DJ in FOCUS - VICTOR LOPEZ

DJ Name: Victor Lopez

Genre:  90's hip hop & rap, rnb, new jack swing

Number of years on the Decks: 10 Years

Any Mixtapes: 5 mixtapes' (Black Label Mixtape), (The Victor Lopez Show), (The Battle Begins... Round One), (The Silver Edition), (The Mixtape 2004) + I made the dance megamix for WILD Volume 15 which sold over 40,000 copies worldwide 

First gig: The Venue (Penrith) 

How did you learn the art: My uncle was doing house parties so I used to follow him around and started from there.

Do you practice at home: I used to hire my gear on Friday nights till Monday every second week so in that time i practiced at home till I got the beatmatching right, after that i just waited till i hit the club on friday's to practice while i was playing.

Your favourite type of music: Westcoast Rap.... 

Your favourite track of all time: "Bet Ya Man Can't" - Fat Joe feat Big Pun

Your favourite artist of all time Big Punisher (Big Pun) & Cypress Hill

Favourite gig:  Been the Official DJ for BONE THUGS & HARMONY in Sydney

Career Highlight: Onyx Australian Tour - 5 Cities as their official DJ..

What do you think about the music today compared to when you first started Djing: Wack 

What can the people expect to hear from you set: I take em back , way back, back into time.... lol

Get out of trouble track (Dance floor clearing, you drop it the crowd jumps up): "What's My Name" - Snoop Dogg

What's hot for you right now: Hopsin

Radio Show: Not at this point

Places the people can catch you NO DIGGITY Every Saturday Night - 249 Castlereagh Street, Sydney 

  DJ VICTOR LOPEZ

 LOPEZ RECORDS


 @djvictorlopez

♥ Angel

ANGELS HOT SPOTS - PLACES TO DANCE THIS WEEKEND IN SYDNEY - WEEK 7

HOT SPOT 1

THURSDAY - DJ QUIK IN SYDNEY - GAELIC THEATRE - 64 Devonshire Street SURRY HIILLS NSW 

Catch RAPPER, PRODUCER, DJ, MULTI INSTRUMENTALIST & WEST COAST HIP HOP LEGEND - DJ QUIK at The Gaelic Theatre this week.
With four gold and platinum albums and production work with a who’s who of the R&B and Hip Hop world including 2Pac, Toni Tony Tone, Nate Dogg, Kurupt, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre to his credit, DJ Quik stands as one of hip-hop's most consistent artists and musicians.



DJ's: 
◤ Def Rok
◤ Victor Lopez

Supported by:
►STAN BRAVO feat Mike Champion

Hosted by:
►UNCLE ABE
►MR JAYSON


DOOR CHARGE:  BUY TICKETS
DRESS CODE: Smart Casual

DELTA BRAVO

HOT SPOT 2
FRIDAY - T.I.A - Eleven, 11A Oxford Street Paddington

GRAND OPENING T.I.A
AFRICAN, HIP HOP & REGGAE MUSIC ON 2 LEVELS
African on Level 1
Hip Hop & Reggae on Level 2

► $5 HOUSE SPIRITS AND CORONA'S TILL 11PM

►Hosted by: B-WISE & MC TATE

DJ's:
◤ Ronnie
◤ Ziggy
◤ Kwame

DOOR CHARGE: $20
DRESS CODE: SMART CASUAL

T.I.A

HOT SPOT 3

SATURDAY - NO DIGGITY - STRATTONS HOTEL - 249 Castlereagh Street Sydney

The best in 90's Rap / Hip Hop / Urban / R&B plus Reggae all night.

►Hosted by: Phyzek

► $3 Drinks

DJ Line up:
◤ DJ Victor Lopez
◤Spin Daddy
◤J-Smoove

DOOR CHARGE: $20
DRESS CODE: SMART CASUAL

NO DIGGITY SYDNEY

HOT SPOT 4

SUNDAY CHERRY BAR Level G, Casino,The Star, 80 Pyrmont Street PYRMONT

• 
  

Looking for a place to enjoy a delicious and unique cocktail on a Sunday afternoon, well head on over to the newly renovated Cherry Bar @ THE STAR


Ask for Dom! 

