DJ EXCLUSIVE: Paradox "MEATBOY" Messmer

We are glad to have Paradox Messmer back @ Eye On The Grind but this time in DJ capacity.  Dox has been on our blog twice now in the model form but now as a DJ/music lover and with his DJ nickname "MEATBOY" firmly in place. We are glad to have his time today. Here is his interview...

Meatboy at Mad Pea Sim

Are you DJing currently and where? The Velvet Tuesdays 7-9pm SLT, and The Rubb Saturdays 7-9pm SLT.

When did you start DJing? Way back in late 2008. Christ on a Communion Wafer, I've been at this too damn long.

First Club? The Norvern Monkey It was a great club with a friendly, goofy atmosphere and where I could get away with playing lots of postpunk and new wave. Britpop and Britrock was also a favorite there. The owner left SL unfortunately, and she was a good friend and great DJ: Therese Slade.

Most unusual thing you saw while DJing? There were once robots, demons, crossdressers, furries, and ladies in latex all in one room. And this was at an indie club. Oh and another epic time was when everyone was wearing disco penises with multi-coloured flashing lights. These are the kinds of known happenings when I DJ, troo fax.

Meatboy and flying Meat

Favorite music? Post punk, new wave, punk and indie of all kinds with a preference for lyrically driven, introspective, melodic singer/songwriters and bands, and also I lean a lot toward the rock genres \m/, like garage, psychedelic and roots rock. Rock on. I also dig plenty of danceable electro and synthpop with vocals  (ex: Presets, Ladytron, Hot Chip).

Influences? Brian Eno, Fad Gadget, Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Klaus Nomi, Robyn Hitchcock, Lux interior, Tom Waits, David Byrne, Syd Barrett, Siouxsie Sioux, Peter Murphy and too many others to name.

What do you listen to at home? Pretty much everything I spin in SL at my sets, but some things that I don't are soundtrack music, scores, and ambient stuff.

Do you have a regular set you play, a “go to” set? Well, I do have a couple of ones I could possibly pull out when it's short notice but generally if I have to fill in at the last minute I like to just like to make it up as I go along, improvise, fly by the seat of my pants (and it's a good thing I have some parachute pants leftover from the 90s).

When can we hear you DJ usually? The Velvet Tuesdays 7-9pm SLT,  and The Rubb Saturdays 9-11pm SLT.

Cream and sugar or black? Just sugar by itself. No coffee. Put that sugar on my tongue, gimme gimme gimme some...

Cat or Dog? Birds!

If you could take one thing from your inventory for real-life use, what would it be, and why pick it? My flying saucer that abducts people or my flying sausage that I ride around on. Why? Uh, because you can freakin abduct people, it'd be good to collect specimens for my hybridizing mutant experiments er I mean you know for parties, to get people to come to my house parties. And the sausage? You know why. I'm Meatboy.

Best SL Memory? Probably my GLBT Pride event at my now retired club Soundproof, but it ties with my huge 2 day fundraiser for the Africa famine at the Velvet.

Thanks for your time Dox! Now get out there and hear him spinning and enjoy yourself!

DJ Uglyana Jones

Today we jump back into another quick round of DJ interviews. Several DJ's have entered the scene now and we will interview and showcase a bit more! Some are old favorites and some just long time music lovers starting to stream in SL! So without further adieu...Here is Indiana.....I mean Uglyana Jones! Who by the way is nothing close to her namesake!!

Jonesy

Are you DJing currently and where?
I'm not, and frankly I'm confused as to why you are asking me, and further confused as to why I'm answering.  Ok, just kidding!  I'm spinning at The Velvet Tuesday 3 PM TO 5PM SLT

When did you start DJing?
About 6 weeks ago.

First Club?
The Velvet, of course!  It is my home.

Most unusual thing you saw while DJing?
Stipo Starship bouncing on a ball dressed as the Pope with his beloved pink bouffant.

Favorite music?
I usually stay within the indie range but within that I am drawn to many different sub-genres.  Lately I have been getting into electronic/experimental.

Influences?
Moby Tenanbaum.  To me he is The Form of a DJ.  He knows the genre, has a passion for the music, and has an amazing ear.  His sets are smooth, there aren't any unintentional bumps in the transitions.  And he has a quiet charisma that keeps people involved in the local chat.  Mallory Cerise is another influence.  She knows her genre thoroughly and can weld such compelling stories using music.  Also she has been a great help with the technical aspect of it.

What do you listen to at home?
Whatever I'm looking at for my next set.  In the car I am always singing along with The Shins.  They make me happy!

Do you have a regular set you play, a “go to” set?
Not yet, but as I play I try to remember the songs that people respond to for future sets. 

