THE DROP: Talking career highlights and "Twilight" with Lazerbitch’s "Mad Max" Maxwell Houston

http://www.divshare.com/flash/audio_embed?data=YTo2OntzOjU6ImFwaUlkIjtpOjQ7czo2OiJmaWxlSWQiO2k6MTM1OTk0MDg7czo0OiJjb2RlIjtzOjEyOiIxMzU5OTQwOC0zYWEiO3M6NjoidXNlcklkIjtpOjEzMjcwMDg7czoxMjoiZXh0ZXJuYWxDYWxsIjtpOjE7czo0OiJ0aW1lIjtpOjEyOTMyMDkwMTk7fQ==&autoplay=

Maxwell “Mad Max” Houston Interview!

Baltimore’s Lazerbitch meld contemporary electro pop style with the classic sensibilities of house music for a terrific blend that meets radio expectation without sacrifice for artificial essence. Somewhere between the fact that Libby “Zna Queene” Picken can legitimately sing her ass off without necessity of tons of studio sweetening and producer Maxwell “Mad Max” Houston being located in San Francisco, 3,000 miles away from his vocalist muse, Lazerbitch’s development has been a study in slow progressing excellence. Both Picken and Houston were scene kids in Washington, DC’s late 90s era of dance dominance who had the talent and ability to ascend from being on the floor to ruling the stage. In a class that includes the likes of Roxy Cottontail and Jesse Tittsworth, that’s both impressive and speaks well to their potential for the future.

http://www.youtube.com/v/MuMhnVo0V1c?fs=1&hl=en_US

2009’s “Coquette” was a bright minimal electro pop number buoyed by a fun loving video clip that got Lazerbitch some very exciting national and international buzz. 2010 brings along “Twilight,” another electro pop number, this time incorporating guitars, but with Zna Queene’s soaring vocals still a premium in the mix, it’ meets their standard of excellence. With Picken as a lead singer being in Baltimore, local eyes and ears are well acquainted with her talent and ability. However, co-conspirator “Mad Max” Maxwell Houston, though stationed in California, is equal in talent and ability behind the boards. In looking ahead to a 2010 that will more than likely portent the continued gradual progression toward superstar expectations for the duo, I decided to take some time to speak with Max about his thoughts regarding his DC upbringing, his production style and conceptual development, and most certainly Lazerbitch and the success of the project.

http://www.youtube.com/v/Q1aOYmGY00Q?fs=1&hl=en_US

Listen and enjoy!

S*** I’M DIGGING THIS WEEK: Lazerbitch & Diddy Dirty Money Edition

My favorite two dance friendly acts of the moment have released projects that owe a lot of their success to Justin Timberlake’s debut album. When dance blends accents of urban cool with an accessible edge, I approve. Keep reading…

http://www.youtube.com/v/MuMhnVo0V1c?fs=1&hl=en_US

Baltimore’s Libby Picken now sings and performs professionally as Zna Queene. The name change for the Lazerbitch front woman only confirms what we’ve known all along. Picken is a certified dance floor warrior princess. 2009’s “Coquette” really took the underground by force, the sexy electro pop track given a fun loving video that likely pushed Lazerbitch further along than any of their excellent previous efforts as a duo. Now a year later and wiser, Lazerbitch released their latest single and video, “Twilight.” “Twilight’s” key is a guitar at the end of the hook that is entirely similar to the guitar on Justin Timberlake’s “Like I Love You.” That song is a wonderful nugget of dance floor and radio pop, and, well, so is this. In cashing in on the vampire craze, advocating a late night party lifestyle and a wonderful homage to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” (check out Picken’s excellent red and black leather dress in the video) the clip continues the trend of Lazerbitch having fun videos at the pulse of popular culture.

http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/e/16711680/wshhfe5i80GvPOchi13L

Diddy Dirty Money’s debut Last Train to Paris is an exciting melange of the cool stylistic notions of the percussive impluse of modern progressive dance music, early era New York City downtown hip hop and yes, the sexy synth driven R & B of Justin Timberlake’s debut album Justified. It’s in the album’s constant desire to make people’s desire to dance feel like a nod to urban cool instead of Jersey Shore related populist garbage culture where the record succeeds. Current single “Ass on the Floor” is arguably Swizz Beatz’s finest production since “It’s Me Bitches,” and in sampling Afrojack’s drumline for Major Lazer’s “Pon De Floor” and smoothing it out over some very dance friendly R & B production, it advances hip hop sounds without deviating too far away from the expectation of the average hip hop listener. Last Train to Paris really is the last train leaving the station for hip hop fans wanting to enjoy the popularity of dance music, and in not sounding like anything Pitbull, Flo Rida or the Black Eyed Peas are up to is the populist edge that the hip hop/dance hybrid needed to reach the masses.

