First of all the thanks list...

Oscar P and The Joint, Wendy and Lou Carlos, Davidson Ospina, Ivan Robles, Chris and Moncef, SS Radio boys, Doobie J, Ziggy Marlin , Lisa , Dwayne, Teej and emma, Erica, Andrew , Dj Lucky +Girlfiend and Sean, John Juliuis Knight, Laura, Jeannie (WMC) Jay-J, Jamie lewis , Ron Carroll, Groove Junkies, Alex and Mark and all the staff at South Seas, Fox MaCleod, Matthew Way, Big Doug, Cory, Dek 23 and Joe the Doorman, Lee Jones, Lee Mayjahs, Caz and Vic and the Hard 8 massive, Amrick Channa, Bill the great white funk,Jenny (loyalty appreciated), Shovell, Marquess Wyatt, Adidas Originals (Josh and Eirelan), Dj Lego, Lewis Ferrier, Sundae Philly massive, Xoliswa and the south africa MASSSEEVE!!!, Nick Dunn and missus, Mr Sternstein and Maria ,Julius Papp, Jamie and the feelin music crew, Daniel Thomas, Ama Zedrey, Markie G and Klea, Darryl Awesome Owens, Tristan Ingram, Tank Martinez, King Britt and Micah, Clubplanet,, BPM Musical Solution, Claudia and nadia, Pioneer Pro Dj, Hoochie production girls, Robbi Promoter, Ed Dunn, Clare James, Ivan Robles, Christina Scott, Stevie B, Mr Sternstein and maria, Janine D, Kmix, livia, pippz, kelly marie, byron the intern, alex almeida, miss lamour and liz, Bernard jones, The president hotel, lars behrenhoth, Blackliquid, Richard the German, Lewis Ferrier, Darryl Awesome Owens, Jordan Rivera, Coll Sellini, Jordan Rivera, Rich Medina, Michael Fossatti, Joanna (Universal Music), The Driver Brothers, Farris Wheel Productions, all the labels on Azucar., Richie Fry and Rob Zoom, Jimmy Brayks and the Random Soul crew, Ibiza Tv, Dj Webradio, Bounce FM, M8, Traxsource, Sarah Foote, Sarah Crabb and her bloke and the Pioneer crew from Japan for the DVJ 1000's SJM 1000 mixer and me new headphones and their support..I know i have forgotten at least 50 people but mind still not recovered;-)


After 2 long sleep sessions I write this. On a personal note this years WMC was just MAGNIFICENT from a business and party perspective. I am fortunate to work with a large network which is capable of great things and this year exceeded all our expectations. All of our parties were packed with some of the best party people on earth and the performers all had grade A days. I did not go to one big labelled or branded party (deliberately if I may add) and had a better time for it as yet again certain people who bought tickets could not get into their events or complained about drink prices or door staff.

I am glad that all the new people had the kind of time I hoped they would and it reminded me of why I love going. The numbers especially after last years madness were down on "usual" crowd showing up but they were replaced with newbies.


The negative comments I have seen or heard about Miami are from the kind of people who think that Miami or the scene owes them something or because it was not as good for them as normal in other words they aint progressed in their own world . The main factor for me last year was the weather being responsible for peoples moods but this year like last year a gripe I find ridiculous is "THEIR WAS NO BIG TUNE". Damn!! what kind of scene or industry we in where one tune has to make a conference??? I mean for fucksakes how can that be possible anyway unless there really is that one tune that EVERYONE hears and loves which would have to get to all the dj's anyway and with not all of them playing at big events as expected or not even there??? . Plus I aint even listened to all the CD's I received out there too may of em from NEW cats and not the same old shit. All ours and my labels tracks were well received and thats all that matters at the end of the day with plenty licensing and tour date finalities goin on....

Onto the parties with a quick summary...

1) TUES -Baldeelox and Centric All access Pool party was a perfect start and if you did not catch it on SS Radio shame on you but had a great day will be done next year with some slight changes for the better now that we realise we had even more scope to work with. The weather was perfect and just wish I drank that day....

2) WED -Adidas originals store was one of my fav sets with this being one of our highest profile gigs and the one where i got the best tracksuit ever as payment along with some bad new kicks...Press shits comin soon. Thanks to SS radio and Lee Jones and Tank and the baldeelox crew for supporting the day and cannot wait for next year on this one..

3) WED -New York 2 Ibiza-DEK 23 was I think my best ever set mainly because I played most Baldeelox tunes which all went down a storm to our and the world crowd in the party. Again all DJ's and performers were on top form and the atmospehere under the night sky was just magic.

4) THURS -Jay-J and friends again at Dek 23 was the perfect way to end my sets in Miami. Playing both official host of the event and closing DJ to an appreciative group of stayers summed up Miami for me in just 3 days of hard goddam work which paid off. I nearly cried at the end of that night believe me. But this event epitomised my role in a huge House scene and was such a fitting end.

