• Home
  • Blog
  • Forum
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Resources
  • Workshops
  • Street Team
  • Code of Ethics
  • Friday Flourishes
  • Contact
  Contra Syncretist
Connect with Contra Syncretist!

DJ Profile: DJ Solar Sound

4/27/2011

 
Club Contras is a crossover contra dance series founded  early this year and called by Brian Hamshar. Brian's brother, Clayton "DJ Solar Sound" Hamshar, is their house DJ, spinning tunes for the series every month with some production help from his partner, Forest "DJ FML" Lyon. Together, DJ Solar Sound and DJ FML are known as The System.  

Club Contras started as the brainchild of the brothers Hamshar: "Brian and I had been talking about how cool it would be since around 2006-2007. Then, when Contra Sonic popped up [in Washington, DC], Brian was inspired to start one of our own. I was very enthusiastic for the idea, just as much as I had been a few years ago if not more, and so we entered as partners."
The series is very much a collaborative effort. The music is programmed in one of two ways: "For most of the music, I look through my catalogue for songs around the proper speed (usually 120-128 bpm, but sometimes as low as 110 or high as 130). Then I check the length (long, medium, short, etc. and how it can fit into the program), and finally I play through the song checking for it to be “square” (organized in groups of 64 beats). I take it from there, doing any adjustments as needed. Alternatively, DJ FML and I collaborate on producing the music ourselves, creating a mixture of electronic music and traditional tunes. The program is a blend from these two sources."   Further, there is heavy collaboration between DJ Solar Sound and Club Contras' house caller, Brian: "Usually I will map out the songs I will be spinning according to the program Brian sets up. He’ll usually ask for a couple specific parameters (e.g. put a slow one here, an especially rhythmic one here, etc.) and I will fill in the rest, letting him know of any that need special arrangements. The music is definitely an eclectic mixture: I draw extensively from the house and trance genres, but usually incorporate a few dance/remixed songs from the 90s and/or contemporary times. Also mixed in are arrangements of traditional tunes remixed by my partner and me, as well as the occasional original composition. The waltzes are almost always original compositions."

"It can be much more intense" to spin a contra than to spin other gigs, he continues. "You are essential to keeping the dance going. There must always be a sense of rhythm (minimizing  abstract passages). Elsewhere, you can always just gloss over a transition if the going gets rough, or can add/subtract songs from the playlist as much as you want. This is severely limited in the techno contra format, as you much ensure that the transitions are smooth and make sense to a medley transition, that the songs are suitable to the dance, etc. Most importantly, if the dance gets screwed up, you have to fix it. You have to go in there and mess with the beats until everything is back on track. When I go to other events and DJ, it feels so relaxing to be able to pull off on-the-fly transitions and adjust the playlist to the crowd. However, it serves as a reminder that there’s a large gap between DJing and good DJing, and that there are many, many mistakes that one can learn from."

DJ Solar Sound says that one of the great parts of spinning a techno contra is "the connection I have with the audience and my ability to spread what I love while fusing two of my passions. It’s just so fulfilling to nail a transition from my favorite track of last year into a new song that I finished only a few days prior, and to see the dancers just loving it."

"I urge everyone to check out our music at http://www.facebook.com/thesystem444, and to let me know if it would be a good idea to release some of these remixed traditional tunes on an album. Lastly, I ask that everyone who hasn’t tried it yet, attend one of the increasingly common techno contras in their area. If you’d like to book me, or my partner and I (The System), just let us know on that Facebook page. We’re based in central Virginia and would love to DJ your event!"
 
DJ Solar Sound is a radio DJ at WXJM 88.7, where he spins electronic music. Other than that, The System (or sometimes just he) occasionally performs at parties and local events. The System has also performed a set in a concert. However, as DJ Solar Sound is quick to point out, "we are always looking for more gigs!" The next Club Contras dance will be on Sunday, May 1 at Greenwood Community Center in Greenwood, VA. On Monday, May 30, DJ Solar Sound and Perpetual e-Motion will provide the music at a special Contra-phoria event, also in Greenwood, VA.  Many thanks to him for chatting with me!

