The CONNECTION-BEHIND THE GROOVE
Friday nights in January beckon bone-numbing chills, but tonight’s warmth is piped through an immense boombox sandwiched between storefronts on the “Edge” of downtown. What scenes as more than a weekend get down serves two-fold. Proceeds collected at the door will donate to the MS foundation-courtesy Real Chicks Rock -and a born-day celebration for one of Atlanta’s own.
Downstairs, in the belly of the beast-The Music Room-gracious hugs are exchanged for small talk. Already, the bar is lit; house heads, the LGBTQ com, millennials, and baby-boomers, are in swing at thirty minutes till midnight. Love and happiness dance in the air. To the fable of Julie McKnight’s “Bittersweet Love Affair.” “It’s All About Me,” she croons over the Jay “Sinister” and Louie Vega instrumentation. The lyrics are candor this party is all about a certain special someone.
A she-entourage huddles behind a black curtain that drapes the DJ stage. “Haaaaaaappy Biiiiiirthday,” voices belt in harmonious charm that stirs into Stevie Wonder’s soulful rendition. The party’s second music selector, Tora Torres eyes the women singing and honoring the party’s queen Debbie Graham. A.K.A. DJ Deb smiles graciously, before she bows to blow out the single candle on the black & white iced cake that will be sliced and circumnavigate to dancers with feet in mid-shuffle and flaying arms, drunk girls stumbling in stilettos posing for selfies and the, there-always-has-to-be-that-one, girl who whispers a request into the ear of DJ Minx. “We don’t play that here,” Minx mouths.
DJ Deb knows how to throw herself a birthday bash. She invites only the best. Her crew. Her family. Her sistas. Known to slay dance floor’s across the world. The Kingston, Jamaica native provides the she-power for Atlanta’s soulful house music market. Her love for reggae, disco, soul, and classics keeps her in-demand, but her love for house music and the diversity within the genre makes this party a must-attend. Those in the know, arrived early, for Deb’s birthday set, and are ready for an Atlanta/Detroit beat down.
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Detroit’s Stacey “Hotwaxx” Hale stands tandem her laptop, with purpose and poise to bring heat. Onstage, her crew sports black tees with the “Godfather” logo replaced with the moniker the “Godmother of House.”
Her moniker she proudly has worn for 30 years. To have Detroit’s undisputed first female DJ play adds grandeur of delight. To say music is in her majesty’s blood is understated. The “Godmother of House” is music.
“Beans, greens, potatoes, tomatoes, lamb, rams, hogs, dogs.” It’s not often that you here Pastor Shirley Cesar rapping over a four-on-the-floor. It takes gall to play the viral smash #younameit challenge to house heads. But this is how the “D” gets down. The “Godmother of House” does not back down from any challenge. Besides the Pastor Shirley Cesar never sounded so defined.
It’s “Yellow Bodack” that causes jaws to drop and fists to fly. Cardi B rapping, “Look I Don’t Dance Now, I Make Money Moves” over Sunburst Band’s “Journey to the Sun” elevates the sonic. When the Dennis Ferrer Remix is allowed to play in full, feet dance off pings and pongs that leap off metallic rungs. As drums fuse into soul-claps and electronic sputters churn gospel chants. Karizma’s, “Work it Out ,” that samples the fore-mentioned and Dr. Charles G. Hayes and the Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir’s, “Jesus Can Work It Out,” brings the bang. The room explodes. This is peak time music for a peak time crowd.
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Days ahead of a recent major awards show, a university published a music report that detailed the lack of women representation as music producers and women songwriters in the music industry. The numbers were dismal if not disgusting. Only now imagine women working in the house music/electronic music genre as music DJs, music producers, and music songwriters and the numbers are far lower, significantly depressing. Although, women are at the forefront as recording artists, primarily vocalists, barely as rappers, their musical contribution behind the scenes go unsung. Hence, Jennifer Witcher, she envisioned change. Inspired by Detroit’s DJ/producer boy’s club, the Detroit Music Institute; Jennifer sought representation as a female DJ. Years later, she crafted Women On Wax . Formed in 1996, a collective of Detroit female DJ’s who graced the decks to show their skills were par, if not better than the boys. In 2001, Women On Wax now a recording label showcased top-tier talented female vocalists and distinctive music releases many of whom resided in the Motor City. Ever since, Jennifer A.K.A. DJ Minx has become a titan in the house/techno world as a calling card for the rights and representation of women DJs/producers/songwriters.
Where the “Godmother” leaves her soul on the dance floor; the “First Lady of House” takes her mass of huddled warriors into subterranean funky beats of powerhouse bliss. Track after track delivers jolts, almost to the chagrin of ringing eardrums as the volume increases to an uncomfortable pitch. Minx, like her hometown Detroit, has a sound that’s raw. There are grooves. The beats go deep. The beat goes hard. Minx plays for keeps.
The Connection-Behind the Groove triumphed with its all-star lineup of black girl magic. A rarity these days on DJ rosters. Local and global representation for DJ’s who are woman are all too lacking on massive fronts. #Powertothepoles and #metoo marks a watershed moment in this wrinkle of time. #Timesup!!!-For the invisibility of women in the electronic age of music. Women. Seize the moment! The decks are yours to narrate your grooves.
We applaud you.
Words: aj dance
(above) grphc: aj art
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Tags: Atlanta Georgia, Detroit, DJ Deb, DJ Minx, DJ Tora Torres, funky house music, house music, soulful house music, Stacey "Hotwaxx" Hale, The Connection Behind The Groove, The Music Room