I’ve had something I’ve wanted to say for a while.

Upon the executions of radio hosts Deb Pearce, Shaun Proulx, Patrick Marano and Mark Wigmore (now more infamously known by angry fans as  “The Fab Four” ) I told PROUD FM to take down my Scenester Magazine banner ads from their website, due to the unjust firings that occurred.  I also took down the PROUD FM banner from Scenester’s site without hesitation and with no doubt.

I appeared on The Shaun Proulx Show several times in the past and always thoroughly enjoyed myself.  I also built the relationship between PROUD FM and Fly Nightclub when I was Fly’s publicist.

Now there’s no “Pride of Toronto?”

Firing by email? Let Evanov Radio Group reap what they sow.

Sean Moreman, Evanov’s General Counsel, said “Once all the facts are public, people will get a clearer picture as to what is going on.”

Still waiting.

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.

For instance, I’m thinking of shooting this year’s Pride for Scenester Channel; shoot the parade, interview some of the great talent as well as some proud boys and girls. The thing is, Pride has usually been a time for myself, to be with my friends and dance. And yes… get a little bit crazy, as we all tend to do.

I’m not sure if this year I want to be tied down having to make sure certain camera angles are right, the sun is cooperating, my make-up is just so, and remembering what I want to talk about and to whom. Pride in the past has usually been my time to not worry about these things.

Last year I hosted Central Stage and it was so much fun. I did costume changes courtesy of Stag Shop my Official sponsor as any good host should. It was a lot of work and a great experience I’ll cherish forever, and one I would gladly do again, but it did take away from my Pride time.

For the past two years I also had to be at the bpm:tv booth to meet and greet viewers and fans of my show “electronica” and the station. Although fun and exciting, I don’t really like heading down to Pride by myself, walking through the throngs of colourful people so I can go to work, when inside I want to be with my friends amongst the colourful people having fun, fun, fun! After I finish its always a hunt to try and find my friends, and we all know what that’s like. Again it took away from my Pride time.

So with this year’s Pride coming about I wonder whether I should shoot the Sunday events for Scenester Channel or put on my best Pride outfit, meet my Pride pals and hit up the South Stage on Sunday in the usual colourful tradition of looking for a seat, while complaining about the cost of beer and the long line-ups to get one. Seeing old friends I haven’t seen in a long time, all the while basking and dancing in the sun to the driving beats of; Deko-ze, Jelo, TK and the legendary Don Burns.

I would like to shoot Pride showing the world what Pride means to Toronto, but at the same time Pride is special for me.

I know it may sound like I’m complaining with all I’ve said but I’m not. My mom used to go to Pride, and would come home and tell me all about it. I always wondered what it was about it that made my mom have so much fun. I followed in her footsteps and found out for myself. For me it’s my own private Idaho so-to-speak. It’s the one party where I can just be me.

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 in 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 now to 2010 I receive (and I’m sure many of you do as well) links in my private Facebook inbox to so many DJ 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, 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 what it’s 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.

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.”

Read more

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.

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.