We Never Leave the Club! – TGRI’s Quarterly Club Music Update…

Is this really the new face of club music?

Noted music scribe Al Shipley of the Baltimore City Paper has recently announced his intention to write Tough Breaks: The Story of Baltimore Club Music. Intended to be a comprehensive look at the history and influence of the house and bass influenced regional sound, the book, when completed may indeed be the best way of writing the closing chapter to the first and second generations of this influential sound. If anything, from what we have seen in 2010, the subsequent generations of club music will be truly international in scope, and in providing challenged for purveyors of the sound in Baltimore and Philadelphia, it would appear as though comeptition is only going to get hotter from here.

I can say without holding my breath or with the slightest modicum of shock that some of the hottest club music released in 2010 has absolutely nothing to do with its founding locales. I attribute this to the fact that the influence of club music is far more accessible now than ever. Instead of having to venture out to Rod Lee’s record store or purchase one of the vaunted (lol) “Scottie B Hard Drives,” producers can flip on a radio and/or search online for an afternoon and if they’re of a level of truly professional musical acumen, production of a “club banger” isn’t a matter of if, but a question of when.

Need proof of my statement? Rye Rye’s “Witch Doctor,” which sounds like it comes from the mind of Blaqstarr? No, that’s Chicago’s Million Dollar Mano, DJ for Hollywood Holt. “Sex Sax,” a warm, horn friendly house banger that sounds like KW Griff? Nope, that’s Brooklyn and Trouble and Bass Crew’s Drop the Lime and appropriately named Dutch master Bart BMore. “Git Em,” which sounds like something that Philly’s Brick Bandit maestro Tim Dolla created? Nope, check for DC’s Steve Starks on that one. And the world’s hottest underground DJ tandem right now are Portuguese duo Zombies For Money, who, if you listen closely, use yes, club music as a backdrop for Bhangra and tribal themed sonic journeys.

This isn’t to say that Baltimore and Philly aren’t still hit making locales. It’s just that their scope is different. Being the epicenter of the sound, the ability of local DJs from these areas has completely switched in expectation. DJ Class is an international phenomenon now, taking “I’m the Shit’s” success into the big rooms and Vegas parties at Body English, as he has recently joined again with Jermaine Dupri on Sparks’ latest “Favorite DJ.” Class is a frequent collaborator now with the “Get Familiar” spouting DJ, having left Alameda and Coldspring behind for the comfort confines of comped suites at The Palms. Also making waves as well is DJ Sega who has become a superstar in 2010. His track “Get Naked” with yes, Lil Jon is everything you’d expect the man whose “What?!?!?!” sample is a key component of Philly’s club sound, to be. Hard breaking and frenetic, Sega, with Toddla T and Drake remixes as well that are phenomenal has truly evolved into not just the most inventive DJ, but possibly one of the top DJs of the sound. And as far as the future is concerned, if you’re not fully aware of the dominance of DJ Pierre, Murder Mark and TGRI’s own stamped artist James Nasty, you’re playing yourself.

As for the veterans, you can’t really go wrong when DJ Booman goes in on Lazerbitch’s “Twilight.” As well, Say Wut’s familiar “Go” just got the dubstep treatment from Foamo, and still as far as live performances go, My Crew Be Unruly 3 is scheduled for July 30th, and is expected to once again be the epic throwdown of club music we all expect.

Club music in 2010 is an extremely bizarre place. Rod Lee is doing remixes for Steve Aoki. Usher has taken a leap into the club sound. Portuguese post teens are probably gettin’ their car washed in the club, as per instructions of KW Griff’s “Chris Rock Joint.” The sound that never fails is winning more than ever. Bitter and angry that it’s someone else making the money instead of the originators? Well, as with all movements, it’s never the ones that open the door who reap the benefits, but the ones who walk through. Instead of being at the head of the line, Bmore and Philly are just as important now as pretty much everywhere else in the world. The competition is now fierce and wide. Expectations for a new collection of legendary club bangers for a new generation is high. We never leave the club. In fact, the club just went worldwide.

