DJ's, artists, people… Who rocked the floor, who touched our hearts, who vlessed our souls, who's been trully missed, who we're gonna talk about in the near future, who derve our respect and who/what drove us mad ? Back from Miami in nearly full effect, the IDMW.com crew brings you a short display of what is to be remembered from his latest raid in Florida…

Most of the WMC' 2004 should be on their way back home by the time we're putting this on line, this meaning that the Conference is definitely over. Just got back from Miami yesterday morning with some 30°C and a 6 hours time difference, so needless to specify how freezin' and carbonized we feel after this full week of festivities around. Would have liked to do more in terms of coverage, but have to say this hasn't been as easy as we've primarly thought in terms of transmission. Anyway, there's always a first time as we currently say and all the problems we've faced will be solved for next works of this genre, starting in a little bit more than two months now with the famous Detroit festival. This said, we would like to deeply thank the following people for welcoming us the way they did during the Conf : Danny Krivit, Robbi, Jellybean Benitez, Ornella @ house-wives.net, Glenn D. Thornton @ Slaag Records, Carl Dupree & Mark Mendoza @ Phuture Sole, Annette Zuzio and Ralphie Boy @ MAW Records, Simon Dunmore and Toni Tambourine @ Defected, Jeff Craven & Tilo @ Large Music, Glenn Underground and Craig Alexander from the Urban Heirs clan, Norman Talley and Mike 'Agent X' Clark @ Beatdown Sounds and last but not least, Mel Cheren, Blaze and Lynn @ West End Records.

Already on the pipeline, an x-tra IDM isue dedicated to what happened these last days in Miami. Needless to say that this year's Conference will hardly stay in the memories as one of its best editions so far apart from too many rare moments of intense emotion and a few outstanding tunes.

In fact, we trully came there with the idea of providing you with the best that we could. Alas doing so means that we would have had to have all the necessary credentials and infos which some people have neglicted to give us for some reasons. So the question that deserves to be asked is do these people want the fruits of their work to be noticed on these pages ? Would be tempted to say no, as they look like not being interested in what we're offering you (and subsequently them) then kindly ask them why we would have to keep on paying attention to what they're doing in return, even though it's to provide you with what we think to be the best complete coverage of the scene.

Luckily enough, some others have ended up becoming supporters of what we're doing and we'll focus on them. Most of them being ironically some of the true originators of house music. People whose attitude is nothing but doing good music in a genuine spirit of sharing the vibes. Some of the best exemples being given this year by people like Danny Krivit who took care of putting our names on the guest lists of the events where he was playing, Chicagoan Glenn Underground and his Urban Heirs posse or the Large Music and the 3° teams, but also Detroit activists Norman Talley, Dewayne Jensen and Mike 'Agent X' Clark. Not to mention the West End family who trully showed us their commitment. Enough reasons to explain the fact that all of these people are still around after so many years.

 Just a question of love at the end of the day. That thing that saves the day, as choosen by Tim Lawrence as the title of his recent book dedicated to the disco period from 1970 to 1979, but also by Jaque while doing the famous cover (our current single of the week) of a the Whitney Houston's classic song of the name ("Love Will Save The Day). MFSB

Never count on us to tell you that everything was fine when so much has to be done as demonstrated this year during our week in Florida. Well, guess you've understood that this x-tra issue of In Da Mix will mainly focus on what happened (or not) during the so called Winter Music Conference in Miami with a bit of ups but also a lot of downs as already felt on some of our live reports…

Jan.1st 1999, the beginning of a new year or should we say a new era with the birth of new label by the likes of Simon Dunmore and Janet Bell…

Five years later and a whole bunch of successes behind their belt, this famous UK Unit hosts a weekly radio show on Ministry Of Sound (each Tuesday from 4.00pm to 6.00pm UK time), has secured a residency at Ibiza's El Divino every Friday and has massive projects coming up including Sandy Rivera's new album entitled Changes and Parisian Martin Solveig's Sur la terre amongst others. Guess you see who we're talking about. Yes folks, you are connected to… Defected, celebrating its 5^th Birthday this afternoon beside a 210 foot long pool enlighted by an impressive DJ line up. Expect another heavyweight tournament behind the desks, featuring the aforementioned + Kenny Dope, Brian Tappert, JJ Hernandez,  Miguel 'Migs', Dimitri from Paris and DJ Gregory to name but a few by the National Hotel poolside.

