Fade to Mind's Rizzla (aka Brian Friedberg) kicked off this weekend's Warm Up with a serious bang; blending Southern trap, tropical Caribbean beats, and heavy-hitting vogue bass, his high-energy sound carried the crowd all afternoon. The Brooklyn-based DJ's PS1 set saw a balance of reworked R&B samples with his own production efforts: incredibly nuanced amalgamations of electronic influences from around the globe. Unsurprising, considering that he's earned a Master's degree in Cultural Production, specializing in global queer studies and Caribbean visual art. His latest ragga-house throwback track, "Battyjack," was the highlight of the 90-minute set, dropping some much appreciated dancehall vibes all up on Long Island City.
I caught up with Rizzla to discuss Caribbean culture, Fade to Mind darling Ciara, and his OC-exclusive mixtape. Check it all out below!
Photos by Macy Smith
Tracklist
Compton Chic & Bongiovanni - Never Felt So Right
Pet Shop Boys - Home and Dry (Rizzla Remix)
Ashanti Orgasm - Dubbel Dutch
DJ Orion - Pa Ke Te Calles
Joan & Oneill - Flaqueaste Remix
DJ Rekha - Basement Bhangra (Federation Remix)
Tami Chynn - Neva Know (Rizzla + Anigif Remix)
Don Tippa - Gyal Dweet (Rizzla’s Doin It For Themselves Edit)
Rizzla - Ragga Kunq
VjtheDJ + Ashley Icon - Ashley Icon Prayer Dedication Divoli S’vere - Ckunt Pressure
False Witness - Makina
Lisa Hyper - Money Don’t Sleep (Rizzla + Blk.Adonis Remix)
MikeQ + DJ Sliink - The Bitch
Dev/Null - B2F
Street Mix - Music For the People
Dubbel Dutch feat. DopeGirl Baby - Shutterbug Vogue
2NE1 - Fire (Saint Remix)
BYRELLtheGREAT - I'm O.U.T.
DJ Problem - Kat Dahlia (Gangsta)
Abel - Girls (Rizzla VIP)
Girl Unit - Club Rez (Rizzla Club Cecile Bootleg)
Driftwood - Freeloader Remix
T.A.T.U. - Not Gonna Get Us Acapella
Emily Manning: Could you tell me a little about your academic background? Did your research lead you to discover the sub-genres you explore, or vice versa?
Rizzla: I basically like the same music I did when I was 17, I just started digging deeper over the years. Things I learned from art history, sociology, and gender studies influenced what I’m looking for, how I’m looking, and ultimately what I do with what I find. It doesn’t require education to be responsible and tasteful with what you discover, just a desire to learn where music actually comes from.
How did your time in Trinidad influence your work?
Massively. The sounds, the parties, the secret-but-amazing gay scene. I’m planning to return for a year soon to make music and get to know the visual art scene better.
What’s kunq?
Kunq is a sound and a mentality. It grew from an alliance of queer DJs and artists in Boston, namely D’hana, False Witness, Micah Domingo, and Blk.Adonis. The music is influenced by our shared interest in female rappers, hard house, Caribbean music and vogue, and the complicated politics that tie them together. It’s about sharing a language in which no one has to compromise who they are.
I saw your set at GHE20 G0TH1K a
I caught up with Rizzla to discuss Caribbean culture, Fade to Mind darling Ciara, and his OC-exclusive mixtape. Check it all out below!
Photos by Macy Smith
Tracklist
Compton Chic & Bongiovanni - Never Felt So Right
Pet Shop Boys - Home and Dry (Rizzla Remix)
Ashanti Orgasm - Dubbel Dutch
DJ Orion - Pa Ke Te Calles
Joan & Oneill - Flaqueaste Remix
DJ Rekha - Basement Bhangra (Federation Remix)
Tami Chynn - Neva Know (Rizzla + Anigif Remix)
Don Tippa - Gyal Dweet (Rizzla’s Doin It For Themselves Edit)
Rizzla - Ragga Kunq
VjtheDJ + Ashley Icon - Ashley Icon Prayer Dedication Divoli S’vere - Ckunt Pressure
False Witness - Makina
Lisa Hyper - Money Don’t Sleep (Rizzla + Blk.Adonis Remix)
MikeQ + DJ Sliink - The Bitch
Dev/Null - B2F
Street Mix - Music For the People
Dubbel Dutch feat. DopeGirl Baby - Shutterbug Vogue
2NE1 - Fire (Saint Remix)
BYRELLtheGREAT - I'm O.U.T.
DJ Problem - Kat Dahlia (Gangsta)
Abel - Girls (Rizzla VIP)
Girl Unit - Club Rez (Rizzla Club Cecile Bootleg)
Driftwood - Freeloader Remix
T.A.T.U. - Not Gonna Get Us Acapella
Emily Manning: Could you tell me a little about your academic background? Did your research lead you to discover the sub-genres you explore, or vice versa?
Rizzla: I basically like the same music I did when I was 17, I just started digging deeper over the years. Things I learned from art history, sociology, and gender studies influenced what I’m looking for, how I’m looking, and ultimately what I do with what I find. It doesn’t require education to be responsible and tasteful with what you discover, just a desire to learn where music actually comes from.
How did your time in Trinidad influence your work?
Massively. The sounds, the parties, the secret-but-amazing gay scene. I’m planning to return for a year soon to make music and get to know the visual art scene better.
What’s kunq?
Kunq is a sound and a mentality. It grew from an alliance of queer DJs and artists in Boston, namely D’hana, False Witness, Micah Domingo, and Blk.Adonis. The music is influenced by our shared interest in female rappers, hard house, Caribbean music and vogue, and the complicated politics that tie them together. It’s about sharing a language in which no one has to compromise who they are.
I saw your set at GHE20 G0TH1K a