Fruit Loop Fridays
Every Friday this summer, we’re releasing tracks from some of our favourite local DJs to keep you movin’ and groovin’ (but also physically-distanced).
Our first mix comes courtesy of NEON RAINBOW, a collaboration between DJs YELRIHS and Kena León. They’re a queer DJ duo based in Edmonton, Alberta, with a quest to bring love, neon and magic to the dance floor.
YELRIHS:
YELRIHS is an Edmonton-based DJ. She spins a diverse range of house music which spans from deep house, disco, funk, and tech. Her sets are an eclectic mixture of driving bass layered with dynamic vocal tracks that get the crowd into a happy groove.
KENA LEÓN:
Kena León is a sound artist and DJ from Edmonton. She captures soundscapes, designs electronica music and spins for venues/festivals all over western Canada. Her passion lies in promoting queer artists and using music to bring to light authentic moments, emotions and experiences.
TEA CUP DJ
My playlist motivation is always the same: make good feelings happen. A hugely sentimental music lover, I’m someone who builds playlists to bring back a mood or remind me of a great time I had with people I love. My goal in preparing playlists is simple: have good times music that will bring up old memories while creating radical new ones.
Alberta born and bred, I now live in Edmonton with my partner, my pug, and whichever dogs we are sitting that week.
To learn more, visit her website.
Ha ha
haha has been hitting dance floors, festivals, and underground raves since 2005. Her early influences in dance music included Justice, MSTRKRFT, The Bloody Beetroots, and deadmau5 to name a few. Her time spent in the crowd developed a deeply rooted love for all things house and the ability for rhythm and sound to unite people. She entered herself in a DJ competition in 2017 and hasn't looked back since diving into the local music scene in YEG and opening for some of her biggest inspirations in house music like Pete Tong, Walker & Royce, Kyle Watson, and Chris Lake.
ha ha will take you on a ride as she weaves tracks and inspiration from genres spanning from nu-disco to bass house and everything in between. She is no joke when it comes to her dedication to making you groove on that dance floor.
Junior Brown
Junior Brown has been always around music his whole life. Growing up his parents hosted basement parties with DJs spinning funk, soul, disco, and reggae. This musical influence at a young age led Junior Brown into spinning records, promoting hall parties, club nights, and now co-owning two bars (The Bower and Red Star). Currently, he is the resident and host at the For Those Who Know... club night, which focuses on the sound of house! Started in 2001, For Those Who Know... Saturdays have been an institution for many Edmontonians and out of towners.
Over the years Junior Brown has played alongside DJs such as Louie Vega, Mark Farina, Osunlade, DJ Sneak, Felix Da Housecat, Roy Davis Jr, Frankie Knuckles, Junior Sanchez, Soul Clap, Cajmere, Diz, Marques Wyatt, Colette, DJ Heather, and more.
DJ Dopamine
This high energy, multi-genre DJ has regularly performed at sold out venues and festivals across North America. As a professional main stage mixer, showcasing unheard mashups and remixes, you’ll be sure to be amazing by their talents. Highlights of their career have been working with the likes of Groove Island, Latino World Radio (LA) x TuneIn Radio, SuperGirl Pro, Female::Pressure, Girls on Decks and also happens to be a Winner of multiple DJ completions in California and Canada. From Miami to Toronto, Calgary to San Diego she is no stranger to the traveling DJ life.
Check our their latest mixes: #DopeSessions Friday Night 10PM PST on Latino World Radio x TuneIn
DJ Relentless
DJ Relentless was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. Moved to New York City in 1992. DJ Relentless moved to Canada when he married his husband in 2010. He got his DJ name from a customer at The Hangar Bar in Greenwich Village who used to say he was "Relentless" on the decks. From big clubs like The Limelight, Palladium, Escuelita and The Monster in New York to Toronto's Fly, Crews & Tangos, Remix and The Beaver. An influencer with his Relentlessly Cunty series that documented Ballroom Classics as seen in the "Paris Is Burning" film.
In his words: “I decided to do a special mix for Edmonton Pride as part of the "Fruit Loop Fridays" series. I tried to have something for everyone...from Classic Pride Anthems to Disco to House to Club - uncensored and mixed with a New York flair.”
DJ Molly Fi
Dubbed "Calgary’s first lady of Breaks”, Krista Thibodeau a.k.a. Molly Fi has spent the better part of two decades breaking down the walls for fellow women and non-binary DJs and performers.
In 2003 Thibodeau founded Girls on Decks, a collective that’s unified DJs, FeMC’s, and dancers to become an important and influential movement in Western Canada. Still operational to this day, the collective has served as the launching point for the music careers of hundreds of women and developed new spaces for the LGBTQ community with its inclusive events.
Thibodeau currently works as a mentor and educator for the Children’s Legacy Foundation and Beat Drop, teaching youth and aspiring artists about DJing, music business and event organization. She is a certified A-list performer, social motivator, and community building icon who continues to stand the test of time in the arena of electronic breaks.