Description
Thanks for where Jeremy takes us, we dig into Stereo' history.
Remerciements à/many thanks to:
Karel Chladek pour cette breathtaking photography: @karelchladek
Deneb pour le musical theme: @deneb_music
Liens Internet:
Stereo nightclub fire was arson: police | CBC News
I just played a 9-hour set at Stereo Montreal and wanted to share my experience : r/Techno
Find me / trouvez-moi:
@danzpodcast
Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
Transcription
This is where purpose, this is a new life, a new way, a new possibility, a new day, so...
From Montreal, de Montréal, introducing people, je vous présente des gens, met on a, rencontré sur un, dancefloor, pour parler de, to talk about, DANZ. Okay, so this is episode 16 and I have Jeremy on the line with me. And Jeremy is someone I met at Burning Sun. This is my Burning Sun period. I have a lot of people I met there at that event. And so the whole principle of this podcast is to invite people that I cross paths with on a regular basis at different... events during weekends. And I would say, Jeremy, that you're one of those sure people I'm going to cross paths with. Like, I'm never surprised to see you in all these events I go to. And every time it's so simple to just come up to you, give you a big hug, and then that's it. We go back to our bubbles and we do what we love to do, just be there in that space with that music. And so that's how I see you. You're like that sure value for me.
Oh, I feel the same way. And it's interesting you mentioned that because I noticed over time being in the scene a lot, I try to just leave people to themselves and if they want to come and say hi, they can. Otherwise, you know, you just let people be and enjoy their night because a lot of time that's all they want to do you know.
That's beautiful, and that's very respectful. And I think it's also part of the culture, you know, like EDM subculture. It's even in that acronym, the PLUR, right? Like that respect. Okay, so all that being said, do you want to go to the question right now? Are you okay with us discovering the question?
Sure.
Okay perfect.
Sure, why not?
So let me read the question and discover it with you. Okay. Have you ever experienced a transcendent moment while dancing? If so, what was it like?
I actually remember the first time I ever saw Hernán Cattaneo at Stereo. Yeah, I was pretty early on in going out in the scene and I already thought Stereo was amazing.
How long ago is that? I'm curious.
Well, that was March of 2017 was the first Hernan, but I've been going for maybe four months, three, four months before that as well...
Wow. You have like... that was so quick. You like, you remembered right there, like that moment.
Well, yeah, it just, that night I remember thinking like, oh, like Stereo can get better. And there was a moment where it felt like everyone was dancing together towards some common goal. I couldn't explain it. But yeah, I do remember that happened. And I can't say those happen, you know, all the time for me. But there are moments where you just lose yourself. And I love that. Yeah.
Yeah. Wow. That's pretty powerful. And so you were at Stereo when it happened. And you remember that it was Hernan Cattaneo. And I'm sure that you've heard him many, many times since.
Yeah, I don't think I've missed him since then if I have it was once so whenever he's come into town,for sure...
So that's interesting to me because do you think that you've kept on being loyal to him because of that moment that you lived in 2017?
Uh... not, not really even um I mean for for a long time he was definitely my favorite DJ and he's still up there in in the greats in my opinion um and I know that just some nights there's nothing like a Hernan Cattaneo, but I don't know if I have as much of a favorite DJ these days anymore. It's more just, I go where I'm feeling the mood at the moment now, you know, because there's some nights where I just feel like doing something else or doing something, you know, I'm not as comfortable with or, you know. It just depends on the night and how I'm feeling, really.
And so when you say some nights, I just don't feel like living something like that. Do you mean that you do like a whole other activity or you just go elsewhere and...?
I might go to I might go to a club I don't normally go to as often or I might go see a DJ that I wouldn't normally seen. For example, I just last last Friday, I went to a techno show uh at Stereo but i'd never heard of any of the DJs' names um but it was uh it was eye-opening because i had just been previously at uh Balance music festival in Croatia which was all prog which is my main genre prog is is is the music that touches me the most but it was almost like a nice change up to come back and do something that was not at all in my frequency for the last couple weeks.
Okay. So let me go back to what you just said you said that you were at a music festival you you were in Croatia for that music festival so that's that's very revealing of the place music holds in your life and so have you been doing that for a long time in your life going in other countries to festivals?
No, it's actually kind of like a newer thing um a couple years back i went to burning man which is it's not pure partying it's a that's a that's a completely different experience i guess but um i did want to kind of just go out and expand and go to different places and use that as an excuse to also you know see another country. Balanced music festival specifically is i it's all prog so it made a lot of sense for me...
So prog, for people that are listening and don't know that kind of i i would say nickname for that style is progressive right like?
Progressive house yes
Yeah and so how would you describe that style compared to other style because you say it's your favorite one?
Yeah well i mean it's uh it's more melodic than a lot of other things but it's not melodic house um there's just um i usually like darker uh progressive that's driving and brings you on a journey um it's the the sets are usually in general, they're better longer, longer sets you know four or five six hours or of course you know there's some DJs that do a lot longer even at Stereo but uh progressive is not really made for the shorter sets with like a lot of you know drops and stuff like that it's more meant for like a slow build that you know throughout the night you feel an increasing pressure building and stuff and...
Yeah you're like you're traveling but on the long haul like it's
Exactly
Yeah we met you and i this weekend or this... was it last weekend? I think it was last weekend at Sasha, right?
Yes. Yes.
Yes, and actually, it's funny because I think it was the first time we danced together, you and I. Like, definitely danced together.
True!
We've met in so many events, like, for the last three years now. But this was, like, our first go at it.
Well, even like, I never met you, but I do remember you at the second stage of Piknic years ago, I was like, you were always rocking out because I would get there early to the second stage and just kind of chill on the hill and stuff. And you were usually by yourself rocking out. And yeah, I remember I like before I met you, I knew like I knew like of you, like I knew like I had seen you around before for sure. Yeah.
Yeah. I remember that that specific place you're talking about because Piknic since changed sites. right?
Yeah, yeah.
And I remember I'm sure it was in the summer of 2019 because I danced my life away that summer.
It's possible. It's possible.
And so, yeah, I had a lot of fun. But yes, back then I was pretty much on my own most of the times. That's what I was actually explained to Stephanie in our episode. Stephanie was episode number nine. And we spoke a little bit about how I used to... Yeah, just go to events on my own and do my thing, right? For many, many years, not connecting with people. But yeah, now that I've understood that there's a lot of people that are passionate about music, and then I just cross paths with you guys, you know? So that's why I came to do this project, because I know that that passion is similar. And I wanted us to talk about what, I don't know, gets us, you know, really going in life and keeps us happy. Okay, so coming back to Sasha. So we were talking about progressive music. Would you say that Sasha did a progressive set?
Yeah!
Like was that progressive? I'm not super good to describe, like, different styles of music myself.
Well, I mean, because a lot of progressive DJs will, like, have deep thrown in there and maybe some melodic as well. Like, it's not one specific genre. That's the problem with, like, you know...
Yeah.
Like, labeling it. But yeah, Sasha definitely played like a heavier, darker, progressive set. I really enjoyed it.
Oh my God, I loved it. Like it was honestly, it was my first time hearing him and I fell in love. Like that's what I was saying to some friends afterwards, you know, that are also passionate about music. I went in front of him, like at Stereo, we have that very cool possibility of getting really close to the DJs. And I locked in with him it was crazy i could see genius in his eyes it was it was very deep and yeah it was very fun to see all the fun he had being there giving us that music so generously you know
He's old school too you know he comes from another time so...
Yeah! That's what people kept telling me when i was you know thinking of going they were like oh, you know, Sasha is Sasha. And I was like, what does that mean? You know? And then some people said
And now you know.
That he's an OG, you know? Like he's an OG. He's one of those DJs that have been there for so long, right?
Yeah.
Okay. So what other DJs, like, are at your top of the list at Stereo? Would you say?
I mean, I love Guy J. But I haven't found always... I love him as a producer, bar none. He's probably one of my favorite, if not my favorite, progressive producer. In terms of DJing, the last couple, though, he's played have been phenomenal sets, I've found. But let's see. Well, I mean, even tonight at Stereo Bar is Volen Sentir, which unfortunately they've been eluding me for a couple years, I've been wanting to see, but playing tonight. So I'm going to go.
