63MIX ROUTIN3S | TAI WOFFINDEN

Read the OCT ISSUE #106 of Athleisure Mag and see 63MIX ROUTIN3S | Tai Woffinden in mag.

BINGELY BOOKS

BOWLARAMA THE ARCHITECTURE OF MID-CENTURY BOWLING

Angel City Press

Chris Nichols with Adriene Biondo

In the post-war nation of World War II, bowling swept the US! For some, it's a hobby and for others it's a sport - but for many it was part of an ultimate modern lifestyle that many could participate in! This and more is explored in Bowlarama: The Architecture of Mid-Century Bowling where you can enjoy the art, architecture, and style that comes from these spaces. Bowling alleys were seen as modern palaces and firms were constantly interested in outdoing one another to have the most luxurious lanes, stunning bowling balls, and refreshment areas that were fantastic. In this book, you'l see vintage imagery from another era, hand-drawn architectural renderings and more that give you insight into what this meant for the nation!

DISCO: MUSIC, MOVIES, AND MANIA UNDER THE MIRROR BALL

Rizzoli

Frank Decaro

We love the disco era from the music, clothes, clubs, celebs, and more. It was a confluence of a number of amazing elements brought together in the '70s and in many respects, we can still see its impact on fashion, music, pop culture, and more. In Disco: Music, Movies, and Mania Under the Mirror Ball, this coffee table book tells you everything that you want to know and is available via pre-order right now.

This era was known for drug-fueled, DJ-driven, glam that came forward in a NYC loft party! It's also important to remember that Black and Latin queer culture which emerged in their clubs also infused this era and there are a number of historical struggles that the LGBTQ+ community were involved in at this time as well. This movement became a mainstream phenomenon which changed the overall culture in general.

Through vivid imagery, interviews and more, this book explores how this era has impacted the last 50 years and how it has been seen in film, TV, fashion, and interior design.

AUTUMN SPLENDOUR: A VISUAL SYMPHONY OF FALL

Independently Published

Felicity Publishing

We love this time of year, we say goodbye to the Summer and we embrace everything there is to love about the Fall! In Autumn Splendour: A Visual Symphony of Fall, this coffee table book brings this season to life through stunning photography of landscapes that define this time of year!

Regardless of where you live and how fall looks in your locale, you will be able to see and enjoy the rich tapestry of colors, textures, and moods that only fall can offer.

Read the SEP ISSUE #105 of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Books in mag.

9PLAYLIST | CALVIN HARRIS

Read the SEP ISSUE #105 of Athleisure Mag and see 9PLAYLIST | Calvin Harris in mag.

MAKING THE WORLD HAPPY WITH MUSIC MARTIN GARRIX

We're always thinking about the upcoming festival season and we have a number of people that we hope to see on stages we're heading to! Martin Garrix is a legendary international EDM DJ/Producer with residencies around the world, that we love rocking to. His passion for bringing people together with his music and those that he has collaborated with is undeniable! Just in the last few days alone, he has dropped tracks, revealed his full sets for performances at Amsterdam Dance Events - ADE last fall, and has announced his summer residency in Ibiza which he is currently in the midst of his South American tour. This artist is constantly on the move and we took a moment to find out about how when he fell in love with music, how he approaches creating his music, collaborations, recent releases, his residencies, and how he truly loves when people are able to enjoy his music and the vibe he presents!

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you first fall in love with music?

MARTIN GARRIX: I have always loved music. I grew up in a musical household and started playing guitar by the age of 8. However, the moment I fell in love with electronic music was while seeing Tïesto perform at the 2004 Summer Olympics, for the Opening Ceremonies. They were airing this on tv, and I remember my mom calling me over to come and watch it. The energy that I felt from the music was amazing. After that, I started experimenting with electronic music myself.

AM: How would you define the Martin Garrix sound?

MG: I would say it’s energetic, uplifting and melodic. The most important thing for me is to make people feel something with my music.

AM: What's your creative process when it comes to making your music - where do you start and how do you get inspired?

MG: I can get inspired by basically anything, and inspiration can come at the most random moments. That’s why the voice notes app on my phone is filled with me most random moments. That's why the voice notes app on my phone is filled with me humming new song ideas while I’m on the road. Then when I get into the studio I usually start with melody lines either on guitar or piano. Especially the songs with lyrics they always start with a guitar and vocal or piano and vocal and then afterwards I produce it out. I much rather start with stripped-down versions so the song is strong on its own and not relying on the production. I really enjoy the songwriting process and have a soft spot for beautiful chord progressions and melodies. If the song sounds good with just a vocal and guitar, you can produce an electronic version, rock version, anything. Every song starts and ends differently. I do need to be in my own home studio to finish a song, that’s the place where I work the most comfortable and know the sound system the best.

AM: You have collaborated with a number of artists from Bebe Rexha, David Guetta, Dua Lipa, Khalid, Usher, Tïesto, to name a few. What do you look for when it comes to creating with other artists?

MG: I really need a certain connection with an artist, otherwise I can’t be in the studio with them making music together.

AM: We’ve been fans of your music since Animals and have enjoyed In the Name of Love with Bebe Rexha, Scared to be Lonely with Dua Lipa, Summer Days featuring Macklemore and Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy, and Carry You with Third Party, Oaks, and Declan J Donovan. What are 3 of your favorite songs?

MG: It's impossible for me to choose. All my songs have different memories attached to them which make them special to me. Of course Animals will always be special because that song really kickstarted everything for me. At the moment I’m really loving playing the new songs live and seeing the crowd’s response to it.

AM: I’ve had Carry You on a loop since it came out! What's the backstory of the song and how did it come together?

MG: The song was in the making for quite some time before we released it. Third Party and myself created the lead melody a year ago and I premiered it during Ultra Music Festival. After that it become a staple in my sets and I even used it as intro to my sets every now and then. The response from the crowd has been amazing every time I played it, so we just had to finish it. The vocals from Oaks and Declan really pushed the song to another level and I’m super proud of the end result and the responses we have been getting so far.

AM: Last fall you dropped Real Love with South African singer/songwriter Lloyiso. You guys teamed up here in New York and created this song. How did this song come about and why were you so excited to work with him?

MG: I found an Adele cover from Lloyiso online and was immediately blown away by his amazing voice. I reached out to him, but due to travel schedules and visas we weren’t able to meet in person for two years. We finally hit the studio together when we were both in New York and recorded Real Love there. He has one of the most amazing voices I’ve ever heard.

AM: You just dropped Breakaway with Mesto and WILHELM. How did this song come about?

MG: Mesto has been a really good friend of mine for years and we have worked together before. We had an early version of the song which I also premiered at Ultra and we both played it in our sets throughout the summer. A few weeks ago we decided to finish the song and added in vocals from Wilhelm.

AM: A few days ago you dropped your 3 hour set, IDEM for ADE from last fall and we thoroughly enjoyed it! What's it like to perform at that event, especially being in your hometown?

MG: ADE is always a special one for me as it is in my hometown. It had been 4 years since we last did my ADE solo shows at the RAI and it was so special to bring them back. We always have a show for all ages as well which is so amazing. The young kids have the craziest energy! It’s also very special to be able to invite all my family and friends to the show and celebrate together after, that doesn’t happen often.

AM: How do you approach putting your setlists together and what's that process like?

MG: I don’t have a fixed setlist for my shows as I like to feel the energy and responses from the crowd and play whatever song feels like the best fit for that moment. As a starting point I have my intro and last song. Of course there are certain songs that can’t be left out of my set, and I usually have some new music lined up that I would like to test.

AM: Ushuaïa Ibiza just announced that you are back for a residency that will run Jun - Sep! What are you looking forward to for 15 Thursdays this season?

MG: Performing at Ushuaïa feels like coming home. It’s been the same team we have been working with for years and no matter how many shows I’ve done there, it will never not be special. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to test out new music and I’m really looking forward to the shows.

AM: You travel a lot! Just looking at 2024, you rang in the New Year in Bali. You hold residencies in Ushuaïa Ibiza and Omnia and Wet Republic in Vegas. You also have festival dates for Creamfields in Hong Kong and Ultra Miami along with your personal show schedule and special events like Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to name a few!

Where are some of your favorite places to perform?

MG: I am currently in the middle of my South American tour and the love I am getting there is overwhelming. People really know how to party and bring energy which is amazing. I also did an India tour last year which was absolutely crazy. A big part of my most loyal fanbase is over there so that always makes it special. But to be honest, I'm super grateful to be able to play in all these amazing countries. I'm still nervous for the shows because I want every show to be the best and for everyone to have a good time.

AM: What are 3 things that you must have when you're traveling to feel like you have a bit of home with you?

MG: I don’t really have those items to be honest. For me my headphones, laptop and phone are the most important items to have with me on the road.

AM: Do you have any pre-show routines that you do prior to hitting the stage?

MG: I usually like to wind down a little before the show, go through some of the songs I have lined up and then I’m all good to go. I don’t have any superstitious things I do before I get on stage or something.

AM: Do you have any post-show routines that you do after coming off the stage?

MG: I’m usually on a high and like to debrief some things with the team in the dressing room.

AM: When you're on stage, if we could bottle the feelings that you have, what would it be?

MG: I honestly wish I could share it with you because it is the most amazing feeling ever. It’s a burst of adrenaline and happiness mixed together.

AM: You founded STMPD RCRDS back in 2016. Why did you want to launch your label and what should we keep an eye out for as we head into the Spring and the Summer?

MG: I wanted full creative freedom over my music which was the main reason we started STMPD RCRDS. We quickly also started signing other artists and the label grew into this creative hub for all kinds of artists. I’m so proud of the label and all the amazing artists that are releasing on there weekly. We have signed really talented artists like Eleganto, Mesto, DubVision, Julian Jordan but are also releasing S.Salter which is neo-classical music for example.

AM: How do you stay in shape as we're always looking to add to our fitness routines?

MG: This can be a challenge for me, but the last couple of months I have found a routine that really works for me. I try to eat healthy and be in the gym almost every day for a workout. I also really enjoy sports such as padel and wind surfing whenever I have the time.

AM: How do you take time for yourself?

MG: It’s difficult but I do try to take time for myself to do sports or spend time with family and friends. As weird as it may sound, making music is also something I really like to do in my time off. It’s my biggest hobby so making music really doesn’t feel like work to me.

AM: Are there any projects that you can share that we should keep an eye out for that you're working on?

MG: We released Carry You and Breakaway as surprises the past two weeks, but there are two more releases coming up the next two weeks because we are releasing an EP called IDEM. The EP has the same name as the live show because it represents the period leading up to the show where I premiered and played all the songs that will be on the EP. The next release will be Biochemical together with Seth Hills.

AM: What do you want the Martin Garrix legacy to be?

MG: All I want is to make people happy with my music.

IG @martingarrix

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Louis Van Baar

Read the FEB ISSUE #98 of Athleisure Mag and see MAKING THE WORLD HAPPY WITH MUSIC Martin Garrix in mag.

THE ART OF THE SNACK | BOHEMIEN BAR

This month, The Art of the Snack takes us down to Brooklyn where we plan on spending the holiday season enjoying savory seasoned bites as well as cocktails that will transport us! In addition, we're loving that the attention to detail for the audio experience is next level as well! We took some time to chat with the owener of Bohemein Bar, Tarek Debira to talk about this spot, what we should enjoy on our next visit, why it was created, and why the audio is so key!

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did Bohemien Bar open?

TAREK DEBIRA: February 2020.

AM: We like the concept of an upscale cocktail bar and listening room. Tell me the vision behind this concept and why you wanted to create a space that incorporated these elements together?

TD: Being a melophile, I was so excited to create a space that would have creative cocktails, nice design but also a great sound system.

Bars with good sound system have been around in Japan for while now but there’s only a hand full in NYC, so having the opportunity to open Bohemien Bar in my neighborhood was such fun and fulfilling experience. The vision was to give as much attention to details to all aspects of a cocktail bar, with a focus on sound experience.

AM: What is the ambiance of the space like?

TD: The ambiance is light and comfortable, transporting you away from the environment you’ll find at many other bars in Brooklyn. We wanted to create a sophisticated, yet easy-going vibe, and a go-to destination for an array of events, whether it be for celebration, a first-date, or just a drink after work.

AM: Who is the owner of Bohemien Bar and tell us about their background and why they wanted to create this space?

TD: Bohemien Bar is the most recent passion project from Husband-and-Wife team, Tarek Debira, (formerly at Hotel Costes in Paris and Nobu Los Angeles) and Patricia Ageheim, (formerly at Standard Grill and Indochine), who have an extensive resumé in the fine dining and the hospitality world. The pair also own one of Brooklyn Heights' most celebrated speakeasies Le Boudoir and beloved French bistro Chez Moi. Their passion and attention to detail come to life at Bohemien Bar, where they combine a high-fidelity listening experience with meticulously crafted cocktails and a chef-curated menu.

AM: Tell us about Perry Brandston and other projects, his background and how he came to Bohemien Bar?

TD: For the last few years, Pete has been hosting DIY audio meetups in Brooklyn for folks who like to build their own audio gear, and that's where Pete met Perry. Perry was describing a pair of line arrays he designed and built, and a few months later Pete hosted one of his meetups at Perry's space to give them a listen. Later on, a friend connected Pete and Tarek, Pete suggested a version of Perry's arrays for the bar, and the rest is history.

Perry has been in live sound and more creative sound implementations for the last 40+ years. He worked very closely back in the day with some of the pioneers of club sound. His designs come from a place of trying to recreate an authentic ecstatic experience - it has to sound great, but he's not chasing after the same audiophile nonsense others chase after. His last project was Oda - a small pair of compact flat-panel speakers that recreate the sound and feel of a live performance.)

AM: Pete Raho is the owner of Gowanus Audio. Can you tell us about his background and how he came to Bohemien Bar?

TD: Pete started Gowanus Audio to focus on classes for folks to build their own audio gear and build custom audio and speaker projects - pieces that sound incredible, made by hand, and look as good as they sound. When Pete and Tarek connected thru a friend, it was a natural fit to partner with Perry on this. We wanted to create something that sounded incredible, but that looked the part too - surprise and delight everyone who walks in, visually and aurally.

AM: What is the sound experience that one will have when here and can you tell us about the speakers that are here?

TD: We wanted to create a system that would sound great anywhere in the space - consistent throughout, not too loud or boomy anywhere - and that's easier said than done. We wanted folks to enjoy it, hear the details, and still be able to have a conversation. The opposite of typical "bar sound" where you put speakers in all four corners and call it a day.

