I think 91 is one of my favorite compilations you put together. I keep listening to it over and over. It’s so damn good!

This is so good... What a treat! Thank you Brian

Several years ago I nearly renamed my Sophisticated Morning mix series to Little Journeys.  I ended up not doing it because many of you talked me out of it.  But if I had....it WOULD have been fitting.  I have always looked at my mixes as, well, Little Journeys.  The newest Sophisticated Morning is just that;  a little journey. 

The first three songs belong loosely to an indie genre. I start the set off with one of my favorite vocalists, Emmit Fenn, whose voice drips with melancholy beauty before mixing into Kygo feat. James Gillespie.  We all have those artists/producers/remixers that can do no wrong to us EVER, right?  Kygo is that one to me.  Everything he touches is...gold.  From there I finish that mini-set off with "Surefire" by Wilderado, a true indie band.  His voice aches with beauty.  I found these songs to be the best "soft launch" to stir interest and lead the listener off into musical bliss...

From there I weave through a set of touching deep house heart-tuggers featuring the best of today's chill/deep house producers including Shallou, Tailor, Sultan + Shepard, A R I Z O N A and Le Youth.  During this middle set pay particular attention to Chris Howard "Lighthouse" (Track 6), Sultan + Shepard "Zima" (Track 7), A R I Z O N A "Moving On" (Track 9), Tailor "Holding Ground" (Track 10).  It's sometimes hard for me to classify favorite records. I love everything I play.  However, with those records mentioned above...they really all do belong in a class of their own.  The emotion they convey is next-level "heart music".  

Closing the mix out I move into a more energetic sound that I will classify as "deep-heart anthems".  These are records that straddle the line between deep house, progressive house and trance.  I was going to mention my standouts for this set...but as I looked over the tracks I realized that every single one of these songs sends my soul soaring and are records that I would categorize as "next-level" in their beauty and production.  These are energy records that grab you...and SEND YOU FLYING.  

Closing out in this manner really showcases my "little journeys" thought process.  As you listen and if you closely pay attention you'll notice that the ending records are nothing like the beginning ones!  And yet they mesh so beautifully and all seem as though they were made just for each other.  

As always I mixed this set with every ounce of love that I've got to give.  I'm a firm believer that each of us is placed on earth with a purpose and I believe that mine is to bring joy and beauty to a world that I think needs it through music.  My hope is that you'll receive my gift and use it to fuel your days (and nights).  Take it, use it, share it.  

From my heart...to your  ears...

#/Artist/Title/Remix

01.  Emmit Fenn/Do You Feel The Same
02.  James Gillespie/Gone Are The Days
03.  Wilderado/Surefire/Piano Mix
04.  LeyeT/Hologram/Le Youth Original Mix
05.  Shallou/Save Some Room/Original Mix
06.  Chris Howard/Lighthouse/Extended Mix
07.  Delhi De France/Zima/Sultan + Shepard Mix
08.  Phoebe Tsen/Lotus Flower/Extended Mix
09.  A R I Z O N A/Moving On/Original Mix
10.  Tailor/Holding Ground/Extended Mix
11.  Sultan + Shepard/You Already Know/Extended Mix
12.  Moone/Hollow/Yotto Extended Mix
13.  Julia Church/On The Line/Estiva Extended Mix
14.  Andrew Rayel/Shades/Extended Mix
15.  Maurice Lessing/Home/Extended Mix
16.  P.O.S., Spencer Brown/Polar Bears/Extended Mix
17.  Tritonal/Metawave/Original Mix

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Sophisticated Morning 89

As you know I have three DJ mix series that I produce:  Sophisticated Deep, Morning and Chill.  All three of the series are authentic labors of love of mine;  artistic works that genuinely come from deep within.  

As I sit and ponder I sometimes think that the Deep sets differ so strikingly from the Chill and Morning sets.  But actually upon deeper thought...no, they actually don't.  From the very beginning of my spinning career I was known for having a "morning" sound.  Back in the old days...it was actually called "morning music".  But times have changed (and so have I) and it's not called that anymore.  However, the SPIRIT of it all is still the same.  In the old days when I played live I often played trance and progressive house before ending up in "morning music" in the late night hours.  If you analyze my music today...you will hear that my Morning and Chill sets are musical descendants of the old morning music and that my Deep sets are musical descendants of the trance and progressive house sound I used to play.  At the end of the day...all these sounds that I play are still rooted (mostly) in the late-night and morning house.  

