Rio Music Conference

RMC 2011 full x review

"Dance music is not the same as house music" - Steve Lawler

"Dance music is not the same as house music," ... what I've seen happen in America in the last two years is the explosion of commercial pop-electro-dance music. And so many people think it's the same culture, the same scene as what we do with house and techno, and it isn't! It so isn't."

"This electro-pop-dance that all the R&B artists are jumping on is the worst music I have ever heard in my whole life -- cheap, no soul, no meaning," Lawler says, disgusted. "[It's] only made to make money."

- Steve Lawler


http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/crossfade/2011/12/steve_lawler_this_electro-pop-.php

I don't feel that Lawler is bagging on any genre or other "music" as some are seeing as. This is more of a protest against music if you can call it that that has no value. 


My friend Lilian Machiavern wrote it a very simple nice and effective analogy that couldn't have been put better.


"it's not about musical taste. The type of music Lawler is referring to is not musical. It's not about hate 
either. He's talking about a lack of soul, meaning and passion behind it. Music made to generate money is not an artistic expression. There isn't an intellectual fundament in music like that. It's like comparing fast food to gourmet culinary. It doesnt matter if u like french, italian or chinese food. Taste is taste. But there's a fundamental reason why gourmet culinary is better than fast food. It's an expression of art and most definitely created with soul, passion and meaning. And if you offer a big mac to a renowned chef, he's going to feel as disgusted as Lawler to that type of commercial music."

Back to Brazil EP #1 on Top 100 House Releases

    MoonSol Music first release Back to Brazil EP makes it to the top of the Top 100 house releases. Go MoonSol !   Thank you everyone that supported the EP and still supporting. What an amazing way for MoonSol's first release.

"2012 the year that the world began"

Venice Art Crawl January 2012

    This was hands down, best Venice Art Crawl I attended !  Amazing !!!
Happy to see so many friends in one place, we were all grooving like there was no tomorrow. Thank you for Dj Lyf who put out an amazing Set Warming up the Vibe , and Mark Rojas and all his friends for putting together the Event. and Thank you for Three Awakening Man for... just being there !

    If you were there you know whats up, if not I say you should be there for next one. But for now enjoy the  pics and videos :)

Dj Lyf throwing it down !

Germano Kuerten aka Mano throwing the heat !

Few Still Shots from Venice Photographer David Zents Photography

:)

Q & A with Mark Knight and D. Ramirez

 

  This last Wednesday my friend Steve aka Doc Brown Dj/Producer from Miami came to town, and invited me to watch an unexpected low key Q & A with big players Mark Knight owner of Toolroom Records and his compatriot D. Ramirez.
    It was cool because there were only about 30 people in the room, and we got to sit right in front. Two bright guys who have lived a good chunk and were there to share their wisdom from their experience. They pretty much reminded us of what we already know. Our biggest challenges, in which is maintaing peace with ourselves. Mark said that "if you want to do this it's not a job, it's a lifestyle". It takes over your life. And the other reminders were nothing new but always refreshing, and the key words and words of wisdom are focusing, sometimes taking a step back or two to see what you are doing, if your going in the right direction, follow your instincts, stay true !
   Have an Idea before you step in the studio and stay true and focused in that direction you chose to etc.
Also very importantly create your identity and don't just copy peoples sounds.
 
   Anyways we were there for about an hour and half, and If I would to write it all I'd be writing pages and pages. But I can say that these were the main points. Specially focusing... It's key, and you know, this can be transposed in anything you do in life.

   My one question was about what point of his career (Mark Knight) did he start his label, and he didn't really grasp my question I'd say but what he said was that sometime earlier in his career he decided to start  a label just like a business. He sat down with his Father, wrote a business plan and took it very seriously as just like any other business. He said that then label and his own career went hand in hand as they both evolved, and that definably inspired me since I just started my own (MoonSol Music).

MoonSol Music first Release out Today !!!

The Sun has risen, its a new day ! new life !
The Moon then comes for its encounter with the sun where they will both integrate as one , this is called MoonSol, and the sound that resonates from is transposed by the natives as Music , forming MoonSol Music.

I introduce you guys to this love synchronization .

"2012 the year that the world began"

We are very proud to announce our first release !

