Ooop! We made it to our 10th Gimme A Mixtape! 
No one better to serve us this milestone than one of our absolute favorite selectors in New Orleans, Heavy Pleasure.

Kahelelani Mahone AKA Heavy Pleasure grew up on their peoples land of O’ahu on the Windward side of the island until they were 9, when their family relocated to the Pacific Northwest (about 30 min outside of Seattle, on Muckleshoot land). They spent the following 26 years in Washington, with the last 12 being in the city of Seattle on Duwamish land, before making their way to New Orleans where they've been breaking hearts and blowing the roof off of every party they turn.

"I got into dance music / djing cuz I’m an opinionated bitch who wanted to have some control over sound vibes lol. I come from a family where music has been a focal point for generations. It’s also been a tether to our ancestors, our history, and our culture. As far back as I can remember, the power of music coupled with togetherness has been impacting my life. Djing (especially within queer & trans community) has allowed me to continue this legacy in reimagined ways".

Enjoy this exquisitely sexy mixtape from our biggest crush Heavy Pleasure!

Gimme A Mixtape 010 - Heavy Pleasure

Mr. Legwork is a DJ, Producer, and record collector based in New Orleans, LA by way of Texas. He's responsible for what might be the most genius or the most insane party in New Orleans, Never 2 Much. Never 2 Much tackles the time slot of 4AM - 10AM at Poorboys bar every Saturday and while it might seem like a daunting task, it brilliantly serves the all night creatures searching for a safe haven to let it all out, all night long, resembling one of Berlin's XXL functions in that it appears to never stop turning up with no last call. Mr Legwork has a broad range and great taste. Enjoy this journey of a mix that takes us from breezy fun house into overdrive techno and back down for a safe and comfortable landing to round it out.

Gimme A Mixtape 011 - Mr. Legwork

GIMME A HAM SANDWICH!

For our 12th mixtape we hit the deli, kinda. DJ Ham Sandwich has exceptional taste and a dusty thumb when it comes to digging real deep for super interesting and obscure dance music. She's honed her skill and built an incredible library by fostering her weekly radio show on WTUL every Saturday that she shares with DJ Asics. Born and bred Uptown New Orleans girl, we're obsessed with all things Ham Sandwich. Enjoy this breezy, emotional, and super fun mixtape from DJ Ham Sandwich!

GIMME A MIXTAPE 012 - DJ HAM SANDWICH

Ximena is a budding New Orleans DJ by way of Dallas, TX, who was introduced to proper club music on their year studying abroad and attending warehouse parties and raves in the Netherlands. They are part of a hot new collective of thoughtful and passionate selectors making waves in the city called For The Record. @ftr_nola

Buckle up for this wild and eclectic journey they gifted us with to kick off summer. Enjoi! @menagarcia6

GIMME A MIXTAPE 013 -  XIMENA

"As a Black person, dance music was already built into my DNA before I even came out the womb. As a kid coming up in the late 90s/y2k, I remember hearing house remixes and amen breaks and dubs and just being so enamored by it all but not necessarily having a name or container for any of it. I fell in love with the subliminal fluidity of dance music and how it seamlessly seeped into my soul and body, evoking esoteric emotions and mindless movement in my muscles.
I've always viewed DJs as alchemists and wanted to dip my fingers into the craft! I started off by downloading a DJ app on my phone and began blending songs together. A little later, I received a lil party DJ controller for my birthday and started messing around with that for a couple of years. Then in 2017, I met Ryan, Teamer, and Brandon who were organizing Deep Cuts and looking for a second DJ for the afterparty and just asked me if I wanted to do it and I was like uhhh ok!! It took off from there and I've been DJing since"! - H3LLNAH

We are so honored to have such a gem make such a great mixtape of dance music from their perspective for us. Enjoy. @DJH3LLNAH

Gimme A Mixtape 014 - H3LLNAH

If you've met Bezaleel then you know that smile and laugh. He brings positive energy to everything he touches. Passionate about nightlife, producing music, and DJing he resides in New Orleans, by way of Barranquilla/Colombia.

We're so pleased with his psychedelic and pumping contribution to the series. Check out @carlosorfale!!

