With the EDM scene blowing up in America, it can be hard to find outlets that really speak to the people enjoying the music like we do. Some come off way too fluffy, while others end up sounding like they just got into electronic music last week. Sometime last year, I stumbled upon CUFF Radio, a weekly, live-streamed show otu of DC that featured artists that I loved with the outlook on the EDM scene that spoke to me and what we've been doing at DAD. They have humor, but also know what the hell they're talking about. I was actually kind of pissed when I got put on to CUFF, as it'd been going on for a while and I hate being late.
Tonight, the CUFF Radio crew is celebrating their one-year anniversary, and for their 52nd broadcast, it was only right that I a) get to know these three members of such a dope show and b) get them to contribute some fire mixes to celebrate. So get to meet Jackson, Paige, and Jan, the trifecta that is CUFF Radio, and if you're smart, you'll be tuning in tonight at 8PM EST via Ustream.
Jackson Kachor
Jackson's a Washington, DC native that move back to DC after graduating college in 2009 (which is around the time that his passing love for electronic music turned into a proper obsession). He's a musician that's played in metal and hardcore bands, and plays drums in Lightwaves, an elecro-pop band with fellow CUFF co-host Jan.
Who are you and what’s your duty over at CUFF Radio?
My name is Jackson Kachor. I am a co-Host of Cuff Radio. I am responsible for collecting news items that we discuss on air as well as selecting tracks. I definitely don't do this alone. Josh, who runs the Cuff Records blog, helps a lot, as well as fellow co-hosts Paige and Jan.
What are some of your first memories of getting into electronic music?
I got into electronic music around 2003-2004, mostly trip-hop and downtempo stuff. Just thought it was great to chill out to. It wasn't until around 2010 that I started getting really into electronic "dance" music. U Street Music Hall had just opened in DC and brought some great DJs to the area that never really had a proper venue before. Designer Drugs were one of the first acts I saw there and were the first DJs to really open my eyes to the world of "bangers." Having been a fan of metal and involved with numerous hardcore bands over the years I think I was initially attracted to the aggressiveness of their sets and Datamix series. I was fully obsessed with the music but at that point it was still really just about partying. Paige and I had just moved back to DC and were going hard pretty much every night. Eventually we started to meet more and more people involved in the local and national dance music scene (everyone from DJs and producers, to writers, photographers, and managers), which inspired us to get more involved.
CUFF’s celebrating it’s one-year anniversary. What do you think are some of the highlights of CUFF’s tenure in the scene?
It's been a lot of fun giving local artists, many of whom we are friends with, a chance to voice their thoughts about their own music and what has been happening with music in general. It seems like everyone discovered electronic music in a different way and has put their own spin on it. Seeing how everyone is tied together or see things differently has been really fun for me.
What are some of your personal favorite moments in CUFF’s history?
My favorite moments are the great guests we've had. Nouveau Riche (Steve Starks, Gavin Holland, and Nacey) were really great to talk to about their experience as DJs in DC, Lindsay Lowend totally blew me away when we had him on, Pentamon was really memorable and fun because he used a voice scrambler to help conceal his identity. Also Paige rapping while I beat-boxed was hilarious.
Who are some of your dream guests for CUFF in the near future?
Avicii and Tiesto AT THE SAME TIME. Thats pretty much it.
What can the people expect from the mix you sorted out for DAD?
I listen to a lot of different styles of dance music so it was sorta hard for me decide what direction to go. I've been pretty into the whole zouk bass thing recently so I wanted to keep everything around 87-96BPM so that I could throw some of that stuff in there. I also tried to highlight artists that are from the DC area or that we've had on the show. So you'll hear some Nadastrom, Alex Young, Lindsay Lowend, as well as an unreleased remix by Strangers that they played for us when they were guests. What I ended up with was a little zouk bass, a little hip-hop and trap, some drum & bass, and even an old Prefuse73 track I was into way back in the day. It's a fun mix and although I tried to focus on up and coming producers it's still accessible for almost any listener.
