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RAYDEUS (GuerillaBass, Stirty, JungoRoad.com – San Francisco)

JungoRoad.com is proud to welcome Darin Eriksen (aka Raydeus, his DJ handle) as our newest official contributor. As a mover and shaker in the San Francisco underground dance music scene, he brings a distinctly West Coast point of view to the proceedings. To mark the occasion, we’re featuring his newest mix as this week’s exclusive download.

In what city, region/state, and country do you currently reside?

Nation of San Francisco, recently moved to The Mission district.

When did you or your family notice your interest in music?

Probably when they heard loud rock music coming from the basement of the house. My family was very Christian and conservative. So, if anything sounded in any way “Satanic”, I got yelled at and the record would be taken away. That all changed when I was in college; my music collection grew.

When did you get interested or exposed to electronic dance music?

It goes back to 80’s electro-pop and hip hop. I listened to everything from New Order to LL Cool J. The common thread was the groove and the bass. I remember Beastie Boys’ “Brass Monkey” and LL’s “Goin’ Back to Cali” making people go nuts at school dances. Looking back, it was the heavy Miami bass kicks that really got people going. I followed the evolution and melding of styles into the 90’s with Massive Attack and Portishead. And then, in 1996, I heard Underworld’s “Born Slippy NUXX” and it turned me inside out. I dove head first into electronic music after that. In addition to being an Underworld fanatic, I started listening to The Chemical Brothers, Tricky, Aphex Twin, The Orb, and Orbital a lot.

What do you like (or moves you most) in any type of music?

There are so many intangibles, but #1 would have to be inventiveness. I love hearing new ideas in music; shit I have never heard anyone do before, and yet it sounds so good it’s as if it always existed. Like the first time I ever heard The Pixies. Their music was so brilliant, different, and amazing, you knew it would have an impact on everything that came after it.

What do you like (or moves you most) in electronic dance music?

Well, like I said, bass is really important. Deep bass and a solid groove are sometimes enough on their own. But what takes a track to the next level is a great hook. “Born Slippy” has that instantly recognizable synth line that, whenever played, people lose their shit.

When did you start DJing?

Around 2002 or so, I bought decks and started playing dub & downtempo. I didn’t have a name yet. I worked my way up to spinning progressive house after about a year and, then, I got caught up in the big breaks wave that took hold around 2004. Finally, I started getting some bookings, started a crew, started throwing parties, and named myself Raydeus.

What do you like about DJing?

Having a good excuse to spend truckloads of money on a glorified hobby! Really, being able to justify the huge amount of time I spend listening to music, and lots of money buying music. Also, that the communities rise up around the music you’re playing, and that the act of DJing is for the sole purpose of making people happy. That’s why I do it… it’s certainly not about the money.

Are you associated with any record labels or crews?

Until recently I was affiliated with Pronoia, a crew I started with my friends Pieter Rizen and Damien Jones back in ’04 with a fundraiser to help get enough voters registered to vote Bush out of office. The idea was that Pronoia would only do events that were charitable, hence the idea of “others conspiring to benefit you.” That crew name is now retired as of this year, after five years full of memorable parties. I’ve now joined two other crews in SF, GuerillaBass and Stirty. And, of course, JungoRoad.com. Here’s to new horizons!

For what types of music genres or styles are you known?

I think most people got to know my breakbeat side and I became known for playing really super hard, dirty breaks. Then, that sound evolved to incorporate electro house and tech funk.

For what types of music genres or styles do you want to be known?

I still play the banging, grindy stuff. But, I have realized pouring on 100% full throttle dirty bass is not the answer to keeping the dancefloor enthralled. You have to dose it just right, and hold a really solid groove, to get your grip on people. I have developed a more groovy, deep, minimal tech side, to balance out the harder side, that has been getting very good reaction.

What are other DJs and music producers that you admire?

• Lee Burridge – My favorite when it comes to techno & deep tech. I have been taking more cues from his DJing than anyone else lately.
• Lee Coombs played my single favorite set I heard this past year (at Opel Productions’ post LovEvolution party). Another true master of holding a groove. I hadn’t danced that hard for a while.
• Krafty Kuts – The man is a genius producer (in the form of dope original tracks and remixes) and DJ. No one brings the heavy funk like Krafty.

What the best venue (in your judgment) you played at in the world?

Burning Man, at a big sound camp like Opulent Temple or a dope art car like the Neuroweapon. Or, really any outdoor venue, especially at night. There’s nothing better than rocking out in the open air with a sea of bouncing freaks and blinky lights in front of you.

Speaking of Burning Man, did you experience whatever it was you were looking forward to this year?

I would say so! I counted 10 times that I got to DJ in 7 days I was out there. The Duck Pond ruled!

Any specific music tracks stand out on the playa?

I think I played Tim Deluxe’s “Storm In a Teacup” more than any other track. It’s an incredibly versatile track.

Are you participating in the upcoming Burning Man?

TBD!

Welcome to the Jungo Road team, Raydeus! Thank you for your past and upcoming contributions to Jungo Road and the electronic dance music scene.

Find Raydeus online at Raydeus.com (with many more DJ mixes), and his page on Facebook.

Those in the Bay Area can catch Raydeus at:

• Opel NYE 2010 w/ Stanton Warriors (in the main room with the all-important opening set, 9:00-10:45)
• GuerillaBASS presents Stamina Keeping the party going January 2! Tag teaming with SF underground legend Forest Green.

Booking: {Click to reveal email}

Play individual tracks and then click on the links below to purchase!
Mix notes: This was recorded old-school style with a Pioneer DJM-700 mixer and two CDJ-800s without use of “Master Tempo” function.

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Mix tracklist:

1. philly blunt & signal drivers – muzik (autoslide remix) [destination?]
2. fill dirty – loathing on drugs [london loud]
3. jaimie fanatic & kelevra – we are all kidz [feat. whiskey pete] (reid speed & mike balance remix) [legacy kids club]
4. dirty inc – i wish my girlfriend was as filthy as this track [dirty trax]
5. hirshee – the rinse out [big fish]
6. electric soulside – moulin rouge (lazy rich remix) [bugeyed]
7. valerna – street racer [tasty bytes]
8. meat katie – needles & pins [lot 49]
9. butter party – eat the mushroom [trickery collective]
10. circuit freq – supertripper [circuit freq]
11. aaren san – friction (costello remix) [aelaekropopp]
12. skinny – shake it [nu industry]
13. ryan galbraith – road trip [plasma.digital]
14. j*o*k*r – dr. oetker (quadrat beat remix) [dusted breaks]
15. break the box – rock the mic (robosapiens remix) [dead famous]
16. leeroy thornhill – connect [adhd digital]
17. ali kay – numb [sirenium]