{ Dashus:land }

King Charlie.

A Friday Groove...

Recently I've been running my lil' ass off. Staying fit and feeling fantastic. There has been something that has kept me at my pace as I run all over this super dope city and that is the following mix by a truly talented DJ and one of my best friends, Charlie Mingroni. This mix is so sick and twisted in such good ways that sometimes I just can't believe it. Charlie has a masterful ear and this mix is proof. I implore you to take a listen to this mix. It's so damn good, my peeps. SO. DAMN. GOOD.

DOWNLOAD IT HERE

A real reason for a Fourth of July celebration...

Brothers.

Surfing on New Years with my best friends. Full on Joy!

Charlie Mingroni - The Sunset Mix.

A Hard Groove...

The sounds of Charlie Mingroni will take you there. Listen Hard. 

L.A. Birthday Boy.

A running beat...

One of the joys of running for me is not just the connection to my body or the beautiful city in front of me but often is the beat that is bumpin' in my earphones. My buddy Charlie has spun some INCREDIBLE mixes that keep me at my pace. They are good on the dancefloor and they sweet as well on the street. You can listen to two of them HERE and HERE. Another DJ that I run to as well is John Acquaviva. I've been listening to Acquaviva for aaaaaages now. He, like Charlie, formulate some of the funkiest house grooves that I have ever heard. Tonight while I was running along the West Side, the following track came on by John Acquaviva called First Stroke that I wanted to share. You may have heard it, you may not but I hope you'll take a second to turn it up and tune in. It's just a fun fun fuuuuuun track. Enjoy. xx.

A sick beat...

I hadn't listened to this track in a while but on a recent road trip, I put this lovely little track on and fell in love with it all over again. It's one of the best house tracks that I have ever heard. No - really. It's one of the most fun, flippy, trippy, happy beats out there. Trust me. Listen.



Hey Charlie - Think you can muster up a new mix before you depart for la la land? Perhaps this could be a lil' project? xox.

Charlie Mingroni ~ Zirin.

Need a hot little break from your day - I've got some sweet beats from the talented Charlie Mingroni. Take a listen. It's magic. xx.


If the clip above is slow to load, go check out something else on the site and come back to it. It's just warming up, boo.

A Lesson in Listening.

I have no idea what the load time will be on the clip below but what I do know is that it's off the hook. If you don't see a lil' player below then go read something else on the site and come back. Trust me - you'll thank me later. The music you'll find below is spun by one of the hottest talents I know - Charlie Mingroni. If this first attempt at including Charlie's amazing music on my site is successful, you'll be see muuuuuuch more of it here. Check it out! Give me your thoughts. Listen. Hard.

The Prince of Good.

Baraka - A film by Ron Fricke.

My friend Charlie introduced me to this movie a few years ago. I had no idea that it was available online. I have the DVD of course but didn't realize there was an immediate means in which to share the movie with you - my friends. The movie is absolutely stunning. If you have time - sit back and take a look at this incredibly moving and spiritual film. It's insane.

The site spiritofbaraka.com had this to say - "Baraka is an incredible nonverbal film containing images of 24 countries from 6 continents, created by Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson, with music from Michael Stearns and others. The film has no plot, contains no actors and has no script. Instead, high quality 70mm images show some of the best, and worse, parts of nature and human life. Timelapse is used heavily to show everyday life from a different perspective. Baraka is often considered a spiritual film.

Baraka is an ancient Sufi word, which can be translated as "a blessing, or as the breath, or essence of life from which the evolutionary process unfolds." For many people Baraka is the definitive film in this style. Breathtaking shots from around the world show the beauty and destruction of nature and humans. Coupled with an incredible soundtrack including on site recordings of The Monks Of The Dip Tse Chok Ling Monastery."

kiki.

My friend Charlie's cat, kiki, just keeps getting more beautiful by the day. I just had to share. Adorable!

Oh my lordy...

So yesterday while I was having another a bad day at work I was greeted by the most adorable thing in my inbox. It was just the thing to brighten my day! I received the first lil' photos of my buddy Charlie's newest addition to his family - his tiny and precious kitty!! He hasn't given the young lady a proper name yet so for now we'll just call her CUTE. Little Miss CUTE is around 7 weeks old and she is puuuuuurfect. Pardon the awful pun. Check these out! I think her and her cousin Alice would get along super fine. xoxox.

Eddie Amador - House Music

Charlie - Did you know there was a video for this?!

Give my love to all the cool kids in L.A.

Eddie Amador - House Music

Happy Birthday, Charlie!

Well...here we go. It's Independence Day, y'all. However, more importantly, in my world, it's Charlie's birthday! Charlie has remained one of my best friends for the past 15 years. He has also remained one of the only people in my life that constantly inspire me. He is a true friend, a true artist and a true free spirit. Charlie and I really connected on a dance floor. We had been friends for yeeeeears prior but it was over some sick twisted house beats that we really were taken away. Charlie has gone on to create some of the most brilliant mixes himself that still, to this day, astound me. I could go on for hours writing about what an incredible actor he is or how he survived cancer or how he has changed each of his friends lives for the better and I'd still have more good things to say. He has the most amazing heart and I could not say enough kind things about him. I feel like I'm part of his family and I value each and every memory with this guy -  past, present, and future. Here is to many many more, Mr. DJ. Spin Spin Sugar.

Earth Intruders - The Video

My best buddy Charlie is in town from Virginia (finally!) and in honor of his visit, I bring you one of his favorites, Bjork. The following is Bjork's newest video for the song Earth Intruders. Like all of Bjork's videos, it's a feast for the eyes. Here is hoping that wherever you are, you are enjoying this fabulous weekend with the ones you love. xox.

Bjork - Earth intruders
Uploaded by slzaza

Sunday Sykes

Last night while I was relaxing with the BF, we were flipping channels and we came across one of my favorite comedians, Wanda Sykes. I had seen her stand up special Sick and Tired before and I swear it's one of the only things that makes me laugh out loud. I find plenty of things funny but rarely do I laugh at an audible level. Well this woman is fuuuuuuuuuny. I love love love her. I may be having to make my way somewhere to pick up her lil' DVD pronto. It's just too good. I wanted to post a little but from the special but I couldn't find anything online however I was able to find an interview from this past week where Wanda throws in her two cents about the whole Imus incident. Leave it to Wanda to bring some humor and hilarity to an awful story. As usual, she is brash and bold and just awesome. Hope everyone is having a fantastic Sunday. It's raining like hell here. Not a pretty day by any stretch of the imagination but good things are on the way. Cacks is coming in town today to enjoy the Macy's Flower Show. We'll be meeting her early when she arrives and then later today my buddy Charlie and Meredith will be arriving for a few days of fun in the city. Woooo hoooo! I'm so so so looking forward to all of it. Hope your weekend is treating you right. xoxo.