Big Shot Guest Mix

Big Shot Guest Mix: Rennie Foster

Darren Ressler 1 Comment

Big-Shot-Guest-Mix-Rennie-Foster

Vancouver, B.C.-based house journeyman Rennie Foster has been there and done that over the span of his amazing career.

He’s released choice cuts on top labels (Transmat, Motech, Subject Detroit, F-Communications and Synewave NYC), while consistently presenting bespoke underground tracks on his RF Music imprint.

On Foster’s exclusive Big Shot Guest Mix, he embraces his shoot-from-the-hip DJ mentality, presenting a thoughtful selection of music from his spiritual home (Detroit) and current home base (Vancouver)

“This mix, like all my mixes, is an improvised effort,” Foster says. “I don’t plan out mixes generally, and usually do them in one take, as is the case with this one. I feel like my live DJing is more technical, as I can take more chances and be more loose with the flow. I try my best to keep some of that spontaneity in tact on a recording by doing mixes I haven’t done before, and I find smoking some weed helps too.”

“I always include some local music from wherever I am living as well,” adds Foster, who made a name for himself in Japan while living there for many years.

“Currently I am in Vancouver, so I went with the inclusion of some music by Max Ulis and JGarrett. I also have many of my music homies in this mix, like Chris Mitchell, Claude Young, DJ Roach, etc., because my people are making the sickest music right now, and without the approval or assistance of the usual brands and media. I play music I believe in made by real artists with something to say.”

A re-release of Rennie’s Foster’s “Belladonna” and his brand-new cut “Venture” are out now on RF Music. Foster plays the Welcome To Detroit International Vinyl Party at Menjos, on a bill featuring Alexander Robotnick, on May 20, 2015.

Big Shot Guest Mix: Rennie Foster by Big Shot Magazine on Mixcloud

Big Shot Guest Mix: Rennie Foster

  1. Jay Denham – “The World Is A Ghetto”
  2. Detroit – “Deepression”
  3. Claude Young – “Sacrifices”
  4. Aux 88 feat. Missy Motion – “Soul Of Black”
  5. Rennie Foster – “Floatilla”
  6. Chris Mitchell – “Exile V2”
  7. Max Ulis x Dean Grangier – “The Face You Wear Is Not Your Own”
  8. DJ Spider – “Mind Field”
  9. Human Robot – “High Definition”
  10. A Sagittariun – “The Mojo Odyssey”
  11. JGarrett – “Waterworks”
  12. The Analog Roland Orchestra – “Pattern Four”
  13. Keith Worthy – “Jazz”
  14. DJ Roach – “El Funk Verde”
  15. DJ Roach – “Todo La Noche”
  16. Rennie Foster – “Soda Cracker”
  17. Octave – “Mod 1”
  18. Rennie Foster – “Soda Cracker” (Hooka Dooka Vox)

Top image by Mark Oxley

Big Shot Guest Mix: Cevin Fisher (Frankie Knuckles Tribute)

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Big Shot Guest Mix Cevin Fisher Frankie Knuckles Tribute

On March 31, 2014 our heart was broken. Frankie Knuckles, the Godfather of House and one of the nicest men to walk the earth, left us. He was 59, and he passed way too soon.

In the weeks leading up to the first anniversary of the Godfather’s passing, I thought about how best to pay tribute to this amazing man, one who I had the pleasure of interviewing many times over the years. How do you pay homage a DJ/producer giant who toured the world for much of his life, bringing joy to so many people at clubs and festivals? The answer was right in front of me: You celebrate his eternal spirit by honoring the legacy of the music.

Enter Cevin Fisher, the famed NYC house DJ/producer. Back when I was running Mixer magazine, I cajoled Cevin into mixing United DJs Of America Volume 11. It was Cevin’s first mix CD — a deep session of soulful, energetic house that still holds its weight since its release in 1999. Since Cevin took a few musical cues from Frankie, I reached out and put forth the idea of him creating a commemorative DJ mix of Frankie’s seminal tracks. Cevin immediately and enthusiastically agreed.

“I honestly felt like Frankie was in the room with me when I did the mix…. At some point the sadness turned to happiness. Frankie’s music does what music is supposed to do: It’s beautiful music, so when I hear a song by Frankie now, I just smile.”

“I was in the studio when I logged into Facebook and saw the news,” Cevin remembers of that sad day one year ago. “I was devastated. I just sat at the computer and looked at all of the messages about Frankie. I felt so bad for David Morales, Judy, Hector Romero and the whole Def Mix crew, because I knew this was a tough loss for them as well as for the whole music scene, especially for the dance music community.”

“Frankie was a huge inspiration to me and definitely a big influence,” Cevin continues. “Frankie’s music and DJing style inspired me in a soulful, gospel, hands-in-the-air shouting kinda way and his productions were always crisp and polished. There are very few DJs where I can tell who it is playing before I even see them, and Frankie was that kind of DJ. He was 100 percent unique and his music will live on forever.”

