Freqo De Mayo: Minnesota Blockhead Thriftworks Eliot Lipp & more

Christian Bauhofer, known by his fans as his party crushing alter ego Minnesota, is a producer and DJ heralding from Santa Cruz, CA that has been lighting up venues across the country with his frantic energy and pounding bass. At 23 years old, Minnesota has recently spent his time touring with acts such as Big Gigantic and Paper Diamond while artists like Bassnectar and PANTyRAID have been incorporating his tracks into their sets. ‘Quickly becoming a staple in my sets,’ commented Bassnectar when discussing the use of Minnesota’s track ‘Push It’. ‘Perfect for when I need a track that is epic and churning but also melodically hyped.’

Minnesota’s goal seems simple; to release diverse productions that can win over any crowd. The support of his management team, agency, and some of the world’s greatest artists can only attribute to his hunger for more time spent on the road and in the studio. To those that haven’t had the opportunity to see Minnesota perform, just wait until his tour rolls out this summer. To put it lightly, Minnesota is a name to watch. For Minnesota, the future is bright as he spends his time producing new tracks and finds himself playing more events than ever. If you haven’t heard about him until now, know that Minnesota is a name to watch.Tony Simon, aka Blockhead, grew up in downtown New York City. As the son of an artist, surrounded by visual culture, he early on found that his passion was for music, for the sonic. A fan of a whole range of sounds, especially hip-hop, Blockhead steadily built a tremendous collection of tapes and later CDs from innumerable artists, a quiet accumulation of knowledge and know-how.

After a brief stint as a rapper, he realized his calling was behind the boards and not on the mic – and from there he began to produce beats. Since making that decision, he’s kept pretty busy: carving a niche as a quality underground beatmaker that people call when they want something special.

Blockhead produced nine tracks on Aesop Rock’s critically acclaimed album ‘Labor Days.’ Additionally he produced half the tracks on Aesop’s follow up EP, ‘Daylight.’ He has also worked with other indie giants Atmosphere, Murs, Mike Ladd and Illogic. In between, he found time to complete a break beat album entitled ‘Blockhead’s Broke Beats,’ with ten hard-hitting instrumental tracks, which was released on Mush Records, the US home of cLOUDDEAD.

To understand Blockhead’s presence and gravitas – look no further than the fact that he has also contributed three tracks (including the first single) for Cage’s ‘Hell’s Winter’ on Def Jux. The other producers on the project are DJ Shadow, El-P and RJD2.

All this occurred simultaneously to his debut album on Ninja Tune, ‘Music By Cavelight,’ described as ‘one of the most fantastically good albums you’re going to hear this year’ (Sunday Telegraph) and ‘a beautiful record’ (Metro), with Blockhead himself tipped as ‘definitely one to watch’ (Touch.)
Blockhead returned in 2005 with ‘Downtime Science,’ another set of deep, emotional instrumental hip hop tracks, this time dedicated to the downtown area of Manhattan where he grew up and has lived his entire life, encompassing all the attitude, anger and edginess of the neighborhood. This expansive album also features some melancholy reflections upon failed relationships and the promise of future loves. ‘The Music Scene,’ his first full album in 5 years (discounting the tour-only release of ‘Uncle Tony’s Coloring Book’ in 2007) has elevated his craft to another level.

Blockhead released ‘Interludes After Midnight’ in 2012, marking his latest triumph in the world of instrumental music. His thoughtful beats and iconic samples continue to help him stand apart from the crowd when it comes to originality and emotion.

Since 2010, Blockhead has performing in a variety of electronic festival like Photosynthesis, Emerg-n-See, Art Outside, Camp Bisco, Trinumeral Festival and One Step Beyond, co-headline tours with Emancipator and Signal Path, and support date runs with both Bassnectar and Pretty Lights. No longer content with being behind the boards, Blockhead has emerged as a real touring force with his new live show that keeps audiences nodding along and wanting more!Producer / DJ – available for remixes, post-production audio, scoring, sound design, and location recordingAfter more than ten years of global touring, seven solo albums on labels such as Pretty Lights Music, Old Tacoma Records, Hefty, 1320 and Mush, Eliot Lipp’s status as an electronic music pioneer is known to scene experts and weekend warriors alike.

Named one of Vibe Magazines top 10 fastest rising DJs (Summer 2013) Vibe says ‘ Eliot Lipp is making moves! …Signed to Pretty Lights Music, Lipp’s omnivorous taste in music expands to include everything from electro to funk to indie to downtempo and trap.’ Lipp’s music tastefully spans genres, styles and techniques.

Musically, Lipp is taking chances that are paying off in big ways.
In a recent interview with Jay Z’s blog Life+Times, Lipp commented that, ‘People are scared too set themselves apart from the norm, but risks need to be taken in order to progress.’
Perhaps this is what sets Lipp apart from the rest. He’s not afraid to do something a little different.As a recent San Francisco transplant, Dave Ward, lives a life between a producer, graphic designer, and web developer. Longing for distraction while commuting everyday for 3 hours to work, he started writing new tracks on trains underneath the city – literally underground. His first midtempo release, Loophole, takes listeners on a ride through dirty wobbles, thick basslines, talking synths bits, and chunky beats. Dave contructs a twisted soundscape that pulls inspiration from Glitch Hop, Dubstep, and Breaks.

