mixtape sessions // press

Adam Cruz 'Emospiritual Travelin' LP mentioned in Bouncefm.com's '4 New Songs/Albums You Need to Know About' list!

2012-02-13T07:30:00.000-08:00

4 new songs and/or albums you should know about / includes new releases by Doug Gomez, Adam Cruz, Miss Al Boogie and Miss Patty!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS PRESS MENTION

Adam Cruz interviewed in SoReal Magazine - Jan/Feb 2012 issue!

2012-02-05T20:00:00.000-08:00

Check out the brand new issue of SoReal Magazine. In their Jan/Feb2012 issue, SoReal discusses positive influences in hip hop. Mixtape Sessions' own Adam Cruz was interviewed and asked his views on the subject. Download the article and check it out!

What positive influences do YOU see in hop hop today?

DOWNLOAD+READ THIS ARTICLE (PDF)

VISIT SOREAL MAGAZINE ON THE WEB HERE

Bell Mesk of Mercado Paralelo Music, Industry of House, Meltin Funk adds "Dancer In The Dark" to his chart on Stompy.com

2012-02-05T10:21:00.000-08:00

Bell Mesk of Mercado Paralelo Music, Industry of House, Meltin Funk has added "Dancer In The Dark" to his February 2012 chart on Stompy - thanks for the support, Bell!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS CHART

VISIT BELL MESK ON THE WEB HERE

Bouncefm.com advance review "Emospiritual Travelin"

2012-02-05T10:15:00.000-08:00

Check out Bouncefm.com's review of the forthcoming sophomore album by Adam Cruz, entitled "Emospiritual Travelin."

"Big big shout out to Adam Cruz on the release of his new album Emospiritual Travelin. Look out for the monster jam, and our personal favorite, IRLANDA EN XHOSA. Fiyah!"

CLICK HERE AND CHECK OUT THIS REVIEW

GUTTER MAGAZINE - INTRODUCING JAIDENE VEDA - JULY 2011

2011-07-07T08:22:00.000-07:00

Canadian Jaidene Veda is making waves in the underground house scene, having caught the attention of Danny Krivit, Joe Claussell and DJ Spinna with her silky-smooth vocals and soulful melodies. Here she tells Gutter how she dreams of opening for Bjork one day, and gets very excited when producers call her up.

What can you tell us about the Soul Size Love for Japan EP?

There is a long story to each of the connections to the producers on the EP, but I’ll just say how blessed I am by their charitable involvement, let alone the talent and sounds they each brought to the table. I’m also honored that Josh Milan's previously unreleased (original) edit will finally be heard, and with his long term partner Adam Cruz behind the release, we are very excited and proud to share this with the music community and watch it contribute to the long-term recovery efforts in Japan! I’m grateful for the way that the words “Soul Size Love” resonated with people who heard my first album and it’s a message we are delivering with this benefit EP: “give”.

SHOW YOUR LOVE AND PICK UP SOUL SIZE LOVE TODAY!

CLICK HERE 2 READ MORE

HALCYONLINE.COM - FEATURED ARTIST: ADAM CRUZ - MAY 2010

2010-07-01T22:33:00.000-07:00

Launched in 2000, the weekly Mixtape Sessions provided some of the highlight moments at halcyon classic on Smith St. Conceived as a live webcast ‘radio show’ long before the era of the ubiquitous Podcast, Mixtape Sessions featured Adam Cruz, then known as The Almagest, playing alongside weekly guests whom he would interview in a casual style. Throughout the show’s successful four-year run, Cruz hosted a slew of independent artists from New York’s underground House music scene including legends like Tony Humphries, Louie Vega, and Frankie Feleciano, as well as then relative unknowns destined for greatness like Mr. V and Alix Alvarez.

Ten years later, Mixtape Sessions is alive and well as an internet radio show and a label which Cruz operates independently of his day job at West End Records. The Mixtape Sessions roster is comprised of a small crew of close family (literally, it includes Adam’s sister Flora, a fine soulful vocalist,) and longtime friends. Now, for the first time in the label’s already substantial history, Adam is stepping out of the shadows to explore his own musical voice, manifested in his debut album, Life and Times. No stranger to the studio, the project follows years of behind-the-scenes work producing and writing for a who’s-who of New York’s house royalty.

We turned the tables on Cruz making him the subject of an interview for a change. Below he chats with us about his days as go-to guy for Masters at Work and Blaze, about working with the late Mel Cheren, (the Godfather of Disco,) and why “music for the people” is his mantra.

