References

DANTE'S TOP 10 - MAY 2008 PICKS...

1  HEATER (Original mix)- Samim 2  Sonando contigo_Kiko Navarro " 3  Feel the House - Dante Rivera ( Rivera's Afro Latin remix) 4  Ahora Es Asi - Havana Funk (Dante's Con Sabor remix) 5  Tumba - Soneros del Barrio (Ospina remix)   6  Ogun - Enrico Martini (Afrosoul mix) 7  Por Causa De Voce Menina-Mustafa 8 Que sera / Café do Brasil-CAMPOGRANDE 9 Me sorprendiste-Shik Stylko & Matt Caseli  10 Quisiera - Salome de Bahia

Dante's No1 Latin House album: Salida del Sol Vol 2 By Ospina Digital

Other Dante's House Places:

http://www.myspace.com/sexy_latin_house

http://www.chango.com.au/dante/door.html

El Rey"D"La Casa , Sexy Latin House Sessions (Sydney-Australia)

mixed by Dante Rivera

Dante's CD release...

Dante Rivera | Nic Godoy | Levi | Karl Prinzen | Abel El'Toro

Dante Rivera

Dante Rivera has been one of Sydney's most longstanding DJs. Since his early days at 'players' and the 'Oz Rock' to current residencies at the super cool 'Mars Lounge' "sublime@home' and 'The Civic', his sound has evolved from funk and New Jack Swing through to commercial dance to all styles of Latin Electronic and House music. Dante has consistently been a versatile, passionate and energetic DJ and it's been 20 years now since his first DJ gig at an under 18's party in a church. In that time Dante Rivera has owned his own club, played on radio, in clubs, at festivals, parties weddings and 21sts, not to mention DJed around Australia, New Zealand and South America. He is the DJ that brought Latin electronic music into the mainstream in Australia and he is the household name within the Latin community here. But more importantly.... he has been the only Latin DJ in Sydney to crossover into the mainstream club scene. Rivera is the original party starter and the undisputable King of Latin House.

Dante describes his encounters with his public as his opportunity to inject his "drug" (his mixes). People ask him ,why dj .?He simply replies ,"The energy and the vibe that the crowd produces right at the peak of the night ,is what's kept me going ,on for 20 years.

Over so many years of experience , including the different clubs and events that have been performed , you get to know a large amount of people, this contributes to his following fans that range from all ages . The sound that he tries to create is a new of Latino underground , Electronic music - LATIN HOUSE - a trend of music that has been very popular internationally for a long time.

A few of Dante's previous workplaces:

• El Inca ( New Zealand )
• Bondi South America Festival ( BONDI PAVILION)
• Darling Habour Fiesta
• Bacardi Festival
• Carnival on the Harbour ( cruises )
• Coogee Palace
• Coogee Bay Hotel
• Sydney Olympics and Paralympics 2000
• The Civic
• Home night Club - Sydney
• Havana Soul - Miami
• Brahma Bar - Lima-Peru
• Mars Lounge
• Hilton - Sydney
• Cargo Bar
• Bongalo 8
• Metro - Sydney
• Metro - Perth • Universale
• The Gaff
• Kinselas

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Nic Godoy

Born in Argentina and migrating to Australia in the early 90s, Nic's early music influence as all Latin kids was the sounds of Salsa, Merengue and Reggae. During his teenage years, he discovered house music through artist like Roger Sanchez, Eric Morillo, Masters at Work and Eddie Amador, which compelled him to begin Djing at private and local Latin parties. After finishing his audio engineering degree, he moved to Sydney from his Adelaide residence to pursue a career in the audio industry.  Even though appearing as a live guest DJ in Channel V's National Amateur Dj competition in '99, his passion to push Latin sounds to the clubbing scene didn't begin until 2003.
After years of hard work, Nic has recently won the Candys apartment DJ competition with his mixes featured nationally on Triple J's 'Club Program'. Headlining and supporting major local Djs, he now regularly plays in venues around Sydney and interstate such as Transport (Melb),Royal hotel (Adl), Candys Apartment, BLOC (resident), Le Panic, Deck Bar and Greenwood to only name a few. His sets are renowned for infectious funky, soulful, deep and Latin house.

NIck's Picks... 1 David Vendetta- Unidos Para La Musica 2 Fish Go Deep Feat. Tracey K - The Cure And The Cause (Dennis Ferrer Remix) 3 Julien Jabre - Voodance 4 Gregor Salto feat Helena Mendes- Viajar (Madskillz remix) 5 Three Kings Feat. Jaygun And Bashy - Shake Dat Booty (Wahoo Remix) 6 Mitomi Tokoto- That Piano Track (Sergio Flores Chant Mix) 7 Soul Avengerz- Love you feel (Aston Martinez Latin Mix) 8 Afro Bongo Rhythm- Human Spirit (Raul Moros Mix) 9 Bongoloverz feat Ursula Cuesta- La Fiesta (Bongoloverz Balearic Mix)                     10 Mainstreet - Jansa Y Juju

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DJ LEVI

Levi 5star has made a name for himself with over ten years experience behind the decks, this man can play everything from chill out jazzy deep house, to rocking prime time electro cuts.