Out today,

This EP has been Supported by worldly known Dj's and artists like Roger Sanchez, Saeed Younan, Miss Nine, Dev and The Cataracts, Android Cartel + many more. Complements from Noir, Saytek, Larry Tee and more ! 

our very first release Back to Brazil EP will be donating 50% of its funds to a local charity institute, "Self Enlightenment Institute" in which helps to distribute clothing, toys and food to poor places like Tijuana.

By buying the EP you will also be helping a great cause :)

- MoonSol Music team

Make sure to grab a copy of the EP :)


Link to buy->
http://www.beatport.com/release/back-to-brazil-ep/855899


...

MoonSol Music 001 Out This Saturday Jan 21st on Beatport.

Very excited to announce the first release of our new phresh label MoonSol Music, Coming out this Saturday !

January 21st of 2012 exclusive on beatport.

"Primeiro selo de musica eletronica do estado de Santa Catarina"

Supported and likes from Roger Sanchez, Saeed Younan, DEV and The Cataracts, Miss Nine, Noir, Saytek, Android Cartel, Larry Tee, Obando and more.

Info:

Artist: Germano Kuerten
Title:   Back to Brazil EP
Label: MoonSol Music
Cat Number:  MSM001
Genre:  House
Release Date:    1/21/12
Exclusive Period:  Beatport 8 weeks

Some Dj feedback:    

Roger Sanchez, "Definably playing this... Really feeling this Brazilian Vibe from Germano Kuerten." 

Saeed Younan, "Great Tracks." 

DEV and The Cataracts, "Love it." 

Miss Nine, "Flight 134 is the one for me." 

Noir, "I like Brasil Organic best." 

Saytek, "I Like the tracks." 

Android Cartel, "Brasil Organic is for us." 

Larry Tee, "Great Tracks." 

Obando, "Germano Kuerten brings us a new edge in House Music."

Back in L.A.

     I have been back in LA for 5 days now. Got insurance for my car for the next 6 months (It feels good because police can't f*** with me now if they pull me over). I also payed my rent, and most importantly I have been putting together my studio. Bought my self some new Monitor Speakers, a table from IKEA, some nice Mogami Golden end cables (bling bling). Yes it's looking nice :)

     I am setting my grounds so I get in a roll here. The only thing is that I am running low in cash so I am going to need a job. I printed some resumes and tomorrow I am on the hunt !  Putting out the intentions to get the best of the best. I just need some cash to pay off the bills so I can keep doing my thing.  :)

     MoonSol Music first release is coming out this Saturday ! Excited for that yes !!! Back to Brazil EP babe ...

Make sure to buy it on beatport and support a great cause !

G.

ps. Here's something my friend Caio Carneiro (writer/rapper) reminded me of today.

Criolo

"Nao precisa morrer pra ver Deus..."

"You don't need to die in order to see God..."

Back to the Yucatan, BPM Festival 2012

   My Yucatan Experience.

THE BPM Festival. Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.

    On January 5th of 2012 I caught my flight towards Cozumel Island in the Riviera Maya, Mexico. After a painful 12 hours overlay in Atlanta, Georgia I finally took my second flight towards Cozumel.

1st day, Arriving in Playa Del Carmen
 
    On the 6th I finally arrived in the beautiful Island of Cozumel (the place is so beautiful that it is considered one of the best diving spots in the world). The airport didn't look anything like the US. Airports. Everyone and everything seemed so chill out and free of worries. I instantly felt a warm vibe from the locals.
    An american couple that I met in the plane offered me a ride to the fairy. So I could get to Playa del Carmen, my final destination. Yet it seemed that it would take way too long for them to pick up their rental Jeep so I preferred to just grab the first van and head towards the fairy.

    Sitting in the front I exchanged a couple words in spanish with the local driver. He also passed me on this warm vibe and this good feeling was just growing in me about this place. In couple minutes I got dropped off at the fairy. The  weather was warm and everything looked so beautiful and exciting. I bought a fresh coconut water and waited for the fairy.

    After 20 minutes of hanging out I finally entered the fairy. It was a huge fairy, and so many people were inside. I had barely slept for a night, so I already felt exhausted and once I entered that stuffy fairy with the crappy air conditioning it just made me feel more sick. There were big waves and made the fairy bounce around in which just helped me with my sea sickness. I started sweating and thought that I would puke everywhere. The trip seemed so far away. I moved seats and was able to lay my head down over my hand bags, it enabled me to arrive without puking. After 30 minutes I finally left the fairy and felt better. :)
    The locals were so welcoming and willing to help seemed like. I got directions for my hostel in which were just couple blocks away from the fairy stop.