Oh! So happy for you. So happy for you. That's so fun to have that opportunity to see artists that we're connected to, you know, through music and to actually see them perform live and Stereo Bar offers this proximity. Like we have proximity with the DJs at Stereo also, but Stereo Bar even more so, right?
Yeah.
So that's amazing.
And actually, I will say, though, I guess my new... favorite progressive DJ is Spencer Brown. He's the one that I don't have a problem. Like I don't like recommending too many DJs because you never know. But he's one of the ones where I'm like, no, you have to.
Wow. Just recently when he was here, were you there or you were in Croatia?
No, I was there, but I saw him in Croatia.
Oh, also. So you saw him here and then like a week after?
Oh no, I didn't see him here. I didn't see him here, but I saw him in Croatia. But I didn't see him here. I was still in town, but I wasn't in town. I was way out about.
Anyways, you didn't see him here, but you saw him in Croatia. So you saw him recently because I also discovered him just recently, like not even a month ago. And that's another one that I fell in love with. And that's what I'm realizing. I think I'm falling in love with all these DJs because they're, yeah, that's it. They're just making me have so much fun when they perform and when they do their thing you know like it's kind of giving me the okay to do my thing and my thing is to dance right so I just love how it fuels me up right it's amazing. Okay so would you have anything else to add and maybe coming back to that transcendence uh feeling would you say that you have had many of these experiences throughout the years?
Maybe not as much that, but there are times where, you know, like, it seems like the room is dark and no one's around and you can just like, you just like completely are alone, but like super into the music. That, that happens still from time to time, but it's, I mean, you can't bring it on.
Yes, yes!
It just happens in the moment and you have to take advantage of those moments because sometimes you won't get one in the whole set and sometimes you'll get a couple, you know, so.
And could you try to find words to describe that feeling?
No, I've never been able to.
Wow.
Yeah, it's just, it is liberating, but I can't really describe it.
It's above language.
For me, anyways, yeah.
That's... well, you know, it says a lot. There's no words to describe that state.
Yeah.
And I'm guessing that it's also one of the motivations to pursue this lifestyle, right?
Yeah, for sure.
Because as you said, you just never know when it's going to happen again, you know?
Yeah,exactly.
And meanwhile, you're very cool and good with the fact of just being there and, you know, listening to great music.
I mean, I've always been into music. I played violin as a kid. I played guitar in a band. I went to music, like rock music shows, alternative shows. Like I was always around music of some sort. So it's, I'm not totally surprised, but it is definitely not the stuff I grew up with.
Yeah, yeah. Well, thank you very much for this chat.
Thanks for having me.
Yeah, great pleasure.
Jeremy took us back to the beginning of his love journey for EDM events when answering the question, have you ever lived a transcendent moment while dancing? He says, I actually remember the first time I ever saw Hernan Cattaneo at Stereo. I was pretty early on in going out in the scene and I already thought Stereo was amazing, but that night I remember thinking, oh, Stereo can get better. What Jeremy felt, which he describes as witnessing everyone dancing towards some common goal is a phenomenon he couldn't explain when it occurred back then in March 2017. Today he still experiences powerful and liberating moments when the room is dark and he's alone or more isolated, feeling being super into the music, but adds, you can't bring it on, it just happens in the moment, and you have to take advantage of those moments because sometimes you won't get any in the whole set, and sometimes you'll get a couple. He then goes on agreeing with me that experiencing those powerful and liberating moments is one of the motivations to pursue that lifestyle. Some might think when listening to Jeremy that he's chasing the dragon, trying to recapture a past feeling, but I don't hear it that way. I hear his lucidity. his commitment to music, his passion, not as an addict, but as a true appreciator, someone that vibes gratefulness when touched by grace, particularly attainable in what many of us in the Montreal EDM community call the temple. This is episode 16 and Stereo has been mentioned in almost all the prior episodes, one way or another. So here it is. Here is that moment where I'll try to convey why hearing music at Stereo is so special. Stereo was founded by Angel Luis Morales, known as Angel Moraes, his DJ name. According to this info found on his Wikipedia page, he started his career in the 1980s and was a DJ at New York City nightclubs. On this webpage, just like on many others providing info about Stereo's birth in our community, it is written that he co-founded Stereo. But when I write the words, Angel Moraes co-founded Stereo with whom, in Google's search bar, here is what the AI overview offers back. Quotes. Angel Moraes is primarily credited as the sole driving force and founder of Stereo Nightclub in Montreal in 1998, with historical records not prominently naming a specific co-founder for the venue itself. The venue is currently owned by Tommy Piscardelli. Unquote. Stereo Nightclub in Montreal has always operated at 858 St. Catherine Est. It has been the target of two arson-related fires in its history. In July 2008, a major fire gutted the building and forced the After Hours Club to close for a year of extensive repairs. And then, in September 2009, a second arson attack occurred just as the club was preparing to reopen following the initial rebuilding phase, causing further delays. In an article posted September 1, 2009, on the CBC website, then co-owner Tommy Piscardelli said he's not sure who is behind the arson, but he is frustrated his business was targeted again. I really don't know what it is, he told CBC News. It could be anything, but I just want it to stop. We want to give people some music. We want to give people a good place to be. And we're having a really hard time doing it. Thankfully, it stopped. And Stereo has been giving people a good place to be ever since. Hearing music. Dancing to music. Losing themselves in music. Finding themselves thanks to music. Music conveyed by one of the best nightclub sound systems in the world. When questioning the Google AI agent about Stereo's unique sound system, here are elements that are served back. The sound system at Stereo Nightclub in Montreal is not a static, off-the-shelf product with a final model number. The legendary sound system was originally designed, built, and installed in 1998 by co-founder DJ and producer Angel Moraes, heavily inspired by New York's Paradise Garage. The setup was later re-engineered and fine-tuned over the years by acoustic and sound system specialist Craig Shorty Bernabéu. Here's an excerpt of an article found on the web, written by Carrie Mason, entitled Stereo Montreal, the continuing sonic saga of the audiophile's promised land. Quotes, The ultimate analog dance system didn't come easy or cheap. Shorty started work in February 2003, and with monthly visits like the one he's making now, and an investment well into six figures, he completed the revamp of original creator Angel Moraes' system in late 2004. But as Shorty is quick to point out, we'll never ever stop grooming this sound system. It will always be improved. It will always be a work in progress. So it's never finished. And that's what Google AI agent confirms that since, rather than replacing the entire rig with a new commercial brand version, successive management teams and audio engineers have continuously updated individual components, such as specialized drivers, custom cabinets, and high-end power amplifiers, while keeping the core acoustic philosophy and custom speaker stacks intact at Stereo. So yeah, Stereo is first and foremost about that crazy sound system, and DJs around the world know this and want to come and try it out. Guy J, mentioned by Jeremy as his hands-down top progressive music producer, has been DJing for 25 years now. He posted on his Facebook page on the 28th of October 2022 about his then-upcoming set at Stereo, this declaration, Back to one of my favorite clubs in the world and to the best sound system. More recently, Rinzen an electronic music producer and DJ based in Los Angeles, California, posted a testimony on Reddit about his first all-nighter set as Stereo that took place only three months ago. Quotes, For those who don't know, Stereo is widely considered one of the best clubs in the world. It's been around for nearly 30 years and is renowned for having one of the best sound systems in the world. This was my third time playing as Stereo, but first time doing open to close. For weeks leading up to this, I was stressing over how I would be able to survive this set. But on the night of the show, I got to the venue early and was greeted by the club owner himself, Tommy, who walked me through the history of the venue. He told me about legendary sets over the years from guys like Danny Tenaglia and John Digweed. He told me about the values behind the club and what Stereo believes in. How it's one of the few rooms left in the entire world where it feels like you're still capturing the true rave spirit of the 90s. Hearing his stories set the tone for me. This is a sacred space, a sacred sound system, and here is a real opportunity to do something special with it, to channel my DJ eros and pull something great out of myself. There is something about Stereo which brings out the best in a DJ. It's the legacy of the room, the intention behind the space. and the connection with the crowd. I want to say thank you to Stereo simply for existing and holding true to their values for so long, and for the opportunities they provide, both to artists and fans alike. Unquote. Because above the stellar sound system, Stereo has a soul. This is my first dive into detailing its importance, and it's not the last one, promise. So many beautiful things to learn and say about that space in our blessed city. Angel, wherever you are in this universe, may love of music prevail.
