Michael Tello and Miguel Solari invite you to:
( ( ( ( ( H O U S E P I T A L I T Y ) ) ) ) )
Join us as we celebrate the Birthday of our special guest Alix Alvarez. I had a chance to get deep and have some fun when I asked Alix some questions about his birthday and upcoming projects. He’s a really sweet and motivated artist and we are very happy and honored to share this special night with him. We look forward to seeing all you disco citizens on the dance floor!!
Q & A with Alix Alvarez
By: Michael Tello
1. It’s your Birthday on April 17th, Happy Birthday. How old are you turning and what would you like most this year?
What??? Ill be 33?? Holy fuck!
2. How long have you been living in LA? How does LA inspire or shape your music in comparison to your home town NYC?
Ive been living in LA for the past 2 years now. LA inspires me ALOT. NYC is always mecca for me. Nothing will ever compare to what has been built in NYC or the DJ’s that come from my city. But over the last few years NYC has changed dramatically due to politics economics etc that it was almost unrecognizable to me. The scene and the music got very stale. I’ll always rep NYC where ever I go but I thought it was time for a change. I think I came to LA at just the right time. LA is really popping off right now. There is soooo much to do every weekend. You can go to 4-5 different parties everynight of the weekend just about. And they’ll all be different. You have alot of choices. Countless parties. And the Djs in the underground keep it fresh. They put me up on things out here which is cool. Some amazing parties and things happening in LA. Party wise and music wise LA is in a good zone. You get the best of almost everything here on any given weekend. It inspires me somewhat. I’d say Cali in general inspires me. The Bay slaps all the way too. Been to some great parties in the bay and heard alot of great talent. But living in LA has definitely inspired and opened me up musically. Different setting. Different inspiration. Things are evolving musically for me and I like where its all going.
3. I know you’ve been locked in the studio working really hard, what new projects, releases or collaborations are you most excited about this year?
I don’t consider what I do hard work. Producing music is not hard at all. Its just really being creative and finding that inspiration. Ive been a hermit over the past few months. I can be pretty ocd in the studio. I vowed to stop doing that but I like being home creating and shutting off from the rest of the world for a minute. Ive just been writing material. Some of it is weird shit that will probably never see the light of day. Some of it is shit that I think is wack and someone might come along and say I love it. Somethings work and somethings dont need to be released. I dont release alot. Im more about quality vs quantity. Always have been like this. There is alot of garbage out there. Id rather add something of value to contrast all of the mess. And there is a lot of mess out there sad to say :/ My EP for Ovum is done. Im just being picky about what Im going to release. But they’re behind my shit 100% and really dig the music that I’ve been sending them. Glad to be releasing on Ovum. A few months back I parted ways with SOLE channel the label I started with my partner Mr.V to venture out and do my own thing. A new label project is in the works. My own baby. And Ive been doing my BODYROCK events in Cali for almost a year now. I’m glad with the way things are progressing.
4. I know you travel allot and get to see how influential “Dance Music” is in different parts of the world. Being such a well respected artist how do you keep your music and label fresh and on the forefront of all the new labels, artists, DJ’s and genres emerging everyday?
Ive seen a lot and heard a lot traveling always grateful for that. But really it comes down to friends. Have some great dj producer friends with great tastes musically. They’ll hip me to things that they’re playing out or dig. And some of them aren’t even DJs they just know their shit! Im a big music nerd. I do alot of shopping online and hit alot of the different sites. And not just the main two. And just by peeking my head out into different parties here in LA and elsewhere Ill hear alot of music that inspires me. On wax and off the wax. I don’t do much vinyl shopping. If I do it’ll be for classics like jazz and such. Im a sample digger. Im very observant and I do pay attention to whats going on. I listen to ALOT of different music and keep it very diverse and interesting. My playlist is a mess because I have so much dope music. But I like it like that. Keeps things interesting. But you always have to look ahead. Things change so fast in the industry/music wise. Its always evolving. I never like staying in the same place doing the same thing and don’t like the idea of getting stale. I always want to move forward >>>
5. What should the Housepitality family expect to hear and see from you for your B-day set at such an intimate venue/party?
I have no idea just yet because its my birthday so I guess it all depends on what Im drinking that night! 😀 But it will be a lot of fun. Promise!
Thanks for taking the time to talk to us, we are really excited to have you and promise to show you the best Housepiatlity SF has to offer.
