#gyal dem was sparse

[chaosandcrimes]

my best friend made the mistake of asking how spending/saving habits would change if one got suddenly rich and was stuck listening to my rant on routines and sustainability that somehow ended up dipping into some econ stuff then ended with the issue of the idea that women are inherently good with financially managing a household in our society yet terrible at money management when single.

[lvlsrvryhigh]

LVLSRVRYHI-052: Miracles

Introductions first: for anyone who doesn't know, who are you / where are you from? I’m Stewart. I produce and DJ under the name Miracles. I’m from Los Angeles and currently live in Brooklyn.

How did you get started making music and getting into DJing? Is there a defining memory which cemented your interest? I started making music at an early age when I was taking piano lessons, around 8 years old. A few years later when one of my sisters started college she introduced me to a lot of interesting, mostly electronic music. I remember listening to Bjork when I was in junior high and thinking that electronic music was definitely something I wanted to be a part of. I felt that she was really pushing and experimenting with sounds in a way that I had never heard before. I’ve always been into dance music, but it’s only over the past couple of years that I have been seriously producing and djing. I think something clicked in me once I realized that club music was becoming a lot more globally influenced and multi-genre.

The bio on your website talks about your interest in mixing both experimental and more familiar musical traits; how would you say that interest is represented in your approach as a DJ / producer? It’s important for me to explore new sonic territory, but also keep things relatable. I like to balance the new and unfamiliar with songs or elements of songs that I grew up listening to. For me, this type of mixing makes the forward thinking tracks a bit easier to understand and get into. In terms of producing my own music, it’s easy for me to get lost in my own world. So there comes a point where I have to step back and think about how I can simplify or incorporate some more recognizable elements to make a track more accessible.

The first time I came across your music was when I found a pack of edits and blends you'd put out. You seem to have this insatiable appetite for those - since then there's been two more with a third on the way. What's your process like for creating an edit? Do you see it as a way of putting your own mark on existing tracks? I started making them as a way to make my DJ sets and mixes feel more personal and engaging. I like re-contextualizing pop acapellas by pairing them with underground tracks and beats. The idea isn’t new, but I think these edits or blends or whatever you want to call them give my mixes a certain character.

Having made the move from LA to Brooklyn in New York, does each place hold its own musical context or set of sonic influences for you? Honestly I don’t really pay much attention to where a track comes from most of the time. I think it’s because of file sharing, Soundcloud, etc. It’s all just a melting pot, especially underground club music today. I mean obviously there are genres that were born and are rooted in specific parts of the world, but for me it’s about stripping the context away and creating something that exists in a sort-of fabricated space.

You seem to have made a lot of ties to the underground club scene since moving to NY, playing on the #KUNQ Lot show and the BETA show with Copout, as well as playing shows alongside the Loveless records crew. There are so many facets at play within the city, has the diversity of the community there had an impact on you at all? I’ve been in NYC for a while, over 8 years now. But since I’ve only recently returned to producing and djing, I still feel like I’m new to the ‘scene’ especially because I didn’t really go out or party that much when I was younger. I’ve definitely met some cool people that share similar tastes and have connected me to other important artists. I am also glad to see how diverse the underground club scene has become, generally speaking, and how inclusive and supportive the community has been.

You've referred to your Exile EP as being inspired by the Myst / Riven series of adventure games, "but if myst was like reimagined as some type of underground club". I don't have the most experience with them (generally just got lost and confused half the time), but my image of Myst is one of intricate landscapes and obstacles set in the midst of a seemingly endless wide expanse of fog which makes the game-world feel impossibly huge. What do those games mean to you and how do you see them being reflected in the music on the EP? Did you have a certain sense of place in mind when you were producing the tracks? Yeah I learned to love those games as a kid, my whole family was really into them. I remember gathering around the computer and trying to solve all the puzzles while exploring these massive mysterious worlds. I was too scared to play alone! The unsettling soundtrack, and the potential of a creepy animal or person popping out of nowhere was too much for me to handle by myself, haha. But yeah I think those games stuck with me, I feel like the music I like to listen to and create are inspired by this type of artificial environment. Although a human element is definitely necessary when I’m writing or mixing - something to bring the tracks back to reality u know.

Did you set out with a particular idea for the mix? Where and how did you record it? I’ve been really into these tracks around 100bpm that are sparse and very drum heavy. The DJ JM, Girl Unit, and MM tracks in the mix were definitely starting points, even though they almost act like interludes between the tracks with vocals. I like the simplicity of them - each sound has a clear, audible purpose. They have an essential nature about them that I really like, and they translate very well in a live setting. The mobilegirl track was a great starting point - one of the most impactful takes on a pop vocal I’ve come across lately. I also can’t get away from pitch matching when I’m not mixing live on cdjs. So this mix was recorded in Traktor with a lot of subtle pitch shifting involved.  I usually do a lot of prep work so I can record mixes in one take. I then used Ableton to add some vocal samples from a ‘Porsha For Real’ podcast that I sprinkled throughout the mix.

What do you have planned for the rest of the year? My boyfriend and I planned a trip to Iceland in the Fall. It will be my second time there and his fifth. I’m not sure I can say anything that people haven’t said or heard before about Iceland other than it’s just really inspiring. Music-wise I have a couple of EPs I’m wrapping up. Looking to release at least one of them before the end of the year if all goes well. Also looking to release the fifth volume of edits/blends soon.  

If you had to pick something for people to listen to immediately after this mix what would it be? I wanted to include this song in the mix, but it didn’t make the cut. It’s been on repeat for a while now, very smooth with just the right amount of cheese factor.

Also if I’m being selfish I would say my mix for Martha on her Radar Radio.  I feel like this LVLS mix is the follow up for that one. Both mixes were conceived around the same time.

TRACKLIST: Shamana - Obeying Traffic Laws in GTA Mobilegirl - Heartbreak Slew Yung L - Red Rose Aasco X Joka - Volkan Modulaw - Work Miracles - Susurro Orlando - Cyaa Done DJ JM - Girl Calls a Cab Aaliyah X Brackles - Try Again Riddim (Miracles Blend) P-Lo - Noticed Akron X v1984 - You Already Know Too Much (Miracles Blend) Lava Dome - Rhyolite King Doudou - Pastillas Pa La Samuelspaniel - Namba (Bob 3fix) Ycee - Juice Girl Unit - ??? Lordholani - Need Your Body (Recluse Remix) Hitmakerchinx - I am a God Problem X Trey Songz - Still A G (Miracles Edit) Kelly Rowland X DJC - Dumb Riddim (Miracles Edit) Iamsu! X MM - Shake Riddim (Miracles Edit) Bad Gyal & Dubbel Dutch - Jacaranda Arca - Else (Galtier Reconstruct) Hitmakerchinx - Fear Dem Destiny's Child X Kingdom - Buggaboo Tears (Miracles Blend) Ynfynyt Scroll + NAR - Devil's Breath Leonce X DJ Nervoso - Ah Ah Flute (Miracles Blend) Future - March Madness (Blastah Remix) Ramriddlz - Sweeterman (Dick-a-ting Remix) Branko - Lost Arps Dawn - Break Me