Cybersex: A Complete Listening

I have never listened to the entire Cybersex series that I produced from 1993 to 2018 until today. I was organizing my records and cooking and decided to just these play in the background. After all, it is Mixtape Monday. Listening to them was like reconnecting with a old friend. I could recognize this as me but so many years have passed that some of the connections seem foreign. I first came up with the Cybersex concept in summer of 1993. I had been DJing in the LA rave scene for a little over a year. Most of the tapes I had done previous to this one were mainly the standard techno of the day. Most of it being breakbeat techno that would soon morph into Drum N Bass and Jungle. Styles were changing and new genres were being defined. I really got into the Artificial Intelligence series that came out on Warp during that time. Albums by Autechre, Aphex Twin, Mu-Ziq and others were coming out and changing how I was listening to techno. I wouldn’t know what IDM was at the time but I was really falling for this sound. I was buying anything that I felt was different and unique but still danceable. The problem was that I didn’t know how to play these tracks out live most of the time. I would drop a Aphex Twin track here and there (Quoth was a favorite) but a lot of this was maybe to heady for the rave dance floors that I was fortunate to play on. But mixtapes were a perfect vessel for me to try these tracks out and mix them together

The original Cybersex cover art

Around September of 1993 I felt I had a good collection of this style that I could put something together. I took the Cybersex scene artwork from the movie “The Lawnmower Man” and Cybersex was born on October of 1993. I remember placing them on consignment at record stores around LA and was surprised that it was selling well. I was still a relative new DJ on the scene but I think this tape being something a bit different helped it stand out. I got a lot of positive feedback from the tape and then started thinking of number 2. Again I was getting into different music. I had discovered German Trance. Especially from labels like Harthouse/Eye Q. The first side of Cybersex 2 was a dedication to this sound. I loved the melodic take on techno. Side B was bit more like the first Cybersex mix with some Detroit techno influences. The cover was done by a new designer I was using and we trying printing it on using purple inc over some silver paper stock. The tape was purple also and I really liked the way the package came out.I put it out in April of 94. Just 6 months It outsold the first one and I was starting to get know for the trancy music I was playing at gigs.

For Cybersex 3 it was all about the packaging. The mix was more European trance, still melodic but heading more into progressive trance territory. I was always looking at ways to stand out with the production of mixtapes and for 3 I found these little silver anti-static bags that fit the tapes perfectly. I made these silver stickers tat we placed on the bag and also most of the early copies contained a condom. I remember putting these packages together. They were pretty damn cool looking if you ask me. Cybersex 4 was another change in direction in sound. I had recently got into the Goa Trance sound this was one of the first mixes I did in that style. I was actually planning on this tape to be the last Cybersex mixtape. It even says "The Last Mindfuck" right on the cover. This tape came out in the late summer of 1995. I remember this one selling well as it was pushing a different sound..A lot tracks on this came from Flying Rhino, TIP, Matsuri and other Goa/Psy labels at the time. I was pretty proud of this mix. Listening to it again right now it takes me back to that summer.

I thought I was done with the series. I was happy ending it at 4. But around 96 I started working with Ken from Pure Acid on new tapes. This was the first time I wasn’t really producing and selling direct. Ken was buying the masters directly and then handling the production (he was doing a damn good job on the design and packaging) and distribution using his popular Pure Acid Mixtapes booth and direct purchasing through the mail. He was selling tapes all over the damn place now and it was great working relationship we had made. I decided to revive the Cybersex series with tape number 5 in 1999. Again I changed directions and this tape was more focused on melodic breakbeat trance. I really enjoy this tape quite a bit. And with that the series laid dormant for almost 20 years. Then in 2018, I produced a new standalone mixtape with Pure Acid called Alien Arrival. It was the 3rd in a Pay Trance series I started in 1997. I had such a good time doing that project I wanted to do another. The 25th anniversary of the first Cybersex was coming up and I thought a new Cybersex mixtape would be fun to do. I had an idea to focus on Melodic Techno which was a thing and tie it with other elements I also was adding samples and synths into the mix to make it a bit more unique. The idea was stand alone cassette and a 6 pack with all 6 mixes. I had recently located the DAT masters for the older mixes and sent them off to be cleaned up and re-mastered.