To accomplish this, we placed two large Altec Model 17s in the rear - a speaker from the '70s the size of a small refrigerator with a lineage going back to the '40s that still sounds incredible - and then placed a pair of rather visually arresting floor-to-ceiling line arrays at the front. Small custom speaker "pendants" hanging from the ceiling throughout the bar fill in the rest.

The arrays look stunning - entirely custom for Bohemien - and project sound into the room a bit differently than more traditional speakers - all speakers together in the array are acting as one - each quiet on its own, but together they fill the room. Standing next to it, you can still have a conversation - it doesn't sound loud - and hear the music from the other array across the room. It's a really cool effect.

Overall, it "sounds like" the music is coming mainly from the Altecs or line arrays (depending on where seated), but the pendants have a deceptively large role filling in the sound since they're delayed by a few milliseconds (but don't tell anyone!) - your brain doesn't register their output. Nowhere is it too loud, or too is boomy - it just sounds "right" throughout the space.

To find out more about the sound system at Bohemien Bar, you can read more about it at Gowanus Audio.

AM: What is the meaning behind the name, Bohemien Bar?

TD: Bohemianism is the practice of an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people and with few permanent ties. It involves musical, artistic, literary, or spiritual pursuits.

We loved the name and the meaning behind it. Bohemien bar’s concept, décor, food and cocktail list is inspired by free thinkers, artists, musicians, wanderers and adventurers. Each decision in its creation and daily operation is made through that lens.

AM: What kind of music can guests expect when they're at the lounge?

TD: We play all kind of genre depending on the time of the day or day of the week, but some of our favorite for the early part are Psychedelic rock, surf rock bands like Kruangbin, Arc de Soleil, Latin western band like Hermanos Gutiérrez, chillout downtempo and even some of our server Amy Vachal’s songs.

Later in the evening when the bar fills up, we change it up to genres like funk, afro house, Brazilian disco, reggae. We also have DJ’s Fridays and Saturdays.

AM: Tell us about Executive Chef Steven Barrantes background and how he came to the Bar?

TD: Executive Chef Steven Barrantes (formerly Executive Sous Chef at Times Square Edition Hotel and Restaurant Daniel), who has created a menu that matches the sophistication and artistry of the cocktails has worked at Chez Moi back in 2012 with Patricia & Tarek where they became friends and stayed in touch. Steven has always had an amazing palate and is talented that we had to ask him to be involved with Bohemien.

AM: What is the thought behind offering small plates?

TD: We wanted to offer a wide selection of options in a small plate style as that’s our favorite way to eat.

We love trying many things every time we go out and thought it be a great way to go with the cocktails.

AM: What are 3 vegetables that we should order?

TD: The crudités, the crispy zucchini with smoked paprika aioli, and the beet dip with labneh and walnuts. All three selections provide a refreshing flavor, perfect to pair with your cocktails.

AM: Cheese as well as Small Bites are two categories that you offer. What are 3 dishes that you suggest that we should have from this portion of the menu?

TD: Baked Brie with herbs de Provence, Crispy Waffle Fries, and Mac & Cheese Bites with bacon jam.

AM: What are 3 dishes from Land and Sea that you suggest?

TD: Tuna on crisp is a must, Lamb chops with mint yogurt, and Duck flatbread with leeks and smoked gouda.

AM: What are 3 desserts you suggest?

TD: Warm chocolate cake, Crème Brulee cheesecake, and a bowl of candies to snack on.

AM: The cocktail menu which is so playful between the glassware and a number of the names incorporating songs for the cocktails. Tell us 3 drinks that we should consider for our next visit!

TD: Espresso Martini: Vodka, Mr. Black, espresso, bitters, coconut water, coffee smoke

Birdbirdy Num Num: Gin, sugar snap pea, jasmine tea, peach, topped with cava

Depende: White wine, green apple brandy, cardamom, spiced apple cider, pear

AM: In terms of beer and wine, what are 3 that you suggest?

TD: Terra Roza | Muscat of Alexandria Muscat ----- amazing skin contact wine from Greece

La Patience | Vin Blanc Grenache Blanc, Rhone ----- cool organic wine from France

Kölsch | Reissdorf German beer

AM: What are 3 mocktails that we should have on our radar?

TD: Roselle: Ritual Tequila Alternative, bitter orange cordial, lime & hibiscus Ice

Chrysalis: Butterfly pea flower, tea, fresh ginger, lime, seltzer

Piano: Clarified green apple juice, celery, lemon, chamomile, mirin, aquafaba

AM: Are there any special events that we should know about?

TD: Yes, we are having a Christmas pop up during the month of December where we decorate the whole bar with Christmas decoration and offer special cocktails in santa mugs, ginger bread mugs etc…

IG @bohemienbar

PHOTOS COURTESY | Bohemien Bar

Read the NOV ISSUE #95 of Athleisure Mag and see THE ART OF THE SNACK | Bohemien Bar in mag.

IN THE PRESENT | MIA MORETTI

We're excited that this month's issue is covered by DJ/Producer, songwriter, and poet, Mia Moretti. She sits at the intersectionality of music, nightlife, art, design, and fashion. She began her career spinning vinyl in LA before moving here to NYC in the LES. She has amassed a curated record collection that serves as the driving force behind her production. We have spent many nights listening to her play at our favorite clubs and events. Her approach to what she plays is due to her discerning taste, and is a foundation in performing at exclusive events in the halls of the Louvre, residences in Las Vegas, and composing runway shows for fashion designers. As an It Artist, we're always interested in seeing where she will pop up next, and what sounds she'll spin and produce.

Her ability to sample iconic house sounds from the US, while embracing strong women who are known to have something to say from all over the world, can be found in her debut single, You & Me; reworking the infectious South African disco bop Sweet Juju by Letta Mbulu; and collaborating with Colombia’s legendary Totó La Momposina on her highly anticipated debut dance EP, TAMBOR. We wanted to know more about how she fell in love with DJing, how she approaches her work, creating her tracks, and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We last saw you at Bungalow 8 and have enjoyed seeing you at a number of editor and special events. When did you first fall in love with music?

MIA MORETTI: When I was a kid my dad would play the guitar at the dinner table every night – they became my two greatest joys in life, food and music. It must be my way to keep him with me always.

AM: When did you realize that you wanted to be a DJ and how did you get your start initially?

MM: I remember the exact moment. I was at a club in Los Angeles called AD and DJ AM was playing. He wasn't on the dance floor like I had always seen DJs before, he was up in a booth that looked like it was floating over the crowd. He was in complete control of the room. He looked like a composer orchestrating the perfect journey for everyone under him. I wanted to do that.

AM: How do you approach your set list when you're doing an event?

MM: I don’t prepare a set list for an event unless it’s something very specific like a fashion show that I am curating the music for. For most of the shows I do have an idea of what I think I might play, but when I arrive I try to let that go and use my feelings a bit more. I like to see who is there and try to understand what sort of mood they are in. I like to see if they are coming from work, or coming from another party, or if they look like they are ready to stay all night, or just passing through - all these things make my job so different every night. Like life, you can't go around planning it, most of the time you just have to be present in it. That’s when it gets fun.

AM: Do you have any routines that you do prior to playing a set to get in the right frame of mind?

MM: Mmm that's an interesting question I always think I want all my friends with me or a big group around, but the truth is I really just like a few moments of silence so I can pull myself together and do that thing you know “get in the zone” - for me that means I give myself a mental check in. "I'm good, I got this, let's go to work now." It's really important for me to shake whatever day is left over on me and go into the booth clean and clear headed.

AM: Do you have any routines that you do after playing your set to come down?

MM: I love to go out and hear other DJs. I can't go to bed because my ears are ringing, so I may as well go out and absorb some creativity while all the portals are open. Also, pizza.

“For most of the shows I do I have an idea of what I think I might play, but when I arrive I try to let that go and use my feelings a bit more. I like to see who is there and try to understand what sort of mood they are in... Like life, you can’t go around planning it, most of the time you just have to be present in it. That’s when it gets fun.”

— Mia Moretti

AM: Who are your musical inspirations?

MM: Strong females with strong voices. Artists with words they aren't afraid to use. All the women I sample, women that sing and pass down the traditional songs of their communities. Women that share those with us. Totó La Momposina, Petrona Martinez, Letta Mbulu, Crystal Waters. Those are the artists I sampled in the first 4 songs I produced. There are also many female voices in house music that were never credited, I am working on locating some of these lost voices, to make sure they get their credit, if it’s 30 years late.

AM: Where do you get inspiration to create your music as a DJ, producer, and songwriter?

MM: I've been a DJ for 20 years (!!!) I get all my inspiration in music. From collecting records, going to shows, traveling, meeting new people in every city I go, digging, trading, befriending local DJs, it's all there - the songs are already there, my job is 99% to find the right ones - the rest, anyone could do.

AM: We've been enjoying SWEET JUJU. We love the vibes of this song. Can you tell us about it and the vocal samples that were used?

MM: For my second release SWEET JUJU, I wanted to take it back to the origins of house: disco. In South Africa in the mid-80s musicians like Letta Mbulu were putting their own swing on the genre that had swept the globe. Mbulu’s music is funky, jazzy and brings everyone together. As a DJ, I have played Mbulu's record in many sets and always saw the crowd light up, so when I began this producing chapter of my career, I knew Sweet Juju was gonna be something I sampled. I hope this new single is as much an anthem of rhythm, love, joy, and "gettin' your man!" as it was in 1983.

AM: In addition to being a DJ, you're also a poet. Why do you want to share your creativity in this way and can you tell us about your collection of poems, Low Touch Economy?

MM: During the pandemic I found it very difficult to DJ at home. It was probably something I was going through personally, but djing to no audience felt soulless, not feeling and bouncing off of energy in the room made it nearly impossible for me to be creative and have fun with records. I stopped djing entirely for almost a year. I still craved connection to people, so I started writing poetry and sharing it online. I decided to gather all the little notes and pieces of scrap paper that I had random poems on from over the years and compile them into a book. I was listening to a business podcast that must have just shuffled into my rotation and the person speaking used the term

“Low Touch Economy” to describe the future of businesses. At this point, it being mid lockdown, I was pretty fragile like most of us, and I just sat there with that thought in my head horrified. I knew that would be the title of my poetry book because I wanted my poems to be that touch we all need. I ended up writing four volumes of poetry in the end. All four volumes of Low Touch Economy were letter pressed on 100% cotton paper and made here in Los Angeles.

AM: How would you describe your personal style?

MM: I don't take fashion very seriously even though it might seem that way. I don't overthink it, if it feels good when you put it on - go for it. That’s all that matters.

“[As to musical inspirations] Strong females with strong voices. Artists with words they aren’t afraid to use. All the women I sample, women that sing and pass down the traditional songs of their communities. Women that share those with us... There are also many female voices in house music that were never credited, I am working on locating some of these lost voices, to make sure they get their credit, if it’s 30 years late.”

— Mia Moretti

AM: As someone that travels all over the globe, how do you find ways to make your environment feel like you're at home?

MM: Oh that isn't hard, every corner of the world has a bottle of wine. That’s just about all I need to feel at home.

AM: When you're not traveling or working on a project, how do you take time for yourself?

MM: Whenever I get home from a trip I go to the Korean Spa. I steam, sauna and cold plunge - I also love the himalayan sea salt room, it has the same relaxation properties as spending a day at the beach. The jade floor is also so nice. I'm pretty good at pampering myself, I have no qualms about going for a massage two or three days in a row.

AM: In terms of working out, meditation, etc how do you stay in shape?

MM: I have no self discipline and will only work out if I go to a personal trainer, so I go to my trainer Armando in Glendale. He stretches me out and massages me for the first half of the session, which is the only way he can get me to do anything. In general I prefer to exercise in my day to day life, I walk whenever possible, take the stairs instead of the elevator, carry shit all the time and just try to move around a bit. Dancing counts, too.

AM: If we were at your home for a dinner party, what music would you have to set the mood and what would you serve as we know you enjoy cooking?

MM: I have a beautiful Thorens turntable that I rarely get to enjoy, mostly because I'm too lazy or tired to get up and flip a record when I'm home alone, so when I have guests over, I always put something from my vinyl collection on, or I'll have a guest choose. I did quite a dig when I was recording in Colombia, so there is a beautiful Bullerengue selection that sets a perfect tone for a dinner party. I love to go to the Armenian market in Valley Village and get homemade lavash and spreads, if I'm having friends over it's usually 2 or 3, then 5 or 6, then 10 to 12, so I'll roast a big pan of vegetables, maybe grill some fish and put out loads of bowls with all the side dishes.

AM: What do you want your legacy to be?

MM: I want someone to dance to my music, feel the earth under their feet and remember where they came from.

IG @miamoretti

PHOTO CREDITS | Andrew Arthur

Read the SEP ISSUE #43 of Athleisure Mag and see IN THE PRESENT | Mia Moretti in mag.

TAKING THE STAGE | TIMMY TRUMPET

We've had the pleasure of hearing EDM DJ/Producer Timmy Trumpet play and love how he brings his passion for EDM and the trumpet together for an electrifying show! Since he recently performed here in NY at Electric Zoo over Labor Day Weekend, we wanted to find out more about his passion for music, how he connected with his unique style, his creative process, and his busy schedule this summer which includes his residencies as well as the festivals he's appeared at this season.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you first fall in love with music?

TIMMY TRUMPET: I can’t remember not ever being in love with it. My father taught me to play the trumpet when I was old enough to hold it. His father taught him. I’ve been blessed to have music be the soundtrack of my entire life and I owe it all to them.

AM: We enjoy jazz and love listening to Chet Baker, Thelonious Monk, and Gerry Mulligan to name a few. Our co-founder's great uncle was the late tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson which we listen to as well.

You began your career in jazz and are classically trained. You're known for blending jazz elements into dance music. Where did you get the idea to incorporate the trumpet into EDM as well as being a DJ?

TT: I was practicing in my room one afternoon as a teenager and Daft Punk came on the radio. I started jamming along to it and thought this sounds pretty cool. I started experimenting with electronic music from that day and learning about the genre by starting to listen to other artists. The rest as they say is history.

AM: How do you define the Timmy Trumpet sound?

TT: To me it’s such a powerful, unpredictable, and energetic instrument that cuts through, and I think that’s why it works so well with electronic music. It’s an undeniably live element that is raw and imperfectly perfect, like all good Jazz.

AM: When you're creating new music, how do you approach the creation process as you're integrating a number of elements together.

TT: I start from a place of what not to expect and then pull it back into a place where it makes sense and pleases the senses. I feel like that’s the goal for every great producer. To create something that no one has heard before. It’s much harder than it sounds, the constant struggle to push a sound forward in a new direction. We are all borrowing ideas, influences embedded into our subconscious.