5) FRI DIGITAL A+R SUMMIT PRES HOTEL- Got up late but got up to a party already in full swing in MY HOTEL which we hijacked for the latter part of the week for our summit/get down. This event was WHAT MIAMI IS ABOUT ON THE BUSINESS FRONT. I signed two tracks that day with considerations for more and if you could imagine a picture of producers and label head with their headphones in each others laptops and USB drives in and out all over the place it was crazy. This was a fulfilling experience and one which many can take a note of on how to handle ya business in Miami and not come back moaning that no-one signed you or yo made no connections. Now the get down part of the event took its own course and after many a wicked set this party ended at 3 or 4 in the morning. What a joke!!!

6) Sat-Pres hotel. Again but a just a get down session which turned into madness and only stopped when someone understandably could not take two nights of loud house after it was agreed that the party finished at 11pm ha!

7) Sundae Shakedown @ Aqua Yacht after advise of an early arrival essential and a shouted wake up call we headed down to what has to be a fitting end to a great week with a party. It was funny that the boat had no food and went to pizza hut to feed us but the music was beautiful and full of top quality soulful house and the party with Lee Jones dropping Marvin Gaye's "Got to give it up" was the highlight of the conference along with King Britt and Micah doin this live violin thing which was just to die for. What a conference this was and like i said at the time exceeded all our expectations.!!! Sundae Philadelphia (From the mind of Lee Jones) is one of the best events to go to in the world and if one is near you go and catch the vibe that all dance music was based on!

My Miami Top eleven-

1) First Bounce-Lewis Ferrier
2) Rhythm is Our business-Ross Couch
3) Groove a Holics-Tell Me
4) shake-Lewis Ferrier
5) hypnotised-Lewis Ferrier
6) good viberation scott watson unreleased
7) Take My Hand (Original Mix) East St. Louis Players - Funkfield
8) RandomSoul Key To Soul Yogi and Huskys Bounce Shifted Music
9) Ghettofunk_ft_matiaz_cant_let_go
10) Musical Solution Ft Kaysee - Mystify Me [ Original Mix ]
11) JedSet-Seduction-SoulHeat_Records

and with the Baldeelox 2008 tour is on with London late birthday bash in June then NYC, Philly, Holland, Germany on the way with Chicago and LA tbc don't tell me Miami aint worth it EVER!

late birthday bash...... :D

thank u darren for providing our ears with great songs during your set and thank u for throwing a great party on the first day of the wmc


oh and the highlight at the end of my holiday was seeing the tears and laughter..... we've got it on camera and it will be online soon :)

xxxx

Excellent report Darren, summed it up nicely.

The SSR crew had a blast once again, so thank you for the hook ups - your opening party at the South Seas was above our expectations so well done on pulling that one off, definitely a fine replacement for the Soul on the Beach party of recent years, and grateful to be involved.

We just can't wait for next year now!

oh and the highlight at the end of my holiday was seeing the tears and laughter..... we've got it on camera and it will be online soon :)

nah man that was too much don' do it..lol

Wow, Wow, Wow. I must say I agree with you D, this was my forth conference and it was the best. I was just happy from day one till the end and having to spend every day with my friends was the best highlight and ohhh my, the music just kept me going.

I'm happy I got to bring my cousin, who everyday just kept on calling her husband just to tell her how great it was from music to meeting all my friends and how great of a family everyone was, damn its very tearing just thinking about it and looking at all the pictures.

Thanks very much to every one that was there and all the dj's that kept us dancing, My South African friends had such a great time and are very thankful they could attend the parties.

I will be posting my pix at a later stage as I am trying to download a sofware and its taking forever, so please be patient, and they are all great shots.

I miss evryone already and hope your're good.

Xoli

oh shit the online vids have begun..

64.233.183.104

thanks for the link D.

Lee Jones dropping Marvin Gaye's "Got to give it up" was the highlight of the conference

YES!!! Definitely one of my Miami moments along with:

- Stepping off the plane into the nicest freshest warm breeze
- Realising our Hotel was literally five minutes walk from our Hotel
- Discovering the joys of Chilli and Cheese hotdogs
- Jerry's Famous Deli
- Dek 23 (what a cool little venue!)
- Pool Party at the Surfcomber (Annie Mac Smashed it)
- Not having a single arguement with the missus the whole time we were there!
- Take one AND Take two of Darren's closing video on the boat (I actually laughed until it hurt)

My only two gripes about Miami are (1) that I didn't get to go KFC (Darren you git) and (2) that I won't be there next year :o(

Many thanks to Daz, Oscar P, Jessica, Ziggy and Lisa, Dwayne, Drew and anyone else we met out there for giving us so many jokes and generally having a great time with us!

Late reply Mr Holland but quite easily the best week of my life! Incredible parties, amazing atmosphere and the best music you could ask for!

Roll on next year, Miami surpassed all my expectations!

Thank you for being a fantastic host Mr Holland!!

- Jerry's Famous Deli

Nah its all about 11 st diner mate not jerrys.

I didn't get to go KFC (Darren you git)

we never either tee.... but thats a whole new policy... oops i mean story..... lol

jealousjealousjealousjealousjealousjealousjealousjealousjealousjealousjealousjealousjealousjealousjealousjealous

Nah its all about 11 st diner mate not jerrys.