Description
Thanks for where Jeremy takes us, we dig into Stereo' history.
Remerciements à/many thanks to:
Karel Chladek pour cette breathtaking photography: @karelchladek
Deneb pour le musical theme: @deneb_music
Liens Internet:
Stereo nightclub fire was arson: police | CBC News
I just played a 9-hour set at Stereo Montreal and wanted to share my experience : r/Techno
Find me / trouvez-moi:
@danzpodcast
Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
Transcription
This is where purpose, this is a new life, a new way, a new possibility, a new day, so...
From Montreal, de Montréal, introducing people, je vous présente des gens, met on a, rencontré sur un, dancefloor, pour parler de, to talk about, DANZ. Okay, so this is episode 16 and I have Jeremy on the line with me. And Jeremy is someone I met at Burning Sun. This is my Burning Sun period. I have a lot of people I met there at that event. And so the whole principle of this podcast is to invite people that I cross paths with on a regular basis at different... events during weekends. And I would say, Jeremy, that you're one of those sure people I'm going to cross paths with. Like, I'm never surprised to see you in all these events I go to. And every time it's so simple to just come up to you, give you a big hug, and then that's it. We go back to our bubbles and we do what we love to do, just be there in that space with that music. And so that's how I see you. You're like that sure value for me.
Oh, I feel the same way. And it's interesting you mentioned that because I noticed over time being in the scene a lot, I try to just leave people to themselves and if they want to come and say hi, they can. Otherwise, you know, you just let people be and enjoy their night because a lot of time that's all they want to do you know.
That's beautiful, and that's very respectful. And I think it's also part of the culture, you know, like EDM subculture. It's even in that acronym, the PLUR, right? Like that respect. Okay, so all that being said, do you want to go to the question right now? Are you okay with us discovering the question?
Sure.
Okay perfect.
Sure, why not?
So let me read the question and discover it with you. Okay. Have you ever experienced a transcendent moment while dancing? If so, what was it like?
I actually remember the first time I ever saw Hernán Cattaneo at Stereo. Yeah, I was pretty early on in going out in the scene and I already thought Stereo was amazing.
How long ago is that? I'm curious.
Well, that was March of 2017 was the first Hernan, but I've been going for maybe four months, three, four months before that as well...
Wow. You have like... that was so quick. You like, you remembered right there, like that moment.
Well, yeah, it just, that night I remember thinking like, oh, like Stereo can get better. And there was a moment where it felt like everyone was dancing together towards some common goal. I couldn't explain it. But yeah, I do remember that happened. And I can't say those happen, you know, all the time for me. But there are moments where you just lose yourself. And I love that. Yeah.
Yeah. Wow. That's pretty powerful. And so you were at Stereo when it happened. And you remember that it was Hernan Cattaneo. And I'm sure that you've heard him many, many times since.
Yeah, I don't think I've missed him since then if I have it was once so whenever he's come into town,for sure...
So that's interesting to me because do you think that you've kept on being loyal to him because of that moment that you lived in 2017?
Uh... not, not really even um I mean for for a long time he was definitely my favorite DJ and he's still up there in in the greats in my opinion um and I know that just some nights there's nothing like a Hernan Cattaneo, but I don't know if I have as much of a favorite DJ these days anymore. It's more just, I go where I'm feeling the mood at the moment now, you know, because there's some nights where I just feel like doing something else or doing something, you know, I'm not as comfortable with or, you know. It just depends on the night and how I'm feeling, really.
And so when you say some nights, I just don't feel like living something like that. Do you mean that you do like a whole other activity or you just go elsewhere and...?
I might go to I might go to a club I don't normally go to as often or I might go see a DJ that I wouldn't normally seen. For example, I just last last Friday, I went to a techno show uh at Stereo but i'd never heard of any of the DJs' names um but it was uh it was eye-opening because i had just been previously at uh Balance music festival in Croatia which was all prog which is my main genre prog is is is the music that touches me the most but it was almost like a nice change up to come back and do something that was not at all in my frequency for the last couple weeks.
Okay. So let me go back to what you just said you said that you were at a music festival you you were in Croatia for that music festival so that's that's very revealing of the place music holds in your life and so have you been doing that for a long time in your life going in other countries to festivals?
No, it's actually kind of like a newer thing um a couple years back i went to burning man which is it's not pure partying it's a that's a that's a completely different experience i guess but um i did want to kind of just go out and expand and go to different places and use that as an excuse to also you know see another country. Balanced music festival specifically is i it's all prog so it made a lot of sense for me...
So prog, for people that are listening and don't know that kind of i i would say nickname for that style is progressive right like?
Progressive house yes
Yeah and so how would you describe that style compared to other style because you say it's your favorite one?
Yeah well i mean it's uh it's more melodic than a lot of other things but it's not melodic house um there's just um i usually like darker uh progressive that's driving and brings you on a journey um it's the the sets are usually in general, they're better longer, longer sets you know four or five six hours or of course you know there's some DJs that do a lot longer even at Stereo but uh progressive is not really made for the shorter sets with like a lot of you know drops and stuff like that it's more meant for like a slow build that you know throughout the night you feel an increasing pressure building and stuff and...
Yeah you're like you're traveling but on the long haul like it's
Exactly
Yeah we met you and i this weekend or this... was it last weekend? I think it was last weekend at Sasha, right?
Yes. Yes.
Yes, and actually, it's funny because I think it was the first time we danced together, you and I. Like, definitely danced together.
True!
We've met in so many events, like, for the last three years now. But this was, like, our first go at it.
Well, even like, I never met you, but I do remember you at the second stage of Piknic years ago, I was like, you were always rocking out because I would get there early to the second stage and just kind of chill on the hill and stuff. And you were usually by yourself rocking out. And yeah, I remember I like before I met you, I knew like I knew like of you, like I knew like I had seen you around before for sure. Yeah.
Yeah. I remember that that specific place you're talking about because Piknic since changed sites. right?
Yeah, yeah.
And I remember I'm sure it was in the summer of 2019 because I danced my life away that summer.
It's possible. It's possible.
And so, yeah, I had a lot of fun. But yes, back then I was pretty much on my own most of the times. That's what I was actually explained to Stephanie in our episode. Stephanie was episode number nine. And we spoke a little bit about how I used to... Yeah, just go to events on my own and do my thing, right? For many, many years, not connecting with people. But yeah, now that I've understood that there's a lot of people that are passionate about music, and then I just cross paths with you guys, you know? So that's why I came to do this project, because I know that that passion is similar. And I wanted us to talk about what, I don't know, gets us, you know, really going in life and keeps us happy. Okay, so coming back to Sasha. So we were talking about progressive music. Would you say that Sasha did a progressive set?
Yeah!
Like was that progressive? I'm not super good to describe, like, different styles of music myself.
Well, I mean, because a lot of progressive DJs will, like, have deep thrown in there and maybe some melodic as well. Like, it's not one specific genre. That's the problem with, like, you know...
Yeah.
Like, labeling it. But yeah, Sasha definitely played like a heavier, darker, progressive set. I really enjoyed it.
Oh my God, I loved it. Like it was honestly, it was my first time hearing him and I fell in love. Like that's what I was saying to some friends afterwards, you know, that are also passionate about music. I went in front of him, like at Stereo, we have that very cool possibility of getting really close to the DJs. And I locked in with him it was crazy i could see genius in his eyes it was it was very deep and yeah it was very fun to see all the fun he had being there giving us that music so generously you know
He's old school too you know he comes from another time so...
Yeah! That's what people kept telling me when i was you know thinking of going they were like oh, you know, Sasha is Sasha. And I was like, what does that mean? You know? And then some people said
And now you know.
That he's an OG, you know? Like he's an OG. He's one of those DJs that have been there for so long, right?
Yeah.
Okay. So what other DJs, like, are at your top of the list at Stereo? Would you say?
I mean, I love Guy J. But I haven't found always... I love him as a producer, bar none. He's probably one of my favorite, if not my favorite, progressive producer. In terms of DJing, the last couple, though, he's played have been phenomenal sets, I've found. But let's see. Well, I mean, even tonight at Stereo Bar is Volen Sentir, which unfortunately they've been eluding me for a couple years, I've been wanting to see, but playing tonight. So I'm going to go.
