I Heart the Music: Your Online Source for Live Music Reviews and Interviews in Toronto!

In person and off the tables, Barletta comes across as a pretty unassuming guy; a quick glance at him wouldn’t draw you to the conclusion that he’s one of Canada’s hottest dance music exports, or that he’s half of powerhouse duo Mansion… but indeed he is! iheartthemusic got the chance to chat with the star-in-the-making about the whirlwind success he’s been getting and his plans to help Toronto reach a whole new level in dance music (bring us up to 11, if you catch our drift).

iheartthemusic: You’ve been a busy guy lately, you’ve been releasing music on a consistent basis for the last couple of years and now you’re on tour for the month of May. Are you getting worn out?

Barletta: No. Honestly I’m just riding the hype as much as I can and having a lot of fun. All the shows are awesome and the kids are gnarly as shit.

iheartthemusic: You’re headed to California too, right?

Barletta: Yeah, I’m doing a couple of dates in LA and a couple of dates in Mexico.

iheartthemusic: Is that your first time heading down there?

Barletta: Yeah, it’ll be my first time in LA ever. Other than that, I’ve only played in New York as far as the U.S. goes.

iheartthemusic: You’re on tour promoting the Panther EP. Describe Panther for someone who hasn’t heard it yet.

Barletta: I’d say it’s pretty dance floor banger-ish. I’m really into super heavy baselines that make girls take their clothes off and gets people dancing. Just fun party music is what I classify that EP as. Shit for people to get down to, which is essential the club scene right now. That’s what I really wanted to convey – something that was super fun, really base heavy that anyone could jam out and have a great time to.

iheartthemusic: You’ve been getting a lot of love since you stepped onto the scene – a search on Hype Machine pulls up 10 pages worth of your music. How does it feel to be getting such a positive response for your work?

Barletta: It’s totally rewarding – I mean, doing a lot of self-promoting and letting the music speak for itself is fairly rewarding. I’m taken aback when big DJs like Crookers are playing my tracks. It gives me that much more inspiration and honestly, I’m totally doing it for the music and for the love of making music and I feel like it’s something that I have to get out on a regular basis. Like, I’ve gotta make a track a week.

iheartthemusic: Well you want to keep the momentum going, right?

Barletta: Yeah, keep up the hype, you know?

iheartthemusic: Your remixes of Meech’s “Bottom of the Fourth” and Steve Angello’s “Leave The World Behind”, as well as your own track “Fire + Gold” have a very different style compared to to earlier Barletta tracks. Do you feel like that kind of positive response lets you experiment a little more?

Barletta: Totally, but I find it a process of maturing. Like, I totally love the party music and the party scene, but I definitely think there is more to offer. I’m drawing a lot of inspiration from acts like Jessie Vendetta, Deadmau5 and a lot more progressive artists that still give an edge to their music, which is appealing to people who really want to thrash out, but also incorporate elements that are very sombre and thought-provoking. You kind of get the best of both worlds. Like Deadmau5’s Ghosts and Stuff has moments where people are having a great time, but also has those breaks that gives moments to reflect. I view it as a progression, but I’ll never lose that amped up, I-wanna-party vibe. It’s just a very natural progression for me.

iheartthemusic: Your Bass Live EP was dope. How important was it for you to get a hand from local acts and get that Toronto flavour?

Barletta: I think it’s important to embrace all that Toronto has to offer. Like Syntonics, for instance, one of the very first remixes I made ever was a Syntonics track – huge props to Barbi and Mitchell for introducing me to everybody in the scene. Barbi is like the godmother DJ of Toronto, so I credit a lot to her and her promoting my shit. So, I feel like whenever I see an act out of Toronto that’s fucking hot, I’ll totally remix their stuff. And when you think of different places like New York, for instance, you think Armand Van Helden, Drop The Lime and AC Slater. You have those names to associate with that city, and I want it to be like that here. Like, who do you think of when you think of Toronto?

iheartthemusic: I think Barletta, TMDP…

Barletta: Right, TMDP, Syntonics, the 84.85, GoldenGirls – all those cats are hype. Toronto has a lot to offer and I think that we just need to step up and put shit out. We definitely have a lot of potential and we have to exploit it, and make ourselves known as that fucking city.

iheartthemusic: You’ve scored a couple of official remixes for big names like LAZRtag, among others. How does it feel to be getting props from acts that you’re a fan of and look up to?

Barletta: It’s really exciting, rewarding and humbling for people to approach me to do a remix, and I wish someday to be in their shoes.

iheartthemusic: What’s one of your favourite tracks that you’ve done so far?

Barletta: Fuck, I hate all my music.

iheartthemusic: Ah, don’t say that!

