A blast from the past...
Mark Almaria @ Bonkers Dos November 2000
..At some point during any conversation about top DJs of the Midwest electronic music scene you are guaranteed to hear the name Mark Almaria. This showstopper is a Midwest mainstay for a reason. His precise, action-packed mixing style is often imitated, never duplicated. Constantly working double copies of records while incorporating fader tricks and scratches, he is able to perform flawless on-the-fly remixes providing the audience with a treat for the ears and the eyes. Combining feel-good house vibes with a no-nonsense approach to DJing, Mark has proven his skills time and again, cementing his place among Chicago's DJ elite. Mark has made hundreds of DJ performances and countless mixtape / cd appearances in boom boxes and car stereos since the mid 90's. A prominent figure in the in the Midwest rave scene, Mark is no stranger to the Chicago club scene either. He has performed at most of the Windy City's premier venues including Crobar, Karma, Metro, Red Dog, Rednofive, Shelter, and Vision as well as holding down residencies at Convent, Dock 5, and Paladrome. In addition to playing across the US, Mark has had recent DJ gigs in Bolivia, Costa Rica, El Savador, Nicaragua, China, and Hong Kong. While he has spent many years perfecting his mixing technique, Mark now has ventured into music production. Although only releasing his first records in 2002, he is already making waves as one of the next generation's top producers. Mark's "Abstract Beatdown EP" on IHR has caught the attention (and record box space) of many DJ heavyweights including Bad Boy Bill, Charles Feelgood, Donald Glaude, and DJ Dan. One track from the EP, "The Alarm" has been licensed for the "KS02" mix compilation by Detroit techno legend Kevin Saunderson. Mark also has released several tracks on the hot new Bunchlox Music imprint. His last release on Bunchlox, "Uh Huh" received big-name support from DJs such as DJ Heather, J-Dub, Mark Farina, Miles Maeda, and Yousef. Future releases include "Your Love EP" on Nine Records, "The Dirty Mack EP" on Tekno Phunk, and "Let You Go" On Carizma. These are only the sparks of what looks to become a towering inferno. Stay tuned as this Chicago favorite continues to take his show international.
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