AZZA's Friends

Welcome to the first episode of AZZA's Friends! A new radio show where my favorite musical friends share their auditory treasures in any format they like: no conditions on format, length, style, genre, gear or other. If you're my friend of mine, we are linked musically and spiritually, and that connection is enough! <3

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Madison's DJ scene has been growing for a long time but many involved have commented at all the many blooming flowers and fruits as of recent. The deep roots in this city have been watered tirelessly by a handful of dedicated crews who have given so much love and care to it.  If there was a DJ in town who embodies this rare selfless and love-forward ethos - it would be my friend https://soundcloud.com/prognition.  

Rather than brag about his deep musical skills, he's channels every impulse towards action: a local legend and event planning phenomenon who breathes life into some of the most sensational audio-visual experiences in Madison let alone the Midwest.

Since we've been friends, Prognition has had a central role in some of the craziest parties I've ever been to: the yearly Musique Electronique Festival at Fete de Marquette and Willy Street Days, the iconic Remain In Night party series, and the unbelievable Midwest Freaks collaboration party.  

When you get a rare chance to catch Prognition step away from the work of building and growing madison's musical infrastructure to take the decks - you don't waste any time hitting the dancefloor.  

This mix comes from a special https://soundcloud.com/jiggygeoffk benefit concert where Prognition used his hour to showcase some of his amazing vinyl collection - deep, dusty grooves that show his amazing ear for music :)

Many thanks Prognition!

Link to MixCloud as well:

https://www.mixcloud.com/jiggygeoffk/vjb-20240330-03-prognition-deep-house-mix-all-vinyl/

AZZA's Friends 001 - Prognition (Live @ Jiggy Benefit)

Welcome to the episode 2 of AZZA's Friends with https://soundcloud.com/spinzone_radio! A radio show where my favorite musical friends share their auditory treasures in their favorite format with no conditions on format, length, style, genre, gear or others. If you're a friend of mine, we are linked musically and spiritually, and is all the connection we need! <3

~~McGinnnis~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


I knew before I even asked him that McGuiness was going to dig up some of his weirdest and deepest records for this mix - not only is he intuitive at gauging what his audiences need next but he's a magician the way he levitates the perfect record from the crates - effortless. McGinnis and I have been friends since I joined the Madison based JAMS party in 2021 and forged our friendship in a number of high-octane B2Bs opening for many midwest favorites like Jeff Swiff, Christian James, Madison's beloved Jiggy, and more.  He never fails to crack me up while he captures the dancefloor in a story told through his cavernous crates.   

In this 80 minute all-vinyl escapade he demonstrates a wide musical range with some of his wonkier, moodier, and more contemplative tracks blended to perfection - a DJ who plays true to the season and the atmosphere while never compromising his diverse yet consistent sound. 

If being a nearly 100% Vinyl DJ (who rarely repeats a track), a Technics enthusiast (collector, repairman, AND broker), a party starter (Wax Appeal, JAMS), and a weekly radio host (134 and counting episodes of "The Spinzone") sounds like a lot of work you might be surprised to hang with the mastermind of it all - he's chiller than a cucumber and approaches his work with an unmistakable air of sprezzatura. 

McGinnis has been on this grind for over ten years and shows no signs of slowing down - now juggling shows in the three midwestern cities he's made a name for himself: Madison, Minneapolis, and Chicago. Check out his cool new website (https://www.mcginnis-spinzone.com/) full of all the wild things he's cooking up and make sure to catch him and one of the many gigs he's no doubt digging for as I type this... Enjoy!!

AZZA's Friends 002 - McGinnis (Live @ Spinzone HQ)

Welcome to the episode 3 of AZZA's Friends with https://soundcloud.com/natural_language !! A radio show where my favorite musical friends share their auditory treasures in their favorite format with no conditions on format, length, style, genre, gear or others. If you're a friend of mine, we are linked musically and spiritually, and is all the connection we need! <3

~~Natural Language~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was so excited when I saw my third episode of the radio show come through from my great friend Nathan aka Natural Language - knew it would be something sensational, unexpected, and filled with music music I've never heard before but that would make me smile - such a great presence on and off the decks!

