Deep House Network Miami WMC 2003 Roundup

March 18th saw Miami’s South Beach kick off as usual, with pulsating beats emanating from every hotel, bar and club in town for the annual Winter Music Conference. Though somewhat overshadowed by the US attack on Iraq, in ways it proved more than anything how important music is in bringing the global community together. For us anyway, this year was a more intimate affair, if somewhat crazier! Without a doubt, the happy juice was flowing as quality house music was churned out left, right and centre by some of house music’s favourite DJ’s, producers, labels, distributors and promoters. With a definite tech flavour in the air, the afternoons melted into one long night out as the music community got together to p-a-r-t-y.

‘Friends Of Ours’ presented by Soulfuric Recordings got the party started with their 4th annual kick off party on the Monday. Always a great buzz in the air, it sets the pace for what is always a great week to come. Music from Brian Tappert, John ‘Julius’ Knight, Jask, Copyright, Grant Nelson and Sheldon Prince provided a tasty aperitif and eased us in to party mode very easily indeed.

Tuesday afternoon kicked off very nicely compliments of Mazi and the Simple Soul Recordings Showcase at the Whitelaw Hotel.

A showcase indeed for that deep house sound with an edge, sets here from Raoul, Olivier, Spettro, Mazi and Freddy Montanez had everyone bopping away nicely to the beats.

Just up the street, Chicago welcomed everyone to Miami with a free party at the Marlin hotel, featuring Ron Trent, Colette, Heather, Dayhota, John Curley, Nick Nice, Brad Owen and Joe Shanahan.

As the dusk settled on day 1 of the conference, it was off to Rain. Everybody’s favourite threesome, Chez, Wave and Bombay held their annual get together to a hungry crowd. DJ Deep, Francois K, Matthias Helibronn, Neil Aline, DJ Romian, Ron Trent, Yoku and Shaun Escoffery delivered the goods as vinyl flew through the air changing hands at crazy paces.

Also opening the conference was the King Street Sounds/Underground Collective party at the Raleigh Hotel. Featuring a line up that included Tony Humphries, Ron Trent, Dennis Ferrer, Danny Krivit, Ananda Project Experience among others, with live percussion and live performances from E-Man and Stephanie Cooke.

For us it was on to The Conscious Party at the Albion, a benefit gig for non profits Nextaid.org and Earthdance.org which began at 1pm and lasted until 7am. With a line up as long as they come, it was L.A’s Doc Martin on the decks when we arrived. Outdoors and under the full moon, the Miami buzz was really starting to kick in. Produced by SF by Definition, along with three soundsystems, I could be here all day listing the DJ’s and musicians, but lets just say Derrick May, Stacey Pullen, Sandy Rivera, Stacy Kidd, Mark Farina and Rick Preston and leave it at that!

Unfortunately, those responsible for door management at the Compost Party over at Goddess, did not deem us fit to go in. Maybe it was just as well. Still 4 whole more days to go.

With at least 25 other parties taking place that day, including Magic Sessions, the choice of good music and pure talent is overwhelming. Regardless of venue or DJ, you are almost certainly guaranteed a good time.

Wednesday, and day 2 of the conference, began nicely at the aptly named Annual Rest, Relax and Recover party at The Fairwind Hotel. First off, was the AA Meeting, Belgium’s Aroma Records and San Fran’s Amenti Music. Aroma’s Raoul, and Amenti’s Olivier, along with Spettro, All Good Funk Alliance and East Coast Boogiemen played it up to a packed venue that just sweat the previous nights madness out. A few beers and a tasty bite from the bbq and it time to groove on.

Just a block up the at the Marlin bar, Chicago’s 3 Degrees Global played host to ‘ Some Call It House, We Call It Home’, and indeed home it was for the next few hours as Diz, David Harness, DJ Monna, Dj FLX and The Mad Thinker himself played some fantastic sounds to an eager crowd. Lisa Shaw gave a stunning live performance alongside hubby Swingsett.

