LAMP Weekly Mix #122 Feat. Devoe
This week we have LAMP family member Devoe in the mix. It is always fun when we have Devoe in the rotation as he loves to take time like we do to write about and share his ideas and technique that go into creating his mix as well as the tracks he is producing. Devoe will also be doing all of his own "Track of the Day" posts this week as well. Taking on a sort of mashup mentality picking two tracks each day that are mashed together in his mix. A full track listing can be found below, Enjoy. And from here on out we quote Devoe.
Jeff Devoe - A Place You’d Never Thought You’d Be (Spring 2016 House Mix)
Sometimes in life you find yourself in a place you’d never thought you’d be. This can be wonderful, dreadful, or any host of emotions depending on your circumstances. Recently, I’ve found myself in such a place. I’m in the middle of a career change and the path that I’m on has presented some mental and physical places I’d never thought I’d be (both good and bad). I’m starting to realize that in times like these one either grabs the reigns and starts whipping, or drops the reigns and gets trampled. I feel hopeful, excited, and terrified all at the same time, and it’s absolutely electric. I feel like I’m riding a dragon…definitely not a place I’d thought I’d be.With that said, I had just finished a couple new tech house tracks and wanted to do a new mix to share them (plus, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there is a LOT of great house coming out lately!) I also wanted to somehow inject my current state of being into the mix. This mix twists and writhes through some of my favorite sub-genres of house music currently. It’s got some minimal techno, some bass house, a swath of tech house, sprinkles of techno, and wraps up with some progressive and deep house. The recording process for me on this mix was a bit more improvisational than my other mixes. In the past I’ve meticulously planned the tracklist and every transition and practiced until I could get them all perfect. For this mix I bought a batch of music that inspired me, arranged them in an order I thought would be good to start rehearsing with, and just hit record. Little did I know at the end of the 90-minute session I’d be done with the mix! I thought about this and it was a really interesting parallel to what is going on in my life at the moment. I did a little planning, took a huge leap of faith, and twisted things into perfect place as I went along. Definitely an exciting way to work! Sometimes you just have to hit record, go for it, and trust your instincts.Let’s get into the tracklist!Bruno Furlan – That Book (Gold Records)I start the mix pretty minimal. I love the first track, Bruno Furlan’s “That Book”, because the vocal sample touches a bit on the life philosophy that has helped me navigate my career change. To make a long quote short, the sample basically says that life is a book, and you get to write that book. Knowing that you are the author of your own life book will remind you to keep taking action towards the life you want. If you stop taking action, your book won’t be that interesting. Wonderful advice! Musically, the track has a minimal feel to it. The bassline is a simple two note bouncer and the drums mimic the bassline with the ever familiar kick/hat combo we all love from house music. As the song progresses a sweeping synth floats across the top of the track and slowly changes pitch. This, along with the vocal sample, is what gives the otherwise unremarkable tune its wonderful character. By the way, Bruno Furlan is worth a look, he’s a Brazilian guy who has been making a ton of really chunky, steppy house. He also collab’d with Kyle Watson on the second tune on my mix called “Marshmallows”. A recent Dirty Bird release, that mixes the bass house rhythm with some nasty, techy filtered synths.Bruno Furlan is on fire!