Deep, meaningful, honest and intellectual conversations. With that being said, funny, gross and silly conversations. Music, dj'ing, dance music culture and its influence on those within it. Home run derby. Folklore, religion, anthropology - medical anthropology, cults, psychedelics and their use in religion and society. Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism & existentialism. Philosophy. Writing. Art esp. Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Photography. Outer space, planets, stars, black holes, bending the fabric of space & time, infinity! Alternative medicine. Midwifery. Mysticism. Trees. Women as magnificent beings. How is it that we can't see the connection between the formation of stars and planets, whole solar systems and the creation of an embryo? Why is it that we create division between everything that is magnificent and divine? why wouldn't you want to be part of the cosmos where anything and everything is possible?
I'd like to meet:
In the time it takes to look at these images, "an area of Brazil's rain forest larger than 200 football fields will have been destroyed."
Before: Beautiful rain forest
During: Trees cut down to make room for farms for fast food chains to mass produce beef. The farms are also used for growing soybeans. These farms force ancestral tribes from their homes deep within the jungles.
After: Farms run by machines, "employ only one person for every 400 acres". In other words farmers develop the land, destroy the rain forest, force ancient tribes from their homes and put local farmers out of work.
While we need to always remain aware of how we treat our environment and we should continue to protect and preserve it, we also need to remember how much we enjoy it
People who have been an inspiration lately:
Music:
Johnny Greenwood is a musical genius.
My biggest inspiration as a Dj comes from a few people. First David Mancuso and the Loft parties. Aside from his obsession with incredible sound and his incredible music selection, what I love about Mancuso most is that he entices all the senses and tweeks the crowd out. Doc Martin without whom I would know nothing about Dj'ing. The Idjut Boys for knowing how to use effects and Maurice Fulton for mixing the shit out of Disco! also mad love and respect for my hometown heros Rob Paine and Willyum. These guys keep our vibes and community strong! Bullet Bullet to Solomonic Sound: Rob Paine, Papa Fz, Roots and Jahkey. Bringin dem vibes strong!
As for genres I love House Music, Disco, Funk, Soul, Rock, Ambient, Motown, Hip Hop, Reggae. I love music wtf?
As for particular groups and individuals...In no particular order: Radiohead, Chicken Lips (Steve Kotey), Basement Jaxx, Elliott Smith, Stevie Wonder, Jane's Addiciton, Gorillaz, T Rex, Bjork, NIN, Belle & Sebastian, PJ Harvey, The Clash, Mos Def, Tribe Called Quest, Digable Planets, Guru, Thievery Corporation, Magda, Talking Heads, Marvin Gaye, Flaming Lips, John Frusciante and RHCP up to Californication, Rage Against the Machine, Pointer Sisters, Commodores, Loft classics, The Avalanches, Digital Underground, Smashing Pumpkins. Mother Love Bone, Pharcyde, Luciano, Chuck Fender, Midnite
Legendary Doc Martin Mix
My favorite dj's and producers
Movies:
There Will Be Blood, Bodysong, The Departed (Wicked flick) I'm a big Bollywood fan;)Napoleon Dynamite DANG! Thank God Its Friday, Party Girl, Breakin 1 & 2, Lord of the Rings Triliogy, The Big Leboski, What the Bleep, The Lost Boys, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Major League, Better Off Dead, I Heart Huckabees, Camille, A Street Car Named Desire, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Donnie Darko, Frida, Lady In the Water, Shaun of the Dead, Lord of War, Knocked Up, Fantastic Planet
Television:
The Office and my guilty pleasure So You Think You Can Dance, Family Guy, Reno 911, South Park, Kids in the Hall, Da Ali G Show, Dave Chappelle, Seinfeld. Oh and when VH1 does those wicked documentaries: "The Drug Years" and "NYC 77". Hell's Kitchen - yup I admit it.
Books:
Best reference book ever: "The Craft of Research" Booth, Colomb, & Willimas eds.
When God Was a Woman by Merlin Stone - every woman should read this!
"House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros..straight up almost caused a fight in my Lit class at Penn. They simply couldn't understand a little girl from the ghetto.
"Woman Warrior: Memiors of a Girlhood Among Ghosts" - Maxine Hong Kingston,
Be Here Now" - Ram Dass,
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood" - Marjane Satrapi,
"Love Saves the Day: A History of American Dance Music Culture, 1970 - 1979" Tim Lawrence,
Wendy Wasserstein,
J.K. Rowlings,
"The Secret Garden",
"Wisdom Sits in Places" Keith Basso
"Trance Formation" Robin Sylvan, Anything by Liz Greene
