I've just returned (and recovered) from attending and performing at a pretty unique dance music event experience -- The Groove Cruise.  What I can only describe as a 3 day non-stop floating festival was a fantastic experience in performing, making new friends, connections and relationships.  AND, I was very fortunate in being chosen to do this out of a very large number of entries for their DJ Contest.  

Thank you so much to ALL OF YOU that supported me in the contest, big thank you's to Jason, Ryan, Rafi, and everyone at Groove Cruise for selecting me as a top 3 finalist, and to the panel of headlining artists that selected me as the winner. Cheers also to my fellow finalists - Josh Letsis, and Nick Papa Giorgio & Kip Chapman -- was a pleasure to make it to the end with them. Also, big thanks to Ronnie and Rabbits Black for the media coverage, swag, and for the great company!

This is the first of two sets that I played on board this massive party vessel, and it was the set that kicked off the night's musical festivities at the Calypso Pool main area.  I shared this stage that night with Morgan Page, EC Twins, and Stellar (of Las Vegas).  Was truly a pleasure to kick things off, and to turn some new people from all over North America on to my sounds.

If you're feeling this, please hit me with a Like / Favorite / Share / Repost / Download (or all of the above)!

Cheers everybody --
--RJ--

RJ Pickens
Live at The Groove Cruise X Los Angeles
Calypso Pool - Thursday, 02 October 2014

Tracklisting
01. RJ Pickens - GCLAX 2K14 Intro
02. Ananda Project - Moment Before Dreaming (Sasha Involv3r Remix - RJ's Edit)
03. Pryda - Backdraft
04. Marc Romboy & Stephen Bodzin - Atlas (RJ Pickens & Hummingbird's Origins Edit)
05. Kyrill & Redford - Dadance (Original Mix)
06. Deadmau5 - The Reward Is Cheese (Fehrplay Remix)
07. Sander Kleinenberg - My Lexicon (Eelke Kleijn Space Mix)
08. Jeremy Olander - Rypamont ft. Garbage (RJ Pickens Milk Bootleg)
09. Groove Armada - History (Still Going Remix - RJ’s Edit)
10. Juan Deminicis - Bedroom Riddles (Original Mix)
11. Pryda - Sol (Original Mix)
12. London Grammar - Hey Now (Sasha Remix)
13. Hot Since 82 - Womb (Original Mix)
14. RJ Pickens - Selva Electrica (Original Mix)
15. Technasia - I Am Somebody (Original Mix - RJ's Edit)
16. Jeremy Olander - Lauderdale (Original Mix)

soundcloud.com/rjpickens
facebook.com/rjpickens
twitter.com/rjpickens1

All tracks are property of the original artists and labels, and this mix is for promotional use only. If you like any of these tracks, please support the artists and purchase them!

RJ Pickens - Live At The Groove Cruise X Los Angeles - Calypso Pool - 02OCT2014

I repost everything I like. Maybe I'll post another DJ set... eventually. 

Techno-focused event series based in Los Angeles (and beyond)

Synthetic: (adj.): devised, arranged, or fabricated for special situations to imitate or replace usual realities

Synthetik Minds is the brainchild techno-only event series based in both Los Angeles and Chicago

For the past 2 decades, RJ Pickens has been a leader in building and growing Chicago’s melodic-driven electronic music scene. With nearly 25 years of DJ experience and tirelessly pursuing the perfect mix of deep, progressive, techno, and house sounds.  He rocks venues ranging from intimate to huge, and can go from being the headliner himself to being the supporting act of choice for countless global headliners on the best club and festival events the Windy City has to offer.  RJ is also a principal collaborator in a recently-launched and acclaimed music act called Portals & Parachutes, taking first flight in post-pandemic 2021.  RJ’s record label and music event banner — VESTED — has become synonymous with top-tier progressive electronic sounds.  Vested Recordings, while a relatively young label still, has seen remarkable support from some of the very best artists in the industry.  The event showcases produced under the Vested brand have been consistently showcasing the finest quality in its music bookings for the last 10 years. 

VESTED:  an adjective that means “to hold something completely, permanently, and inalienably — an unwavering commitment.”  In an electronic music sense, it simply means RJ is really serious about our party music, and his work on all fronts speaks for itself.

If you haven’t yet, tune in and turn it all the way up.

Links
facebook.com/rjpickens
twitter.com/rjpickens1
soundcloud.com/rjpickens
floorcontrolradio.com
facebook.com/vestedchi
soundcloud.com/vestedchi
twitter.com/vestedchi

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Techno
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funky/groovy house