DJ Rick Barbarash - August 2005
Rick Barbarash - Aug. 2005
Scene: St. Louis Missouri
Rick's house sitting on the floor while he is helping me transfer files from my PC to my new Apple. We're just gone through some of his music and I am impressed with the quality and expanse of his
selection. He is manic! ... a trait we all share as Neo DJs.
I decided to add this feature to the Neotango Zone after sharing DJ philosophies with Rick. I thought his concepts were innovative and would be interesting and valuable to other DJs.
Q: Since you are (as most DJs are) a fresh face, let's start with a quick bio.
Rick: I started dancing tango in St. Louis 3 1/2 years ago. My interest in alternative music started when I first heard Gotan Project during a lesson with my tango professor, Roxanne. I became so enamored with alternative music that I hosted an all alternative tango party 4th of July in 2004 and it was so well received that I decided to begin my own milonga.
At first, I scheduled it for every three months...now it's every month.
I started dancing open but now I stick mostly to close embrace as taught by Roxanne McKenney and later, Alicia Pons.
Q: Why alternative?
Rick: I think it is a hoot! It is a welcome departure from Golden Age Music. Don't get me wrong, I love traditional tango music. But, I didn't grow up with traditional tango music so it is definitely an acquired taste. I think for some people, alternative/neo tango music lets them explore, relax, and not be so serious. Many of the very best tango traditional teachers from BsAs will play an alternative piece occasionally in order to demonstrate a rhythm or step to students in a genre that is more familiar, or to just liven things up or break the monotony.
Q: I find when I DJ that I generally prefer a 70 traditional/30 neo tango mix, however after previewing your selection I am definitely leaning more towards a 50/50 split. Do you have a preference?
Rick: My monthly Milonga Sin Nombre is 100% alternative & I love it that way. Our regular weekly milongas have about 2 alternative sets, as well as two swing and salsa sets. I think the latter is also very important. In our growing tango community, new dancers often come from another dance form, usually swing or salsa. Since there is a relatively long learning period in Argentine tango (especially for leaders), the two swing/salsa sets allow them a chance to shine. It works very well for us.
Q: How would you define alternative/neo tango music?
Rick: Anything that is not, or does not sound like the Golden Age tango orchestras (I use the term tango to include tango, milonga & vals.). It does include tradition tangos arranged or remixed in nontraditional ways. It may include: upbeat arrangements of traditional music (e.g. El Arranque); modern tangos (e.g. La Chicana, Debayres); Argentine folk (Juanjo Dominguez); electronica, jazz, blues, pop,rap, African, klezmer... every culture, every genre, the choices are limitless and ever growing! If you can feel the tango, vals or milonga in a particular piece of music and it makes you happy, then why not!
Q: Do you have criteria for the songs you will consider for your DJ list?
Rick: They have to be danceable, not just weird sounding.
Q: How do you mix your evening? do you use tandas? cortinas? and do you group them in any order?
..ie. style, artist, genre, beat, mood
Rick: I usually have a "tanda" or set consisting of 2-3 tangos, 1-2 milonga, and 1-2 valses. It varies depending on the length of the songs. I also like to have Argentine sounding music at least every other set, to remind us of the inspiration for the evening. I usually don't include cortinas. However, since I am usually dancing, I will use them to give me a chance to get back to the laptop to check or change the upcoming music selections. As to style, I try to flow from mood to mood smoothly; maybe sustain a mood but vary the speed or transition to vals or milonga. I spend more time working on the order of songs than anything.
Q: What sources do you use?
Rick: My teacher and fellow DJ, Roxanne McKenney, Korey Ireland of KC, YOU ( of course), Sharna Fabiano lists, Santiago Steele's reviews, friends and dancers at milongas send me suggestions, my kids (thanks Sarah and Allie for all the rap and hip/hop I would otherwise miss), and many hours sampling music at Amazon.com, zivals.com & danzaymovimiento.com. Movie and television soundtracks are also a great source of music for me.
Q: What has been the community's response to your music?
Rick: It has been fantastic. Since we often have the alternative milonga in a very public venue (like our City Museum), it has been an interesting way to introduce the community to Argentine tango.
Q: Do you think that there are "common" traits that Neo Tango enthusiasts share?
Rick: They love to dance and love to have fun. They also have a sense of humor and compassion. I have not been to many alternative milongas where the DJ plays a song that you don't giggle first, then start dancing and really enjoying it; or a song that makes you just go "AWWwww..."
Q: There's much controversy among tangueros/as about the musicality of
dancers who like Neo Tango music. What is your opinion.
Rick: I go to any milonga to have fun. I think it is a bit snobbish and rude to comment on other peoples "musicality" or dancing style, no matter what kind of milonga it is. After all it is just a dance and it is supposed to be fun. It is not a competition.
Q: Who are your current favorite artists. I say current because I'm sure this list will change next week!
Rick: Debrayes, Kevin Johansen, La Chicana, Daniel Melingo, Gorrillaz, Zero 7, Sarah Brightman, Portishead, Diana Krall, Thievery Corporation, Stéphane Pompougnac, Paul Oakenfold... I had better stop there.
I also look for covers of popular alternative songs. For instance I have 10 variations of "Fever", a song made famous by Peggy Lee.
Q: What system/software/audio setup do you use?
Rick: I use a laptop with Windows XP operating system, iTunes for Windows, and a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS PCMCIA sound card by Creative Labs. I am trying out other DJ software packages. I also use mp3DirectCut software to edit mp3 files.
Q: Any suggestions/advice for a newbie to neo tango?
Rick: Get up off your ass, ask someone to dance and just have some fun!
contact Rick at 314-993-3698 rbarbarash@yahoo.com
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