Who are The Squeeze Box? I've heard about them from word of mouth. When it comes to history of events and groups The Squeeze Box has been a name I've heard being spoken about from individuals such as Tigersblood, Marcie who actually recommended The Squeeze Box when I was asking for DJ recommendations for one of my previous events. Lil Duende as well has brought them up. It made me only more curious about them and they have been a pleasure to work with and especially to learn about their history as well. From my understanding they wish to showcase an inclusive night and experience with their sets/shows allowing the audience come out with something new. Listening to Murźlago and seeing them behind the deck was truly experience as he meshed his dark electronica with cumbias/spanish music. Keep an eye out for The Squeeze Box and their events!
Who is or rather who are or what is The Squeeze box as they say "we go by the The Squeeze Box, Dsqzbx, Sqzbx. We are a trio dj group that range in different but similar styles. Skinovthenight| Ragnarok| Electroluv. We have been working together since the beginning. We/Us stands for All Inclusive, all together, we are one. A welcome statement. Join us." Join them in a night of remembrance and experience! They continue by sharing a bit of what they've been enjoying as of recently "as of lately, Ive been expressing my joy for latin music, techno, house, reggeaton. I have a wide spectrum and love for music." I look forward to seeing and hearing how they mix these genres/sounds into the sound they originally work with. Some dark electronica latin music! Ending the intro with any shout-outs as they say "Id like to give a shout out to all the new promoters and djs doing their thing."
What is the Squeeze Box? For those who don't know, do they mind explaining it a bit? Along with what the mission/goal behind the Squeeze Box is as they explain
"The squeeze Box is a place where we like to show our admiration for music, dance, art, film. Creating moods and dance experiences, Elements of style, sound and vision. We started at a mcallen staple club called Metropolis, formerly known as Klub X. It was THE alternative club back in the days." I mean even with the flyers put out there is certainly a mood as you know what to expect, but also you don't know what to expect due to the goal behind The Squeeze Box to create new experiences. Oh man I just love learning about old venues/clubs! Like I never knew Thirsty Monkey held actual shows before which is super cool! I actually googled Metropolis and man that's so cool and happy to see that. The Squeeze Box continues by sharing their goal as mentioned "our goal is to introduce the scene / community to something new. To feel energy that they never felt before, From playing a setlist synced to a film. Inviting bands, live shows and artist and djs to express themselves, And dancing like you never danced before." I'm still learning about the DJ scene and there's so much! From the music that makes your head bop, to what catches your attention in the mix to what gives you the energy to dance. It's certainly different for everyone, but it's been a fun experience for sure! So knowing the goal to for us to initially have a new experience and to dance well that's just perfect.
As a creative/artist The Squeeze Box mentions we like to play "from obscure techno, ebm, dark electronica" and what would they say got them interested in these genres? Do they remember their first instances getting into this music?
"We all discovered our music taste differently by visiting sxsw, records shops, lots of Austin shows and discovering new lables and from supporting our local goth scene and night club. The raves back in the days was when dance really influenced me and going to clubs in Mexico, but those days are long and gone. We dont listen to or play normal club hits, and something is often dark, and different, for your usual night when you come to ours. Its a mood. When 2010 kicked in we had already started the squeeze box, having monthly and seasonal themed nights showing films and art. By 2011 we decided it was time to introduce the goth scene to something new. A new genre popping off the internet, Witch House. It was the, Nu Goth. As mentioned the focus has been to introduce our current goth scene, sub culture community, to new music, new vibes, new styles, a new fashion. Moving forward, we stayed loyal to our vision and were able to book our very first live act, the goth father of witch house that is RITUALZ. Currently on tour with RADICAL MACABRO. We show Arthouse films, classic cult arts such as Alejandro Jodowosky, David Lynch Twin Peaks. Cosmotropia de Xam a german film maker and head of Mater Suspiria Vision one of my biggest influence in witch house mood and arthouse." Man these are all artists I have to look up and listen to for you! All new recommendations. I remember being in college and just accepting the "normal club hits" but once I was introduced to new DJs at events and in sets. I realized that there is certainly more than just the club hits. It's what the DJ enjoys and wishes to put out for their listeners. Even when it comes to themed nights. I never knew goth reggeaton could even be a thing until I listened to Queenkillahbee's mix on soundcloud. DJs really introduce us to new sounds and especially as The Squeeze Box mentions "We all discovered our music taste differently by visiting sxsw, records shops, lots of Austin shows and discovering new lables and from supporting our local goth scene and night club" which is a huge accumulation of music/experiences. Just listening to mixes/sets has me interested and searching up what I just listened to the night before.
Who is MURŹLAGO? Do they mind telling us a bit about themselves along with what they wish to evoke from those experiencing their sets?
"Murźlago is another spawn of Dsqzbx. Meaning BAT. only its spelled my way. Channeling more of a latin fusion. House, techno, cumbia. Id like the listener to express themselves and to know we can groove to anything, techno house cumbia, the point is to have fun and all the track selections are sung and produced by spanish artist. Thanks to you I had a moment to express my self this way and show the culture and community something else we can offer.
We already have latin infused nights called AZUCAR and those channel a hybrid of EBM, PERREO AND TECHNO." Woah woah latin infused nights called AZUCAR!? When are these happening? I must go! Ever since the night of their set at Never Ending Valley Summer I've been praying and wishing Murźlago releases the recorded set on soundcloud. I remember I literally wanted to call lil duende and be like "bro fucking listen to this!" because he couldn't make it that night due to DJing that same night. I experienced my first Touching /// Infinite event awhile back and besides Murźlago I'll soon experience a full Squeeze Box show!
