Change in Publication Format for Subterranean Homesick Grooves

I just sent the following letter out to all of my production liaisons at the various terrestrial and internet-based radio stations that host Subterranean Homesick Grooves:

Hi everyone,

I've just returned from a period of several months with extremely limited internet access.  As you're aware, during this time I found it impossible to keep up with regular production of Subterranean Homesick Grooves.

I regret to inform everyone that I will probably be dealing with similar problems over the next fifteen months or more.  I can't guarantee that I'll be able to do a proper job of producing the show on a timely basis, and I don't like to do a poor job if I'm working on a project that I really enjoy (or on any task, for that matter).

Therefore, effective immediately, I am unfortunately going to have to change the show to a monthly production schedule, rather than a weekly one.

I realize that most of the broadcasting entities that carry the show expect programming on a weekly basis, and that you'll probably have to drop the show from the lineup.  This is not my preference, but I understand that it will be inevitable.  This is an especially hard decision when I reflect upon entities such as CHMA FM in Sackville (the first station that carried the show), who have shown such strong support over the past seven years.

I know that the audience for the show in the upcoming months will now be reduced to mostly just my iTunes podcast audience, and my internet shares of the show through direct links and through SoundCloud.

I hope that starting probably in 2019, I might be able to commit to moving the show back to a weekly format.  If/when that happens, I'll let each of you know, in the event that you might consider reinstating the show into a regularly weekly slot.

Thanks so much for all of your support over the past several years.  I've truly appreciated everything that you do for the listening public.

Sincerely,
- Jonathan Clark (DJ Bolivia)
Executive Producer, Subterranean Homesick Grooves

The radio stations have already released broadcasts up to episode 360, which is about seven episodes ahead of what internet listeners have been able to see so far.  So even into September, any internet listeners will once again be getting new episodes frequently (every five or six days) until I catch up to the radio schedule.  After that point, the internet shows will go online monthly, to accompany radio release.

Thanks for your support over the years!


Links:

   Blogger:  subterraneanhomesickgrooves.blogspot.ca
   Website:  www.subterraneanhomesickgrooves.ca
   SoundCloud:  www.soundcloud.com/djbolivia

I'm Jonathan Clark, known online as DJ Bolivia.  Do you want to learn more about DJ'ing and music production?  If so, visit:

djbolivia.ca/training

If you happen to enjoy techno tracks, most of my tracks are available as free downloads from this link:

djbolivia.ca/tracks

Thanks so much for visit, and for your support!  I really appreciate the fan base that I've been able to build up over the years.

Also, if you want to visit any of my other sites, here are a few links:

    YouTube:  youtube.com/djbolivia

    SoundCloud:  soundcloud.com/djbolivia

    Blogger:  djbolivia.blogspot.com

    Main Site:  www.djbolivia.ca

Proton Radio Guest Mix, 2015-05-10

I did a two-hour guest mix on Proton Radio several weeks ago, and I'm just finally getting time to post it online today. You can download a copy below, or see the track listings. Special thanks to Rodolfo Sotelo for making this happen.






This particular mix is a combination of some of my favorite tech-house and techno tracks that I was listening to in the spring. It starts out with some deeper tracks, and then the energy levels ramp up throughout the set. If you like it, check out some of the episodes of my weekly tech-house radio show, Subterranean Homesick Grooves.


Here's a Link to download this mix:

www.djbolivia.ca/mixes

(Go into the Studio Mixes folder then into the Guest Mixes sub-folder).



Here are the track listings:

01. Monika Kruse with Pig & Dan - Soulstice (Original Mix).
02. Leach & Lezizmo - Lolita (Avenue6 Remix).
03. Kollektiv Turmstrasse - Melodrama (Marc DePulse Remix).
04. Ecco - Shocking (Original Mix).
05. TR20 - Obie Juan (Han Haak Remix).
06. Andres Power & Outcode - Lobo (Jaceo Remix).
07. Joon Davies - Ocarina (Original Mix).
08. Oscar Aguilera, George Privatti, & Guille Placencia - Viena (Hollen Remix).
09. Alek Herdz - Harbinger (Original Mix).
10. Melvin Spix & Yves Eaux feat Jay Davi - Wow Now (Dub Mix).
11. Eddie Hu - Powder (Fiveon Remix).
12. Stefano Noferini - Body French (Original Mix).
13. Alex Rouk - Last Call (Original Mix).
14. Wehba - Off Topic (Original Mix).
15. Manuel De La Mare - Reflexions (Original Mix).
16. Swing City - Berliner (Original Mix).
17. Rick Silva & Mikel Silva - Root (Original Mix).
18. Do Santos - 2 Coffee (Original Mix).
19. Juan Ddd & DJ Smilk - Red Code (Original Mix).
20. Jennifer Pliester - Tang Of Irony (Tom Wax Edit).
21. DJ Entwan - Haa (Original Mix).
22. Giorgio Fattoni - Tribal Groove (Original Mix).
23. Daniel Soave - La Onda (Original Mix).

