Pluralistic Records' friend from across the pond, Col Lawton, is our guest this month. Funky per usual...as it always turns out, Col gets us dancing in our kitchen whilst prepping this recording. Nice one, Col. Yeah check him out here: 

https://soundcloud.com/col-lawton-d90

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Welcome to the Pluralistic Records podcast...or...that's right...pump yo fists....PUMPCAST! We highlight the genii of our artists and hope you revel in every BOOM-TISS. For more information, please visits www.pluralisticrecords.com/pumpcast.

In solidarity, Nate Laurence

OUR MISSION: Pluralistic Records is committed to Electronic Dance Music's original roots of diversity and creating community through rhythm. We do this by releasing unique music while giving back to our global community.

OUR MUSIC: Pluralistic Records releases distinct and unique tracks that cross the boundaries between Chicago, Detroit, disco house, and tech house...or simply, house. When it's appropriate, we push out other genre. Our music drives and is intended to push the dance-floor.

PLURALISTIC PUMPCAST

PLURALISTIC PUMPCAST 02 - COL LAWTON 10.2.22

PLURALISTIC PUMPCAST 03 - COL LAWTON (NEWCASTLE, UK) 10.6.22

Bass, Tech, Deep, Funky & Jackin’ House Music Mix Tapes

The more expansive your thoughts, the more expansive your reality. Forgive everyone everything, all man-kind is your relative.

🌏 Resident, House Fusion Radio (July '24-Present)
🌏 Resident, Beach Radio UK (Aug. '22-May '24)
🌏 Resident, Waves Radio (Jan '22-April '23)
🌏 Resident, UMT Radio (July '21-May '23)
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One of New York City’s most enduring exports, Aaron James has spent the last couple decades in a state of wanderlust rocking parties around the globe. With skills forged in the fire of NYC’s vibrant and eclectic club scene, Aaron is versatile with a capital V while still dropping his signature style into every set.

Aaron's CV reads like a Who’s Who. He’s opened for House legends Barbara Tucker, Joey Negro (aka Dave Lee), Danny Rampling, Norman Jay, John Digweed, Detroit Techno founder Juan Atkins, Jeremy Healy, Studio 54's Nicky Siano, Groove Armada,, Mat.Joe, Vanilla Ace, Elton John, Sheryl Crow, TV On The Radio, Santigold, Bootsy Collins, Talib Kwele, Jack Johnson, Hawthorne Heights, Mark Ronson, ?uestlove (The Roots), Alex Pall (The Chainsmokers), Lil' Kim, Pitbull - and he's warmed the stage for the Beastie Boys, Eminem, and Tenacious D to name a few.

BOOKINGS
bookings@djaaronjames.com

An intense and borderline obsessive obsession with House Music since the late 90's and a supporter in the scene for over half of his life from Northeast Wisconsin, Spike is a DJ and a promotor who is currenty invoved in Re:Fresh Saturdays, Wisconsins ONLY house music monthly event! Growing up in the small city of Manitowoc, Wisconsin a young man began to explore the world of Rave and discovered a new love, House.  In the early 2000s turntables and a mixer were purchased while soul searching and the madness which is known today as Spike Jonze began.

From this point whether it has been helping promote events, just showing up to events, or playing events, you can usually find Mister Jonze lingering somewhere in the vicinity. A strong supporter of his local scene in Green Bay Appleton and Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Having been a part of GBass, Underground Jaxx, DeepHouseLounge and K-0tic Productions, Spike keeps an open mind with music but does not sacrifice his personal love for a classic sound.

Spike Jonze utilizes a diverse, technical, personalized style to take individual master pieces of music from some of the world's most recognized producers in house and form his own mosaic mixes from house music tastes like Jackin', Jazzy, Swing, Classic, Funk, Tech and Deep and anything else in between that might pleasure your ears Depending on the show or mix, different mediums are utilized to paint the mosaic. Quick beat matching, house beat juggles, deep bass blending and razor cutting are just a few of the skills displayed, all done live, no auto stink, no editing, no cheating! Bottom line, Spike Jonze's sets are full of energy that will make you shuffle your feet and move your body to sounds like trumpets, saxophones, pianos while feeling the pound of funky, bumpy bass lines! 

Influences: The list is endless.  All the guys doing it before me and after me.  So many people are involved in delivering the music that this list will continue to grow for a lifetime.  All the producers who make the music for DJ's like myself to mix together properly, new and old school.  While I appreciate a lot of the new sounds, the following list is just a FEW of my early influences in music:

Mark Farina, Daft Punk, Bassment Jaxx, Derrick Carter,Modjo, Stardust, Paul Johnson, Terry Mullan, Stacy Kidd, Doc Martin, Joey Youngman, Inland Knights, Jason Hodges, DJ Heather, DJ Sneak, DJ Dan, Danny Tenaglia, John Aquaviva, Jake Childs, The Flying Almarias (Mark n Karl), The Sound Republic....The List Can Go On...and On..and On...Just like the music :)

And I would also like to thank all the underground label owners and producers out there who continue to bring the heat TODAY.  If you read this, you know who you are.

**Check out the large diverse "Best of" playlists under the playlist tab!!**

*Specialized in Funky House & Tech House production 

*FlexdeFunk DJ Project includes DJ sets in the following genre's: Electro House, Funky House, Breakbeat & Funk, Trip Hop/Downtempo | Also check "best of" playlists which are being updated consistently. 