Gimme A Mixtape 015 - Bezaleel

@marcus-lott-2

Marcus Lott does not disappoint  with this rager of a Techno mixtape recorded live at Techno Club collective's New Years Eve party of which he is affiliated. Contrasting this pumping and at times menacing mix is Marcus's sweet nature and warm smile. Pensacola, FL native, Marcus found his home on the welcoming and unpretentious dance floors of New Orleans where he soon found himself behind the booth. He's now extended his Techno family to cities far and wide and we can see why with this mixtape. Enjoy an hour of what he has to offer and don't miss that neck snapping Curtis Mayfield remix to close it out!

Gimme a Mixtape 017 - Marcus Lott

QBABY is a New Orleans legend. Born and raised in New Orleans, Q got his started writing raps at 12, making beats at 16, and recording at age 18 before becoming a regular DJ at the infamous St. Roch Bounce Nights. His interests and talents soon broadened to span many genres including House music, which you'll find in this banging mix, bringing his own flavor to every moment of it. QBABY is beloved by his city and anyone that meets him and we're so excited to have him on the mixtape series.

Gimme a Mixtape 018 - QBABY

Bangladesh born, Baton Rouge raised virtue_signal is no stranger on the New Orleans' dance floors and DJ booths. We've watched him grow from nightlife blogger/DJ manager to talented producer and DJ the past 5 years as well as his contributions to For The Record party crew and weekly DJ incubator/meet up System, which facilitates proper DJ equipment and guidance to anyone wanting to learn to DJ or hear their tracks on a club sound system with local DJ Redance. We're a huge fan. Known for skillfully mixing italo, EBM, electro and beyond, he treated us by going back to his roots of House music for this mixtape and we absolutely love it. You will too. Enjoy @virtue_signal

Gimme A Mixtape 019 - virtue_signal

DJ Ruby grew up on the Alabama Gulf Coast before heading to New Orleans to do some learning and became a beloved DJ at WTUL where they found mentors and home in New Orleans' vinyl scene. They now reside in Brooklyn, NY where they are a regular at Jupiter Disco and have a bi-weekly radio show on KPISS.fm radio. Their mixtape contribution is loaded with charm and boogie and we're so thrilled to share it with you. @DJrubymusic

Gimme A Mixtape 020 - DJ Ruby

Eden is a New Orleans DJ and musician, and we're kinda obsessed. She exudes love and goodness in a time when we all need it most. After playing synth in a metal band and experiencing dance music mostly in her headphones she finally discovered the magic and catharsis of a dance-floor which lead her to DJing and we're so happy for that. Resident in New Orleans' rave collective Noise Floor and with interests in bass, house, techno, and garage, Eden seems to really pour her soul into what she does and you can feel it. Enjoy this hour of expertly blended tunes and be on the look out for her. She's special.
@ed3ndj
@noisefloorno

Gimme A Mixtape 021 - Eden

When you’re in Fùnké’s presence both inside and outside of the DJ booth, you can feel how beautifully powerful her intention and energy is. New Orleans local by way of Memphis, she plays host to International DJ acts of the African Diaspora with Idapo: “A Spiritual Activation through Dance and Fellowship”. 

She's blessed us with her signature brew of hypnotic, deep, Afro House and some departures into the techno realm for this incredible mixtape offering. Enjoy!

Gimme a Mixtape 022 - Fùnké

Bad Behavior is a New Orleans babe by way of Washington DC. He's a dance-floor junkie and deep music digger finding his comfort zone in the spaces between genres, searching for those hip movers and brain tinglers. His curiosity is exemplified wonderfully in his incredible mixtape offering. He's a prime example of the amazing dance music talent that lays their head in New Orleans and we're thrilled to play host to this absolute treat of a mix. Enjoy
@bad-behavior-junior

Gimme A Mixtape 023 - Bad Behavior

DJ Kelly Green is a force. A fierce and treasured force in New Orleans nightlife. Wether she's pulling up to the function in a green lowrider, setting the vibes at the chicest hotel lobbies, or turning the best nightclubs all the way out, she's doing it with grace, style, skill, and confidence. A musician since the age of 6, she started with piano and later played violin and cello in the orchestra for 12 years. She turned to DJing at age 16, using turntables as another instrument to spread her love and heart to dance floors everywhere. Needless to say we love Kelly Green and we're so excited to share this absolutely gorgeous Mixtape with you. @DJkellygreen

Gimme A Mixtape 024 - DJ Kelly Green

Bad Behavior is a Brazilian-American speaker-freaker turned DJ based in the swamps of New Orleans by way of Washington DC. Lover of all sounds, Bad Behavior’s selections gravitate toward the deep and psychedelic intersections of Midwestern techno, UK bass, extraterrestrial electro and IDM. Bad Behavior has found a home within the late night crowds of the Crescent City as a resident and co-founder of Lizard People of New Orleans - a party where the sonic palette centers around the unhinged, leftfield, squelchy and dubby sounds for the nocturnal freaks.