Oh! So happy for you. So happy for you. That's so fun to have that opportunity to see artists that we're connected to, you know, through music and to actually see them perform live and Stereo Bar offers this proximity. Like we have proximity with the DJs at Stereo also, but Stereo Bar even more so, right?
Yeah.
So that's amazing.
And actually, I will say, though, I guess my new... favorite progressive DJ is Spencer Brown. He's the one that I don't have a problem. Like I don't like recommending too many DJs because you never know. But he's one of the ones where I'm like, no, you have to.
Wow. Just recently when he was here, were you there or you were in Croatia?
No, I was there, but I saw him in Croatia.
Oh, also. So you saw him here and then like a week after?
Oh no, I didn't see him here. I didn't see him here, but I saw him in Croatia. But I didn't see him here. I was still in town, but I wasn't in town. I was way out about.
Anyways, you didn't see him here, but you saw him in Croatia. So you saw him recently because I also discovered him just recently, like not even a month ago. And that's another one that I fell in love with. And that's what I'm realizing. I think I'm falling in love with all these DJs because they're, yeah, that's it. They're just making me have so much fun when they perform and when they do their thing you know like it's kind of giving me the okay to do my thing and my thing is to dance right so I just love how it fuels me up right it's amazing. Okay so would you have anything else to add and maybe coming back to that transcendence uh feeling would you say that you have had many of these experiences throughout the years?
Maybe not as much that, but there are times where, you know, like, it seems like the room is dark and no one's around and you can just like, you just like completely are alone, but like super into the music. That, that happens still from time to time, but it's, I mean, you can't bring it on.
Yes, yes!
It just happens in the moment and you have to take advantage of those moments because sometimes you won't get one in the whole set and sometimes you'll get a couple, you know, so.
And could you try to find words to describe that feeling?
No, I've never been able to.
Wow.
Yeah, it's just, it is liberating, but I can't really describe it.
It's above language.
For me, anyways, yeah.
That's... well, you know, it says a lot. There's no words to describe that state.
Yeah.
And I'm guessing that it's also one of the motivations to pursue this lifestyle, right?
Yeah, for sure.
Because as you said, you just never know when it's going to happen again, you know?
Yeah,exactly.
And meanwhile, you're very cool and good with the fact of just being there and, you know, listening to great music.
I mean, I've always been into music. I played violin as a kid. I played guitar in a band. I went to music, like rock music shows, alternative shows. Like I was always around music of some sort. So it's, I'm not totally surprised, but it is definitely not the stuff I grew up with.
Yeah, yeah. Well, thank you very much for this chat.
Thanks for having me.
Yeah, great pleasure.
Jeremy took us back to the beginning of his love journey for EDM events when answering the question, have you ever lived a transcendent moment while dancing? He says, I actually remember the first time I ever saw Hernan Cattaneo at Stereo. I was pretty early on in going out in the scene and I already thought Stereo was amazing, but that night I remember thinking, oh, Stereo can get better. What Jeremy felt, which he describes as witnessing everyone dancing towards some common goal is a phenomenon he couldn't explain when it occurred back then in March 2017. Today he still experiences powerful and liberating moments when the room is dark and he's alone or more isolated, feeling being super into the music, but adds, you can't bring it on, it just happens in the moment, and you have to take advantage of those moments because sometimes you won't get any in the whole set, and sometimes you'll get a couple. He then goes on agreeing with me that experiencing those powerful and liberating moments is one of the motivations to pursue that lifestyle. Some might think when listening to Jeremy that he's chasing the dragon, trying to recapture a past feeling, but I don't hear it that way. I hear his lucidity. his commitment to music, his passion, not as an addict, but as a true appreciator, someone that vibes gratefulness when touched by grace, particularly attainable in what many of us in the Montreal EDM community call the temple. This is episode 16 and Stereo has been mentioned in almost all the prior episodes, one way or another. So here it is. Here is that moment where I'll try to convey why hearing music at Stereo is so special. Stereo was founded by Angel Luis Morales, known as Angel Moraes, his DJ name. According to this info found on his Wikipedia page, he started his career in the 1980s and was a DJ at New York City nightclubs. On this webpage, just like on many others providing info about Stereo's birth in our community, it is written that he co-founded Stereo. But when I write the words, Angel Moraes co-founded Stereo with whom, in Google's search bar, here is what the AI overview offers back. Quotes. Angel Moraes is primarily credited as the sole driving force and founder of Stereo Nightclub in Montreal in 1998, with historical records not prominently naming a specific co-founder for the venue itself. The venue is currently owned by Tommy Piscardelli. Unquote. Stereo Nightclub in Montreal has always operated at 858 St. Catherine Est. It has been the target of two arson-related fires in its history. In July 2008, a major fire gutted the building and forced the After Hours Club to close for a year of extensive repairs. And then, in September 2009, a second arson attack occurred just as the club was preparing to reopen following the initial rebuilding phase, causing further delays. In an article posted September 1, 2009, on the CBC website, then co-owner Tommy Piscardelli said he's not sure who is behind the arson, but he is frustrated his business was targeted again. I really don't know what it is, he told CBC News. It could be anything, but I just want it to stop. We want to give people some music. We want to give people a good place to be. And we're having a really hard time doing it. Thankfully, it stopped. And Stereo has been giving people a good place to be ever since. Hearing music. Dancing to music. Losing themselves in music. Finding themselves thanks to music. Music conveyed by one of the best nightclub sound systems in the world. When questioning the Google AI agent about Stereo's unique sound system, here are elements that are served back. The sound system at Stereo Nightclub in Montreal is not a static, off-the-shelf product with a final model number. The legendary sound system was originally designed, built, and installed in 1998 by co-founder DJ and producer Angel Moraes, heavily inspired by New York's Paradise Garage. The setup was later re-engineered and fine-tuned over the years by acoustic and sound system specialist Craig Shorty Bernabéu. Here's an excerpt of an article found on the web, written by Carrie Mason, entitled Stereo Montreal, the continuing sonic saga of the audiophile's promised land. Quotes, The ultimate analog dance system didn't come easy or cheap. Shorty started work in February 2003, and with monthly visits like the one he's making now, and an investment well into six figures, he completed the revamp of original creator Angel Moraes' system in late 2004. But as Shorty is quick to point out, we'll never ever stop grooming this sound system. It will always be improved. It will always be a work in progress. So it's never finished. And that's what Google AI agent confirms that since, rather than replacing the entire rig with a new commercial brand version, successive management teams and audio engineers have continuously updated individual components, such as specialized drivers, custom cabinets, and high-end power amplifiers, while keeping the core acoustic philosophy and custom speaker stacks intact at Stereo. So yeah, Stereo is first and foremost about that crazy sound system, and DJs around the world know this and want to come and try it out. Guy J, mentioned by Jeremy as his hands-down top progressive music producer, has been DJing for 25 years now. He posted on his Facebook page on the 28th of October 2022 about his then-upcoming set at Stereo, this declaration, Back to one of my favorite clubs in the world and to the best sound system. More recently, Rinzen an electronic music producer and DJ based in Los Angeles, California, posted a testimony on Reddit about his first all-nighter set as Stereo that took place only three months ago. Quotes, For those who don't know, Stereo is widely considered one of the best clubs in the world. It's been around for nearly 30 years and is renowned for having one of the best sound systems in the world. This was my third time playing as Stereo, but first time doing open to close. For weeks leading up to this, I was stressing over how I would be able to survive this set. But on the night of the show, I got to the venue early and was greeted by the club owner himself, Tommy, who walked me through the history of the venue. He told me about legendary sets over the years from guys like Danny Tenaglia and John Digweed. He told me about the values behind the club and what Stereo believes in. How it's one of the few rooms left in the entire world where it feels like you're still capturing the true rave spirit of the 90s. Hearing his stories set the tone for me. This is a sacred space, a sacred sound system, and here is a real opportunity to do something special with it, to channel my DJ eros and pull something great out of myself. There is something about Stereo which brings out the best in a DJ. It's the legacy of the room, the intention behind the space. and the connection with the crowd. I want to say thank you to Stereo simply for existing and holding true to their values for so long, and for the opportunities they provide, both to artists and fans alike. Unquote. Because above the stellar sound system, Stereo has a soul. This is my first dive into detailing its importance, and it's not the last one, promise. So many beautiful things to learn and say about that space in our blessed city. Angel, wherever you are in this universe, may love of music prevail.