*UPDATE: FlexdeFunk ended production and DJ sets in the summer of 2013. The conclusion was reached for several reasons including the general direction of the electronic music scene, the "Funk" genre losing popularity and the fact that there are many funk themed DJ's and producers still abundant to keep the genre alive (check artists like The Basement Freaks, The Funk Hunters, DJ Slynk, Funkanomics, Stickybuds, Featurecast, A-Skillz, DJ Czech, DJ Dan, Ski Tour, Krafty Kuts, Trotter, etc.) and Flex moving onto other goals in life including the creation of a podcast which will be named "Understanding Perception". This podcast should be launched in 2024.

Flex thanks all for the support received over the years from around the world over the last decade. Flex will still update soundcloud with some of the best Funk-themed artists around so feel free to keep updated on the latest by checking this page (see playlists).

Biography:

FlexdeFunk (N Beers) completed his first full studio in 2004. Within a year he released "Just Arriving" a two-disc compilation created for private release only (released in July 2005).  The double-disc release included 28 tracks with genres ranging from House, Breaks to Trip Hop.

From there Flex decided to release singles on various international labels. In 2007 Flex signed to Gene Poole Music (Germany) for his 1st vinyl/mp3 release. It was welcomed into the breaks community, charting on over 4 breakbeat charts within a week.  Soon after FlexdeFunk signed onto Egypt's Purple Edge Records, the UK's New Era Recordings, Shiva Records, Moxi Records, & Canada's JG Records.

Since then Flex has focused on House production and recording the FlexdeFunk DJ Project. This is a massive project to celebrate '10 years of mixing' for FlexdeFunk. The project includes OVER 20 MIXES of hand-picked tracks that Flex has collected over the last 7 years....the best of the best. Genre's will include - Funky House, Electro, Breaks, Funk & Trip Hop/Downtempo blends. The FlexdeFunk will be completed by the fall of 2013 and sets posted (for free download) as they are recorded.  All DJ sets available on www.soundcloud.com/flexdefunk & www.mixcloud.com/flexdefunk 

FlexdeFunk also held a residency @ Yorkville's Famous "Y Not Lounge" every Saturday night for 2 years (10pm-3am, 2008 & 2009) with music ranging from Funk, Breaks, Funky House, Tech House, Electro and Tribal House.  It was always a packed venue and FlexdeFunk was able to change the average "top 40's music fan" into a House music fan by the end of each night.

HEY! I moved out to Hear This and you can find my new mixes and other projects here: https://hearthis.at/j-matthews/

Under the radar but definitely not new to the scene, J Matthews has been DJing since the late 90s at nightclubs and raves throughout the Twin Cities and Boston, MA. Under the moniker “DJ Nickles,” J Matthews rocked out the bangin, jackin, funky, and disco flared house music classics in such iconic venues as First Avenue’s Sunday Night Dance Party, Quest Nightclub, The 90’s nightclub, and various other nightclubs across the Twin Cities. In 2003, J Matthews relocated to Boston, taking on said name, and continued to showcase his talents at high-profile events, including the long-running Bump at the Phoenix Landing in Cambridge, MA. The distinct sounds of the East Coast have further enriched his selection and style, with influences that include Mark Farina, Greenskeepers, No Assembly Firm, The Sound Republic, Troydon, Jason Hodges, Brett Johnson and more. Now J Matthews is back in the 612 and playing with some of the best local and national talent at venues including: Sound Bar, Foundation, First Avenue Nightclub, Caterpillar Lounge, Club Underground, Element Nightclub and more.

"Growing up with a family that has a love for musical expression has certainly helped me to be a DJ. Plus, being a part of the Midwest dance community has taught me so much about this music, and how rich and diverse it can be. I have been graced with the opportunity to have house as a part of my life, and I will never take it for granted." – j matthews 

If persistence and passion is a recipe for success, Nate Laurence (Minneapolis, MN, USA) characterizes the journey. Nate is, of course, the quadruple threat: veteran DJ since 1994, prolific producer, event-coordinator, and label owner.

Nate has always been a DJ first. Once known as DJ Unity – a patron of former Minneapolis RAVE troupe “UNIK Communications” – Nate has labored for his place in house music. A career that developed over the course of a decade – largely behind the scenes – has now become impossible to ignore. Amid absurd energy behind the decks – layered with dexterous turntablism – Nate impresses even the most cynical critics one at a time “leaving wows in his wake.” Today, Nate remains active with gigs reaching as far as Europe, Southern Africa, and throughout the United States. Though national and international bookings keep him busy, in 2009 Nate fulfilled an enduring aspiration and true privilege by becoming a resident DJ at the legendary First Avenue Nightclub in Minneapolis.

After living in his second home of Cape Town, South Africa in 2001, Nate focused on production. Since then, his discog has grown at a reputable pace. With rookie releases on Flatpack Traxx, Funkfield, and Control Recordings, Nate proved his aptitude as a gifted producer. His distinct production style has continued to mature, signing EPs with Spatula City, Guesthouse, Love Network, Onethirty, Mindtravel, and Flapjack Records to name but a few. In 2007, Nate partnered with Chicago-based beatmaker, Scrubfish (Scott Kammer) and together they continue to reach Top100 lists worldwide while each new release continues to outshine subsequent releases.

In 2008 Nate created “HotDish.” HotDish is both a collaborative of DJs (Nate and good friend J Matthews) and an event crew that has become an illustrious house movement in Minneapolis. Finally, in 2011 Nate began a new philanthropic record label, Pluralistic Records. Pluralistic Records releases distinct and unique tracks that cross the boundaries between Chicago, Detroit, disco house, and tech house...or simply, house. 

Notably, Nate (the academic) is also a Social Justice advocate, activist, and educator working at the University of Minnesota. This part of him is infused in his music, his branding, and all that he works to accomplish. Keep your eyes open for this talented and very different househead - who continues to give his all to keep the music fresh and far-reaching.