DJ Levi 5star sweats and works up the crowd as he mixes deep and furiously bringing in elements such as funk, Latin, tribal, disco, afro and soul. Smooth mixing and track selection lie at the core of Levi’s dance floor engine, with his hand pumpin in the air, you know it’s time to let your body rock 5star style.

“The main thing for me is that the music should be funky, and that it should be musical enough to be appreciated on and off the dance floor. If a record is good enough, I will play it, independent of genre.”

Playing at respected clubs and bars throughout Australia including Plan B, Home, Tank, Roxy, Coogee Palace, Moulin Rouge, Gas, Family (QLD), Cargo, Globe, Arthouse, Opera Bar, Colombian, Fringe Bar and the Loft, his creative style and upbeat sets are appreciated by all.

With his band La Fiesta Sound System, Levi has shown he can rip it up amongst Sydney’s hottest musicians, and program intricate sets to allow the band space to work their live magic vibes.  

Supporting many acts and major parties Levi has played amongst some of the worlds finest including SNAP, KLF, C+C Music Factory, Norman Jay (UK), Adam Freeland (UK), Fred Everything (Canada), Knee Deep ( GER), Hardsoul,, Jon Sa Trinxa (Café del Mar), Stonebridge (UK), Ian Pooley (GER), Smoking Jo (UK), Gotan Project (France), Steve ‘Sole’ Middleton (UK), Miss Jools (UK), Crystal Method (USA), Chris ‘ Swag’ Dukenfield (UK), Will Grant (UK), Resign Dogs, Etherfox, Jason Bye, Endorphin, , Mark Dynamix , Superfly, GT and Mark Walton.  

With a full time production schedule in his own studio and working with Justin Shave from Etherfox, Levi has some fresh releases ready to tear the dancefloors apart which include the world wide hit  ‘The whirled you live’ by Etherfox and the recent  ‘Dancando comigo’ by La Fiesta Sound System just out on Soulfuric records USA.

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Karl Prinzen

Karl Prinzen began his DJ career in community FM radio back in 1991.
A producer and presenter of a weekly House music program that was broadcast live across Australia; he quickly received offers from clubs to play the same brand of music to a live audience.
Karl’s musical influences are many and diverse: from early 80’s new-wave electronica, to funk, soul, and all types of Latin American music, where his own roots lie.
A loyal exponent of soulful garage and House music for over 12 years, Karl has remained faithful to his roots, consistently incorporating Latin sounds in all his sets.
A keen follower and admirer of legendary DJs such as Louie Vega, David Morales and Frankie Knuckles, Karl also draws inspiration from the new breed of House maestros such as Jay-J, Joeski and Mauricio Aviles, contemporaries he relates to musically.
Karl’s sets have the reputation for being big on ‘feeling’: be it deep, intense, warm or festive.
In fact most his sets will be a journey encompassing all these moods. It is for this reason that crowds tend to have so much fun when Karl is behind the decks.
The last couple of years have seen Karl play a host of Sydney clubs with residencies at Tank Nightclub, Civic, Burdekin and Q-Bar, as well as guest spots at Home, Kink, Moulin Rouge, Le Panic, Candy’s Apartment and many more.
Internationally speaking, Karl has played at Prince Bonaparte (Notting Hill, London, England), Café Mambo & Café Savannah (San Antonio, Ibiza, Spain) and Lido (Bellagio, Lake Como, Italy) and has played alongside Internationals just as Sneak, Armand Van Helden (in Spain), Chris Lum, Kaskade, Crazy Penis (in Australia).
Most recently Karl has played with UK superstars Bobby n’ Steve, Groove Assassin and the Audiowhores at K-Life, the night he runs with partner and friend, Andrea Zambon.
Karl Prinzen, -co-promoter, founder and head DJ of K-Life- promotes soulful House music every Friday night at Mars Lounge.

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Abel El' Toro

Caned with ABEL

Abel el’ Toro is a fixture, if not somewhat an icon of the Sydney club and party scene. The Sydney-born DJ of Spanish origin first came to our attention in the early 90’s, when no flyer was complete without his name.
He soon started promoting parties himself, bringing Sydney and it’s surrounding countryside together, the legendary Happy Valley held at Windsor, Midnight Madness held at Darling Harbour, and Mixed Beans held in warehouse’s around Alexandria. Along with, Nik Fish, Jumping Jack, Pee Wee, GT ,Sugar Ray and Phil Smart. Abel is regarded as one of Sydney dance scene’s “top shelf DJ’s.”

