CVNT TRAXXX 2014 Top Ten for FACT

Scoot over here to FACT Mag, to see my top ten ballroom tracks of the year, including music by MikeQ, Vjuan Allure, DJ Delish, Divoli S'Vere and loads (well, 6!) more...

DJ DELISH (Pump Da Beat, Philadelphia) INTERVIEW

One of the best, up-and-coming young producers in ballroom right now is Philidelphias DJ Delish. His productions take the genre's cut-up house style and add a grimey, percussive twist that ftis right in with all things Night Slugs/Fade To Mind. Wanting to know more, I fired Delish some questions about his style, influences and the vogue scene in Philadelphia...

Who is DJ Delish?

I would say Delish is another extension of my musical talents. I think Delish is still finding his way but I think he's done a good job of that so far. He's still young and learning but far from an idiot and a newbie. He's someone that I'm glad I was able to create for this world, someone who's name I wanna see in lights one day, someone who has all the passion in the world for the music he generates. DJ Delish is also someone who comes to the club/ball eager to make the night a memory.

I know you walk balls, or have done anyway – what is your category?

Well, voguing was what I was doing before I really got into the scene so I always had an itch to get out on the floor. I have walked a few balls, mostly First Friday's for fun, though. I've walked Virgin Performance which is basically the beginning stage of becoming a vogue femme in the ballroom scene. I've been walking that category for close to a year and a half.

How did you get involved in the ballroom scene in the first place?

The story behind the beginning of my involvement is strange to some. I was born in a Baptist, Jamaican household so one could really wonder how I ended up doing anything that involved a "spin" and a "dip". I was at a good friend of mine's house one day, in Northeast Philadelphia, and she played "I Don't Like That Bitch" by Jay X (Karan). The tempo of the song made me think it was a Baltimore Club song but when I went home to look it up and listen to it again, I found out that wasn't the case---at all. I found a plethora of vogue clips and just went through each one, becoming more and more interested as I went along. At the time, I was still in highschool so I wasn't able to attend any balls, as they would take place after my curfew so I continued to 

absorb the scene, or however much YouTube would allow me to absorb, and started teaching myself how to vogue, practice commentating and even make a vogue beat. Once I turned 18 and was allowed to be out of the house past a certain time, I befriended a few ballroom participants who began to teach me some of the terminology; like "Shade", "Read" and the forever famous "Work!" As time marched on, I started making more beats, becoming better and better and before I knew it, I was asked to DJ a ball in Richmond, Virginia; the first ball I'd ever attend. After that ball, I took a slight break from everything and moved back to Philadelphia, a huge "ballroom city", where I soon joined Pumpdabeat and became one of the resident DJs for the Breakfast Club which has been host to the ballroom scene since 1998. 

And how did you get into djing and producing in particular?

My father has been a DJ for the past 25 years so I'd like to believe that the want to DJ was already in my blood from birth. I would sit in his basement and listen to him play for hours and be amazed at what I'd see him do. How he would DJ would inspired me heavily as a child and that same excitement carried on into later years where I would have eventually started learning to DJ myself. I would desire to move the crowd the same way he did. 

My producing started at the tender age of 13. As a teenager, home computer music programs helped me learn how to produce music, make music edits for performers and create voiceovers. Those experiences have made me do what I do now. 

You're developing quite a distinct sound – who are your biggest production influences? What sets you apart form other ballroom producers?

I would have to say Chocolate Puma, Todd Terry/Black Riot, Masters at Work/Bucket Heads, Green Velvet/Cajmere and Vjuan Allure are my biggest production influences. Each has such a unique style that is so innovative and interesting, it motivates me to think of something that I wouldn't even think I could do. 

The thing that I think sets me apart from other ballroom producers is where my inspiration comes from. I usually don't get inspired by past music, I get inspired from sounds; regular, every day sounds, like a bird cawing or a car tire screeching. I find the rhythm in those things that have no rhythm at all and make one for it. 

What are your non-ballroom musical influences?

It's so many. Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Jhene Aiko, Erykah Badu, Nina Simone,  Queen Pen, Foxy Brown, Queen Latifah, The Gap Band, Skyy, Lil Kim, Craig Mack, Busta Rhymes, Chip Fu, Curtis Blow, Ludacris...and the list goes on.