Finally, do androids dance?
BEEN dancin'
Follow Jackson Kachor via: SoundCloud | Twitter | Facebook
Tracklist:
DJ Gorky e MC Gus - Quebradinha
Louchie Lou & Michie One - Rich Girl
Zeds Dead - Undah Yuh Skirt (Nadastrom Remix)
Alex Clare - Up All Night (Nadastrom 98 Re-Fix)
Skrillex, 12th Planet and Kill The Noise - Right On Time (Alex Young Remix)
Mr. Carmack - Birth Control
Buraka Som Sistema - Tarraxa Carnaval
Lil Kim - Crush On You (AObeats & Brad Ford Remix)
Prefuse 73 - Desks.Pencils.Bottles
Jacuzzi Feat. Mr. Carmack - Torture
Jackal & Breach - Shakedown (AA 'Just Jack' Bootleg)
Lindsay Lowend - GT40
Flight Facilities - Stand Still (Wave Racer Remix)
Mat Zo - Lucid Dreams (The M Machine Remix)
Major Lazer - Get Free (Strangers Bootleg Remix)
Chris Brown - Fine China (Royal Refix)
Dillon Francis - Without You (Torro Torro Remix)
SIZZURP - Muchachito (Rasterinha)
Schlachthofbronx x Sabo x Nadastrom - Mulle
T2 - Heartbroken (Murlo Remix)
Paige Plissner
Paige wears a number of hats, having gone from fan to blogger to Internets personality to manager to whatever the hell else she does. You might remember her from her For The Lothario In You blog, her writing stints for Dani Deahl's site, dropping mixes as "The Lothario," or repping CUFF during it's expansion into a record label and management company.
Who are you and what’s your duty over at CUFF Radio?
I’m Paige Plissner, I am one of the radio hosts at CUFF Radio, and I get to the manage the whole operation.
What are some of your first memories of getting into electronic music?
I was always into fashion, but since I grew up in a small blue collar town, and because I was the prettiest one there, I was an outsider. One day I jumped on my horse and ran through the countryside until I found myself with equally attractive people in a nameless city’s fashion district. We all had an Avicii tattoo so we jumped into the bed of a stranger’s truck and cut the line to get into Ultra Music Festival. True story.
Actually, I think the first electronic artists I really got into were Radiohead, Fatboy Slim, The Prodigy, and Moby. I remember listening to Play on repeat with the lights turned off in my room because I had an insane amount of teen angst I guess. Then I got into Tiesto, BT, Paul Okenfold, and AK1200. In high school I went to DC’s HFStival at RFK Stadium, which had a rave tent with Paul Okenfold playing. It was dark and smelly, but everyone was chanting “P-O” and I did it, too, acting like I knew what was going on. This is all really embarrassing, wow. Ok, I was also obsessed with the movie Groove. Whatever, this was all before I was 16.
CUFF’s celebrating it’s one-year anniversary. What do you think are some of the highlights of CUFF’s tenure in the scene?
We made it! The best part about doing this has been connecting different parts of the scene both locally and nationally. I've been interviewed by The EDM Network twice, which shows that by putting ourselves out there we have been able to grow our community. Jan, Jackson, and I spend a lot of time talking about everything related to music, and it’s been awesome meeting other people who share the same enthusiasm.
What are some of your personal favorite moments in CUFF’s history?
Sitting in Jan’s basement, going through loop samples, and putting together a theme song was something that made me feel like a kid again. I was excited to talk to Chris Kelly from FACT Mag about sexism in the music industry since he had just published “SEXISM IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AIN’T NOTHING NEW.” WHY AREN’T FEMALE ARTISTS GETTING THEIR DUE?” I was also super stoked to interview Manila Killa and Lindsay Lowend since I had been a fan of their music for a bit. We got super nerdy during those shows. Another special episode was our Nouveau Riche send-off since Nacey was about to move to LA with his band Misun and him, Steve Starks, and Gavin Holland are legends around here in DC.