Realizing the need for a mid week club night in 1995 Abel began promoting Australia’s first Breaks night “Warm UP” without skipping a beat Warm up continued for 5 years the longest running mid-week club night in Sydney.
Abel has become renowned for his unique style of music and passion at what he does. His ability to play a diverse range of music sees him DJ at both large scale and underground parties around the country and overseas, able to mix a cross selection of style’s.
Like most DJ’s today, Abel has moved into the world of production, remixing everyone from Southend to Nina Hagen, collaborating with Sydney local Spanish partner in crime DJ Jumping Jack, together they released “4 U 2 know” on Sony’s DJ beats Vol.2 & later the “Amore” remixes. Abel recently released trax “On the Microphone” and “Jalima”, on the Homebake and Mardi Gras compilation’s. Abel has also collaborated with U.S DJ Lenny Dee. In 2003 el’toro collaborated with comedian rapper Sleek the Elite (Fat Pizza) song “Oh Yeah”. Currently Abel is working with Sophie Monk, and has just completed a track with Funk D’Void U.K.

In 1999 Abel embarked on his European Tour going back to his roots, he headed for Ibiza, Spain playing at Amnesia’s Cream and onto the Berlin Love Parade. In Spring 2001 Abel went onto tour Hong Kong.
Abel has regularly been one of the local highlights for Sydney’s; Big Day Out and Homebake. On TV Abel has guest DJ’d on Channel ten's "Good News Week" with Paul Mcdermit, and on Channel V's "The Joint" with Jabba and on Room 208. He’s played amongst the best including; The Chemical Brothers, Carl Cox, Judge Jules, CJ Bolland, Fatboy Slim , Paul Van Dyk, DJ Sonique, Laurent Garnier, Sven Vath, Way out West, DJ Misjah & DJ Tim, Ultra Sonic, Tom Wax, DJ Slipmatt, Jeff Miles, Joey Beltram, Dj Sasha, John Digweed, Deep Dish.
Abel also a passion for snowboarding, he embarked on a DJ tour with the Vinyl Junkie, Snow Wave* New Zealand Tour (Auck, Well, Chch, Qtown) and closer to home in Victorias, Mt Hotham and Sydney’s Perisher Valley.
 

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Erick Morillo | Roger Sanchez | Onionz |Davidson Ospina | Alexander Restrepo | Omar Palacios | Jordan Rivera | Quique Berd | Alfredo Norese

Erick Morillo

Erick Morillo (1971-) is a DJ, music producer and record label owner. Having produced under a number of pseudonyms, including Ministers De la Funk, The Dronez, RAW, Smooth Touch, RBM, Deep Soul, Club Ultimate and Li'l Mo Ying Yang, Morillo is best known for his international work in house music, in particular for the label Strictly Rhythm, and the 1993 hit “I Like to Move It”, which he produced under the pseudonym Reel 2 Real, and which was featured in commercials, movies and ringtones.
 

Early Life and Career

Morillo was born in New York City, and raised in Colombia and Union City, New Jersey, where he attended grammar school at Saint Joseph’s and Michael’s School, a private Catholic school. His childhood musical influences include exposure to Latin rhythms, reggae, and hip hop.

Morillo began his DJ career at age eleven, DJing on the local party circuit, and paying his dues by “spinning” at weddings for family and friends. After seeing television commercial ad for New York City’s Center for the Media Arts, Morillo enrolled at the school to learn audio engineering. While working at a club in nearby Weehawken, Morillo met Latin reggae star El General, with whom Morillo became friends. The two collaborated in 1992 on the single, “Muevelo”, a mixture of reggae, house music, and a sample of T99’s techno single “Anesthasia”. The single went platinum, and Morillo’s records and remixes became familiar staples of Latin club music.

Morillo decided to branch out musically, and became friends with a then-unknown singer-songwriter Marc Anthony, who introduced Morillo to his partner on the 1992 house anthem “Ride On The Rhythym”, Little Louie Vega, who advised Morillo to focus on vocals.


Reel to Real and “I Like to Move It”

Morillo created a new act, Reel 2 Real, which was signed by the label Strictly Rhythm. Morillo’s first release for Strictly Rhythm was “The New Anthem”, which fared well in the music charts and in clubs, and garnered Morillo considerable attention.