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Description
Thanks for where Jeremy takes us, we dig into Stereo' history.
Remerciements à/many thanks to:
Karel Chladek pour cette breathtaking photography: @karelchladek
Deneb pour le musical theme: @deneb_music
Liens Internet:
Stereo nightclub fire was arson: police | CBC News
I just played a 9-hour set at Stereo Montreal and wanted to share my experience : r/Techno
Find me / trouvez-moi:
@danzpodcast
Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
Transcription
This is where purpose, this is a new life, a new way, a new possibility, a new day, so...
From Montreal, de Montréal, introducing people, je vous présente des gens, met on a, rencontré sur un, dancefloor, pour parler de, to talk about, DANZ. Okay, so this is episode 16 and I have Jeremy on the line with me. And Jeremy is someone I met at Burning Sun. This is my Burning Sun period. I have a lot of people I met there at that event. And so the whole principle of this podcast is to invite people that I cross paths with on a regular basis at different... events during weekends. And I would say, Jeremy, that you're one of those sure people I'm going to cross paths with. Like, I'm never surprised to see you in all these events I go to. And every time it's so simple to just come up to you, give you a big hug, and then that's it. We go back to our bubbles and we do what we love to do, just be there in that space with that music. And so that's how I see you. You're like that sure value for me.
Oh, I feel the same way. And it's interesting you mentioned that because I noticed over time being in the scene a lot, I try to just leave people to themselves and if they want to come and say hi, they can. Otherwise, you know, you just let people be and enjoy their night because a lot of time that's all they want to do you know.
That's beautiful, and that's very respectful. And I think it's also part of the culture, you know, like EDM subculture. It's even in that acronym, the PLUR, right? Like that respect. Okay, so all that being said, do you want to go to the question right now? Are you okay with us discovering the question?
Sure.
Okay perfect.
Sure, why not?
So let me read the question and discover it with you. Okay. Have you ever experienced a transcendent moment while dancing? If so, what was it like?
I actually remember the first time I ever saw Hernán Cattaneo at Stereo. Yeah, I was pretty early on in going out in the scene and I already thought Stereo was amazing.
How long ago is that? I'm curious.
Well, that was March of 2017 was the first Hernan, but I've been going for maybe four months, three, four months before that as well...
Wow. You have like... that was so quick. You like, you remembered right there, like that moment.
Well, yeah, it just, that night I remember thinking like, oh, like Stereo can get better. And there was a moment where it felt like everyone was dancing together towards some common goal. I couldn't explain it. But yeah, I do remember that happened. And I can't say those happen, you know, all the time for me. But there are moments where you just lose yourself. And I love that. Yeah.
Yeah. Wow. That's pretty powerful. And so you were at Stereo when it happened. And you remember that it was Hernan Cattaneo. And I'm sure that you've heard him many, many times since.
Yeah, I don't think I've missed him since then if I have it was once so whenever he's come into town,for sure...
So that's interesting to me because do you think that you've kept on being loyal to him because of that moment that you lived in 2017?
Uh... not, not really even um I mean for for a long time he was definitely my favorite DJ and he's still up there in in the greats in my opinion um and I know that just some nights there's nothing like a Hernan Cattaneo, but I don't know if I have as much of a favorite DJ these days anymore. It's more just, I go where I'm feeling the mood at the moment now, you know, because there's some nights where I just feel like doing something else or doing something, you know, I'm not as comfortable with or, you know. It just depends on the night and how I'm feeling, really.
And so when you say some nights, I just don't feel like living something like that. Do you mean that you do like a whole other activity or you just go elsewhere and...?
I might go to I might go to a club I don't normally go to as often or I might go see a DJ that I wouldn't normally seen. For example, I just last last Friday, I went to a techno show uh at Stereo but i'd never heard of any of the DJs' names um but it was uh it was eye-opening because i had just been previously at uh Balance music festival in Croatia which was all prog which is my main genre prog is is is the music that touches me the most but it was almost like a nice change up to come back and do something that was not at all in my frequency for the last couple weeks.
Okay. So let me go back to what you just said you said that you were at a music festival you you were in Croatia for that music festival so that's that's very revealing of the place music holds in your life and so have you been doing that for a long time in your life going in other countries to festivals?
No, it's actually kind of like a newer thing um a couple years back i went to burning man which is it's not pure partying it's a that's a that's a completely different experience i guess but um i did want to kind of just go out and expand and go to different places and use that as an excuse to also you know see another country. Balanced music festival specifically is i it's all prog so it made a lot of sense for me...
So prog, for people that are listening and don't know that kind of i i would say nickname for that style is progressive right like?
Progressive house yes
Yeah and so how would you describe that style compared to other style because you say it's your favorite one?
Yeah well i mean it's uh it's more melodic than a lot of other things but it's not melodic house um there's just um i usually like darker uh progressive that's driving and brings you on a journey um it's the the sets are usually in general, they're better longer, longer sets you know four or five six hours or of course you know there's some DJs that do a lot longer even at Stereo but uh progressive is not really made for the shorter sets with like a lot of you know drops and stuff like that it's more meant for like a slow build that you know throughout the night you feel an increasing pressure building and stuff and...
Yeah you're like you're traveling but on the long haul like it's
Exactly
Yeah we met you and i this weekend or this... was it last weekend? I think it was last weekend at Sasha, right?
Yes. Yes.
Yes, and actually, it's funny because I think it was the first time we danced together, you and I. Like, definitely danced together.
True!
We've met in so many events, like, for the last three years now. But this was, like, our first go at it.
Well, even like, I never met you, but I do remember you at the second stage of Piknic years ago, I was like, you were always rocking out because I would get there early to the second stage and just kind of chill on the hill and stuff. And you were usually by yourself rocking out. And yeah, I remember I like before I met you, I knew like I knew like of you, like I knew like I had seen you around before for sure. Yeah.
Yeah. I remember that that specific place you're talking about because Piknic since changed sites. right?
Yeah, yeah.
And I remember I'm sure it was in the summer of 2019 because I danced my life away that summer.
It's possible. It's possible.
And so, yeah, I had a lot of fun. But yes, back then I was pretty much on my own most of the times. That's what I was actually explained to Stephanie in our episode. Stephanie was episode number nine. And we spoke a little bit about how I used to... Yeah, just go to events on my own and do my thing, right? For many, many years, not connecting with people. But yeah, now that I've understood that there's a lot of people that are passionate about music, and then I just cross paths with you guys, you know? So that's why I came to do this project, because I know that that passion is similar. And I wanted us to talk about what, I don't know, gets us, you know, really going in life and keeps us happy. Okay, so coming back to Sasha. So we were talking about progressive music. Would you say that Sasha did a progressive set?
Yeah!
Like was that progressive? I'm not super good to describe, like, different styles of music myself.
Well, I mean, because a lot of progressive DJs will, like, have deep thrown in there and maybe some melodic as well. Like, it's not one specific genre. That's the problem with, like, you know...
Yeah.
Like, labeling it. But yeah, Sasha definitely played like a heavier, darker, progressive set. I really enjoyed it.
Oh my God, I loved it. Like it was honestly, it was my first time hearing him and I fell in love. Like that's what I was saying to some friends afterwards, you know, that are also passionate about music. I went in front of him, like at Stereo, we have that very cool possibility of getting really close to the DJs. And I locked in with him it was crazy i could see genius in his eyes it was it was very deep and yeah it was very fun to see all the fun he had being there giving us that music so generously you know
He's old school too you know he comes from another time so...
Yeah! That's what people kept telling me when i was you know thinking of going they were like oh, you know, Sasha is Sasha. And I was like, what does that mean? You know? And then some people said
And now you know.
That he's an OG, you know? Like he's an OG. He's one of those DJs that have been there for so long, right?
Yeah.
Okay. So what other DJs, like, are at your top of the list at Stereo? Would you say?
I mean, I love Guy J. But I haven't found always... I love him as a producer, bar none. He's probably one of my favorite, if not my favorite, progressive producer. In terms of DJing, the last couple, though, he's played have been phenomenal sets, I've found. But let's see. Well, I mean, even tonight at Stereo Bar is Volen Sentir, which unfortunately they've been eluding me for a couple years, I've been wanting to see, but playing tonight. So I'm going to go.
