Editor’s Note: SXSW is already in full swing and the Music portion of the festivities officially begins tomorrow. DJ Mario Cotto loops us in on the dance music tip.
LA Dance Music stalwart Suzanne Kraft has released a bunch of glorious, dreamy leftfield house tracks under the Suzanne moniker, but is also a member of ambient tribal dudes Pharaohs. He has a show on dublab (Things of Life) and graced my show with a live DJ set a couple years back. One of LAs true originals, he is a skilled selector and righteous dude worth seeking out through the melee of Austin showcases. (Saturday March 15th @ Speakeasy Kabaret)
A bona-fide acid house legend and virtual creator of the sound via Phuture, Chicago’s DJ Pierre is house music royalty. Championed by Ron Hardy, Pierre’s new sound garnered attention and worldwide acclaim…and changed the face of dance music forever. (Thursday March 13th @ Karma Lounge)
Berlin based DJ Hunee is a true original. With releases on spacey Scando disco label Internasjonal and heady Northeastern label WT Records, Hunee’s releases span a variety of sounds ranging from techno to disco to house, all with a cheekily soulful vibe and sense of humor. (Thursday March 13th @ The Madison)
Stones Throw’s secret weapon and mad scientist, Madlib sightings are pretty rare but a thing to behold. The eccentric genius/shaman/jazzman/beatsmith is the Miles Davis of hip-hop. End of story. (Saturday March 15th @ The North Door)
One of the original titans of golden age hip-hop Prince Paul is one of the all time greatest. With Producer for De La Soul and Gravediggaz on his resume, there isn’t much else to say. The work speaks for itself. (Saturday March 15th @ The North Door)
Starting with bona-fide stunner “Coma Cat,” Hamburg’s Tensnake has been putting out heaters at a leisurely pace for years now. The sheer quality of the tracks has been enough to stoke the flames to the point that Tensnake is set to become a household name. Right on the heels on the release of his debut full length LP (Glow,) Tensnake is hitting SXSW hard with a handful of dates and a set at LA’s legendary A Club Called Rhonda in Austin. (Wednesday March 12th @ Parish and Friday March 14th @ Hype Hotel)