Tell me about Pumpdabeat – who is in it and how did it get started?

Pumpdabeat is a musical cross section of ballroom consisted of active ballroom participants. To me, it is what you need for your cars, your headphones on the local transit system, in your speakers as you're in your dorm room. Basically, Pumpdabeat is for your vogue inside and outside of the club/ball. Our sound gives you the ability to allow the ball to be wherever you are. All of us, at one time or another, have walked a ballroom floor and that has permitted us to understand the passion behind the rhythm in the music. 

What can we expect from DJ Delish in the near future?

Simply put, the best that I have. I'm working on more new music with my PumpDaBeat family members and working on a CD with Kevin JZ. I'm also putting together another album that will be out in the springtime of next year. In the meantime, I'll be putting out battle beats, vogue session "Ha's", R&B songs, Live sets and more. In the meantime, you can check all of my live sets & hottest track on my Soundcloud (https://soundcloud.com/deejay_delish) and Mixcloud (http://www.mixcloud.com/deejaydelish/dj-delish-malicious-mix).

GHOUL BALL clips

The Hous Of Khan's GHOUL BALL was everything!! SO glad to finally see ballroom taking off over here, with a little help from our French sisters! :) Hats off to Harley and D'Relle for making this happen, I wil try and get an interview with those guys up on CVNTY soon. In the meantime, here's footage:

CHOW DOWN w/ MIKEQ & CVNT TRAXXX Aug 9th, Soup Kitchen, Mcr

ARGH!! Playing with the Legend that is MIKEQ next week - the first time a true ballroom star has djed in our city. Pros to CHOW DOWN for bringing him up and booking me to support!

Charted by HOUSE OF TRAX

Woop! Made it into the HOSUE OF TRAX BAllroom Top Ten for Don't Watch That .TV (<- link)

HOUSE OF TRAX VOGUE & BALLROOM TOP TEN

MikeQ ft Teresa – Make U Gag
Junior Vasquez – If Madonna Calls [ tribal break mix ]
Vjuan Allure – Kid Conga
Vjuan Allure – The Urge
Kingdom – Stalker Ha
Beek – Super Sonic
CVNT TRAXXX – Cum 4 Me
Rushmore – Couture
First Choice – Love Thang
Rageuos Projecting ft Kevin Aviance – Cunty

Voguing films by Vice/Noisey

OK, I've had my issues with Vice in the past (even though I write pretty regularly for Thump/Noisey) but here's two films they have produced recently about the modern NY ballroom scene. Well, involving it - the Icy Lake film also throws back to the late 90s and the long forgotten track of the same name which was an anthem with certain voguers of the era. And big up to MikeQ and Qween Beat, even though that film is 1000% too short! Anyway, enough words, just watch:

post-PARIS IS BURNING vogue films playlist

I put together a playlist of short films (and short extracts from longer films) that people should watch once they have seen Paris Is Burning. These films fill in some of the gaps of PIB, give background details and information, and show where ballroom culture is at right now - which is important, as I feel people watch PIB and think they all there is to know about ballroom, which leads to this vibrant, living, breathing, evolving culture being dismissed as some kind of "90s relic", which plays into the kind of co-option and exploitation Madonna is guilty of. VOGUING IS NOT DEAD, IT IS ALIVE AND BETTER THAN EVER!

On this playlist you will find extracts form How Do I Look (the unofficial sequel to Paris Is Burning), footage of Crystal LaBeija in "The Queen", rare footage of Willi Ninja and pier kids voguing in the late80s/early90s, a film about the lost ballroom "classic" Icy Lake from LA's Fade To Mind label, a very short peek inside Vogue Knights (NY's weekly voguing showdown) and a look beyond the US scene to the modern voguers making Paris burn.

CVNT TRAXXX "Make Love (Vjuan Allure Remix)" at STREETSTAR 2014

OMG Vjuan Allure played his remix of Make Love off the Cannabis Kitsch EP at the Streetstar preliminary vogue battle and IT WENT OFF!! Even the judges were loving it. I could have died and gone to heaven right then!!