As the evening began to cool down and few Korona’s later, it was off to the Sunset Sessions at the Cleveander Hotel, presented by aProductiondotnet, BuleM Recordings and Seasons. Just in time to catch season’s Jamie Thinnes playing a wonderfully smooth and deep set, followed by the ever so smooth Andy Caldwell. Also playing that day were Halo, Paluka and Cocoe. Sweet!

As usual, it was a case of pull the short straw for Wednesday evening’s entertainment, with host of excellent parties to choose from.

West Coast labels Seasons Recordings and Safe In Sound got together for their annual event at Blue. The Miami Movement Phaze 4 saw Heather, Iz, Jonene, Brett Johnson, Tony Senghore and Sweden’s own SUMO boys played to a packed out crowd who seemed only too happy let go and flow with the music.

For lovers of deep, the natural grass carpeted floor of Tantra set the scene for ‘Deep..Where House Lives’. With Mark Farina, King Britt and Marques Wyatt, it doesn’t get much deeper. Unfortunately, we didn’t actually make it to this, though I like to think we were there in spirit.

Wednesday night’s highlight for us was Foundation at Maze. Presented by San Fran’s Moulton Studios, Transport Recordings and Miami’s own Aquabooty. Hats off to the Aquabooty boys who had a very busy week indeed.! Miguel Migs, Jay J, Chris Lum, DJ MFR, Julius Papp, Mauricio, Olivier, Vincent Kwok, and Frankie Boissy, need we say more. The worst thing about it was choosing between the main room and the smaller back room. At one point, in between rooms, I heard the bass line from Kaskade’s ‘It’s You, It’s Me’ and rushed out to the main room, to find Jay-J on the decks with a live guitarist tweakin’ away to the deepest of melodies. Heaven. Moments later, Latrice appears on the bar and with that angelic voice of hers, it was quite difficult not to compare her to one.

Off to the beach to catch the sunrise, there was the end of day 2, or, was this the beginning of day 3? Who knows and who cared, some badly needed shuteye was sought.

That afternoon when we woke, it was back to the Fiarwind for another Relax, Rest and Recover, this time the NRK and Honchos party. Again, hosted along with Gourmet Recordings, it’s almost ironic that Gourmet provide you with a daily breakfast of beer, burgers and house music. Nice. With Nick Harris, Mazi, Clive Henry, Terry Farley, Q-Burns, Piliavin & Zimbardo and Jamie Anderson, any pain from previous night’s activities disappears and before you know it, the foot, hips and head and hopping away to beats. It just becomes totally contagious, almost unstoppable J

Over next to the ever so cool Kent Gardens for The Master Plan. With it’s lush vegetation and crazy looking trees, it’s almost like something from Return Of The Jedi. But hey, it’s just the WMC. Alexkid looked right at home amidst the jungle churning out some deep tech vibes. Also playing was DJ Prince, the man behind the master list, more like the bible to the thousands who land on South beach each year. It gives the run down on every single party in town.

Thursday had some of the best line ups all over town, and was in ways the peak of the conference. With names like Om, Large, Masters At Work, Wax, Deepfunk, Sublime, All world Entertainment, Lazy Dog and Chicago V’s Detroit hosting parties, it turned out to be a very busy night.

One of the highlights for us was of course the Bodytonic/Flat & Round/Undergroundhouse.net Party at the Playwright. Dublin’s Bodytonic crew got together with Ben from UK based www.Undergroundhouse.net and label Flat and Round, at the last minute to throw a Miami bash. The line up on the night included DHN’s own Jacqui, Bodytonic Boys Tayor, Paul Hughes and John Mahon, as well as Raoul Belmans of Swirl people, Pat Nice, Spettro, Chicago’s Daniell Spencer, Miami’s DeepHouseMovement, culminating in grand finale true Irish Style, with Fish Go Deep.

Over at Goddess, San Francisco’s Om Records were playing to a packed out venue. With two fantastic rooms full of that rich, deep and very soulful house sound. All the favourite Om artist’s giving top notch performances. The party was also the launch of Kaskade’s debut album, ‘It’sYou, It’s Me’, the title track of which was played all over town this year, a great DJ too, it is always a pleasure to catch him behind a set of decks.