4PM til Late

DOOR CHARGE: FREE
DRESS CODE: Smart Casual 

CHERRY BAR

HAPPY HOT SPOTTING!

A TRIBUTE TO BIGGIE SMALLS AKA THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G.

Christopher George Latore Wallace 

(May 21, 1972 - March 9, 1997)

Here is a special tribute to an Amercian rapper best known as The Notorious B.I.G., AKA Biggie Smalls AKA Big Poppa:

• Born in Brooklyn, NYC - May 21, 1972
• Made a Demo Tape which was promoted by DJ Mister Cee
• Featured The Source's "Unsigned Hype" column, dedicated to aspiring rappers, and produced a recording with other unsigned artists -  March 1992
• Discovered by Uptown A & R Rep & Producer Sean Combs
• Biggie appeared on Heavy D & The Boyz "A Buncha Niggas" 
• Signed to BAD BOY Records - Mid 1992
• Biggie's girlfriend gave birth to his first child, T'yanna - August 8th, 1993
• Biggie gained exposure on a remix of Mary J Blige's single "Real Love" & also "What's the 411?" which peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart - Late 1993

• Created another AKA The Notorious B.I.G. after finding out "Biggie Smalls" was already taken 
• His first solo track, "Party & Bullshit", was added to the Who's the Man? soundtrack - April 1993

• Notorious B.I.G. appeared with LL COOL J and Busta Rhymes on a remix to Craig Mack's "Flava in Ya Ear", which reached #9 on the Hot 100 - July 1994

• Biggie married Faith Evans - August 4, 1994

• The Notorious B.I.G released his first single "Juicy" from the debut album "READY TO DIE which reached #27

• Ready to Die released and reached #13 on the Billboard 200 chart then certified 4 times platinum - September 13, 1994

• Biggie released "Big Poppa" which reached #1 on the U.S. rap chart, and "One More Chance" featuring Faith Evans

• Biggie featured on singles "Player's Anthem" and "Get Money" on  Conspiracy debut album from JUNIOR MAFIA ("Junior Masters At Finding Intelligent Attitudes"), also featuring Lil Kim.  The record went Gold and the singles, went Gold and Platinum -  August 1995

• Biggie collaborated with BAD BOY groups 112 on "Only You" and TOTAL on "Can't You See". Both singles reached the top 20 of the Hot 100.

• Biggie appeared on the cover of The Source with the caption "The King of New York Takes Over" - July 1995
• Named Best New Artist (Solo), Lyricist of the Year, Live Performer of the Year, and his debut Album of the Year at the Source Awards - August 1995
• Named Rap Artist of the Year at the Billboard Awards
• Biggie became the top-selling male solo artist and rapper on the U.S. pop and R&B charts - 1995

• Biggie goes to California to promote his next album "Life After Death" and records a music video for its lead single, "Hypnotize" - February 1997

• Biggie presented an award to Toni Braxton at the 11th Annual Soul Train Music Awards in Los Angeles - March 8 1997

• On March 9, 1997 at 12:45 a.m Christopher George Latore Wallace was hit with four bullets in the chest was pronounced dead at 1:15 a.m

• "LIFE AFTER DEATH" was released 15 days after Biggie's death and hit #1 on the Billboard 200 charts and was certified Diamond  - March 25 1997 

• The single Mo Money, Mo Problems featuring Sean "Puffy" Combs & Ma$e was also released  and reached #1 in the Hot 100

THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER BIGGIE SMALLS, AKA THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G - BUT HIS MEMORY WILL LIVE ON THROUGH HIS MUSIC!

MAY HE RIP

SYDNEY'S TOP FEMALE VOCALISTS, DANCERS & MC'S - Sydney URBAN MUSIC SCENE

Since it's International Woman's Day I thought I would pay tribute to all of Top Vocalists & Dancers & MC's, in the SYDNEY URBAN MUSIC SCENE!