   When I first arrived at Popol Vuh Hostel it seemed a little ghetto and made me worry for a little. Yet I committed myself to just follow the teachings of Dale Carnegie's book Stop Worrying and Start Living. I tried to just not worry about it. The guy at the front desk seemed a little unorganized and shady as well, but little did I know that I couldn't have stayed at a cooler hostel with the coolest manager now my friend Gama !
    Before I even put my bags down in my room he introduced me to some people that were hanging outside. One of them was Mario, this guy from Oakland, California who was chilling at one of the hammocks. Seemed like I knew Mario since my childhood we instantly formed a dream team in which was up for nothing less than a Legendary time. Consequently I met his friend Rel, naturally enough seemed like I also knew him since childhood. The 3 of us bonded in a friendship forming this uplifting trio, something more epic than the Three Musketeers. Later that night we all went to a local clubby place with some more people from the Hostel for a great time.

   I had booked a tour for snorkeling for the next morning. So around 2:30am me and couple of the girls Meagan and Caley we left so we could wake up feeling well.  :)



2nd day,  BPM Festival, The Younan Music Showcase Party !!!

     Early in the morning myself the girls and Sadat another guy from the Hostel we all waited for the tour van in which finally arrived a few minutes late in which enabled me to eat some breakfast. :)
     The van finally arrived, the driver/tour guide was one of the coolest and chillest tour guides I've ever met. He was so passionate about the nature, the culture and the preservation of the whole place. We had some awesome talks about mayan culture, and he was also a funny dude.

      

    First we went to a Cenote (Cave) called Cenote Del Sueno. It was probably my first time at a cave, the cave was extremely beautiful, and it was also my first time snorkeling so I was extra excited. At first I freaked out with the whole breathing through your mouth thing but finally started to get more use to it... it was an amazing experience. So out of this world, Extraordinary ! at the end deep into the cave we sat at this room and our tour guide turned off the flash light for what he called our maya experience. It was incredible, the place became pitch black. A darkness that I have not experienced in a long time. So peaceful and just unexplainable...

 
    After the cave we headed to this beautiful beach, where we again went for another snorkeling session. We swam in what is said to be the second biggest Reef in the world. We swam with huge turtles and school of fishes. It was just incredible. After a great lunch we headed back to the hostel. I was feeling so in peace. All that nature felt so surreal.

    When we got back I took a nice nap. Then listen to some music, recorded some backup cd's and got ready for the big night. Performing at BPM Festival, for the Younan Music Showcase among the Elite of Eletronic Music was about to be Epic.
    Around 1am I finally headed by myself to The Younan Music Label Showcase at La Santanera (the club where the party was happening).

    A few minutes before I was about to perform my 2 friends finally arrived. They had already bought tickets for this BPM Cave party but decided to come to La Santanera instead. It worked out perfectly and made my night as good as it could be. A few minutes later around 3am I went on and it was on. The vibe at the party was so amazing, and everything was over my expectations ! Beautiful women kept pouring in, the place was amazing, and the service... I had never been so well taken care of. An unforgettable night !

 3rd day,  Tulum

     Woke up pretty late. Got up and headed to Tulum. A city that has Mayan buildings (ruins) on top of a cliff right next to the ocean. The place is simply gorgeous. I arrived there half hour before the site got closed down, they weren't letting anyone else in. So I skipped to the side and was able to go under some fences and sneak in. The place was unbelievable. The beach so beautiful and the buildings at their  locations just seemed unreal. The Mayans were really just from another world.
     I finally got back to Playa del Carmen already night time. Hang out with people from all over the world who were staying there. We just took it easy, me and the boys had to wake up around 7am the next morning for another tour. This time to one of the 7 wonders of the world. The great Pyramid of Chichen Itza.

 4th day, Chichen Itza

    Woke up early this time. The tour guide had not much any personally this time. He was also speeding and doing some risky maneuvers in which kind of pissed me off a little. I felt like telling him that no body was on a rush, but I felt that that would probably just make him angry and worsten the situation so kept it to myself.
    After 3 hours we finally arrived. The place the energy, again was just unreal. This ancient city looked bigger than Rome. Our Park guide said that there are over 60 buildings. Most of them have now disappeared under the jungle. The great pyramid of Chichen Itza is one of the most amazing buildings I have ever seen. So much depth and meticulously built, these guys were just thousand of years light ahead of our society and this was evident in the Riviera Maya.