Artwork for the single cassette version of Cybersex 25

Listening to Cybersex 25 now, almost 3 years since I recorded really puts me back in that time. In late 2018 I was having a lot of change going on and this tape reminds me of the start of a lot of transition for me personally. I was listening to this mix a lot at the time. It is honestly one of my favorite mixes that I have done. Maybe it is the emotional tie to this period of my life but there is something about this mix that I really love. Listening to them all back to back today was really nice. It really does encapsulate 25 years of musical influences for me. I mean the artist that are on these mixes are just top notch and so influential. Just to name a few we got Aphex Twin, Ken Ishii, Laurent Ganier, Joey Beltram, Orbital, Kenny Larkin, Sabres of Paradise, Juno Reactor, Plaid, Moderat, Stephan Bodzin, Total Eclipse and so many more. To me each tape has its own direction and vibe but they all come together to tell a complete story. We only made a 100 of the 6 packs. We still have a few more and if you are interested in picking one up just click here.

27 years later - The story of my first rave gig.

1992. What a crazy year. It was the year the rave scene really got going in Los Angeles. It was the first time the mainstream media ran stories on what was happening in the dark warehouses in downtown LA in the early morning hours. The infamous “Do you know where your kids are??” media coverage only helped grow the scene. The more the news and media tried to cover it negatively, the more people wanted to go find out what these raves were about. For me, I was already listening to techno and house for years. I first got into House music in about 88-89. I heard “French Kiss” by Lil Louis and just was floored. I was about 15 and I thought it was just incredible. I really got into the Chicago Hip House sound of Doug Lazy, Mr. C and the like at the same time.

I graduated High School in 1991 and I had already been DJing for about 5 years at that point. So when a new style of music first caught my ears, I was all about it. I first remember hearing techno on Mars FM. I was blown away. I started buying the records I would hear on the mix shows on Mars. I would especially listen to Tony Largo’s show on Saturday nights. I would make my way to DMC and Street Sounds on Melrose on the weekends and just pick up these tunes. I just fell in love with the scene on Melrose in the early 90’s. It was just a great place to be. I was young and I was really starting to explore the city more. I used to ditch school in my senior year and just cruise over to Hollywood and go record shopping. It was were I wanted to be. So when I started buying techno in late 91 and early 92, I would collect the rave flyers that were at every record shop you would walk into.

One Saturday afternoon in February of 1992, my friends and I were in my garage listening to the tracks we just bought on Melrose. We were looking at all the flyers and someone said (could have been me), let’s go to a rave tonight. It wasn’t planned, it was just a spur of the moment decision. We got ready, met up and rolled out to Hollywood to the map point. Getting to the party was half of the adventure of going out in those days. We bought tickets at the map point, then had to go to pay phone (pre cell-phone days) just tofind out we had to go to a limo parked in downtown LA and knock on the window to get further directions. We finally made our way to a venue on Washington and Oak called “La Casa”. We walked in. And things were never the same for me. I found my home. I found where I belonged. I found meaning and purpose. After a night of dancing, we got to my friends house around 6am and I just wasn’t ready for bed. I was buzzed with excitement. I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to DJ raves!

