LAMP Weekly Mix #162 feat. MR PUZL

A twist of fate has allowed MR PUZL to takeover the mix series this week, and we could be more excited!“A short while ago I was asked to make a mix for a European radio show. Unfortunately, due to some scheduling conflicts they had to push my air date back. The best part is I get to make a brand new mix for them AND I can share this one with all of you.” - MPThis week is full of surprises as we've tapped long time LAMP supporter and music aficionado Brendon Goldwasser (editor for Sights & Sounds, GroundSounds) to conduct the Q&A.Brendon Goldwasser: As one of the founders of LAMP and the LAMP Weekly Mix Series, did you find yourself drawing inspiration from past mixes while you began to work on this new one? Tell us about the mindset you were in when compiling these tracks and the type of atmosphere you were aiming for.MR PUZL: Making a mix for LAMP vs other brands, groups, radio stations etc. I think has its own mindset. Both Josh (PZB) and I always try to push the boundaries on those mixes and promote as much recent music as possible. Its helped to set what we consider to be high bar for mixes from our guests.As I mention in my description of this mix, it was intended for a new audience and therefore I felt compelled to do something different. There were some basic ground rules, regarding style, try keep it deep. I took that into consideration when I started picking some of the tracks, but at the same time I wanted a new set of listeners to get a feel for my style of DJing.The beginning of the mix sets off with some light disco and funk vibes and then jumps into some deeper material. I tried to bring the energy up a bit after the halfway mark with some music that inject grooving basslines into the low end and then I round it out with some straight house tracks.There’s a lot of trial and error in my process. I’ll compile several lists in rekordbox and then just start mixing on the decks. After a while I’ll dwindle it down to a tracklist I’m happy with and then go for a proper live recording.BG: You've been producing and DJing under the MR PUZL moniker for over a couple years now. What were some of the events that led up to you following this passion and creating this brand? Any story behind the name?MP: In terms of some events that led to this, truthfully, some of it came earlier on in my life. I had two older brothers who were DJs in the early to late 90s. They helped pioneer a rave scene in the Northeast US & Canada with airplane hangars filled to brim, late night sessions in Boston, New York and Toronto with the industry’s rising stars that would emanate for years to come. Whenever they were visiting we’d all sit down and they would stick these enormous headphones on my head and play the latest music they were in to.This formulated an early passion for collecting and curating music. Over the years on a variety of storage devices via all sorts of applications (CDs, MiniDiscs, USB, Fruity Loops, WinAMP, iTunes, Abelton etc.) I would start creating/mixing playlists for myself, friends, parties, you name it! Track selection is a massive part of being a good DJ in my opinion and the transition to using decks seemed natural for me.I got into properly DJing as by product of being around so many awesome artists and in particular having access to PZB’s studio :) He has a wonderful setup, it spoiled me for sure. At the time it was 2 CDJ 2000s x DJM2000 (i fucking love that mixer!!!). The CDJs have been upgraded since then but the DJM is still the piece that ties that setup together.The name MR PUZL is from quite a while before I started DJing actually. I used to run a small clothing label called PUZL. I’d bring my shirts to work, parties, events and always try to hook up friends with free gear. After a while people started calling me MR PUZL, and the name stuck. The brand PUZL has evolved over the years and now nurtures a budding record label (https://soundcloud.com/puzl-records) that was spawned off our success from LAMP (https://soundcloud.com/lamp).BG: What's your favorite part about being behind the decks during an event and controlling the vibe on the dance floor? When was the first time you realized you were in your element?MP: I think it’s a combination of things; that moment when you look up and see people connecting with you and the music, picking that next track and getting a rush of excitement, taking over from the previous DJ and finding that right track to mix into, and sometimes just sitting back and letting the track play out for bit and dance with the crowd. The list could go on!First time I felt like I was in my element? Easy. Our first ever LAMPING, playing a gnarly dust storm watching tents rip and fly away, speakers fall over BUT people committing to my set and enjoying every minute of the chaos with me! BG: Outside of the electronic music scene, what are some artists, bands, or genres that you've grown up loving or that you've recently become a fan of?MP: Man, always a tough question since the lists could go on but here’s a brief rundown.The old jazz, funk and R&B records that my Mom would play in the house when I was really young definitely stuck around in my subconscious. Artists like Miles Davis, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Earth Wind & Fire, Parliament-Funkadelic, James Brown, Gladys Knight, Tina Turner and Diana Ross to name a few were just incredible.My teenage years would definitely be Jamiroquai with tracks like Space Cowboy, Cosmic Girl, Virtual Insanity of course, and Blow Your Mind.I went through a heavy modern punk phase for a while with tracks like ‘Straight Ahead’ by Pennywise, in fact anything that Epitaph Records