RBMA Bounce Ballroom Event TONITE

Oh ot be in New York! Check out this fucking line-up - brilliant mix of house music styles and the associiated dance scenes. From the RBMA site:

Four dance styles, four dance crews, four DJs: Bruk Up/Flexing with Bobby Konders, Voguing/Ballroom with MikeQ, Housing/Waacking with Todd Terry, Jersey Club with DJ Sliink. In the tradition of our 2013 United States of Bass event, Red Bull Music Academy pays tribute to hyper-local traditions that have made a global impact. With revered jocks providing the soundtrack and legendary dancers teaching you all the moves, expect a history lesson that your booty will never forget.
BRUK UP with Bobby Konders + dancers Bones the Machine, Drew Dollaz, Samiam, Ghost.
VOGUING with DJ MikeQ and MC Kevin JZ Prodigy + dancers Javier Ninja, Leiomy Prodigy and Dashaun Evisu.
HOUSING with Todd Terry + dancers Eriko, Cricket, Princess Lockeroo.
JERSEY CLUB with DJ Sliink and Mike Gip + dancers SoSo, Fiinesse and Emanni.
Lighting installations by Nuit Blanche New York (NBNY).
For an overview of all Red Bull Music Academy Festival New York events, as well as info on ticketing, visit: http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/nyc

 Here's the promo mix:

Mind to Mind feature for THUMP UK, inc interviews with MIKEQ, DJ SLIINK and KINGDOM

Got this piece together for Thump, featuring some of my favourite DJs out right now. I'm pretty fuckin proud of this piece tbh:

If I were to ask you what your favourite dance labels are right now, I wouldn't be too surprised if you mentioned LA's Fade To Mind and London's Night Slugs; two closely-related club imprints who have been setting the bar very high as a network of DJs throwing some of the best parties on the planet.

Now, you can add Mind To Mind to that list too. Mind To Mind is a new Fade To Mind offshoot, which - as label boss Kingdom and producers MikeQ and DJ Sliink explain - is influenced by Night Slugs' Club Constructions, yet with its own, unique outlook.

THUMP: What made you want to start Mind To Mind?

Kingdom: Will and I who run Fade To Mind had been thinking a lot about what is at the core of what we do; what would be a category of music that our artists generate that doesn't get released, or that doesn't make it onto EPs usually. We came to see that a lot of that stuff is casual collaborations, and improvised music that our artists make together, so our concept was to create a release series that is specifically for collaborations.

Those collaborations can be one off - like, if I happen to be in London for a few nights, and I make a couple of tracks with Bok Bok, or whatever the case may be. It's basically to have a space where people can make tracks together without having to form "a band", or have to say "We're a duo, we're now called this".

Will Mind To Mind have a similar club-based/DJ tools approach as Night Slugs' Club Constructions series? 

Kingdom: Mind to Mind is only really comparable to Club Constructions in the way that they are both side releases. Sonically, we're hoping to push an entirely different direction - although, these tracks on the release from Mike and Sliink are very rhythm-based and drum heavy, like Club Constructions. But, in general, this stuff is going to be very free-form. Some stuff will have no drums.

We are keeping it really open format, though. We don't want it to be just club music. It can be more experimental forms too. Also, you can't really know what to expect based on who is collaborating. Massacooraman and L-Vis 1990 have been making a lot of tracks together, and those are kinda of grimey, but also quite sparse and a-rhythmic. Very creepy, industrial, dark stuff. 

Mike and Sliink, how did you guys meet? Did you know each other before Mind To Mind?

MikeQ: Sliink and I met online first. I already knew of him and his music being from New Jersey. I always played his music when I played here in the past, and we had a few gigs together. 

DJ Sliink: I met Mike from this video interview and mix session program in NYC called Noise212 with JP Solis. Mike did his slot before me, and I was on the next week. I pretty much saw he was from Jersey and messaged him. Everything was pretty organic. The first remix I did for him was the 'Ha Dub' remix on Fade To Mind. 

How did you start producing music together? 

DJ Sliink: After Mike and I met, we found out that we lived around the corner from each other. We have a lot of tracks together. We both really dig each other's style, and have a culture behind what we do. I'm all for the culture.

MikeQ: Well for my debut EP I asked him to remix a track, and then the Mind To Mind release idea didn't even come until after we were done with the tracks. For this project, we were just fucking around and had this idea to clash ballroom and Jersey club. We passed tracks back and forth and met up a few times at my house, and this release was born.