SEAL OF APPROVAL (DC) – Clockwork @ Rock & Roll Hotel feat Libby Picken (Lazerbitch) – 4/9

 

LIBBY PICKEN OF LAZER BITCH INTERVIEW AUDIO

So, the last time we gave the Seal to Clockwork, the monthly dance party was not quite ready for prime time. However, the DJ trifecta of Ratt Moze, Chris Nitti, and Philip Goyette took their lumps and learned a few lessons, returning stronger for their second outing. Playing the Rock and Roll Hotel (as originally intended), last month’s Clockwork found the DJs mixing from their vast musical knowledge to an active crowd. The dance floor was bathed in green laser light straight out of the Waiting for Tonight video. A good time was had by all.

We’re taking a bit of a “fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me” approach here, but we feel confident that the burgeoning monthly will continue to develop in a positive direction. Helping the Clockwork DJ’s case is Libby of Lazerbitch, who will be joining the guys for a live performance, in the same vein as Maggie Horn’s set at the inaugural event.

Libby is an electro-pop diva and a favorite of TGRI who doesn’t leave Baltimore for DC quite enough (hint hint!). Lazerbitch recently released both an iPhone app and a new single (“Twilight”), and they’re just getting started. Don’t miss this opportunity to catch three rising DJs on their grind and one superstar performance from the next Amanda Blank.

We also took the time to sit down with Libby before the performance to get a few words regarding tonight’s performance, her career development, and future aims. Enjoy!

THE DROP: Lazerbitch presents new single "Twilight" AND an iPhone application…

DOWNLOAD NEW LAZERBITCH SINGLE “TWILIGHT”

Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you. That’s Baltimore’s Lazerbitch, and that’s Baltimore’s Lazerbitch’s iPhone application. Libby Picken and Mad Max are indeed the duo that brought you last year’s underground heater “Coquette,” with easily one of the most buzzed about video clips coming out of the Charm City of last year alongside Mullyman’s “I Go Harder.” Now, alongside this application available from iTunes and the Apple website, Lazerbitch premieres their latest single “Twilight,” another showcase for the sweet cooing of Libby Picken’s voice alongside the electro trending productions of Mad Max. This one doesn’t break any new ground, but keeps the sensual heat coming from this rapidly rising Baltimore dance power duo. Also, check for the deep house breakdown with the congas at the end of the track. Having seen Picken perform live at Baltimore’s ultra fun and influential, lasting until 7 AM Deep Sugar deep house parties at the 100,000 watts of sound known as Bmore’s Paradox, the comfort with those sounds in her background alongside recording with the likes of Donald Glaude and Paul Oakenfold crafts a unique mainstream sound. This gives Lazerbitch a certain authenticity that many groups doing the exact same thing absolutely lack.

http://www.youtube.com/v/Q1aOYmGY00Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01

SEAL OF APPROVAL – (BMORE) MOUSTACHE DANCE PARTY – 1/22/10 – OTTOBAR

Okay. Baltimore knows how to party. Possibly even better than DC as of late. Baltimore’s the slightly grungier, more relaxed neighbor to the north that is retooling for another run at being the mecca of the American underground music scene. Two of the component elements of this resurgence, club DJ James Nasty, who is a TGRIOnline favorite and Lazerbitch’s Libby Picken alongside the Moustache Crew DJs are present tonight at Ottobar’s upstairs lounge from 9 PM to 2 AM for the quickly gaining in popularity Moustache Dance Party. Also present will be DC’s DJ Ratt Moze, who has had some success VERY early in his career with his “Digital Love ” party at Jimmy Valentine’s in DC with Chris Klang, but ask the selector and he’ll gladly tell you that his heart lies in Baltimore club music. He has started journeying north to satiate this desire, and is on the bill here tonight as well.

http://www.youtube.com/v/Q1aOYmGY00Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01

James Nasty had one of the TOP 5 CLUB ANTHEMS OF 2009 as decided by TGRIOnline.com!

$5 to get in if you’re 18-21, 21+ is free, and cheap drinks for everyone!