Jacking it up bigtime over at Maze, it was time to get ready for Get Large Miami 2003. Presented by Large Records, Aquabooty and 3 Degrees, the Chicago heads were reminding us just how it is done. Monna, FLX, Julius the Mad Thinker, Julius Papp, Roy Davis Jr. and Dennis Ferrer provided the music and a jackin crowd provided the atmosphere. Roy Davis Jr. played a cracking set, followed by Dennis. While the 3 Degrees crew had the back room jumping. Absolute top night!

Back over to the Playwright to catch Fish Go Deep, it only seemed like moments until it was 5am. Chicago, San Francisco and Sir Henry’s revisited in one night, it will happily sit in my head as one of the best nights ever.

Day 4, and feeling ever so slightly dazed and confused, instinct had us back at the Fairwind for a much more European affair. France’s Brique Rouge, Gourmet and Robsoul Recordings party kicked ass! Unfortunately unable to make the trip, label founder David Duriez can take comfort in the knowledge that the label’s artists played one of the best dirty, funky, techy sets I have heard in ages. It was impossible not to dance. Phil Weeks, Alexkid, Dan Ghenacia, Mazi, Daniell Spencer, Fish Go Deep, Funky Transport and The Robsoul crew all played some of the best music to a smiling, dancing crowd. A great afternoon.

Meanwhile, down at no.1 Ocean Drive, the Nikki Beach Club played host to the one of the most eagerly anticipated parties of the conference, Astralwerks and Naked Music. A sweet line up that included Miguel Migs and Lisa Shaw as well as Royksopp and the Audio Bully’s.

Feeling like Dirty Little Funky Things, we headed over to the Marlin Bar to the Music2 Productions, Aquabooty party. Miguel Migs, Jay J, Chris Lum, Morgan Dreshani of Metro Area and Alex Kidd. Great atmosphere as the music pumped from downstairs. The humidity of the night just intensified the vibe, which was electric.

Doubledown also held their Miami bash on the Friday, though not present, by all accounts it rocked. Also taking place that night was the Syntax party at Goddess, and ‘A Fun Day’ hosted by Milehighhouse productions & LoRise Recordings.

Saturday came around all to fast, and with it the final day of the conference. For us, there were two parties that stood out. Gourmet Recordings/Velvet Couch Party at Blue. Mazi, Nick Harris, Nathan Larsen, Hipp-e and Huggy provided some deep tech vibes that had the place jumping. Put us right in the mood for our most eagerly awaited bash of the conference, The Aquabooty-DeephouseNetwrork party.

All bias aside, it rocked! The Miami based weekly event at Maze, with residents DeepHouseMovement and DJ Harvey, along with their favourite guests from the year, including Berlin based Dixon and Irish duo, Fish Go Deep aka Shane Johnson and Greg Dowling really exploded!

DHM and FGD played a rotating set in the main room, while Dixon and Harvey played a more abstract vibe in the smaller room. This was then swapped around later where Greg and Shane played out the smaller room until 5, taken over then by DHM who delivered a sophisticated slice of deep until 7.

The range of sound and vibe had the entire club dancing their asses off right up to sunrise. Shirts off and hands in the air. The grand finale.

And with it, saw the final curtain on over 300 parties, 1000 DJ’s (at least!!) and 7000 friends, dancers and lovers of dance music go home. Back to studios, clubs, offices and bedrooms all over the world, all taking with them the exact same thing, the memories and the music.

A word of advice though, partying right up until the plane takes off can go either way especially now with much increased security. That vacant look, a touch of mad eye combined with 6 days of sleep deprivation is enough to make healthiest of us seem a bit dodgy to say the least. Luckily for us, we knew that the god of deep house must have been smiling down when we got upgraded to business class from Miami to Heathrow. Humming sweet bass lines and sipping champagne, a prefect end to an amazing week.

Aine G