all photos: Sexy Fitsum
(full set here)
This past Thursday, Red Bull Music Academy and XM Radio teamed up together to host another “Subsession”; a free form discussion and lecture that is meant to offer a taste of what chosen participants get to experience at the annual Red Bull Music Academy.
While the Dilla Tribute that occured a few months ago was engaging, I was twice as excited for this talk that focused on the work of house and hip-hop DJ and producer, DJ Spinna. Although he is recognized on a much more widespread level for his hip-hop production credits and legendary Stevie Wonder and James Brown tribute parties (Wonder-Full, Soul Slam), I have been a huge fan and pusher of his deep house RnB re-workings that include the Sean Escoffery remixed classic “Days Like This.”
Spinna opened the talk with stories from his own background growing up in the magical, influential and intertwined music and street cultures of New York City in the late 1970s and 1980s. Along the way, audience members asked very thoughtful questions about his production work, current DJing technology, opinions on past and contemporary music and advice that he could offer to aspiring, young DJs and producers. Whereas the Dilla tribute seemed to consist of an audience that was present to worship the living idols on stage, this Subsession had a genuine, down-to-earth feel with smiles and banter being exchanged by those in the crowd and the speaker. I was most impressed by Spinna’s obvious passion for music across the board, which he put on display during a curated/historical perspective dj set and then with a short set that consisted of his own old and new exclusive productions. The latter set was top-notch, consisting of heavy jams and cut-and-pasted reworkings that had a touch of cosmic essence. His technical skills were also impressive, coming from someone who claimed (with a wide big smile) that he never practices anymore.
All in all, Red Bull and XM are on the money with these events and they are definitely a fantastic opportunity for those like myself to learn from people making it happen in a big way. I really am looking forward to more in the future (Theo Parrish/Leroy Burgess/Danny Krivit PLEASE!?!?!?!??!!?).
