After a late nineties rave explosion began to wind down, what was left of the Seattle dance music scene was buried for the most part. Thankfully, the early stirrings of a new movement is slowly making itself heard. Seattle nightlife is being reborn in the form of unconventional new venues, providing a talent showcase for a savvy new breed of local producers. Emerging Seattle DJs are spinning a new wave of eclectic beats, each developing and mastering their own signature style. As DJ Venus puts it, "Seattle is almost there: we can see it ... almost touch it." Let's take a closer look.
PRODUCERS
Seattle is more active in electronic dance music than most people realize. The biggest problem is the lack of exposure, but we've got several excellent producers now capturing local sounds and exporting them all over the globe. Seattle hosts names like the Lawnchair Generals - comprised of duo Peter Christianson and Carlos Mendoza, who produce top-quality House. Their tracks are played by some of the best known jocks in the world, including Mark Farina, DJ Heather, and Yousef. Several tracks have also been licensed for mixed/compilation CDs. Besides their success in the studio, the Lawnchair Generals are also fantastic live; I wish they were listed more often in local flyers.
On the "Progressive Sound" end, we have Chloe Harris and MarQ. Chloe's drive to create innovative beats started back in her junior high school days and she's been mastering the genre ever since. Scott Keith calls her the "silent beauty of the city." Chloe plays internationally but rarely locally. If you see her name on a local bill, don't pass it up - she is not to be missed.
Producer MarQ has also been making a name for himself. He's got support from the Fiberline label, which released his remix of "Aeronautical Turbulance" by Mile High Crew, the #1 selling single on the label. MarQ is as good a DJ as he is a producer; he's gained a reputation for explosive performances, impeccable track selection, and rock-solid mixing.
These are just a few standouts, but Seattle is the home to other notables in production - Jacob London, Codebase, Ian K, and Theory In Motion are also on the rise. Alongside producers, there are also quality record labels based here like Tilted, Viva, Mafia and Free the Funk. Some of these have even captured the attention of industry heavyweights such as Carl Cox.
THE DJs
Both House and Progressive music are undergoing a refreshing transformation in Seattle. On the House side, promising DJs are adding spice to their sets with an assortment of "live elements." Leading the pack is DJ Flave, who plays with well-known international DJs. Not only does he have knockout track programming and mixing skills, he trumps other DJs by unexpectedly breaking out his Saxophone and jamming right on top of House beats, firing up the crowd. In the same House category we have Jordan, Hyperfunk, and DJ Venus - one of the best female House DJs in Seattle.
Progressive music is also budding into something exciting. Scott Keith is making a lot of noise given the short amount of time he's been around. DJ Eva is a strong representative of female talent on the Progressive end. We also have DJ Chronus, who plays alongside the likes of Satoshi Tomei, and Seb Fontaine. For Drum and Bass, there's 360 BPM. Smile and Dig Dug are both emerging names in Breaks, and for Techno, check out Jakub, Roman, and Primal.
THE VENUES
Where can we find this new generation of talent? The predominant choices are club nights and a few underground parties. According to DJ Jakub, "Now events are smaller, with more focus on club nights vs. raves." The stale atmosphere of recent times stem from promoters focusing only on headliners that have historically sold out rather than taking a risk on emerging talent. Now however, new venues are choosing to work with promoters who are taking risks by putting fresh talent on the bill. The Element has recently brought names into town like James Zabiela, with his unique style and live remixing talents. The Element also brings local talent to the booth by bundling them with big international acts.
The Premier and the Showbox also work with promoters such as Dragon Entertainment, Electra-Fi, Dervish Productions, and InHouse Productions to host a bevy of dance music events.
On a smaller scale, there is See Sound Lounge which, beyond its great vibe, has been booking talent like David Alvarado and Jay Tripwire. Last Supper Club continues to be a great supporter of dance music; currently their best night is the Thursday House Night.
When it comes to after-hours, Contour and Mantra are obvious choices, though Seattle could use a couple more late-night offerings to round out the mix. The niche in most dire need of a new club is the "under 21" crowd. Somebody out there should bring something back for the kids.
The Seattle scene has had its recession, but a new wave is on the rise. Says DJ Chronus, "The electronic music scene is on a steady rebound. It exploded a few years back and then declined rapidly. This time around, it's slower, stronger, and steadier." Soon you won't have to leave Seattle when you're searching for fresh beats and all night dancing - check out fresh new talents in the making right here.