Oh! So happy for you. So happy for you. That's so fun to have that opportunity to see artists that we're connected to, you know, through music and to actually see them perform live and Stereo Bar offers this proximity. Like we have proximity with the DJs at Stereo also, but Stereo Bar even more so, right?
Yeah.
So that's amazing.
And actually, I will say, though, I guess my new... favorite progressive DJ is Spencer Brown. He's the one that I don't have a problem. Like I don't like recommending too many DJs because you never know. But he's one of the ones where I'm like, no, you have to.
Wow. Just recently when he was here, were you there or you were in Croatia?
No, I was there, but I saw him in Croatia.
Oh, also. So you saw him here and then like a week after?
Oh no, I didn't see him here. I didn't see him here, but I saw him in Croatia. But I didn't see him here. I was still in town, but I wasn't in town. I was way out about.
Anyways, you didn't see him here, but you saw him in Croatia. So you saw him recently because I also discovered him just recently, like not even a month ago. And that's another one that I fell in love with. And that's what I'm realizing. I think I'm falling in love with all these DJs because they're, yeah, that's it. They're just making me have so much fun when they perform and when they do their thing you know like it's kind of giving me the okay to do my thing and my thing is to dance right so I just love how it fuels me up right it's amazing. Okay so would you have anything else to add and maybe coming back to that transcendence uh feeling would you say that you have had many of these experiences throughout the years?
Maybe not as much that, but there are times where, you know, like, it seems like the room is dark and no one's around and you can just like, you just like completely are alone, but like super into the music. That, that happens still from time to time, but it's, I mean, you can't bring it on.
Yes, yes!
It just happens in the moment and you have to take advantage of those moments because sometimes you won't get one in the whole set and sometimes you'll get a couple, you know, so.
And could you try to find words to describe that feeling?
No, I've never been able to.
Wow.
Yeah, it's just, it is liberating, but I can't really describe it.
It's above language.
For me, anyways, yeah.
That's... well, you know, it says a lot. There's no words to describe that state.
Yeah.
And I'm guessing that it's also one of the motivations to pursue this lifestyle, right?
Yeah, for sure.
Because as you said, you just never know when it's going to happen again, you know?
Yeah,exactly.
And meanwhile, you're very cool and good with the fact of just being there and, you know, listening to great music.
I mean, I've always been into music. I played violin as a kid. I played guitar in a band. I went to music, like rock music shows, alternative shows. Like I was always around music of some sort. So it's, I'm not totally surprised, but it is definitely not the stuff I grew up with.
Yeah, yeah. Well, thank you very much for this chat.
Thanks for having me.
Yeah, great pleasure.
Jeremy took us back to the beginning of his love journey for EDM events when answering the question, have you ever lived a transcendent moment while dancing? He says, I actually remember the first time I ever saw Hernan Cattaneo at Stereo. I was pretty early on in going out in the scene and I already thought Stereo was amazing, but that night I remember thinking, oh, Stereo can get better. What Jeremy felt, which he describes as witnessing everyone dancing towards some common goal is a phenomenon he couldn't explain when it occurred back then in March 2017. Today he still experiences powerful and liberating moments when the room is dark and he's alone or more isolated, feeling being super into the music, but adds, you can't bring it on, it just happens in the moment, and you have to take advantage of those moments because sometimes you won't get any in the whole set, and sometimes you'll get a couple. He then goes on agreeing with me that experiencing those powerful and liberating moments is one of the motivations to pursue that lifestyle. Some might think when listening to Jeremy that he's chasing the dragon, trying to recapture a past feeling, but I don't hear it that way. I hear his lucidity. his commitment to music, his passion, not as an addict, but as a true appreciator, someone that vibes gratefulness when touched by grace, particularly attainable in what many of us in the Montreal EDM community call the temple. This is episode 16 and Stereo has been mentioned in almost all the prior episodes, one way or another. So here it is. Here is that moment where I'll try to convey why hearing music at Stereo is so special. Stereo was founded by Angel Luis Morales, known as Angel Moraes, his DJ name. According to this info found on his Wikipedia page, he started his career in the 1980s and was a DJ at New York City nightclubs. On this webpage, just like on many others providing info about Stereo's birth in our community, it is written that he co-founded Stereo. But when I write the words, Angel Moraes co-founded Stereo with whom, in Google's search bar, here is what the AI overview offers back. Quotes. Angel Moraes is primarily credited as the sole driving force and founder of Stereo Nightclub in Montreal in 1998, with historical records not prominently naming a specific co-founder for the venue itself. The venue is currently owned by Tommy Piscardelli. Unquote. Stereo Nightclub in Montreal has always operated at 858 St. Catherine Est. It has been the target of two arson-related fires in its history. In July 2008, a major fire gutted the building and forced the After Hours Club to close for a year of extensive repairs. And then, in September 2009, a second arson attack occurred just as the club was preparing to reopen following the initial rebuilding phase, causing further delays. In an article posted September 1, 2009, on the CBC website, then co-owner Tommy Piscardelli said he's not sure who is behind the arson, but he is frustrated his business was targeted again. I really don't know what it is, he told CBC News. It could be anything, but I just want it to stop. We want to give people some music. We want to give people a good place to be. And we're having a really hard time doing it. Thankfully, it stopped. And Stereo has been giving people a good place to be ever since. Hearing music. Dancing to music. Losing themselves in music. Finding themselves thanks to music. Music conveyed by one of the best nightclub sound systems in the world. When questioning the Google AI agent about Stereo's unique sound system, here are elements that are served back. The sound system at Stereo Nightclub in Montreal is not a static, off-the-shelf product with a final model number. The legendary sound system was originally designed, built, and installed in 1998 by co-founder DJ and producer Angel Moraes, heavily inspired by New York's Paradise Garage. The setup was later re-engineered and fine-tuned over the years by acoustic and sound system specialist Craig Shorty Bernabéu. Here's an excerpt of an article found on the web, written by Carrie Mason, entitled Stereo Montreal, the continuing sonic saga of the audiophile's promised land. Quotes, The ultimate analog dance system didn't come easy or cheap. Shorty started work in February 2003, and with monthly visits like the one he's making now, and an investment well into six figures, he completed the revamp of original creator Angel Moraes' system in late 2004. But as Shorty is quick to point out, we'll never ever stop grooming this sound system. It will always be improved. It will always be a work in progress. So it's never finished. And that's what Google AI agent confirms that since, rather than replacing the entire rig with a new commercial brand version, successive management teams and audio engineers have continuously updated individual components, such as specialized drivers, custom cabinets, and high-end power amplifiers, while keeping the core acoustic philosophy and custom speaker stacks intact at Stereo. So yeah, Stereo is first and foremost about that crazy sound system, and DJs around the world know this and want to come and try it out. Guy J, mentioned by Jeremy as his hands-down top progressive music producer, has been DJing for 25 years now. He posted on his Facebook page on the 28th of October 2022 about his then-upcoming set at Stereo, this declaration, Back to one of my favorite clubs in the world and to the best sound system. More recently, Rinzen an electronic music producer and DJ based in Los Angeles, California, posted a testimony on Reddit about his first all-nighter set as Stereo that took place only three months ago. Quotes, For those who don't know, Stereo is widely considered one of the best clubs in the world. It's been around for nearly 30 years and is renowned for having one of the best sound systems in the world. This was my third time playing as Stereo, but first time doing open to close. For weeks leading up to this, I was stressing over how I would be able to survive this set. But on the night of the show, I got to the venue early and was greeted by the club owner himself, Tommy, who walked me through the history of the venue. He told me about legendary sets over the years from guys like Danny Tenaglia and John Digweed. He told me about the values behind the club and what Stereo believes in. How it's one of the few rooms left in the entire world where it feels like you're still capturing the true rave spirit of the 90s. Hearing his stories set the tone for me. This is a sacred space, a sacred sound system, and here is a real opportunity to do something special with it, to channel my DJ eros and pull something great out of myself. There is something about Stereo which brings out the best in a DJ. It's the legacy of the room, the intention behind the space. and the connection with the crowd. I want to say thank you to Stereo simply for existing and holding true to their values for so long, and for the opportunities they provide, both to artists and fans alike. Unquote. Because above the stellar sound system, Stereo has a soul. This is my first dive into detailing its importance, and it's not the last one, promise. So many beautiful things to learn and say about that space in our blessed city. Angel, wherever you are in this universe, may love of music prevail.