DJ Sliink: Mike and I both use Sony Acid Pro and FL Studio. It's amazing that we use the same thing, as it makes the process that much easier. We would email demos over and review them, and see what might work in the club. When we both were home, that's when we would grab some studio time. 

READ THE WHOLE THING HERE.

BOYFRIENDS Vogue mix

This is awesome!! Big shout to Saul Mojca or this killer mix:


Intro
RuPaul - Covergirl (Boyfriends Ratchet Ass Donkey Booty Remix)
Robbie Tronco vs. Trina - C.U.N.T. (Boyfriends Red Bottoms Edit)
GTA - Booty Bounce
2 Chainz - Birthday (Boyfriends DJ Snake Vogue Edit)
Azealia Banks - 212 (Boyfriends RUIN YOU CUNT Remix)
GTA - Hit It (Boyfriends VOGUE Edit)
Tony Quattro - Ray Ray
Chelley - Took The Night (DJ Sliink Remix)
Red Foxx - Silly Bitch
Melocah - Lola
French Fries - Yo Vogue
B. Ames - The Bump
Versace Spice - Versace Hottie
Doortrax - Presto Change-o
Sugur Shane - Buddah vs. Sugar
Madonna - Vogue (Boyfriends Remix)
Dai Burger - Big Boob Bitch
Submission - Women Beat Their Men
M.I.A. - Y.A.L.A. (MikeQ Bootleg)
GTA - The Crowd
Lady Gaga - Aura (Boyfriends KILLED THE VOGUE Remix)
Calvin Harris ft. Ellie Goulding - I Need Your Love (Boyfriends Remix)
Cathy Dennis - Touch Me (Vices Remix)
Drunk In Love vs. Boss Ass Bitch (Byrell The Great Remix)
DJ Funeral - Shutterbug

BigDickBitch aka TS MADISON interview *NSFW*

The name TS Madison might not ring your bells, but if you're on Vine (or know anyone who is) then it's very likely that you have seen her videos. Madison, aka BigDickBitch, is the star of the viral hit "She Got A Dick!!!" in which she coins a catchphrase while showing the world her very generous apendage. Here's the clip, censored, and it's still VERY NSFW:

Apart from being a star of Vine and an adult film performer, Madison has branched out into making music, recently teaming up with ballroom star B Ames for the dancefloor destroying "Is It On?" which simply drips cunty attitude:

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! I sent Madison some questions, which she was kind enough to answer:

Who Is TS Madison?   

Ts Madison is that girl and who does her hair... lol, just kidding. Seriously TS Madison is a brand, a business mogul, and she's an entertainer.  A transgender woman with limitless skills and abilities who stands for equality for all people, no matter race, color, creed and most importantly sexual orientation and gender. 

B Ames is one of my favorite producers, her beats always turn me out. How did you hook up with her?

B Ames reached out to me as a fan and supporter of the TS Madison movement and, when she did, it was instant chemistry as if we had known each other for years. We traded ideas and knew that we wanted to do something big for the community.  We wanted to rewrite the alma mater for confidence and self esteem. 

The track you have done together is SICK. I love it! What was the inspiration behind "Is It On?"

The phrase "Is It On" originally was used before I did every vlog to express my feelings and views on current events, but it was really referring to my mug and how pretty I looked in the camera! My religious followers understood that I was talking about my mug and related to it. B Ames saw that quote and knew that we could make this a high-energy, self-esteem boosting song.

And what was it like working with B Ames?

She was wonderful, amazing and she listened and we were able to brainstorm this genius. 

Have you made music before or is this your first time?

Yes I have made music before, but this time was different because this time I saw this as original and something that would make an impact on the community.

Your clips are notorious, and also very funny. What has the reaction been like to them? I am guessing it has been both good and bad? 

The reactions have been varied in both negative and positive reviews, but either way it goes it has put my name out in mainstream society and has allowed me to expand my brand.  Allowing my positive energy to touch masses of people.

What made you put the naked clips up in the first place?

My initial occupation was an adult film star and producer so I utilized social media as any business minded person would do for a marketing strategy. Countless others were doing the same before me.  I had no idea that MINE would go viral. 

Will there be more naked clips? 

Ummmmmm... Honestly I dont know just stay tuned!