Here we go, this one is for the LADIES......

SINGER, SONG WRITERS, RECORDING ARTISTS:

ALPHAMAMA

MICHELLE MARTINEZ                 

ROXANNE LEBRASSE

CARMEN SMITH

TRACY ROSE 

LADY LYRIC

BILLIE McCARTHY

RHYTHMOLOGY

NGAIRE

JUANITA TIPPENS

TABITHA

MAHALIA BARNES

PRINNIE

DANCERS

JESSICA MAUBOY

DANCERS:

SAEA BANYANA

FEMME FATALES

RHYTHM BRAZIL

MC'S:

MIRRAH

EMPRESS MC

If you have not seen one of these ladies perform live, you do not know what you are missing. 

SYDNEY'S GOT TALENT! 

SUPPORT LOCAL TALENT!

DJ in FOCUS - A GAME

DJ Name: A Game (nickname Brown Bear)


Genre: All Genres – Mash up DJ


Number of years on the Decks: 6


Any Mixtapes: http://soundcloud.com/the-keystone-group/bungalow-8-sunset-mix-a-game I did this recently for Bungalow 8 http://soundcloud.com/dj-a-game - some of my mixes on here too


First gig: 1st Official Gig was my DJ Duo group the Backhanderz in 2007 at Ruby Rabbit. The night was an old skool house night which consisted of old Ibiza style classics. We played vinyls old too.


How did you learn the art: I was 16 when I 1st went to Ibiza. I fell in love with the house music as I never heard it before. I was bought up on Mowtown, Reggage, Soul, Hip Hop and rap. While in Ibiza I bought a shed load of vinyls back from my holidays’ and then bought my 1st Technic 1210s to play them on.

Do you practice at home: Not really anymore. I kinda freestyle when I play live and its always seems to pay off.

Your favourite type of music: Man this is tough. I love all music apart from trance. I grew up on R&B basically, but I love dance music through from the commercial stuff, Nu Disco, Deep House and in the downtime I listen to chillout and even Classic music. I produce chill out/alternative music. So in short No I don’t ;)

Your favourite track of all time: Again there’s too many to say, however I’ll give you 3. Massive Attack – Teardrop, Brothers Johnson – Stomp and Armand Van Helden – You don’t know me

Your favourite artist of all time: This is easy – Michael Jackson. Don’t really need to say more about him do I!

Favourite gig: Good Vibrations 2009 – In the Star Bar Tent. It was raining that day and everyone rush to come into the tent I was playing in (Backhanderz gig). There was about 5000 crazy festival goers which added the electric atmosphere of the set. Amazing experience!

Career highlight: I’d definitely say Good Vibes both in 2007 & 2008. Playing before Eric Morrillo on NYD at Ivy Pool in 2010

What do you think about the music today compared to when you first started Djing: Music is timeless, so when I play usual style mash up set I play music from all genres past and present. The great thing about technology today is you can make music from the comfort of your home instead of being in a studio play thousands of dollars. The Streets 1st album was produced at home. Calvin Harris produced originally from his bedroom.

What can the people expect to hear from you set: People will hear a bit of everything but delivered with an addictive twist. I want people to sing along with music and essentially put them in a reminiscent state of bliss. “I heard that when I was....This reminds me of....”

What's hot for you right now: Certainly not this Sydney Summer. There’s a couple of tracks I’m feeling Norwegian artist called Bernhoft track called Cmon Talk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjEsAEsYCw4 and a remix by a coolio Sydney DJ called Devola where he mashes up Ying Yang Twins – Whistle Song with a John Legend cover of Adele’s – Rolling in the deep - http://soundcloud.com/devola/whisper-in-the-deep-feat-john


Get out of trouble track (Dance floor clearing, you drop it the crowd jumps up): "Show me Love" (Laidback Luke remix)

Radio Show: Not anymore

Places the people can catch you: IVY every fortnight on a Friday, Bungalow 8 every fortnight, White Revolver, Kit Kaboodle and Beach Haus

FOLLOW DJ Aaron Bannie: 

  The Keystone Group

 @ABannieDJAGame

♥ Angel

 

Getting to know the ALPHAMAMA

AlphaMama, firstly, thank you very much for your time, first of all I want to say congratulations on your success to date.