AM: How do you get inspired when creating new music?

TT: I think we’re all inspired by everything that’s around us. Everywhere I’m looking, everywhere I’m walking, everything I’m feeling, everything around us is constantly inspiring me. I’m inspired by the artists I get to work with. I’m inspired by the artists making the best music today. I’m also inspired by artists that made music 100s of years ago. We’re all just borrowing ideas to make our own and move in a new direction. To me it’s all music. Life is music and life is beautiful. I just hope that I’m making music that people love and can share with the ones they love as well.

AM: You have worked with a number of our favorite artists from Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, KSHMR, Steve Aoki, Dr. Phunk, Armin van Buuren, INNA, and Afrojack to name a few. What do you look for when you're collaborating with other artists?

TT: I love collaborating with other artists. It’s my favorite thing to do. You’ve both got ideas walking into the studio or bouncing stems and sending them back and forth from the other side of the world. Sometimes we just discuss ideas backstage at a show. You never know what’s going to come out of it. Some of my best friends are heroes of mine that I’ve always wanted to work with and I’m very blessed for the opportunity to work with them.

AM: Who are 3 artists that you have yet to work with that are on your bucket list?

TT: Ooooh that’s too hard to nail down to just 3 artists. Honestly, there are a million people that I’d love to work with, and I feel like I’m just getting started. I’ve got 3 artists I’d like to work with this year, I’ve got 3 I’d love to work with if I could wish for anything on this Earth and there is a hell of a lot of people between them. But I couldn’t name names.

AM: You've had a busy year with a number of singles that you dropped along with some of our favorite artists! Do you have any songs that are coming out that we should be adding to our playlists?

TT: I’m really excited about a record I’ve got coming out soon with Tinie Tempah and an amazing New York native by the name of Enisa. She’s an incredible vocalist who I only recently got introduced to. I absolutely love her voice. The 3 of us got to perform it together for the first time on the Tomorrowland Main Stage this year and I can’t wait for that one to drop. You’ll have to keep your eyes peeled for that.

AM: You've had a busy summer with your Ibiza residency, Ultra Europe, Tomorrowland and a number of performances globally. This summer you played Lollapalooza which has been on your bucket list for awhile! How was it to hit that stage?

TT: Lollapalooza was absolutely MENTAL! It has been on my bucket list for over a decade. Literally over a decade. I’ve been coming to America to play shows for about 10 or 12 years now. I started at the bottom, but Lollapalooza has always been up on the wall as the target. To be up on that stage was unreal. It was honestly one of the best shows this year. I’ll never forget looking out at that crowd and it looked like an endless sea of people. I’ve never seen a crowd go so crazy from the front to the back all jumping in sync like that before. It was a real thrill and one of the most nervous moments I’ve had before a show this year. It was amazing to feel those butterflies eating away at my stomach and playing a stage like that is not something I take for granted.

AM: Labor Day Weekend is always a busy time, why did you want to have Electric Zoo on your touring schedule?

TT: In the last 12 months New York has become my second home. The love I have for this city and the love it has shown me has been such a rewarding experience. Ever since NY Mets' Edwin Diaz chose to play my track Narco and New York welcomed me and my music and that song in particular into their arms, it’s become a really special place for me. I love everything about New York. So many people from so many walks of life - everyone’s exciting, everyone’s different. I love how it’s got a bit of everything. I love how it’s a city that never sleeps. Every time I come to New York I stay in Times Square because I love seeing all the craziness. Electric Zoo is just part of all of that. So, to bring it home and play a set there after the crazy year I’ve shared with that city is just unreal.

AM: Do you have any routines that you do prior to your performances that help you get ready?

TT: A few pushups, a couple shots of tequila and a quick speech with the team. I owe everything to those guys. They get me up on stage every single weekend. Once we roll out of that tunnel and get to the stage, it’s time to go.

AM: When you've finished performing how do you come down from all of the energy that was on stage?
TT: I’ve no idea how many calories I must burn up on the stage, but I always make sure I leave it all up there. Coming off that stage, most of the time I’m just catching my breath. It usually takes me about five minutes to get my heart rate back down. Then I usually spend about 10 minutes rehydrating. I probably drink 4 or 5 bottles of water as soon as I get of the stage. Once I’ve got over that, the team and I look back over the set and what went right or what we can improve on. We squeeze in a celebratory drink, but if it’s an early flight the next day, then it’s straight back to the hotel.

AM: As someone who is busy and on the go, what are 3 fitness routines that you do to stay in shape?!

TT: My trainer back home in Australia is right into calisthenics so it’s something that I’ve started getting into. The bodyweight exercises are awesome and something I can implement from wherever I am on the road. Especially if the gym in the hotel isn’t great. So, I’m enjoying that and being on stage in the summertime is a workout in itself. Sometimes I play four or five shows in a weekend and it is crazy up there, so it helps running around like a lunatic.

AM: As a musician, DJ, producer, and songwriter, what do you want your legacy to be in dance music?

TT: I want to know that I gave it my best. That I did everything I could to make sure people had the best experience possible at my shows. For one hour at a time I just want people to leave the world behind and rage with me, and the people that are most important to them…their friends. Their memories are more important than mine and if I can be a tiny part of that, then what an honor.

IG @timmytrumpet

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 36 - PG 41 Andrew Rauner | PG 42 + PG 46 Timmy Trumpet | PG 45 + PG 47 Tomorrowland |

Read the SEP ISSUE #93 of Athleisure Mag and see TAKING THE STAGE | Timmy Trumpet in mag.

SOUNDS HIT YOUR SOUL | HONEYLUV

We caught up with EDM DJ, HoneyLuv who has been on the go for the past few months playing around the world! She has played alongside major artists including Chris Lake, Idris Elba, and Nicole Moudaber to name a few, and has been at a number of clubs and festivals sharing her sound and passion! We wanted to find out more about how she got into the industry, what she enjoys playing, her inspiration and what she has coming up!

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you first fall in love with music?

HONEYLUV: From the earliest moment in my life from what I can remember; the day I was riding in my dad's purple mustang while he was playing Tony! Toni! Tone! It Never Rains I’m not sure why that exact moment stays in my mind, but I like to think it was because of that song.

AM: What do you love about dance music and why do you gravitate towards it?

H: I love dance music because it’s an open book. The music comes in so many colors, shapes and sizes, there is no ceiling when it comes to the music. I also love the fact that people come together on the dance floor to appreciate the art, whether it’s a happy story or a sad one, it’s all embraced and accepted. I believe I gravitated towards it because of my love for the music but also because it felt like home for me.

AM: Before you focused on music full time, you served in the navy. What are things you learned from your service that you have carried into your career as an artist?

H: Well I have always been a person that made a plan and executed what I had set out to accomplish and I feel being in the service just made me more disciplined and organized.

AM: When did you realize that you wanted to be a DJ?

H: I didn’t want to, my friends had forced me because they saw something in me that I didn’t and I’m happy they did. Once I saw how much I enjoyed it, i think that’s when it clicked that DJing was for me.

AM: What's your creative process like when you're creating music and what do you start with?

H: I have to have the inspiration for me to get into the studio and create. Which sometimes takes awhile to find that but when I do it’s game time. I usually start with a kick some drums and go from there.

AM: As a house DJ, where do you get your inspiration from?

H: Lately, I’ve been getting my inspiration from traveling, seeing the world and hearing all the different types of variations of house music that are out there; it has really sparked the fire inside me.

AM: When you're in the midst of crate-digging, what are you looking for?

H: I’m not looking for anything in particular, with digging you don’t know what you want. I know for myself, I am just exploring to see what sounds hit my soul in that process.

AM: You have performed at a number of clubs and festivals over the last few months from Coachella, EDC Vegas, Ushuaïa, Hï, Space Miami and more. What is it about getting in front of the crowd and being able to share your passion with them that you love?

H: I love that for those few hours I get to share a piece of my life with them. Music to me is life. I know a lot of people do it for that big check but I really appreciate the music, I appreciate the history, that people seem to forget and I’m more than happy to always remind them on that dance floor where this music comes from and feed their souls in the process. People love it and they just want to have a good time.

AM: You've played alongside Idris Elba, Chris Lake, Nicole Moudaber, and The Martinez Brothers to name a few. What does it mean to you to be able to perform with these artists?

H: It’s an honor to say the least. Truly blessed to be in the shoes that I’m in.

AM: What shows do you have on your schedule for this year that you're excited about?

H: I’m excited about all my shows especially the ones in Europe.

AM: What's your routine like when you're about to perform? Are there things that you do leading up to the show?

H: No routine really. Just chill vibes. Do some last minute crate digging and come into the show with an open mind.

AM: What do you do once you've finished your set as I'm sure there's still a lot energy there!

H: I will go say Hi and thank the people who came out to see me, take a few pictures, chat about life and after that go to my bed lol!

AM: Are there any projects or new music that we should keep an eye out for that you can share?

H: Yes, tons of new music is brewing; I have my own party 4 Tha Luv making its debut soon. Just have to keep your ears to the streets so you don’t miss anything.

IG @honeyluv

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | PG 134 HoneyLuv | PG 136 - 137 Tomorrowland |

Read the SEP ISSUE #93 of Athleisure Mag and see SOUNDS HIT YOUR SOUL | HoneyLuv in mag.

DROPPING BANGERS | JOEL CORRY

We're always looking for the right vibes for music that will let us navigate our day from commuting, workflow, and nights out! This month, our cover is 5X platinum UK records, 5X BRIT Awards nominee, Joel Corry who has residencies at Ibiza Rocks, TAO Group Hospitality (Hakkasan, Marquee) and who has performed in an array of festivals from Creamfields, Ultra, Tomorrowland, EDC Las Vegas, and Lollapalooza to name a few. His remixes have been part of our playlists and have included collaborations with Saweetie, Charlie XCX, David Guetta, and Bryson Tiller as just a few of the highlights. His remixes have transformed tracks by Megan Thee Stallion, Ed Sheeran, Elton John, and Nina Simone. When it's about good vibes with beats that make you want to stay on the dance floor banger after banger, Joel always has something up his sleeve!

We caught up with him hours before the release of his latest single, Drinkin' with MK and Rita Ora which already has been on repeat for the past few days! This single as well as yet to be released and some of his epic records will be on the upcoming album, Another Friday Night which drips on Oct 6th. We wanted to know more about Joel from his passion for music, how raving in London grew to him collaborarting with artists and creating his music, and what he has coming up as he continues to make his mark.

We also wanted to know more about his approach to creating his music, working with his favorite artists, and more. We also wanted to find out about his time as a professional body builder, winning a number of competitions, and how he navigates his life while he's constantly on the go going from one city to the next.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you first fall in love with music?

JOEL CORRY: When I was a young boy that was 12 or 13, that’s when I got my first pair of turntables. My older brother was a DJ actually, he’s 3 years older than me so when I was growing up, the music that everyone was playing was garage music back in London. It was all part of the DJing and MCing scene so my brother, he was like an MC and his mates would come over and do DJing and I was like, I just wanted to be cool like my older brother basically. So I said, “mom, get me some decks, I want to do some garage music. I want to be a DJ as well!”

That’s how I started and then I got my decks and I would go into the record shop every weekend and find vinyls. It just became a hobby growing up and then eventually, I started DJing people’s parties and it developed from there!

AM: So, when did you realize that you wanted to do it professionally?

JC: So it was kind of like a slow progress over the years. So I was DJing in my bedroom, and then I started DJing at people’s birthday parties, weddings, and like even DJing at my mom’s friend’s, birthday parties – just wherever! I was sort of the DJ at school and then when I was 17/18, I started playing the nightclubs. You know, at one point in my early 20’s, I was doing 5 residencies a week around London so I was really busy around the circuit and then it was like, “right, I’m doing that thing that I love to do, I’m making money from it, how can I take it to the next level?” That’s what I started to focus on music production and started to release my own music and that’s how eventually – I mean it took awhile so fast forward another 10 years when I got my first hit record, that’s when it really took off to another level.

AM: How do you define your sound?

JC: My sound has changed over the years to be honest with you. It’s kind of been like a progression as I have been through the journey of my love of dance music. But I would say that the sound that people know me from for my productions from my first hit records would be commercial piano house, feel good vibes – you know, my records, I think that they have really defined my career so far, tracks like Head & Heart, BED, Lonely, Sorry – they’re all kind of piano house. Just really uplifting, feel good vibe records that have sort of connected with people, tracks that you want to hear on the dance floor and also tracks that sort of hit you in the feels as well. It’s that nice balance that are records that you want to dance to and also those that you want to put in your car when you’re driving alone and to have an emotional connection with.

AM: I love listening to it when I’m spinning.

JC: A lot of people actually use my records and my tracks for gym playlists. I get that all the time, but I love that, because I’m really into my gym stuff as well! So I’m glad that my tunes are helping people like get those extra reps or cycle those extra miles.

AM: What is your process in terms of when you’re creating music? Are there certain things that you focus on first?

JC: I’d say that there are 2 different ways that the creative process works. The 1st way would be that I’m in my studio and we have a songwriter or an artist come in for the day, we’ll just start with some basic chords going, some loops going, and I’ll just be vibing with the artists or the songwriter and a kind of an idea will come out of nothing. You’re kind of really starting from scratch and I love working that way, it’s so much fun!

Another way things happen is that I get sent a lot of music, so I get sent acappellas or song ideas or demos and if there is something that I hear in it that I really like, then I will take that and develop it myself. So then, I already have a starting point there. So there are 2 different ways really – and I love being in the studio though and sort of being there from the birth of an idea which is always great!

AM: Where do you get your inspiration from?

JC: I feel like I get my inspiration from the dance floor because I’m DJing so much. I’m always on tour and I’m always playing in front of crowds and I guess, taking crowds from a journey, trying to create those moments on a dance floor. So when it comes to my own music, I’m trying to make those records that people are going to dance to and have a great time to, you know? Being a DJ, it’s kind of staying ahead of the game of the trends that are going to work on the dance floor and kind of being on the pulse of those sort of things.

AM: Well, your remixes have included a number of amazing people from Tïesto, Charlie XCX, Elton John, Saweetie – how do you work on that when you’re working with material that already exists that you have the opportunity to present it in another way?