You've got quite a reputation on Vine now. How does it feel to be one of the first "stars" of Vine?

"Star" that's a complicated word and so complex and I am just TS Madison. I have a lot to say but I just say it a little louder. But I am just like everyone else.

I am loving your hair right now too - if money was no option what would be your dream weave?

My dream weave always has to start out 22 inches, honey, because you do know that "if it aint 22 inches or better your practically baldheaded".  Seeing how my hair is always custom made by AAA QualityRemy hair it seems I always live wearing my "Dream Hair".   

You can buy "Is It On?" on iTunes.  

RIDE COMITTEE Synthetic (CVNT RUNWAY Mix) for NERVOUS RECORDS

NERVOUS FUCKING RECORDS!!! AAAARRRGHGHGH!!!!



That little flat-top cartoon dude has been a total icon of house music since I first got into it about 20 years ago, and now that dude IS REPPING ME!

To say I am stoked is an understatement. Thanks to Louie Balo aka Ride Committee for all of this, you can buy my remix of "Synthetic" here.

And here's the whole track:

DIVOLI S'VERE interview + new mixtape

I have been waiting on this interview a while, but it has been worth it! One of the upcoming major stars of the ballroom sound, and central force of Qween Beat Productions, Divoli is one of my favourite producers out there right now. On the eve of the release of Ckuntonomikz Vol 4 mixtape, I sent Divolisome questions, to find out more about Qween Beat, the mixtapes, and what it means to be CKUNT.

Who is Divoli Svere?

-Divoli S'vere is a artist in many different forms. He a character, that i created to showcase all of my many talents and arts, all while still being true to who I am as a person.

How do you describe what you do?

-Art. I love being creative anyway I can be. So everything I do from music to photos I describe as art because that basically what it is, an art form.

How did you get involved with the whole ballroom scene?

- I never really considered myself "In the scene", but I have always been into the ballroom scene since High School. I would vogue with my friends. I have always been into the music, Dance, Baltimore Club, House, and Ballroom always filled up my iPod, and CD racks. I really became apart of the scene through my music, and becoming a member of Qween Beat.


And what do you think of the ballroom scene now in 2014?

- The scene now has definitely evolved, and become more then what it used to be. If you look back at the documentaries such as "Paris Is Burning" and "How Do I Look" you will see that the scene back then really was underground. It was exclusive to the LGBT community. Now, the Ballroom scene is becoming much more mainstream, and anyone can go and enjoy the culture. Many of Ballrooms Icons and legends are in major music videos and traveling the world spreading the Ballroom culture.

How did you arrive at your own unique, style? Both in terms of production and vocally.

- I've always had a different style. Everyone says its "dark". I arrived at my style because I stick to doing what I love. In my photos and artwork, figures like Grace Jones are my inspiration. In my music, I am constantly inspired by MikeQ, Kevin Aviance, Vjuan Allure, and many other DJs and Producers. Vocally, Kevin Aviance was always a favorite of mine. He has been around for so long and inspires the Ballroom scene consistantly with his legendary track "Cunty". I took what I loved from him and made it my own. In terms of production, I am inspired by almost everything! I'm always thinking of kick patterens for a remix, or something "cunt" for the people to vogue or dance to. I try to get people to like what I like when I'm producing a track.

What is your favorite production you have been involved in?

- Any collaborations I have done with my "Father" MikeQ is my favorite. We work very well together and when its completed we always produce something great! Any collaborations done with anyone has been a favorite of mine because I love the idea of different styles and sounds clashing together, its very inspiring and I always learn from it.

How did you get involved with Qween Beat?

- I honestly wanted to be apart of Qween Beat. I emailed MikeQ and sent him my work I had at the time when I first started producing and remixing. From then til now, Ive been apart of Qween Beat, and I love my Family/Team! Its just a team of extremely talented people.

Can you explain for the readers what "cunt" means in ballroom?

- In Ballroom, "cunt" is not the thing you think it is. We use "Cunt" as an adjective, describing how someone is voguing or how someone or something looks. Like, "Yes! His duck walk is cunt!" or "Girl those shoes are so cunt." I spell it "Ckunt" to take some of the harshness off of the word, and it looks CKUNT!

What's coming up this year for Divoli S'vere?

