SOUNDCREAM REMIXED THIRD.

SoundCream Remixed is a bubbly mixture of house, tech house, grooves and tunes.

Music for Sundays, 2-10pm.

Remixing the SoundCream series has been an opportunity to reflect on the time since I left New York to pursue my greater creative efforts. Recognizing tracks from special moments here and there along the way serves as a reminder that I’m still on the right path, continuing to follow my North Star. This month’s fresh feature comes from another that has been doing the same since I first worked with him during the first year of UltraMaroon. Scott Martin has been serving his passion for house music to the LA scene, and I’m proud to share his first production release with Cool Contest Records, a deep tech groove entitled, “Black Rose No. 5.”

DXD: When did you begin working on the production side and how does it feel to have your first release under your belt?

SM: I think I bought my first music production software when I was 19? It was all loop-based, and I was making things that sounded like weird lo-fi electronica or Ferry Corsten (and when I say sounded like, I mean loosely – a hint of a whisper of a resemblance. They were terrible.) I would include some live mashups in my mixes I was putting out, but it wasn't until 2018/19 when I finally sat down and put some decent time and energy into it. There were so many ideas floating around in my head – songs that I wanted to play, but didn't have a remix in the style I liked to play, or at all. 

While defining my sound as a DJ, I also wanted to start building a sound for myself as well. It's daunting. The world of production is so expansive with boundless opportunities for creativity. I'm teaching myself as I go along, so it's slow, but I have some amazingly talented friends who are happy to share their knowledge and will always take the time to listen to ideas. It's incredibly rewarding when you play something back and it's like, "Whoa. I made that. It sounds decent!" Then of course three days later you're like, “WTF was I thinking?”

It feels incredible to have something out in the world. Was it a genre-defying instant classic launch pad? Of course not. It shouldn't be, actually. I am still very much new to this, but to have the support of friends, peers, and the people that believe in you – no better feeling in the world. 

DXD: How did this get started with Cool Contest Records?

SM: I met Anthony (DJ X Boyfriend) through the Secret Service LBC crew, and through some chats at events he asked if I produced at all. I humbly replied that I was a baby producer, but that I did have some stuff tucked away that I was working on. His label, Cool Contest Records supports a ton of up-and-coming producers and DJs across the house scene, so I sent them Black Rose No. 5 for a listen. CCR’s releases and curation are fantastic, and I honestly didn't think anything would come from it or I would get, "Keep working, maybe in five years," but he got back to me and was gassed by the groove. A couple months later, they sent me the paperwork, which was honestly a surreal moment. Was this actually happening? The support from everyone at the label has been really amazing. It’s definitely a moment of, "Oh, maybe there is an audience who has an ear for what I'm trying to say?"  And to see my track on Beatport, Spotify, and Traxsource; it’s wild. WILD.

DXD: Does the title hold any special significance for you?

SM: I wish I had some in-depth story, but it's literally named after the candle I was burning while I worked on it. Black Rose by Fifth. I get very inspired by my environment – what does a smell sound like; the feeling of a place or moment?  So this one is the inspiration of some really, really late nights and the scent of smokey rose.

DXD: Can we expect any more productions coming soon? 

SM: Oh absolutely. Hate to be that cliché noob producer, but I will be – this is just the beginning. I want to make tracks that reflect all of my influences from music. I listen to literally every genre and I want to incorporate it all into some emotive, moody, deep and techy grooves.

Set List:

Everything Changes (Chus & Ceballos Remix) - Jinadu, Dario D'Attis

Do It To Me feat. Tonia (Chus & Ceballos Remix) - Angel Moraes

Zero Gravity feat. Matina (Hoxton Whores Club Mix) - Youngheart

Give You Up (Mark Knight Remix) - Dido

Strong (PAGANO Remix) -  London Grammar

The Poet feat. Chuck Roberts (Night Dub) - Wh0, Chuck Roberts

House Work (Extended Mix) - Jax Jones, MNEK, Mike Dunn

Penetralia (Original Mix) - PAGANO

Black Rose No. 5 (Original Mix) - Scott Martin

No More (Original Mix) - Odyffe

Power (Marco Lys Remix) - Lazarusman, Huxley

Let Me Hear Ya feat. Story (Extended Mix) - David Tort, Story

You can listen to SoundCream Remixed Third here.

SoundCream Remixed Fourth releases 11.9.23.

Xx,