JC: As a DJ, I guess I have been remixing things since I was a teenager. I just use to make edits and mash ups and stuff like that. Crazy mad edits for my sets and remixing and creating my own versions of records is just an important part of DJing and it’s something that I have always done. It’s a way of me putting my own spin on something. So when I play it in my own sets, it’s right for my sound and how I envision that record and I love remixing! So, when I get asked to do a big remix with a big artist like Ed Sheeran, Tïesto – you know it’s such a pleasure to do those things. I’ll listen to the original record and I’ll just think, “what can I add to this to make it different and also to make it fit in with my sound?” Yeah, it just kind of naturally happens when I just hear something, I just kind of get that vision for it straight away and I go from there!

AM: Do you have artists on your bucket list that you would like to work with or do their remixes that you have yet to do?

JC: Well I just mentioned 2 and every time I get asked this question, I always say Ed Sheeran would be my dream collaboration because I am a huge fan of his. He did Bad Habits last year, which is kind of a dance record which I remixed, but I still don’t think that Ed has done a full on dance banger yet. I would love to do that with him! Ed Sheeran would definitely be someone that I would love to work with in the future as a dream! He’s the biggest pop star in the world! You just mentioned Tïesto, I have remixed with Tïesto, but I haven’t collaborated with him yet. But we’re really good friends and I actually played with him in Ibiza last week and I supported him in Ushuaïa and we have already talked about doing a record together so it’s just the timing that needs to be right and the record needs to be right. But I'm sure that that will happen in the future. He's a great guy and a great inspiration to me!

AM: I love his music and remember the first time I saw him was back in 2007 here in NY at the Limelight – he was amazing!

JC: Of yeah, he’s a G man!

AM: Absolutely!

You have your debut album coming out Another Friday Night, dropping Oct 6th. I love OUT OUT, 0800 Heaven, Head & Heart. Tell us about this album and what are you excited about it?

JC: The album is literally what I have been building towards for the last 4 or 5 years of my life. The album is going to have all of the records that you just mentioned on there, all of the hits from over the years, plus my new music like 0800 Heaven that you mentioned and my new single that comes out in a few hours (Aug 25th), Drinkin’ with Rita Ora and MK. It’s also got another 3 new tracks that are on there as well that will come out when the album comes out. So yeah, it’s going to have all the hits that people love, plus my new music, and I’m just really proud of this body of work that’s kind of been my life for the last 5 years. Coming together in one playlist of bangers!

AM: It’s amazing. Like you said, Drinkin’ is out in a few hours with you, Rita Ora and also MK, how did this come about? You performed it live last week in Ibiza at Ibiza Rocks. It’s such a fun song, I’ve played it at least 20 times today!

“I feel like I get my inspiration from the dance floor because I’m DJing so much. I’m always on tour and I’m always playing in front of crowds and I guess taking crowds from a journey, trying to create those moments on a dance floor. So when it comes to my own music, I’m trying to make those records that people are going to dance to and have a great time to, you know? Being a DJ, it’s king of staying ahead of the game of the trends that are going to work on the dance floor and kind of being on the pulse of those sort of things.”

— Joel Corry

JC: Aww thank you, thank you! Drinkin’ actually samples a Chance the Rapper record called All Night which is a banger! I started on this record about a year ago. When I flipped the sample and put that chorus over a house beat, it just sounded so sick for the pianos behind it and I was like, “oh my God, this just really works!”

At that point, it was very much a demo and we wrote like the verses and the pre chorus for it and kind of made this really cool sounding demo.

Me and MK had been chatting about doing a record together for ages and I’m a big fan of MK of course you know, he’s a legend in the game. I was like, “this tune sounds like an MK track.” So I sent it to him and I was like, "bro, what do you think of this?" He hit me back he said he loved it! He loved the sample, he loved the vibe of it, and I sent him my parts that I had done so far and then he did his work on it and then sent it back to me. What he added to it was sick and I was like, “yeah, this is kind of what I envisioned!” Then I was like, “right, now I need to get a vocalist on it.”

When I listened to the track, it just felt like a Rita Ora banger and me and Rita have been chatting for years actually. We had been mates and had worked together on other bits that didn’t quite materialize, but we both really wanted to do a track together. So I texted her and I said, “Rita, I think that I’ve got the one!” I sent it to her and straight away she said, “that’s me, I love it – let’s do it!” At the time, I remember when I texted her, I think that she was in India and then she had to fly to NY and she was like, “I’m going to fit in a day to get this recorded.” Then she ended up flying to London and she got into the studio Sun day afternoon and got the whole thing done. You know what? Fair play to Rita - I respect her so much. Her when you mentioned that we performed in Ibiza Rocks last week, she was on holiday and she took the whole day out of her holiday to do that with me. I love her for that and I’m so excited to be doing this record with her and MK. It’s a great feeling!

AM: That’s amazing!

Clearly, you’ve had a busy summer! All of your performances – you were just here in NY headlining at the Brooklyn Mirage which is awesome. What are some of your favorite cities to do your performances in?

JC: NY is definitely up there! I love NY, NY has always been a great spot for me over the last 3 years. I remember that my first headline show in Webster Hall sold out, then I did the Great Hall last year, I did Brooklyn Mirage this year. So every year, I have sort of stepped it up. The NY crowd always comes out for me. I absolutely love it.

I love Miami, Miami is such a good vibe. I feel that if I lived in America, that’s where I would choose to live. It’s just a bit of me. I love the outdoors, the sort of gym lifestyle as well, the good weather, and the clubs and the vibe. Dance music is just thriving in Miami.

Of course, I have to shout out Ibiza, where I am right now! This is like my second home, it’s a magical island and this place is just different man. It’s just something is special in the air here and I pray that I have a residency here in Ibiza when I’m past 80 years old!

So yeah, Ibiza, Miami, and NY. I love Australia – Australia is always a good time when I go out there on tour in Sydney and Melbourne. Last year, I did Japan for NYE in Tokyo which was a really good experience. So there’s a few good spots that I love.

AM: Next month you’re headlining at London’s iconic Ministry of Sound. How excited are you for this show?

JC: Yeah I’m so excited! I mean, obviously, I’m from London – that’s my home city. I haven’t had a headline show in London in over 2 years. The last one was Printworks back in 2021. It’s a big deal for me! Headlining a show in my own city and then in an iconic club like Ministry of Sound – this is a legendary club. I used to go there as a raver when I was 18 and I remember going to the Defected Records Raves there. So going back there and headlining my own show is so special. It’s also the week before my album comes out so a lot of friends are going to come, family, a lot of people from my label, and people from my label, and people that have worked on my projects over the last few years. I have invited everybody so it’s not just a headline show, I feel like it’s a celebration as well so I’m really excited!

AM: Do you have a set of routines that you do before you perform? Things that you just have to do to get into that mindset?

JC: What I like to do is like, in the hours building up to the show, I always like to have a bit of peace with my laptop, look over my set, listen to music that I am going to be playing in the set and to have a think about what the crowd might be like, how I think that the set is going to go and to just get into that mindset of mental preparation for the set. To get that clarity in my head, I need to be on my own for that and just with my music. When I feel like I’m prepared and I have my USBs loaded up, I get fresh – have a shower, do my hair, put on a twin set -

AM: King Twin Set!

JC: Haha you know that already! They call me the Twin Set King! I get to the show and maybe have a little bit of tequila and then I’m ready to go!

AM: Once the show is over, do you do anything to come down from all of that energy?

JC: I always like having a bubble bath watching some YouTube and maybe a bit of Gordon Ramsay or something – ha! It’s a bit weird I know! But I just feel like, after a show when you need to be able to go to bed, it’s kind of hard to switch off sometimes so you have to do just really normal things. Whether that's having a bath or putting something on on YouTube to just try to separate your mind from all of the madness that just happened and to get back to a normal level again!

AM: Absolutely!

Once again, you have so much going on that is so amazing to see. From the residencies in Ibiza, Tao Hospitality, what are some big upcoming projects besides the album coming out and obviously the Ministry of Sound that we should keep an eye out for?

JC: I guess aside from that, it would just be my touring. I’m back in America quite a lot between now and the end of the year. I’m also about to announce a big tour in Australia. I haven’t been to Australia since the start of 2021. So it’s going to be great to go back down under and also I have some more Asia dates coming up. I mean, I played in Tokyo for NYE, but that’s the only day that I have ever done in Asia so I’m going back to Tokyo and adding a few more in there as well. So between now and the end of the year, it’s like non-stop touring, we have the album coming out, it’s just going to be go go go go go and then I think in Jan, I might have a little week off – ha!

AM: Obviously at Athleisure Mag, we love fitness and you’re like a fitness king as well as you were a body builder before. How did you get into that and why did you want to do that?

JC: So going back to when I was a teenager, I was telling you about when I got my decks and I was DJing in my bedroom, I was also going to the gym a lot. They were my 2 hobbies. If I wasn’t on my decks tearing the house down with my mom screaming to turn the music off, I was down at the gym on the bench press lifting weights trying to get a 6-pack.

I just think that the gym became a hobby and I used to play football a lot. But then I started going to the gym and that became how my sort of love for fitness grew! It just slowly became more and more and more, when I started to see the results from training and I was becoming 18/19 years old, I really started seeing the results coming through, I just got hooked on it. I kind of I guess got obsessed with it as well. But I took it to another level. I wondered how I could take this thing that I loved and go a step further and it was like, I want to go on stage and compete. It was just something inside me saying that this was a box that I wanted to be able to tick off. I wanted to see how far I could push this thing that I loved doing. So in my early 20’s I was competing in male physique competitions. I did that for about 3 years and I did really well in them. I won quite a few of them. I won the Miami Pro, I won the Pure Elite Competition, I got a Pro Card in WBFF so I was really doing it seriously and getting into crazy condition for those shows. It got to a point where I was like, the music is going to be my career so I kind of had to put that competing on the back burner to really focus on the music. Because the thing with the body building and the competitions is that you have to be 100% all in and it’s so much commitment, dedication, and focus to do those competitions, that I didn’t have the capacity to then focus as much on the music. I had to make a decision where I said, “the music is my future, that’s my dream, that’s what I really want to do. I love to do the fitness thing, but I need to reign it in a bit,” and to enjoy it as a hobby and to focus on the music. I also felt like that I had completed what I wanted to do in fitness. I had won the competitions, I had done the cover of Muscle & Fitness Magazine, and I just thought that this is it now. I had done that and now let's focus back on music. But, it still remains a big part of my life. I still go to the gym everyday and it's more so the mental benefit now and the physical just helps me keep on point and keeps me feeling good while I’m touring.

“[After a show] “I always like having a bubble bath watching some YouTube and maybe a bit of Gordon Ramsay or something - ha! It’s a bit weird I know! But I just feel like, after a show when you need to be able to go to bed, it’s kind of hard to switch off...”

— Joel Corry

AM: What are 3 workouts for your abs that we should think about putting into our routines?

JC: So my favorite ab exercise is the hanging leg raise where you kind of hang up on a bar and you just lift your legs up and down. It’s the hardest one, but it’s definitely the best one. You can also kind of add a variation there by twisting your legs and really sort of hitting the obliques. So that has always been my favorite ab exercise. Also doing – you know when you have a bench and you lie down flat on it and then you put the dumbbell between your legs and you raise your legs up and down? I find that that one really hits your sort of lower abs because that’s always the hardest bit to get that bottom bit! That definitely targets that! What else do I do for my abs that I think is really good? Obviously, you’ve got your sit-ups and sort of decline crunches that you can mix that up by using a ball so you can come up further and then to be able to come down. So those are probably my top 3 ab workouts.

But you know what I would say is that definitely, to sort of get your abs to really start popping, it’s true what they say about abs being made in the kitchen – because they are! You can do all of the exercises that you want, but you have to get the diet on lock if you want to get the 6-pack.

AM: We mentioned before that you’re the Twin Set King, where does that come from that you love twin sets?

JC: I know, it’s an addiction – a twin set addiction! I love them! It’s easy! I mean, for boys, we sometimes don’t know what to wear! So if you get a twin set, you’ve got the bottom bit and the top bit! It matches and then it’s job done and you put a pair of trainers on and you know, when I’m touring around in the summer, it’s so hot a lot of the places that I go to. You can’t really wear trousers because it’s so hot so you need to wear a pair of shorts and if you have the top that matches, it's easy! It's become my thing as well isn't it?

AM: Oh yeah, when I was scrolling through your IG, I thought, “this man loves some twin sets.”

You do travel so much, what are 3 things that you always travel with?

JC: My Dyson hair dryer, so good!

AM: Love it!

JC: Obviously my headphones and my USB sticks – very, very important as a DJ and one other thing that I travel around with is a neck pillow! It’s an essential for the flights! Especially the sort of short flights where you’re sitting kind of like this for 3 hours – this is needed!

AM: How do you take time for yourself? Being so busy, how do you make sure that you get the reset that you need?

JC: Do you know what? That’s probably something that I need to work more on. There’s not really a lot of time to myself, but I think that with what I do, I’m kind of 100% all in on it. It’s my hobby, it’s my passion, and there’s not any work separation where it’s like, ok work is over for the day, I’m going to over and chill out. It never stops, it's around the clock, there's always something to do and I just feel like that in this industry, with what I want to do and where I want to get to, I really believe that what I put into it is what I am going to get out of it. I’ve learned that over the years. I’m always scared of taking my foot up off of the gas. I just feel like everyday that I need to be as productive as possible and keep going. I actually feel guilty inside if I have time off. I always feel like I should be working to try to get to that next step. So that’s probably something that I need to work on. My mom is always like, “Joel, you need to take holiday, you need to take a day off.” But I find that hard. I think that when you find something that you love to do, it’s not work, it’s just life! I enjoy it!

“I know, it’s an addiction - a twin set addiction! I love them! It’s easy! I mean, for boys, we sometimes don’t know what to wear! So if you get a twin set, you’ve got the bottom bit and the top bit! It matches and then it’s job done and you put a pair of trainers on ... It’s become my thing as well isn’t it?”

— Joel Corry

AM: What do you want your legacy to be in this industry?

JC: Oh, that’s a big question man! I guess I want to be able to look back and to be honest, I have already been able to achieve my dreams of having hit records, touring the world, and I just want to be able to keep it going and to take it as far as I can and I guess when I look back over the years, I want to be able to have these big moments with these big records records that really connected with people and made a difference in people’s lives.

There are certain records that I have released over the years and I get messages still to this day, like, this record meant so much to me, it came out at a time when I needed it, and I connected with it. When I read these messages, forget about chart positions or like statistics, to know that like the music that I worked on is connected to people and brought happiness to them means so much to me. I want to keep doing that for years and years and years! Then I can look back on all of these records that had special moments. I want to tour the world and I already am, but there are certain places that I have never been. I’ve never been to South America before, there’s so many places as well just starting to really being able to go into Asia, there’s still places in America that I haven’t been able to be in and states that I haven’t played in. I guess I want to be able to look back and be like, I toured the world, played at some of the biggest festivals, had these huge moments in front of massive crowds, played all of these records that I put my heart and soul into working on – I guess that kind of is the legacy isn’t it? It’s having that big career! When I think of some of my idols like Calvin Harris, David Guetta, and Tïesto – like we mentioned, when you look at their careers, it’s just years and years and years of doing it and big records and big moments and that’s just what I want!

