Miss Raquel’s Poppycock
Miss Raquel is Chief Scenester at Scenester Magazine/Scenester Radio but to some she’s the Scene Queen or Queen of the Dancefloor. To herself, she’s just a girl who loves her music and likes to rock out to it. She’s a VJ on bpm:tv’s 'electronica' where she writes and co-produces the show.
Miss Raquel has a lot to say on club culture and this is her rants, her raves and overall opinionated self.
My Valentine’s sucked! That’s right my man didn’t get me anything! But than again many straight guys just don’t get Valentine’s Day. All I wanted was a card, a box of chocolates, or flowers. Even a “Happy Valentine’s Day” would’ve have sufficed.
To be honest who am I kidding I didn’t come home till 3:30pm on the 14th after my events I had to host at, and chillin with my friends. So, in his defense I may not have gotten me anything either.
What didn’t suck were the Valentine events. The Scenester Showdown at The Barn on the 12th was great! Jamal had the DJ booth set up on the dancefloor on the main floor of the venue which makes for far better interaction with the DJ.
I’ve seen one laptop set up during a set, maybe two while the next DJ is setting up, but never three alongside two CDJs, seriously! That’s a mad set up. Word on the dancefloor was that DJTK was the Showdown hands down!
And let me mention the sweet gift bag for the winner, Johnny T. He sure got a lot of goodies to make his Valentine’s complete alone or with that special someone courtesy of Stag Shop.
CiRCA’s “Love, Sex & Magic” was also great. Damn! My Scenester Radio producer and BFF gave me chocolates and even CiRCA brought tasty chocolate, strawberry treats to our table.
Joe Ghost who opened for Behrouz and Addy totally got me; his beats were bumpy and awesome. Yet I didn’t get a chance to see him. Hence the Ghost maybe?
All was good till the fire alarm went off. That’s right around 3am just as we were headed to the DJ booth area to get our dance on, the music shut off and firemen came in. Yes some were hot (no pun intended), but since it would be a bit for them to sort this fire thing out in a venue the size of CiRCA we decided to call it a night and head back to the studio.
My Valentine’s had no spark, and ended in a false alarm. Good times!
Now that it’s over I move into March hoping for warmer weather and some crazy parties upon us. I’ll be a host at Deko-ze’s birthday at Footwork on March 5th with Adam K and Mark Falco also on the bill.
March 6th is DJ Bliss’s “Elevate 1-year Anniversary” at LOL Lounge with Addy, DJ Saeed, Matt Gracie and more…
Let’s not forget infamous JaXx HouZe 9 – The Enchanted Tribal Platoon will detonate April 2010. Talk about sexy men in army fatigues gyrating to tribal house. Yummy!
For guestlist for any of these events please email guestlist@scenestermagazine.com.
See you on the dancefloor!
Here we go with traditional Valentine’s Day and the somewhat new Family Day holiday upon us. I remember my first Family Day weekend it was when I was a host at the infamous Comfort Zone and it was just after the overly publicized Project White Rabbit raid. The club was so empty and clean I could actually smell bleach, yet it was great to be in that place only with those who genuinely loved the music and weren’t there for any other reason.
Three years later I’ll be celebrating this holiday with a buffet of beats with what will be packed dance floors, with music supplied by some of Toronto’s finest, and one American finest, Behrouz at CiRCA.
First up is The Scenester Showdown Friday February 12th at The Barn featuring four of The Village’s favourite DJs all battling it out on the decks; Jamal vs. Jeff Kirkwood vs. Rhubix vs. DJTK. It’s free till 12am and only $5 after. You can’t get a better Valentine’s deal than this!
And if you’re into winning sexy, luscious prizes Scenester is holding a contest to win a Valentine’s Day prize bag filled with sweet treats courtesy of Stag Shop, Scenester Magazine, The Barn and Hype energy drink. (Here’s how to enter). Maybe for some this might be the only chance of getting a Valentine’s Day gift.
I’ll only be getting a box of chocolates from one of my BFFs, and that’s cuz we already planned on buying each other a box of chocolates. Let’s face it, it’s really it’s an excuse to have chocolate!
