TIME WARP :: What I miss is being on the dancefloor immersed in what my musical minister is preaching to me.  I remember about five years ago a popular Canadian DJ/producer telling me how he missed paying his cover to get into a club and have fun.

Funny how this comment has kept with me for all these years and now I understand what he was saying.

I entered Canada’s electronic music scene (EMS) pretty much just as I started working in it. Being of the mind set I had – and still do – of wanting to work in the music industry, I took the industry and made it work for me.

Little did I know I’d lose a bit of enjoyment along the way.

Don’t get me wrong I truly love what I do, but I’ve discovered year after year it’s getting harder for me to be on a dancefloor and just dance and disappear into my musical journey.

I don’t mind people dancing into my space and asking me about the EMDS. If I did I would have gotten out a long time ago. You know when you’re on the dance floor feeling the groove, feeling your move, singing the vocal while your feet move to the four by four beat being instructed from the speakers. It’s this experience which is yours and yours alone.

You know what I’m talking about.

Halloween 2010 I saw Carl Cox at Toronto’s The Guvernment. This was the last time I was free on a dancefloor until Pride Toronto 2011.  I had one last event to host, at CZ Toronto’s infamous after-hours. It was here I intended to dance, no matter what.

And I did! I danced for five solid hours to the sounds of Tom Stephan a.k.a. Superchumbo, Deko-ze and Jon Herbert.

My legs hurt, my hair was up, I was sweaty and didn’t care that my lip gloss wasn’t on.

It was the music, dancefloor and me.

Not everybody understands house music; it’s a spiritual thing, a body thing, a soul thing. – Eddie Amador – Yoshitoshi Recordings 1998

Canada has a volcanic amount of musical talent within its structure. Hundreds of producers submit tracks for a spot on this mixed compilation produced by Hi-Bias Records. And only 19 get picked!

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Pride Toronto’s 30^th anniversary festival features local heroes, international stars, literary lights, interactive arts and everything that is diverse, inclusive, queer and progressive on 9 stages spread over 35 blocks in downtown Toronto.

“Pride-goers can see Cyndi Lauper on the new Queen’s Park stage as part of the expanded Dyke Day program along with local favourites The Cliks, Saidah Baba Talibah, Dragonette, Betti Forde and more” says Mary Zondanos, Arts and Entertainment Manager at Pride Toronto.

Alternaqueer expands its program across the weekend with Lovers Love Haters (Debora Cohen from The Organ’s newest project), MEN, Misstress Barbara LIVE w/ Girls On A Ducati, Ryan G. Hinds, Josie Cotton, Woodhands, Diamond Rings, Private Life (Katie Stelmanis), Copenhagen’s Fagget Fairys and many more.

Divas reign supreme this year with Zelma Davis (from C+C Music Factory), Lolene, one the UK’s hottest exports, local darling Nancy Rancourt, resident Pride diva Simone Denny, Amanda Morra and R&B sensations Ivana Santilli and Jully Black.

Pride Week 2010 also features the TransVerse program, celebrating the Trans community with America’s Best Dance Crew Vogue Evolution, a commissioned dance piece by local superstar Scott Fordham (‘Full of GLEE’), Buck Angel, S. Bear Bergman, Alec Butler, Girlyman – who recently collaborated with Margaret Cho on her upcoming album, San Francisco hip hop notable Katastrophe and more including the official after party done in partnership with Pride Toronto’s South Asian program, FunkAsia!

Dance takes on many forms with Project Dance back for Round Two, along with Colour Me Dragg, Queer Idol’s tribute to Pride Toronto’s 30 year history, House of Monroe, FunkAsia’s amazing dancers, and – another first – the Pride Toronto Flashmob.

In 2010 for the first time, Pride Toronto introduces ‘Werq!’ a circuit music program which spans the whole weekend, taking over Wellesley stage.

“It all kicks off with Aqua Pride, a co-presentation between Pride Toronto and Prism Festival,” says Zondanos. “Prism is one of North America’s largest circuit festivals and we are proud to working with them again.”

The Werq! Stage features Ana Paula, Isaac Escalante, David Morales, Australian dream Kitty Glitter, Honey Dijon, Cajjmere Wray, Mike Viera, Pierre Fitch and others.

The Blockorama stage returns for the 12^th year with a solid line up of resident favourites and new discoveries in George Hislop parkette, including DJ Memphis Sugar, Nik Red, Ayo Leilani, Craig Dominic, Abstract Random, Troy Jackson, Michelle Ross, Ill Nana, Unruly Twin, DJ Bugo and Jojo Flores.

