remixes/tracks from Yelle! (click the down arrow to download)

Je Veux Te Voir (Club-Club Version) - Yelle

Ce Jeu (The Twelves Remix) - Yelle