Morillo would surpass this success with the 1994 hit “I Like to Move It”, a mix of European and latin house with ragga vocals by native Trinidad and Tobago rapper Mark Quashie (also known as “The Mad Stuntman”). “I Like to Move It” became an international smash, enjoying mainstream radio airplay, reaching #89 on the Hot 100, #5 on the UK Singles Chart, and made Morillo a millionaire. Both I Like To Move It and House Of Love (a song he released as part of Smooth Touch) hit #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, and Morillo became a world traveler, often traveling between Europe, where he would tape for MTV Europe, and The United States, where he would return for promotional work.

In 1994 “I Like to Move It” was used in a series of promotional television advertisements for the Australian National Basketball League. It was a montage of various players slam dunking with the song played over the top of it, to highlight the game's fast pace. In the late 1990s, the song was used in adverts for the confectionery Chewits, with the lyrics changed from "I like to move it" to "I like to chew it". The song would later be used in DreamWorks' 2005 animated film Madagascar, making it a hit once again. The song was covered by the Crazy Frog that same year, and released both as a ringtone (with an accompaning ad) and on the album Crazy Frog Presents Crazy Hits.

Reel 2 Real's other top 10 dance hits, which featured vocals by The Mad Stuntman, Barbara Tucker, Charlotte Small and Proyecto Uno. Estimates are that Morillo made over $2 million from Reel 2 Real’s two albums.


From Reel to Real to Subliminal

Fearing that his financial success from Real 2 Real may have hurt both his creative drive and his street credibility, Morillo abandoned the Reel 2 Real alias in 1996, after which he spent a few years establishing himself as an underground DJ, of which he is one of the top five highest paid in the world.

His desire to produce respectable house music, and to distance himself from Reel to Real’s pop music past resulted in the successful “Jazz It Up” which he produced under the “The Erick Morillo Project”. He and Louie Vega collaborated on Lil’ Mo’ Ying Yang’s 1995 single “Reach”. Morillo intended a third album for Reel to Real, his relationship with Mad Stuntman soured, which derailed the project.

Feeling creatively trapped, Morillo attended a self-help seminar in New York called The Forum, which he says allowed him to analyze his life, including the reasons for his need for his frantic workaholic habits, which helped him reset his priorities. Finishing his relationship with Strictly Rhythm, Morillo took the advice of Strictly Rhythm owner Mark Finkelstein, whom Morillo calls “a fair person and a business mentor”, and decided to the launch the Double Platinum management company in 1997 with fellow DJs and producers Jose Nunez, Harry Choo Choo Romero, Carlos Sosa (aka “DJ Sneak”), and Junior Sanchez, and his own imprint, Subliminal Records. Their first single was 1998’s “Fun” which featured Chicago diva Dajae’s, which drew positive response via test pressings and buzz across the Atlantic. Dajae refused to sign the contract with Subliminal, and vocalist Jocelyn Brown was brought in to re-record the vocals. Brown’s collaboration with Subliminal is known as “Da Mob”, and their version of “Fun” became a #1 Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play hit. Soon after, however, DJ Sneak left the group for Toronto to start his own management company, and Junior Sanchez united with Roger S. to start one of their own. The remaining trio of Morillo, Romero and Nunez formed the finalized core of Subliminal, and are also known as the remix team The Dronez. With the Subliminal label, which is based in Weehawken, New Jersey, Morillo managed to find the balance between "underground" respectability and financial success. The trio won the Remixer of the Year award in 2001. In 2004, he released his first album under his real name, My World, which features collaborations with such artists as Sean “Diddy” Combs, who collaborated with Morillo on three tracks.

The label has also spawned other labels, such as Sondos, Subliminal Soul, Bambossa and SUBUSA.

Club Nights

In the fall of 1999, Morillo completed a U.S. tour and his club night, dubbed “Subliminal night”, is credited with single-handedly resuscitating New York City’s ailing club scene, a feat he accomplished by signing up Danny Tenaglia, Darren Emerson, Bob Sinclar, Derrick Carter, Mark Farina and Tony Humphries in guest spots. Morillo has also hosted various other club nights across the globe, such as his weekly “Sessions” parties in New York, the annual Crobar party in Miami, and his legendary Subliminal Sessions parties at Pacha in Ibiza, which was named "Best International Club" of 2002 and "Best Ibiza Party" of 2001 by Muzik magazine. Ibiza is also where Morillo was crowned "Best International DJ" in 2002 and "Best House DJ" in 1999 and 2001 at the Pacha Ibiza awards. He has been known to play up to 30 gigs a month in locations including Greece, Malta, Amsterdam, London, Madrid, Belfast, and Russia. According to Morillo, his most memorable job was on Ibiza’s White Isle after the September 11 attacks:

"I was playing the closing party of the Space Terrace straight after September 11th. I ended the night with Frank Sinatra's “New York, New York”. People were crying and waving American flags, everybody was singing. It's my most emotional memory as a DJ."
In addition to his MTV UK appearances, Morillo has also hosted MTV Ibiza for two years, and presented the UK’s Dancestar Awards and starred in a seven]part Channel 4 series documenting his world travels as a party DJ.


