Being a dance music journalist for DJ Times and a lifelong lover of electronic dance music, I usually approach WMC with a mix of dread and anticipation.
Dread, because I know that the jam-packed week that lies ahead will be sleepless, exhausting, and usually involving some degree of sunburn. Anticipation, because there are so many events going on night and day, every day, as to be the root of all the sleepless nights and exhaustion.
This was my 15th year or so at WMC, I've lost count. My earliest years spent at WMC were all-play/no-work. As the years have progressed, the balance is reversed. This year, WMC was all-work/no-play. I'm not complaining though, I like it that way.
On the Air
The highlight of my week was making my live broadcast radio debut on SIRIUS Satellite Radio's premiere dance station, Area 33! The years spent working with the dance music programming department at SIRIUS paid off, and the chiefs gave me the chance to go on-the-air for a total of 12 hours (which in radio-world is a long, long time), on live radio, during WMC.
No safety net.
Pressure, but I work well under pressure. We broadcast from the rooftop lounge of Cafeteria on Lincoln Road, and the lineup made it feel like we were hosting a party.
We had everyone drop by for on-air interviews, as well as a number of guest-DJ sets that were broadcast live: Paul Van Dyk, Danny Tenaglia, Bob Sinclar, Ferry Corsten, Ivano Bellini, David Guetta, BT, Ali 'Dubfire' Shirazinia from Deep Dish, DJ Dan, Cedric Gervais, Boris, Theo, Robbie Rivera, Junior Sanchez, Judge Jules, Misstress Barbara, Kaskade, Andy Caldwell, George Acosta, Christopher Lawrence, Scumfrog, Christine W. and Ultra Nate, Dangerous Muse, Marco Bailey, Hernan Cattaneo, Sander Van Doorn, Victor Calderone, and others. An interview with Paul Oakenfold was pre-recorded.
Live radio is no joke. Especially considering SIRIUS has over 6.5 million subscribers in North America, with millions more listening online from around the globe. The chiefs of SIRIUS Radio told me I "nailed it!" I will be forever grateful to those wise gentlemen for believing in me and giving me the fantastic opportunity. Dance music is, after all, my life.
F**ck Me I'm Famous
As far as clubbing goes, the most late-night fun I had all week was on Saturday at David Guetta's "F**ck Me I'm Famous" party at Cameo (formerly Crobar). I love what the club's designers did with the interiors, especially the halved disco ball DJ booth, raised above the dancefloor. As with all the big WMC parties, the door was ridiculous, but once inside, the vibe was fierce, fashionable and fantastic. Seeing clubbers sing-along to Guetta's singles as if they were at a rock concert was an uplifting moment.
DJ TIMES and SIRIUS Radio hosted a private sunset cruise aboard our own cozy yacht, sailing around Biscayne Bay on Friday evening, where the intimate gathering included BT, Scumfrog, producer/remixer Joe Bermudez, and other friends.
Club World Awards
A big treat (and growing in attendance each year), was the 5th annual Club World Awards (produced by Club Systems International Magazine) this year held at Opium Garden. A real industry event, the CWA announced winners in various categories pertaining to clubs and the business of nightlife. Some CWA presenters and nominees were even offered free, stretch-limousine transport to/from the Awards courtesy of Syn3 Safe Rides, which just launched in Miami. (www.Syn3.org.)
Armani Exchange
Dropping-by the A/X Armani Exchange store on Collins Avenue and 8th Street was unexpectedly fun, especially given the store's clubby atmosphere. DJs of various ilk were commissioned to spin DJ sets in the store's main window, and Armani's staff were top-notch. I'd like to give my gal Michele MacKnight a huge "thanks" for being an all-around kick-ass woman.
The Setai
Tiesto's listening party at The Setai on Thursday night was cool, especially since The Setai is such an elegant venue. Paul Van Dyk's private listening party was also a gift. The pool parties were a sweaty, shirtless, overly-muscled mess last year, so I chose to skip the Shelbourne pool parties this year. Instead, the annual Ovum Recordings party at Glass was a classy get-down, as it's a party I try not to miss each WMC. I love Josh Wink, and Steve Bug and Loco Dice served-up some sick techno. The SFP Records "Jet Lag" party at Rain grooved in three rooms of mainly European DJs including Ivano Bellini, Antoine Clamaran, and Greg Cerrone, the latter of the exalted DJ-lineage.
One Night Only
The AM Only "One Night Only" party at Nocturnal was a wall-to-wall, crowded bash with a very strong line-up that included Richie Hawtin, a highly respected techno artist I was surprised would return to the scene-of-the-crime. (You'll recall that last year, Richie Hawtin was inexplicably manhandled by overzealous and undereducated club security, who put Hawtin into a headlock and threw him out of the club. Just as he was about to take the decks for his scheduled DJ set.)
Ultrafest
I almost made it to Ultrafest when a torrential downpour soaked everything in sight, so we decided to hunker-down at The Delano for dinner instead. (Also at the Delano in the garden, Giantstep had a chill party featuring artists like Taylor McFerrin.)
Hear For Yourself
Dance music lovers can relive WMC and Miami by listening to my 12-hours of interviews when they're re-broadcast this Saturday (3/31) from 8am - 8pm, and Sunday (4/1) from 10am - 10pm, on SIRIUS Satellite Radio's Area 33 (www.Sirius.com). Now, on to the Ibiza season...!
Editor's Note: For another perspective, check out the report from Chrissi Mark.