Description
Thanks for where Jeremy takes us, we dig into Stereo' history.
Remerciements à/many thanks to:
Karel Chladek pour cette breathtaking photography: @karelchladek
Deneb pour le musical theme: @deneb_music
Liens Internet:
Stereo nightclub fire was arson: police | CBC News
I just played a 9-hour set at Stereo Montreal and wanted to share my experience : r/Techno
Find me / trouvez-moi:
@danzpodcast
Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
Transcription
This is where purpose, this is a new life, a new way, a new possibility, a new day, so...
From Montreal, de Montréal, introducing people, je vous présente des gens, met on a, rencontré sur un, dancefloor, pour parler de, to talk about, DANZ. Okay, so this is episode 16 and I have Jeremy on the line with me. And Jeremy is someone I met at Burning Sun. This is my Burning Sun period. I have a lot of people I met there at that event. And so the whole principle of this podcast is to invite people that I cross paths with on a regular basis at different... events during weekends. And I would say, Jeremy, that you're one of those sure people I'm going to cross paths with. Like, I'm never surprised to see you in all these events I go to. And every time it's so simple to just come up to you, give you a big hug, and then that's it. We go back to our bubbles and we do what we love to do, just be there in that space with that music. And so that's how I see you. You're like that sure value for me.
Oh, I feel the same way. And it's interesting you mentioned that because I noticed over time being in the scene a lot, I try to just leave people to themselves and if they want to come and say hi, they can. Otherwise, you know, you just let people be and enjoy their night because a lot of time that's all they want to do you know.
That's beautiful, and that's very respectful. And I think it's also part of the culture, you know, like EDM subculture. It's even in that acronym, the PLUR, right? Like that respect. Okay, so all that being said, do you want to go to the question right now? Are you okay with us discovering the question?
Sure.
Okay perfect.
Sure, why not?
So let me read the question and discover it with you. Okay. Have you ever experienced a transcendent moment while dancing? If so, what was it like?
I actually remember the first time I ever saw Hernán Cattaneo at Stereo. Yeah, I was pretty early on in going out in the scene and I already thought Stereo was amazing.
How long ago is that? I'm curious.
Well, that was March of 2017 was the first Hernan, but I've been going for maybe four months, three, four months before that as well...
Wow. You have like... that was so quick. You like, you remembered right there, like that moment.
Well, yeah, it just, that night I remember thinking like, oh, like Stereo can get better. And there was a moment where it felt like everyone was dancing together towards some common goal. I couldn't explain it. But yeah, I do remember that happened. And I can't say those happen, you know, all the time for me. But there are moments where you just lose yourself. And I love that. Yeah.
Yeah. Wow. That's pretty powerful. And so you were at Stereo when it happened. And you remember that it was Hernan Cattaneo. And I'm sure that you've heard him many, many times since.
Yeah, I don't think I've missed him since then if I have it was once so whenever he's come into town,for sure...
So that's interesting to me because do you think that you've kept on being loyal to him because of that moment that you lived in 2017?
Uh... not, not really even um I mean for for a long time he was definitely my favorite DJ and he's still up there in in the greats in my opinion um and I know that just some nights there's nothing like a Hernan Cattaneo, but I don't know if I have as much of a favorite DJ these days anymore. It's more just, I go where I'm feeling the mood at the moment now, you know, because there's some nights where I just feel like doing something else or doing something, you know, I'm not as comfortable with or, you know. It just depends on the night and how I'm feeling, really.
And so when you say some nights, I just don't feel like living something like that. Do you mean that you do like a whole other activity or you just go elsewhere and...?
I might go to I might go to a club I don't normally go to as often or I might go see a DJ that I wouldn't normally seen. For example, I just last last Friday, I went to a techno show uh at Stereo but i'd never heard of any of the DJs' names um but it was uh it was eye-opening because i had just been previously at uh Balance music festival in Croatia which was all prog which is my main genre prog is is is the music that touches me the most but it was almost like a nice change up to come back and do something that was not at all in my frequency for the last couple weeks.
Okay. So let me go back to what you just said you said that you were at a music festival you you were in Croatia for that music festival so that's that's very revealing of the place music holds in your life and so have you been doing that for a long time in your life going in other countries to festivals?
No, it's actually kind of like a newer thing um a couple years back i went to burning man which is it's not pure partying it's a that's a that's a completely different experience i guess but um i did want to kind of just go out and expand and go to different places and use that as an excuse to also you know see another country. Balanced music festival specifically is i it's all prog so it made a lot of sense for me...
So prog, for people that are listening and don't know that kind of i i would say nickname for that style is progressive right like?
Progressive house yes
Yeah and so how would you describe that style compared to other style because you say it's your favorite one?
Yeah well i mean it's uh it's more melodic than a lot of other things but it's not melodic house um there's just um i usually like darker uh progressive that's driving and brings you on a journey um it's the the sets are usually in general, they're better longer, longer sets you know four or five six hours or of course you know there's some DJs that do a lot longer even at Stereo but uh progressive is not really made for the shorter sets with like a lot of you know drops and stuff like that it's more meant for like a slow build that you know throughout the night you feel an increasing pressure building and stuff and...
Yeah you're like you're traveling but on the long haul like it's
Exactly
Yeah we met you and i this weekend or this... was it last weekend? I think it was last weekend at Sasha, right?
Yes. Yes.
Yes, and actually, it's funny because I think it was the first time we danced together, you and I. Like, definitely danced together.
True!
We've met in so many events, like, for the last three years now. But this was, like, our first go at it.
Well, even like, I never met you, but I do remember you at the second stage of Piknic years ago, I was like, you were always rocking out because I would get there early to the second stage and just kind of chill on the hill and stuff. And you were usually by yourself rocking out. And yeah, I remember I like before I met you, I knew like I knew like of you, like I knew like I had seen you around before for sure. Yeah.
Yeah. I remember that that specific place you're talking about because Piknic since changed sites. right?
Yeah, yeah.
And I remember I'm sure it was in the summer of 2019 because I danced my life away that summer.
It's possible. It's possible.
And so, yeah, I had a lot of fun. But yes, back then I was pretty much on my own most of the times. That's what I was actually explained to Stephanie in our episode. Stephanie was episode number nine. And we spoke a little bit about how I used to... Yeah, just go to events on my own and do my thing, right? For many, many years, not connecting with people. But yeah, now that I've understood that there's a lot of people that are passionate about music, and then I just cross paths with you guys, you know? So that's why I came to do this project, because I know that that passion is similar. And I wanted us to talk about what, I don't know, gets us, you know, really going in life and keeps us happy. Okay, so coming back to Sasha. So we were talking about progressive music. Would you say that Sasha did a progressive set?
Yeah!
Like was that progressive? I'm not super good to describe, like, different styles of music myself.
Well, I mean, because a lot of progressive DJs will, like, have deep thrown in there and maybe some melodic as well. Like, it's not one specific genre. That's the problem with, like, you know...
Yeah.
Like, labeling it. But yeah, Sasha definitely played like a heavier, darker, progressive set. I really enjoyed it.
Oh my God, I loved it. Like it was honestly, it was my first time hearing him and I fell in love. Like that's what I was saying to some friends afterwards, you know, that are also passionate about music. I went in front of him, like at Stereo, we have that very cool possibility of getting really close to the DJs. And I locked in with him it was crazy i could see genius in his eyes it was it was very deep and yeah it was very fun to see all the fun he had being there giving us that music so generously you know
He's old school too you know he comes from another time so...
Yeah! That's what people kept telling me when i was you know thinking of going they were like oh, you know, Sasha is Sasha. And I was like, what does that mean? You know? And then some people said
And now you know.
That he's an OG, you know? Like he's an OG. He's one of those DJs that have been there for so long, right?
Yeah.
Okay. So what other DJs, like, are at your top of the list at Stereo? Would you say?
I mean, I love Guy J. But I haven't found always... I love him as a producer, bar none. He's probably one of my favorite, if not my favorite, progressive producer. In terms of DJing, the last couple, though, he's played have been phenomenal sets, I've found. But let's see. Well, I mean, even tonight at Stereo Bar is Volen Sentir, which unfortunately they've been eluding me for a couple years, I've been wanting to see, but playing tonight. So I'm going to go.