NATIONAL HOTEL 1667 Collins Ave.

Soulfuric and Magic Sessions team up for this years WMC' party. Come check us out upstairs tonite (03/09) at Crobar. DJ's for the evening : Brian Tappert, JJK, Jask, Copyright, Grant Nelson & Sheldon Prince. Also live PA's from + Ron Carroll & Shovell.

CROBAR : 1445 Washington Ave. – MIAMI BEACH

The Soulfuric Crew,

You may say what you want : there’s not a better thing than having an open air event while in Miami. A pretty exemple being given by the Masters At Work with their annual Florida party. Decided to attend the Jellybean Recordings party this Saturday by the pool at the Riande and we ’ve got some sure shot moments, not only with a stunning array of DJ/producers incl. Marlon D, Jellybean Benitez himself, Tyrone Francis, Quentin Harris and Kevin Hedge of Blaze but also with live PA’s from two of the most wonderful female singers around : Jaque, singing her "Love Will Save The Day" version (our forthcoming single of the week by the way) and Treena Rose who with her "Tell Me All About It"  rendition of an ol’cut written by Michael Franks for Natalie Cole might well score one of this WMC’s tunes… Keep you posted as we’ve secured to have an interview this Monday with the lady in question.

MFSB

A typical French  proverb says : everyone sees the sunrise from its door and God knows how sunny it is here in Miami… So question : what is house music to WMC’ and what is WMC’ to house music ?. Myself being in the middle as an observer would like very much to say : nothing and vice versa ! On one hand, you have an organization thas has done nuttin’ but trying to get the maximum benefits while expanding to new niches and one the other, a scene that has probably never be in position to take the same benefit of such an opportunity to hit a worldwide community !

You, either be record label execs, promoters, DJ’s may do what you want at the end of the day, but let me tell you something between you and I : it unfortunately won’t change anything if you keep on like this while not welcoming the ones spreading your words the way they should be. Not asking for the red carpet to be layed down under our feet while crossing the Ocean to honour you, but simply being provided with the necessary infos to make our work properly and provide the ones who’re supposed to buy your music with the appropriate info.

You, the WMC’ organizer who rather have to come back to the thing that made you who you are : house music. Have been myself committed to a panel dedicated to the press relation this Sunday and guess what : haven’t even heard a single fucking word about house music during the conversation. Heard people talking about the images of the artists and what should be done to break a record, what should be done to reach the right people and blah blah blah, blah blah blah, but nuttin’ about the essence of quality music and the way to act like responsible people while choosing the appropriate words instead of searching for those tabloid stories about sex, drugs and bullshit to respond to the selling expectations of the media share holders !!!

Could it be that life ain’t nothing but that system we’ve built up throughout the years ? Don’t get me wrong folks as there’s nothing personal but the results are here, seing the music that we all love here suffering trhe way it does while we’re partying in Miami. Can be cool to escape for a while, for sure, but what’s the future of house music while reacting the way we do ?

As Roy Ayers recently said on these pages, only consistency pays up and needless to say  that we’re far away from such a situation.

Not even have a mail box at the WMC’ HQ for the people to drop us their newies and press releases which should be more than helpful as you may guess. The revolution starts here… MFSB

Every year it’s the same ol’shit… Although we may understand that the record promoters are very much concentrated on giving their newies to the right people (the DJ’s having the headlines of the numerous gig line ups around), we keep on wondering what is done for the press and more ironically for the rare people in the reputedly specialised medias devoted to spread the word…

I’d like to say : nothing ! Except if you have the chance to be related to some label heads of, executives or PR, as noticed by a few collegues here or there.

Not surprising in return to see so few writings about the genre on a wider scale. As if that whole scene which is already struggling was condemning itself because of its usual narcissist attitudes, selfishness and short term view.

Come on folks ! If the DJ’s are playing the music, do they give the infos to the crowd which is supposed to buy it at the end of the day and make the labels a living ? What consideration is given to those whose work is to spread the word ?  What is this thing called house ??? Feel free to have a thought about this and you’ll sure find another reason why the whole thing does the way it does.

