ERATO returns this Saturday, December 19th! I had an incredible time playing music with and for everyone at ScorpioS Rising last month, and this month we welcome Jesse Cardoso to share the decks with T.C.C.!
ERATO’s December edition is dedicated to Soul. The everlasting effect of life and death. You know You’re eternal right? The ticking of your heart’s beat, the swing of your hips, the bang of your head or the tap of your foot. Even your leg kicked up. You’re Soul Baby.
We’re very excited to experience DJ Jesse Cardoso and his selections at the Holiday Soulstice. It’s his debut at ERATO and we’re grateful for the gift of his music!
INTRODUCING: JESSE CARDOSO: Educator, past college radio jock, current/future/always-been, DJ!
“My first inspirations in music came directly from my mother’s record collection of jazz, soul, and even eclectic rock. When I left Boston for college, I took some choice albums with me along with my hip hop 12”s, which is what I was mostly tuned into at the time. I had one turntable, and I would end up playing more rare stuff and instrumentals for my friends, seeking to broaden our perspective on music beyond the mainstream. I was really interested in the commonalities in music, as opposed to the divisions sometimes created by genre titles. As I began digging for more and more music, I was drawn toward the stuff being sampled even more than the beats that used the samples. My first DJ experience was a radio show I did in college with friends for three years where we played all the soulful, funky, jazzy music we could find. In some ways, I’ve been a DJ for 20 years.”
“As an avid music collector and radio selector, I always paid attention to what other DJs were doing, and I’ve been fortunate to know personally several really good DJs. I used that as an opportunity to learn about more music, whether asking someone about a track played in the club, or having a session spinning at someone’s home just for fun. Even as a kid, my brother and I would check out funk and disco records from the library and listened to college radio shows that played afrobeat, jazz, and reggae.”
“One of the most influential experiences was record shopping with someone I really admired as a DJ and having him educate me on some must-have records. Obviously this was a while ago, and even though I was asked to spin at a few parties with other DJs over the years, I never really considered myself a DJ until very recently.”
“I think there’s a couple of factors that led to me saying to myself, ok I’m going to share this with other people as a club DJ now. Before, spinning was much more personal, and all of the mixes that I used to do for friends were for them specifically; they told a story. The first factor is technology, in that it has become so much easier to store, record, and share music now. The second thing was probably my confidence. It came up that a couple of well-known DJs heard my mixes and asked me to play out at their residencies. I was like, ok I’m real intimidated right now, but if they believe in me enough to spin for their events, then I’m all in. My first real club DJ experience, I was supposed to open up, but I ended up rocking for 4 hours until closing. After that I embraced being a DJ, for the first time, and I’ll always keep that experience close to my heart.”
“It’s always been about the music, regardless of the genre or the setting it’s being played in more than the technical aspects of being a DJ for me. All of my equipment, and a lot of my music were handed down to me from DJs and friends that I have a deep respect for. Moments related to the music, whether talking about it, listening to it, or sweating and dancing to it have brought me to the place I’m at now, where I just want to play what would get me dancing myself.”
“I’ve always thought being a house-head isn’t for the average person, because we in some ways have to work pretty hard to have a good time. The club scene, especially in Boston, isn’t really set up for us. What solidified this (deep, afro, soulful, house music) for me was traveling to hear the music I wanted to hear, and dancing literally all night or all day in a space free from judgment, and free from a lot of the injustices prevalent in the rest of our society. I’d been to some house music clubs here in Boston in high school, but it wasn’t until I was a little more mature, after college, and traveling to New York that I fell in love with house music too. I remember hearing my favorite track being played 3 times in a row, well after 3 am, and nearly losing my mind with happiness. The music makes a space feel like home, even if you’re miles away, or on the other side of the planet. Even here in Boston, I’ve seen folks come in from out of town, and immediately shed their inhibitions and dance, because the music brings them back to a similar, familiar place, a moment in time, or favorite song.”
“One thing I will keep with me forever is how humble, and supportive our scene can be. I’ve been fortunate to get to know people both local and international, who have guided the very direction of the music and the scene. These are people that I really look up to, as I know many others do too. What I’ve found in getting to know them is that they are some of the most down to earth people I’ve ever met. I’ve always learned from people who have more knowledge of music, but what I’ve learned also is that the culture surrounding this music has a give and take. I’m happy to have been given some amazing experiences from music, and now for the opportunities to share it with others. I think one of the most important things we can do is continue to bridge generations with this music; whether it’s called club, underground, soul, or house, as well as honor the connections to its soul, disco, funk, jazz, Latin, and African roots. We need to continue creating spaces for dancing, and most importantly continue creating better ways to be united as creative people.”
THANK YOU JESSE for your Heart! We are all looking forward to your selections and your set!
And, Hello?! “Ugly” Sweater Rockers, show up in Yours and your cover is $5 all night! We love a good time.
All for a great time is aligned, Gratefully, and we invite You and Yours to join us in Welcoming the Solstice through DANCE! Because it’s Love.
ERATO’s Holiday Soulstice celebrating the gifts of Life, Music, Dance, Love and Each Other arrives this Saturday, December 19th at Club Bohemia (lower level of The Cantab Lounge), 738 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge (Red Line : Central Square!). We open our arms at 10:00 p.m. with DJs Dende and Mystina on deck and close the night with Jesse Cardoso! This is a 21+ Party and cover is $5 before 11 p.m. ~ $10 thereafter. Holy-Days Love to All!
Liza Zayas is a lover of writing and dancing and celebrates both as a singer and songwriter performing as Luna del Flor. You can hear her collaborative sounds and experience life through her storytelling. She invites you to dance. Her poetry seeks to initiate dialogue by intentionally expressing consequences of love, lust, ego and self-respect
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