So...I have changed a lot...but not at all, all at once.  
That's some stuff to ponder.  ;-)

Let's talk about this, my newest Deep mix.  Wow.  I couldn't be happier with this.  As you know I like my mix sets to be little journeys.  This journey generally consists of three distinct sections.  I start the set off by gently sending you off into soothing organic and melodic house.  About five songs in I subtly transition into a deep and sexy sound that has masculine and sturdy tribal undertones.  Lots of percussion, horns and sexy rolling rhythms.  And finally, before you know it, I crescendo into a sound of melodic and anthemic progressive house.  All three segments of the mix very subtly belong together.  I hope you love taking this mini journey as much as I loved making it.  From my heart...to your ears....ENJOY.  

#/ARTIST/TITLE/REMIX

01.  El Mundo, Zazou/Through Your System/Original
02.  Larson (AR)/Moments/Original Mix
03.  Hermanez/Jinx/Volen Sentir Pure Magic Healing
04.  Domingo +/Everything Is OK/Original Mix
05.  Serious Dances/Time For School/Original Mix
06.  Amonita/Jungle Blues/Makebo Remix
07.  Lannka/Quiero Vivir/Original Mix
08.  Lannka/Daraxa/Derun Remix
09.  Gabriel Balky/Go Ahead/Original Mix
10.  Momo Khani/Azadi/Original Mix
11.  Noiyse Project/Aurora Rain/Greenage Remix
12.  Amir Telem/Prayer To The Sea/Greg Ochman Mix

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Sophisticated Deep 17

#/Artist/Title/Remix
01.  Chicane/Nevertheless/Extended Mix
02.  Eloi El/Stick Together/Blonde Maze Remix
03.  A R I Z O N A/Meet You There/Original Mix
04.  Kaskade/pwdr Blu/Original Mix
05.  OCULA/We Don't Need A Reason/Original
06.  DJ Licious/Ibiza Sky/Extended Mix
07.  Treetalk/The Good Life/Extended Mix
08.  Shouse/Live Without Love/Extended Mix
09.  Jack The Stripper/Pop Rock Jesus/Orue Mix
10.  Phina Asa/What It Feels Like/Extended Mix
11.  Moon Boots/Come Back Around/Romain Garcia Remix
12.  John Summit/Where You Are/Extended Mix
13.  Diplo/Fortress/Fahlberg Extended Remix
14.  Florian Gasperini/Les Voies Des Fleuves Indiens
15.  Fuenka/Gladiatior/Greg Ochman Remix

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Sophisticated Morning 90

I've been planning this mix for months now and so excited about it...so it brings me huge joy to finally get it to you.  

I'll tell you about the influences that helped me create it and then I'll tell you about why I envision it as "Fire Island" house music.  First, the influences.  I was lucky enough to live in Philly during the glory days of clubbing (the 90s). Because of my close proximity to NYC I was going to clubs on a near-weekly basis listening to internationally famous DJs such as Frankie Knuckles, David Morales, DJ BUC (RIP), Hex Hector, Louie Vega, Danny Tenaglia and Morabito to name a few.  I was going to clubs such as Sound Factory, Roxy, Palladium, Limelight and Sound Factory Bar(and of course the Pavilion on Fire Island).  Those DJs were the most influential to me -- and largely molded me and my style of DJing from the very beginning.  So that's a quick bit about where my influences come from.  

About why I envision this music as "Fire Island" house music:  It was almost always a guarantee that me and my friends would stay in the clubs and parties until the very last note rang out -- usually in the wee hours of the morning.  During the Autumn, Winter and Spring the above-mentioned clubs were the places to be.  As the nights turned into mornings the sound would transition to a spin-chilling sound that was laden with pianos, horns and sweeping melodies.  Morning music was a thing and it had a most definite sound.  It was jazz, funk, disco and urban influenced.  During the summertime the center of gravity in New York moves out to the most magical paradise of the Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove.  That same clubbing blueprint is enacted at the Pavilion in the Pines.  I have been fortunate to spend more nights than I can count experiencing that glory.  But it isn't just about clubbing on Fire Island.  House culture is a huge thing on the island.  One can walk the boardwalks at 3PM or 3AM and it is guaranteed that there will be music wafting through the air.  And it's not just any music.  It's *THIS* music.  Because this music is melodic and rooted in "real" music...it is also versatile and perfectly aligns itself with not only early morning clubbing but also lazy days by the pool and on the beach. 