“Oh that’s a big question man! I guess I want to be able to look back and to be honest, I have already been able to achieve my dreams of having hit records, touring the world, and I just want to be able to keep it going and to take it as far as I can ... have these big moments with these big records that really connected with people and make a difference in people’s lives.

I want to be able to look back and be like, I toured the world, played at some of the biggest festivals, had these huge moments in front of massive crowds, played all of these records that I put my heart and soul into working on ... it’s just years and years and years of doing it and big records and big moments and that’s just what I want!”

— Joel Corry

IG @joelcorry

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Front Cover, Back Cover, PG 36, 39 + PG 42 63MIX ROUTIN3S Courtesy of Joel Corry | PG 16, 20 - 35, 40, 63MIX ROUTIN3S PG42 + 9PLAYLIST PG 122 Ibiza Rocks/Gabriel Vazquez | PG 19 USHUAÏA IBIZA |

Read the AUG ISSUE #92 of Athleisure Mag and see DROPPING BANGERS | Joel Corry in mag.

63MIX ROUTIN3S | FERRY CORSTEN

Read the AUG ISSUE #92 of Athleisure Mag and see 63MIX ROUTIN3S | Ferry Corsten in mag.

9PLAYLIST | JOEL CORRY

Read the AUG ISSUE #92 of Athleisure Mag and see 9PLAYLIST | Joel Corry in mag.

CONNECT THIS SUMMER | FERRY CORSTEN

This time of year is always fun as a number of our favorite DJs are all over sharing their music and creations with a number of fans. Whether you see them in person or stream them on your favorite platform, you have the opportunity to experience their sound and what they're working on at that time!

This month, we caught up with Ferry Corsten who shared his 9PLAYLIST with us last year and with so many projects going on and a busy schedule ahead, we wanted to find out more about his artistry as well as what he's been working on. With a career that spans over 2 decades, we wanted to know more about how he got into the industry, what his creative process is, how he decides which alias will embrace his sound and so much more. We also talk about his upcoming album under his name with it's single Connect.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you fall in love with music?

FERRY CORSTEN: This must have been when I was about 9 or 10 years old. My dad installed a car cassette played in my room and that’s when I became fascinated with music.

AM: When did you realize that you wanted to be a DJ/producer?

FC: When I was about 15 years old, I had already learned that you could do all these cool things with cutting and pasting tape and make edits of songs. I also had learned that with 2 turntables and mixing 2 songs together you could create something new. Soon after that I started clubbing and that’s when I met some guys who had a little studio. They asked me to come by one day and from that point on I was hooked on making or producing music. To be honest, I never really wanted to be a DJ but after my first few successes in the UK the opportunity arose for me to play at the biggest clubs and festivals. Obviously, I grabbed it with both hands and I’ve never looked back.

AM: In your career that spans over 2 decades, you have performed under a number of aliases and have had chart-topping success while also embracing an array of genres, how do you decide what project will go under what name or the need to create another name?

FC: My interests in music or electronic music as a whole have a pretty wide range, so I love to go into the studio and keep myself pumped and challenged by not always making the same type of music. This may be easy for me to understand, but not always as easy to follow for my fans. Therefore, I created these aliases so I can keep making different music without confusing my fans. They now know what to expect when they see a new Ferry Corsten track is coming or when a new Gouryella or FERR track is coming. Each project has it’s own distinct sound, one is more techy, deeper, more diverse and the other is either more trancy or more ambient.

AM: How would you define the Ferry Corsten sound?

FC: I’m always on the hunt for a very strong and recognisable melodic hook. That is the main thing. But I also look for opposites. For example, a beautiful melody played with a nasty sound or with a tougher drive underneath. Combining elements from different genres and blending them together is also something you can expect in a Ferry Corsten track.

AM: What's your process when you're creating new music and where do you look for inspiration?

FC: I always go for the melody first. When I have my hook, the rest of the track builds itself around it. I know a lot of other producers who go for the groove first, but for me its melody first.

I get inspired by all kinds of things. Of course, from new synths and sounds when I’m in the studio, but also from other music, from people, places, happy accidents and wherever the universe takes me.

AM: You have collaborated with a number of DJ's including Paul Oakenfold as well as Armin van Buuren - when you're approaching working with other artists, what is that process?

FC: It’s always great to work on something together. The one thing you need for this however, is an open mind. Being set on your idea without the willingness to compromise is not going to work. Usually, it starts by goofing around in the studio and bouncing ideas off of each other until something sticks. If being in the studio together physically is not possible, sending ideas back and forth is also an option, but not quite the same fun.

AM: Tell me about your latest single that you dropped this month, Connect. The futuristic sound of this song has been one that we have enjoyed listening to!

FC: Thank you. I like where music is going at the moment. It’s an amazing blend of techno, trance, and house. All the sounds I personally love to listen to as well.

AM: What is the meaning behind the name Connect for this song?

FC: I am fascinated with what music does to people, how it connects us all, what it does to our mood and its ability to connect one’s creative outburst with the world. It can also instantly turn a bad day into a good one. Everything is strung together and that is what is being reflected in Connect. Connect is also the first single of my next album which will see the light early next year.

AM: Connect is the debut single from your upcoming album, what can you tell us about the album and will you have any other songs that you will be releasing this summer?

FC: It will be an album full of tracks blending the above mentioned genres of music emphasising the togetherness music brings to us all. Over the next month’s various singles will be released leading up to the final release of the album. Towards the end of the year, you can also expect a new tour in light of this upcoming album release.

AM: With the summer officially starting in a few weeks, what festivals will you be part of and where will you tour?

FC: I will be playing most of the big festivals in Europe, North America and Asia. I will also host my first Resonation Radio stage at Dance Valley in The Netherlands this summer.

AM: Tell me about What the F which allows your fans to enjoy your music reimagined, remixed, and with a futuristic approach?

FC: What The F is a must for everyone who has been following my career. It is an open to close set in which I will only play my own music including crazy mashups of my tracks, updated versions, and remixed versions of certain tracks which you can only hear at this show. Obviously, I will play music from my biggest aliases as well. The name What The F stems from the idea of someone being on the dance floor hearing me play a track he or she didn’t know was mine and thinking…’He did this too????……What The F!!!’ …..F for Ferry of course ;-p

AM: You also have your weekly radio show, Resonation Radio! Why did you want to do this and what can fans hear when they tune in?

FC: I have been doing radio since 2007. My first show was called Corsten’s Countdown but after episode 700 this was changed into Resonation Radio. This name change was because of the change in format of the show giving me more freedom to play a larger variety of genres. Expect the best in melodic house, melodic techno, and progressive trance.

AM: You released Connect on your imprint, Flashover Recordings. Tell me about this label and what artists or projects that you're excited about that will be released?

FC: Flashover is a label releasing progressive trance, melodic house, and melodic techno. We also like to tease our audience with a quirky release occasionally. Our current focus is on US based DJ/Producer Dustin Hussain and hot new Ukrainian talent Cubicore.

IG @ferrycorsten

PHOTOS COURTESY| Ferry Corsten

Read the MAY ISSUE #89 of Athleisure Mag and see CONNECT THIS SUMMER | Ferry Corsten in mag.

FEEL THE MUSIC | JOHN NEWMAN

This month, our cover is Tomorrowland artist, EDM DJ/Producer, Singer/Songwriter and Composer, John Newman. Coming off of his recent Tomorrowland Winter performance when he debuted his latest song, Hold On To My Love which has been added to our playlist, we wanted to know more about how he came to the music industry, his sound, how he approaches his projects, his collaborations and of course what we can keep on eye out for as we continue into the Spring and the Summer.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you first fall in love with music?

JOHN NEWMAN: I grew up with music around me as a kid. I was introduced to Motown and soul by my family and once I hit my teens I was obsessed with hard-hitting house and Clubland productions.

AM: When did you realize that you wanted to work in the industry?

JN: I had a pretty tough upbringing to be honest mainly from social issues and fitting in and being totally different to others in the town I grew up in. I didn’t come from money in any way at all either so, yeah, music was my escape, creativity was a way of releasing everything.

AM: You have an amazing background as you are a singer/songwriter, composer, DJ and producer! Musically, where do your inspirations come from and how did you hone your skills for each one?

JN: Thanks! DJing and producing dance music was something that I had spent a lot of time practicing as a teenager, so it was almost like revisiting that younger version of myself and just brushing up on my skills.

Inspiration varies, but I’ve always admired the 90s rave sound, with a touch of soul, which I think came through on Holy Love.

AM: How would you describe the John Newman sound?

JN: My sound is always evolving but, right now, I want creative emotively charged dance bangers. I want people to hear a track and feel a surge of energy and euphoria where they can’t help but move their body.

AM: How do you approach your projects in terms of seeking inspiration for your solo projects?

JN: These days I have a new set up, my at-home studio is tailored to electronic music production and it’s somewhere I can lock myself away to for hours kinda just see what happens. Inspiration can hit anywhere really. I try not to stick to the sitting at a piano vibe, funny fact I wrote Love Me Again and If You Really Love Me both whilst having a shower.

AM: You have collaborated with Calvin Harris, Kygo, David Guetta, Nile Rodgers, and more, how do you approach collaborations?

JN: Each collaboration comes about differently. The link-up with David Guetta and MistaJam on If You Really Love Me (How Will I Know) was particularly crazy as Guetta himself reached out to make the first move for us to work together, I had been a fan of his work since being a little kid! He’d wanted to collaborate on something for a while, so I sent him the early version of the track, he loved it, and the rest is history.

AM: You just performed and released your latest single, Hold On To My Love at Tomorrowland Winter where you DJ and have live vocals. Tell me about this song and what was it like to perform there?

JN: Hold On To My Love came about backstage at Ushuaïa Ibiza. I sang the melody and some lyrics into a voice note on my phone as a rough idea, so to see the track go full circle and perform the final version at Tomorrowland Winter was incredible. It was an unforgettable weekend.

AM: This song was released on Tomorrowland Music and you have already confirmed that you will be at Tomorrowland Brasil later this year on the mainstage. What does this mean to you to be on such a platform?

JN: I’m incredibly grateful to be starting this journey with the Tomorrowland Music team. They have so many talented DJs and producers on the roster so I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

To then also have the opportunity to perform at their world-renowned events is huge.

AM: With the summer around the corner, what other festivals or clubs are you excited to be performing?

JN: This summer is going to be so much fun. In July, I make my Tomorrowland mainstage debut in Belgium alongside the biggest names in dance music which is surreal but very exciting. It’s the holy-grail of festivals so I plan on bringing my absolute A-game to the stage.

AM: We’re based in NY, but will you be performing in the US this year?

JN: You’ll have to stay tuned for that one! I really do love the US and the amazing crowds over there so hopefully I’ll be back soon.

AM: When it comes to touring and being on the road, are there any routines that you do prior to a show when you’re a few hours or moments ahead of hitting the stage?

JN: There is a routine, I don’t eat one and a half hours previous to a show so that I don’t throw up whilst on stage, hah! The next big one is I generally like to chill and stretch and listen to classical music, then get hyped to Limp Bizkit and Rage Against the Machine about 15 minutes before show time.

AM: When you have finished your set, are there any routines that you do to come down from all of the energy and adrenaline from performing?

JN: Hmmm not really, I do struggle with the silence after being full of that adrenaline, usually a beer takes the edge off.

AM: Are there additional projects that you have that we should keep an eye out for?

JN: My focus right now is on really immersing myself in the dance music sphere, continuing to work on new tunes and honing my live hybrid set of DJing and vocals to make it bigger and better with every show.

AM: Are there 3 artists on your bucket list that you are interested in collaborating with that you can share?

JN: Honestly my interest is totally varied, Florence Welch would be amazing, Fred Again, Swedish House Mafia, another Calvin Harris collar, just throwing ideas out there really.

AM: What do you want your legacy to be in the industry?

JN: I guess, as an artist who made music on my own terms. For the pure joy of making people feel good, feel elevated, and be able to escape reality for just a moment. Whether that’s through my tracks, or the energy people absorb at a live show.

AM: When you’re not on stage or in the studio, what do you do to take time for yourself as self-care and mental health is something that we prioritize here at Athleisure Mag?

JN: It’s different for everyone, but I find taking a break from social media to be a big help for mental wellness. We consume so much information, a lot of it pointless, so it’s no wonder it can leave you feeling overwhelmed.
I now work closely with a therapist on a weekly basis which I cannot recommend enough and my main thing is getting in cold water.

Also spending time with my wife and family helps to keep me grounded and makes it all worthwhile.

AM: In terms of working out, what are 3 workouts that you do that we can consider to include in our routines?

JN: Each to their own I guess and I’m not really the picture of the pinnacle of fitness, however, for me personally I like to get out with music in my ears and do whatever I can. Whether that be hiking, running or cycling. I also used to love that Shaun T exercise video, I used to do it before every show!

IG @johnnewmanmusic

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | COVERS Front/Back, INTERVIEW + PG PG 26 9DRIP Tomorrowland

Read the APR ISSUE #88 of Athleisure Mag and see FEEL THE MUSIC | John Newman in mag.

9PLAYLIST | MARTIN JENSEN

Read the FEB ISSUE #86 of Athleisure Mag and see 9PLAYLIST | DJ/Producer Martin Jensen in mag.

DROP THE BEAT | MARTIN JENSEN

With a number of festivals already on our list to attend, it's always good to catch up with DJs that we will see throughout this year. We caught up with DJ/Producer Martin Jensen to find out how he turned his love of music into a career, how his production background assists him when he is in the studio or about to perform, who he has collaborated with and his latest release with Days Like This with Jay Sean.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you first fall in love with music?

MARTIN JENSEN: From a very young age, music was always around me and playing in my home growing up. I never knew what direction I wanted to take – if it was in the industry behind the scenes or even being a DJ or lighting engineer or whatever – was doable. It was only when I first started playing smaller parties that I really got the bug.

AM: In terms of working in the music industry, I know that initially you thought that you would be behind the scenes in terms of lighting engineering and stage design; however, what made you decide that you wanted to DJ?