This live mix from Bad Behavior was plucked straight from 3am-5am on March 29 at Poor Boys Bar for our monthly Gimme A Reason party. He slapped us all upside the head with his highly creative and skilled use of the CDJs and mixer as instruments to bend tempo and genre into a perfectly wild and varied, yet incredibly tasteful and seamless mix of dance music from across the spectrum. It is a treat to host this mix as a debut to our new series of releases of live recordings from the party. An archive of the magical artifacts that are produced in the nightclub.

TRACKLIST
1. Free Palestine (Country Dude) - C Powers “Ms Mix”
2. Stairfoot Lane Bunker (Minor Science Remix) - Special Request
3. Itz Crack - Traxman
4. Go Ahead London - Radioactive Man
5. The Horse Track - Maara
6. DIAGONAL (Original Dub) - RHR & LOGAN_OLM
7. Tevora - GiGi FM
8. escape rope - Bluetoof
9. Fundamentals - Wordcolour
10. We Like To Party! (The Vengabus) - Vengaboys
11. Comportment - Decoder
12. Diamond Dub - LUXE
13. You Smell That, Marsha? - Mosca
14. Transfer All - Love Letters
15. What You Didn’t Hear - Mutual Identities
16. Lil Amam Sir - Tomba
17. Flip Trix - Pugilist
18. Shen Wai Shenfa - Polygonia
19. Take Me Back - Mystic Bill
20. Muster - Cousin
21. A1 (Fringe White EP) - Lurka & Batu
22. That’s Enough Now - CLJL & Jamie Leather
23. Tell Me - rrao
24. Lump - James Holden
25. Theme From Q - Objekt
26. Going Back - otodojo
27. Nyctinasty - Abby Echiverri
28. Diaspora Cocktail - Sepehr
29. Liquid - Tristan Arp
30. Marconi Beach - Slono
31. Lean Forward (Pugilist Remix) - Customer Service
32. Attentive Vision - otodojo
33. Distant Disco - Acidbat
34. Planet ft. RHR - Danny Daze
35. Rockpool Pool Party - Iglew
36. Baianá - Barbatuques
37. Raining Heart - The Raining Heart
38. Nights - Frank Ocean

Bad Behavior Live at Gimme A Reason

@bezier live at Gimme A Reason in New Orleans March 29, 2024 1AM - 3AM Poorboys Bar.

BéZIER live at Gimme A Reason

Opening set from @bouffant-bouffant at Gimme A Reason August 24, 2024 at Poor Boys Bar in New Orleans.

Bouffant Bouffant Live at Gimme A Reason

@tristandufrene delivering an absolutely unforgettable witching hour set at Gimme a Reason on August 24, 2024 at Poorboys Bar.

Tristan Dufrene Live at Gimme A Reason

Bezaleel( @carlosorfale ) recorded live at Gimme A Reason, May 24, 2024.

Bezaleel Live at Gimme A Reason

Gimme a Mixtape is a DJ mix series by the long running queer party Gimme a Reason. 

Kicking off the series we have Phlegm.(@mynameisphlegm) Born and raised in New Orleans, Phlegm is a DJ, visual artist, and educator. And he does it all well. He packs this mix to the brim with cunty house classics while self proclaiming to be the "only child of the Legendary House of Babygirl". And he is.

Gimme A Mixtape 001 Phlegm

Lady Lavender (@ladylavendersound )is a New Orleans DJ by way of Southern California. She's part of For The Record, one of New Orleans' newest and most dedicated party starting crews of young DJs. While the influence of her dad's 90s dance music compilations are obvious, her taste is fun and refreshing both  musically and personally.

