Frequency New York

Exclusive Q&A With Long Island Legend Theo

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:27:00 -0500

A veteran of the booth, Long Island-born DJ Theo has become one of New York’s most popular nightlife personalities throughout the years. Getting his start at local radio stations and Hamptons parties, Theo now has his own Sirius/XM radio show titled “All Love from NY” and maintains a firm grip on the Long Island club scene.

It was only a matter of time before the hometown star would team up with legendary NYC label Nervous Records. With his highly successful Summer Clubbing series just reaching its fourth volume, Theo has another new compilation on Nervous for electronic heads everywhere. School of House just released last week, and with its eclectic range of mixes featuring artists such as Norman Doray and Dirty Grey, it’s sure to fuel college parties for semesters to come.

We had a chance to speak with the amicable Long Islander about his musical beginnings and where his spinning abilities have taken him. A lover of all types of music who has ignited parties in Boston and Ibiza alike, Theo speaks like a weathered pro of the scene, while retaining a youthful passion and hunger that constantly carries him to new opportunities.

How’d you get your start DJing?

I always was into music, ever since I was really young. I used to bring a radio to school. I went to school in Long Island and got my DJ license. Then I got on the radio. I would practice in booths with vinyl. I didn’t know turntables. They weren’t cheap back then, it was like $400 for a turntable. I was always into music and liked playing for people without realizing it. It took a turn with a lot of Euro-alternative stuff, which there’s not too much of in the Long Island scene. I was more into the Cure, New Order, stuff like that. It was dance music in a way. I started getting into more vinyl. And I was into hip-hop. Mixed format started; Everybody was kinda into everything.

What’s the Long Island DJ scene like?

There always seems to be a lot of clubs. There were a lot of dressed up guys in jackets playing house then. It was alternative clubs playing modern music, rock and dance, there were hip-hop clubs. There was a definite separation. It seemed like we were more open minded. Growing up in Long Island, we were fortunate. Growing in a suburb of a major city, there’s always a major radio station, and alternative stations, and hip-hop. I was always in earshot of mixed radio, but back in the day I had Hot 97 there was LIR and alternative stuff. I always found myself taping these mix shows and the DJs on these shows to hear new music. In Long Island it was great to hear brand new stuff from Europe and all these new groups, you got to hear Red Alert and all these guys. It was very exciting as a music fan to hear guys playing stuff live, and I got to be very infatuated with that.

What was your first DJ gig like?

I did a place in the Hamptons for a long time. The owners didn’t hire me for house and dance, they hired me for sing-alongs and alt-rock fans. It was funny, cause you had to play this “baby, hands up!” sing along nonsense to please them. And I’m young, I’m 20, I just want a job. I tried tricking them into dealing with what I like and slowly started playing house. I was trying to get them into it and at least put what they want around it. This place now has amazing DJs from around the world. When we first started that party it was playing silly sing-along music. To see where it is today is kinda funny. Those early days of playing clubs, it was funny what you had to play. I got yelled at for hip-hop and Nine Inch Nails back in the day. When I played Cypress Hill, the owner came up and wanted to kill me! You weren’t allowed to play anything with rap. The owners were very old school. As I got older and more into it, you get to control the music. When you’re a resident, you control the night; no guest spot, no nonsense. Me and a lot of DJs… you learn how to play the hits, and then you play what you want to hear. You control your crowd. I think it helped me as DJ a lot growing up in these environments.

How did your compilation with Nervous Records come about?

I put out a compilation on another label. I was doing well in my area on the Hamptons and that label kinda went to funk. And being where I was, someone on the label approached me and saw I had a hold on the area. No matter where you’re from, you have to have your pulse on your backyard. They liked that I had this Hamptons party and that I was on the radio. It was a nice easy fit.

What do you have in the works right now?

A ton of tracks. You get stagnant sometimes, where you wanna team up with guys and build up a family. So I have a couple groups of guys I’ve been working with, we have some records coming out. I’m putting this tour together with the holidays coming up. I’m doing a ton of production and trying to get records done and not just instrumentals. I want to use singers. It’s nice to separate it; vocals with this guy, instrumental with this guy.

Any notable collaborations?

I worked with my labelmate Superchumbo (Tom Stephan). We started doing parties in the city. It was nice working with other Nervous guys, being that Tom’s in the UK, we talked about our Summer Clubbing idea. It came to fruition and landed in the top 5 on the dance charts. It’s a camaraderie kind of thing. It was nice to be on the same page and put it out on the label.

What are some artists you’d like to work with in the future?

