Soundtrack

“My name is Alex Gaggino, I make art and DJ as Gino. I host a happy hour called Snack Time at TV Lounge focused on artistry, community, and deliciousness. I’ve been educating and mentoring youth in Detroit for 10 years. I started DJing in Ann Arbor, inspired by Movement. I was an intern for Soul Clap Records which gave me an intro to the industry. I’m thankful to work with TV Lounge and Rocksteady Disco which has a parallel to the range of music I like to mix.”

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“Hey y’all, I’m Alex.  I was born in Texas, and I’ve moved around a lot.  I make music, and run a record label/YouTube channel called RESPONSE.  I’ve got two EP’s coming out very soon – one is up for pre-sale now with DJ Holographic, and the other one is solo and will be a RESPONSE release.  These go live on July 10th, and end of August/early September respectively.”

On being a Detroit DJ

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Gustav Brovold was born in 1991, grew up in Royal Oak, and then in his later teens bounced between upstate New York and New Mexico. He moved back to Detroit when he was 18 and never left. He has been a fixture in Detroit’s bar and restaurant scene slinging drinks and managing. He played in Deastro with Randy Chabot, Thor Brovold, and Marty Roy. Later played in Ter(r)a with Ben Christensen. He is one of the founders of Adult Contemporary with Drew Roberts, Randy Chabot, Thor Brovold, Chad Silbert, and many others. He helped with Pure Rave along side Bryan Dulaney and Nick George. He produces with tons of synths and stuff under his own name, Gustav Brovold, as well as under the alias Radio Brovold. You can find his releases on Don’t Be Afraid out of UK, Detroit Electronic Quarterly, and Portage Garage Sounds.

On being a Detroit DJ

Gustav Brovold’s Links

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“I’m a music lover and creator in my core. Creating music in some capacity has defined me for most of my life. I’ve made house, techno, hip-hop beats, R&B beats for Bevlove, metal, etc. I find influences in many genres and I bring it all back in to see what I can come up with.”

Ryan was born on Detroit’s Eastside, where his musical journey began with cello in elementary school. In middle school he and his friends started a rock/metal band, where he played bass. In high school he met Sean Riddell, who was a rapper and made his own beats. Ryan got a copy of Sean’s software and began making beats as well. In college, he started getting into House, then Techno, and started to produce it. After college, he moved back to Detroit and linked up with Ryan Thomas (Bale Defoe). They started Choose Better Friends Records with Jessica and Phil Mnnick and have been kicking it ever since.

On being a Detroit DJ

Ryan McCray’s Links

Track List

What It Is : Ryan McCray

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DJ Disc (Gregory Merritt) is a Detroit veteran underground vinyl DJ. His funky Techno sets put him on top of Detroit’s most sought after artists lists. He has more than 20 years in the game and is the founder of the prominent Detroit based label Deep Sessions. He has played with some of the best in the industry. He mentors up and coming DJ’s from around the city and believes in carrying forward the legacy of The Detroit sound.

DJ Disc is a local underground legend and always keeps your body moving, while his spirit and positive energy flows through you. You can hear him every third Thursday on In The Mix on 89.3 WHFR with host Bam.

On being a Detroit DJ

DJ Disc’s Links

Track List

Intro : NASA Space

Appendix : Bjoem Torwellen

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“Hi! I’m Alan. When I was in grade school the youth group DJs were my babysitters, as a result I was exposed not only to great music at a young age, but also event production, which if you know me, is my true love. I produced my 1st shows with some schoolmates; punk rock shows at St. Dominick’s gym when I was 16. I discovered techno on Easter break from my first year at CMU in ’92. I never went back to CMU, but instead found myself working the door at Industry in Pontiac. That’s how I met Steven R. and Marke B. and started producing shows with Voom, then later with Sam Fotias under Bent Fabric. A lot of things happened…so many things…then I met Johnny Saco when we DJ’d at a Hardware party – we hit it off and started DJing together, making music, and throwing parties under the Motor City Macks moniker. We made tracks on our MPC, 808, and a Korg Triton. We played a few live shows, doing our best to piss Mike off when we would drop bass bombs! Those glory day memories always make me smile. I still love buying and playing vinyl – I pick up all kinds of different records, but have a love for 90’s records in particular, and on this mix you’ll hear a few of those. These days I’m partners with Mike Fotias at Audio Rescue Team where we drop proper rigs all around town, catering to the needs of Detroit and the world’s best DJs. Honestly nothing gives me more pleasure than working with all the great talent the city has to offer; I’m truly blessed – thanks for listening!”