I'm Jonathan Clark, known online as DJ Bolivia.  Do you want to learn more about DJ'ing and music production?  If so, visit:

djbolivia.ca/training

If you happen to enjoy techno tracks, most of my tracks are available as free downloads from this link:

djbolivia.ca/tracks

Thanks so much for visit, and for your support!  I really appreciate the fan base that I've been able to build up over the years.

Also, if you want to visit any of my other sites, here are a few links:

    YouTube:  youtube.com/djbolivia

    SoundCloud:  soundcloud.com/djbolivia

    Blogger:  djbolivia.blogspot.com

    Main Site:  www.djbolivia.ca

Proton Radio Guest Mix, 2014-10-12

I just did a two-hour guest mix on Proton Radio, for the DJ Mag UK Sound Lab show. You can download a copy below, or see the track listings. Special thanks to Rodolfo Sotelo for making this happen.






This particular mix is a combination of some of my favorite tech-house and techno tracks that I've been listening to for the past two or three weeks. It starts out with some deeper tracks, and then the energy levels ramp up throughout the set. If you like it, check out some of the episodes of my weekly tech-house radio show, Subterranean Homesick Grooves.


Here's a Link to download this mix:

www.djbolivia.ca/mixes

(Go into the Studio mixes folder then the Guest Mixes sub-folder).

Here are the track listings:

01. Duss - Remont (Original Mix).
02. Yuriy Berliny - Cosmopolis (Original Mix).
03. From Siberia - Amfiton (Original Mix).
04. Analog Effect & Jay Junior - Diffuser (Original Mix).
05. Sergio Fernandez - Sub Zero (Original Mix).
06. Oscar Barila - Raw Girlz (Andre Butano & Demian Muller Remix).
07. Stefano Noferini & Samuel Dan - Harrys' Code (Samuel Dan Dark Mix).
08. Mattias Coll - Sydney (Original Mix).
09. Oscar Escapa - Kalkat (Original Mix).
10. Will Gold & Manuel De La Mare - Warehouse 47 (Original Mix).
11. Oxy Beat - Is Wild Life (Original Mix).
12. Simon Doty - Never Or Now (Original Mix).
13. Tony Campos - Shake It (Original Mix).
14. Manuel Maga - Carambola (Original Mix).
15. Dwayne Minard & Division 4 - Physical High (Marco Maniera Remix).
16. MStyles - Dirty (Original Mix).
17. Luis Ferro & Cyberx - A Few Good Men (Original Mix).
18. DJ Sean Johnson - Calm Explinationz (Original Mix).
19. FormatB - Magic Button (Wehbba Remix).
20. DJ Glic - Hell Boys (Original Mix).
21. Skymate - Pull The Strength (Original Mix).
22. Macromism - Phaze Out (Original Mix).
23. Josh DaFunk, Optimuss, & Sergio Padro - Shift (Original Mix).
24. Paride Saraceni - Keep Focus (Original Mix).
25. Miss Ingrid - Space (Original Mix).

I'm Jonathan Clark, known online as DJ Bolivia.  Do you want to learn more about DJ'ing and music production?  If so, visit:

djbolivia.ca/training

If you happen to enjoy techno tracks, most of my tracks are available as free downloads from this link:

djbolivia.ca/tracks

Thanks so much for visit, and for your support!  I really appreciate the fan base that I've been able to build up over the years.

Also, if you want to visit any of my other sites, here are a few links:

    YouTube:  youtube.com/djbolivia

    SoundCloud:  soundcloud.com/djbolivia

    Blogger:  djbolivia.blogspot.com

    Main Site:  www.djbolivia.ca

DJ'ing for Beginners, #1 of 4 Parts

If you've found this blog post through an organic search, I've just (early 2024) consolidated the information from several distinct blog posts into one link on my main website:

djbolivia.ca/learn2dj

You may prefer going to that page right now, as it has all the info from the post below, plus a lot more.  But if you prefer the formatting of this blog post, feel free to carry on ...