- This year I plan to get out there more so as an artist, performing, and hosting. I am working in many different genres right now from Hip-Hop/R&B to Dance, even a little bit of Dub-Step. Qween Beat will soon be a label and I do plan to release another album. I also plan to continue my free mix-tape series "Ckuntinomksz". This year is going to be the year of Qween Beat!

Download Mixtape | Free Mixtapes Powered by DatPiff.com

Ckuntinomksz Mixtapes
http://www.datpiff.com/profile/DivoliSvere

The Anti Drug Album
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-anti-drug/id551373385

SoundCloud

soundcloud.com/DivoliSvere

for Singles

divolisvere.bandcamp.com

youtube videos coming soon

youtube.com/divolisvere

LIKE ON FACEBOOK
facebook.com/DivoliSvere

FOLLOW ON TWITTER

twitter.com/DivoliS'vere

AND FOLLOW THE EXTREMELY CREATIVE AND TALENTED INDIVIDUALS OF Qween Beat
"LIKE" Our FB Page: http://www.facebook.com/QweenBeat
"FOLLOW" Us On Twitter http://www.twitter.com/QweenBeat
"LISTEN" To & Download Beatz http://www.soundcloud.com/QweenBeat

"Year In Vogue" mix for FACT Magazine

It's up! The hour-long mix of my favourite ballroom (with a smattering of club and house) from the last 12 months (roughly). Full tracklist below.


DESHAUN TIMOTHY & SUGUR SHANE - Ima Read (Divoli 2013 Mix)
SUGUR SHANE - CT Drops
VJUAN ALLURE - Kid Conga (Rebounced) ft Danial Haaksman
MYRRYRS - Memphis
RUSHMORE - Turn It Up
KEVIN JZ PRODIGY - Nasty Poetry (Schwarz Remix)
POISONOUS RELATIONSHIP - Nite Birds (MikeQ Remix)
MIA - Y.A.L.A. (MikeQ Remix)
BYRELL THE GREAT - #TwerkIt
LULU EBONY & GREGG EVISU - Bangee Cunt (DJ Delish Remix)
HYPEHEADS - Tom Landry (Ynfynyt Scrol Godless Bisexual ReQynt)
SHARAYA J - Banji (CVNT Bitch Edit)
BEEK - Like This (Like That)
TONY PLAYBOI - Space Walk Runway
AIR DJ - Britney Puta
BRITNEY SPEARS - Werk Bitch (Divoli S'Vere Gaginator Mix)
BRITNEY SPEARS - Werk Bitch (Divoli S'Vere Gaginating Ha)
JAY R NEUTRON - YUNGNEUTRXN
VJUAN ALLURE - Natives R Restless
DJ SEGA - Django (Demo)
SCHWARZ - My Pussy Tastes Like…
SUGUR SHANE - Outta Sight Cunt Juice
THOMAS BANGALTER v L-VIS 1990 - Spinal Ha
B AMES - Sniffles (The Bump Dub)
ANGEL X - Electro Runway Pump
MATRIXXMAN & MYKKI BLANCO - God Created The Beat (JD Twitch Remix)
BODYJACK - The Widowmaker
CVNT aka CVNT TR4XXX - Midnight Function
HOUSE OF WALLENBERG ft OCTAVIA ST LAURENT - Be Somebody (CVNT TR4XXX Remix)
NEW YORK TRANSIT AUTHORITY - A Long Time Coming
JAY EXCLUSIVE & VJUAN ALLURE - Any Bitch

Upcoming FRENCH BALLS

Next up, after the UK vogue piece, I'd like to cover voguing in Paris - I hear the girls there GO OFF! HEre's some upcoming balls for your diary (I might try and make one of these)...

FACE OF CLEOPATRA BALL (Sat April 26th) more info/categories here.

LE MINI RENDEZ-VOUS (Wed Feb 26th) Hosted by Dashaun Wesley, more info/categories here

CVNT MIX for RWD.FM - Gossip Boy & DJ Party Show

Here's my guest mix for the Gossip Boy & DJ Party show on RWD.FM, broadcast yeaterday.


OK, truth time: some of this mix was resurrected fomr an older one I started months and months ago. So, the tracklist is a bit fkd, I can't remember who some of the tracks were, and they're edited a lot. 