    After a long day walking around and exploring we finally got back to our hostel. Went out for a couple drinks with everyone from the hostel, it was hard saying bye.
 

   I have decided that at the end of this year in December I will make my self back. One of the most amazing places on earth. The Mayan Energy is still so evident in everything and everyone. Everything was over my expectations over anything I couldn't imagined. The natural beauty, the kindness of the locals, the vibration of the place, the BPM Festival itself. I have so much gratitude to all the incredible people from all over the world that I've met and to Saeed Younan to invite me to play amongst the Elite of Dance Music.

   I instantly felt in love for the Yucatan. Playa del Carmen has become one of my favorites. An unforgettable trip. Resuming everything it was... wait a second... "Legendary !
 
 

 

Getting Ready for Playa ?!!! yeahh

   Took it easy last night... Bought myself a nice chill pillow at Ross. Since my last pillow was giving me some gnarly neck/shoulder pain. I also bought my self a nice wall calendar so I can organize and plan myself good for this upcoming busy year. Then I got myself my tickets to Cozumel Island. I know 2 days before I leave.
    Today Im going to do some routine stuff... get some Cd's ready to give out at BPM. Do my routine stuff like studying french and eating good. yeyah. Can't wait for the beautiful Playa Del Carmen. It will be my first time. Excited to see all the natural beauty, the pyramids and to Play of course !

See you guys when I get back  :)

Love,

G.

DJ set episode #241 -- Raresh & Praslea

DanceTrippin episode 241: Raresh & Praslea @ Sunwaves Romania from DanceTrippin on Vimeo.
DJ set episode #241 -- Raresh & Praslea

Not limiting ourselves to one genre of music.

A collaboration I did with my friend Caio Carneiro from Hip Hop Brazilian group Consciencia.

Germano Kuerten feat. Consciência - Summer Breeze

http://www.germanokuerten.com 
Photo by Tiago Sperotto

Artist: Germano Kuerten and Consciencia 
Album: A Dupla Consciência 
Música: Summer Breeze

Lyric

Tento... 
me convencer de que eu tenho toda a capacidade de melhorar meu desempenho 
Tento...e tento outra vez. 
Vivo a realidade, penso um dia que talvez: 
O objetivo me escolha e eu navegue n'um oceano 
Dominar toda a cena, Consciência e Germano 
Falaê.... 
2012 ta chegando, nova era e o meu plano é só amor se espalhando. 
Pelo som vou flutuando, pelo ar vou viajando, pelo mar vou velejando e pela Terra semeando 
só amor.... 
e muita sensualidade, com o aroma das beldade em cada canto da cidade. 
Lealdade e amizade, muita honra e humildade. 
Compromisso com o bem para ter minha liberdade. 
Eu quero isso! E o que mais eu puder ter...uma noitada muito longa e varias horas de prazer...

Heeey olha a série quebrando na cabeça do vadio que não ta remando. 
Adrenalina! 
Andando igual soldado marcha, a cabeça não abaixa, minha mensagem não é piada! 
Se acredita vem, anda junta da gente. 
Demorou esse é o bonde dos maluco consciente. 
Quem entende nossa força não se mete a besta. 
O mar não ta pra peixe é só bomba na cabeça.....

Bateu forte... 
e o chapinha chapo! 
Admirou a paisagem viu ate disco voador. 
Vinha alto, na nave espacial doirada. Magnólia minha amada e a mensagem decifrada. 
Li A Tábua de Esmeralda e na cabeça ta gravada. 
(Varias escritas sagrada sendo ironizada) 
Deixa dilso... não morra nesse mergulho, 
Todos n'um só coração vamos fazer barulho!

Uma nova faze na humanidade se inicia 
Um milhão de anos luz em boa companhia! 
Vários manos, várias minas, tudo em plena sintonia, 100% energia como o Sol que ilumina 
minha rima... 
É quase como uma ciência, é exata vem de dentro pois é minha essência. 
Experiência! 
Podes parar para pensar... 
Mantenha o principio ativo quando a chapa esquentar!

(Composição -- Caio Carneiro)

It's the 1st. I feel lazy today to post anything more elaborate...

Great Track right here !

Danny Daze - Fall Away From Love