Its time for some Love, Sex & Magic at CiRCA on Saturday February 13th with Behrouz and Toronto’s deep beat devil DJ Addy. Also on the bill are Chris Fresque and Joe Ghost.
Advance tickets are only $20 with guestlist being $25. For tickets or guestlist you can contact Scenester at guestlist@scenestermagazine.com.
As I wrote this I was trying to think of my most memorable Valentine’s Day and I have to say it was with another one of my BFFs. It was about four or five years ago. We left Comfort Zone on Valentine’s Day in the evening, her with a shiny glass decorative figurine her boyfriend bought her that lit up when she put it together showcasing a glass statue couple in the middle of it. Yes it was intricate and different, yet somehow strangely lovely.
I on the other hand had a rose my boyfriend gave me earlier in the day which by this time was wilted and crunchy. My BFF and I ended our sad Valentine’s Day with each other (no boyfriends they were bouncers and had to work) taking our somewhat paltry gifts back to her place, but not before buying a pint each of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
I don’t know about you but I find it fascinating how everyone, well almost everyone you see on the street, on the subway, walking, running all have on a white pair of ear buds hanging from their ears; you know they’re listing to an iPod.
What wonderful branding this is, if only you or I were reaping the financial benefits of this musical invention. Nonetheless it’s bringing music of all genres, cultures, likes and dislikes to the forefront. I have to admit I love to see people plugged in and enjoying their simple pleasure; music.
Mind you getting from conception to execution, hence your ears isn’t an easy musical production feat by any measure, but seeing someone tap their foot, doing the 4 by 4 head nod is awesome to me.
Nothing pleases, uplifts, sets, creates kills, saddens, and heightens the mood than music to our ears.
When you’re in a club you have no choice to but to listen to what is put forth upon you, but with your own mobile club you control the DJ with no overhead. How awesome is that?
I find when I’m upset, anxious, tired, happy or mad if I put on my iPod shuffle all is OK. Wow! Isn’t that an ad right there, but it’s true. I feel ten times better than I did before I plugged in.
You can subscribe to your Podcasts, buy your tracks (cuz you know you should!) and voila! There you have it; your perfect mobile club created for you, by you.
I’ve seen people inside a club wearing their pearly white buds, to this I question, “Why are you here? But to each his own.
The next time you’re plugged in and feel the need to tap your foot, nod your head go right ahead. Music is a universal language, and it’s something we all understand. No one will think anything of you except that you really like the track tickling your ears…and they’ll wonder just what it is!
Lets face it Facebook is a great invention. I can only imagine for record labels, night clubs and promoters how this social network has worked greatly for them, and also worked as a royal pain the neck.
Before Facebook I insisted on DJs/producers to mail me a demo which included a disc with artwork on its face enclosed in a jewel case with proper design illustrating the artist’s sound, personality by way of colour and/or design. If it looked appealing it then made me want to slide into my player to hear what the visual sounded like. Thus creating intrigue for the artist who produced it.
Move to now to 2010 I receive (and I’m sure many of you do as well) links in my private Facebook inbox to so many DJs mixes. Before I go any further let me emphasize the astronomical amount of links I receive of what I call “nameless: links to a DJ’s latest mix. Don’t get me wrong I appreciate the drive and enthusiasm. I don’t however appreciate the laziness behind it.
By this I mean a link with no description, no story. Just a link.
I’m not a label owner, or work for Sony, or nor am I the biggest, baddest booking agent in this country, but then again who is? Yet I do have pull, but I’m not going to push anyone who sends me just a link to my Facebook inbox. Plain and simple, I’m not. Call me a bitch, call me an asshole. Call me a scene destroyer, but than again you should know better.
I love music (obviously) and I love receiving it. Unlike the label heads or some music critics I’m much kinder and don’t receive the pay cheques they receive. Therefore I’m open to new talent and new sounds. All I ask is to be PROFESSIONAL!