Gimme A Mixtape 002 Lady Lavender

Born in Venezuela but as you may be able to sniff out out from this blistering, eclectic, and  bass heavy mix, Xivix(@xivixmusic)  got his first taste of night life and raving in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale well before he even had a drivers license. He's head honcho at one of New Orleans' ragiest functions called...Function and a co-agitator at System. System is  a weekly, community driven meet up, and incubator that offers open decks in a club setting for any aspiring DJs to practice on club standard equipment and for producers to showcase what they're working on and to receive feedback from their peers. Don't sleep on the talent brewing in New Orleans' System. Be on the look out for his upcoming EP Urgent coming out on New York's Get Up Recordings June 22, 2020.

Gimme A Mixtape 003 Xivix

Our baby Speed Queen of the south, Idalia(@eye_dalia) gave us a mixtape! Her energy can light up any corner of the dance floor, where we found her dancing her ass off, seemingly at EVERY good dance floor in New Orleans or anywhere.  We love her unbridled passion for fast dance music and we were delighted to see her easy transition from one side of the DJ booth to the other here in New Orleans. 

In her words,
"I got into dance music at a very young age because it was a way for me to create my own identity in an immigrant household. it was something different, it was a way for me to escape the pressures of being a picture perfect 1st generation born. That’s not the life I wanted. I remember being 9 or 10 and listening to Binary Finary’s 1998 on my Walkman and just zoning out feeling at ease, and just imagining myself at a club or something. Dance music with its culture & political roots has empowered me as a POC womxn with an alternative lifestyle and being surrounded in a community with like-minded individuals is what keeps me in dance music. being able to curate a musical experience for someone else to dance freely to, to take them on a journey or to empower them, is what keeps me grounded in dance music".

Gimme A Mixtape 005 Idalia

If you've never seen DJ Heelturn play then you must not party East of Canal St. A stylish babe with a flavor his own, Heelturn is a work horse DJ while not compromising any taste points. 

He's a hometown boy growing up on the Westbank and spending his weekends in the city before relocating to New Orleans proper. 

When asked how he got into dance music and DJing:
- "I've always made playlists and small mixtapes for friends and myself but started seriously DJing when I joined WTUL back in 2015. From there I started digging deeper into the Stacks and found myself enjoying whatever dance record I put on more and more each time I entered the station. That was how I got into stuff like Moodymann and Todd Terje and would end up dancing in the studio before the next DJ would have to come in. From a desire to wanting to play those records in New Orleans, since I would rarely hear them while going out at the time outside of like the Saint, and with people asking me to do gigs and DJ live, it became a common thing and I haven't stopped since".

With this mixtape he takes you on a soulful percussive journey for a solid hour of good music. Enjoy DJ Heelturn.

Gimme A Mixtape 006 DJ Heelturn

We're willing to put all the coins on the line to bet that no one has ever encountered Dreamer, be it personally or as a DJ, and not been totally enamored with her kind, sweet nature, or her utterly charming approach to DJing. 

Something we find shared among New Orleans selectors is they are party time DJs. Leave the chin scratching elitist BS at home because sugar we're here to turn up. Dreamer is no exception. A hometown girl, she grew up in chilly Gentilly neighborhood with some dips in and out until recently to pursue her MFA in painting at Yale. The talent spews. 

"In 2014 I was listening to all these amazing female rappers and I was annoyed that I wouldn’t hear them played at parties. So I decided to become a DJ so that I could play all female rappers. When I was first learning to DJ there was a moment when I mixed Sissy Nobby with Crystal Castles and I was like... 'DJing is magic.'"

ENJOY! DREAMER @ATEAMER

Gimme A Mixtape 008 Dreamer

NILE ASHTON IS A DARLING.
Period.

Nile has worked his way into New Orleans' DJ booths and hearts with his considered style and sweet demeanor, but we stay for his energetic and jacky  DJ sets. And this mixtape is no different. Touching on the classics with ravey pianos, RnB vocals, bassy numbers, and some break moments; it's safe to say he did the damn thing!

A New Orleans local by way of North Carolina, Nile is 1/2 of Secret Handshake, a duo with GAT Alumni Lady Lavender. We look forward to keeping an eye on what they have up their sleeve for the future. 

Enjoy this fantastic mix from Nile Ashton!
@nileashton

Gimme A Reason 009 - Nile Ashton

Gimme A Mixtape is a DJ mix series by long running New Orleans Queer dance party Gimme A Reason hosted by Bouffant Bouffant.

Gimme A Mixtape

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