Who are some of your dream guests for CUFF in the near future?
George Washington. I would also love to have any of the Main Course guys on the show, but only so I could get some swag. This is one of those questions where you answer it and then remember later that you forget to mention so many other artists. I’ll try: If we could have either Porter Robinson, Madeon, Tiga, Skrillex, Annie Mac, and of course Avicii, on the show, that would be better than grandma’s cookies! Oh definitely Lazy Rich, too.
What can the people expect from the mix you sorted out for DAD?
It’s weird and aggressive hard rave and house music played way too fast: stuff from Main Course, Track Meet, CUFFMGMT, and more.
Finally, do androids dance?
do &roids dream of electric sheep?
Follow Paige Plissner via: SoundCloud | Twitter | Facebook
Tracklist:
Corcovado - Gas Pedal (Edit)
Blank Banshee - Photosynthesis
Doorly Feat. Soraya Vivian - Rush (Go Freek Remix)
Gooba - Owls
Lil Reese -Traffic (Cratesz x G-Buck)
Designer Drugs - The Elephant
Ookay - Once Again
Bro Safari & UFO! - Zombies (Jesse Slayter Remix)
Zombie Nation - Momplays (Popof Remix)
Ookay - Stay With Me
Alex Gaudino & Bottai - Rewind
Ruddyp & Carling Ruse - Making Luv
Alex Young x Jeremih - SWTRWTHRSX (Basscamp Boot)
Kanye West - Bound 2 (Sigma Bootleg)
Modified Drugs - What Up! (Happy Colors Remix)
Crookers & Digi - STIAAH!
Jan Rosenfeld
Most would know Jan as Lightwaves, an electronic act that has been moving to including a live band (Jan sings and plays guitar at their live shows). With two Lightwaves EPs under his belt, Jan also finds time to add his technological know-how to CUFF Radio, co-hosting and adding his insight on the few things he actually does like.
Who are you and what’s your duty over at CUFF Radio?
I'm Jan. I produce and perform under the name Lightwaves. At CUFF, I co-host the show and am generally the guy who "doesn't like this shit."
What are some of your first memories of getting into electronic music?
When I first started making electronic music, my style (and the whole scene) was really different. When I started getting into it, it was way more pop/disco/throwback-based. This was like, pre-electro pop getting really mainstream popular. I was always more into producers and songwriters than DJs and "EDM" producers. The whole thing started blending when the hard American style of EDM/dubstep/whatever started getting super big. But I guess one of my first memories of EDM would be realizing that Porter Robinson/Skrillex and those guys sounded totally different than what came before them. I had never heard heavy electro sounds like that used the way they were being used.
CUFF’s celebrating it’s one-year anniversary. What do you think are some of the highlights of CUFF’s tenure in the scene?
Personal faves were Lindsay Lowend and just linking up with the Indigo Studios dudes in general.
What are some of your personal favorite moments in CUFF’s history?
When Paige tried to rap. Every time we come back from a song and we aren't ready to talk or unsure if the mic is on.
Who are some of your dream guests for CUFF in the near future?
Let's get Madeon!
What can the people expect from the mix you sorted out for DAD?
A mishmash of stuff. Hopefully indicative of the fact that I come from a varied musical background.
Finally, do androids dance?
What don't androids do?
Follow Jan Rosenfeld via: SoundCloud | Twitter | Facebook
Tracklist:
dcup - don’t be shy (wave racer remix)
destiny’s child - say my name
linsday lowend - gt40
perfume - point
seiho - wet asphalt
fs green - get witt u (vip mix)
tesla boy - spirit of the night
little daylight - glitter and gold
fs green - goolie goolie
notorious big - big poppa
francis and the lights - etc
dj craze - spooked
what so not - touched
iggy azalea - fancy
capsule - i wish you
lay bac - stay out tonight