Cream and sugar or black?
1/3 milk, 1/3 coffee, 1/3 sugar.

Cat or Dog?
Rabbit.

If you could take one thing from your inventory for real-life use, what would it be, and why pick it?
Alphas.  Can you imagine how much fun you could have with a full body alpha, a cat and a car?

Best SL Memory?
When Maht Wuyts had to move The Velvet from the Downtown sim to the new Velvet sim there was a big fundraising party.  We had crazy costumes, funny dances, stripper poles, and Wiseblood Wisent was actually able to make use of his many random accessories.  Not only was it hilarious, but since we were all working toward a common goal, there was a beautiful sense of community as well.

Come out and check Uglyana out at the Velvet Tuesday 3-5PM SLT!!!

DJ Exclusive: Interview with Ntropy Sellers

Verde and I have been to Ntropy's sets and always enjoy the variety and obvious joy of music she has when spinning (does anyone spin for real anymore???). Ntropy has her own coffee shop Full O' Beans for quite some time, it may be the oldest coffee house in sl as a matter o' fact! I recently took a vist there and saw her tastefully done build with art splayed all over and hope to catch Ntropy in a gig again soon! Here is her interview...

Are you DJing currently and where?  Currently I DJ at a few places, but nowhere on a regular basis.  Schedules aren't easy for me, with my RL job.

When did you start DJing?  I started DJing in RL at a college radio station in the early 90's.  I was always involved in music, though.

First Club?  The first club I DJ'd in SL was QTLabs (Quantum Fields).  Sadly, it's gone, but many of those from that quirky club remain good friends.

Most unusual thing you saw while DJing? Hmmm, it's SL.  So many unusual things, so little time to talk about them all!  In the early days, so much was unusual. I think we take the creativity that is inherent in SL for granted, now.   I will say one of the most fun gigs I ever did was a 5 hour marathon of Pirate music and sea shanties for International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Oh, that was fun!  Few people left, which surprised me...we were all scallywags for the long journey accross the sea.

Favorite music?  I like all kinds of music, if it's good music.  It's easier to say what I don't like - death metal and opera - but even those have exceptions.

Influences?  Just as I have so many kinds of music I like, I have many influences.  Amercana, blues, folk, 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's music.  I like to delve into the progression of music over time. It's really fascinating

What do you listen to at home?  I just load up a couple thousand songs, hit shuffle and go. Whatever comes up next is what's heard.

Do you have a regular set you play, a “go to” set?  No.  When I DJ in SL, I almost always wing it.  It flows better that way.  I will be listening to one song, it'll remind me of another.. and on and on.. I line up 2 or three at a time and go from there.  Sometimes a conversation can spark a string of songs.. just adding to the fun and spontanaety. (I spelled that wrong! Where's spell check?)  I just love the instant feedback from DJing in SL.  It's way more fun than conventional radio.

When can we hear you DJ usually?  As I said, it's just occasionally, these days.  My work keeps me so busy, I can't keep to a schedule

Cream and sugar or black?  Black coffee with sugar. Or plain iced coffee with a little sugar.  I do own an SL coffee shop (Can I promote that, here? Fool O' Beans is the name.)  Never, never, never drink Starbucks Coffee in RL. That stuff is just hideous.

Cat or Dog?  Cats.

If you could take one thing from your inventory for real-life use, what would it be, and why pick it?  My main avie's hair.  It's always perfect. And purple, too.

Best SL Memory?  Having an impromptu snowman building contest with my SL boyfriend. It quickly devolved into a snowball fight.  His was much better than mine, but we laughed so much.  I miss him a lot (he passed away in RL.)


Thanks for giving us your time Ntropy and hope to see you on the notices soon!


Photography by Piedmont Cartauld

DJ Exclusive: Interview with Kristopher Walpole

DJ Kristopher Walpole at ALT7

I have been to Kristopher's sets and have heard him live with his guitar. I enjoyed both immensely and everyone can catch him at Alt7 thursdays 2-4pm. Here is Kris's interview:

Are you DJing currently and where? yes A1t7  

When did you start DJing? I cant remember September 2011 I think.  