Welcome to the world of the Me, Myself & I…  MFSB

Miami Beach, Fla. It’s 2.00 pmish on this Saturday afternoon and we’re getting ourselves ready to go to Soulfood 02 at the Riande Continental Hotel where DJ’s Danny Krivit, Marlon D, Markus Enochson, Jellybean Benitez, Yannick (Needs), Franck Roger and Quentin Harris are awaited to rock the poolside. The WMC’ is definitely on with tons of events scheduled during the week-end. Had some cool appetizer last thursday as we’ve attended to the Re-Union Party II at B.E.D. with good selections from E-Man and Romain, not to mention an old school set bringing us back to the souvenir of some last eighties disco funk house broght to us by the likes of 62 years old local DJ Ron D. *8* Lim, in full F-ect.

Had the chance to meet up with our Italian & Swiss partners (Davide Maffei & Luca of www.houseconnection.net ) and Michael Fossati of www.spiritofhouse.com ) for a dinner prior going to the Yoruba/Gotsoul party @ Goddess. Thanks for to our (other) IDMW.com sister - Ornella of www.housewives.net - for saving our lives while letting us in as, despite our enquiry, nothing had been done by the promoters to have us on their guest list… Was just there to listen to a bit of E-Man’s set then get to JoJo Flores’selection, transporting us into some deep fields, although we could feel that the crowd was in a sort of warm up mood like at the time ; most of the attendees being solely arrived in Miami in the previous hours… Wumni + a bunch of musicians displayed a sort of Africanism kind of atmosphere live, before being replaced by Osunlade providing us with some top quality soul jazz funk compositions. All of this being enuff for us for the nite as a lot has yet to come.

Dunno about cha folks, but me tend to think it’s easier to chat and network in an open air party than in a club. And isn’t that what’s supposed to be expected when people drive sometimes up to 20,000 miles to gather and meet up… Well, the Riande Hotel poolside was the iedal place for such a thang that Saturday afternoon with a top quality DJ line up. Frenchman Franck Roger who’s was celebrating his first coming to Miami this year would eventually tell us that he didn’t feel on his shoes right after a nevertheless pretty work done, not customized to such a volume of crowd around the DJ’s.

Although the music was on a top note as well, running around some soulful and groovy house all day long, the best moment would be brought by the end of the afternoon by Danny Krivit as he got in charge of the selection. A real magic moment on its own seing the 718 Sessions resident litteraly bringing us to the center of another planet, twisting atmospherism, eclectism and soulfulness for a rare moment of smart, dedicated and silky touch while nite was arriving, enlighting us with what may could be one this year’s Conf’ song under the form of what we understand as being a revisitation of an ol’ song by the exquisite Natalie Cole ( a bit more info about this on one of our next transmissions). Meanwhile, a whole bunch of promos were passing from a hand to another at the time including some Louis Benedetti remixes of the (already) worth to listen Duron Tarik & Intense’s recent song on 83 West, the new Copyright single on their freshly launched on label and the much awaited collaboration between French disco heroe Cerrone and dance diva Jocelyn Brown on Jamie Lewis’s label, Purple Music, to name but a few.

IDMW.com wise, can already reveal you the imminent arrival of new members on our IDM Family of partners including Enuma Recordings website hailing from the US West Coast and Chicago most famous Large Music. Thanks Srs Santi Jimenez and Jeff Craven for their trust & support.

It’s almost 11pm by the time we write this and the night awaits us for some new adventure. Will most definitely keep you posted within a few hours time. Peace, MFSB

Launched as a club promotion company by Peter Adarkwah and his partner, Ben prior to become a label a couple of years later, Barely Breakin Even also known as BBE celebrates a decade of activities this year, with a party to be held this afternoon at Opium Garden.

Expect some eclectic soundz to be spread, from hip hop to house and electronic grooves, provided by DJ ?uestlove of The Roots, Jazzy Jeff, Vikter Duplaix, Madlib, Peter Butter Wolf, Rich Medina, J Live and DJ Static. Meanwhile, this very much respected London-based label announces some worth to check new releases, starting tomorrow with the much in demand Roy Ayers's "Sugar" relifted by Joey Negro, followed by Searchin" with a Yoruba Suite Mix (04/05). Siji who's getting ready to release his debut-LP tentatively called "Godgiven", has a new cut ("Sanctuary") to be delivered with a remix by DJ Deep (04/05). Not to mention Djinji Brown's EP featuring Vinja Monica & Marion Brown to appear on related label R2 Records on March 22.
OPIUM GARDEN : 136 Collins Ave.

Legendary New Jerseyan Jocks, Tony Humphries is getting himself ready to provide us with an 8 hours set tonite @ Miami Beach Botanical Garden from 8pm to 4am.