“I love Detroit because of the People! Detroit is where my tribe decided to reincarnate this time around, and I think we can all agree it’s turned out to be pretty special. Detroit is extraordinarily magical and full of so much creative energy it’s truly mind blowing as well as soul filling. The creative energy combined with the grit and determination make for a highly catalytic environment. I’ve been blessed to work alongside so many talented Detroiters producing so many cool shows. I feel spoiled rotten. I’m excited to continue doing my part to add to Detroit’s greatness alongside all of you.”

On being a Detroit DJ

Track List

Good Lies (A Good Christian edit) : Tom Trago

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Bileebob creates sexy electronic music featuring vocals, soft & hard synths, handmade instruments, and life sounds. He has been involved with the Detroit and Midwest electronic music scene since the mid 90s.

He has performed internationally in Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Scotland and Nova Scotia as a member of the Detroit Grand Pubahs and Underground Resistance. As a DJ, he blends a seamless mix of all genres, including techno and house, electro, new wave and rock, twisting knobs and tweaking the EQ to the crowd’s anticipant delight.

Bileebob loves Detroit because “we have a great mix of heads that have been around for a very long time and new kids being introduced all the time. People come, go and often return. We see a lot of reinvention here, interpersonally and obviously as a city. We go through an ever changing rebirth that is very refreshing.”

On being a Detroit DJ

Track List

I [Equal Recordings] : Chas & Jessie

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Love bandit, music-deviant, late night party hero – Jerry Downey is the mind behind Sexual Tension Detroit and an enigmatic force in Detroit’s party scene. Downey cut his teeth DJing at after-hours parties in Detroit during the late ‘00’s. He regularly throws underground parties and has licensed music to household names such as Atlantic Records and Warner while artfully balancing life as an elected public official. His crucial role in the now-defunct Warehouse 1018, local residency track record, and studio efforts keep him busy with a frequent event schedule piloted by a mindful understanding of contemporary dance environments which has resulted in club appearances at nearly every major proving ground in the United States.

On being a Detroit DJ

Track List

Feeling Love : L.E.B. Harmony

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For as long as there is music and those who faithfully dance, there will always be a need for the Godmother of House Music, DJ Stacey “Hotwaxx” Hale. Detroit’s first female of house music plays dance floor bangers and orchestral melodies with live music fusions. Hotwaxx Hale has made a massive impact in the American music culture, whether it’s playing in famous theaters like the Apollo, or legendary underground dance music clubs like ‘Studio 54,’ and ‘The Warehouse.’ She also has an international presence, which includes past performances in London, Ibiza, Berlin, Amsterdam, Toronto, and across the USA.

Hotwaxx Hale is the first female DJ who played house music on the radio in Detroit in the late 80s, and continues as a DJ to play a major role in curating the soundtrack of our lives for several decades. Thriving in the city that started techno, she somehow maintains a perfect flow by tastefully blending house and techno with funk, hip hop and Motown soul, which is why she continues to have a diverse, multi aged devoted following. 

Stacey loves Detroit “because through the many challenges this city has had, we are strong and survive. The love of music is more than anywhere else. Jazz, Techno, R&B, House, Salsa, Reggae and all of it’s derivatives we love it and will dance to it.

On being a Detroit DJ

Track List

Don’t You Know : GZZ

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Peter Croce is a Detroit-based deejay, producer, and the head of the label/party Rocksteady Disco. In his short and rising career he’s been asked by Ron Trent to play alongside him and François K, and was asked to open for the legendary Grace Jones. A true personality deejay, Peter’s musical mind focuses more on soul and spirit than genres and rules, putting him straight in heart of the next generation of deeply rooted American selectors and label bosses.

His debut release “Revival” quickly sold out worldwide, earning organic support from Mr. Scruff, Soul Clap, Jamie 3:26, Ben Westbeech, and even Kanye West; and continues to be heard on dance floors around the world. He’s also a jazz-trained bassist and prolific re-editor (usually under his Mr. PC alias), artfully tailoring classics and future gems for his dance floors. In addition to his own imprint his releases can be found on Razor-N-Tape, Soundway, On The Corner, and Kampana.

When there isn’t a global pandemic happening Peter maintains a busy gig schedule between residencies in Detroit and Chicago, as well as appearances in Tokyo, Seoul, Mexico City, New York, London, Paris, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Washington D.C., and more.

“Detroit perseveres and supports one another more than any city I’ve ever seen. You can carve your own lane out in this city, musically or otherwise. Most people who move here want to live here, and didn’t move here for just “a job”. There’s also a spirituality and political consciousness here that is often hard to find. The people really are the best, and I’m grateful to call it home.”

On being a Detroit DJ

Track List

Breaking & Entering (Jean-Claude Gavri Edit) [Coco Bin] : Dee Dee Sharp Gamble

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