(click on the image above to read the full review)

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: ADAM CRUZ "LIFE AND TIMES" LP - APRIL 10, 2010

2010-07-01T22:29:00.000-07:00

With the "Life and times", the chameleonic Adam Cruz presents a refreshing album that is available now. The album features guest appearances from Flora Cruz, Gerideau, Eddie Nicholas and Queen AaMinah, and the diversity of the ten tracks is simply amazing! Each track is distinct and lets you discover different influences - you are taken on a musical journey you wish would never end... Words can't do justice to this album, you must hear it for yourself to understand why we love it so much...

KEARNY OBSERVER: WORLD MUSIC CLOSE TO HOME - JULY 22, 2009

2010-07-01T22:05:00.000-07:00

BLOOMFIELD LIFE: HE'S LIVING HIS LIFE ON THE SPIN CYCLE - JULY 9, 2009

2010-07-01T22:04:00.000-07:00

BOUNCEFM.COM ALBUM REVIEW: FLORA CRUZ - DULCE MELODIA LP - DECEMBER 2008

2010-07-01T21:45:00.000-07:00

In the words of Blaine and Antoine, we give this album "Two snaps up!" We love this album! Damn, son! Shyt is fire!

LET THE SUN SHINE OUT, our favorite song on the album is an instant classic. Lace up your skates, bob your head and bounce to the beat! Our other favorite joint is OVERCOME, the anthem previously heard on Flora’s stellar EP earlier in 2008. Taking a cue from rapper Dana Dane, FAITHFUL brings you something old and something new. BEAT THAT DRUM is engineered for the big room crowd – Pacha, are you ready? Producer Adam Cruz and singer Flora Cruz deliver a stellar solo debut album.

TOP TRACKS:
-LET THE SUN SHINE OUT
-OVERCOME
-I WANNA BELIEVE
-BEAT THAT DRUM
-ALL OF ME

SOULEDUP.COM REVIEW: FLORA CRUZ - DULCE MELODIA LP - DECEMBER 2008

2010-07-01T21:38:00.000-07:00

The pack comes with eleven tracks, one of which is a filler number, but most of the other ten really grabbed our attention here at SUHQ and having such a variance of style, we think this could appeal to a wide audience of people with different musical tastes. From the start with the short intro track Dulce Melodia (which translates from Spanish as Sweet Melody), this album carries itself off perfectly...

(click on the image above to read the full review)

YAHOO MUSIC REVIEW: FLORA CRUZ TRIPS THE LIGHT FANTASTIC - SEPTEMBER 5, 2008

2010-07-01T21:27:00.000-07:00

NO YOU DIN'T! Flora Cruz Mixtape: I love this: doofus house beats and Hispanic vocals prancing like it's club land in NYC circa 1987. I used to know a security guard whose favorite word was "Fierce," and she was! Back then I was a jazz drummer, making do as the jazz buyer at Tower Records Lincoln Center. My friend would invite me to the Palladium or the Tunnel for a night out dancing, beating the floor, drinking, maybe cruising a Gay bar or two. I loved her. She scared me. She would love this music.

"Mixtape Sessions is proud to bring you the latest offering from Flora Cruz. Released in January 2008, 'Overcome' is about the struggles of living day to day. This song is for anyone who's learned to overcome real adversity in their life. Since its release, the feedback on her 'Overcome' EP has been wonderful. In particular, producers, DJs, and music lovers have all felt a strong connection with the EP's title track and its empowering messages. We received so many requests to remix 'Overcome' that we had to release them all. Here, we feature incredible remixes from noted dance music producers from around the world including: Phil Hooton, Glenn Thornton, Matt Hughes, and Anderson Soares."

BLOOMFIELD LIFE: LOCAL DJ TO PLAY AT NJPAC - JULY 3, 2008

2010-07-01T21:22:00.000-07:00

SOULTRACKS INTERVIEW WITH MANCHILDBLACK - JUNE 2008

2010-07-01T21:12:00.000-07:00

Manchildblack has just released an EP "My Mind's I" late last month and has been performing shows to promote the EP at Joe's Pub, Sol Village at SOB's. His blend of Funk/Rock/Hip-Hop and R&B is considered "Raw Soul" and he puts on a great live performance which has led to many DJ's/Producers asking him to appear on 12" singles in the past.