BOTANICAL GARDEN :

2000 Convention Center Dr. - MIAMI BEACH

Awaited for two appearences behind the desks today at Soulfood 02 and tomorrow (03/07) at the "private" MAW party, Markus Enochson updates us with his latest activities and projects. And as you'll see thereafter, one has the right to wonder when our man takes some rest…

Although Miami's WMC' 2004 opens officially tomorrow, the serious things start tonite for us with some not to be missed parties. We'll definitely get to Yoruba Gotsoul event, starring Osunlade, Jojo Flores, Mike Fresco and Italian pair, the Pasta Boys behind the desks amongst others + live PA's from Wunmi, Siji and Osunlade himself at Goddess. Will also have a stop by Orgy Lounge where Antonio Ocasio will share the duties with Marlon D, Master Kev, Paul Farris, DJ Aladdin, Alix Alvarez and David Harness. All of this being an ideal appetizer to this hectic week.

GODDESS : 681 Washington Ave. ORGY LOUNGE : 623 Washington Ave.

A new worldwide rendez-vous - the South American Music Conference is - to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina by the end of 2004. It’s the very first networking event of this genre to take place in South America, featuring exhibit area, demo workshops, remixing and editing sessions & nightclub performances.

The fact that everyone in da house considers Miami as THE place to be once a year in March can’t help stopping us wondering about its final reasons of being. A question that to us as become more and more relevant throughout the years, leading us to today’s situation where two different organisations - WMC’ and recently launched M3 Summit - are to hardly fight this year with the aim to gain the leadership on everyone’s heart. How such a situation has finally occurred and what is to be its development ? Could simply answer the first part of the question so far, this leading us to the period where WMC’ used to be held by the Fontainebleau-Hilton poolside. A place that in terms of configuration was far more appropriate to gather the scene on its whole than all the other ones that have been chosen in the following years. Not to mention, as cleverly said by defunct UK mag Muzik editor and now creative director of DanceStar USA, Ben Turner that the WMC’ has ended up being perceived more as a showcase than a summit in the sense of France’s MIDEM for instance on a scene that ironically has never reached a global recognition as compared to hip hop and R&B.

Is US vet scribe, David J. Prince to bring us what’s hardly needed for the house while actively contributing to the launch of the M3 Summit with the support of Motorola ? This we shall see. But if one thing is for sure, it’s the fact that this Florida gathering is in vital need of appropriate structures to become the platform that house music still hardly needs instead of being that sort of growing Ibiza/tarte à la crème carnival like thing that it looks like nowadays. Elements of response in the hours to come. MFSB

Wassup folks ? Welcome to Miami, Fla, where we’re having our first transmission live. It’s around 4.00 pm local time and the outside temperature is 26°C which is more than convenient compared to the something around zero that surrounded our waking up yesterday morning in Northern Europe.

Although everything has to be written, we can already see signs of move with the setting ups of sound systems here and there. Nothing’s really worth to mention tonite in terms of gigs, this meaning that we still have some free hours to relax. In search of some infos here while loooking for what to do and where to go ? We’d suggest you to pick up the latest issue of local NewTimes free newspaper as a complement to our infos where they’ve manage to provide you with an extensive guide of the activities around the Conf’.

The serious things start tomorrow with the Yoruba/Gotsoul nite @ Goddess givin’ us the opportunity to have Puerto-Rico based Osunlade live and behind the desks. Like to know about some of his favourite choons at the moment ? Thereafter a top 5 of his : SIN PALABRAS Yemaya (Yoruba), ROY AYERS Searching - Yoruba Soul Mix (BBE), OSUNLADE The Year Of The Monkey (Yoruba), IMMO Millions Toes EP (Patchworks) & LOTUS The Great Masterplan (Yoruba). See ya most definitely there…

The third instalment of our previews of the WMC' 2004 tunes, as the Conf' officially kicks off tomorrow, with the very last tunes that we've got delivered to IDMW.com HQ's door a few hours prior to our departure…

Roissy CDG Airport (10:30 am CET). By the time this topic is to appear on your screens, one part of the IDMW.com team should be taking off on their way to Miami. Comprising editor, Frederic 'MFSB' Messent and head of our soon to be launched IDMW.com online Shop & Merchadising Dept. Head of Laurent C2Long, they will provide you with daily updates (new release infos, rumours about the hottest tunes, gig reviews and some previews + a photo gallery), not to mention some video footage to be displayed right after the Conference.