Cheers,
Michael Tello
:: ALIX ALVAREZ (OVUM, Bodyrock, LA) ::
http://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/alixalvarez
http://soundcloud.com/alixalvarez
Biography: They say curiosity killed the cat, but for this cat curiosity only made him stronger as he was driven to search for new sounds in early hip hop and beyond harvesting each sound into his unique production style of today. “Im layin’ the foundation down” declares Alix Alvarez as he raps about past present and future. Born and raised in The Bronx, NYC this humble cat has been making waves in the music game for quite sometime. Nourished on vinyl selections of disco, soul and salsa by his parents in his formative years, Alix was conditioned to be a musical mastermind at an early age.
Heavily influenced and motivated by an older sister & cousin when he was 12, Alix began his musical journey on the turntables mixing records by house music fame Todd Terry’s “Bango” to picking up wax by Big Daddy Kane and DJ Premier. The next logical steps for Alix were to get formally educated in music. Already having an interest in production Alix began studying at the Institute of Audio Research in Manhattan to be trained as an audio engineer where he graduated as one of the top students in his class. In July of 1999, Alix was given the opportunity that lead him to be an assistant sound engineer at MAW studios – “Little” Louie Vega and Kenny “Dope” Gonzales’ (Masters at Work) studios in NYC. Like a kid in a candy store Alix literally slept in the studio making beats on the down low, gaining as much knowledge in this musical discourse as possible. It was his experience and training at the MAW studios that helped him to develop his engineering skills as he was beginning to produce and write his own deep house gems. Over the next few years Alix found himself as an integral part of the New York house music scene bumping heads with receptive players in the industry, such as Sandy Rivera (K.O.T) & Osunlade who served as mentors to him.
While working at MAW studios Alix met now co owner and partner in Sole Channel records, Mr. V, a lower east side local who also worked for the label portion of MAW. The two quickly started hustling their sounds together about town. For the next 2 years Alix and Mr. V jointly held a monthly party calling it “Sole Channel” throwing down soulful, funky, house rhythms into the early morning bringing back the nostalgic vibe of the old school underground house parties in NYC. The collaboration between Mr.V and Alix was a no-brainer with their complimentary styles in both music and on life philosophy. Already having a fresh name, the artwork to brand themselves and connections to music heads world-wide, in 2004 Alix and Mr. V launched their now internationally recognized record label, Sole Channel Music. Since the label was incorporated, Sole Channel releases have been flying out and landing all over the world placing these two in the top tier of future house music creators.
2001 marked Alix’s first release entitled “The Nu Breed E.P.” on Essence Records UK and since then he has been releasing original tracks and remixes like a mad man! Mr. Alvarez has been sought out and internationally recognized for his remix projects on UK Soul songstress & grammy winner Amy Winehouse’s “Tears Dry On Their Own” as well as remixing an impressive array of talent that include James Ingram, Sean Escoffrey, Miguel Migs, Lady Alma, Tortured Soul and more recently Universal Music’s soul songstress, Jully Black. Worldwide success has prevailed for Alix from his production of the world wide smash and highly acclaimed “Da Bump”, in collaboration with Mr. V and Miss Patty released on Defected Records in 2007. He continues to add to that list as his production skills get tighter with each new release. With a heavy tour schedule, Alix has been on the road spreading the Sole Channel love world wide from Japan to Johannesburg and everywhere in between. Alix and Mr.V have teamed up with famed Parisian producer Franck Roger as co-creators of the internationally renowned 5 Beats party which hold residencies in Paris, London and NYC. The monthly event brings the best dj talent from around the world. Reinventing house music by combining it with hip hop sounds, Alix’s productions continue to defy the boundaries of electronic music. He is blazing trails and setting precedence for the future of music.
FREE champagne from 9pm-10pm
Art show by Arttease SF
FREE before 11pm with RSVP at www.housepitalitysf.com/rsvp
otherwise $5 before 11pm, $10 After
Main Room:
MICHAEL TELLO
CJ LARSEN
Groove Lounge:
RAY ZUNIGA
NAVID IZADI
Enjoy handcrafted cocktails by our very own groove lounge mixologist, Ty.
World class acts, world class music, every Wednesday night..
We got you!
Located at Icon Ultra Lounge
1192 Folsom St. at 8th St., SF
9pm-2am | 21+ | 3 Rooms