You must be very happy that you can make a living and career from doing what you love and are really great at.

I am a big fan so am grateful for this interview.

You're welcome Angel, thank you! :) 

The first question I want to ask you is where did you come up with the name AlphaMama? What is your meaning behind it? AlphaMama is about me learning to embrace my power as a mother and an artist.. In my eyes all women are alphamamas. It's not that we are more alpha than our male counterparts but it's learning to direct and enhance our unique energy to heal nurture and grow life. I try to live as an AlphaMama in all areas of my life. Alphamama is power, courage, harmony, kindness healing and love!!
I first decided I needed a stage name a few years, mainly because not many people could pronounce my last name and I wanted a name that I felt represented who I was as an artist. So, I took my initials A M and the fact that I was a new mother (my son is 4 years old now) and made AlphaMama.

Wow you're a mother as well, how do you juggle being a mother, recording artist and performer? It's a way of life ive become used to and I won't say it's easy. I try to always keep in the forefront of my mind what my life means. Life can mean anything you want and for me it is to be happy, healthy and harmonious. When I remember those things everything falls into place. The time I spend with my son is intentional and intimate so that I don't feel guilty when we're apart. I have so much support from my friends and family which makes life easier as a single mother. Basically I do anything and everything I can to keep the harmony between all the elements of my life.
Alphamama you are very beautiful, where were you born, and what is your background? Thank you! :) My Father is Indonesian and my Mother is South African with German, Dutch and Scottish heritage.

Wow what a great mix! :)

So how long have you been singing for, where did you get that Power vocal? Was your mother a singer? I was always an entertainer as a kid, it was in my nature from ever since I can remember. My dad had an Indonesian church and so I learned a lot from my years of playing and singing in church. i think I never felt that I had a typical beautiful voice, as in I didn't have a beautiful tone and I couldn't do amazing runs so I just learned to develop my belt. Singing in situations with no fold back and terrible sound also made me adjust my sound.

When did you know you wanted to be a singer and recording artist? I only really consciously decided at around 21 that I wanted to be a singer and make a living from music. Before that I had too much pride to let me acknowledge my dream. I was scared of failing so I never let myself go for it. But over the years I've been developing my confidence and have achieved things I never thought I would.

Do you write all your own songs? I do write all of my own songs. I collaborate with musicians/producers sometimes but I have written my own lyrics/melodies so far. Not to say that I wouldn't ever sing something someone else has written. I believe in good songs and if I can connect with a lyric, I'll sing it.

How does it feel to be sharing your music with the world? For me that's exactly what music is about. Sharing energy, sharing stories, sharing feelings. I really embrace the power I have through music to change, move and heal people through music. I definitely haven't managed to achieve that on a global scale yet, but it is an

achievable goal for me that I look forward to.

ALPHAMAMA

Who are artists you find inspire your music? Inspiration for me is everywhere. Its in my backyard with the amazing Australian music scene. Its everyone that I grew up listening to from mum's daggy record collection to all the new jack swing I stole off my brother. I listen to everything and never rule anything out. To name a few: Helen Reddy, Janet Jackson, TLC, Michael Jackson, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, Mariah Carey, Bob Marley, Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Anita Baker, Curtis Mayfield, Sly and The Family Stone, The Temptations…. I could go on for days.

What are your favourite tracks out now? Ummm.. I'm pretty slow on the new music scene. Probably my favourite music are my Melbourne friends  RunForYourLife and their track "Work Hard" or anything off their album

Wow I love the fact that you chose a local band as your favourite!

One of the other things I love about you is your uniqueness. I just love the way you dress for your shows and on your video clips? Do you have a stylist? I've been styling myself for years but recently I've been collaborating with a beautiful Stylist/Designer named Angela White. She makes my costumes and she gets my

look. We have heaps of fun together!