When performing a set what would they say the goal is as they explain
"When playing we want to ignite a dancing flame within your core, an energy to dance forever. You will feel a sense of relief, its dance therapy. We play music that we know we would love to dance to. Some get it some don't but you will feel something. Dsqzbx dj sets introduce a veil of darkness over familiar sounds of all genres. The listener will have no choice but to notice the gloom over the type of dance beats they know and love. The importance of this is to give people a different experience when it comes to dance and club music, causing the listener to remember certain sounds, or feelings evoked from these sounds, after the set/night is done." Starting to dance more in sets yeah I will agree that it's therapy in away to just release to the music. As they mention this is not the "normal club hits" as they said "The listener will have no choice but to notice the gloom over the type of dance beats they know and love." Hey it's your set and it's The Squeeze Box you already know and if you don't pos you'll know soon. Man that set at the summer event and those sounds/mixes is something I won't forget. Living rent free in my head. If they left me this way then you know they're certainly leaving people with an experience at their shows.
As a DJ for example playing the "obscure" and "dark electronica" for those who may know this genre or listen to this type of music. Do you think as a DJ, the sets introduce something new to the listener that will be thinking of what they just heard as DJs introduce them to what lies behind the "norm." What would they say the importance is behind this? "Our taste in music may or may not be new to people, But it most certainly is dark and obscure. Back then we never heard what we play anywhere else. Very rare. However these days are different their is a lot of sources, earworms and great listeners/djs. When playing we can usually tell if the crowd likes it or not. As any dj would be able to notice and if you’re not familiar with it, its ok. Now you will be. Also, under my original alias that is Skinovthenight I curated lots of down tempo remixes and would mix and sync films to my mixes, which you can find on Vimeo. Definitely those are obscure ear worms and visually appealing." In my perspective a lot of this is new to me and I've been enjoying DJ sets and just admiring the work that is done/crafted by each one. As soon as I read vimeo and what to look up I searched for that so fast and watched the videos on the account. That's just so fucking cool. These are from like 10 years ago and cool to see what's been done and put out especially involving the film and art as mentioned. Even if it may not be new to others it's certainly new to people like me and it's been a fun experience.
Reading their bio, what is "entertainment through pain" and what catches my eye is the "ORIGINAL POSTMODERN UNDERGROUND SCENE IN THE 9V6" it makes me wonder how long has The Squeeze Box been doing this for as they say "we have been doing promotions and productions for 12+ years. post modern and original, for the fact that what we started was one of a kind. Its also a dramatic way of putting everything we stand for into one word or sentence. Tastemakers creating new nights in style, sound and vision. 'Entertainment through pain' is a line I tagged to us inspired from Throbbing Gristle’s Greatest Hits. We all express emotion with music, dance, art and films." Man 12+ years? That's a lot of history! I wonder if there's any videos recorded throughout the years of their shows. Even so there is the videos of vimeo to enjoy! Even if it's been 12+ years let's keep it coming because they're certainly not done yet. As mentioned "entertainment through pain" made me think about dancing as they mentioned "dancing all night." Other than that what catches my attention is "what we started was one of a kind" which makes me wonder how it was that very first year as it progressed and the other venues 12+ years ago.
What sort of feedback have they received from the sets performed?
"We have always received great feed back and love from our sets and nights. From 1st timers, out of towners guest from different genres. Its all about an experience. Being immersed in the music, and hearing something new." I mean I was a first timer experiencing Murźlago and I won't forget it. I was just immersed and caught off guard at every switch and what was done throughout the set. I hope someone relives my first experience as well.
Do you have any DJs you enjoy DJing with? Are there any DJs The Squeeze Box would like to work with down the road?
"We are always open for djs to play with us. As long as they fit the criteria, vibe. I would like to play downtown or anywhere, im curious to see and meet others getting down to Murźlago."
Does The Squeeze Box have anything currently planning down the road that they would like to sneak peak to the readers?
"We are currently working on a December confirmation. November is TBA. October we have a couple bands, experimental industrial minimal. Next night is September 24th. Its a 90s music and fashion throwback tribute.. 89-99 Screening a film called NOWHERE." Oh man The Squeeze Box planning and setting up in October that just sounds perfect. October is definitely going to go off with everything that's been getting released.
Do you remember the first DJ set put together/played at? How was it? What do you see differently since then to now as they explain "we got to settle at Metropolis nightclub in 2010. Thank you to Juan the owner and founder of Klub X/Metropolis for believing in our vision and passion. First dj set? Well, thats goes all the way back to house parties. Since then a lot has changed from our music taste evolving to the scene moving on and around, residential club spots. We've been up town to downtown and now back up town. We’ve had to adjust and try new locations with clubs/ venues closing." With a lot of history behind them they've must have seen a lot of closings/new locations. Gotta pour one out for Klub X/Metropolis. As they mention house parties I'm imagining 2010 goth house parties. In 2010 I was a freshman in high-school so I wasn't experiencing house parties yet, but damn a Squeeze Box house party! Ahhhhh!
The Squeeze Box shares their thoughts on the local valley scene, "I have always loved the valley scene underrated but when we show up, we can throwdown. 956 is stacked with so much great talent, and tastemakers, artist, musicians, chefs you name it we got it, so many realms of talent. another thing for sure is; the valley knows how to dance! Dance is our second language."
They include one final comment as well, "Thank you for your interest! And thank you for what you do! Lastly but not least, we’re going to progressively keep doing what we do, no matter where its at. one thing people usually tell me is to keep it going, don't stop. We are in the age of aquarius, and hope to captivate new people new freaks, nu goths. We are all inclusive. Stay tuned, something is always brewing and their is always new music to dance to."
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