There were no websites, social media or even email addresses back then. All you had on the back of the flyer was some phone numbers to voicemails that gave more information on the party and then on the day of would provide the location to the map point. I had been recording my own mixtapes for a while so what I decided to do was call all these voicemails and leave messages with a bit of my mixtape on it. I purposely cued up a section where I scratched since I thought it was pretty unique for the rave sound. I left messages on every voicemail on every flyer I could find. I knew it was a long shot but I didn’t know any other way to get in. One night I was in my garage DJing and my mother yelled out for me to pick up the phone. I picked up and on the line was Koko, aka The Kandyman. He had a party coming up called “Under The Kandyground” and asked me if I would like to maybe open the show. I couldn’t believe this. No fucking way. OF COURSE!! He asked me to come over to his house and audition a bit. A few days later, my friends and I went down to the San Fernando Valley where I met up with Koko and played some records for him in his bedroom. He asked me if I wanted to play and jumped at the opportunity.

The main flyer was already out but they were doing a mailer and told me they would include my name on that. I remember when I saw the mailer. It was the first time I saw the name “Thee-O” on a rave flyer. I told myself, I could get used to this. I helped promote the party. Went to stores and dropped off flyers. Koko and I got along very well and we would soon be DJing partners. On the night of the party I hung out with Koko in Hollywood and then went to the location. It was at the infamous La Casa. I remember getting up on stage and starting to play right before they opened the doors. I didn’t get a huge crowd of course but that didn’t matter. I was DJing at a fucking rave in downtown LA. How cool is that! I played my heart out for a slowly filling room and after my set DJ Dan go on the decks and I just watched in amazement at his skills and technique. It was a wonderful night. After that night, Koko and I started making mixtapes together, DJing together and pushing each other forward. That night was the start of it all for me. The music, the people, the vibes. Still at 45 and 27 years later, I just can’t seem to get my fill. Thank you Koko for giving me a shot all those years ago. And thank you to anyone who has danced to one my sets over the past 27 years. You are my continued motivation. I am not sure if I have another 27 years but I know I got a few more left in me. See you on the dancefloor.

Live at Spring Thingamajing (06/02/18) - Oshkosh, WI

Well, this was a fun night. The wife and I were in Chicago to a little vacation and also to go to the Depeche Mode concert on June 1st. I put it out on Facebook that I was going to be in the area and old school friend and promoter Steve Gobbles contacted me about playing up in Oshkosh for him. I love Wisconsin. I always have a great time there and all it would take me is a 2 hour drive from Chi-Town to get up there so I figure, why the hell not.

I got into Oshkosh in the afternoon and met up with Steve and his wife at the hotel they put me up in. We talked a little about what kind of vibe I should bring to the party that night. He wanted some techno and goa trance. I took that feedback and pretty much tried to give that during my set. I didn't get a chance to play much goa or psy that evening but I am pretty happy with this mix. The vibe in the spot was a lot of fun and we keep it going into the morning at a bank vault in downtown Oshkosh. Midwest people know how to party and I am looking forward to going back soon.

Fester and I - Live at Technocolor (02/10/18)

I have been seriously lagging on this blog of mine. I really would like to focus on it but to be honest, life tends to get in the way. So now I am playing catch up with some of the mixes I have done this year. So no better place to start than with this mix I did with Fester back in February. I have known Fester for a very long time. We go way back. Even though we have a long history together this was the first time we have ever DJed a back to back set. Crazy.

We didn't have any plans for this set. I think we talked maybe once or twice about it and we didn't have much of a game plan other than that we were playing Techno. So that is what we did. We played for 2 hours switching off after every 3 tracks. So if you are looking for some banging techno you came to the right mix.

My Random Studio Sessions

So last year I pretty much built the ultimate DJ rig in my studio. I had this beautiful custom booth built and I have been constantly upgrading it with the latest in technology. After I got the Toraiz SP-16  sampler and the Toraiz AS-1 synth, I have been wanting to highlight this hybrid form of DJing using this additional gear. I have invited friends of mine to come over and have mix sessions using my rig and recorded the output. So far, Huggie, Koko B, Day V and Bernard Thomas have all come over and dropped some sets with me. I will be inviting more guests to come over next year to rock sets in the studio and also incorporate live video streams. We are just getting started with this and here is your opportunity to check out our past mixes.