Rising from the ashes, laughing @ those who assumed I would just CRASH & BURN... I'm back, bitches!

Trying this new "status" thing out...

It's Over Now...

I caught him in another lie. The phone number in his cell phone wasn't the "wrong number" after all... It was somebody else he was seeing. He'd been seeing this other person for a while. While he claims they were "just friends," he admitted to a number of sexual encounters with this other person... All the while, I'm at home alone... Wondering, asking "WHY isn't he making love with ME?"

This isn't the first time he's been caught. For years, I've lived in denial. I was scared of losing him, after being with him for so long. In the meantime, I was suffering. Each time I caught him, he apologized. He promised never to do it again. And because of whatever reason you can name -- fear, lack of self respect, stupidity, or just my undying belief that maybe "this time" he REALLY HAS CHANGED... I stayed by his side. All was forgiven. Business as usual. Only inside, did I cry.

Through the years, I've sometimes turned to others for validation. I found myself undesirable, unattractive... All the while, he's telling me how wonderful I am. How beautiful, how strong, how talented I am... Yet he wouldn't touch me. He didn't want me. He used every excuse in the book -- his age, his level of stress, our "separate" lives, my career... Yet he seemed to always find time to fulfill HIS wishes -- with others. If he wanted affection, he didn't seek it from ME. He sought it from others, just because he COULD.

I'd ask him, he'd deny it. He had me convinced (again) that I was wrong.

Well, today I finally got the truth. In his own words, by his own admission, he wanted to have his cake and eat it too... He's admitted to messing up his other relationships in the past for the same reason. ...but what PISSED ME OFF, was this: He apologized. Why apologize?! If I would've never caught you, you would've never confessed! We'd still be living our normal life -- I'd do without, while you were out in the world, getting your fill.

Apology not accepted... No, not this time. I loved you more than anyone else I've ever been with. Over the (nearly) 8 years we've been together, we've gone through so much. There will ALWAYS be love for you in my heart. I can NEVER erase you from my mind. I grew into my adulthood with YOU. I've raised my children with YOU. I even watched you carry my mother's casket at her funeral. There's SO MANY memories that we have. SO many obstacles we've faced together. So many mountains we've climbed. In spite of your wandering ways, I've managed to STAY BY YOUR SIDE.

Even now, I don't hate you. As always, I love you STRONG... But now, it's time for me to love MYSELF. I won't leave you high and dry. I won't kick you out of our home. But just know this: As a couple, we are finished. We may even wind up being friends, but as a couple, we are DONE.

When the smoke clears, you and I can sit down and discuss things like adults. So much of our lives are intertwined. We can decide THEN who gets what, who stays where, etc... Right now is not the time. Understand that it is YOU who made the choice. When you chose to deprive me of the love and respect I deserve, and chose to have OTHERS do what I'M supposed to be doing -- you made the choice. I've forgiven you for the others... I even forgive you for THIS one. ...But I'd do myself NO GOOD if I let this cycle continue...

Remixes, Releases, Represses...

Three things you should know right away...

1. I just finished a remix for Soul/R&B singer IreneB's hit tune "Forgive Me Now." Now you KNOW I'm excited to be a part of this project, right? The single's already blowing the EFF UP in the UK. Now this remix? Oh MAN. It's on my player now, so I hope you all check it out, and leave some comments. I wanna know you're feeling the vibe!

2. Today marks the launch of Wallshaker's sister label, Anatomik Sounds. I haven't said anything before about it, simply because there's so much going on today -- The release (finally) of Soul Deep Collective's "Release Me" remixes just hit Beatport today. If you don't have THIS record, you're CRAZY!!! March right over there and GRAB IT, for sure. House at its finest -- and I'm not just saying that. You'll see...

But back to Anatomik Sounds... for those who crave that "big room" sound, you'll love the first single by San Francisco's DJ MARCUS. It's called "Touch U." And before you ask, it's produced by someone very special, ha ha ha!!! What's his/her name? "Pink Fluffer." Yes, I said it... Pink Fluffer. (Can somebody say ALIAS?!) Three totally different mixes, so I KNOW you'll jump and scream for at least ONE of them. Check, check, check it out, y'all... Just because I've been silent, doesn't mean I haven't been working my BUTT off...

3. And now for the final leak... BITTERSOULFULSWEET is getting repressed. Yes, you heard me. Repressed, repackaged and ready for my Japanese audience. So yes, get your original versions while you still can. And YES, it's downloadable -- for those who can't wait. Will there be new songs + mixes? Sure will! One of them is the song "Come With Me (ft. Humility's Hand)" that I put on the player. I know you were wondering where that song came from, eh? HEY NOW... I wouldn't be ME if I didn't surprise y'all, eh? :-)

That's just the beginning of the news... More to come, definitely! As always, I THANK YOU for the support and love. Keep coming back! I love hearing from you.

MUAH!.... Always, AC

Call To Arms: Reclaim Our Scene

I want my Detroit Electronic Music scene back… I think back to the days where, as a club-goer, I had freedom of choice. If I wanted to hear Top 40, I knew where to go. If I wanted to hear Underground sounds, I knew where to go. There were enough choices, I could go clubbing every night of the week – and be treated to something DIFFERENT.