Sorry, just because you can illegally download a software program, or 
can mix like no other due to the many post production software programs out there, does not mean you can hold a crowd of 50, let alone 2000! Or that anyone will download and listen to your Facebook link and know who you are. Because many of those who blindly send these links never within their mix announce who the mix is by. Seriously in this day and age a DJ can’t announce their name during intervals throughout the mix? Guess that’s why they end up forgotten or worse yet deleted from potential’s listener’s playlists, too bad.
Remember Facebook is a ‘social network’ not a ‘find a job’, ‘book me’, ‘add me to you roster’ network.
Please stop sending me links with no presentation. Statistically they’re not downloaded as much as you think.
Here’s an example. You receive a piece of junk mail in your mailbox. Yes another piece of junk (which costs far more than your mix). Yet the image on the envelope is enticing to you. It’s full of the colours you like and has an image you can’t help but stare at wondering whats it all about. So you open it.
Whether the outcome is successful or not the point is it was inspiring, opened and read. Thus targeted to you!
Yes the demographics, the market audience all hold true no matter the industry. So, before you decide to send me a private message (or post a link on my Wall) on Facebook to what you think is an awesome mix. Think before you click Send.
Give me and others a reason to listen. Do something different.
As we descend from ‘09 I’d like to recall some of those whom brought musical joy to our electronica music scene and beyond.
PHOTO: Ryan Parks
Evil P was the most recent passing of one of Toronto’s forerunners of the electronic underground music scene in Toronto. Patryk a.k.a. Evil P’s demise came at 9:15pm on Tuesday Dec 23 at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital due to a long battle with Alcohol.
As I mentioned in my last Poppycock! R.I.P. Evil P I interviewed him for a DJ Report in issue 3 of Scenester Magazine when it was in print. In my DJ Report one of the many things I asked him was what was one of his favourite tracks of all time? He replied, “Guns & Roses “November Rain”. Why? I asked. He said, “The song’s ability to make you feel a wide range of emotions in less than 10 minutes.”
When reading the last two paragraphs of the DJ Report it now appears so foreshadowing.
I’ll always remember dancing with my BFF, Erin to Evil P’s dark beats on the dance floors of System Soundbar and Comfort Zone.
Evil P – R.I.P. my decknician.
Brittany Murphy “…was an incredibly loving and passionate person and an artist to her core – she loved acting, singing, dancing and performing” – her family. She died on Sunday Dec. 20, aged 32, at her Los Angeles home.
She may not be an exclusive electronic artist but she did a great job on Paul Oakenfold’s “Faster Kill Pussycat”. I remember playing this video on my show “electronica” on bpm:tv and trying to sneak into as many episodes as I could!
She was laid to rest on Christmas Eve in a twilight ceremony at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills. Her husband, Simon Monjack, gave a eulogy in which he described her as his best friend and “soul mate”.
Brittany Murphy, was in many films including, “Clueless”, “8 Mile” and the wicked “Sin City” to name a few. She collapsed at her home on Dec 20 in the morning. She was pronounced dead two hours later.
Ten different prescription drugs were found at the house and toxicology results are awaited. There’s no suspicion of foul play but the cause of death remains unknown.
Murphy’s husband has denied rumours the death was linked to drugs or eating disorders.
“These rumours that she was anorexic? It’s crazy. She was slim, but that was her natural physique,” he told People Magazine.
R.I.P. My film beauty.
DJ AM was found dead of an apparent drug overdose inside his Manhattan apartment Friday August 28 at approx 5:20pm.
DJ AM a.k.a. Adam Goldstein, was discovered surrounded by drug paraphernalia inside his $2 million Tribeca pad.
AM narrowly escaped death when a plane he was riding in skidded off of a South Carolina runway and burst into flames.
Some may know of DJ AM as Nicole Richie’s boyfriend, but to others he was one of the most heavily booked DJs in 2009 playing every venue around the world, including the Playboy Mansion to right here in Toronto at The Guvernment.
I have always found AM very interesting for all he had encountered in his life.
R.I.P. DJ AM. My musical laptopnician.
Michael Jackson is an artist I wrote about in Poppycock! Entitled “Fearlessness”. This was probably the biggest musical shocker to date for my generation.
