Our friend and Ultra Music contest winner Shaun Duval has just returned from the Winter Music Conference in Miami -- got home last night, in fact -- and he's still in the mood to celebrate. Download his new, WMC-inspired DJ mix below.
Reports Duval: "I had a blast in Miami. Highlights were DJ Mehdi, Sasha, Mark Farina and a couple of dudes called Goldfish from South Africa."
Thanks for the mix, Shaun. Keep spinning the DJ gold. (Mix tracklist after jump.)
Even if one does not drink, take drugs or succumb to a seizure, it's tricky to retain the particulars of an event such as The Pitch Ultra Music DJ Contest at NV. The intense strobe lights, the thunderous and rapid beats, the smoke and glitter pouring out of the ceiling, and the general overstimulation of all senses -- all of that makes for an awesome party.
But not one that's easy to write about afterward. But I do remember what's important.
I remember, for one, that it was fun as hell. You have not lived until you have surrounded yourself with the finest company in a swank dance club, mixing your own drink from a chilled bottle of Svedka, while all around you, people dance feverishly to the best DJs in Kansas City.
If you can tell me where else you can buy an evening of dance music this diverse and this banging for only a buck, then I'll eat my hat. And I wore the ol' stovepipe today, yes sir I did.
The buck stops tonight at NV, (220 Admiral), when the five finalists in our DJ spinoff compete to see who can rock the house the hardest. Starting at 9, our DJs, in random order, will play 30 minutes of their best music. Best of luck to Kiko De Gallo, Shaun Duval, Scott Carpenter, Kipsquared and Jamel Rockwell.
The judging panel will consist of ...
Siamack Zahabi!
Former owner of Kabal!
Talent booker since 1999 and bringer of artists such as Carl Cox and deadmau5!
Steve Tulipana!
Co-owner of the Record Bar!
DJ with the Aural Exciter, Strange Bedfellows!
Local musician with Roman Numerals, Pornhuskers, S2R and more!
Badass local DJs who won last year's contest!
Jason Harper and Nadia Pflaum!
Gotta have some Pitch staffers, yo.
What will the judges be look for? Well, we'll be listening to and watching each DJ's or DJ act's (in the case of Kipsquared) technical skill and ability to read the crowd and get butts moving. We'll listen for whether the DJ makes original choices in mixing their set or whether they make the mistake of laying down a record that's tired, lame or just not the right jam for the moment. Well assess whether the DJ looks and acts like a DJ or looks like he hasn't left his basement or looked away from a computer screen in two years. A lot of the judging process, too, is gut feeling -- it's subjective. Rest assured, DJs and fans alike, that we'll consider all spinners, and not just the ones who end up playing last (i.e., to potentially the biggest crowd).
It should be noted that in past years, we have sent the big winner to Miami, paying airfare and hotel and hooking them up with a spot at the Ultra Music Festival at the Winter Music Conference. Well, this year, thanks to the down economy, we can only give our winner two admission tickets to the Ultra Music Fest. No hotel, airfare or guaranteed gig. We knew it would be this way going in, and we've informed the contestants. We could have canceled the whole thing, but because we have so much fun every year and because this event seems to bring good attention to individual DJs and to the scene as a whole, we just didn't want to give it up. We hope you'll still join us and this year's DJs in being totally stoked regardless. Because we know we are.
The lineup won't be drawn until right before the contest begins at 9, so show up then to be sure you get to see your favorite.
And who knows? Maybe you'll leave at night's end with a new favorite DJ.
Two of our DJ contest finalists, Scott Carpenter and Shaun Duval, are inviting one and all to come out to Blonde tonight (Wednesday) for a little pre-party featuring beats from the two DJs plus two-for-one drinks and no charge to get in. Enjoy the good will while it lasts, because this Friday, Duval and Carpenter will face off against each other and three other contestants -- Kiko De Gallo, Jamel Rockwell and Kipsquared -- in the no-holds-barred, take-no-prisoners and wear-no-pants 2009 Pitch Ultra Music DJ Contest at NV beginning at 9 p.m. Actually, the contest will abound with good will and fun -- and you'll need to wear pants. At least at first.
You can still download out all five contestants' mixes here.
And pick up today's Pitch or click over to the music section to read profiles of each of the contestants.
Check out the five best mixes from this year's DJ contest submissions. Support your favorite, support them all, on Friday, March 6, at NV starting at 9:30 p.m. After drawing their order randomly, these finalists will spin for 30 minutes each. A panel of judges will decide the winner. We will all drunk and get dance. Woops -- these mixes are making us tipsy. Download, enjoy and leave your own feedback in the comments, especially if you think we were wrong about any of these mixes. Which, by the way, we weren't. (And to the DJs below: Now everyone knows what your submission mix sounded like, ya better come up with a new one for the contest.)
MP3: Click to download Kiko's submission via Zshare
MP3: Right-click Save As to download Kipsquared's mix
MP3: Click to download Rockwell's mix via MegaUpload
... in no particular order ...
We received around 20 submissions to our 2009 Pitch Ultra Music DJ Contest, and narrowing the list down to five was no easy task. So, heavy congrats to the beat-spanking DJs above.
On Friday, March 6, at NV (220 Admiral Boulevard), we want YOU to be there when all contestants spin their best 30-minute mix before a dance floor packed with sweaty, bouncing bodies. A panel of judges* will decide which contestant whipped up the best dance party and award them with two admission tickets to the Winter Music Conference in Miami.
If this ain't the local DJ event of the year, we don't know what is. See you there.
*judges still being confirmed
Tomorrow is the deadline!!!
We at The Pitch are pleased to announce that we're now accepting entries for our fifth-annual Ultra Music DJ Contest. YAY!!!. The grand prize this year is a pair of tickets to the Winter Music Conference in Miami in March (transportation and accommodations not provided -- sorry, guys). To enter the contest, send us an original mix of roughly 30-45 minutes, either on CD or via digital means (Sendspace, Zshare, etc.). Send CDs to "DJ Contest," The Pitch, 1701 Main St., Kansas City, MO, 64108. E-mail your digital mix download links to jason.harper@pitch.com.
Be sure to include your name and contact information. Duh.
The deadline for submissions is Friday, February 6 -- and we really mean that. Dead. Line. After the line has passed, your chances of entering are dead. So fire it up!
A week or so after the deadline, we'll announce five finalists to spin off, playing back-to-back, 30-minute sets at NV on Friday, March 6.
DJ-partner duos are welcome to enter. All styles of music are welcome.
Remember: THIS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, OR NO CONTEST FOR YOU.
Direct all questions about the contest to, me, Jason Harper: jason.harper@pitch.com or 816-218-6774.
The winner of The Pitch Ultra Music DJ Contest is... these guys!
Photo by Emily Moore (www.emilylaurenmoore.com)
Woo! Congratulations, Nomathmatics. You guys rocked this past Friday night at NV. Enjoy your trip to Miami. Send us a postcard.
To the other DJs: Thank you — you were all phenomenal.
Kansas City, meet the finalists for this year's Pitch Ultra Music DJ Contest. These fellas will battle on Friday, February 22, at NV, with 30-minute sets starting at 8:30 p.m.
DJ Sku
MySpace: /djsku
Click here to download Sku’s mix.
Follow the link to meet the other finalists.
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