Today, it's a much different story. Sure we have plenty of clubs here in Detroit. But our scene is in a state of disarray. Promoters compete for the biggest DJs. Venues compete for the biggest sound system, or the best light show… But what good does it do, when everyone's playing the same tired shit? Club owners don't really care about the music or the scene – as long as their place is packed. In the meantime, our scene continues to decay.

DJs themselves are partly to blame. There was a time when DJs were considered "tastemakers" or pioneers. Today's DJ is little more than a jukebox; afraid to challenge the status quo, in favor of making (what I like to call) "short money." With the advance in technology, the basics of DJing are already becoming obsolete. Now we have automated playlists, automatic beat matching; even software to recommend what songs to play together. Before long, there will be no need for the DJ as we know it. So long, creativity! Farewell, musical expression…

Please note that when I say DJ, I'm not necessarily talking about the TURNTABLIST. I consider them to be a bit more than "just a DJ," but an entertainer. Somewhere, somehow, SOMEBODY blurred the lines between the DJ and the fucking "rock star." There is a difference between the two!

While I'm all about preserving the art of DJing, I must say that most of these so-called "purists" have their heads stuck in the clouds. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people COMPLAIN about the DJ who plays on CDs instead of vinyl… Or the DJ who brings a laptop and "Serato" instead of crates of records… Their complaint? "I didn't pay my money to watch a DJ stare at his laptop all night!" Personally, I don't go to a club to stare at the DJ anyway! I go there to FEEL the MUSIC. Whether he spins on CDs, Vinyl, MP3, reel-to-reel; I don't care. It's what bumps through the speakers that make me dance.

Despite the obvious differences between vinyl and CDs – like the ability to store 80 minutes worth of music on ONE disc, vs. 12 – 14 minutes of music on a piece of vinyl… Or the ability to store thousands of tracks on a hard drive, vs. carrying (at most) a couple crates of vinyl… I could argue the digital vs. vinyl debate forever, but right now, it's not important.

Back in the day, in some of the world's most legendary clubs, you couldn't even SEE the DJ booth! The booth was placed somewhere way above the crowd, and only the elite few were even allowed to ACCESS it. Lord knows what actually went ON inside those booths, but the point is, nobody stood there staring at him.

If we are going to reclaim our scene, we need to reprioritize. The DJs and promoters need to choose: short-term money, vs. long-term integrity. The club-goers need to open their minds and deprogram themselves. Remember that the best music is usually NOT force-fed to us by radio stations! Club owners need to recognize that they're fighting and competing against each other for all the wrong reasons. Build us a place where we can have free expression through our music; the money will surely follow.

We can all do our part – the promoter, the DJ, the owner AND the crowd. We MUST work together in order to keep our scene alive.

Yours truly,

Aaron-Carl

The W.A.R.M.T.H. Sessions

This Friday, it's ON... I'm ready. www.warmth313.com is the new site -- there's still plenty to work to be done, BUT you're now able to sign up & register... Get ready for some real Detroit LOVE!

Friday Oct 3, 7PM - 9PM EST. The Live Chat room is all set up. The phone line is set up. Definitely call us and send a shout-out. I'll be playing your messages on the air! My first guest DJ mix is from ANDREW RED HAND -- a Romanaian DJ who LIVES for the Detroit Resistance. He's already gotten lots of love and respect from UR -- be prepared for something fierce, y'all!!!

Also in the works, are the D.E.M.H. Stories... (Detroit's Electronic Music Heroes) Every month we'll feature a new tribute to those who made Detroit Techno & House what it is today. (And trust me, it's NOT the same ol' fodder about the "obvious few...")

This is a labor of love and respect for the REAL heroes of MY music, in MY hometown -- my heritage, my blood... For those who know, AND for those who NEED TO BE EDUCATED.

See u there... Hugs!
AC

Hey there:

I wanted to keep you all informed about the latest records to come from my label, Wallshaker Music. Feel free to check the sound samples on the MySpace page. Add to it, leave comments, and definitely SPREAD THE WORD. Detroit House is STILL on the map, thank you!

AVAILABLE NOW:

(WMAC18)
Aaron-Carl "If There is a Heaven" REMIXES, VOL. 1
Mixes by Soul Deep Collective, Daniel Kyo and LaNoiraude take this deep, soulful gem to another level!

OCTOBER 3, 2008:

(WMAC19)
Backspin Musiq presents "Future Soul Sessions, Vol. 2"
featuring the sought-after vocal house mix of "Good Thang" by IMPROMP2.

OCTOBER 29:

(WMAC20)
Soul Deep Collective "Release Me" Remixes
Australian Housemakers Soul Deep Collective get the international remix treatment, featuring mixes by Aaron-Carl and Daniel Kyo. Not to be missed!!!




Vinyl Distributed worldwide by CYBER PRODUCTION, FRANCE.
Digital Catalogue available on BEATPORT, JUNO DOWNLOAD and other fine shops.


Feel free to rate and comment on the sound samples in the MySpace player. Thanks for the continued support. Spread the word, and keep on DANCING!

www.wallshaker.com