If someone has spun at a techno contra event near you, I would love to hear from them -- drop me a line on the Contact Me form, or better yet have them do it themselves through the same channel or email me at contrasyncretist [at] gmail [dot] com.

Comments are closed.
    This project has concluded as of mid-2013 (with an epilogue posted mid-2016) but we hope to see you soon on a contra dance floor! Meanwhile, head over to our Facebook page for upcoming techno contra events and other items of interest.

    The 100+ Friday Flourish videos can still be found on YouTube.

    Author

    I dance with abandon. I play with glowsticks. I look for music that is conducive to one or both. I play behind cameras.  I write about all of the above. I'm based in Glen Echo's contra dance community outside of Washington, D.C., but I'm happy to go dance afield when I can. Lather, rinse, repeat. Always repeat.

    Archives

    June 2016
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011

    Categories

    All
    Aaron Marcus
    Advanced Dances
    Alan Foss
    Album Review
    Alex Krogh-Grabbe
    Allemande
    Allemande Swing
    Alternative Music Party
    Alternative Twirl Out From Promenade
    Andrew Marcus
    Andrew Vannorstrand
    Andrew Van Norstrand
    Andy Reiner
    Anna Kendrick
    Anna Rain
    Anne Midgette
    Ann Fallon
    Arlington Va
    Ascap. Bmi
    Asheville Nc
    Atlanta Ga
    Back Lead
    Backward Swing
    Backward Swing With Lasso
    Balance And Play
    Balance-&-swing Transition
    Balance Switch
    Bates College
    Beatles Contra
    Behind-the-Back Swing Variant
    Bennett Schatz
    Bev Bernbaum
    Binary Blackout
    Blaise Thompson
    Blogger
    Blogger's Soapbox
    Blogger's Soapbox
    Blogger’s Soapbox
    Blues
    Brendan Carey Block
    Brendan Taaffe
    Brian Hamshar
    Burning Man
    Cake
    California Twirl
    Caller
    Call For Submissions
    Cha-cha Slide
    Chaos Lines
    Chattaboogie
    Chelsea Co
    Choreography
    Chrissy Fowler
    Christopher Jacoby
    Christylez Bacon
    Claps
    Clark Baker
    Club Contras
    Community
    Connie's Whirl
    Consent
    Content
    Contra Evolution
    Contra Evolution.
    Contra Evolution. Greenfield Ma
    Contraforce
    Contra-phoria
    Contra Shenanigans
    Contrashock
    Contra Sonic
    Contrastock
    Cool Hip Dancer
    Copyright
    Costuming
    Courtesy Twirl
    Cover Bands
    Crabs
    Crowding
    Cuddle Swing
    Cuddle Swing Switch
    Cuddle-up California Twirl
    Culture Clash
    Cups
    Dana Parkinson
    Dance Experiment
    Dancers
    Dance Weekends
    Dancing In Small Spaces
    Dancing Switch
    Dan Kappus
    Dave Colestock
    Dave Eisenstadter
    Dead Cat Bounce
    Decadance
    Deca-dance
    Deca-dance Event
    Demon Barber Roadshow
    Diane Silver
    Dj
    Dj Fml
    Dj Gaga
    Dj Improper
    Dj Nu B
    Dj Shel D
    Dj Solar Sound
    Donna Hunt
    Do Si Do
    Double Allemande Swing
    Double Apex
    Double Twirl Under
    Doug Plummer
    Ecd
    Ed Howe
    Editorial
    Eileen Thorsos
    Elbow Swing
    Electric Camel Contra
    Electric Slide
    Electrotrad
    Elyse Marder
    Eric Harris
    Eric Johnson
    Fads
    Fiddlefoxx
    Firecloud
    Flash Mob
    Flourishes
    Flurry Festival
    Flying Swing Switch
    Follow
    Footfall
    Footworks
    Fox News
    Fremont Abbey
    Friday Flourish
    Gangnam Style
    Gate
    Gaye Fifer
    Gender Balance
    Gender Free Contra
    Gender-free Contra
