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The Underground Mix Sessions are Wilde by Evan Milton
DJ, producer and promoter Christopher Wilde has scoured the globe to invite a new generation of house DJs to play Long Street's Underground Mix Sessions - and they're yours to hear for free.
Underground Mix Sessions is Cape Town's longest running free underground house music night on Long Street, showcasing top Cape Town talent alongside up-and-coming DJs, and with a roster of six international DJs from top dance clubs around the globe. The international series is the brainchild of UMS founder Christopher Wilde and Jacqueline Fraser from Inrichment.org. "The whole point of Underground Mix Sessions is to build a community," says Christopher Wilde sounding more like an eloquent businessman and marketing fundi than a man who keeps dancefloors pumping to his selection of local and international electronic tunes. "We wanted to see if we could push it, to grow that network overseas. With the whole World Cup thing and the interest in South Africa and Cape Town being a great destination at this time of year, the time was right to reach out and see if anyone was interested.
"I've been talking to people overseas for a long time, sending tracks back and forth and working with a few people over there," he continues. "We put out the word and said to the DJs, 'It's a free gig; you have to pay your own way'. We got accommodation sponsored and promised we would do as much promotion as we could, and try to get extra bookings at other clubs while they were here. But it was basically, 'Come to Cape Town and be part of this community; support our cause and let's make house music extend beyond any countries and borders'."
The plan worked. Each week, I receive a little digital gift: an email from someone at Christopher-Wilde.com telling me that I've been added to the guest list for another edition of UMS. Receiving a freebie is always treat, but this is an invitation with a difference - my free access is not some back-scratching perk of the music journalist's job, or a PR company boon. Rather, I am one of literally hundreds who receive this invitation - a chance to get free access to the UMS parties and their roster of international and local DJs. All you have to do to get the same is to register, and you're a VIP too.
"The Saturday night has always been a free night," explains Wilde. "We've never wanted to charge at the door. I don't like venues that make people wait in line for no reason; it's of no benefit to anyone to have a door charge. I'd rather people came in and had a good time - get rid of the barrier of someone thinking, 'I don't want to spend R30 to get in', when they're going to spend R30 on two beers at the bar. It's about building a community and growing a scene; it's about getting the music out there to people. For Underground Mix Sessions, you have to register with us, and then you're on the guest list and you get in for free."
It comes back to the notion of community - both of house artists and DJs across the world, and of the house fans who attend the sessions. "The international guys have had an absolute blast - that's been the feedback so far," says Wilde. "They had the opportunity to meet and play with local talent, and they've been quite impressed. They loved the concept and what we're trying to do. Now, a lot of them want to come back, and the next step is to open up that communication so that can happen, and introduce them to the South African market. For the South African DJs, some lasting friendships have been created, and we've extended our network. I've had invitations from Argentina, the UK and Boston, USA. Now we look at how to get our DJs over there, and bridge the gaps."
With Kintar (Argentina), Stu Hirst (UK) and Salvatore Lograsso (USA) already having played the series, Cape Townian visitors and locals alike can look forward to Los Angeles veteran Michael Tello (Inner Child, Mai Music), 12 Inch Pimps and "We Love House" founder and "Everybody Everybody" remixer Willie Trimmer (USA) and Panhandle Records founder and Stompy resident DJ Jonene. "It's great to hear the music from these international DJs, but it's also great to hear their perspective," says Wilde. "Sometimes South Africa has a bit of a despondent view of the local underground house scene, but club owners and promoters are the same everywhere. That's not what makes a scene; people make a scene. I was reading just today that Halo, an artist who was here a few months ago, was saying how great the scene was here. It was so nice to hear that from someone that's been around for 15 years at least. Sometimes, it's like people here don't see the wood for the trees; they don't realise how strong the culture is here and how much support there is."
Asked to cite his favourite moments of the international UMS season, Wilde pauses and then smiles as he says, "Taking Stu Hirst from Global Underground (UK) to Mzoli's in Gugulethu and watching him eat a steak with his hands - that was fantastic, and definitely the most fun! For the music, the best moment has to be the response when Salvatore Lograsso (of Double Frequency Recordings and resident DJ for Underbar USA) started playing. I was playing before him, and it was a typical warm-up set with a decent dancefloor going. When he started, everyone was suddenly like, 'What is that?' and they were on the floor. For me, he's brought the most unique style and sound. He's been the most-cutting edge - you could see the excitement on people's faces, with a lot of people saying, 'We haven't heard this before'. I just like it when people get excited about music.
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The Saturday 26 June Undergound Mix Sessions hosts Michael Tello (USA) with local residents Christopher Wilde and Matt Prehn. UMS is every Saturday night at Carnival Court, in association with Inrichment (255 Long Street; free entry for registered guests). For full DJ line-up, exclusives mixes, news and guest list registration, see UndergroundMixSessions.com. Christopher Wilde also plays Kink every Thursday (Park Street, Gardens).
This column originally appeared in the Cape Argus 'Tonight; section on 26 - 27 June 2010. Find out more on Tonight.co.za
Music journalist, Strategy Director for Stonewall+ and South African music radio DJ extraordinaire.
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Underground Mix Sessions is Cape Town's longest running free underground house music night on Long Street, showcasing top Cape Town talent alongside up-and-coming DJs, and with a roster of six international DJs from top dance clubs around the globe. The international series is the brainchild of UMS founder Christopher Wilde and Jacqueline Fraser from Inrichment.org. "The whole point of Underground Mix Sessions is to build a community," says Christopher Wilde sounding more like an eloquent businessman and marketing fundi than a man who keeps dancefloors pumping to his selection of local and international electronic tunes. "We wanted to see if we could push it, to grow that network overseas. With the whole World Cup thing and the interest in South Africa and Cape Town being a great destination at this time of year, the time was right to reach out and see if anyone was interested.
