Chicagoist Mix #10: Only Children
By Jake Guidry in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 30, 2011 4:05PM
Chicagoist Mix Series is an ongoing feature that profiles local DJs/producers and features a mix compiled exclusively for Chicagoist. This is mix No. 10, brought to you by Only Children.
For some time now, Only Children (Chris Baronner, Dino Balocchi and Jesse Hozeny) has been a consistent blip on our radar - a group whose activities we make sure we keep up on. And why not? The collective have been doling out some of the best nu-disco/house remixes, edits and original tracks for the past couple years, including "Don't Stop", a single that released this Tuesday. On top of that, they are one of the best group of DJs in Chicago. In a city rich with disco vibes, Only Children just seem to rise to the top, and today's exclusive mix for Chicagoist only strengthens our take.
Chicagoist Mix No. 10, which Only Children have dubbed In The Middle of Waking Up, is quintessentially summer. Nu-disco/house is the prevailing idea here, and the mix maintains a solid energy without going too far in the "red". In other words, this is a shade or two above laid back - and certainly the soundtrack to your Fourth of July backyard parties this weekend. We really enjoy this mix. Check below for our interview with Only Children, along with a link to the mix.
Chicagoist: Only Children is an artist collective. How did it come to be?
Only Children: Jesse and Dino have been playing music together for quite some time and used to go out to Chris' Life During Wartime parties to cut loose and check out his sets. We started making mixtapes with Chris for Bald É. and thought it would be fun to start working on production for dance music (remixes, edits, etc.) and collaborate in general. We did a remix for Chicago band Hey Champ a couple of summers ago and things kind of blossomed from there.
C: Can you tell us about your latest release, "Don't Stop"?
OC: "Don't Stop," is the debut release on our own imprint, Nuclear Family. We wrote this song in the fall after our festival run and wanted to do an italo-disco number with some of that New Order/early Human League flavor. Afterwards, we asked a few of our favorite UK producers to do a mix for us. We also asked local Chicago band Hey Champ and our friend Stephen (aka Bit Funk) to do mixes- very proud of how it turned out. It's a nice snapshot of what we've been into the past year or so. It's currently available digitally on all of those familiar online stores and the 12" vinyl comes out on July 12th.
C: Which festivals and shows are you looking forward to this summer?
OC: Dollar Disco is one of the best dance parties in town. Our friend Kyle (aka Kid Color) curates and DJs that party, he has great taste, and invites great DJs to play that night. And so far this spring and summer it's been fantastic. Everyone should check that out. We just saw Junior Boys at Metro the other night- was really looking forward to that. And of course, we'll all stop by Pitchfork Music Festival and the annual Dickfork afterparty at Darkroom. Paid advertisement: we also have our vinyl release party at SmartBar that same weekend (July 15) with Todd Terje.
C: What are you guys listening to at the moment, dance or otherwise?
OC: Dance music-wise, we've been really getting into Motor City Drum Ensemble, Benoit & Sergio, Space Ranger, and Brandt Brauer Frick. There's a little techno creeping into our disco these days. And we're always listening to other music. In love with the new Junior Boys record, Toro y Moi, Clams Casino, Body Language, and the new Panda Bear record. Older stuff that keeps on getting put on the record player at Castle Albany- Fugazi's Repeater, Jefferson Airplane's Surrealistic Pillow, Siouxsie and the Banshees' Once Upon A Time, and Paul Simon's debut solo record are just a few. Anything that has true urgency and good melody- that's the kind of music we get excited about.
C: Can you give us a little insight into the recording of the mix? Any prevailing ideas?
OC: The mix is an homage to waking up early 'cause it's hot and it's summertime. You want to get on with your day and head into your night... chilling at the beach, hanging out at the park, biking or driving around the city and eventually ending up at that sweet house party in your hood. We selected mostly disco tracks, old and new, mixed with some of Only Children's newly released and unreleased songs.