Subliminal Hits

Mixer magazine compiled a list of ten essential Subliminal releases in the April 2000 edition:
1.Subliminal Get the Message” by Various Artists
2.Good Love” by Richard F.
3.Hold On” by Jose Nunez Feat and Octahvia
4.I Need Your Love” by Full Intention Presents The Rule
5.Hazin’ + Phazin’” by The “Choo-Choo” Project
6.Just Can’t Get Enough (rmxs)” by Harry “Choo-Choo” Romero Feat and Inaya Day
7.Big Love” by Pete Heller
8.It’s All Good” by Da Mob Feat and Jocelyn Brown
9.Believe (rmxs)” by Ministers De-La Funk Feat and Jocelyn Brown. (Voted Best Label at the Muzik Awards in both 1999 and 2000)
10.I Want You” b CZR Featuring Delano

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Roger Sanchez

He is considered by many to be "the DJ's DJ" for his innovative mixing techniques and his ability to connect with the crowd through his sets.

The eldest of two sons born to Angela Almonte and Hugo Sanchez, immigrants from the Dominican Republic, Roger always pursued a career in music. Sanchez attended Pratt Institute working towards a degree in architecture, but took his father's advice to take a break from his studies to devote his full energy to DJing and see if he could make a career of it. Eventually he went on to spin at the largest nightclubs in New York City, and later around the world. Along with fellow New York deejays David Morales and Danny Tenaglia, Sanchez has become an icon of the European party scene, especially on the Spanish island of Ibiza, notoriously known worldwide for its hedonistic lifestyle and nightlife.

He later began remixing records for many artists including Michael Jackson, Babyface and many more. His mixes are played widely in dance clubs, with many of his tracks included in the sets of other House DJs.

In 2001, he released his first (production) album, First Contact, from which the single "Another Chance" was taken. It went on to become a major hit, entering the UK Singles Chart at #1. The song was based on a sample of the first verse of Toto's song "I Won't Hold You Back".

Sanchez also hosts a radio show called 'Release Yourself', with worldwide distribution. He has also released a series of compilation albums based on songs from this show.

In 2004 Roger won his first Grammy Award for 'Best Remixed Recording' for his remix of No Doubt's "Hella Good".

Besides his career as a deejay, Sanchez is the owner of his own label, Stealth Records.

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DJ ONIONZ

It’s 1982 the school park is rocking and the early sounds of a young DJ are pumping through the streets. Meet DJ ONIONZ, coming straight out of Queens, NY with a couple of turntables and setting the party off right. Since the beginning, spinning records for Onionz has always been about transformation, making the room move to where you want it to be, taking the rhythm and making it change without a seam. A complete metamorphosis of not just art, but life... a life lived, relived, and filled with music.

His earliest musical influence came from his dad, Victor Venegas. Victor played upright bass with the kings of Latin Jazz: Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente and Celia Cruz. Onionz learned to play percussion along side his father before he was ten, appearing on stage with his father at different times with Candido, Steve Berrios and Paquito DeRivera.

His early gigs were the legendary nights and early mornings at almost every NYC spot imaginable. When, his following became nationwide there was nothing left to do, but take his love for music global. As a fan favorite and house hero, Onionz still pushed for more, he developed and evolved. From House to Techno, Breaks to Disco... its always been about diversity for Onionz. His time on the road cemented relationships with DJs and producers from city to city and in over 30 different countries. The results of his labor of love and respected relationships have helped to establish over 100 studio projects and counting.

With over 30 years of music under his belt, a heavy travel itinerary, and multiple production and remix projects taking place, he has definitely kept the dance floor moving. As Onionz would say; to keep it fresh, you just have to continuously create and consistently rock it!

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Davidson Ospina

Producer / Remixer Spotlight:

Davidson Ospina is not new to the club scene, nor is he an old timer hanging on to his rep. There are many sides to the man from Queens, NY. He is a musician in every sense of the word, having played keyboards since he was a teen as well as being a prolific DJ, Producer, Remixer and Web Designer.  He embraces technology with the same enthusiasm that he produces a wicked bridge or chord change in a song.

In his early teens, he had a passion for playing keyboards, DJing and writing songs. When asked about his influences, Ospina says, “It was my neighbourhood that exposed me to such a wide variety of music.  I was really inspired by the New York break-dancing scene. The music at that time was so exciting and made you want to move. I felt the need to contribute to that.”

