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About PLURkids: PLURkids Productions, Detroit, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1998 to address the needs of people disgusted with the direction that electronic music culture was heading. In short, instigated by sketchy individuals and built to challenge their poor business methodology. PLURkids Productions was assembled upon a solid foundation of Detroit techno and house, by supporting the interests of the entire culture via internationally recognized natives of the area, including Kenny Dixon Jr. aka Moodyman, Derrick May, Jeff Mills, Juan Atkins, Eddie Fowlkes, Kevin Saunderson, Carl Craig, Terrence Parker, Mike Grant, Mike Clark, Rick Wilhite, Delano Smith, D. Wynn, Ectomorph, DJ Assault, K. Hand, Alan Oldham aka DJ T-1000, Bone, Mike Banks, Rolando, and others @ Underground Resistance, Richie Hawtin aka Plastikman of Plus 8 and M-nus fame (Windsor, Ontario), John Acquaviva (London, Ontario), and many many more. PLURkids began as a rave production company, and as such we supported many styles of music, including house, techno, trance, drum & bass, and even booty. For instance, members of the PLURkids family have gone on to help Detroit develop a tight D&B scene, supporting such artists as Aphrodite, Freaky Flow & Flipside, Odi, Moving Shadows, Adam F, Doc Scott, Lemon D, Dillinja, Photek, Optical, Ed Rush - (Goldie's) Meatlaheadz, plus atmospheric D&B such as LTJ Bukem & MC Conrad, Blame and Big Bud, and great upstart locals such as Matt Clarke, Gary G. aka Legal Alien, Ronin Selekta, Kruse Kontrol (the four of whom founded Detroit's only D&B weekly, the recently departed and sorely missed Breakbeat Etiquitte at Carbon in Hamtramck), Matt Hagerty, Savage, Habitual Offender, DJ MD!, and countless others. Even trance found a place here (for a while at least!), with acts such as Paul Oakenfold, Sasha, John Digweed, Paul Van Dyk, The Dever, Huggie (LA), and Christopher Lawrence. It still has a following, but mostly in the Miami-style semi-upscale clubs. However, it was by far house music that drove the development of PLURkids Productions - especially as we moved from rave venues to club ones when rave culture began to implode under it's own excesses, media attention, and legal ramifications. PLURkids is known (and sometimes ripped on!) for our shameless promotion of the west coast variety of house. What makes west coast house music so special is that it is a distillation of the many house styles of the world, and contains elements of all of them! The following is a list of some of the many US house artists, labels, and clubs that have inspired us and other people influential to the growth of PLURkids, and continue to inspire us to this day: San Francisco/San Diego/LA: Mark Farina, Jeno, Garth, Markie, Thomas, - Wicked. DJ Dan, DJ Tracy, DJ Fluid, Afromystik, Soulstice, Rasoul, Miguel Migs, Lisa Shaw, Naked Music, OM and Patty Ryan, JZ, Dano, Red Melon, Joeski, Onionz, Tony, Chus - Electrik Soul Brothers, Halo, Hipp-e - H-Foundation, Siesta, Soma, Bluem. Marques Wyatt, Tony Powell, Tony Largo, Does Your Mama Know. Chicago: Derrick Carter, Mark Grant, Johnny Fiasco, Sneak, Lego, Roy Davis Jr., Translucent, Boo Williams, Paul Johnson, Paul Anthony, Strictly Rhythm, Cajual, Boom Boom Room, Red No. 5, Red Dog, Clear Entertainment, Gramaphone. Baltimore/Philadelphia/New Jersey: Charles Feelgood, Scott Henry, Sm:)e Communications, Fever, Kevin Yost, i! Recordings. New York: "Little" Louie Vega, Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez - Masters at Work, Nuyorican Soul, Mateo & Matos, Francois K, Joe Claussell, Danny Krevitt, Body & Soul, Ron Trent (woo!), James Christian. Atlanta: Steven Sacks - deephouse.com - perhaps the single most influential artist in PLURkids history. This San Francisco transplant has become a favorite of the Detroit scene, and every time he plays here he reminds us why. Despite the house overload, we would be derelict if we didn't mention that techno is where we came from. It has always been there. Before we even knew what house music was, we were going to the parties and listening to techno. Thank you Juan Atkins! ...and we musn't forget locals! Gary G, who co-founded PLURkids, and became one of the biggest supporters of D&B in the area. Adam Caruso - thanks SO much for all you have done and for growing with us! T. Linder - hardest working local in existence. Derek Plaslaiko, crazy as a loon and we love him for it. Ian Hind - so down to earth and yet such an amazing DJ and producer. Jonathan Voigt - he's done so much with so little. Laura Gavoor (R.I.P.), Tim Price, Adriel Thornton, Dean Major (Syst3m), Linda G, Mark David @ Nefarious, and Motor Lounge - not all DJ's but all inseparable and crucial to the development of Detroit's scene! Anyway, we could go on and on and on here, but those who know, know. It is the local artists who support this entire culture. No locals, = no well-educated fan base, leading to erosion of the entire scene (or should we say "seen", heh). By the way, this brings us to the online culture here. A vibrant community, with all the drama and infighting necessary to make it a family. 313, PKU, 313kids, D-Luv, Detroitclubscene, and countless others - not forgetting the parent, mw-raves. Thanks so much for the sense of community, and the unrepenting criticism of all things trivial or not. Please keep in mind, this was not intended to be a comprehensive listing of all that inspires us, or of the many many people who have helped along the way - that would simply be impossible. If someone does not appear here that you think should, we're sorry they were missed - and let us know! |