State of the Scene

I'd like to acknowledge some things, if I may... Every place in the world I've ever been to, I've noticed a few things about their Electronic music scenes...

1. Promoters actually stick together and support each other's events. It's not some proverbial dick contest, to see who can throw the biggest parties; who's crew is the best, etc. The promoters actually work TOGETHER -- they don't plan parties on the same night as others (in an attempt to sabotage their rivals). There's plenty of hot spots in Detroit -- it's easy for us to say "MY place on Wednesday... YOUR place on Friday... HIS place on Saturday... etc." But we don't. And it's HURTING us.

2. The DJs/Entertainment are RESPECTED for their craft - by the promoters, that is... None of that "I'll take the bar, you get the door" bullshit. The DJs and entertainment get paid their FEE. (Why would a promoter throw a party when he/she has no budget PLANNED AHEAD and SAVED UP for the expenses?) There's none of that drama where the DJ works his ass off, totally rips it on the decks, but comes home with $20 and some damn drink tickets -- because the night was "slow...") If you are gonna hire 10 DJs -- especially the more famous/heavy hitters, your budget should be big enough to accommodate them. It's a fucking shame that some of Detroit's LEGENDARY DJs and artists can't even make a decent living from their music. Superstar by night, meat carver by day. The same one who rocked it out @ the club last night is the same one you're cursing out at the local drive-thru... What kind of shit is that??? Only here in Detroit, have I witnessed such antics. Back in the day, things weren't like this. But sadly today, they are. ...and it's HURTING US.

3. The PATRONS are used to paying $20 dollars just to even ENTER the club -- to support their scene. (In Europe, most club entrance fees are 25 to 30 EUROS -- and that's for the LOCAL talent!) Why the fuck are WE (in Detroit) running around, acting like we deserve top notch talent, but we bitch about having to pay more than $5 dollars for a cover charge? The festival is coming, and it's approaching fast. We are CATERING to the Europeans (and others) for 3 days. During these THREE DAYS, shit's gonna be the way it's supposed to be. Clubs will make more money. Businesses will thrive. (Hopefully) DJs will finally get paid what they're WORTH... But come on, people... THREE DAYS? Then once the spotlight's off of us, we'll return to the same whiny bitches who can't treat EACH OTHER with respect?

Let me tell you something... DETROIT has the potential to be the Electronic Music capital of the WORLD. You already know that some of the world's best talent comes from Detroit. ...and that's in EVERY category of music, by the way... (but I'll stick to Electronic music for the purposes of this conversation...) Other cities (and countries) are supporting our scene better than WE are! They're buying our records. THEY pay to see OUR DJs. And truth be told, they're laughing at US. They're wondering why the hell WE can't seem to "get it together..."

And I'll tell you what they're doing. They're LURING our talent away. Quite a few of our biggest producers don't even LIVE in Detroit anymore. They've moved overseas somewhere -- where they're respected for what they do. They can make a decent living. They can avoid all of the "hateration" (as Mary J. Blige would call it)...

Now I realize that this post won't save the world. But I HOPE it serves as a wakeup call -- for everyone in the scene... The world is watching us. Can we at least get it together???

In closing, I'd also like to offer a solution... If the DEMF isn't free, and doesn't support the talent WE think it should, why don't WE (the promoters, patrons, producers, etc) band together and create another event? A FREE event? There's enough of us to make this happen. Regular donations throughout the year -- yeah, it's free for the public, but the expenses STILL need to be paid. I say let's do it! Let's create a fund so that this time next year, we can prepare for a "movement" of our own. We could raise enough money to have it somewhere like Chene park, or Belle Isle, or something... We could raise enough money to afford the talent that WE want to support. Have enough stages to showcase ALL of our styles of EDM... D&B, House, Techno, Ghettotech, etc. This isn't impossible, y'all.. WE CAN DO THIS. All it takes is for someone to get the ball rolling... I'm willing. Are you?


In solidarity,
Aaron-Carl

AC @ DEMF

Ahh, DEMF. The ONE time of year when Detroit artists TRULY get their chance to shine for the world. Ironically, it's the time of year I repeatedly get ignored. Not by the fans, but by the "powers that be." Whoever does the artist lineup for DEMF obviously either doesn't like me, or doesn't pay attention to me.

As you know, 2005 was the first (and only) year I've ever performed @ the festival. Funny how I've been making waves since 1996 -- before this festival even existed. I don't know the politics involved in the selection process, but you'd think at least the "hot Detroit artists" would be first in line. Not to toot my own horn, but damnit, I AM a HOT Detroit Artist! I run a successful label. I sell records. I tour regularly.... What the fuck gives?

I've had plenty of time to think about it. I've tried protesting. I've tried the "proper channels." I honestly don't know what the hell to do... SO, this morning, I wrote a letter to one of the organizers -- ironically, he gave me his email address last year, when I was told I was "too late" to be included in the festival... I wrote him a letter, and in this letter, I was just REAL. Fuck politics. I wanna know why the hell I keep getting ignored at festival time.