I would say that a lot of the singers that are out there now, house or trance. A lot of people, you might be inspired by a record and just them being around. The ones I’ve been inspired by, I’ve been trying to get in touch with them. Things in the music business are so tough, there aren’t a lot of opportunities where you can offer that to a singer. That’s the goal right now. Trying to get to a lot of artists that inspired me. No one I can talk about yet.

How did your Sirius Radio Show come to be?

It’s great. I was with BPM, and Sirius and BPM merged. I started doing a show on Sirius/XM. It was nice to switch to Electric Area. It’s a little more open. They were nice enough to let me name my show (“All Love from New York”). They let me support guys who can’t get gigs when we wanna do a party somewhere. It was cool to tailor it all in over the last year. It’s such a huge company. It’s amazing that they let you push what you’re doing, and at the same time providing your shows and energy. That’s been cool for the last year, just branding that the show and company.

How does spinning in New York compare to other places in the world?

New York, with any crowd they’re tough. We grew up tough, the weathers tough, a lot of competition. There are some great times to be had and some tough times, because everyone’s a critic. When you’re away in Ibiza or Canada, there seems to be a more booming metropolis kind of feeling. Everyone’s excited to go out and excited to be in the scene. Sometimes it’s a dichotomy, because you’re in two different worlds. Everyone’s excited when everything’s on all cylinders here (New York) and you’re outside or at Pacha. It’s just as good. If you can succeed here, its definitely rewarding. At the same time it’s very hard. Sometimes around the world, they’re really hungry and they want to go out. And it’s not like “Who’s in the city?” like in New York where there can be three other parties going on.

What are some of your favorite venues to perform at?

I do like spinning out by the water. I like Hamptons for the outside vibe. The long days, 8-9 hour sets, just controlling the day. Being up in Canada, it seems like the energy is great. If you can ever go to Ibiza, it’s the epicenter of the world of clubbing. You see the best of everything. It’s tough out there, but here’s the thing about the dance world; there are guys that are hip-hop heads or rock heads, and if you go into it with an open mind, a lot of people will open their mind.

What are you listening to?

The Foster The People album… (pauses) what else did I just pick up? You get so into the music. Your job every week is to get records and find new music, and a lot of labels supply you with music. You have to listen to that stuff and give them answers. 10 labels send you stuff, imagine how long it is to listen to 3 records from one label. Then you have to buy new music, so you search Beatport. And on top of that, you’re making music. You want to catch up on what’s new, but you gotta do your job. Sometimes your ears just go blank and you wanna listen to something totally different just to clear your ears out.

What does the future look like for Theo?

I’m trying to push the album (School of House) more out of the area. My schedule is nationally set. I’m at Glo until May, I know my area and what I’m doing. I’m just trying to organize that, trying to get as much music as I can before all the concerts. Miami in the spring. Trying to get to Amsterdam next year. Just trying to get music done.

November's Hot New Tracks

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:41:00 -0500

Drake - "Over My Dead Body"

Hate him or love him, the former Degrassi star has risen to the top of hip-hop's mainstream mountain, and he's not afraid to boast the success he earned with his 2010 breakout album Thank Me Later. "Over My Dead Body," the crawling intro track to his new sophomore release Take Care, is a self-aware bridge between Drake 2k10 and his 2011 iteration, as the Canadian MC confidently spits "And I be hearing the shit you say through the grapevine/ But jealousy is just love and hate at the same time/ It’s been that way from the beginning/ I just been playing, I aint even notice I was winning." By the sounds of Take Care, there are plenty more victories to come for the superstar.

Four Year Strong - "Fairweather Fan"

These Boston boys opted to take their hardcore-sprinkled pop-punk in a bold new direction with their fantastic new full-length In Some Way, Shape, or Form, and the blazing "Fairweather Fan" is one of the most potent examples of their evolution. A lyrical middle finger to listeners who hop on bandwagons and jumped ship when the band refined their sound, the anthemic rocker is packed with double-time drums, brick-walled guitars, and a gang vocal shout-along that will inspire raised fists and pile-ons for years to come.

Coldplay - "Up in Flames"

While new tracks like "Paradise" reveal the British indie giants ability to blend in effortlessly with the top 40 pop realm, "Up in Flames" is a bare, poignant throwback to the days when you and your college roomates comiserated to "Yellow" in your bedroom. From the dirty rock of Viva la Vida to the radio-ready sugar rush of their new record, Coldplay have always been talented chamelons of the music world. What's more important though, is that they still know how to make you cry.