ANNA DEL RUSSON Fashion Shower (Edit)
KENLOU The Ha Dance
MIKEQ The Ha Dub
ARMAND VAN HELDEN Love Thang 
DIVOLI S'VERE What I Want
YNFYNYT SCROLL Work
THE NIALLIST Work It (Cunt Traxxx Remix)
CUNT TRAXXX Vogue Life
SUGUR SHANE Drop (acapella)
TRINA Bad Bytch (? Remix)
SHUNDA K I'm Da Best (Niallist Dubb Mixx) 
SCHWARZ Lose Yr Mind
DJQ - ?
CHRISTEENE African Mayonaisse
SHARAYA J Banji
BLESZT Twerk
LADY GAGA Applause (Boyfriends Remix)
BODYJACK Be Right There
ELLIE GOULDING Light It Up (K Deuces Remix)
T-PAIN Up Down (Uniique Remix)
VJUAN ALLURE Rudolph
CVNT TRAXXX Private School Girl

CVNT Strictly Ballroom Top Ten for GENERATION BASS

So here she is, my end-of-the-year round up of my favourite ballroom house tracks from the last 12 months. Originally published on GENERATION BASS, here's the list in full, but for downloads/audio you need to go check out the original.

I came in for a bit of criticism for my last top 10 here on GB, as some of the acts I included were not ballroom (the list was a mixture of ballroom and house/other stuff I dug at that point). So, this time round, I’ve decided to keep the chart to strictly ballroom acts, and to look back at my favourite tracks in the genre from the last 12 months.

10. BAAUER – Harlem Shake (QWEEN BEAT Remix)

There was no escaping the Harlem Shake this year, but at least some good came of the craze, like this remix by MikeQ and Jay R Neutron for Qween Beat. Qween Beat is a collective of producers, djs, performers, MCs, designers and a lot more besides, featuring some of the hottest names in ballroom, and who are always worth checking out with some of the freshest mixes. You can find Qween Beat on Twitter, FB and Soundcloud.

9. JAY R NEUTRON The Godzilla Ha

Jay R Neutron has some awesome remixes and smash-ups on his Soundcloud page, many of which could have gone in this chart, but this cheeky Godzilla-soundtrack-sampling beat is the one for me. You might recognise the sample from hip-hop classic “Simon Says” by Pharaoh Monch. Let’s hope Godzilla doesn’t hear this, as a vogue dip from her would be bad news for Tokyo.

8. BYRELL the GREAT In GREAT We Tru$t Pt II

The second instalment of Byrell’s mix tape series serves up a tonne of hot dance floor remixes and edits, showcasing his this up-and-coming producer’s unique style, and also shows the influence of hip-hop, pop and R&B (not to mention Jersey Club) on the ever-developing ballroom sound.

7. LULU EBONY ft GREGG EVISU #BangiCunt (DJ Delish Remix)

Two seriously talented ballroom MCs go head to head on a majorly hot beat remixed by Philidelphia’s DJ Delish. Not much more to say here, just let Evisu & Ebony do the talking (though, as the title would suggest of course, this track is NOT safe for work).

6. SUGUR SHANE Outta Sight Cunt Juice

More commonly known for his MCing, this year Sugur Shane took the plunge into production too, turning out a hard-as-nails remix of DJ Fade’s “Outta Sight”, featuring vocal samples from Buddah and Shane himself. If anyone tells you that ballroom is too soft, too minimal or too repetitive, just slap this on and watch them shut the hell up.

5. BEEK Like This (Like That)

Beek is a name to keep an eye on, his work this year has been consistently impressive, and he has managed to push the ballroom envelope while still serving up tracks to thrown down to. The skittery vocal samples of “Like This” also manage to showcase his brilliant MC style, marrying it to an impressive minimal/complex rhythm.

4. MIA Y.A.L.A. (MikeQ Remix)

Nobody touches MIkeQ for stripped-back, dance floor destroying tracks, his remixes and originals use the barest of elements but achieve maximum impact. There’s a reason this guy is the premier ballroom DJ. This mix is a great example of his style, and again showcases ballroom’s ability to absorb practically any other genre. It’s great to see it crossing over into lots of different DJ sets.

