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Extended Play (interview w/ David Morales in Eye)
Extended Play (from eyeweekly.com)
DAVID MORALES
With Frankie Knuckles, Nevio. Sat, April 29 at the opening of Sonic, 270 Spadina Ave. $30 from Priape, Ticketbreak.com. $40 at the door.
There's palpable frustration where a lot of Toronto DJs, promoters and club-goers are concerned. "We need new spaces!" seems to be the most common refrain as venue after venue closes (or goes the snooty bottle-service route), the "entertainment district" grows more grotesque and warehouse parties are shut down more frequently.
Brooklyn DJ/producer David Morales -- who has played dozens of Toronto events since debuting here at the Twilight Zone in 1985 -- has his take on what we're facing.
"You don't have a real quality space in Toronto where everybody unites, where it's not ego or fashion, where people specifically go to hear music on a great system with great lighting and where it's warm with no aggression."
The Grammy award winner and 31-year turntable veteran is sitting across from me in an office at Sonic, the club that he and local DJ/entrepreneur Nevio Persia are opening at 270 Spadina Ave., the former home of Boa-Redux. It will be the second Canadian club that the jet-setting Morales co-owns, with Montreal's Stereo being the first, and serving as inspiration for Sonic.
"Canada just draws me," Morales laughs. "When I started at Stereo seven years ago, it was as a monthly resident DJ. I never intended to co-own it. With Sonic, it just seemed right to do. I called Nevio to say, 'I want to be your partner. I want to do this place. It has character, but let's take it to a whole new level.' For me, that meant taking it back to square one, designing from scratch and making changes like levelling the floor and laying down beautiful wood, and putting in dynamic lighting. Too many after-hours venues look sketchy -- cold and dark as opposed to a room filled with colours and warmth."
Walking through the venue, I was impressed with the approach. The main room is now welcoming, with hardwood floors throughout and the tiers feeling more connected than ever. Gone is the awkward stage, while a custom-designed sound system and extensive, Dymax-designed lighting have been added. Perhaps best of all, the DJ booth now sits closer to the dancefloor.
"Now we're in the party," Morales enthuses. "It takes it to a more personal level. For me, running a club is like inviting somebody to my home. It's about making a difference. We want to emphasize what we're offering people as opposed to relying on a DJ's name and draw for example. We want good, happy, festive music, and to be the place in town that everybody who loves to go out wants to be at. From the minute they come -- from security, down the line -- they should feel positive, like they're going to one big loft party. I feel like we're about to turn the page in Toronto clubbing, and put it on a different scale."
Aiding in the vision is a top-notch team of T.O. clubbers, including booker Carey Britt and promoters/hosts Jennstar, Gairy Brown and Gavin Bryan. Sonic will operate as an unlicensed, after-hours venue, with house music as the main focus. The team of resident DJs includes Morales and Nevio, and heavy-hitters including Chus & Ceballos, Honey Dijon, Victor Calderone, Stephan Grondin and locals Sean Miller and Cajjmere Wray.
There's no doubt that Sonic will be a significant addition to our clubscape, providing a new home for mature, mixed crowds of music lovers. Morales is, however, aware that some will cynically hold on to memories of what has come before at 270 Spadina and assume Sonic will merely bring more of the same.
"I'm going to erase that memory in a second," he says with a grin. "I'm looking to go way beyond what was here. We're going to make a statement. A big one. I'm sure there are folks in Toronto who are ready for a change.
EMAIL DBENSON eye.net
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