MJ: That is true! I think it was just a passion for the music, that is something you can’t bottle or capture, only try your best to communicate through your music, whether that be in person at a party or through your productions that people can enjoy. I originally went to go into my fathers family business to work, so taking a step back from that to pursue music as a full-time career felt a little challenging at first but if anything, it made me strive to want to succeed even more as I knew I had the self-belief.

AM: Because of your production background, how involved are you in the design of your show in terms of aesthetics?

MJ: As much as I can be! I always have the final sign off on design, my logos, my press shots, how I want a live show to come across from the concept to the finished product.

AM: How do you describe your sound?

MJ: Feel-good, fun, ready for the party!

AM: What’s your creative process like when you are working on a song?

MJ: It really can vary, inspiration can first come from a melody or even a direction of genre that I want to go in – I might want to go big-room and bombastic one day, or work with a really cool vocalist or writing partner, and take a more house or radio-ready pop route. Its all relative and I let each bit of inspiration, both solo and with collaborators, guide me.

AM: You have collaborated with Nicki Minaj, ALOK, Jason Derulo and more. Do you approach these creative projects differently than those that are solo?

MJ: With Nicki Minaj it was a remix I did, but I have worked directly with ALOK and Jason on our track Don’t Cry For Me. Each project is going to be different, not just in sound but depending on each artists outlook, how we individually want to approach it, so yes. With collaborations its important to have your own signature sound present but for every artist to collaborate in a way that’s effective and brings new ideas to the table.

AM: Days Like This was released with you and Jay Sean. Tell us more about this song and what was it like working together on this with him?

MJ: We really wanted this track to be a feel-good, as we say on it “No one can fuck with me on days like this!”, so we wanted people to feel that essence exactly how we aimed to deliver it. Energetic, confident and unapologetic! It was so much fun to work with Jay, he’s a real veteran in the industry and has worked with so many great artists before so to have him jump on the track with a great collaboration.

AM: Tell us about Me, Myself, Online which was the biggest livestream worldwide as well as a mini documentary.

MJ: It was! It was an idea born out of the pandemic as it was originally meant to be ‘Me, Myself, Live’ where we livestreamed shows around the world but obviously, coronavirus put a stop to that. We decided to bring the shows to people online instead, we streamed on Facebook, Twitch and had some super cool brands involved from amazing locations. Our first edition was from the Telia Parken stadium which is the national stadium in Denmark and we were blown away by the response… so we kept going! It’s definitely something we want to continue on in another direction in the future.

AM: Are you working on songs?

MJ: Yes! I have a brand new single out this February with VAMERO and Gibbs called What A Night, lots more will be revealed soon and I’ll also be announcing more tour dates as we move out of the Winter and into Spring.

AM: You were the first judge that is a DJ to be on X Factor’s Denmark! What is it like to be on this show and to see the talent that hits the stage?

MJ: It was a brilliant experience, to be the first DJ/ producer to ever hold the role of a judge also blew my mind, it was such an honor. When it comes down to it though, it's a really crazy concept when you think about it. The music industry is for sure fast paced and for these young talents to go through such a fast process full or pressure is for sure difficult and I see a lot of those come out stronger, but some don’t. It’s a fine line you really have to balance in ensuring everyone can work together in harmony to do the best they can in their roles. But yeah, it was a crazy time for sure.

AM: Critiques are a major part of success regardless of the industry you work in. When you have your judge hat on, what are you looking for and how do you approach telling people what you liked and didn’t like for each performance?

MJ: Being a judge it is not so much about personal taste, its about breaking down the talent, the attitude, the work ethic and so much more of an act. Sure, one judge mightn’t be a huge rock fan, or another pop, another electronic and so on, but to be able to look at an artist on an elevated level as someone in the industry, helps you to then guide them with exactly what they need – even if that might mean good news or bad news.

AM: We’re looking forward to hitting the festival circuit what are your favorites to play at and where will you be performing this year so that we can keep an eye out?

MJ: I’ll be announcing all my tour dates nearer the time as we still have some finalizing to do but my social media is where you’ll be the first to find out!

AM: Do you have any routines that you do prior to or after a show?

MJ: Its not very “rock n roll” but, no! I like to relax, have a beer, think about what direction I might want to take my sound in during the set (depending on if I’m headlining a club or playing a festival, for example), but its important to also let the crowd guide me too.

AM: As someone who is always on the go and travels a lot for what you do, how do you take time for self-care so that you’re taking time for yourself and getting a bit of a reset?

MJ: I like to play sports, see a chiropractor when I can – 'cos it can be crazy on your body touring all the time! – and mostly just spend time with my friends and family, work on music. Just pretty normal stuff nothing too crazy.

IG @djmartinjensen

PHOTOS COURTESY | Martin Jensen

Read the FEB ISSUE #86 of Athleisure Mag and see DROP THE BEAT | Martin Jensen in mag.

NEW YEAR, N3W YOU

Read the JAN ISSUE #85 of Athleisure Mag and see NEW YEAR, N3W YOU in mag.

OUR MUSIC OUR CULTURE | GREG HARRIS + ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME

Music has immense value, from enjoying the song, melody and instruments used, to the artists, performances and remixes there is a much larger scope in terms of what it means to the social fiber and how in many ways it serves as a mirror of who we are, where we want to be and how we are held accountable. It creates a series of feelings and memories that are enlightened and intertwined.

We had the pleasure of talking with the President and CEO of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Greg Harris. In addition to their noted Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony which honors a class of musicians across rock & roll, they are known for the museum which is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.

We wanted to know more about the museum, how they connect with music enthusiasts around the world and how artists can become eligible for the honor. Greg also shares how he came to this role and how he continues to drive the importance of impact in music.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Before we delve into your work and role at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I’d love to know about your background because I know you were the owner, partner and operator of the Philadelphia Record Exchange. When did you fall in love with music and what was your focus behind opening this retail store?

GREG HARRIS: You know, I grew up, per your readers loving both sports and music! I was fortunate to be raised to play various sports depending on the season with two brothers. On the music side, it just always spoke to me. We always had music in the house and in Philadelphia, the area where I grew up, new music and old music mixed together. So oldies and FM radio were all the same. I got involved a little bit with one of the local public radio stations when I was in high school. Then we had a club near us called City Gardens and it had every live band and we went there as soon as we were old enough to get in! We were there all the time! Then, I went to college in Philadelphia, I went to Temple University and one of my off-campus jobs to help pay for school was the record department of a used bookstore. That’s where the idea came from that the other clerk and I were friends and we realized that the store owner was making a lot more money than we were as the hourly employees!

So we quit and rented out a storefront about a half a block away and we opened our own store. That business has been a great success! I was involved for a couple of years and sold my half to some other people, but my original partner still has it. The Philadelphia Record Exchange has been around for 30 years and it’s an iconic place in the city. Every musician knows it, everybody that is into music when they are in Philly, they find their way to the store and that includes current artists like Kurt Vile and other folks back in the day, like Ahmir Khalib Thompson – Questlove.

I think an important thing to note in terms of looking at my career is that I found out pretty early on that I couldn’t play very well. I could play some guitar, but I was never that great. But I was always better at helping other people market and grow. So the store became that place. We would put concerts on, we’d shut the streets down and do block parties and promotions with artists and other musicians. We just loved helping them succeed and helping our customers find excitement and joy.

AM: It’s so funny, I grew up my dad was a huge record collector and he would slap my hands every time I would try to go to the stereo to play with the records and at my campus at Indiana University, we had 3 record shops near my campus, Tracks was my favorite one. There is something about a record, I love them and when you hear the sound that comes out and the needle hitting the vinyl – it’s an experience. When I read that about you, I thought that’s really cool!

GH: Those stores back then, that was kind of the social network. It's where you met like-minded people that loved the same music or liked similar music. It’s where you learned! You couldn’t Google everything so sometimes the customers taught you and you taught them!

AM: Especially if you were able to come up with crazy imports. I think there’s something about that social fiber when you don’t have that independent local record store. The guy that I would get my music from knew so many things about various artists and had stories to tell and I appreciated it. I don’t remember if they had block parties but it would have been amazing!

GH: I really want to celebrate my original partner, who still has it Jacy Webster and he has given such a gift to Philadelphia music lovers for the last 30+ years, it’s an amazing place!

AM: Another part of your background that’s interesting is I love your focus on curation. To know that you were at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at Cooperstown where you focused on curation was really interesting. Can you tell us about what your role was there, what you did, and why curation was so important?

GH: My first significant museum position was at the National Baseball Hall of Fame. I was originally hired to be there Broadcast Media Archivist. My job was to curate the broadcast collection and that was recordings of All-Star games, World Series games, home movies, radio pieces – all the things where that exciting history of baseball is. In museums, they have to take their collections and tell stories with them. You want to tell the stories where you have impact to your visitors and to make those connections and that’s what we did in Cooperstown. You know, it’s an amazing museum. I started in that area, I was fortunate to be able to curate some exhibits and much like the record store, I got involved in business development and fundraising and things like sponsorship and inductee relations. It really helped to grow the business and as I advanced from the collections side of the house, I got more involved in business development and the growth of the enterprise. I spent 14 terrific years there and it was really hard to leave. It’s a wonderful museum. Anyone that has ever played catch in the backyard or Little League, should go to Cooperstown to experience it.

AM: What do you think is the connective tissue between baseball and music and how were you able to move onto the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame where you’re the President and CEO currently?

GH: They’re 2 great places and they’re both so much part of our culture. People have a deep love for both subjects. They make these pilgrimages to Cooperstown or the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. These music and sports evolve and they are the history of our culture – all the good and all the bad comes through and you can tell these stories. On some fronts, you can talk about exclusion and people not being included and you can tell about opportunity opening up. Sometimes it opens up in sport before it opens up to the wider society. These are really important pieces for all of us to learn from to think about and to grow from. Then on the other part from the business side, these museums operate in a very similar way. They each get hundreds of thousands of visitors a year.

We have inductees that are the best of the best individuals, we have broadcast properties, we have important digital engagement with our visitors, we have retail operations and we are places that kind of mean a lot to a lot of people. So they’re very similar from a business sense and it’s just the subject that’s a little bit different. But they are magical places where people learn about their history, themselves and it helps them to better understand the present.

AM: Well can you tell us about the history of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in terms of who founded it and what it’s mission is? I know a lot of people think about it in terms of the amazing induction ceremony, but there are a lot of things that it does.

GH: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame started close to 40 years ago by a group of music industry professionals – the head of Atlantic Records, Ahmet Ertegun and the head of Rolling Stone Magazine, Jann Wenner and others. They conceived it as a special evening celebration for their industries’ best of the best. After doing that for a short period of time, the idea came up to want to build a museum. A bunch of cities looked at it New York, San Francisco, my hometown of Philadelphia – all made a play for it, but Cleveland really stepped up. Cleveland had a great story about rock & roll being important to the city and being an important place for artists who broke in – including David Bowie’s whose first shows in the US were in Cleveland, Jimi Hendrix when he came back from England – his first shows were there, Rush’s first shows were there. Also a DJ named Alan Freed was playing music in the early 50’s and inspiring young people – so they had this great story! But, they showed up and had a business plan. They said this is how we’re going to build it and how we’re going to fund it and this is what it is going to mean to the region. Long and short, 27 years ago we opened up in this I.M. Pei building on the shores of Lake Eerie in Ohio. Since opening our doors, over 13 million people have visited the museum and we’re at the height of our summer season now. We'll get thousands of people through everyday all summer long. Every one of those people who comes through the front door has a lifetime of memory connected to the subjects inside our museum. When they see it, they hear it or hear it through a band that plays on our stage, it inspires them and makes them think of the people they were with and the places that they were at, the greatest week of college, the time their heart was broken, the greatest road trip that they took and they might even hear a song that reminds them of their mom, dad or siblings.

AM: So when you say rock & roll, what genres comprise this very broad title?

GH: It’s a big title and quite frankly, our definition is a very big tent. Rock & roll is more about attitude and spirit then it is about a specific sound. We embrace in the 50’s Doo-Wop, Street Corner Harmony and RockabIlly; in the 60’s there’s Psychedelic, Soul music, Folk music; in the 70’s there’s Heavy Metal, Hip-Hop, Dance Music, Disco, Punk Rock – it’s all under the umbrella of rock & roll. Synth Pop and Industrial – we embrace it all! So for us, it’s all about attitude and spirit! There’s an attitude about Johnny Cash that he had to the music industry and when Ice Cube was inducted, a couple of years ago, In his induction speech, he said, “rock & roll is a spirit, rock & roll is an attitude.” You can find his full quote online. (Editor’s Note: When Ice Cube was inducted, he talked about whether a rap group was considered to be rock & roll. He said, “Now the question is, are we rock & roll? And I say you goddam right we rock & roll. Rock & roll is not an instrument, rock & roll is not even a style of music. Rock & roll is a spirit. It’s a spirit. It’s been going since the blues, jazz, bebop, soul R&B, rock & roll, heavy metal, punk rock and yes, hip-hop. And what connects us all is that spirit. That’s what connects us all, that spirit. Rock & roll is not conforming to the people who came before you, but creating your own path in music and in life. That is rock & roll, and that is us. So rock & roll is not conforming. Rock & roll is outside the box. And rock & roll is N.W.A. I want to thank everybody who helped induct us into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and I just want to tell the world – Damn, that shit was dope.”) That is what we embrace. It’s the voice of change, it’s always been the sound of young America and it continues to evolve and as a museum, we continue to evolve with it.

AM: So as music continues to evolve, you will always look for new forms and elements to add to what rock & roll is.

GH: We will and that’s kind of the wave right now. That’s why we have been inducting great Hip-Hop artists right alongside great Heavy Metal artists. In the last induction, it was LL Cool J, and it was Carole King, it was the Foo Fighters, Jay-Z and Tina Turner that were all inducted! To us, it’s a broad tent and everybody’s welcome!

AM: What are your 3 favorite rock genres that you love listening to?

GH: I look for stuff that’s a little harsher, a little stronger. I love old Blues, I love 60’s Soul like Memphis and I love Punk Rock! I like for it to have a little punch and a little attitude.

AM: I can see that!

GH: Yeah, that’s what I prefer.

AM: What is your day-to-day like in your role and what are the key projects that you’re focused on?

GH: My day-to-day role is 1 – to make sure that we have the greatest museum in the world, that every single visitor that comes through our doors leaves being transformed and impacted and that we have a great team that makes that happen. It’s about keeping our staff inspired and changing. We don’t believe in maintenance mode, we always want to be growing and reaching. To that end, we're working on an amazing expansion project at the museum. We’ll be breaking ground later on this year. We will be increasing the museum by about 50,000 sqft. It’s a great project and we’re very excited to be doing it. For that project, one of my biggest responsibilities is to work with a team and to raise the funds to be able to do that. We talked about how there have been 13 million visitors that have been through the museum for the past 27 years. We need to build something for the next 13 million visitors!