was putting out in the late 90s I probably bought.Weirdly or maybe not, at the same time I was also listening to a bunch of hip-hop like Tribe Called Quest, J5, . There was the incredible compilation from Echo Unlimited called Lyricist Lounge Vol 1 + 2 that changed my perspective on hip-hop music drastically, Mos Def’s track ‘Oh No’ featuring Pharoahe Monch & Nate Dogg, pure fire.From there I feel like I was always looking for the of the-beaten-path music, regardless of genre.The new XX album was amazing. I love Kendrick Lamar. Tribe’s album. EPIC. My wife and I will often get drunk and dance to the Talking Heads and LCD Soundsystem. Also ‘The Last Waltz’ is a staple.BG: I've always been amazed at the vast number of tracks that DJs have on deck and in their repertoire. Is there a method to the madness when it comes to keeping track of all the songs available at your fingertips?MP: It can seem like madness sometimes, haha. Honestly I just had to play some catch up after taking a brief holiday. I was only gone for a week and I ended up download about 700 tracks in 2 weeks. On top of listening to demos sent to the label, mixes etc I really just let my gut guide me when I pick my music. I’m not one for trends so I’ll stay away from charts and lists except from closest homies and favorite producers who publish them from time to time. As far as keeping track, I’m really intense about data management and organizing my tracks into folder structure that allows me to easily navigate through the abyss.BG: Can you walk us through your studio setup or some gear that you typically love to use? Anything on your wishlist?MP: My setup is very very simple. KRK monitors, an Axiom Pro, a few midi-controllers Zone 1D, Traktor X1, Novation Launchpad MKII and then Ableton with a bunch of my favorite plugins and soft synths. I tend to trust my Audio Technica M50x headphones to get specific on certain sounds, and mix downs before I get into a proper studio. I’d love to get a KORG Volca FM Digi Synth, Roland JP-08, Moog Sub Phatty, and someday a Voyager :DThat list could go on as well. Luckily I have an Amazon wishlist to keep track of it all.BG: If you could work on music with any current producers or DJs out there, who would be on your list? Any specific events you'd love to get booked at?MP: I guess depending on the sound I was going for it would change but off the top of my head people like, Joris Voorn, Cassian, Sacha Robotti, Third Son, Superlover and Kevin Knapp would be a good start haha.Getting booked at / dream gigs would have to be broken down into styles that I love to play:On the Deep and Tech side: I’d love to play a Desert Hearts show to be honest. I love the vibe of their events and the audience are always amazing. LIB, Symbiosis and of course on the playa would be wild!House & Disco: CRSSD Fest, Splash House, ANY Rhonda party, WMC parties (of course Space on Sunday morning would be a dream!!!!) and some dope after parties during Outside LandsTechno and Late-Night: Prototype, Nuit Blanche, Lights Down Low, Making Shapes to name a fewBG: LAMP has definitely been building a great following, both here in Los Angeles, as well as internationally, thanks to the internet (and the solid curation of course). You were asked to do a mix for a European radio show recently, is that a first from across the pond? Would you be interested in doing more international collabs in the future?MP: Yeah we’ve been very fortunate on where we’ve gotten to thus far. This is not the first time one of our DJs has been asked to do a mix for a radio station abroad, but it’s a first for me personally :)I’m at a point where I’d like the opportunity to share more of LAMPs music and vibes elsewhere so I’d welcome any potential collaboration in the future.BG: Speaking of LAMP building a following, your 4 Year Anniversary celebration is coming up! Congrats! How does that feel and what's next for the crew after that?MP: It’s nuts honestly, time flies by when you’re having fun. The lineup this year is nuts, with a legend like Maruqes Wyatt heading and some live sets by two of our most prolific artists Leo Islo and Le Monkey and sets by Jamie Prado, bossman PZB, Sleepy Cat and our newest member Damon Steele it promises to be hours of amazing music across a spectrum of genres!! You can grab a $10 pre-sale ticket here while they last: http://bit.do/LAMP4YearBTW you have to check out PZB's 4 Years of LAMP - Introspection Mix series to celebrate this.After that we’ve got a special trip south of the border in the works. Think LAMPING in Baja ;) There are some more local shows that we’ll be either directly involved in, co-promoting or having one of our artists playing a show. And as always you’ll be getting a steady diet of our Track of the Day reviews, Guest Mixes, and new releases so be sure to stay in the loop at http://soundcloud.com/lamp or signup for our Eblast here: http://losangelesmusicproject.com/newsletter-signup/

Tracklist

1. Kenny Bizzarro - I Disco (Original Mix)2. Ori Kawa, Homero Espinosa, Mark Farina - It's All Right feat. Ori Kawa (Original Mix)3. Andre Rizo - Serbian Feelings (Original Mix)4. Bontan, The Angel - Your Day (Ki Creighton Remix)5. Kydus, Ki Creighton - Who Knows (Yousef Circus Rework)6. Chemical Surf, P.A.C.O. - Aha (Original Mix)7. Superlover - Belt Drive (Original Mix)8. Yamil, Dennis Cruz - N.Y. Vibes (Original Mix)9. Steffen Deux - Fountain of Youth (Original)10. Pete Kaltenburg - Night Club (Original Mix)11. Weiss (UK) - Heaven (Original Mix)12. Vangelis Kostoxenakis - All Im Doin' Is Laugh (Original Mix)13. Pete Kaltenburg - Ballin' (Original Mix)14. Leonardo Gonnelli - Whaa (Original Mix)15. Voyeur - Tough LoveEnjoy,LAMP