With an impressive list of productions and remixes for English and Spanish artists, 2006 brought Ospina his first #1 hit:  the chart-topping remix of Christina Aguilera’s “Ain't No Other Man", which hit #1 on the Billboard Club Charts and Radio Charts in September 2006 only 1 week after release. Christina was quoted as saying that it is her favorite remix version. The biggest DJs in the world, from Sanchez to Knuckles and everyone in between, are playing his mix.  In August, Morales opened his birthday party at Stereo in Montreal with Ospina’s remix and the crowds cheered.  “Ain’t No Other Man” is being heard in clubs all over the world, from the beaches of Australia to Ibiza, where it has become a summer favorite.  Davidson Ospina’s name and label, Ospina Digital Records, are quickly becoming a household name in the industry and the press. 

Ospina’s remixing credits include work with Britney Spears (“Baby, One More Time”), Backstreet Boys, Pet Shop Boys, and Dimitri From Paris. His Spanish-language remixes are also notable, working with such artists as Enrique Iglesias, Albita, Gloria Estefan, and Mark Anthony, as well as projects like Cabas "Tu Boca" and Magic Juan “Ultima Vez”.

When asked about it, Davidson feels blessed and gives a lot to being a musician and DJ. “Keyboards opened the door, to working with other producers, and artists. Understanding musical changes keep my productions moving with an artist vocal.  At the same time I work at building energy that will keep the dance floor happy.  The DJing keeps me fresh, and helps me see what directions the crowds are moving and what is exciting to them directly,” says Ospina.  

Davidson’s career shifted into high gear with the launch of his record labels, SPINA RECORDS and OSPINA DIGITAL RECORDS. Product from his label can be found on Traxsource.com, Beatport.com, Stompy.com, itunes and many others.  In addition, his entrepreneurial side created a web design company, TOMA MEDIA, which offers great solutions and tools for people in the music industry. TOMA MEDIA has created groundbreaking software for Publicity, Marketing & Promotional companies. The MP System™, designed by Ospina himself, is being used for the distribution of promotional material for SAW Recordings, Deep Haven Music, Media Services NYC, Ovidpek, and others. By reputation, Ospina can usually be found spinning at the funky underground spots of the Lower East Side in NYC. His gigs in Italy, Spain, Canada and Central America, where he recently toured for Marlboro, have kept his appeal diverse and fresh.  Davidson Ospina is firmly rooted in the music industry and continues to thrive in all his endeavours.  He’s the one to watch for 2007…

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Hot Hands

DJ Hot Hands has been awarded Best International DJ at 2006's Latin Dance Music Awards. The Latin Dance Music Awards were created by Joe Granda, President/CEO of The Granda Group Of Companies, as an appreciation award given to an elite panel of Latin Entertainment Industry Professionals, which play an important role in the popularity and breaking of Latin Dance/Club Music, its remixes/artist/record labels which support the continued growth of dance/club music. These individuals include Record Pool Directors, DJ’s, Remixer’s/Producers, Radio Stations, Radio Mixshow DJ’s, Record Label Executives, and of course THE MUSIC.
DJ Hot Hands is known for his mixing skills. Not only has he been active as a club DJ, his mixes are played by several radio stations. His own weekly radio show has also become a fixture for house music fans. In addition to this, he has also worked as a reporter for several music magazines.
 

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Alexander Restrepo

DJ AX

Alexander Restrepo a.k.a “DJ AX Altos decibeles” (High Decibels), rich curves in sound and fantasy, feeling, contact with his public, party presence, events, fashions and Clubs nationally and internationally open the way to a musical figure which make the difference in partying; full of strong rhythms fed by dynamic percussion and not repetitive, fusing the happiness and knowledge to make it happen; an authentic production consolidated in one name: “DJ AX” With an impeccable artistic track record since the beginnings, making HOUSE base and essence in his sets, taking and fusing the sounds with very native Latin rhythms and other Cultures abroad, creating the proper and unique atmosphere to make the MUSIC  and  BODY one, and achieve total musical harmonious ecstasy; DJ AX, DJ and PRODUCER. Gives way then to an interaction with renown local and International DJs participating in venues and places where Partying is the city’s nightlife hub, flowing competitively with a musical rhythm which marks a mystical and deep beginning transcending to the body and motivating to give out the best to his public with excellent musical journeys, sound and Rumba. He has left his mark in various countries, events and with local and international DJ´s, gaining a high level reputation leading by example his students and followers who in the future will be in charge of  carrying on this legacy through musical frontiers DJ AX has musically participated in high profile local and international events such as Fashion Week of The Americas ( Miami - Florida ) 2001, Revolución 2002 ( Ecuador ) Revolución 2003 ( Ecuador ) Bogotá Fashion 2002 & 2003 ( Bogotá - Colombia ) Colombia Moda 2002 ( Bogotá - Colombia ) Colombia Moda 2003 ( Bogotá - Colombia ) Colombia Moda 2004 ( Bogotá - Colombia ) Dj Marco Carola ( La Sala - Bogotá ) Dj Thomas Schumacher ( La Sala - Bogotá ) Dj Mauro Picotto ( La Sala - Bogotá ) Dj Mucho Stylez ( Morroco y Tropical Cocktails ) Jimmy Andrews ( Tropical Cocktails ) Dj Gabri Fasano ( La Sala - Bogotá ) Dj Ricky Effe ( La Sala - Bogotá ) Mo Jacobs ( Miranda ) Dj Joker ( Pipeline ).  Working for the majority of Colombian designers, with his productions and editions; also forming part in the team of DJs in the best Radio Station of Electronic music in the country “Ibiza Vibra 104.9 F.M”. His mixes and creativity have taken him to explore new horizons taking him a step further of his success, making way to a very promising future and consolidating him for his presence and talent escalating step by step but with the assurance that the marks left in his audience’s heart will evolve and forever be with him.