AM: What can guests expect when they do come to visit and then for those that aren't available to come in person, is there an online version where people can connect that way?

GH: Yeah, so I’ll back up a little bit to your question of what do we do. So, we have this great museum and then in addition to this great museum, we have this great digital outreach. So anybody in the world can connect with us and they can experience the Hall of Fame, but also if there are teachers out there, we have ready teaching materials that they can use for free. Pre COVID, we averaged 50 teachers a day using it, during COVID it was about 500 to 1,000 a day and we have reached over 1 million students last year with our online education programs. We would love it if teachers would use it and help spread the word! We’re not teaching kids how to play instruments or to write songs, we’re teaching them math, science, social justice all through the lens of rock & roll.

AM: That’s really cool! It’s a large job!

GH: Oh yeah. We have a really great team and we’re cranking through!

When someone walks onsite at the museum, the experience starts when you’re in the building. You’re going to hear music blasting from speakers, it might be a live band on stage outdoors or it might just be coming out of our PA speakers. In the museum, you can see the whole history of rock & roll – from Blues, gospel and country through the Beatles, Stones, Supremes, James Brown, Motown and all of that. On our 2nd floor, you can play on instruments and jam with your friends. If bands visit us and they want to jam with visitors – they can do that. On our 3rd floor, you can walk through our Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and see the greats of music where they are immortalized forever in our Hall of Fame and experience our immersive theater that has an amazing show that was edited with the great Jonathan Demme and it’s really the greatest moments from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductions. So really, that’s some of the things you do and throughout it all, you’re reminded of times in your life that you listened to certain music, the greatest road trip, your Freshman year in college, who you hung out with and we bring all of those memories back and that’s the real power of our place.

AM: Going back to the expansion, what will that involve?

GH: We are keeping the whole I.M. Pei pyramid as is and that’s 128,000 sqft and we’re going to add another 50,000 sqft. You know the Pei Pyramid, the only other pyramid that he has done was at the Louvre which is truly the center of Europe’s great art as it’s the home of Mona Lisa. His only other pyramid is here in America at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and we’re the home of America’s great art rock and roll.

AM: That expansion is going to be huge as that’s 175,000 sqft!

GH: Pretty close give or take!

AM: That’s a lot of space.

GH: Well it’s a big subject!

AM: What are 3 of your favorite exhibits that are at the museum?

GH: I love the Garage Exhibit where visitors can come in and jam with each other it’s amazing.

We finished an exhibit that I liked a lot that I think is particularly interesting to your readers. That was an exhibit that we did about the greatest Halftime Show Performances in Super Bowl history. We had it at the museum when we hosted the NFL Draft in Cleveland. Then we worked with the NFL and we took it out to the Super Bowl in LA this year and we’re working with them again to take out to Phoenix for the next Super Bowl.

It shows performances and great moments by Prince when he did Purple Rain in the rain, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé – it’s just these iconic moments in American cultural history that happened at the Super Bowl Halftime performance it’s just a really great exhibit.

We have an exhibit which really is the legends of rock and each band has a focus area. That focus area could be David Bowie, Elton John, Michael Jackson – they all have an area that highlights their career. And that’s an exciting area to walk through and to be reminded of these individuals and their wider impact on our culture.

AM: What’s the process for acquiring items for the museum?

GH: We work directly with the inductees and pretty much everything we have at the museum has been donated by an inductee, a family member or the artist directly. We make sure to partner with them. They donate to us and occasionally it’s a loaned item if they still need it! We’ve had artifacts that are on exhibit that an artist needs back because they're touring so a guitar goes out to them and a label says, “currently on tour.”

AM: For those that are in town, how many live shows do you have a year?

GH: We have live music probably about 100 shows a year at the museum. This summer, every Thurs and Fri, we’ll have live music and some of the bands that are still coming this summer – Guided By Voices, Adrian Belew is playing and people can go to RockHall.com to check out what we have going on. There’s all different genres and one of the things that’s important to us is that we just don’t put up a party band that plays cover songs. We want original artists playing original music and we want to mix it up between the different genres whether it’s bands that are heavy metal, classic rock sounding or if they’re Hip-Hop. We love having all of them at the museum and they will be playing outdoors on our plaza.

AM: Like many, I am a fan of music. My great uncle was Joe Henderson a tenor saxophonist, I love various genres of music and here at Athleisure Mag as well as outside projects I have styled a number of known artists or have interviewed them. I know that our readers would love to know more about what goes into the induction of artists for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. What are the eligibility requirements?

GH: Artists have had to have made a record 25 years ago to make them eligible for consideration. And then, it’s really impact and influence. You look at did they take the art form in a new direction, did they push the envelope and that’s what they’re recognized for more than chart placement and sales. The process is, there is a ballot made for all those that were nominated. It then goes out to our voters and the largest voting body is all the other inductees. This year, Jay-Z is going to get a ballot, Bono gets a ballot, Smokey Robinson gets a ballot, Madonna gets a ballot, Bruce Springsteen and members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers – they all get ballots. So they vote and the top 5 vote getters are elected to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

AM: I like that the public is also allowed to join in the fun – why was this an element that has been added to the process?

GH: So the fan vote is interesting. During the year, we let fans in the museum voice who should be nominated. It’s always fun to hear that and to understand that. Then when the voting is underway with all of the inductees, we also do a public fan vote and part of it is engagement so that they can engage with us online and let us know who their favorites are. Then we take all the fan votes online and we aggregate them and they count as a composite ballot into the bigger vote. So what it is important for is to see who people are interested in and to understand what they are thinking about. Because the induction into the Hall of Fame is not a popularity contest, those that are in the industry and have made their living off of rock & roll, their votes are really what counts the most because they can judge the merits of their peers. If that wasn’t the case, whoever has the most social media followers would be elected and that doesn’t necessarily mean they they are the most impactful, it just means that they have great music and great followers. We need that impact.

AM: When the nominees are announced, I am sure there are a number of logistics to figure out from who will accept an award for the artist/group if they have passed away and who will perform if there are other artists that will do a tribute versus those that opt to play themselves. Can you tell us more about that?

GH: The show producers are amazing! It’s our Foundation President, Joel Peresman and our Foundation Chairman, John Sykes and they do an amazing job working to create a show that is dynamic and exciting and also appropriate for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. They have done a super job working with the show, the production design team and sometimes at its greatest when it’s an artist from yesterday that is being honored by an artists of today and when they perform together – when you have Stevie Wonder inducting Bill Withers and then they sing together and then John Legend comes out and performs with them – it’s amazing! When LL Cool J was inducted, LL was joined by Eminem and by JLo. Just an incredible combination. It’s a desire to allow some artists to pay tribute to those that have influenced them and it’s a chance for other artists to combine that they have meant a lot to. So it’s kind of a neat looking back and looking forward and making something that is even better for that moment in time at that event.

AM: As we’re based in NY, it’s always fun when the ceremony is in our backyard, but for the upcoming 2022 induction ceremony, it will be in LA this fall. Why is it being held there and what is behind the decision of the city that you opt to do it in?

GH: Well there are rock & roll fans everywhere and let’s face it, NY is a big center for music and LA is the home of much of the industry. So those 2 cities make a ton of sense and we also do it in Cleveland which is the home of the museum and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. We’re working on a sequence where it goes on between those cities and we’re really excited and honored that Cleveland is in that cadence and we’re looking at how that pans out in future years. We’re really excited and thrilled to be going to LA as it hasn’t been there since 2013!

AM: Looking at this year’s inductees, I was excited about all the names but especially pleased to see that Pat Benatar, Duran Duran, Eminem, Lionel Richie and Dolly Parton are in this year’s group – what are you looking forward to this year?

GH: You know, they’re all terrific and they’re all deserving! I’m looking forward to just being surprised. Every year there are super highlights and it’s amazing as this honor isn't about haing 1 hit record or having a great soundtrack song or something like that. This is a lifetime award that is emblematic of excellence and forever they will be celebrated and enshrined at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. This is a really powerful moment for those artists and I can’t wait to hear their speeches and then to see them light up the room with their performances.

AM: I know we talked about the educational elements that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is involved in throughout the year. Are there other community programs that takes place throughout the year?

GH: We have a program called Toddler Rock where kids from First Start Programs come to the museum twice a week and we teach them for 15 weeks on rhyming, alliteration, and social skills with trained music therapists. It’s amazing. We have another program where anyone who lives in the city of Cleveland can come in for free admission all year long, everyday – whenever – just come on in! It’s a great community outreach for us and we love partnering with our conventions and business bureaus and other entities around town. When the city is bidding on and trying to attract the NBA All Star Game or the MLB All Star Game, we are in the mix. We are part of the hosting committee and we pledge to be a great partner and frequently they theme the event rock & roll because it is Cleveland. We love doing that and we think that if our reach can do well, then everyone can do well and we want to make that happen.

AM: In terms of the remainder of this year and looking forward to next year, what are you looking to do in terms of outreach and education on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?

GH: One, we need to execute on an amazing summer season which is what we are doing. We want to keep going with all of our educational initiatives. We have a traveling exhibitions program where certain exhibits once they are in Cleveland will go out to cities around the country. We're actively working on this building expansion project which is a significant endeavor for the museum and we’re very excited. We have been ramping up our digital presence and we have been adding a lot of Spanish language to what we are doing in our digital outreach. There is a massive group of people that love rock & roll that don’t speak English and we’re very excited to reach out to those audiences as well who do speak English.

IG @rockhall

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Read the JUL ISSUE #79 of Athleisure Mag and see OUR MUSIC OUR CULTURE | Greg Harris + Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | PIKES IBIZA

Pikes Ibiza is a 25 bespoke room and suites hotel iconic Ibizan institution in the San Antonio hills that just opened for the 2022 season.

Top British chef, Tim Payne is helming Pamelas restaurant. Known for his 36-year career in Michelin restaurants, a top UK chef and previously a private chef for Carl Cox - he will bring inspiring seasonal and local produce as well as an international twist to his dishes. This is perfect for feasts and when dining under the stars.

During the day, we suggest the brunch concept at Love Food Ibiza which is helmed by Tess Prince.

Recognized as a Top 100 Hotels in the world by Sunday Times Travel and winner of Best Boutique Hotel by White Ibiza Awards for the last 4 years, Pikes Ibiza is one of the world's most iconic rock n' roll hotels. Located in the hills of northern Ibiza, lush Mediterranean gardens are wrapped around one of the most famous swimming pools on Earth. They have a sunset terrace overlooking the countryside of Ibiza.

It is known as a creative hub and a trailblazer in Europe for arts and culture.

Founded in the late 1970's by legendary icon, Tony Pike, it is known as a playground for the music and film industry which included guests such as Grace Jones, Tony Curtis, George Michael (who filmed Wham's Club Tropicana video by the aquamarine swimming pool), Jon Bon Jovi and Freddie Mercury who held his 41st birthday part in what is now called Freddies on the property.

Although everyday is a great day to unwind, Sundays are a key day at Pikes Ibiza whether you're at the restaurants to take in their famous Pikes Sunday Roast which is a feast that is meant to be enjoyed from meat, veggies, wine and a few cocktails. You can continue on poolside to keep the party going while taking in the ambiance.

On Sundays you can enjoy an epic night at Freddies as theu have selected a mix of international headliners, local DJs and special collaborators for a weekly party. You'll find their favorites, those from the underground, cutting edge, legends and pop stars in an intimate setting that will perform to keep the good vibes going.

PIKES IBIZA

Camí de Sa Vorera,

S/N, 07820

Sant Antoni de Portmany,

Illes Balears, Spain

pikesibiza.com

IG @pikesibiza

PHOTO CREDITS | PIKES IBIZA

Read the MAY ISSUE #77 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | Pike’s Ibiza in mag.

9PLAYLIST | IDRIS ELBA

Read the NOV ISSUE #71 of Athleisure Mag and see 9PLAYLIST | Idris Elba in mag.

COMMUNITY IS THE VIBE WITH D-NICE

As we embrace the reopenings that have taken place all over the world, we remember those days when we were in the thick of lockdown and we all found ways to maintain a sense of community and connection with others as we did it apart. For us and millions around the world, we found dance and music through a global couch party that had the biggest celebrities from Madonna, Michelle Obama, Nile Rodgers and more that popped in every night. We were all brought together by DJ D-Nice who created a daily (sometimes marathon sessions) IG Live event known as Club Quarantine!

Even though we're past those dark days of 2020, he continues to lead his virtual parties while also bringing the next phase with his Club Quarantine Live tour that took place to much success and we can't wait to see his Club Quarantine festival that will take place in LA in 2022! Before he brought us Club Quarantine, being a major event DJ for brands such as Hennessey, he is also an artist who has released solo projects and was a founding member of Boogie Down Productions with the legendary KRS-One and the late Scott La Rock.

We're pleased to have D-Nice as this month's cover and with a schedule that is constantly on the go, as we talked with him between soundchecks for his performance at YouTube's Advertising Week Show with Mary J. Blige at The Apollo Theater, he talks music; the creation of Club Quarantine and its continued evolution; the importance of musical accessibility; campaigns and how he continues to push his brand while being mindful of the community.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you fall in love with music?

D-NICE: I fell in love with music when I was around 6 or 7 years old. I remember where I grew up in the Bronx, my aunts – both of them used to collect a lot of records. It’s so crazy because the artists that they would collect would be Melba Moore and Diana Ross and like Earth, Wind and Fire and obviously, you know, that I'm not lying because that was the thing in like the 70’s.

So when you fast forward to like, Club Quarantine and I’m like hanging out in there in this virtual space with Earth, Wind and Fire and Melba Moore is in there, everyday – it’s kind of full circle to me from my childhood which makes this experience for me so incredible.

AM: For those who may not be familiar with your music career prior to Club Quarantine, can you tell us a bit about your background? You were one of the founding members of the Boogie Down Productions with KRS-One and the late Scott La Rock.

D: I grew up in the Bronx. One of my cousins worked as a security guard at a men’s shelter in the Bronx. He asked me to bring him some food and one night, I walked over to where he was working and he decided to introduce me to his friend that worked there as a social worker, which was DJ Scott La Rock. Scott La Rock introduced me to a homeless guy, which is the legendary KRS-One. From the first meeting, I was 15 and Scott looked at me and he must have felt this energy where he immediately said, “you’re going to be in this group.” That’s how I became part of the Boogie Down Productions crew.

