Instead of writing another “How Amazing Was Detroit and the Boat Party” (which by the way was ridiculous), I thought I’d leave that to experts at RV and tell you a bit more about my history.

For those who recognize the title of this thread, you’ll remember my first mix compilation that I released back in late 2004. For those who this is new info too, you’ll get a deeper understanding of where I came from and another one of the random steps that my career took to get where it is today. I’ve broken this out in two parts as I know it’s tough to stay focused on a long blog post.

It was late 2001 and the mood was somber in NY; people weren’t going out, they were afraid, and sad from 9/11. To try and lighten the mood and to provide an outlet for friends to get together, I had decided to throw a few parties at a bar named Tiki Room. I had met the owner, Eddie Dean (who now owns Pacha in NY) through a mutual friend and after a few parties, I ended up working more closely with him in his new venture, which was opening up a nightclub in Manhattan named Discotheque.  At the same time, I was working Sunday’s at my friend’s online record shop in Queens, named Globalbeats.com encoding clips of new releases (I tell you this because I was trying to find any means necessary to stay close to the music, and begin to learn about the business side of things, no matter how small.  The record shop is also where I was first exposed to minimal techno and techno, although at the time, I didn’t really know what it was)  But working with Eddie and Discotheque was the real moment I went from being a fan to learning about the business side of things within the club industry.  I worked hard and with some luck, I managed to run a weekly Thursday party for six months which included booking like Craig Richards and James Zabiela’s second gig in NY was playing for me (His first gig was touring with Sasha on his Airdrawndagger Tour, and I remember picking him up from the airport and eating pizza in my apartment in Brooklyn before the gig.)  I fondly remember just how hard it was to run a weekly party in NYC – it left me a bit jaded with the highs of hosting a great party through the sky, and the lows feeling more lonely than anything.   It consumed my life, as I let it, not realizing that in order to have longevity, you have to have your health (mental, physical and spiritual), support from family and to always remember why you are doing this in the first place.  To this day, I give all the credit in the world to all the promoters who host parties every week, it’s a tough task and not everyone can do it.

But the night wasn’t to last, and eventually Erick Morillo moved his Subliminal Sessions Thursday party from Shelter over to us. I saw myself being used less and less, and eventually I moved on and began to host a Wednesday night party in Brooklyn, at a lounge named Boogaloo. The first DJs to play with me were Nick AC and Dennis Rodger of Robots fame (Robots hadn’t started yet) along with friend Eric Andrew. Eventually Nick and Dennis began Robots and I was focused on Boogaloo. It was grungy spot in, some would say shady (but I say it had character!) the south Williamsburg neighborhood just below the Marcy Ave subway stop. I was still in contact with a few DJs including Craig Richards, and I was able to confirm him and Lee Burridge as Tyrant, on a Wednesday night would play at Boogaloo. The party was fantastic with an amazing vibe, and it was soon after in conversations with the owner, we decided to release a CD indicative of the music and vibe the venue our parties were known for…..

PART TWO Coming soon…..