Childish Gambino - "Hold You Down"

When you first think of comedian/actor Donald Glover trying his hand at rap, a series of goofy, Wierd-Al esque party jams come to mind. However, under his Childish Gambino hood, he's proved himself as one of the most honest and memorable names in the game. While his music has it's fair share of chuckle-inducing lines and confessions of lust towards Asian girls, Gambino's upcoming Camp is a fairly serious trip through Glover's life, and "Hold You Down" is one of his most admirably blunt tracks yet. Glover laments the difficulty of being typecast due to race, with lines like "White people get to wear whatever hat they want/ When it comes to blackkids/ One size fits all."

Hit the Lights - "Earthquake"

While these Ohio pop-punks fueled many a summer with their July 2008 "Skip School, Start Fights," they're back with new, edgier music that reveals the growth and struggle of five dudes crammed in a van throughout 3 years of touring. Their new Invicta EP is a small taste of their upcoming full length (also titled Invicta), and "Earthquake" is a pulsating, self-reflective shout of determination that retains the bouncy addictiveness that HTL is known for, while paving the way for a more mature, harder rocking direction.

EMI Record Label in the Hands of Universal, Sony

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:50:00 -0500

This week marks the end of the bidding war over EMI, the 114-year-old record label that helped bring us The Beatles, in addition to hundreds of music's biggest names over the past few decades. The Citigroup-owned company has been in limbo ever since it dissolved, but now two of the industry's biggest powerhouses will grow even bigger after acquiring it.

According to Bloomberg Businessweek, Citigroup sold EMI in parts to Universal Music Group as well as a group led by Sony Corp. This marks the conclusion of a nine-month struggle to reach a deal, with Warner Music Group trying to get a piece of the historic label.

How does this affect you, the listener? Well, let's just say that two of the biggest major labels just got even bigger. “Universal will go from being the largest recorded music company to significantly the largest recorded music company,” said business analyst Ben Rumley.

“This is the greatest grouping of songs from every decade,” said Martin Bandier, CEO of Sony/ATV, who will now oversee the publishing of EMI's music. “It was a real advantage for us and our investor group to have a sense of the value of these songs and the potential that is yet untapped.”

With EMI dissolved, Sony, Universal, and Warner Bros. remain as the three major powers of an ever-evolving music industry.

It's Official: Wale's 'Ambition' is #1

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:54:00 -0500

The numbers are in for Wale's new album Ambition, and it's officially taken the #1 spot on Billboard’s Hip-Hop/R&B list with over 164,062 copies sold. He's also ranking in at #2 on the overall Top 200. Additionally, Ambition held the #1 spot at iTunes beating out Miranda Lambert, Florence + The Machine, and even Justin Bieber! The album features appearances from heavy hitters such as Kid Cudi, Big Sean, Ne-Yo, Jeremih, Miguel and Lloyd. Diplo and Lex Luger also lend their signature sound to tracks.

Wale took to Twitter to express his excitement: @wale “#ambition ...its happening ...selling out everywhere ..thank you! yall are amazing! lets keep goin!” He later added after his performance that night, “What a day, what a night, what a moment…what a life. My ego is confused, my heart sarcastic, and my brain is chuckling.”

Check out the sweet tracklist:

1. Don’t Hold Your Applause

2. Double M Genius

3. Miami Nights

4. Legendary

5. Lotus Flower Bomb ft. Miguel

6. Chain Music

7. Focused ft. Kid Cudi

8. Sabotage ft. Lloyd

9. White Linen (Coolin) ft. Ne-Yo

10. Slight Work ft. Big Sean

11. Ambition ft. Meek Mill & Rick Ross

12. Illest B*tch

13. No Days Off

14. DC or Nothing

15. That Way ft. Jeremih & Rick Ross

16. Bait (Deluxe Edition BONUS)

If you want to catch Wale on tour, here are the remaining dates:

Sat, Nov 12: Austin, TX - La Zona Rosa

Tues, Nov 15: Los Angeles, CA - House of Blues

Thurs, Nov 17: San Diego, CA - Fluxx

Fri, Nov 18: Tempe, AZ - The Clubhouse

Sun, Nov 20: Santa Ana, CA - Yost Theater

Tues, Nov 22: San Francisco, CA - Mezzanine

Weds, Nov 23: Sacramento, CA – Sunrise Events Center

Fri, Nov 25: Seattle, WA – Nemo’s

Sat, Nov 26: Portland, OR - Roseland

Weds, Nov 30: Miami, FL - LIV

Thurs, Dec 1: Fort Lauderdale, FL - Revolution

Fri, Dec 2: Orlando, FL – The Beacham

Sat, Dec 3: Tallahassee, FL - 20/20

Sun, Dec 4: Tampa, FL – The Ritz

Tues, Dec 6: Athens, GA – Georgia Theatre

Thurs, Dec 8: Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle

First Listen: Above & Beyond's 'Anjunabeats Volume 9'