---

Welcome to my "DJ'ing for Beginners" tutorial series. I've wanted to put this information online for about ten years, and just recently I finally decided that I was ready to do it properly.

What I've done is to record the tutorial in four parts, since each part is fairly long. I also had to add an "extras" section after everything else was online, to cover some things that I noticed I had missed. Overall, the series is close to five hours in length, so each individual video in the series is slightly over an hour long. The information that I covered in this part (#1) includes the following sections, which I talk about in more detail further down this page: Introduction, why would you want to DJ, different ways to perform, and styles & techniques.

  

DJ'ing for Beginners, Part 1 of 4:

In this video I talk about my own experiences within the industry, reasons why you'd want to be a DJ, different career paths (mobile, festivals, club resident, radio, etc), different ways to perform, the pros and cons of vinyl vs CD vs digital, some basic beat-mixing and turntablism background, and more.




Here's the outline that I used when putting together this first part of the series:

Introduction
- Introduction, background, education, career, my own musical tastes.
- Background as a DJ and a club manager.
- Future plans as a producer & teacher, and plans for future videos.
- The general format of this video and series, as an overview with lots of links to subjects that need to be covered in more detail.
- If you're on mobile, you can't see annotations, so the blog postings will also provide the useful links to other videos.
- Mentioning books.

Why Would You Want To DJ?
- Fun, social, and a great career if you enjoy music.
- Don't take the social aspects too far. Have fun, but stay in control when you're performing.
- Different types of DJ's, including: mobile DJ's, club residents, playing at parties and festivals, radio DJ's.
- Many DJ's cannot or do not make a living through DJ'ing. However, it is possible.
- How to "make it big" as a DJ.

Different Ways to Perform
- Originally, vinyl was the most common realistic alternative. Now, there are literally dozens of ways of performing.
- Traditional methods: vinyl.
- Switch to CD players, with pitch control.
- Nice to be able to have waveform display on CD players.
- Hybrid turntables, ie. vinyl plus CD plus mp3. Not popular, discontinued.
- You can use software with time-encoded vinyl to play mp3's and other digital files.
- Laptop DJ's: pros and cons.
- DJ software that is digital only.
- DJ software that incorporates time-encoded manipulation.
- Ableton Live.
- Purchasing music: vinyl vs CD vs mp3. Characteristics of each, ie. 7" vs 12" vs LP, compilation CD's, bit rates on mp3's, etc.
- Future possibilities: DJ'ing from tablets and phones.
- Live PA, performance art.

Styles & Techniques:
- Beat mixing or beat matching.
- Different styles of music, ie. EDM, mainstream, hip hope, etc.
- Turntablism.
- You need a background in audio equipment.
- Taking requests and playing for the crowd, versus playing a unique style.



Virtual DJ

If you're interested in learning to DJ with digital software on a laptop, the three main options are Virtual DJ, Serato, and Traktor.  I haven't done a tutorial series for Serato or Traktor yet (coming in the winter of 2017/2018), but here's a link to the Virtual DJ for Beginners" tutorial series that I haven't mentioned anywhere else:

djbolivia.ca/virtualdj

Here are all the other videos that were mentioned in Part 1 of the "DJ'ing For Beginners" series:


A detailed examination of the Mobile DJ industry:





An introduction to Turntablism (from DJ Angello):





"Long Train Running" routine by Skratch Bastid & Chris Karns:





Also worth checking out is the Studio Scratches channel on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/studioscratches/about


Finally, if you'd like to download or listen to an audio transcript of this video, as an mp3 from Soundcloud, here's the link:



If you like the sound of any of the tracks played during the breaks between sections, I've got all of them available as free downloads. Go to SoundCloud and do a search for: "dj bolivia global underground"

I'm Jonathan Clark, known online as DJ Bolivia.  Do you want to learn more about DJ'ing and music production?  If so, visit:

djbolivia.ca/training

If you happen to enjoy techno tracks, most of my tracks are available as free downloads from this link:

djbolivia.ca/tracks

Thanks so much for visit, and for your support!  I really appreciate the fan base that I've been able to build up over the years.