AM: Think back to last year, which in many ways feels like 7 years ago, we were all in this gut-check moment. From a magazine perspective, we shot our last in-person cover 2 days prior to when NY went into lockdown. It was that moment of trying to figure out how we would still do what we do and to still produce everything – in a new way virtually; which we did and it was intensely challenging, but fun and full of artistic growth. So, to do Club Quarantine, how did this come about? It was like the musical and mental health that we so needed to get us through what we didn't even know how much time we'd be going through!

D: The thing about Club Quarantine that’s special is that it was birthed out of the same fear that everyone was experiencing! I was quarantined alone at home in Los Angeles. I was gearing up for a tour with Jill Scott. I was locked in for 10 dates on her tour and when we were forced to quarantine, what was difficult about it, which other people experienced as well, was that none of us were prepared for this – including myself! So, when the quarantine hit, I had to send back deposits because they were cancelling the festivals – they were cancelling Essence Fest, Miami Music Week where I had gigs there, I had SXSW gigs. So all of those gigs, I had to send the money back. I was sitting at home, stressed out, like everyone!

Because I had friends that worked with the former administration, they kept saying, this thing will go on for longer than 2 weeks, man. They said that I should prepare myself. I didn’t even understand how to prepare to not work for a year/year and a half. So that was difficult. CQ was birthed out of the sadness and having a desire to still be connected to people. When I started playing music, I wasn’t even DJing initially. I was just playing music and sharing stories and I started noticing the numbers that were rising on my account from one day being 240 people in there to the next day having 800 people in there. Then, the 3rd day, I did a marathon set with like 2,000 people. Initially, it was a very selfish thing, finding ways to stay connected, but by the 2nd day when I was reading the comments, I knew that it was actually helping people feel connected. I just wanted to continue to do it to keep people inspired.

AM: Speaking back to what we were talking about before with the music, I was born in 1979 and grew up with this music. When I listen to a lot of the songs, it reminds me of cleaning the house with my mom and sister before Soul Train came on. How is it to run the hottest global couch party that has ever existed?

D: Wow yeah, that’s literally it – the hot test global couch party! I mean there were times when I literally didn’t look at it that way. It was one of my buddies, Donnie Wahlberg, every day he would say to me, “dude, I don’t think you understand what’s happening.” I didn’t, because remember, I was home alone! I was playing music, I was at home. I wasn’t dancing with other family members, wasn’t dancing with my mom or kids and I wasn’t having parties on the other end. All I could do was just read comments. I would see hearts and that kept me going. But the other thing that kept me inspired was music! It was the love of music where I felt that I finally had the chance to play music the way that I wanted to hear it anyway from my club days. As a DJ, you kind of lean towards what the promoters wanted, what the fans wanted, but when the world stopped, the fans wanted and needed music that kept them inspired. It just so happened to be the music that I love. To have a chance to play David Bowie and mix David Bowie in with Madonna and all of a sudden, Madonna is in my IG Live. Then I could play a Stevie Wonder record and then throw in a JAY-Z and rock Rihanna and then all of a sudden, Rihanna is in there! There’s no better party then that! Everyone had a chance to feel the music and still be inspired and it was awesome. And it continues to be awesome!

AM: Which I think is awesome and I love the versatility of the music. I mean, I love all kinds of genres, my great uncle was the late tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson so I have my jazz elements that I love and I love EDM. I remember when you had David Bowie to Madonna and then you had Nile Rodgers that popped in which I had styled him a few years ago for a project which was awesome to see him come through.

D: I mean, Nile Rodgers, when he came in it was beautiful!

AM: I’ll never forget when I was in his apartment on the UWS and he was showing me his music sheets of his work with Madonna and he was like, "I did this and I did that." I just remember feeling that I was standing in the room of greatness at that moment.

D: Yes absolutely.

AM: The fact that we have actually been able to see how you have evolved CQ from the at home sessions to performing to major moments that you were part of from encouraging people to register to vote, having people vote, social justice movements and then moving that into bringing it live in person such as launching at the Hollywood Bowl and being on the tour for that too, what’s it like to evolve the brand?

D: I felt that it was my job to protect the brand. Protecting the brand meant not keeping the platform to myself and to include other people. It was about authenticity and making sure that what I did online translated well into the live space. My desire to play the Hollywood Bowl was birthed out of seeing so many people in there. Early on in the pandemic, I was trying to figure out what place that this would feel like and would make sense. I wanted to give everyone something to imagine and look forward to when the world opened up again. I just threw it out there and said, “one day, I’m going to play the Hollywood Bowl and be the first show!”

A year and a half later when I received the offer to play the Hollywood Bowl, I was excited! But it didn’t really hit me until the morning that I announced that the tickets were on sale on IG Live and I said, “I have something to share with everyone. My gosh, we got the Hollywood Bowl, tickets are on sale in one hour.” Within that first hour, we sold 10,000 tickets. It was very emotional. To know that something that I did just out of the love of music that started in my kitchen – literally in the kitchen, went on to become something where we sold out 15,000 people in the Hollywood Bowl in 3 days! It's a very humbling feeling and it's beautiful to know that people want to listen to music the way that I do. You have to want to be there to hear the music, the fans want to be there, the art ists want to be there – there were fans that bought tickets to all of the CQ Live shows and we kept it limited. Obviously, we’re still dealing with this pandemic so we didn’t want to be reckless by doing a full on tour. But for all of the shows, there are people like hundreds of people that attended all 3 of them. It’s something special that’s happening right now. The music is secondary when it comes to Club Quarantine. It wasn’t just about the music, it was about community. To me, that’s number one – about people staying connected. By the way, there’s some cool music being played right now and we’re going to dance together as well!

AM: It’s undeniable that live shows have an amazing vibe to them. What are your plans on the virtual side of things as we continue over the next few months, will this still be part of your portfolio or are you looking to segue completely to back where we were prior to 2020 where we could comfortably be together in person?

D: I want to continue to have the virtual space to be part of it. It’s an important element because not everyone can afford to travel to these cities, not everyone can afford to buy tickets. Let’s be realistic. People lost jobs and people are still trying to recover from that. To me, it would be a little bit unfair to just pull that away from everyone and I want to continue to share my love of music with people and to inspire community, so it’s important for me to do this for at least another 6 months or as long as social media will allow me to play. You know, things change, people are outside now so it may not be as exciting, but for me, it’s always important that whenever I return to Los Angeles, I need to play 1 or 2 sets to at least get it in. By the way, I’m not just doing it for the people, I happen to like playing music!

AM: You can tell!

D: Yes! I love playing music, so if I can share music when I log on and there are 30,000 - 50,000 people at the end of the set, that means there is still a need and desire to hear music that way. I just want to be able to fill that need and to continue to keep people inspired.

AM: I love music festivals and it was great to see that here in NY, Governors Ball and Electric Zoo came back. Do you envision CQ having a physical festival?

D: Oh no – it’s not even about envisioning it, it’s actually happening! It’s happening Aug of 2022. We’re literally in the planning stages right now, planning the artists that I want to perform with. That’s happening. August of 2022, the festival happens in Los Angeles.

AM: Earlier this year, you dropped “No Plans For Love” with Ne-Yo and Kent Jones. How was that working on this single and are you working on an album?

D: Releasing the single was fun. It was a different process because we were doing everything remotely with Kent and Ne-Yo was interesting. I wasn’t in the studio with Ne-Yo when he recorded his vocals. It was almost like, when he finished the demo of the song, by the time I heard it, they said Ne-Yo had cut the song. I listened to it and I was excited about it. That song did well, top 5 for R&B for the single. I’m deep on working on the album right now. It was important to me that when we put the record out, we had something to celebrate the 1 year anniversary of Club Quarantine and that’s why we didn’t have an album to follow it up. It was just about putting that single out for people to have a song that they would remember during the quarantine. I’m really happy that the single did well and I am looking forward to completing this project.

AM: You’ve amassed an amazing platform and I’m sure that you are constantly wading through offers of things that you want to do. What's your process in terms of thinking about brand synergies. I loved the Band-Aid campaign that you were part of. What are you thinking of when you know that the brands are interested in D-Nice?

D: Everything that I have done has been important for the synergy to be there. I have to be mindful of a couple of things right? 1. I’m not just a DJ that’s happening right now. I do have history and I have to be respectful of my history. Everything that I participate in, you want it to resonate with the younger generation, but I am respectful of the legacy that was already built and the people that listened to my music back in the day who are still jamming to my music right now. The first project that I worked on during the quarantine was the Apple commercial and that was great because it had Oprah and all of these celebrities in there.

The 2nd campaign I worked on was for Budweiser which was based on the old commercial of “What’s Up” and people checking in on each other. So it was me, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Candace Parker. That was great!

Then I did the Ford Commercial and what made that so authentically me was that, not only was I DJing in the commercial, did the voiceover for it, I was in it – but my record from back in the day was also a tie in. I thought it was an awesome thing for people to see the evolution of me being a recording artist in 1990 and here we are in 2021 with a commercial that’s updated but still using the essence of who I am which was great.

With Band-Aid, I thought it was awesome to be a person of color and never having Band-Aids that could match our skin tone! It was great to be part of that campaign and to be able to show! But on the other side for me, to see that Corporate America and these big brands actually trust me to be part of what they’re doing and I didn’t take that lightly either.

Throughout my career, what I did was to be able to sustain in terms of how dedicated I have been to do the right thing with people. To work with Michelle Obama and to raise awareness with voter rights and voter registration. Raising money for the Apollo Theater, Breast Cancer Awareness, raising 100s of thousands for HBCUs – it’s important to always use that platform to do some good. Even with those campaigns, I always have to be part of something that wouldn’t just be a good look for me, but to be a good look for people in general.

AM: What is the best piece of business advice that you have received?

D: Honestly, it wasn’t based on any advice that one person gave me, it was based on what I felt in my heart. In the beginning of quarantine, people were offering me millions of dollars and I didn’t accept any of it and it’s because it didn’t feel good to me. It's not that I didn't want to make money, let’s be honest, I am a business man and this is my business, I am an artist. But in that moment, in those very early weeks of the quarantine, to all of a sudden monetize something right before everyone’s eyes when it was something that people needed – it didn’t feel right to me and it didn’t sit well with me. I didn’t want that on my conscious. I wanted to do something that was truly about keeping people inspired and I remember that one of my DJ friends called and he’s a huge DJ, he’s globally known. He called me and said, “hey man, this is the first time that I could actually dance with my family and I appreciate you!” I’ll never forget conversations like that and there were multiple ones like that. I knew that this was something special and all I wanted to do was to play music.

Now, it did become a business months later. We can’t deny that! But even in terms of it being a business, it was important to do things that didn’t push success into anyone’s face. It wasn’t about the money. It wasn’t about diamonds and cars – it wasn't about buying things. It was about keeping people inspired.

AM: You recently became an investor at Maison Marcel. Why did you want to enter this space and will you do anything that is outfaced with the brand?

D: I invested in it because obviously, I’m a wine drinker and I have been looking to get into the space for years. Even before working with Maison Marcel, I was a brand ambassador for Hennessey for nearly a decade of being involved with them. The natural progression would be to own your spirits company or to one day own your wine company. When the opportunity presented itself to be a part of it, I jumped on it. I was first introduced to the brand by my buddy Hassan Smith, who works with John Legend. It wasn’t even about investing, it was, “hey, would you like a glass of wine.” I enjoyed it and he was like, “I invested in this.” Then 2 years later, I became an investor. I’m not sure what we will do in terms of forward facing involvement. I didn’t want to be a spokesperson because I didn’t want the brand to be about me. I enjoy my wine, so I am always going to talk about it. I enjoy the product – so we’ll see.

AM: How do you take time for yourself when you’re not in the midst of playing music, creating music building your brand and all of the things that you do?

D: Honestly, I have to figure that out! The one thing that I am doing is spending more time with my kids. Especially now that school is back. I have 2 daughters. One graduated from law school and I have a younger daughter she’s in the 4th grade so that’s important. Other than that, I enjoy – I mean people think that I’m exhausted. There are times that I am, but I don’t feel burnt out because I truly love what I do!

AM: Your impact on this global pandemic that you gave to people and the impact on the culture throughout your career has been immense! Over the past few months, you have received a number of accolades from Webby Artist of the Year, Shine A Light Award from BET Awards, NAACP Image Awards for Entertainer of the Year and an ASCAP Voice of the Culture Award – what do you want your legacy to be?

D: That’s a tough one. You know, when I think about it, I just want people to know that it’s ok to be a nice guy, no pun attended. It’s ok to be a good guy. What’s happened my entire life over my career was not solely based on talent. It was based on being kind to people and being there for people. So when you think about Club Quarantine, none of this happens overnight. You’re talking about 35 years of relationships in the music industry. Michelle Obama wasn’t on my IG because she heard that I was DJing. That was because I made a phone call and the only reason why I could make that phone call is because I have worked with them and I have been kind to people. In that moment, that was the first time that I recognized that

people came to something because I was doing it. For decades, I was always there doing things for them. To me, it was important that I make sure that I put kindness into everything that I am doing and with one another. Hopefully, that will be part of my legacy.

AM: For #TRIBEGOALS, we talk to trailblazers in the industry and ask them who are 3 people that have influenced you to be where you are today.

D: The 1st person would be Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for obvious reasons. Obviously, he was Black and dealt with the plight of Black people, but it was also important for him to represent human beings period and that has always been an important part of growing up for me.

The 2nd person would be Stevie Wonder. His music, the storytelling in his music and the feeling in his music has always been an important part of my growing up and even including him in my sets now. Even knowing Stevie and having dinner with him, it's been one of the highlights of my career.

The third person would be, Barack Obama. From the moment that I met him, I'll share a story. One day I was DJing an event that he was hosting, he was still President at the time and we were on Martha's Vineyard. We were in a small tent, maybe 50 people people in total were attending. I was a guest and also DJing and there was this one moment, which was in his last year of his presidency, where I saw him sitting in a corner by himself, people were dancing and I looked over at him. I remember thinking that to see someone who probably had the weight of the world on his shoulders in that very moment, but he was still able to be present with his family and friends was inspiring to see that no matter how much work you have going on in your life, it’s still important to maintain that love and respect for your family and friends. I never forgot that moment and I’m truly inspired by Barack Obama!

IG @dnice

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | D-Nice

Read the OCT ISSUE #71 of Athleisure Mag and see Community is the Vibe with D-Nice in mag.

Hear DJ/Producer D-Nice on our show, #TRIBEGOALS - which is a part of Athleisure Studio, our multimedia companion podcast network! Subscribe to be notified when the episode drops. Listen on iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or wherever you enjoy your podcasts.