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:50:00 -0500

2011 is a major victory lap for UK electronic veterans Above & Beyond, as their constantly evolving Anjunabeats label entered it's 10th year and saw it's 200th release. While the trance unit, comprised of Jono Grant, Tony McGuiness, and Paavo Siljamäki, already hit some huge milestones with this summer's Group Therapy record and a few sold-out performances at the Hollywood Palladium, their musical year is far from over. The 9th installment in their annual Anjunabeats collection is out this Sunday, showcasing some of the best work from Anjunabeats artists and the trio themselves. We got an exclusive first listen to the two-disc compilation, and trance-heads everywhere will be happily immersed in A&B's soundscapes.

Tracks such as the band's own "Formula Rossi" exhibit the adventurous, evocative nature of A&B's studio work, as your ears will settle into a soothing groove before being awoken by some bright, jumpy synths. You'll get to hear the group's unreleased "Tokyo," in addition to the world premiere of Mat Zo & Arty's pulsating "Mozart." You can watch a preview clip of the compilation below, and much like the lush digital landscapes presented in the video, you'll be happy to get lost in this masterful trance collection.

Anjunabeats Volume 9 - Minimix by Above & Beyond on Mixcloud

Jay-Z Supports Wall Street Protesters... Sort Of

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:57:00 -0500

The Brooklyn-born Jay-Z surely feels an urge to support his fellow New Yorkers in occupying Wall Street. Or perhaps the mogul simply sees the several-month struggle as a chance to promote his Rocawear duds, just one brand among the bevy of businesses he owns. Either way, the rapper was seen rocking his newest tee in the above twitpic, which uses some red Sharpie to turn the now-household phrase into "Occupy All Streets." That's right, if Jay-Z has his way, not even the small towns of Idaho are safe from the movement.

The shirts are now being sold to the public by Rocawear, making it pretty obvious that Hov and company see an easy profit during a time of protest. A company rep told Gawker that "there is change to be made everywhere, not just on Wall Street," right before admitting that there are no plans to support the movement with proceeds from the shirts. So, while Jay-Z can't put money in the pockets of the 99%, he can at least make sure they look fresh.

Baby Got App: Sir Mix-A-Lot's 20th Anniversary IPhone App

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:04:00 -0500

It's hard to believe that as a people we've endured two decades of Sir Mix-A-Lot's Baby Got Back: The song itself is fine-- balanced, catchy, energetic. But as we know, the song, as a karaoke mainstay, and bar top necessity, has scarring implications. It takes nothing but strength to conjure up an image of 'those' 10 homely girls who, drowned in hours of Coors Light, hear the commanding anthem for the first time. As if every song leading up BGB was sport. A scrimmage, a hip warmup, a gluteus maximus practicamus-- in anticipation for that conversation with Becky. Time stands still during this arresting prelude, and in this moment said singles ascend to their Jaeger-stained alter. And if any one's ever stepped inside a strip mall pub, well bombastic displays of unfounded pride and peculiar sexuality ensue. Thanks alot, Mix-A-lot.

Helping women embrace their curvatures for 20 straight years, Sir Mix A Lot is ushering in the ditty's birthday with an App. This May the rapper will unleash what his representatives are calling "the ultimate 21st century booty-based app," an app designed exclusively for the IPhone, which allows users to manipulate qualities of any existing photo. Does anyone see where he's going with this? Billboard online reports that the app will enable users to "stretch any visual assets--fore and aft, tops or bottoms," with instant sharing capabilities as well, for anyone else who might be hooked and can't stop staring. Although it's hard to believe this is what the late Steve Jobs envisioned of his genius, bedazzle the booty anyway, but for the love, keep it off the bar.

Adele's Vocal Cord Cured with Lasers

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:24:00 -0500

Adele without her voice is like Michael Jordan without legs. It's like Batman suddenly losing his utility belt, stripping him of the tools he needs to be Gotham's guardian. It's like... you get the picture. The U.K. singer recently had to cancel all of her 2011 tourdates due to some serious vocal problems, but like MJ and Batman for their respective cities, modern techology has come to the rescue and allowed Adele to have a successful surgery.

According to The Guardian, the 23-year-old went to the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston to enlist the aid of Dr Steven Zeitels, who previously worked with Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler. Zeitel's method utilized special microlasers that cut off a benign polyp, which was causing recurring bleeding in the singer's vocal cords.