    Gender Roles
    Gents Chain
    Gents Swing
    George Marshall
    Gerry Diver
    Giant Robot Dance
    Giant Swallow Motion
    Glen Loper
    Glossary
    Greenfield Ma
    Greenwood Va
    Gypsy Meltdown Twirl
    Hank Morris
    Hay For Four
    High Ceilidh Swing
    High Ceilidh Wing
    High Contrast
    Hip-hop
    Hiphop Contra33bdaf614f
    History
    Housekeeping
    Infographic
    Intergenerationality
    Jack Mitchell
    Jamie Oshima
    Jayjfresh02b2d7b2bf
    Jeff Kaufman
    Jesse Edgerton
    John Cote
    John Pranio
    Jordy Williams
    Julie Vallimont
    Ladies
    Ladies Chain
    Ladies Chained9d7891b2
    Lead
    Lewiston Me
    Licensing
    Lighting
    Lights
    Links
    Lisa Greenleaf
    Live At The Butterball
    London Bridge Hay
    Long Lines
    Louis Dow
    Low Ceilidh Swing
    Macarena
    Madonna
    Marketing
    Marlin Prowell
    Martin Hayes
    Martyn Bennett
    Medley
    Melissa Taggart
    Mel Novner
    Mens Chain
    Miami Fl
    Michael Ferguson
    Midswingc4f63a1de0
    Midswing Spinoutb14a07051c
    Midtwirl Reverse8b8dd124c4
    Mike Wilson-jones
    Miriam Baker
    Misdivine
    Money Musk
    Moral Issue
    Morris
    Mosh Pit
    Music
    New Dancers
    News Coverage
    New York Ny
    Nils Fredland
    Noah Van Norstrand
    North Carolina
    North Whitefield Me
    Organizer
    Other Syncretists
    Outreach
    Over The Head Slide
    Parallel Variant On Crabs
    Pattycake
    Paul Dalessio5fc83e8cd1
    Pawbat Twirl3677eefc75
    Penelope Weinberger
    Perpetual E Motion
    Perpetual Emotionab4aa3ee79
    Perry Shafran
    Petronella
    Phase X
    Portland
    Portland Or
    Pretzel Swing
    Principle
    Promenade
    Ray Polhemus
    Redux
    Resolutions
    Reverse Cape Position
    Reverse Courtesy Turn
    Reverse Ripcord Twirl Variant
    Rick Mohr
    Ripcord Twirl
    Road Stories
    Roanoke Wv
    Roll Away
    Rollover
    Ross Harriss
    Rss Feed
    Safety
    Sarah Dicegoldberg38fd311c67
    Scout House
    Sean Oshima
    Seattle Wa
    Sesac
    Seth Tepfer
    Seventeen
    Shiny Objects
    Simple Twirl Switch
    Singing Squares
    Skaters
    Sonny Newman
    Soulja Boy
    Sound Mixing
    Spark In The Dark
    Spider Vetter
    Spinout
    Spokane Wa
    Stanford Ca
    St Petersburg Fld35dde8e84
    Street Team
    Stretches
    Survey
    Swallowtail
    Swing
    Switch
    Technoberfest
    Techno Contra
    Technophoria
    Ted Hodapp
    Terpsichore
    Terra Price
    The Henry Road Bandits
    The Matt Blackfield Project
    The Speech Project
    The System
    The Turtle Duhks
    Things To Think About
    Tobacco Road
    Toki Oshima
    Tradeoff Twirl
    Transsiberian Orchestra6b3cf55bca
    Traveling Swing
    Tricky Swing
    Turn Under
    Twirl
    Twirl In Switch
    Twisted Swing
    Twisty Chain
    Twitter
    Two Handed Ladies Chain
    Ufo
    Uk
    Variety
    Vernals4785e4f52b
    Vicki Herndon
    Videos
    Vince Budnick
    Waltz Variant On Crab Swing
    Washington Dc
    Wendy Graham
    Whipperstomper Balance
    Whipperstompers
    Whitefield Me
    Will Mentor
    Willow Grove Pa
    World
    Xecd
    Youth Dance Weekend
    Yuja Wang

    Comments are welcome; spam-bots and disrespectful behaviors are not. Please do (nicely) point out errors if they are found.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from edwin.bautista, Cupcake KITSCHen, Ivy Dawned, Martin Pettitt, quinn.anya, LimeTech, avlxyz, Sarah and Jason, Bill Ward's Brickpile