Claude VonStroke created a small underground record label called Dirtybird in 2005 and grew it into a full-fledged events, clothing and music brand over the last 16 years. During this time, he has also managed to release 6 albums and some of the most iconic house music tracks of the last two decades.
Most people know Claude VonStroke for his smiling DJ persona touring every major city,festival, and basement after-party around the world. But Claude has also influenced the very fabric of the dance community, A&Ring an impeccable roster of acts like Walker & Royce, Nala, Justin Martin, Fisher, Shiba San, Catz n Dogz, Steve Darko, Riva Starr, Cour T, Breach, Eats Everything, Shadow Child, and countless others. Today, his Dirtybird label continues to surprise and innovate in the underground dance scene, releasing an enigmatic combination of house, funk, dirty-bass, and electronica.
VonStroke has released four original artist albums, a remix album, and a live album recorded when he closed the famed Movement Festival in his original hometown of Detroit, Michigan. Some other music highlights include working on records with Bootsy Collins, Rihanna, Disclosure and Kevin Saunderson as well as a few #1 & #2 hits on Beatport. His partnership with Green Velvet as “GET REAL” has been one of the most rewarding friendships as Claude originally modeled his career after the quirky enigmatic style of his mentor and friend from Chicago.
In 2015 VonStroke brought his first festival to light called Dirtybird Campout, a unique camping experience based on the games and activities associated with American Summer camp mixed with the best underground house and bass music in the world. He continues to innovate and curate new events such as the Birdhouse Festival in Los Angeles and Chicago and the legendary Dirtybird BBQ day parties all across North America. He participates online as well bringing the Dirtybird LIVE twitch channel to life 7 nights a week, curating new and interesting shows including Dj sets, cooking, yoga and even comedy to the fans.
VonStroke also loves art, most notably pop surrealist artwork that he has commissioned for the last 8 years on Dirtybird for all of the releases. Each year he hires a new artist and has had the pleasure of working with renowned artists such as Jeremy Fish, Dulk, Graham Carter, Dan May, Charlie Immer, Raoul Deleo and Felicia Chiao. Walking through the Dirtybird HQ in Los Angeles is like walking through an art gallery in the Wynwood district of Miami.
A lot of his success can be attributed to a good attitude. Claude does not scowl and look mean while he DJs. He does not pretend to know everything and he truly loves his fans. He is grateful to be curating, creating and performing music for a living and he knows that the reason people go to parties is to shake their booty and have fun.
Jesse Sugar More
jesse sugar moore is a musician, artist, record collector, and dj originally from baltimore, maryland and currently living in portland, oregon. lately he has been working both solo and with his partner to make ceramic mosaics, wind chimes, and other creations, using reclaimed materials.
This all-vinyl mix is a listening experience that celebrates diversity in music, sound, expression, people, culture, and emotion. it begins with a song from the Bajau Laut, a tribe in North Borneo, singing and shouting to induce a trance, and it ends with a protest against imperialism. finding the threads of similarity, continuity, and connection between these very different tracks is a metaphor for our collective humanity. the experience will get uncomfortable at times, but the goal is simply to continue to listen and allow yourself to feel it.
Tracklist
Bajau Laut Dance (From the record jacket: “Performed by the Bajau Laut, one of the principal tribes living in North Borneo. Tribal members shout and dance themselves into a trance-like state to the accompaniment of gongs.”)
Kronos Quartet - Company (Philip Glass)
Tangerine Dream - Mysterious Semblance at the Strand of Nightmares
The Singers Unlimited - Killing Me Softly With His Song (Charles Fox)
Lee Michaels - Stormy Monday (T-Bone Walker)
Odetta - House Of The Rising Sun (Traditional)
Pink Floyd - A Saucerful Of Secrets
Paul Winter - Arctic Jungle
First Mode - Stuttering Concepts
Steve Reich - Pulse (Section I)
Charlie Haden and Alice Coltrane - For Turiya
Country Joe and The Fish - Colors For Susan
Jānos Nēmeth - Egyveleg szlovák dallamokból I. (Medley of Slovak Melodies I.)
Robbie Basho - Leaf in the Wind
Leon Russell - Old Masters (Bob Dylan)
- KBOO