About this particular mix:  I hope you love hearing it as much as I loved creating it.  It's something of a tale of two sounds (that perfectly belong together).  The first half of the mix is made up of stunning piano house pieces. I then transition into a more vocal-centric sound the second half of the mix that is influenced by that jazz, disco and funk that I speak about above.  Every note you hear...started in my heart.  As I always say...from my HEART...to your EARS.  Love.  

#/Artist/Title/Remix

01.  Moon Rocket/Main Piano/Piano & Strings Intro
02.  Wayne Cooper/The Piano Song/Teddy Douglas Remix
03.  Daisuke Miyamoto/Dawn/Original Mix
04.  Danny Tenaglia/The Brooklyn Gypsy/Original Mix
05.  Jo Paciello/The Big Sun/DAN:ROS Remix
06.  Shortcut/Love Like This/Original Mix
07.  Rona Ray/Feel The Groove/Original Mix
08.  De' Lacy/That Look/Roger Garcia & George Calle Disco Lights Vocal
09.  Chocolate Fudge Band/Everything/DJ Fudge Extended Mix
10.   Caio Cenci/Bad Girls/Extended Mix
11.   Gianni Santoro/Going Up/Vibe Mix
12.  Neal Conway/Darlin Darlin Baby/Spen & Thommy's Original
13.  Karen Harding/Free To Love/David Morales Disco Juice Mix
14.  Ferrari & Bergamasco/People Hold On/F&B Club Mix

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Fire Island House Music 9

#/ARTIST/TITLE/REMIX

01.  Haevn/Where Did You Go/Original Mix
02.  Modera/Back Into Your Arms/Blonde Maze Extended
03.  Donna Lewis/I Love You Always Forever/Nora En Pure Extended
04.  Nicolas Soria/Together/Original Mix
05.  Cari Golden/Missing/Extended Mix
06.  Leo Stannard/Illuminate/Extended Mix
07.  Fahlberg/Wytal/Original Mix
08.  Max Milner/Hope/CamelPhat Mix
09.  Lewyn/Beween The Lines/Modera Extended
10.   Modera/I'll Be Home/Extended Mix
11.   Tailor/Power Over Me/Mees Salome Extended
12.  Run Rivers/Chaos/Laura Van Dam Extended Mix
13.  Eli & Fur/Last Train/Christoph Extended Mix
14.  Tinlicker/Choir To The Wild/Extended Mix
15.  Tritonal/Metawave/Alex Breitling Extended Mix
16.  Latroit/Gimme Back Your Love/Extended Mix
17.  Scorz/Everybody Wants To Rule The World

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Sophisticated Morning 91

Move In Motion Volume 2  - DJ Phil B

Oh man.  Where to begin with this mix? 

Have you ever heard me liken my mixes to musical arcs?  Typically I mold my sets as though they form an imaginary musical arc, with a distinct beginning, peak and landing. With this mix, unintentionally, my arc is more like a straight line across (that's drenched in warm, deep, melodic and heart-soaring vibes).  The feel at the end of this set is very much the same as the beginning.  I always like to say that I'm not the only one involved in creating my mixes.  The unseen Spirit that guides me has a hand in all this too and, well, the straight line across is what the Spirit had in mind today.  This one is deep, heartfelt and sturdy! ;-)

As for the music.  *Every* *Single* *Song* is an anthem in its own right.  Of course these aren't peak of night hands in the air anthems.  These are heart-tugging anthems that wrap their arms around you and drench you in warmth and melancholy blissful vibes.  I always go out of my way my way to source remarkable remakes of songs from years' ago...and wow, did I find a couple of good ones for you for this set.  I start the set off with Blonde Maze's remake of the 1982 international smash hit "I Melt With You" by Modern English.  Later in the set I bring in York's remake of Human League's "Human" from 1986.  Surrounding these two masterpieces are the most gorgeous and emotionally rich deep house records you could possibly imagine.  I rarely want to mention my personal favorites on a set so as to not influence what you think of the mix overall.  Well...let me just say that you should pay *really close attention* to #5 (Kairos Grove "I Don't Mind), #6 (Tailor "Never Enough"), #7 (Le Youth "I Will Leave A Light On"), #8 (Vanessa Arnolds "Colors Turn To Grey"), #9 (Martin Garrix "Real Love"), #10 (Anamē "Peaceful Avenue"), #12 (Julia Church "No Ending") and #14 (Chicane "One Thousand Suns").  Hint hint.  Wink Wink.  But seriously...please pay really close attention to *all* the songs on this set.  Like I said above...every song here is emotionally powerful.  