First Club? A1t7  

Most unusual thing you saw while DJing? Well once...I seen a horse fly  then...I seen a dragon fly  AND...I seen a house fly... ...but I've been, done, seen about everything  

When I see a elephant fly

Favorite music? Depends on me mood and how my day is going but i get a bit obsessed with particular songs...currently it is  

Influences? My friends   

What do you listen to at home? In the UK there is Radio 6 music which is good   

Do you have a regular set you play, a “go to” set? Yes  

When can we hear you DJ usually? Thursdays 2pm till 4pm Alt7 

Cream and sugar or black? I have a very advanced coffee machine that decides that sort of thing for me 

Cat or Dog? Neither in coffee thank you  

If you could take one thing from your inventory for real-life use, what would it be, and why pick it? I am fond of my ridiculous dance moves


Photo provided by Kristopher Walpole

DJ Exclusive: Interview with Bionic Merlin

Bionic in Pose at Dick-Sandwhich

I caught Bionic at the Dirty Glasss a few weeks back. Verde and I have heard Bionic a few times back in the day at the Pour House and recently caught up with Bionic at Dick-Sandwhich. It was good to catch up and we look forward to hearing more from Bionic very soon. Here is the interview.

Are you DJing currently and where?

Yes. The Lifestone, Privilege S&M, Steel Toad, The DirtyGlass, and occasionally Social Scene.

When did you start DJing?  2009

First Club?  My first long-term assignment was back in 2009 at a BDSM club/store, which was generally deserted.

Most unusual thing you saw while DJing?  Most likely a German transgendered person I know who'd come into Pour House wearing very VERY large attachments.

Favorite music? I'm a rabid DEVO fan.  I would go see them regularly in JB's in Kent.  Also like old Black Sabbath and Deep Purple a lot.  I go with punk or metal most of the time.  Other times I get in an electronic mood and play industrial or psytrance.  I don't deal with dubstyle at all because it brings up memories I'd rather not dwell on.

Influences?  Dead Boys, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, DEVO, Bowie, Iggy Pop, Combichrist,

What do you listen to at home?  I listen to what I'm playing in SL at home mostly.  At work I play streams on I<3 Radio at lunch time.

Do you have a regular set you play, a “go to” set?  Not really.  I shoot from the hip.  Generally poking me during the beginning of a set will get you a random bunch of stuff that'll be playing until I actually pick something.  ;)

When can we hear you DJ usually? 4:00 - 6:00

Cream and sugar or black? Strong and black!

Cat or Dog? Dog

If you could take one thing from your inventory for real-life use, what would it be, and why pick it?  The DJ booth that Zahava had built for me.

Best SL Memory?  Sunrunner Savira, my "toy".  Any memory about her.  Any memory about Zahava Wylder.

Thanks Bionic and I look forward to seeing and hear you at your club! Come out and hear for yourself all you willing avi's!

Photo by Verde Otaared

DJ Exclusive: Interview with Dana Mureaux

DJ Dana Mureaux dancing at The Hotel Chelsea

Dana Mureaux is a DJ at Virtual Hotel Chelsea where the Bohemians and artists get together and let loose! I know Dana is an extremely talented builder in SL (I saw her temple she built! HUGE!!) and I am sure to get to a set of hers soon to hear for myself! I know Dana is quite funny as she is great in local chat and no doubt brings the feelings to her sets! Here is Dana's exclusive.....

Are you DJing currently and where?  I am DJing at the Hotel Chelsea roof stage on Sundays at 7PM SL time. 

When did you start DJing?  I first started DJing in RL at a bar I owned. Did it for several years. Started DJing in SL soon after I first came in, five years ago. Kept it up sporadically for a few years, then stopped for a year or so. Now I'm doing it again, but just once a week at the Chelsea. 

First Club? It was called Just-US, or maybe that was the sim's name. Or both. 

Most unusual thing you saw while DJing?  Well, I've seen some spectacularly hermaphroditic avies, and once I danced with a very realistic dog avie for an hour or so. Looked pretty strange at the time. 

Favorite music?  I don't really have a favorite genre of music. I like everything from blues to industrial to zydeco to big band to rock and pop. 

Influences? I don't know that I have any influences beyond whatever stray notion strikes me at the moment. 

What do you listen to at home?  Mostly my goddam neighbors! Just kidding, heh. I don't really listen to music that much. Mostly I read or I fart around on the Internet. 

Do you have a regular set you play, a “go to” set?     No, I compose each set over the course of several hours, paying close attention to segues. I tend to overdo things. But what the hell,      it keeps me off the streets. :) 

When can we hear you DJ usually?  Duh, at the Chelsea on Sundays. 

Cream and sugar or black?  Plenty of both cream and sugar, and usally three or more huge mugs a day. 

Cat or Dog?     I had a wonderful kitty boy for nineteen years until he passed away three years ago.  

If you could take one thing from your inventory for real-life use, what would it be, and why pick it?  My shape! Because I'm older than Methuselah's underwear and at my age my shape is basically like a sack of potatoes. :) 

Best SL Memory?  Buying my current sim, which was ridiculously expensive, but it's the sim of my dreams. Has protected ocean sims on two sides, is half water, best mainland sim I've ever seen. I built an outrageously huge temple on it, and I rent out several large parcels to sailing  enthusiasts (mostly). My SL experience is very pleasing to me.   

