After five days of partying and paneling, I decided to make Saturday friends and family day. Basically, I wanted a chance to chill, relax and hang out with new and old friends and not be pulled in every direction.
Dewight and I started the day having breakfast with Dean Ferguson of Import Express. The Long Island based dance music shop is one of the last places where you can actually buy dance cds and vinyl. I have been buying from him since 1992 (and Dewight since 1993) - yet Dewight had never met him. Over the years, Dean has followed both of our tastes and has always helped us select the right music. The relationship has become personal and he seems more like a gay uncle than a salesman. This kind of relationship, where the recordshop sales guy knows your tastes and pulls a stack of records for you, is something that is missing with online stores. Yes, there are relational databases and you can click and listen to everything, but it seems that personal touch is missing.
After breakfast we met up with Marlon of Velvet Code for some chill time. We met Marlon a few years ago and have been impressed with his career trajectory. Signed to a sublabel of Warner, the Velvet Code debut EP featuring "Trust Fund Girl" is due for release any minute. The Mark Saunders mix of the society girl satire is a cool blend of Basshunter, Bodyrox and Blondie. Enough B's?
Next up was the Glaceau VitaminEnergy suite in the Raleigh Hotel Penthouse. (I think I am spending more time in that room than my own.) I arrived to find a very hipster crowd (the guys wearing the skintight black jeans that look like leggings), enjoying sushi and an open bar while grooving to the tunes of XLR8R editor Vivian Host. I caught up with the IKY guy who thanked me for covering their Ferry Corsten partnership. The IKY line runs from embellished t-shirts to club-friendly long sleeve button downs - all with unique embroidery and studding. Its fun to watch the crowd at places like this because you never who will show up. I saw Steve Aoki and Morgan Page chatting in the corner and a very elegant Michelle Shaprow arrive. I couldn't even start to list all the indie/electro acts in effect - just too many of them.
It was time to head to Nikki Beach for my annual mojito and chill beach vibe. The Hed Kandi party was my scheduled destination and as I was walking down Collins passed FYE, I heard the unmistakable voice of Jason Walker. He was doing an instore promoting his new album Flexible and singing live for 2 hours. That is pretty intense and something that most dance singers wouldn't have the stamina to do. He performed songs from the new cd and even graciously performed my request - "My Life" - a very personal song for me which I find much strength in - "This is where I'm supposed to be, I believe in my destiny" - no better lyrics have ever been sung describing a personal journey. Producer extraordinaire Quentin Harris walked in and I was truly excited to meet him -- his work with Jason and Monique Bingham ("Poor People") have been personal favorites. This is what's great about WMC - you never know who you are going to run into.