Anna V.: What about Pizza Hut and Taco Bell? [Laughs] I love those Das Racist guys.

iheartthemusic: That’s definitely one of my faves.

Barletta: Ok, yeah – Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.

iheartthemusic: Last question – what’s next for you in ‘09?

Barletta: I don’t know, world domination? Touring my ass off, no sleep, vices of many different kinds, and I don’t know, worldwide success.

Worldwide success is a big dream. However, following his blistering set that had a sold-out crowd sweating out their problems like nobody’s business, we came to realize that that dream is closer for Barletta than most think. All eyes were on the fresh-faced DJ as he tore through the dirtiest, grimiest tracks Wrongbar’s sound system could bear. With every epic break came the crowd’s demand for more, peaking at the drop of Klaas’ remix of Jean Elan’s “Where’s Your Head At?” that had everyone yelling the chorus – and with every cheer, Barletta got more and more into it, begging the crowd to enjoy it as much as he was.

With his sharp blends, an electric stage presence and song selection that was second to none, Barletta had Wrongbar in the palm of his hand. Anyone thinking of jumping into this city’s electronic music scene needs to take notes – Toronto’s best DJ isn’t letting go of his crown anytime soon.

Written by Sebastian Galvez

Photography provided by Amy Young

iheartthemusic headed to Supermarket on Friday, March 6^th for the MUCH anticipated debut CD release party for TMDP. As we approached the venue, we discovered the lineup had begun well before they were set to hit the stage. After chatting with a few people in line, who were both friends of the duo or there to support their label, YYZ, we ventured inside. The place was packed with everyone from hipsters to scenesters to prepsters and all the “sters” in between. We found a spot next to the stage and were able to catch a bit of Tricky Carrera. He threw down some amazing mixes that definitely pumped the crowd up. There was also a nice Michael Jackson throwback mixed in there that everyone in the crowd enjoyed (presumably because everyone in attendance that evening appeared to be born in the ’80s). Tricky was a great start for TMDP as the crowd was already on the dance floor and definitely there to have a good time.

After Tricky’s set, I decided to venture to the bar to grab a drink. One thing about Supermarket that anyone who has been there will tell you is that the bar situation is a major annoyance. After a bit of pushing and shoving I got my drink and was all set to listen to what Gavin Rough and Jeffery Addison of TMDP had in store for their fans and followers alike. As they got on stage the crowd went crazy. They opened by saying “hands up in this mother fucker” which, to me, was an appropriate way to start the show considering that bar situation really is a mother fucker! Having seen the duo play live before (Now Magazine’s The Future Sound of Toronto), I had an idea of what to expect, however, this performance blew that one OUT of the water. These guys just know how to work together and there appears to be a nice balance between their two performance styles. Jeffery is the one who engages the crowd more by making eye contact and pumping everyone up, whereas Gavin is the more reserved and concentrated one. This makes for an amazing combination and it was great to see them interact with each other by sharing beers and high fives! Each song flowed into the next without any kind of hitch or hiccup so that for the entire HOUR they were on stage, you never had to stop moving (now there’s a way to get in shape!). There were some nice stage affects that added to their performance, such as a smoke machine and lights, however, I hardly noticed them as my eyes were transfixed on the two.

The show ended with a surprise appearance by Craig Hill, their manager and owner of YYZ Records, who decided to bodysurf in the crowd! It really felt like a family affair and one that has been brewing for quite some time. Although I was sitting for the entirety of the show, I felt as though I had been dancing the night away to some amazing beats. Jeffery closed their set by adding “we’re TMDP and we have an album.” All in all, it was one of the better live performances I have seen in a long time and I cannot wait to see and hear more from these two.

They will be venturing cross country this Spring to promote their album, so if they are in your town, be smart and go have a listen or, better yet, head to your local music store, pick up a copy of their album, grab some friends and just dance.

photography provided by Amy Young

Jeffrey Addison and Gavin Rough have been making music together for years and their self-titled album, released on February 24th, clearly shows their experience and passion! Jeffrey and Gavin make up the electronic production team of TMDP and together they’ve been garnering big buzz in Toronto. These boys have been ripping up the electro scene, appearing as regulars all over the city. They were  recently named among  Now Magazine’s “Future Sound of Toronto” keeping company with such heavy hitters as Syntonics, Egyptrixx and Nacho Lovers.

With the release of this debut album comes the recognition that these two clearly deserve. The album was produced in a way that each song flows seamlessly into the next, creating a unique listening experience for those lucky enough to get their hands on it! Spring 2009 sees them embark on a cross-country tour so you know it’s the beginning of big things for these boys! To purchase their album head to www.yyzrecords.com or your local record shop – trust us, it will be well worth it!

www.myspace.com/tmdparty

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