As always, my sets are conceived and composed with every ounce of love that I've got to give.  I firmly believe that each of us is placed here on earth to give a particular gift to our world around us that needs it so badly.  *This* is my gift to you.  From my heart...to your ears.  ENJOY!

#/Artist/Title/Remix

01.  Blonde Maze/Melt With You/Original
02.  Lewyn/Rocket Fuel/Extended Mix
03.  Coulson/Rely On You/Extended Mix
04.  York/Human/Extended Mix
05.  Kairos Grove/I Don't Mind/Original Mix
06.  Tailor/Never Enough/Modera Extended Mix
07.  Le Youth/Leave A Light On/Sultan + Shepard Extended
08.  Vanessa Arnolds/Colors Turn To Gray/Extended Mix
09.  Martin Garrix/Real Love/Liva K Extended Mix
10.  Lydmor/Peaceful Avenues/Extended Mix
11.  Hayden James/We Could Be Love/Extended Mix
12.  Julia Church/No Ending/Nils Hoffmann Extended
13.  Jordan Grace/Freedom/Modera Extended Mix
14.  Chicane/One Thousand Suns/Extended Mix
15.  Hayes Kramer/Healing/Le Youth Extended

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Sophisticated Morning 92

#/Artist/Title/Remix

01.  Ocula, Madeline Megery/Sunrise/Original Mix
02.  Oh Wonder/How Would I Know/Kygo Original
03.  Patrick Droney/Say You Will/Kygo Original
04.  Bailey, Le Youth/You And I/Original Mix
05.  SUPER-Hi/Following The Sun/Monte Fino Extended
06.  Aszewo, GoldFish/When I'm Alone/Extended Mix
07.  Malou, GoldFish/If Summer Was  A Sound/Extended
08.  Nora En Pure/Who You Are/Extended Mix
09.  CRi/Miroir Miroir/Romain Garcia Extended Mix
10.  Lydgen/Create The Universe/Extended Mix
11.  ALLKNIGHT/All Of You/Mees Salome Extended Mix
12.  Jerro/Forever/Extended Mix
13.  John Newman/Call Your Name/Henri PFR Extended
14.  Journey/Don't Stop Believing/HOO Vision Mix
15.  Simon Ward/Love We Lost/Extended Mix
16.  Oliver Smith, Tom Bailey/Everything/Extended Mix

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Sophisticated Morning 93

Several weeks ago I mentioned that this new edition of Sophisticated Morning was going to be deep and moody.  At that time I noticed that a great deal of that type of deep house was sitting in my hold bin.  Well, that didn't happen.  Instead what you're going to hear here (ha!) is very much one of my traditional Morning sets.  For those of you that were looking forward to a deeper sound from me, please accept my apologies (but I do have good news for you; there's a Deep set on the horizon).  And for those of you that love my traditional sound, well, you're in for a treat.  This set is filled with the most current and heart-warming chill house that's out right now. I start the set out with the twinkling pianos of Anam (SE) "Anywhere".  The pianos, the message and the vibe are all just so perfect.  From there I roll on through piece after piece that's touching my heart at the moment.  And just for good measure I threw in one of the biggest feel-good classics of all time "Seven Cities" by Solarstone towards the end.  The remix of it is new and really incredible.  My personal favorites on the set are #1 "Anywhere", #3 Le Youth "Overgrown", #6 Kairos Grove "I Don't Mind (Robby East Remix), #8 Tinlicker "Nothing To Lose", #11 ARTBAT "Coming Home" and the very last song, #11, Flight Facilities "All Your Love".  I always hesitate to mention my favorites -- but the truth is -- I do have my favorites, just like you do.  I love every song on this set.  It just happens that those are my very VERY favorites.  I hope you'll listen...and hopefully love what I did.  From my heart...to your ears.  