After his death you could hear nothing but Jackson originals, remixes and bootlegs across the many dancefloors. And you still do, and let’s be honest you always will. So whether you liked him or not you’re stuck with hearing his music till you longer can hear.
R.I.P. My inspiration.
As we move forth into 2010 let music be in our hearts and goodness in our souls. And treasure each moment; musical or otherwise because you never know when or if it will happen again.
And check out my Top 10 Beatport Drops Chart.
Thanks to Shaun Proulx for the wonderful beltolicious gift!
Thanks to you for reading Poppycock! Yes even all you haters who’ve read this far! LOL!
See you on the dancefloor!
This is a festive time of year and a time for giving and remembering.
At Scenester’s Christmas Party we proudly donated 250 lbs of food to The Daily Bread Food Bank. I have to thank all staff, affiliates (GayGuideToronto.com & Shaun Proulx), advertisers and friends for helping make Scenester what it is today.
The DJs Who Stole Christmas…Again! At Toronto’s Footwork was off the hook and the DJ who stole it was Paranoid Jack. Wow! Such great ear candy!
New Year’s Day (NYD) is fast approaching, and to think some only feel New Year’s Eve is the time to party! Steve Lawler hits the CiRCA decks in the main room along with alongside:
Nevio , Michaelangelo, Nick Golden & Mike Dubb. Doors, 10pm – 8am Jan 1, 2010.
Lawler is labeled as a forward thinking, groundbreaking Pioneering DJ/artist. Wow! Talk about a great way to bring in 2010 with a hard bang! And if you want to go I suggest getting your tickets now for only $30.
Please email guestlist@scenestermagazine.com by 2pm Dec. 31, 2009.
PHOTO: Ryan Parks
As I head out till the next decade starts recent news came to me of DJ Evil P’s death. He passed away at 9:15pm Tuesday Dec 23 at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital due to a long battle with Alcohol.
I interviewed him for a DJ Report in issue 3 of Scenester Magazine when it was in print. If you’re lucky to have this collectors copy take a re-read and refresh yourself as to why he was a good DJ to hear. He brought it to the decks time and time again.
In my DJ Report I asked him what is one of your favourite tracks of all time. He replied, “Guns & Roses – “November Rain”.
Why?
“The songs ability to make you feel a wide range of emotions in less than 10 minutes.”
Patryk I’ll always remember your beats as danced to them upon System Soundbar’s and Comfort Zone’s floor.
Evil P – R.I.P.
See you on the dancefloor!
With all the parties going on and so much to be a part of this year I’ve decided to do things a bit different. I’ve decided to host only a select couple of events of which I’ve been asked to host. For the first time I even had to turn down one due to another club asking me first.
The one party anyone who is a true house-head and Deko-ze fan should attend is his “The DJs Who Stole Christmas…Again?” This marks pt. 2 to this series and it takes place on Friday December 18th at Toronto’s Footwork.
I host many of Deko-ze’s events and have done so for the past 6 years, and aside from the Mayhem events (God! They were great!) We did, “The DJs Who Stole Christmas” is a true festive event. What other DJ do you know dresses a Santa? I too will once again wear my Santa outfit courtesy of my sponsor Stag Shop.
What makes this year’s event so special is the line-up Deko-ze pulled out of his Santa bag; Kenny Glasgow, Paranoid Jack, Tim Patrick and new up and comer, Chris Ink.
Deko-ze isn’t called “Canada’s hardest working DJ” for nothing! He’s a bright shining star within Canada’s scene and is one of our greatest producers. He had his first residency in ’91 at a gay venue in Saskatoon called Numbers (later Divas) to now maintaining residencies in: Vancouver, BC; Victoria, BC; Calgary, AB; London, ON; Niagara Falls, ON; Montreal, PQ; St. John’s, NF. He’s signed to a multi-year artist/producer development deal with Hi-Bias Records and most notably known for his energetic and charismatic stage presence, engaging personality, strong technical skills, and original approach to programming which has uniquely cultivated a huge following in both the gay and straight scenes.