Natural Language is a great DJ, a great party thrower (the founder of JAMS back in 2017!), and a great dude! He's always got his mind far in the distance seeing wild trends coming, exciting developments in music, and booking DJs and headliners before others have even heard of. He kept the vast majority of JAMS bookings for 30+ parties bouncing around his brain from the other side of the globe while living in Japan - takes a special mind to do that and you'll hear some of the musical musings of such a mind here in this mix!

In this mostly vinyl hybrid mix, we explore a labyrinth of rave-y, tribal, techno and house through the physical and emotional state of the man himself.  in his words:

"I was in a bit of a foul mood when I recorded this mix and wanted to finally play some tracks that I don't usually have the opportunity to show off - we can call it a "grumpy mix" of sorts. That influenced the selection as well as the mixing (and the bottle of wine I finished during the process certainly didn't help). Mix-wise, I feel like I took some risks that I usually wouldn't and had to accept a certain amount of imperfection, a skill that I need to practice more. That said, I'm very pleased with how it turned out and the very human nature of it."

Big thanks to Natural Language for showing us his multidimensional self and sharing it with you and I.  All the love to my JAMS fam!

Tracklist:

Shackleton – Hamas Rule
Antoine Rouge – Tapioca Island
The Rim - Screamer
Nautilus - Reak
Randomer – Side Crack Lung
Cybertrax – Illusion
Tanz Muzik - Pique-A (Manga Head Re-Construction)
Intact - Act’s of Sensation (Techno Mix)
Cold Sensation - Trash in Heaven
All in One – Mama’s Kick
Umo Detic – Fahrenheit Mix (ULTIMIX)
Konzept – Human Transmission (Cybotron Mix)
SFIRE - SFIRE2

AZZA's Friends 003 - Natural Language

Welcome to the episode 4 of AZZA's Friends with https://soundcloud.com/sevensugars !! A radio show where my favorite musical friends share their auditory treasures in their favorite format with no rules on length, style, genre, gear or others. If you're a friend of mine, we are linked musically and spiritually, and is all the connection we need! <3

~~SevenSugars~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SevenSugars is a newer friend of mine as the Madison music scene continues to grow and connect at the many shows in town! We have danced together at many shows before becoming formally aquainted earlier this year and playing after each other at the LFF party open decks in January. 
 I left the night with a glorious edit of Bob Marley's Rainbow Country he played stuck in my head for weeks. I was surprised to hear he has been DJing since 2002!

SevenSugars is a new alias of Midwest DJ RJ Savic who has been DJing since he was 20 in Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago.  A resident at Madison’s former party Tipsy Tuesdays (the longest-running house night), a longtime DJ at Nattspil (a weekly Sundays DJ for 5 years), and extended member of the Foshizzle Family (spiritually succeeded by Remain In Night).  Life got in the way for a period of time as it does but following his mom’s passing last year, SevenSugars was ready to dive back into the music scene as a DJ again and not just as a dancer. He described the excitement and surprise of entering back into a scene of fresh faces, new parties, and lots of excitement at the health and robustness of Madison’s nightlife.  Getting back into DJing for RJ is all about the joy found there and the moments where the dancefloor melts into pure love and happiness within the dance

This mix is a beautiful trip through highs and lows: soft, shimmery sounds, exotic drums, soaring pads, and occasionally vocals that take your breath away.  Like many of my favorite mixes, the confines of genres, styles, and years all melt away with the music sounds this sweet.  

From the DJ himself:
“… an exploration into those winter moments when you’re just. not. right. Where patience and resilience will be required to earn your Spring.  Deep at times, Tech at times, the dichotomy of soft pianos and huge fuzzy baselines perplexing and pleasing all at once. I hope it results in a singular and emotional listening experience, as is ever my goal.”

Welcome (back) to the scene SevenSugars – cant wait to catch you out again soon!

[0] Ruederich ft. Meggy - Top of the World (Mark Hemmann Remix)
[6] Formel - Popayan
[11] Niju ft. Valerie - Fairies in the Moonlight (David Hasert Remix)
[16] Zhu - Faded (Tâches Remix)
[19] Joachim Pastor - Telfair
[23] Lognom - Manuzao
[27] Jacek Janicki - Another Entrance (Mollono.Bass Remix)
[33] Arun - Woodchopper
[38] Akra - Pure
[44] Secret of Elements - Mindless Cases
[49] Kink - Bitter Sweet Special Dub
[56] Johnwaynes - Algarve (Tigerskin Cosmic Remix)
[1.00] Audiofly ft. Fiora - 6 Degrees (Tale of Us Remix)
[1.06] Joachim Pastor - Eche 
[1.11] Ada - At The Gate