Also, if you want to visit any of my other sites, here are a few links:

    YouTube:  youtube.com/djbolivia

    SoundCloud:  soundcloud.com/djbolivia

    Blogger:  djbolivia.blogspot.com

    Main Site:  www.djbolivia.ca

Radio Interview on the Ashish Ddavidd Show (New Delhi, India)

I just posted a recording online of a radio interview that I did the other day with Ashish Ddavidd, a well known radio voice in New Delhi. We did the interview over Skype, as I was in Nova Scotia at the time. Here's a link:


Ashish is the National Station Voice for 92.7 Big FM, & also a Radio Jockey at 102.6 FM Rainbow. Follow him on Twitter at:

            www.twitter.com/VoiceNinja


 

I'm Jonathan Clark, known online as DJ Bolivia.  Do you want to learn more about DJ'ing and music production?  If so, visit:

djbolivia.ca/training

If you happen to enjoy techno tracks, most of my tracks are available as free downloads from this link:

djbolivia.ca/tracks

Thanks so much for visit, and for your support!  I really appreciate the fan base that I've been able to build up over the years.

Also, if you want to visit any of my other sites, here are a few links:

    YouTube:  youtube.com/djbolivia

    SoundCloud:  soundcloud.com/djbolivia

    Blogger:  djbolivia.blogspot.com

    Main Site:  www.djbolivia.ca

Using Ableton Live to create Studio DJ Mixes

I recently put together three YouTube videos to teach people the basics of using Ableton Live software for DJ'ing. There are two separate approaches to DJ'ing with Ableton. Some people are interested in using it for live performance. Others are interested in using it to put together podcasts or radio shows.

The three videos that I have online right now are related to the second approach, putting together podcasts or radio shows. If you're interested in using Ableton for live performance, I'll have a few more videos coming in another month or so, although this first set of three videos for creating mixes will still be useful.

When the "live performance" videos are available, there will be three separate videos to teach you the overall process:
- Warping your tracks, to prepare for a live show (similar to the existing warping video)
- Using Ableton as a live DJ (mixers, controllers, sound card interfaces, dj booth hookup, performance)
- Actually doing a live performance

For the current approach, making a DJ mix, we have three videos online now:
- Warping your tracks
- Putting together your DJ Mix
- Mastering and marketing your mix


Warping Your Tracks in Ableton:

This video teaches you the basics of using Ableton, ie. how the software is laid out, and how to prep for a mix by importing and "warping" your tracks. Warping a track properly and accurately can usually be done in about a minute, once you know how, but you MUST warp your tracks before you play, if you expect to be able to beat-mix. If you're planning a "radio-style" mix format, ie. just fading in and out of songs without worrying about beat-mixing, then warping isn't critical.






Putting Together Your DJ Mix:

This video explains the process of bringing each individual track into the "arrangement view" and then using cross-fades on volume and other effects parameters, through the use of drawn automation, to make a great-sounding continuous DJ Mix.





Mastering & Marketing Your DJ Mix:

Once you have a mix exported from Ableton, you're not quite done. You want your final mix to sound as good as possible for listeners. This video teaches you how to do simple edits like removing leading and trailing silence from your mix file, adjusting the overall volumes through amplification or normalizing, the basics of compression, various encoding options, and more. At the end of the video, there is a short discussion about marketing your mix, such as choosing distribution methods, adding graphics files and "ID3" tag data.





I have a second series of videos that complement this series, and which focus on actual live performances using Ableton, ie. in front of a crowd. Those videos also talk about related aspects of being a performance DJ, including the use of external sound cards, MIDI controllers, and integrating your set with a DJ mixer, as well as tips that might help when you're playing in front of a crowd. Here's a link to learn more:

djbolivia.ca/ableton

I have an additional series of shorter "Ableton Q&A" videos that I produced to answer viewer questions from the above videos. You can see a list of these videos if you go here:  djbolivia.ca/videos


If you find that these videos are useful in helping you learn about how Ableton can be useful to you as a DJ, I'd really appreciate if you could share them! Post links to the videos (or to this blog post) on your facebook walls, or on music/production message boards, or tweet the URL. Thanks for your help in sharing these tutorials.


And finally, these particular three videos used the creation of episode 100 of my weekly radio show as the example mix. If you want to listen to that mix, here is the SoundCloud link to the show:

I'm Jonathan Clark, known online as DJ Bolivia.  Do you want to learn more about DJ'ing and music production?  If so, visit:

djbolivia.ca/training

If you happen to enjoy techno tracks, most of my tracks are available as free downloads from this link:

djbolivia.ca/tracks

Thanks so much for visit, and for your support!  I really appreciate the fan base that I've been able to build up over the years.