Right now, I have a love-hate relationship with Detroit. It's a shithole, but it's home. I HATE the ghetto-minded mentality, but I LOVE the "realness." It's like a bad relationship that you just can't leave. You love him, although he disrespects you and takes you for granted. You KNOW you're better off without him, but there's just "something about him" that won't let you break away. Y'all understand what I'm saying? Detroit has beaten me up and spat me out... But it only made me stronger. And I continue to stand up to this bitch. Scars and all, I'm still standing, motherfuckers...

AC

Hospital, Album, Update

I'm writing to you from my hospital bed -- thank God for wi-fi. LOL... I figured I'd write this blog to explain to everyone exactly why I'm here -- ONE TIME, y'all... so please read! heheheh...

As you know, I went to Las Vegas to shoot the video for Dan Diamond's "I Wanna Go Down." I play one of the main characters in the video -- thank God I had to lip synch -- so naturally, I was in almost every scene. The day I arrived to Vegas, I wasn't feeling TOO well -- I think I caught that cold that everyone around here was getting, Oh well... Just a little rest and I would've been alright. OH NOOOOO...

As soon as I arrived, I was taken directly to the first scene -- this scene was the HARDEST scene of the video; not to mention it was shot in the middle of an abandoned mine shaft/cave in the mountains, Talk about cold, dusty, and long hours!!! That was pure torture on my body, and I'm sure that's what sent me over the edge. The next days were a bit better, but I was still sick. I couldn't talk at all -- absolutely NO voice. No energy, no appetite, nothing, All I wanted to do was sleep -- which on my ONE day off, was exactly what I did. (I laugh today because of the noticable weight loss, but shit... at THIS expense???)

Finally, I chose to extend my trip -- I couldn't get on the plane in my current condition, so I went to the hospital there in Vegas. They diagnosed me with Acute Bronchitis. After a few breathing treatments, an inhaler, some steroids and some "wonderful" cough medicine, I was actually starting to feel better. After I arrived home finally, I discovered that I was having (what I thought was) an allergic reaction to the steroids -- I just kept getting worse! My entire airway was swollen, I couldn't eat, and I had sores on my tongue -- OUCH! So you could imagine it was hard to talk or swallow... I tried to hang in there, y'all... I did. But shit, I don't like pain. This was too much.



My friend Hank (Hanky Panky, heheheh) talked me into going to the emergency room. I'm SO GLAD I DID!!! I've been here since yesterday, but they noticed the infection and swelling, they put me in stronger medicines, and outside of the tongue sores (which are going away), I'm actually feeling a bit better! There's still more work to be done, so I'll be here until tomorrow -- hopefully I won't have to stay longer than that.



Again, Thank God for wi-fi!!! Email me, etc. I can't wait to get back out into the world...

OH... And I've also decided to delay the release of my album "Bittersoulfulsweet" until DEMF weekend. I want to make sure I have enough time to promote this record properly, and right now, it's too much for me to handle -- with my health and all... Remember, I run my OWN label, so a lot of this work, I'm doing on my own! So please bare with me... I LOVE my fans, and I KNOW y'all will love the album. I just wanna make sure it's marketed properly. After all, this IS my day job. It's something I MUST invest 1000% of my effort into.



Alright, stay in touch y'all... MUAH!
Love
Aaron-Carl

I Finally Did It With A Woman...

...and it was SO GOOD.

uh.. our DUET, that is! (Get your nasty minds outta the gutter!!!)

The song is called "Alright." Listen to it on my MySpace page. It's featured on both of our new albums, which are on the way!!! Enjoy it, y'all nasty folks. LOL...

MUAH!
AC

I Wanna Go Down?

Alright, so I did it. "Down" has finally been resurrected -- TWICE... First, and probably the most hilarious of the two -- the upcoming single and video by Dan Diamond feat. Nicole... "I Wanna Go Down." While I'll be singing the chorus, Dan and Nicole turned this tune into a duet. An attempt at new words and verses; it's perfect for the "OTHER" crowd. The mainstream "Miami DANCE" club crowd.

There will be a video -- yes, you heard me.. A music video. In fact, I'm flying to Las Vegas in Mid-March to shoot my scenes... I'll be playing a few characters in the video -- thanks to Dan, who really wanted to pay tribute to me. Gotta love him!

At the same time, I recreated my OWN version. Yes, it's featured on the album "Bittersoulfulsweet." And no, I don't think our versions will "clash..." In fact, I think that one will totally enhance the other. This is gonna be one GREAT year for me -- it's already proven to be great so far.

Thank you all for your continued support and blessings... I promise not to let you down. And NO, that's not political bullshit. It's just me being real...

MUAH!
AC

If There is a Heaven -- sneak peek

I just felt like sharing this with u...

Love
AC

New AC Interview

I did an interview with Electronic Directory (Japan), and it's featured this month. Would you like to read it?

Love AC