Mr. Kenny Glasgow is the epitome of classic cool. He’s a Canadian icon. A pioneer. And a major contributor to the culture and movement that is house music.
And yes you read it right Paranoid Jack will hit the decks in front of a massive festive crowd all eagerly awaiting every “Jack” beat that they’ve longed to hear for the past several years.
Tim Patrick is the type of producer who’s guaranteed to immerse you on the dancefloor by his delicate mixing strategies. He was Toronto’s eye weekly #1 House DJs 3-years running. His reputation is as one of Canada’s most skillful DJs.
Chris Ink is a fast riser within Toronto’s electronic music scene who supports, excites and impresses many with his deck presence.
I simply had to plug this mad event not only cuz it’s my favourite of the year, but there’s nothing of its kind which happens at this time of year.
Then on New Year’s Day (NYD), and to think some only feel New Year’s Eve is the time to party! Steve Lawler rocks the decks at CiRCA. Lawler is labeled as a forward thinking, groundbreaking Pioneering DJ/artist. Wow! Talk about a great way to bring in 2010 with a hard bang!
“The DJs Who Stole Christmas…Again?” Guestlist please email guestlist@scenestermagazine.com by 8:30pm Dec. 18, 2009.
Steve Lawler Early Bird tickets ($30) at CiRCA on NYD please email guestlist@scenestermagazine.com by 2pm Dec. 31, 2009.
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Listen to something different, Scenester Radio; pick an episode, download and listen how you want, when you want, where you want. This week is The Miss Raquel & Cam Maxwell Show: Ageless in the Scene.
See you on the dancefloor!
Jennifer Finjan, editor-in-chief of Alternavox recently interviewed me on Scenester Magazine, Scenester Radio, bpm:tv and Toronto’s electronic music scene.
Jennifer is a mother to two teenagers; loves her iPod (who can blame her there!); house and trance music; metrosexuals. Dislikes mean people; gossip; conceited people; stalkers; haters hot n’ cold types; fakes; name droppers; liars; sink-eye givers.
Yes, I feel honoured to have had her interview me.
“Behind every success you will find a woman who possesses intelligence; charisma; perseverance; high energy; and a willingness to help others. Add a dash of wicked personal style and you have Miss Raquel Richards. Miss Raquel is creator and editor-in-chief of Scenester Magazine (a popular online magazine catering to Canada’s electronic music scene); co-founder and host of Scenester Radio; and Electronica’s host VJ on bpm:tv. Miss Raquel has perfected the formula of hit’em on several mediums with a message and she has our attention.”
I also recently interviewed the great Kenny Glasgow alongside Jared Simms of My Favourite Robot. And I know many of you love Mr. Glasgow because he’s the epitome of classic cool. He’s a Canadian icon. A pioneer. And a major contributor to the culture and movement that is house music, and he was at the forefront of the electronic house movement here in Canada.
Jared Simms one half of My Favourite Robot who’s the label in which Glasglow’s new releases resides. And it’s his label you need to keep your ears tuned into.
Listen to the interview on Scenester Radio.
Miss Raquel’s Top 10 Montly Drops on beatport.com. Current Chart. New chart will be up within the month.
Dancing is the freedom of expression and what better place to see it and feel it than on a dancefloor, but there seems to be another language going on other than the body’s own musical expression.
It’s the two-step text. The two-step text is when you’re standing and only moving your feet, one at a time, side to side while holding a small device in your hand with a bright neon light emanating a glow upon your face. Yes it’s the cellphone, crack berry, iPhone, SPARK Music Box, Fastap, your overall personal digital PCS.
I know you’ve seen it, and I know you’ve done it. I have. Why on earth do we do this? We’re at a club with our friends and we’re supposed to be enjoying their company, the music and dancing, not texting to someone who’s not there, or worse yet actually in the club!
Now, don’t get me wrong I know it’s great for finding your friend(s) in the club, or when you arrive to locate their whereabouts, or if you’re the DJ and are going to be late or want to know what the crowd is like that’s its all good. It’s also helpful if you have kids and may need to keep in touch with them, but for any other reason the question is why?
