The Choice and the voice

by MORGAN STEIKER

So… the MTL DJs Awards (not to be confused with the Stylus DJ Awards). Sure, I’ll be called a hater by cats who rock $200 frames and fake diamond-encrusted Ed Hardy hats, but I’m speaking on behalf of a lot more heads than just my own scalp on this one. I mean, don’t get it twisted, I’m 100 per cent in support of an event that gives shine to Montreal DJs and celebrates our notorious nightlife and DJ culture. I salute the initiative by organizers to put on an event like this and I’m sure it came from a genuine place at some point, but somewhere along the way, way too much got lost in translation.

First of all, how you gonna have an event called that and not have A-Trak, Kid Koala, or even Tiga mentioned in anything? Those three are the Ambassadors of Montreal DJing and should all be given some kind of achievement awards straight off the bat. I thought we would at least see Mana, Team Canada, Sixtoo or Truspin (just to mention a few) somewhere in there, but naaafin’. A lot of the people nominated are dope, for real, but many of them don’t even know how to really mix a record or have the chops to break new music. I understand that this event is not the DMC and wasn’t judged on skills, but there should still be some kind of prerequisite. “The People’s Choice” was one of the slogans of the event but except for a link that read “vote,” there was no info on the nomination process at all.

That being said, the event was in its first edition and hopefully someone out there will hear our point of view and take it into consideration for next year. More DJs, more categories, more exposure, more voting outlets, less elbow-rubbing…

One great thing I did go home with that night is the sultry voice of a young singer named Leïla. Guys, this little flower is gonna be your new teenage crush. In a five-minute, two-song performance accompanied by a drummer and two male dancers, she had me convinced that Quebec could have a new R&B queen, or maybe just a princess for the moment. See and hear it for yourself at www.thisisleila.com.

Back to Basics is alive and well, y’all! Started in ’99 by DR One and Spazmodik at Baker Street, the night soon moved to Blue Dog and thrived through a seven-year cruise with Steady B, then later Grand Theft and Manzo on deck. March 18, 2006 was to be the final chapter, as Blue Dog closed its doors for two years, but you can now find the usual suspects, DR One and Manzo accompanied by Maysr and Red Dredd, giving you nothing but real-deal hip hop there every Tuesday night. Legendary.

Another fat piece of good news for the world is Gumbo, a monthly night featuring local pioneer Simahlak along with CKUT’s Future Classic creators and all-round fiya-starters Moonstar and Tashish. Catch them at Coda on Saturday and expect to get your wig flipped by “an eclectic blend of digital soul skipping all over the BPM spectrum,” as they put it so well.

AND THE WINNER IS… DABEATSEEKER@GMAIL.COM