Listen to Cevin’s brilliant tribute featuring classic Frankie Knuckles productions and remixes including “The Whistle Song” and “Tears.”

As the hashtag says, #FKAlways.

Artwork created by Christian J Petersen of I Want You Studio.

Big Shot Guest Mix: Cevin Fisher (Frankie Knuckles Tribute) by Big Shot Magazine on Mixcloud

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Big Shot Guest Mix: Maya Schenk

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big shot guest mix maya schenk

If the stars align you’re going to be hearing a lot about German-born vocalist/DJ/producer Maya Schenk.

Currently based in London, Schenk just released her terrific C.I.M.A. EP on French indie label Carton Pâte. The EP is a calling card for her sound, which embraces deep house, minimal and tech-house with plenty of warm low-slung basslines. The cherry on top is her distinct, soulful voice and poignant lyrics.

The rising star stepped into the studio and forged an incredible Big Shot Guest Mix featuring “Crying in My Arms” as well as tracks from Ed Davenport, Cajmere, Todd Edwards and an as-yet unreleased track. Maya fills us in on the inspiration behind the mix:

This mix features some of my favourite tracks at the moment and a couple that have been in my box for a while already!

Ed Davenport’s “More Red Lights” has the perfect pensive but driven mood to kick things off. Then I just had to include Walka’s remix of my latest release, “Crying In My Arms.” It’s such a well-crafted interpretation and is right up my street. Turbo Turbo’s remix of the same track of mine had to feature too as is an absolute dance floor hit whenever I play it out.

I also threw in a few older tracks that still feature in my sets. “004” by N’to is a long-time favourite — it’s playful techno-esque vibe really turns me on musically. Another is David Keno’s mix of Patrick Molinari’s “I Got Soul” – always a keeper!

Also, keep an ear out for a little preview of my new EP, wedged between “Pump Up The Volume” and “004.”

Finally, I round things up with one of my all-time faves, the Nervous Records classic, “Feelin’ Lonely” by The Sample Choir a.k.a. Todd Edwards.

Check out her amazing set below!

Big Shot Guest Mix: Maya Schenk by Big Shot Magazine on Mixcloud

Big Shot Guest Mix: Maya Schenk

  1. Ed Davenport – “More Red Lights” (Dub Mix)

  2. Maya Schenk – “Crying In My Arms” (Walka Remix)

  3. Jett – “Act Natural”

  4. Nino Blink – “Wee Dirty” (Schenk & Blanco Remix)

  5. Cajmere – “Percolator” (Jamie Jones Vault Mix)

  6. Maya Schenk – “Crying In My Arms” (Turbo Turbo Remix)

  7. Elomak – “My Life” (Maya Schenk Remix)

  8. Legitimate Scandal – “Joker Smoker”

  9. N’to – “004”

  10. Maya Schenk – untitled demo

  11. Mass Digital – “Pump Up The Volume”

  12. Christian Arno – “Chicks Who Love Guns”

  13. Patrick Molinari – “I Got Soul” (David Keno Remix)

  14. Maya Schenk – “London Crawling”

  15. The Sample Choir – “Feelin’ Lonely”

Big Shot Guest Mix: The Checkup

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The Checkup

Working professionally for a little over a year, Brussels-based house duo The Checkup have earned quite a reputation for themselves in a relatively brief span of time. Comprised of two classically trained musicians with a penchant for crafting funky numbers for the dance floor, The Checkup’s Raphael and Alex have produced sublime tracks for labels such as Large, King Street Sounds, Solo Music , Beef Records and Electronical Reeds.

They’ve wasted no time getting down to business in 2015, releasing “Move Me” on Chicago’s Large Music as they forge ahead with other irons in the proverbial fire.

In between studio sessions and DJ gigs, the guys whipped up an exclusive Big Shot Guest Mix. It’s an in-depth examination featuring deep tunes from Soledrifter, Detroit Swindle, Sydney Charles and Dale Howard.

“It’s a mix to keep you warm this winter,” the guys tell us about their comprehensive, hour-long session. “House and deep house in this one. These are definitely our favorite genres, be it for inspiration our our club tools. There are quite a few new tracks of ours, along with what we really liked in 2014. We think it’s a great sum up of this year’s energy and a glimpse of what’s coming in 2015! Enjoy.”

Big Shot Guest Mix: The Checkup by Big Shot Magazine on Mixcloud

Big Shot Guest Mix: The Checkup

  1. Soledrifter – “Gritty Love”
  2. Mountal – “Boat Party”
  3. The Checkup – “The Race”
  4. The Checkup – “I Got Something”
  5. Detroit Swindle – “Huh, What”
  6. Ben Mono – “The Dub Feel” (Urulu remix)
  7. Zhu – “Faded” (The Checkup Classic Remix)
  8. Sydney Charles – “Going Down”
  9. Dale Howard – “Limit”
  10. The Checkup – “Think About It”
  11. The Jam Experience – “Your Love”
  12. Luigi Rocca, Tim Cullen – “Touch Me”