It’s really funny seeing two people side by side doing the two-step text, each holding their cells and texting madly while even smiling at themselves as they read or text. Yet their friend, who they came with, is right beside them doing the same thing. Can they not talk to each other? Take a few hours out and spend some time with each other?
Is it seriously important to text at 3am in the middle of the dancefloor?
It’s now the dancefloor language plain and simple. I’ve stood at the bar with a friend beside me as we Bluetooth and sync to exchange info. I mean do we need to do this right there at this moment when all this other action which we really came to experience is going on around us?
Because of this avid use of cellphones we tend to place them on the bar while ordering a drink, lay them on top of the toilet, or the counter in the washroom while we wash our hands and touch- up, how many cellphones are lost due to this? I’ve done it, you’ve done it and surely someone you know has.
The smart ones don’t bring their cells with them when going to a club, but see I feel I can’t just in case of an emergency. And after all it now costs 50¢ to make a local call from a public phone (and of course at that very moment you don’t have change!). Never mind there are barely any pay phones around Toronto unless you’re in a sketchy part of town.
And never ask someone to borrow their cell, this is poor cell etiquette. I never let anyone use mine unless they’re from my crew.
It’s the latest drug, it’s a digital addiction. Once you pull it out and hit a key while clubbing you’ll always check it again, again and again. Come on don’t tell me you haven’t?
You’re guilty of it, I’m guilty of it, but when you think about it, it just proves how more and more some of us are becoming anti-social.
Personally, I like to enjoy the company I keep and take pleasure in the music I came to hear. The texting, while I’m as guilty as the next, I try to keep to a minimum.
I thought a lot about whether I should write about the King of Pop seeing that’s all we’ve seen and read about since his death. But everyone has a Michael Jackson story, a relation to all, or one of his tracks which rings special in your heart. Just as some of you I have a strong love, experience and worship for this man of greatness.
Back in the day I used to escape from my father’s wrath by taking break dancing classes and taking the moves to the streets. Unfortunately, Calgary didn’t have much breaking and popping in the streets as Toronto or New York.
I remember dancing in a store front where my dad was repairing the store. My friend and I had nothing else to do but dance, which we did to the sounds of the “Thriller” album as passers by peered in.
As I got older I discovered MJ’s “Off The Wall” album. I was walking through some mall in South West Calgary, saw a poster of the cover, thought it was his new album (how was I to know? I was only about five or six at the time) and bought it. I thought it was OK, but not as good as “Thriller”. Now, I appreciate both for all their ear candy glory. My current ring tone is “Don’t Stop Til’ You Get Enough”
Later as my not so successful dancing career progressed I was performing here, there and travelling with a troupe doing performances showcasing Michael Jackson’s songs. I had two routines, one to “Scream” which Michael did with his sister Janet Jackson. We even wore black PVC from head to toe just like in the video. Good times.
The other routine we had was to “Black and White” where we wore one black glove and one white glove, with black dress slacks, suspenders and a white blouse. Oh! The memories!
Once I was in my late twenties and only doing a bit of dancing I was hired to do several Halloween shows where I was apart of a dance crew performing to “Thriller”. Awesome!
I thought our routines rocked. Whether they really did or not I’ll never know. What did rock was how Michael Jackson and his music touched me in such an emotional way it can only be felt in my heart, where it warmed and helped me through the good and bad of my younger years. Today I realize just how much his music influenced me. I owe much of my love for music to Him.
In 2005 I got the sweet gig of hosting “electronica” on bpm:tv. I had the opportunity of writing, co-producing and hosting a four part serious called, “The Foundations of House”. I included Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video. It may not be labeled as house, but it is apart of the foundation of house music.
In 2008 I had the honour, thanks to DJTK to host Pride Toronto’s Central Stage. When Miss Butter’s hosting shift ended she came down to me and passed me a black leather glove with rhinestones on it and said, “This has been passed down in memory of Michael Jackson, and I’m passing it to you.” I was very privileged she thought of me.
I have it placed upon a tall glitter box on my dresser so it stands tall and is easy to see. To me this glove means; strength, difference, truth, creativeness, fearlessness and genius.
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