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.

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, I asked him what his favourite song was. He replied, “Guns & Roses “November Rain”. Why? I asked. He replied, “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 dance floors. And you still do, and let’s be honest you always will. So whether you liked him or not, you’re stuck hearing his music until you can’t hear any longer.

R.I.P. My inspiration.
As we move forth into 2010 let music be in our hearts and goodness in our souls. 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 dance floor!