DJ AX has managed to have his first track in the market under the record label of TROPICAL RECORDS, (Bogotá – Colombia) promoting HOUSE in the National scene; he is also awaiting a release under International label BEDROOM MUZIK.

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Omar Palacios

In Latin America everybody has got a rhythm flowing in their blood.... The Guajira folk of Colombia in the deep north, the Favela ghettos in Brazil descended from African slavery who brought their spirituality and music to the New World centuries ago. The influence of this raw sounds generate a vast diversification of interpretations and moods, from the nostalgia of the bolero, through the emotive tango to the overwhelming celebration of life and joy in the samba beats.

From the South American rainforest to the high altitude in the Andes,

to the Australian shores, comes Quipu Sound Co, a joint venture between Peruvian DJ Daniel Perez and Ecuador's Omar Palacios. Who initially hooked up in the mid nineties, and - along with like - minded friend JC (Sydney), set about the Latin tipped sound in down-underground fields. While spending the first two years in New South Wales after their arrival, Quipu Sound was exposed to deeper, fatter and chunkier house music, which modeled their musical approach.

Quipu moved to Victoria in 1998. While making tapes for their circle of friends in Australia and hosting various residencies and guest appearances in both the bar and club scene; their reputation for showcasing lengthy mixes that are like huge wobbling jelly-like masses of sound, had been established.

Over the past 3 years they’ve developed an international network, which include Ecuador’s KISS FM music director who has become not just a contact but a personal friend. DJ colleagues in the United States and South America, include DJ Motion from Chicago, DJ Boomerang –Tampa- where Quipu played as part of the RE-wind tour 2001.

Since their return to Melbourne, Quipu have not stopped. They are now preparing their next year’s tour to Latin America. As part of their strategy and over viewing an increasing demand for dance music at this unusual destination, Quipu provides the guidelines for the -educational tour 2002- by providing a selection of mix-series tapes, as well as their top ten charts. Quipu’s fast and funky style graze’s radio stations on Ecuadorian airwaves.

Quipu blends their Latin, jazz and soul music influences to deliver a fresh sound. Ambient house, space-drive and funkiness reflected in their sets, bring a unique atmosphere to any given environment where the listener can immerse themselves.

The spirit behind Quipu Sound is to bring cultures together - black, white, Anglo, Latin, European, African – no one feels alienated in any way when enjoying the sound of Quipu.

Love, peace and music.

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Jordan Rivera

Yordan Adonias Rivera Rios was born on March 19th 1981 in Valdivia, Chile and left his motherland after a heavy political period at the age of ten to settle in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Starting 1995 the beat creating boy mainly produced hiphop and R&B for several respected Dutch artists. In 2002 he agreed that in order to fully understand the process of music production it would benefit him if he would take up an audio engineering course, wich he did at the SAE (School of Audio Engeneering) College in Amsterdam. In 2005 Y. A. Rivera Rios managed to take another audio engineering course to master all his skills at the Emaniya School in Amersfoort. In summer 2005 he decided to go to New York to work in different studios in Manhattan as an freelance audio engineer.

In 2005 Yordan got more interested in the infectious '' house music''.After making '' Brasil Negro'' together with Dj George Anthony and Dj Ferry Nice. He started to record his own music as the artist '' Jordan Rivera''. after this dicision he got a lot of reactions from many labels all around the world. This form of distribution of his music fits with his thougts.Considering him self not as an Chilean or Dutch artist, but as an '' International artist''. His sound is mix between spending half of his life on the South-American continent and the other half on the European one.

Nowadays he is working on his DJ skillz and is already playing his music in different top clubs in Amsterdam as Escape and Hotel Arena and will be bringing music out on Realbasic Recordings,Chega recordings, Haitigroove Recordings, Thompsonic Recordings, Ospina Digital and Slanted black.

