THE DJ DIARY

DJ Diary: Dedication Set @ Dance 2 Da Beat 3
By: David Ace of YM
Dave_Aiello@hotmail.com

I got the first DJ Diary under my wing, it should be smooth sailing from here (wait, do I even know how to sail?)  I hope one day I will play WMC or even SPACE in Miami, I hope one day YM will get an Ibiza booking or play in England, however, even if that does happen, nothing could be more special to me than playing Dance 2 Da Beat and dedicating it to the person responsible for me creating it, my mother.
 
My goal was simple, to play a set fully dedicated to my mother where each song had a deeper meaning then "just beats". I wanted my set to hit home not only for me but for everyone in attendance. If they didn't know what it felt like to lose a loved one the way I did, I wanted them to have sense of it after my set. I believe music is emotion. This thought pattern made me a HUGE fan of Nathan Barato because I feel he creates emotion in music. I wanted to emulate this, use what I've soaked in from numerous sets and do my best to make it my own.
 
I wanted it to be different and special.  I created a unique intro for my set. I asked my friend who creates internet radio show intros if he could help me with mine. We created a special opening with a pianoesque sequence with a Spanish horn and tuba to create a real tranquil yet calming experience.  We both recorded vocals in which I said, "Mom, I love you... I miss you."  He also added, "Dance 2 Da Beat and Ace Cinelli ... present this dedication.... for Celine Aiello... we miss you."  With the slight sound of seagulls “gawking”, which I never realized, were so calming yet eerie. Alas! We had our opener. 
 
During my Dance 2 Da Beat 3 event in June 2008 at Footwork Bar & Afterhours I was nervous but I had the support of an amazing audience, my girlfriend Milena and the support of my amazing friends. In the booth were the other two members of YM, Chris Larsen and Michael Terrazzano (in matching "F*CK Cancer" t-shirts), Nathan Barato, Jonathan Rinaldo, Carlo Lio all making it easier for me to not overlook a detail. For instance when I had the bass off for 30 seconds and didn't even notice! Oops!
 
I used a lot of meaningful tracks in my set; Gui Boratto – “Beautiful Life”, Red Carpet - "Alright" & "Tribalicious" remixed by Nathan Barato (thanks for helping me start D2DB), Moby - "Raining Again" & "Slipping Away". I dropped a lot of tracks hitting close to the heart, tracks  which helped me deal with my mom’s passing... in the end, I want everyone to know no matter what happens, remember the good times, let go of the bad... AND THANK YOU for continuing to help fight my mom’s battle, even if she's not here. Dance 2 Da Beat is about a scene coming together, not about "clubbers" but about friends.... and clearly, that's what friends are for, hence my closing track, Stevie Wonder - "That's What Friends Are For".

To everyone who was there that night, thank you for letting me share my sorrow, yet at the same time my joy. Thank you for showing me what the "scene" in Scenester stands for. 

Photo Credit: Sasha Niveole