3. BRITNEY SPEARS Work Bitch (Divoli S’vere Gaginator Remix)

Like the flip-side of MikeQ’s minimalist M.I.A. remix, fellow Qween Beat don Divoli S’vere transforms Britney’s wannabe pop-house anthem into a maximalist “WTF?!” epic. This is hands down my remix of the year, and I could see it working in both big and underground clubs, if the DJs have the balls to drop a Britney track that is!

2. KEVIN JZ PRODIGY Nasty Poetry (Schwarz Remix)

Kevin Prodigy is probably the best known ballroom MC, but this remix by Baltimore’s Schwarz slows things down just a touch, becoming *almost* a chilled out hybrid of deep house and Bmore beats that will work in many varied DJ sets. But Prodigy’s distinctive growl keeps it firmly in the ballroom ballpark, with Schwarz teasing out the best bits of his vocal performance.

1. VJUAN ALLURE Kid Conga (Rebounced) ft Daniel Haaksman

This is my top track of the year, an absolute dancefloor destroyer, whatever genre you prefer, from ballroom to house to bass to whateverthefuck. This was dropped back near the start of the year on Vjuan Allure’s debut Mad Decent/Jefrees release, the Vjuanage EP. The track is a cut up of Kid Conga by Daniel Haacksman featuring MC MIltihno, which you might already know, and it never fails to set dancefloors on fire. Also, if you ever get a chance to see a Vjuan Allure DJ set, DO NOT miss it, the dude SLAYS.

Honourable mentions:

I wanted to keep this top ten to one entry per producer, but some of these guys have been on fire this year, and their other work deserves mention too. So, here’s a quick round-up: Vjuan Allure “Natives R Restless”, Poisonous Relationship “Nite Birds (MikeQ Remix)”, Sugur Shane “My Night With Peter And Junior” mixtape, Beek “Beek” EP, DeShawn Timothy & Sugur Shane “Ima Read (Divoli’s 2013 Remix), Dawn Richards “Gleaux (Divoli S’vere Version)”, in fact, just follow all/any of the Soundcloud links posted above and you will find a wealth of awesome music, much of it available for free download. And if you’ve got any favourite ballroom tracks from the past 12 months I haven’t mentioned, leave a comment.

You can follow me at CVNT TRAXXX on Soundcloud, and check out my own ballroom-influenced grymehaus “Statement” EP on Body Work Records.

JA'MIE KING Private School Girl

I'm like SO obsessed with this show right now it's QUICHE bitches!!! If you haven't seen it yet WATCH IT. Chris Lilley as Ja'mie King is one of the best drag performances ever IMO, I'd go so far as to say it's beyond drag, it's just incredible character acting. With some of the nastiest, bitchiest dialog on TV.

I just couldn't help making this tribute to this genius show. I hope they don't sue:

HOUSE OF SHADE Hysteric Xtra-Organza Mix

"Sheer Organza" off the Statement EP featured on this lovely mix by Jan from House Of Shade:

mixed by Jan Kedves for HOUSE OF SHADE in Berlin – vinyl only – thank you for listening

1. Sade – Couldn't Love You More (Vin Sol & Matrixxman Mix) (White Label)
2. Farley Funkin Keith – Pump-N The Bass (House Records)
3. Ron Jason & Kim Ann Foxman – The Dream Project (Love Fever Records)
4. EZLV – Ordinary Thing (House Of Silk)
5. Ejeca – Together (Terrence Parker's Motor City Soul Mix) (Needwant)
6. Size Queen – Walk! (Paul's Groove) (Tribal)
7. Rick Wilhite – Drum Patterns & Memories (Moodymann Mix 2) (Rush Hour)
8. Julio Bashmore & Kowton – Mirror Song (Broadwalk Records)
9. CVNT – Sheer Organza (Body Work)
10. Hysterics – Code Switch (Club Mix) (Night Slugs)
11. Jam City – 500 Years (Night Slugs)
12. The Ride Committee feat. Roxy – Get Huh! (The New Mix) (E Legal)
13. Point G – Druker (Point G)
14. Whatever, Girl – Activator (You Need Some) (Dark & Lovely Mix) (Yoshitoshi)
15. DJ Cease – Super Crash (Tribute To Lil' Louis Rework) (Rush Hour)
16. Jamie Principle – Bad Boy (Unreleased Mix) (Trax)