Oh! So happy for you. So happy for you. That's so fun to have that opportunity to see artists that we're connected to, you know, through music and to actually see them perform live and Stereo Bar offers this proximity. Like we have proximity with the DJs at Stereo also, but Stereo Bar even more so, right?
Yeah.
So that's amazing.
And actually, I will say, though, I guess my new... favorite progressive DJ is Spencer Brown. He's the one that I don't have a problem. Like I don't like recommending too many DJs because you never know. But he's one of the ones where I'm like, no, you have to.
Wow. Just recently when he was here, were you there or you were in Croatia?
No, I was there, but I saw him in Croatia.
Oh, also. So you saw him here and then like a week after?
Oh no, I didn't see him here. I didn't see him here, but I saw him in Croatia. But I didn't see him here. I was still in town, but I wasn't in town. I was way out about.
Anyways, you didn't see him here, but you saw him in Croatia. So you saw him recently because I also discovered him just recently, like not even a month ago. And that's another one that I fell in love with. And that's what I'm realizing. I think I'm falling in love with all these DJs because they're, yeah, that's it. They're just making me have so much fun when they perform and when they do their thing you know like it's kind of giving me the okay to do my thing and my thing is to dance right so I just love how it fuels me up right it's amazing. Okay so would you have anything else to add and maybe coming back to that transcendence uh feeling would you say that you have had many of these experiences throughout the years?
Maybe not as much that, but there are times where, you know, like, it seems like the room is dark and no one's around and you can just like, you just like completely are alone, but like super into the music. That, that happens still from time to time, but it's, I mean, you can't bring it on.
Yes, yes!
It just happens in the moment and you have to take advantage of those moments because sometimes you won't get one in the whole set and sometimes you'll get a couple, you know, so.
And could you try to find words to describe that feeling?
No, I've never been able to.
Wow.
Yeah, it's just, it is liberating, but I can't really describe it.
It's above language.
For me, anyways, yeah.
That's... well, you know, it says a lot. There's no words to describe that state.
Yeah.
And I'm guessing that it's also one of the motivations to pursue this lifestyle, right?
Yeah, for sure.
Because as you said, you just never know when it's going to happen again, you know?
Yeah,exactly.
And meanwhile, you're very cool and good with the fact of just being there and, you know, listening to great music.
I mean, I've always been into music. I played violin as a kid. I played guitar in a band. I went to music, like rock music shows, alternative shows. Like I was always around music of some sort. So it's, I'm not totally surprised, but it is definitely not the stuff I grew up with.
Yeah, yeah. Well, thank you very much for this chat.
Thanks for having me.
Yeah, great pleasure.
Jeremy took us back to the beginning of his love journey for EDM events when answering the question, have you ever lived a transcendent moment while dancing? He says, I actually remember the first time I ever saw Hernan Cattaneo at Stereo. I was pretty early on in going out in the scene and I already thought Stereo was amazing, but that night I remember thinking, oh, Stereo can get better. What Jeremy felt, which he describes as witnessing everyone dancing towards some common goal is a phenomenon he couldn't explain when it occurred back then in March 2017. Today he still experiences powerful and liberating moments when the room is dark and he's alone or more isolated, feeling being super into the music, but adds, you can't bring it on, it just happens in the moment, and you have to take advantage of those moments because sometimes you won't get any in the whole set, and sometimes you'll get a couple. He then goes on agreeing with me that experiencing those powerful and liberating moments is one of the motivations to pursue that lifestyle. Some might think when listening to Jeremy that he's chasing the dragon, trying to recapture a past feeling, but I don't hear it that way. I hear his lucidity. his commitment to music, his passion, not as an addict, but as a true appreciator, someone that vibes gratefulness when touched by grace, particularly attainable in what many of us in the Montreal EDM community call the temple. This is episode 16 and Stereo has been mentioned in almost all the prior episodes, one way or another. So here it is. Here is that moment where I'll try to convey why hearing music at Stereo is so special. Stereo was founded by Angel Luis Morales, known as Angel Moraes, his DJ name. According to this info found on his Wikipedia page, he started his career in the 1980s and was a DJ at New York City nightclubs. On this webpage, just like on many others providing info about Stereo's birth in our community, it is written that he co-founded Stereo. But when I write the words, Angel Moraes co-founded Stereo with whom, in Google's search bar, here is what the AI overview offers back. Quotes. Angel Moraes is primarily credited as the sole driving force and founder of Stereo Nightclub in Montreal in 1998, with historical records not prominently naming a specific co-founder for the venue itself. The venue is currently owned by Tommy Piscardelli. Unquote. Stereo Nightclub in Montreal has always operated at 858 St. Catherine Est. It has been the target of two arson-related fires in its history. In July 2008, a major fire gutted the building and forced the After Hours Club to close for a year of extensive repairs. And then, in September 2009, a second arson attack occurred just as the club was preparing to reopen following the initial rebuilding phase, causing further delays. In an article posted September 1, 2009, on the CBC website, then co-owner Tommy Piscardelli said he's not sure who is behind the arson, but he is frustrated his business was targeted again. I really don't know what it is, he told CBC News. It could be anything, but I just want it to stop. We want to give people some music. We want to give people a good place to be. And we're having a really hard time doing it. Thankfully, it stopped. And Stereo has been giving people a good place to be ever since. Hearing music. Dancing to music. Losing themselves in music. Finding themselves thanks to music. Music conveyed by one of the best nightclub sound systems in the world. When questioning the Google AI agent about Stereo's unique sound system, here are elements that are served back. The sound system at Stereo Nightclub in Montreal is not a static, off-the-shelf product with a final model number. The legendary sound system was originally designed, built, and installed in 1998 by co-founder DJ and producer Angel Moraes, heavily inspired by New York's Paradise Garage. The setup was later re-engineered and fine-tuned over the years by acoustic and sound system specialist Craig Shorty Bernabéu. Here's an excerpt of an article found on the web, written by Carrie Mason, entitled Stereo Montreal, the continuing sonic saga of the audiophile's promised land. Quotes, The ultimate analog dance system didn't come easy or cheap. Shorty started work in February 2003, and with monthly visits like the one he's making now, and an investment well into six figures, he completed the revamp of original creator Angel Moraes' system in late 2004. But as Shorty is quick to point out, we'll never ever stop grooming this sound system. It will always be improved. It will always be a work in progress. So it's never finished. And that's what Google AI agent confirms that since, rather than replacing the entire rig with a new commercial brand version, successive management teams and audio engineers have continuously updated individual components, such as specialized drivers, custom cabinets, and high-end power amplifiers, while keeping the core acoustic philosophy and custom speaker stacks intact at Stereo. So yeah, Stereo is first and foremost about that crazy sound system, and DJs around the world know this and want to come and try it out. Guy J, mentioned by Jeremy as his hands-down top progressive music producer, has been DJing for 25 years now. He posted on his Facebook page on the 28th of October 2022 about his then-upcoming set at Stereo, this declaration, Back to one of my favorite clubs in the world and to the best sound system. More recently, Rinzen an electronic music producer and DJ based in Los Angeles, California, posted a testimony on Reddit about his first all-nighter set as Stereo that took place only three months ago. Quotes, For those who don't know, Stereo is widely considered one of the best clubs in the world. It's been around for nearly 30 years and is renowned for having one of the best sound systems in the world. This was my third time playing as Stereo, but first time doing open to close. For weeks leading up to this, I was stressing over how I would be able to survive this set. But on the night of the show, I got to the venue early and was greeted by the club owner himself, Tommy, who walked me through the history of the venue. He told me about legendary sets over the years from guys like Danny Tenaglia and John Digweed. He told me about the values behind the club and what Stereo believes in. How it's one of the few rooms left in the entire world where it feels like you're still capturing the true rave spirit of the 90s. Hearing his stories set the tone for me. This is a sacred space, a sacred sound system, and here is a real opportunity to do something special with it, to channel my DJ eros and pull something great out of myself. There is something about Stereo which brings out the best in a DJ. It's the legacy of the room, the intention behind the space. and the connection with the crowd. I want to say thank you to Stereo simply for existing and holding true to their values for so long, and for the opportunities they provide, both to artists and fans alike. Unquote. Because above the stellar sound system, Stereo has a soul. This is my first dive into detailing its importance, and it's not the last one, promise. So many beautiful things to learn and say about that space in our blessed city. Angel, wherever you are in this universe, may love of music prevail.
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