Thank you Dana for the great interview and lets all get over to Hotel Chelsea and hear whats going on!

Photo by Verde Otaared   

DJ Exclusive: YoYo Burkhardt

DJ YoYo Burkhardt in pose

At first seeing the big alien like YoYo I am a bit taken back, but Yo will tell you himself he is sentimental about his first shape appearance and is loyal to it! I love it! YoYo plays a very eclectic mix in his set and I have seen him recently at the Attic to experience this. Yo keeps a steady flow of tunes going that reach a grassroots and classic sounding pastiche of Lou Reed sounding new artists and skirts through a few genres to be sure! I wil be going when I get the notices for sure...

Here is YoYo......

Are you DJing currently and where? You bet! If I'm in SL I'm DJing. Currently I have two weekly club gigs; The Velvet and The Attic. There's a once-a-month spot at a cafe in Meisterbastler-Kreis.

there are other occasional spots, like at The Mercury Room and a couple other places. I'd love to DJ more, but pesky RL gets pretty demanding.

The Enigmatic YoYo 

When did you start DJing? I really began around 1993 at a community radio station in Bekeley, California. As for Second Life, I started deejaying in September of 2010, just a couple of months after first wandering inworld. Discovering I could DJ there was the "glue" that made me stick. My purpose!

First Club? My first couple of SL gigs were at a roller-skating rink that's now long gone. Very soon after I began spinning at the two clubs where I hung out the most. 

At The Attic I was playing my typical "anything-goes, kitchen-sink-eclectic" sets (just like I do now), and at The Vault I was following their theme of vintage swing, big-band, jazz, lounge, and rhythm & blues. Lots of Louis Prima and Sinatra. I got requests for Benny Goodman's "Sing, Sing, Sing" a lot. That place was fun!

Most unusual thing you saw while DJing? Hmmm, well - - these days it's gotta be anything "mesh" on my ancient computer's old mesh-intolerant viewer. I see folks who look like bad conceptual art, or someone's nightmare about a geometry test.

Favorite music? Yes, it is!

Pre Rez Yo

Influences? The collectors record shop where I grew up, it was one of a kind and VERY eclectic. Once I was old enough, it's where I had my first job, and where I got my education.  Umm, what else - - College radio. The long-lost free-form FM radio. Dr. Demento, the sprawling and meandering 4-hour version of his show, many years ago, a very different animal.

What do you listen to at home?Anything. Everything.  "The only bad music is boring music."  Sorry to not get specific, but my tastes are still all over the map, and I'm always hungry for more. Name a genre and I might veer more towards the vintage stuff, perhaps. But I also I want to hear what's new, or something old that I may have missed. I'm still enjoying the stuff I listened to in my teens. In the car I'm usually listening to oldies rock & roll or classical.

Do you have a regular set you play, a “go to” set? I'm always wary about repeating myself too much, though there's certain artists you'll often hear. I love finding a thread of music that blends together well, and if it spans multiple genres, all the better. I love a good segue. 

I've had liteners say things like; "This set is very - - 'you'", and not be able to explain it or identify it further, and I take that as a compliment. 

I want to expose what's new, but not forget the old and familiar - - and vice-versa. I try to explore and maybe educate the listeners, somehow, and hopefully brighten their day. Sharing music, getting to DJ, it always brightens mine...

When can we hear you DJ usually?

Monday nights, 7pm at The Velvet. Wednesdays at 6 at The Attic. The first Sunday of the month in MBK at 5. Locations and more info are on my profile, and joining my DJ group ("YoYo's Yahoos") will get you notices about those appearances and other surprise gigs.

Cream and sugar or black? No coffee for me, thanks, I'm driving!

Cat or Dog? Dog, though it's been a few years. Other people's cats are fine, but not to live with, thanks. Ker-choo!

If you could take one thing from your inventory for real-life use, what would it be, and why pick it?

One of my dashikis, maybe. They look so groovy and comfortable!

Best SL Memory?

November of 2010, the day I met my girlfriend. Sitting and talking on a grassy hillside with a view of the ocean.

There was also the time when I was a wide-eyed newbie, and a woman demonstrated to me the "guerilla theater" opportunities of having alts. She staged an impromptu quarrel with "herself" - - a twin version of her avi - - and it seemed I was the only other person in the busy club / laundromat that knew what was really going on. Grasping the implications and possibilities gave me a rushy "Twilight Zone" feeling. Blew my mind!

Thank you for interviewing Yoyo! See and hear you out there soon!

Top Picture by Yoyo Burkhardt

Bottom Pictures by Pie Cartauld