Meanwhile, the current coverage of the global scene will stay unchanged with the updating of our regular editorials (Word Up, IDM Issue, Single Of The Week and our weekly section of Tennerz) directly operated from the IDMW.com HQ.

  Thereafter, some fresh tunes which, although recently released, may well put their producers into the race for the supreme recognition while currently burning their faces and boddies under the boiling sun of Florida…

As the question is already on everyone's minds, we'll provide you with some elements of response from the already numerous stuff that we've received in the last days via a dedicated section called A Bit Of Miami Vice(s) starting today on our WMC updates section.

Meanwhile, we can already be positive about the following things :

- the sun, as compared to the Northern parts of America and Europe.
- the evenings during this week with an impressive array of nites in the Miami Beach Area.
- the inevitable cocktails that should greet the gatherings of the attendees.
- the girlz in search of free passes.
- the cars of those searching for some bed affair while wandering on Collins.
- these last days of preparation, trying to be on time with everything in order B4 we leave.
- your devoted trying to give you the best coverage of the best to happen over there…

As everyone's getting ready to pack for a new round in Miami and although most is to be discovered in the forthcoming days, we can already give you a bit of indications about some fresh material that might well cause a stir over there…

(more info : dtourism.com)

Dear Friends, Associates & Refunkt e-Listers..
Refunkt Records will again be attending the Winter Music Conference in 2004.
We will be in Miami from Monday 1st March until Thursday 11th March at the Ritz Plaza on Collins Avenue.
If you wish to arrange a meeting or just come and join us by the pool then
please contact us at the phone number and address below.
Alternatively email us before 1st March at info@refunkt.com
If you just want to leave promo 12"s or CDR's for Joey Musaphia then leave the package for Joey's attention at the front desk of the Ritz Plaza.
We look forward to seeing you in the sun !!!

Refunkt Records
Miami Contact:
THE RITZ PLAZA HOTEL
1701 Collins Avenue - MIAMI BEACH Vox: (305) 534-3500

Hi Everybody!

I will finally make it and will be at WMC FROM 03/05 TIL 03/10 to represent GOGO Music and our different projects. I'll be staying at Hotel Riu Florida Beach 3101 Collins Avenue – South Beach

Vox : (001305) 673 53 33 Paper : (001305) 673 93 35

Please feel free to contact me to set up a date.

See you in the sun…

Ralf GUM (gogo-music.net)

Hi Everybody,
Like in the past years, I will be representing my website at the Winter Music Conference. I'll be arriving in Miami on Thur March 4 and be staying at The Clay Hotel 1438 Washington Avenue, South Beach, vox: (305) 534 2988 fax: (305) 673 0346 web : clayhotel.com
Please feel free to contact me if you want to set up a meeting.
See you there !!!
Michael Fossati spiritofhouse.com

It's not a problem that YOU can't fix, coz' WE can do it… IN DA MIX !!!

WMC'2004 : HERE WE GO AGAIN !

A bit less than a month now and all the boys & girls in the house will get there, for what has to be taken as THE place to meet the people that we love. Almost a year now since WMC' 2003 and the appearence on the mail boxes of a very few of you (hope they were happy for that !?!) of the very first issue of In Da Mix ; this meaning that it's soon going to be IDM's first birthday. As for the site itself which began to be fully operational by last November, we would like to thank Winter Music Conference CEO, Kirk Paskal for his trust and support, honouring us while registering IDMW.com amongst the Official Partners to WMC'.

Here we go then, for the first time ever under the IDMW.com banner and would like to give our props to those (the IDM Family of websites amongst others) who, by their signs of encouragement, give us day after day the energy and the will to go further on our aim to provide the community with the medium it badly needs, while being the most reactive as we can…

Get yourself ready for some serious traffic on your screens in the weeks to come as IDMW.com will provide you with daily updates from what is to become the worldwide capital of house music during a week, not to mention a WMC'2004 photo gallery + some video streaming as we're back home for those unhappy of you who won't be able to do it this year.

Watch this space !

Frederic 'MFSB' Messent, editor

It’s official, the 19^th edition of the Winter Music Conference is to take place bet. 03/06 and 03/10/2004 at the Wyndham Resort, Miami Beach. Year end registrations available for US$225 (ending 12/29/03) + 40% discount on Exhibit Stand and WMC Guide Advertising (both ending 01/09/04).