Michael Mercer

Since the seminal halcyon days of Storm Rave and the early 90’s Brooklyn underground, Michael Mercer has witnessed the electronic music genre’s musical landscape change significantly in the last decade. As a partygoer, DJ, and a producer, Michael contributed to the Northeast’s development in becoming one of the finest examples in the US’ nascent, but rapidly expanding dance music scene, alongside Orlando, Dallas, San Francisco and Los Angeles.Over the years, Michael found that the soulfulness, innovation in the music, and the positive sense of community that initially drew him into the scene had slipped away. Disillusioned by promoters greed, pettiness, and lack of vision that was taking over events in the Northeast, he fell away from zig-zagging the region in the bus trips and car caravans to each week’s ‘gathering of the tribes,’ opting to search from within to fill the empty hole that was missing from these events.Although not an active participant in the culture for many years, Michael remained passionate about the music and the possibilities that it held. After much contemplation and a chance reintroduction to fresh, new sounds that held the coveted ‘old-skool’ feeling that drew him into the music years prior, Michael returned to DJ’ing and production work. He managed to find a great production partner, Peter Anthony, and together they go by the Ol’ Skool Bastids. His latest 12” Soultek, was released in March on Listen to Reason Records. Soultek was co-produced by Josh Seamless of Soulbreed, and contains a remix by Earth Deuley and the Ol’ Skool Bastids. Mercer and Anthony are also currently working in the studio on remix projects and their first EP.Rehoning and sharpening his turntable skills, Mercer has managed to craft his own style blending that ‘old skool’ enthusiasm with the fresh beats and futuristic soul of many genres. Consciously striving to avoid pigeonholing himself into a specific genre, nor drop records to please trainspotters, Michael fuses his heartfelt journeys with a tuff blend of tech-y house, dubby house, chunky progressive, and classic nuggets that have torn the roof off quite a few local house parties and small events.Mercer recently crossed the Atlantic to carry the honor of becoming the first American DJ to play one of the infamous Whoop Whoop! parties at the world renowned Dungeons club. He held a residency at the innovative weekly Tech-House Connection night at Brooklyn’s Halcyon, and was a regular guest at the Homegrown All-Star parties. He also held court at the Sullivan Room, Sapphire lounge, and Filter 14. Michael also tore it up at the Soma party for WMC. Having been a regular at many a loft and warehouse party in NYC, Michael Mercer is eagerly awaiting his opportunity to teach the booty-shaking masses how to jack... ....