Adele posted a lengthy blog last month, outlining the devastation and frustration she experienced in not being able to use her most valuable instrument. "Singing is literally my life, it's my hobby, my love, my freedom and now my job," she vented in the statement. Fortunately for Adele and her fans, 2012 should see her getting back to work, wowing audiences around the globe in the process.

Hip-Hop Legend Heavy D Dies at 44

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:45:00 -0500

Heavy-set, fun-loving hip-hopper Heavy D passed away at 44 yesterday. According to various news outlets including BBC, the Mount Vernon rap legend collapsed in a hallway and was transported to Cedars Sinai Medical Center, where he eventually died. The cause of death is believed to be a heart attack.

Heavy D's departure left his hip-hop bretheren with heavy hearts, as many celebs took to Twitter to grieve over the loss. LaToya Jackson, who's musical family frequently collaborated with D, posted "My heart goes out to the family and loved ones of Heavy D... You will be in my prayers." Ice T reflected in his sorrow, stating "Everyone should stop for a second..Take a breath and realize how lucky you are to be alive." Perhaps most chilling is Heavy D's own twitter, who paid tribute to the recently deceased boxing legend Joe Frazier before tragically losing his own life.

Born Dwight Arrington Myers, Heavy D has been a mainstream staple of rap throughout the 80s and 90s. The self-proclaimed "Overweight Lover" gained a strong following thanks to his classy sense of humor and signature delivery, as exhibited best on his 1991 hit "Now That We Found Love." After a long hiatus from the stage, during which he appeared on TV shows Law & Order: SVU and Boston Public, Heavy D returned to his roots this year with a new album Love Opus and a performance on the 2011 BET awards.

While celebrities are just as mortal as the rest of us, one thing that remains is their Twitter feed, which sometimes leads to them indirectly writing their own obituaries. The final words tweeted from D's account were "BE INSPIRED." Let's hope we all can take those words to heart as we remember one of hip-hop's greatest.

Upcoming Albums: Hot New Releases Worth Your Cash

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 10:28:00 -0500

November is shaping to be a busy month for avid music buyers (you guys still exist, right?). Whether you're hitting your local record store every Tuesday or prefer the comfort of underwear iTunes shopping (the outside world is scary), there's no shortage of new releases that are worth your attention and dollar. Or if you're in the mood for some crushing rock anthems, are a big Community fan, or have been waiting for the re-emergence of some punk-loving hip-hoppers, there's something out there for you.

Nov. 8th

City Lights - In It To Win It

This rising Ohio pop-punk outfit has been grinding it out in small clubs around the nation since 2008, and are finally releasing a proper full-length on InVogue records. If you like just enough chuggy aggressiveness in your carefree, New Found Glory-esque pop-punk, you too just might be In It To Win It.

Four Year Strong - In Some Way, Shape, or Form

While Boston's Four Year Strong became the flag-carriers for the hardcore-tinged pop-punk sound that paved the way for bands like the aforementioned City Lights, the quartet hinted at a harder-rocking evolution on last year's Enemy of the World. On their brand-new full length In Some Way, Shape or Form, the metamorphosis is complete. Feeling no obligations to please the pop world, FYS deliver their darkest work yet, drawing just as much influence from 90s alt-rock as they do from the Boston hardcore the band's members were raised on.

Nov. 11th

Angels and Airwaves - Love Pt. II

It's been a busy few years for pop-punk mastermind and dick-joke enthusiast Tom Delonge. Just because Blink 182 is back in business doesn't mean he's taken a break from writing spacey, U2-influenced anthems for his Angels and Airwaves project. Love Pt. II is the conclusion of an ambitious project that includes two albums and a feature-length movie. Pretty impressive stuff for a guy who made a name for himself playing three-chord punk songs and jesting about genitalia.

Nov. 15th

Childish Gambino - Camp

If you haven't gotten your fill of Gambino coverage from our blog over the past few weeks, let's just say the debut full-length of actor/comedian/rapper Donald Glover is a pretty big deal. Take the sugary accessibility of Drake and toss it in a blender with the irreverent, honest flow of a young Kanye, and you have an addicting, lyrically raw style that can only be described as Childish.

Gym Class Heroes - The Papercut Chronicles Pt. II

After exploding on to the scene with smash hits "Cupid's Chokehold" and "Clothes Off" and releasing a series of well-received records, there hasn't been much noise coming from the Gym Class camp lately. After frontman Travie McCoy tried his hand at going solo (and wrote a bunch of angry songs about ex Katy Perry in the process), the rapper is back where he belongs: Spitting his life anthems with the backbone of his band. The album's title suggests that GCH have gone back to the punk-mentality roots of their breakout album; You'll get to judge for yourself next week.