#/Artist/Title/Remix

01. Anam (SE)/Anywhere (Road Trippin')/Original Mix
02. OCULA/High Tides/Extended Mix
03. Le Youth/Overgrown/Warung Remix
04. Julia Church/Glasshouse/Extended Mix
05.  Tailor/Another Light/Original Mix
06. Kairos Grove/I Don't Mind/Robby East Extended Mix
07. Delacroix/Fall In/Extended Mix
08. Tinlicker/Nothing To Lose/Extended Mix
09. Joda/No One Walks Away/Original Mix
10. Joda/Coming Alive/Original Mix
11. ARTBAT, John Martin/Coming Home/Original Club Mix
12. Solarstone/Seven Cities/DJ Nano Extended Mix
13. Julie Scott/Long Way From Home/Timeless Extended
14.  Flight Facilities/All Your Love/Original Mix

Sophisticated Morning 94

This is the final performance of the late DJ Neil Lewis.

Record date: February 28th, 2004.

Neil passed the next day.  Popular nationwide, Neil's residencies at San Francisco's Universe and Pleasuredome remain treasured memories for thousands of his fans.

DJ Neil Lewis - Final Performance

For the occasion of my 50th birthday, we hosted a dance party called "Fifty Shades of Neon: Back to the 80s." For three of the four hours, Brandon Hogstad delighted our guests with a nostalgic eighties tunes. But I couldn't help stepping onto the decks for a portion of the event. I chose to make a nod to the vibe I most enjoyed playing back in the day on an occasion when friends and family came from far and wide to experience the paradise we call The Pines. I was as happy as can be looking out over the beauitful group at The Pines Club on the bay, coming together in dance and celebration. Enjoy!

A Classic Fire Island Vibe | DJ Joe D'Espinosa

DJ Brian Norwood was born during the first seedlings of dance music as we know it today were sprouting. In the 1970s, the Tea Dance at Fire Island's Blue Whale was settling in as ritual and David Mancuso's infamous "The Loft" parties in NYC were just getting started.  Being born in the music-rich environment of Nashville would be a harbinger of things to come. And being born in that era would greatly impact his career. 

In the 90's, Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love, would open its arms to Brian. This move to a more urban environment and being within the twinkle of NYC skyscrapers, is an important transition not only in geography, but of musical awakening.  After attending a seminal Saint-At-Large Party with all its intendant revelry, he felt an overwhelming drive to cultivate music and learn to mix. Vinyl was still the preferred medium for DJ's, which gives Brian the unique perspective of being among the younger DJ's still spinning today who teethed on vinyl.

In the 90s Brian began to play live shows.  His ability to feel the energy of a room and to zero in on what crowds want to hear quickly gained him major name recognition that spread from Philadelphia to the entire nation.  Over the last 25 years the notable gigs he has played are too many to count, but include events in every major American city and as far away as Maui, Hawaii  and Amsterdam, Netherlands.  

In 2011 he began podcasting for the ability to reach even more listeners.  His Mixed Emotions by Brian Norwood podcasts have been streamed hundreds of thousands of times and continue to be a major asset to his musical career.  The sets that have been the most recognized of his work are Sophisticated Morning, Sophisticated Deep, and Sophisticated Chill.  These sets are just as their name implies: percolating, hazy, gently rising to an alert state. However, to those unfamiliar with his breadth of music, it would be unfair to characterize him as a “chill” only DJ.  It is unlikely that you would have heard music and music mixed like this anywhere else. Brian has a style of playing unique, obscure and ethereal songs that is unmistakably his.  This is a true artist that isn't stuck in a genre, who can play for long sets and play to the most demanding crowds. 

It’s difficult to express with words something as nuanced as music by a sublime DJ. But to paraphrase an old saying, you know it when you hear it. He knows how important a crowd is to a DJ and how important a DJ is to a crowd and he chooses cautiously and carefully the live gigs that he plays.  His podcasts can be found on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, PodOmatic and HearThis.  Whether you hear him at a live performance or on his podcast you’re in for a rare and unique musical trip.

Sophisticated Morning 91

DJ Brian Norwood

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