Press Play With Presa, Hear the Nuanced “Spring Cleaning” Mix
–Written by Kevin Madert
When crafting and creating in any medium, a mastery of its intricacies is a near-indispensable advantage. An experienced painter will trace circles around a fresh-faced art school grad. A seasoned tailor is guaranteed more business than his minimum-wage Men’s Warehouse counterpart. And a talented, well-versed DJ – in this case, Los Angeles based house aficionado Presa – can weave a tapestry of sound with ease, leaving overconfident amateurs and emulators in his sonic dust.
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Tipper Stays Active, Releases Deliciously Downtempo “Fathoms” EP
–Written by Kevin Madert
Shortly after the release of Broken Soul Jamboree in 2008, downtempo virtuoso and glitch pioneer Dave Tipper began experiencing various health issues. The issues continued for nearly five years, limiting his production and touring output to a few EPs and a handful of dates during that time. In the summer of 2013, his health grew dire enough to necessitate open heart surgery, news that had many concerned for the future of both Dave and his music.
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Choppy Oppy Traverses Multi-Genre Terrain On “Into The Aleph” Mix
–Written by Kevin Madert
If you’re a DMV resident, chances are you’ve heard of Choppy Oppy – real name Jared Oppenheim – even if you think you haven’t. Based locally, he’s been warming up the bass bins at shows around the area for about a half-decade. He’s been heavily involved in the planning of Trapitol Hill, a series of events that’s brought artists like ETC! ETC! alongside a host of familiar local names to DC for an always wild evening. Most recently he released a mix that caught our ears, and it’s that mix we’re sharing with you here.
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Gone Shippin’: 11 Of Our Favorite Sets From Holy Ship! January 2015
–Written by Kevin Madert
One month ago today, the MSC Divina departed Miami for the fourth annual iteration of Holy Ship!, as well as the first of two sailings in 2015. The music festival cruise is somewhat of a mecca for electronic music fans – owing in no small part to the difficult nature of acquiring tickets and the stories of extravagance and debauchery that make their way back to land. In the weeks since, many sets recorded over the course of the weekend have become available online, and a third (perhaps most obvious) reason becomes clear: the music is just too damn good.
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AltFreq Weekly Planner (1/25-1/28)
–Written by Kevin Madert
It’s nearly impossible to keep track of all the events going on in the area, so we’re here to let you know what’s happening in live music over the next few days. Watch out on Thursdays for the “Weekend Planner” where we’ll cover the most important 72 hours of the week.
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Weekend Wind-Down No. 14: Sung to Sleep
–Words & list by Kevin Madert
Remember childhood? The scale balancing your life experiences and your understanding of them was tipped decidedly in the direction of the former. No matter your upbringing, there were plenty of times when you were confused – even scared – of what you did not know or comprehend. That’s where the adults in your life came in, whoever they were; in my case, it was my mom. I’d lay down to sleep with thoughts swirling around my head, but she knew just how to handle that. Sometimes she’d sing – I still know every word to Peter, Paul & Mary’s “500 Miles” thanks to her – while other times she’d simply hum unintelligible, soothing melodies. Any worries I possessed would fade with my consciousness as I’d drift off to sleep.
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