Also, if you want to visit any of my other sites, here are a few links:

    YouTube:  youtube.com/djbolivia

    SoundCloud:  soundcloud.com/djbolivia

    Blogger:  djbolivia.blogspot.com

    Main Site:  www.djbolivia.ca

Oasis Radio from Osaka

If you're one of those people who is always looking for new DJ's to check out, and new online sources of good EDM, I've got a suggestion for you. Check out this site:

            www.Oasis-Radio.net

Basically, Oasis Radio is a free web radio station based in Osaka, Japan, which broadcasts underground electronic music from selected local and international DJ's. It was started by a friend of mine, Dan Elliot, who originally came from New Brunswick. Another key figure at the station is Shawn Young, another New Brunswicker. I was introduced to these guys several years ago by a mutual friend, Ian Warney.




The philosophy and origins of the station can be best summed up by these words from Dan:

"It’s pretty simple, really. Find timeless music that reaches deep down to touch the soul, enlist DJs and producers whose passion and vision shine brighter than any false star, use technology that transcends the tyranny of time and distance, and make a humble aural offering to the city that made you and the people that saved you. It’s an idea built on the legacy of Oasis Lounge - a little bar in an out-of-the-way part of Osaka where a few partiers around town would immerse themselves in the company of warm souls and refreshing music. The bar has since closed, but from June of 2009, the music streams 24/7 globally – free web radio of, by and for Osaka’s vibrant electronic dance music community."

I played at the Oasis Lounge when I was visiting Osaka several years ago. I was a bit overwhelmed by my travel schedule and jet lag at the time, so I didn't bother to record any of what I played (although I was much more awake when I played at Velours in Tokyo the following week, and that set is online here). Dan was my host at the Oasis Lounge, and it was definitely a unique and fun bar that I'll never forget. And Dan's Lychee cocktails may still reign supreme as my favorite drink of all time.

Dan hosts a regular show on Oasis called "Progressions." Shawn hosts a regular show called "Hibiki." And there are also a few dozen other DJ's that have shows, with lots of variety. Check them out if you get a chance. Click here for the direct link to download shows from the most recent month at the station.

Just one last suggestion: there are a couple of different "Oasis Radio" stations around the net, with different URL's. Make sure you go to www.Oasis-Radio.net, so you get the right one!

I'm Jonathan Clark, known online as DJ Bolivia.  Do you want to learn more about DJ'ing and music production?  If so, visit:

djbolivia.ca/training

If you happen to enjoy techno tracks, most of my tracks are available as free downloads from this link:

djbolivia.ca/tracks

Thanks so much for visit, and for your support!  I really appreciate the fan base that I've been able to build up over the years.

Also, if you want to visit any of my other sites, here are a few links:

    YouTube:  youtube.com/djbolivia

    SoundCloud:  soundcloud.com/djbolivia

    Blogger:  djbolivia.blogspot.com

    Main Site:  www.djbolivia.ca

Elliott Brood - Canadian Indie Folk/Rock

Today I've been helping set up the stage and lighting for a show featuring Elliott Brood and The Acorn. I thought I'd take a minute to write about Elliott Brood.

EB is a three-piece band composed of Casey Laforet, Stephen Pitkin, and Mark Sasso. They've been favorites on Canadian college radio for some time, and have toured internationally. They've done shows with bands such as Wilco, The Black Crows, Corb Lund, Blue Rodeo, and Broken Social Scene. Last year, they were one of the nominees for Canada's Polaris Prize.

Here a video for one of their songs, "Oh Alberta":


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3rVfIBWnDk


Here they are before sound check. The band is having lunch at Mel's Diner:




Elliott Brood is currently playing an Atlantic Canadian tour, and they will spend most of next month in Australia. Check them out.

I'm Jonathan Clark, known online as DJ Bolivia.  Do you want to learn more about DJ'ing and music production?  If so, visit:

djbolivia.ca/training

If you happen to enjoy techno tracks, most of my tracks are available as free downloads from this link:

djbolivia.ca/tracks

Thanks so much for visit, and for your support!  I really appreciate the fan base that I've been able to build up over the years.

Also, if you want to visit any of my other sites, here are a few links:

    YouTube:  youtube.com/djbolivia

    SoundCloud:  soundcloud.com/djbolivia

    Blogger:  djbolivia.blogspot.com

    Main Site:  www.djbolivia.ca