Posted in Electronic/Ambient

Interview: Rony Seikaly – NBA Star-turned-DJ

In 1988, Rony Seikaly became the Miami Heat’s first ever draft pick when the center was signed ninth overall. Twelve years later, “The Spin Doctor”, as he was lovingly known by fans, hung up his basketball shoes after scoring 9,991 points and grabbing 6,424 rebounds in his NBA career and playing a one-on-one with Magic Johnson to prove that HIV is not contagious by touch. Fast forward to 2012 and now, the Heat have picked up their second ever NBA Championship and Rony is an international DJ and is currently promoting his first ever compilation record with Nervous Records, Nervous Nitelife Presents Rony Seikaly, released on June 5.  A few days ago, I chatted with the former NBA star and DJ sensation about his new career in music, which you can read about below.

I’ve read that you wish to become a well-known musician not because of your basketball career, but because of your music, which is a very humble and grounded mindset to have. I’m just wondering though, has there been any overlap between your music career and your basketball one?

Music was always in my blood. When I played basketball, music was always my sanctuary. I never thought about making music as another career but it happened organically.

Did you ever think the nickname “The Spin Doctor” would extend outside the basketball court?

It’s very ironic but never thought it would.

What was your first exposure to music? Could you tell me more about the “music rooms” in your homes?

My parents were music enthusiasts. They would play classical music, disco and other genres always at the house and my dad would always play his guitar. When I turned 14, I wanted to get my own equipment so I saved up my money and bought two turntables and a mixer at first, then turned a storage area into my own club. All my friends would come and hang out for a nominal fee where I would play the music and with the money made I would upgrade the lights and sound. As the years went by and I started playing in the NBA, I would always turn one of the rooms in my house into a music room and invite friends — only difference was that it was free of charge.

Your music seems to have a very wide spread of influences. What was your favorite era of music and what influenced your sound the most?

I grew up on disco, early hip hop and early house but always had a wide range of musical taste from ethnic, tribal, rock to classical.

What has been your favorite moment in your music career so far? How does that compare to your favorite basketball moment?

Nothing compares to the adrenaline of sports. Music is a hobby, sports is my love. The highlight of my musical career is when I released my first track and thought it was so surreal.

What’s next for you?

I am enjoying the moment. Not looking ahead just yet.

How do you feel about how the way the NBA Finals ended this year?

I have my special ties with the Miami Heat as I was the number 1 pick in that franchise’s history. So it’s very satisfying for me personally to have seen the transformation of the franchise from its inception to champions.

Thanks for taking the time to chat. Best of luck with everything, Rony!

Listen: Passion Pit – “I’ll Be Alright”

For Gossamer second single “I’ll Be Alright”, Passion Pit goes absolutely all out with maximalistic production and high-tempo, high-pitch vocals from Michael Angelakos. Like some of the main standouts from Manners, Angelakos’s falsetto is on full blast with his melodies anchoring the track and then his lyrics playing second fiddle. But the beauty of “I’ll Be Alright” is that while the song sounds extremely happy and summery, Angelakos discusses his personal and emotional troubles; his first line says it all: “Can you remember ever having any fun?/ Cause when it’s all said and done I always believed we were/ But now I’m not so sure.” What sounds bubbly on the surface has a whole lot more bubbling underneath. Give it a listen below and Gossamer will be available on July 24th through Columbia Records.

Video: Space Siren – “Who Makes Me Try?”

Siebe de Boer’s video for Space Siren‘s melancholic and introspective “Who Makes Me Try?” is a beautifully crafted piece of work that explores space and color, or perhaps, the lack of it. I don’t know much about the Dutch foursome and their label, Subroutine Records, but you can listen to their second studio album (from which this song is taken) here.

And as the label put it on our Facebook page, “Get lost in this video.”

The xx Announce ‘Coexist’

On September 11th, the xx will release their highly anticipated second studio album, Coexist, through Young Turks. This will be the follow-up to 2009’s self-titled debut, which launched the band and its members into global stardom. From their announcement: “After a long time on the road, we took a break, created our own studio and wrote these new songs that we’re so looking forward to playing to you.”

The xx 2012 Tour Dates:

06-08 Turin, Italy – Traffic Festival
06-09 Porto, Portugal – Optimus Primavera Sound
06-15 Aarhus, Denmark – Northside Festival
06-16 Hultsfred, Sweden – Hultsfred Festival
06-22 Scheessel, Germany – Hurricane Festival
06-23 Neuhausen, Germany – Southside Festival
06-27 Haervic, Norway – Hove Festival
06-29 Arras, France – Main Square Festival
06-30 Werchter, Belgium – Rock Werchter
07-04 Tokyo, Japan – Liquid Room
07-07 Gdynia, Poland – Heineken Open’er Festival
07-14 Joensuu, Finland – Ilosaarirock Festival
07-23 Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda
07-25 Seattle, WA – Showbox at the Market
07-28 Toronto, Ontario – Phoenix Concert Theater
07-29 Montreal, Quebec – Metropolis
07-31 Boston, MA – Wilbur Theatre
08-02 New York, NY – Terminal 5
08-09 Sibinek, Croatia – Terraneo Festival
08-10 Budapest, Hungary – Sziget Festival
08-11 St Pere, France – La Route du Rock
08-18 St Polten, Austria – FM4 Frequency Festival
08-19 Biddinghuizen, Netherlands – Lowlands Festival
08-31 Laois, Ireland – Electric Picnic
09-07 Isle of Wight, England – Bestival

Mix: Every Day I’m Studying

Finals are rolling around the bend for me. While it’s very likely that I won’t study for the majority of my finals, I have to deceive myself into thinking I might actually work.

I personally have to listen to music while I study; despite all of the research that proves this is a terrible habit, it’s the only way I can focus. Instead, I try to keep the songs light and keep out upbeat songs or things that have a beat to them. Lyrics also really distract me at times because they can just be so catchy. Here’s a few songs put together for your studying with no real intended flow to the mix.

Study All Day from fanfare909 on 8tracks.

Who doesn’t appreciate a good wolf picture?