When Manchildblack is not performing, acting and recording, he is hard at work to promote the weekly Dance party Libation hosted by Afro Mosaic Soul,Tea Party Music and Manchildblack every Thursday at its new space The Sullivan Room in NYC. Libation is one of the most popular Dance Parties in NYC with their resident DJ's Ian Friday.

(click on the image above for the full interview)

PUREHOUSEMUSIC.NET REVIEW: EDDIE NICHOLAS - GHUMBAH - JUNE 2008

2010-07-01T21:06:00.000-07:00

Just a nice quirky little track here, Cool acid bits floating around give it a bit of aggression but really it's quite a friendly tribal track, The vox is very cool indeed and comes as an acapella too for some fun!

5 MAGAZINE MUSIC REVIEW: FLORA CRUZ - OVERCOME EP - FEBRUARY 2008

2010-07-01T20:02:00.001-07:00

West End Records' Adam Cruz produced this six track EP for Flora Cruz, much of it on the gentler, relaxed and more sophisticated side of the dance music spectrum. The original mix is a funky number with a dirty sound that doesn't go too high or low but stays in the pocket. Much of the material on the EP plows ground that the Brand New Heavies broke some time ago Flora Cruz is actually a dead ringer for N'Dea Davenport when she opens up her voice in the chorus. "Let the Sunshine Out" is actually a really great piece of musicianship I don't mean in the complexity but in the finer points of crafting a great song. I can think of a few people who would be turned on by this and like to hear it as a disco remix.

BOUNCEFM.COM RECORD REVIEW: OVERCOME EP - JANUARY 16, 2008

2010-07-01T19:48:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of housed up RnB, OVERCOME (the first single on the same titled EP) delivers that propa dance floor vibe. Listen for the jazzy horn in NO REGRETS, a playful diddy that’s at once familiar, yet refreshing. 4/4 lovers will groove to LET THE SUNSHINE OUT. DJ’s, be sure to ride this track with Donna Summer’s BAD GIRL instrumental underneath (Beep beep, yeah, toot, toot!) The song is so bumpin’ it will make you stop, drop and roll - wop, pop and lock. BEAT THAT DRUM is made for the big room, hard/tech, Pacha vibe – bass that echoes, perfectly engineered for a DJ set by Tedd Patterson or Danny Tenaglia. The Overcome EP delivers something for everyone, every song is banging.

ADAM CRUZ TOURS TOKYO JAPAN WITH SOUL EYES AT CLUB CORE - APRIL 3, 2004

2010-07-01T15:04:00.001-07:00

MIXTAPE SESSIONS IN TIME OUT NEW YORK - AUGUST 26, 2003

2010-07-01T14:52:00.000-07:00

ALEXANDER EAST (PLANET EAST/NORDIC TRAX) TOP 10 CHART - FEBRUARY 2010

2010-07-01T14:44:00.001-07:00

PIRAHNAHEAD (WHASDAT MUSIC) TOP 10 CHART - JULY 2009

2010-07-01T14:36:00.000-07:00

FRANKE ESTEVEZ (FUZION) TOP 10 CHART - JUNE 2009

2010-07-01T14:09:00.000-07:00

AXIOM STUDIOS TOP 10 CHART - JUNE 2009

2010-07-01T14:05:00.003-07:00

PHLASH AND FRIENDS (RESTLESS SOUL MUSIC) TOP 10 CHART - NOVEMBER 2008

2010-07-01T13:16:00.000-07:00

MR. V (SOLE CHANNEL/VEGA) TOP 10 CHART - NOVEMBER 2008

2010-07-01T12:12:00.000-07:00

ARNAUD D (GKF RECORDS/SOULSHINE RECORDINGS) TOP 10 CHART - NOVEMBER 2008

2010-07-01T12:09:00.001-07:00

ANTONELLO COGHE (VEGA/NULU) TOP 10 CHART - SEPTEMBER 2008

2010-07-01T12:01:00.000-07:00

MICHAEL TERZIAN (NU BANG CLAN/UHMAG.COM/MOTIONFM.COM) TOP 10 CHART - SEPTEMBER 2008

2010-07-01T11:56:00.000-07:00

TONY HUMPHRIES (TONY RECORDS) TOP 10 CHART - FEBRUARY 2008

2010-07-01T11:49:00.001-07:00

ANTONELLO COGHE (VEGA/NULU) TOP 10 CHART - FEBRUARY 2008

2010-07-01T05:03:00.000-07:00