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DJ Quique Berd

Operations Centre: Madrid- Spain.

Style: Tribal House, Latin House, Techno House, Progressive, Drum^n Bass, Chillout, ChillHouse.

This DJ and Spanish Producer started from a very young age in 1982 in Madrid, raising above as one of the pioneers who participated in the nominated “Movida Madrileña”, his track record is very wide having shared rooms with renown International DJs  such as Pedro del Moral (did Chayanne and Ricky Martin re-mixes amongst others), Christian Varela (Nº1 Spanish DJ). J.L.Magoya, Juan Antonio (Voltereto), being pioneers of Techno Pop, Acid House and House in the mid 80's. He has also worked in the most popular Clubs of Spain being resident DJ in places such as: Joy Eslava, Pacha,  Penelope, Opium, Sky Garden (where he worked with famous comedian Julio Sabala), La Royal Chata, Gotham, El Graduado, Heaven, Cool, Benassur, Boss, la Sal, "Don’t tell anyone", Tribeca, Monnalisa and many more throughout Spain. He also did summer gigs in the famous Island of Ibiza rubbing shoulders and sharing rooms with Dj Pippi, Dj Oliver, Dj Java, Roger Sanchez (Miss Money Penny party in Ibiza), Nalim and Kane, Cesar de Melero, Danny Tennaglia, Elio Rizo, Josh Wink, Ivan Pica, etc… in clubs such as Amnesia, Pacha, El Divino, amongst others.

Quique has also travelled different countries in Europe such as Portugal, France, Netherlands and Latin America throughout 2005 to Perú, Chile, Ecuador, Brasil, Argentina always outstanding for his quality Tribal House sessions and supporting the record label “Swimming Pool”. (Conga Squad, Peace Snakers, Time & Space, Sumergible etc..). In the mid 90s he started his career in various Record labels such as BMG Ariola, RCA, Polygram, Dro West, Arcade & Sony in Marketing & Merchandising also working in Public Relations in Radio and Television with International Artists of the stature of Whitney Houston, The Christians, Snap, Lisa Stanfield, Prince, London Beat, Susanne Vega, Metálica, Juán Luis Guerra, Ketama, Ana Belen, Victor Manuel, Joaquin Sabina, Radio Futura, Mecano, Celtas Cortos, etc...

He was also a Radio announcer for four years taking him to a diversity of specialized programs (Radio 107.8 fm & Hit Radio in Madrid). 2005 summer cruising the Mediterranean with fanta (Niza, Monaco,Montecarlo, Roma, Napoles, Palermo & Ibiza).

He is currently the resident DJ of Nighclub Velvet Lounge Bar (Las Rozas, La Royal Chata, Majadahonda in Madrid)

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Alfredo Norese

A name behind the sound

He is from Argentina, cradle of many all over the world well known talented artists (Hernan Cattaneo, Gato Barbieri, to name a few ). He was born in Rosario, the second important city in this beautiful country, with more than 1.000,000 people living there.

At the beginning he was just one guitar player in many rock and pop bands, we´re talking about mid 80´s. But the 90´s arrived and technology explosion found a new acolyte. At this time he decided to work as a music producer.

As a professional musician, he studied at Rosario Music College, as a techno-man he dedicated too many hours to the knowledge of computers and hardware synthetizers.

From mid 90´s till 2000 hi was working in Buenos Aires; one of his works, Macaferri y Asoc, arrived to gold in 1994. After that he produced several rock and pop bands and did lots of gigs in SouthAmerica.

He also did some works with Gustavo Sachetti from Vilma Plama e Vampiros that finally were released as a cd in 1995 by Barca Records.

Since 2001 he is working with the Nor-S Collective, a bunch of very talented Dj´s and musicians, where he interacts and organizes the work. His home studio is the place where all the ideas converge and becomes music.

In 2004 Alfredo Norese decided to show his work to the world, and results were excellent, he developed many tracks were released in USA, Germany and UK.

During 2005 and this year he was developing many tracks and remixes for different labels in Argentina and Europe, he also was signed using the nickname MATADOR, by Steal Vybe, the successful producers duo from New Jersey .

One of his most succesful productions, Dj Magico is the result of hours of work and experimentation in music for the dance floor. In Dj Magico we can find deep and dance/house vibes: a soulful combination of sharp melodies and smart arrangements all over powerful and well elaborated rhythms. The quality of this work was reviewed by Gods of Music, Future Music magazine (Spain), Vale Music Dj web site, and many other magazines in his own place. And comments are almost the same, another work of a very talented artist, still unknown to the world but in the way to be “one of the guys”.

 All of us know that is only a matter of time, world is ready to receive a new star and he is ready too.

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