Those hot for electronic music can join JELO, Robb G, The House Moguls, Sydney Blu, Hector Fonseca, Dwayne Minard, MC Flipside, DJ Blackcat, Adam K & Soha, Panic Bomber, Deko-ze, Don Berns AKA Dr. Trance, Neill Macleod, DJ Ritu (BBC radio), Brandon Sek, Chiclet, and  the Yes Yes Y’all crew.

“Pride Toronto’s Village stage includes a stellar line up of Drag Queens, Kings and Burlesque,” Zondanos says, “featuring the Degenderit Cabaret, Zippers Angels, Carlotta Carlisle, GIA, Michel Doiron, Divinesque, Eddie Barnett, Michelle Ross, Ivory, Daytona Bitch, Divine, Genderfuct, Miss Conception, Sofonda Cox, Laura Landauer, Dirk and Flare.

For the younger set, Fruit Loopz produced by Supporting our Youth includes two stages with youth artists in sunny Alexander Parkette, complete with Toronto’s most talented young musicians, slam poets, dancers, actors and drag artists.

The Community Café, Pride Toronto’s community space in which performers donate their performance to the festival in celebration of the community includes the Asian Community AIDS Services, Canadian Tamil Congress, NIA, Bold Steps Dance Studio, Queer Dance Community, Hula Sun Village Dance Troupe, Sapphire Dance Productions and 88 Days of Fortune.

The Pride Lounge, the festival’s singer/songwriter space, will feature performances from Michael Caplan, Meridith Shaw, Melissa Li (from Good Asian Drivers), Michelle Mondesir, Shawnee Lynne, eMKeh, Jaceyln Holmes, Rachel Newman, VIVIV and more.

Literary program Proud Voices is back again with curator Susan G. Cole (Senior Entertainment and Books Editor at NOW Magazine) hosting an incredible and inspiring program with the Aqsa Collective, Truth Is…, Beth Ann Fisher, Christina Starr, Jess Dobkin, Rose Cullis, Krystle Mullin, Lex Vaughn, Mariko Tamaki, Jon Redfern, Shaun Proulx, Emma Donoghue, Pink Ink and Vivek Shraya.

Plot, Engage, Disperse, Pride Toronto’s interactive art program, returns again with students from the Toronto Alternative Arts school, youth from Sketch, life size twister, the “What Does Pride Mean to You” photo project from Pride Toronto’s Youth Committee, live graffiti, sketching and many other ways people can interact with the festival!

Pride Toronto’s new Spotlight Series showcases some of the individuals and organizations who contribute year round to the vibrancy of our cultural community. Carlyle Jansen presents ‘Crave’ a women’s erotic cabaret at the Phoenix, the women behind the ‘club skirts’ Dinah Shore present ‘Jet Setter’ at 99 Sudbury, and Matt Sims presents a special Pride edition of ‘HEY REBEL!’, one of Toronto’s best monthly all ages events at one of Toronto’s best venues, The Great Hall.

In addition, Zahra Dhanani of Funkasia, Nik Red and Shafik Kamani present the official Transverse afterparty at the Phoenix Concert Theatre; Denise Benson and Cozmic Cat present ‘CHERRY BOMB: PRIDE: A DEEPER LOVE’ at Revival; Big Primpin’ does a special edition at Wrongbar; Alan Kliffer presents ‘Gay for Comedy’ at the Panasonic Theatre and the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives present a remount of their National Portrait Collection.

“And that’s definitely not all,” says Zondanos. “There are many other performers we will be hosting at Pride this year, so stay tuned!”

For a full schedule of events, including dates, times and locations, keep checking www.pridetoronto.com.

JaXx HouZe 9 – The Enchanted Tribal Platoon came and went on April 23 at Footwork in Toronto. This one was more of a blur for me than the last eight. I guess shooting the whole event for the new Scenester Channel made everything move at F1 speed. I didn’t get to stop and enjoy the fruits of my labour.

I love putting on events, being apart of them and hosting them, but I do like to enjoy them. And I find when I’m deeply involved I don’t get that opportunity.

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Deko-ze’s birthday is one of my favourite events to host, as hectic as events such as this may be it’s the urgency which keeps me going. This year his birthday was held at Footwork Bar & Afterhours on March 5^th, 2010 with Adam K, Mark Falco and Deko-ze on deck.

The night started off with me ensuring a film crew was organized who were coming to shoot for an upcoming documentary, but at 8pm it started to get hairy; my phone was ringing off the hook, texts were flying in to the sound of my “knock-knock” tone, emails poured in all wanting guest list. Read the full story

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 14^th 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 12^th 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 5^th with Adam K and Mark Falco also on the bill.

March 6^th 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 [email protected]

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 18^th 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 [email protected] by 8:30pm Dec. 18, 2009.

Steve Lawler Early Bird tickets ($30) at CiRCA on NYD please email [email protected] 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!