Above ground, Dave has played clubs and festivals along the west coast, with particularly epic performances at Burning Man alongside Tipper, Ill Gates, and VibeSquaD. Having always leaned toward the heavier side of bass music, he has previously released music on KWS and Kanpai Records.MoPo is a master craftsman and his building material is the world’s most precious commodity: TIME. Consider yourself fortunate If you get a chance catch a Motion Potion DJ set these days. An enormous amount of thought, planning, and scheming has to occur to make them happen. MoPo approaches his shows like a college professor, or a football coach, putting hours of preparation and thought into exactly who will be listening, and how exactly to reach into their souls. Every set is different, and each can unfold in hundreds of different ways, and this intense focus on preparation makes him so versatile, so intense, and so much damn fun. These are “DJ sets” in the classic sense, unfolding like poems with every song a word and every mix or drop a bit of punctuation. Once known as the “DJ for people who hate DJ’s” it would be more accurate to say that this is the DJ for those who love live music.An extraordinary DJ, producer, remixer, and music historian, Little John’s musical artistry transcends genres with an intensity, knowledge and savviness possessed by few. Whether he’s playing Tech-House, Mid-tempo, Future Bass, or Booty Slap, this innovator continually unites factions and taps new levels of creativity simply for the heart of it. With an acutely discerning ear and an open mind and heart, his ability to read a crowd and mix the perfect vibe truly sets him apart. His is a genuinely unique approach that will move body, mind, and soul.

His roots run deeply through the creative hot-bed of San Francisco’s mid 90’s underground House scene and the incredibly diverse Santa Cruz free party scene. He became a resident of the legendary 13 Moon Tribe while simultaneously pioneering production of the wildly successful Raindance events, which continue to run strong today.Griffin BOGL is a little bit of an anomaly. No matter what city you are in he might just be at the same party, right next to you. He states SF as his home base, but I’m pretty sure the BOGL spaceship is from parts unknown. After his sets last year, people were raving, literally! It was even likened to drunken Kung Fu, the way he bobbled around behind the decks seamlessly mixing the strangest tunes for what was to become some of the most diverse sets.

BOGL is a guy that can’t be pigeonholed. His sets and production always surprise and his sound is on the constant evolve tip. Don’t try and understand this man, just show up with open ears, ready to hear something fresh!With over a decade of experience DJing and Producing, VNDMG is making moves in the electronic music scene. Anthony VanVranken, A.K.A. VNDMG (pronounced Van-Damage), brings a more progressive and psychedelic flare to the world of 808 bass music; finely crafting a sound that is both high energy and eclectic. With a healthy mixture of originals, collaborations, and remixes, a VNDMG set is always unique.

As 2013 comes to an end, VNDMG looks back on a year full of memorable experiences. With an established residency at Beat Church in San Francisco, a full gig calendar, and Festivals like Burning Man, What The Festival, Emissions, Raindance, and Lucidity, it is safe to say that it has been a busy year. Having just headlined the “Doing Damage Tour” alongside Indaskyes and Le Moti, VNDMG looks forward to a release on Mallabel Music, with features from Myka 9 and San Williams, a Moanbeams Remix EP with DJ Balance, and an on-going mix series titled, “The VNDMG Report”.Matt Haze is a riddle, wrapped in an enigma, covered in stylish facial hair. One of the most forward- thinking DJs emerging from the San Francisco scene, Haze is a treasure trove of musical versatility. Rubbing the decks with a marinade of cutting edge beats and old school vibes, Haze is difficult to classify, but impossible to resist. He is best known for his work with SF’s Slayers Club collective, dropping his crazily eclectic kitchen sink sets wherever the spirit carries him and the bassbins follow.Shouts! is a project by San Francisco bass music producer Jason C Apple. After many years of producing as Ground Control, Shouts! was created as an outlet for his weirder, more emotive music that nevertheless works a dance floor. Focusing on deep house and garage, more than anything, Shouts! is about trying to figure out how sound becomes a feeling.

Part of the Hot N Heavy Recordings crew, Shouts! first EP, ‘Do Your Thing’ was released on January 23rd, 2013. He has since released his remix of Mako’s ‘Tropicality’ on Hot N Heavy, as well as a garage rework of Sirkus Sirkuz and March Against’s ‘The Tempest’ on 9G Records. Visit his Soundcloud for numerous free downloads and edits of Jessie Ware, the XX, and more.DJ Phleck has been a fixture in the San Francisco music scene for well over a decade. A Bay Area native and a true master of his craft Phleck brings thoughtful selection, precise technical mixing and an undeniable vibe to every set he plays. Alongside his Janky Barge family, Phleck is also known for being one of the founding DJs and organizers of the now nationally recognized & multi-city event known as Motown on Mondays (M.O.M.).Evan was introduced to the electronic music scene through the underground rave scene in downtown Los Angeles and later the SF Bay area music scenes. Heavily influenced by house and techno, he unleashed his signature sound on the Playa with the Janky Barge, and Snarkle was born. Focusing on the synthesis of uplifting melodies and dark, impelling beats, Snarkle promises to drive your feet to the dance floor and your heart to the clouds.Professor Bang has been DJing since 1997. As a founding member of San Francisco party collective Slayers Club, he’s been on the forefront of evolutions in modern bass music and performed alongside both established names and rising stars. His background in live music performance and commercial radio gives Professor Bang a unique perspective when it comes to mixing electronic music; look for big tunes and the occasional curveball from this West Coast club veteran.a