Luis Aguilera's Podcast

One of the better things I do in order to evolve and mature as both an artist and overall person happens when I simply take the time to reflect on the past. I envision a mental timeline, going over personal history and what I have experienced, produced, or both. It can be ego bruising reviewing the goof-ups made, but it can also be very funny and enlightening. Not only do I get the chance to see where improvements can be had, in my thoughts and/or actions, but I also check myself on whether what I am currently doing has become a monkey’s habit (no insult to any monkey out there) or if I’m actually feeling and living out what is I am doing or experiencing. I do much the same with the rest of my life really. And life goes on progressively better because of reflection.

In 2002, I got the chance (because what a privilege it is to make art in general) to put together what I think is one of my favorite DJ sets: Nostrilgic. Along with whatever House, Techno, and other genres and sub-genres of electronic dance music vinyl I had collected over the years then, I had also picked up various classic Jungle and Hardcore Anthems that were released between 1992 and 1994 to the point that I was ready to tell a good old story – which is partly what “mixing” or being a DJ for me means. And in the telling of this new story then, after working on the same set for about two months, I was really struck by just how ingenious this line of seemingly juvenile rave party music really was. Beyond the technical aspects, the set, which was limited to 500 copies to maintain its uniqueness, was forward thinking stuff.

Nostrilgic not only talks of existential dread; the loss of valuing feeling, spirit and spontaneity to an overemphasis on intellectualization and analytics as innocence becomes lost in life (temporarily if one chooses), but it also speaks of hope and faith with its high-speed Gospel samples and soundscapes that really make you feel like you’ve taken a trip to the moon. All of this and it makes one get up and dance! The narrative eventually ends with a sprint to spiritual and emotional rejuvenation by letting you know just what is important at the end of the day. And unlike some of my other moodier DJ mixes where there are fluctuating highs andl lows, there is a constant, nearly even, energy from beginning to end in Nostrilgic —much like life really, regardless of the time of day. Because in the end, it's we who go, not life...Life just keeps dancing on.

So I hope you enjoy Nostriligc, listening to it as it was meant to be listened to: in its entirety. And of course, massive respects once again to those artists who provided the sonic chapters to put another story together. Please remember to support those artists that get you going in your own lives because they certainly deserve it. Peace.

                                                Luis Gabriel Aguilera (LGA)          February 22, 2010

Nostrilgic: 01 Trip II the Moon – Acen ::: 02 Breakin’ Free – Slipmatt ::: 03 Eclipse – Adam F ::: 04 Euphoria – The House Crew ::: 05 Shining in Da Darkness – Nookie ::: 06 Darkage – DJ Solo ::: 07 Fkin’ Hardcore – DJ Red Alert ::: 08 You are the One – DJ Red Alert ::: 09 Ruff – DJ Red Alert & Mike Slammer ::: 10 Sub Dub – Seduction ::: 11 The Chopper – DJ Hype ::: 12 Pressure – Rachel Wallace ::: 13 In Complete Darkness – Slipmatt Remix ::: 14 Bass Speaker – Aphrodite & Claudio ::: 15 Feel That Feelin’ – Aphrodite & Claudio