AZZA's Friends 004 - SevenSugars

Welcome to the episode 5 of AZZA’s Friends with dj yuppie!! A radio show where my favorite musical friends share their auditory treasures in their favorite format with no rules on style, length, or genre. If you’re a friend of mine, we are linked musically and spiritually, and that is all the connection we need! <3

I met dj yuppie back in fall '23 when we played an August Aux show together and it's been a fun journey since then watching her pop up all around town as both a DJ and as an in-demand fiddle and bass player for the Mail Manipulators and Alewives! Most recently I saw her spin a great set at Cardinal Bar for the Dreaming of a Disco series. Her style as a DJ ranges from classic house selections to boogie and disco and stretches all the way out to grooves from around the world - always playing great music I haven't heard before!

From the dj herself: "music has been around me my whole life! My dad is a guitar player, I started playing violin when I was 9 and when I dropped out of music school in college and COVID hit I learned how to DJ while at WSUM at UW :) now I’m in two rockin' bands and I’m dating the most amazing drummer/my bandmate"

Excellent selection is king in this 60 min boogie around the world – a perfect blend of rare and delightful disco-y grooves for a lovely spring afternoon – enjoy!

AZZA's Friends 005 - dj yuppie

Welcome to Episode 6 of AZZA’s Friends with Ian Adkins! A radio show where my favorite musical friends share their auditory treasures in their favorite format with no rules on style, length, or genre. If you’re a friend of mine, we are linked musically and spiritually - that is all the connection we need! <3

Madison '23 was an insane year of new parties, new promoters, and a crop of fresh  DJs who appeared seemingly out of nowhere with talents and taste beyond anything I could've imagined. Over a series of loud and delightful dancefloors and finally a gig together at August Aux late that year, I befriended one of Madison's most talented techno selectors: my friend Ian Adkins!

Ian carries a boundless, fearless aura in his life that finds a natural home in the endless sonic possibility of musical expression.  He took naturally to DJing as a way to channel his quiet passion through the decks with nearly all signal and no noise.  When he grabs a record or cues a track it is not a prayer that the dancers might enjoy but an unapologetic invitation to submerge yourself deeper into the sound.  His calm presence on the decks belies an arresting,  shamanic energy that drives into an ancient part of the body and the mind. Ian has never shown interest in trending sounds or styles but in sounds that stir, hypnotize, and transform. 

Music called to him from very young around the age of 8, exposure from his mom's excellent taste and attending music festivals very early. The discovery of house music in 2016 led him soon to the powerful energies of techno his primary inspiration as a DJ.

Ian loves DJing first and foremost for the music and his approach to DJing at parties and for an audience has largely been a modern extension of his friends and relationships to parties here in Madison.  His main musical interest has always been indie music, old and new:  " I don’t actually listen to that much electronic music on a day-to-day basis. Talk to me about 90s indie please."

From the DJ himself: "This mix was done on 3 decks, 2 digital and one turntable. I wanted to mix fast and keep 2-3 faders up as much as possible. The opening track of this mix is my favorite Panda Bear track called Benfica from the album Tomboy."

Please clear 2 solid hours of your schedule to allow for appropriate assimilation of the soundscapes Ian has conjured here: you may find yourself on the other side in a blissful and motivated state... and don't forget to catch him wherever his next techno transmission drops!

AZZA's Friends 006 - Ian Adkins

Music is miles beyond a hobby for AZZA: it’s his very lifeblood. 

Decades of musical obsession always finds him listening, dancing, on aux duty, playing jazz piano, producing, digging in dusty crates, reading & discussing music journalism, and always burrowing down the next musical rabbit-hole for the rush of uncovering that next great track.  

Through a lifetime of quasi-religious concert attendance, passionate study of the dancefloor, and ten years of spinning himself, he has fostered a unique love and appreciation for the magic only a discoball and a DJ can provide – love he feels compelled to share with any who will listen. 

In every endeavor, AZZA seeks to create a story with others by journeying through the deep, dreamy, spiritual, hypnotic, and groovy with friends of twenty years and twenty seconds alike.

JAMS resident DJ

booking/info: mikeyazzarello@gmail.com

Subterranean Jazz Project
https://soundcloud.com/subterranean-jazz-project