ALPHAMAMA

Do have a passion for fashion & where do you draw inspiration from? I definitely love fashion but no so much what's necessarily "in". For my its more about self expression and that can be in any art form. I like to shock and draw reactions from people and I like the freedom to change my look whenever I feel like it. I get inspiration from other artists and also magazines, I like to research women's fashion and its evolution throughout the world. My look can go from ghetto to tribal to oriental to egyptian. And that's just in a week.

What do you think of the music today? I think like anything its subject to opinion and personal taste. There's good shit and bad shit all the time. What I do love about music today is that its so easy to make because technology is so accessible. As a result there is SO much music to check out and not nearly enough time to process it!!

What do you think of the music industry today? I hate it and I love it. Artists are forced to be entrepreneurial and business savvy to get anywhere. You have 2 roads now and that's independent or label and both have their pros and cons. I actually love the fact that music is downloadable and free and it forces artists to get off their ass and put on killer shows or create new avenues of making money that benefits more people over all. I know its fun to bitch and moan about the industry but at the end of the day, if someone else can understand it and have success why can't I or anyone else?

What would you say to others out there trying to make it? I would say: What are you making? In one way I feel like I've already "made it" because I'm completely happy with where I am and what I've done and I am successful. But in another way I feel like I will have never "made it" because you can always go higher. Get rid of the made it mindset because its unhealthy and focus more on developing yourself as a human being first and an artist that way you will always be happy with your success.

GREAT ANSWER! Believe anything is possible and do-able!

ALPHAMAMA

So you have released your first album? Congrats, please tell us about it..... 
My debut album Truth, Trips and Revelations is a complilation of inspiring tracks showcasing a unique sound: an eclectic fusion of pop, soul, hip hop and reggae. Collaborating with Sydney Production team West Labz Sound,The result is a record that fearlessly crosses musical genres and busts out of creative boxes. The album delivers a transparently honest view into my experiences, heartbreaks and lessons learned. The first chapter is a story listeners can relate to and connect with. Truth, Trips and Revelations takes you through tales of broken down relationships, new love, teenage rebellion, depression and ends on an uplifting infectious celebration of life. Expect to be overwhelmed by the musical depths on this Album.

Who features on it? Features by Kween G and Ngaiire

Who produced it? Production by West Labz Sound

I just love the clip for Bad Appel, tell us about the song... I wrote Bad appel when I first moved out of home. I felt a lot of pressure from my family to conform and make them happy but I wanted to follow my own dreams and heart. I felt like the black sheep and in a way I was trying to say 'look at how you shape and mould your children'.. So expressing that was important for me but it is more important to take responsibility for myself and take my life by the balls!

Let's take a look at the clip.......

Is your album available on Itunes now? Not yet but will be soon. I have an EP and single available on itunes

How would you primarily describe your sound now? Hahah it changes everyday. I would say… "indie soul" but I hate labels. I would like to say that I can sound however, I want to sound

I like that, they can't put you in a box and your versatility shows on stage!

What does the future hold for AlphaMama? Thank you. Actually a lot of exciting things coming up. After this album I'm focusing on a new project that is a lot more current and accessible to the pop market. Its something I never thought I would do but I love it and I know its going to give me a bigger audience and allow me to flow power to more people.

This sounds exciting any "Exclusive" announcements?
So this new project just got signed to a major record label but that's all I can say at the moment

What do you want to say to your fans and followers? You've all got amazing taste in music!! HAHAHHA

ALPHAMAMA LAUNCH

Where can your fans catch you next? My album launch 7th March Oxford Art Factory and then Taste Festival 8th March, and Watussi Support at the Metro 23 March.

BUY TICKETS HERE

@ALPHAMAMA_says



There you have it if you don't know ALPHAMAMA now you do! If you have not seen this girl sing LIVE well I suggest you do!

She blows the roof off a joint!

.The Secret Life of Angel: ANGELS HOT SPOTS - Places to Dance in Sydney

.The Secret Life of Angel: ANGELS HOT SPOTS - Places to Dance in Sydney