Well, how can I start…
One more year, one more set there, one more night of beats and grooves and booty-shakes. One more memory of a birthday party spent in heaven, attended by the best crowd in the world and by the sweetest road manager in the world!…
This year, I was supposed to beat my record of length for playing records. Last year I played 8 and half hours and this year I was going to do at least 9 or 10. I wanted this year’s event to be a very special night, because it was my second birthday party, so not a novelty anymore, but I still wanted it to be a big success, proving to people and to myself that even if this is not original anymore (me playing in Montreal for my birthday that is) it can still be a magic night, more magic than the year before. I wanted it to be a special night also because I just had the most horrible year at the personal level, so it was going to be a new beginning for me, celebrated in style! The last year has been quite hard for me, in many things which I won’t mention here because this is not my personal diary but Misstress Barbara’s personal diary…
As I said in the TOP 100 DJ Mag: this year as been “not as expected”. What I meant by that is that, as every young adult who’s had quite an easy going life so far, I – very naively – would have never thought that certain things would have happened to me… Age 27 and 2003 have just been testing me all the way!
I needed to change age + year (for me they both go together, considering that my birthday is in the end of the year), and so this is also why Aria was going to be such a special night for me.
This year at Aria I’ve been surrounded by the right people, so this is already a good start, unlike last year…
I flew Brian over from London to be with me at both Quebec’s and Montreal’s gigs. I wanted him to understand where I was coming from, why I was not as frequently impressed as him with certain gig turnouts and why did I insist to stay and live here when, nowadays, 75% of my business is happening in Europe. Brian now understood, I think… And I think he’s had a fabulous time and he’s loved the vibe here. He’s loved the people, he’s loved the clubs, he’s loved the cities (speaking of Quebec and Montreal together), he’s loved everything, even the weather I think! It’s been fantastic to have him here with me, looking at me with a proud smile every time the crowd had their hands in the air! I was really, really happy! It was such a nice weekend, I can’t describe it. Both gigs were fantastic, both cities welcomed me so warmly, screaming as soon as I got into the DJ booth at Dagobert in Quebec, and the whole club screaming as soon as I walked into the club at Aria in Montreal. I mean, how warm and sweet is that!! I’ve been on the Aria web site’s forum and read some comments from some people who were there on Friday night and it’s so touching that I feel like emailing all of them one by one to thank them personally! But if I’d do that I’d probably still be sitting here doing that on Friday and miss my plane for Europe… Haha!
Oh I’m just amazed. That’s all I can say.
The only wrong thing about the night is that at 10:30 in the morning, with still half of the club there (about 700 people left were still dancing hard as if it was only 3 AM), the club asked me to stop the music because the police was there for something horrible that happened. A 42 year old man died on that morning because he had a vein exploding in his head (I know there is a right terminology for that but I don’t know it in English, sorry). So the police kindly asked the club owner if it was possible to stop the music as they were trying to talk with the bouncers and understand exactly what and how it happened. It was sad to end it like this, but obviously what happened is so much more sad that it’s not like anyone can complain about it. It’s just horrible and scary and sad and I just feel really bad.
So, to come back to the beginning of the post… this is why I said I was supposed to beat my record… but I only played 6 and half hours due to this tragedy.
It’s ok. It’s been the most fantastic set I’ve had at Aria. And I am looking forward to better ones, to keep on surprising people, including myself. It was great to see old faces that I see pretty much all the time when I play here in Montreal. It’s great to see that some people still follow me after so many years (I’m only going on my 8th year of being a DJ, but still it’s not like it’s nothing).
I miss it already. When I opened my eyes after the sleep I’ve had after the night I felt the typical sadness of “it’s already over”. I’ve been stressed for a month and it’s all already over… But it’s cool as the memories are all printed in my heart and my mind forever.
I now have a few weeks left before changing year. Lot of work, lot of gigs all over the place. I don’t know when you can expect me back in Montreal again but I hope as soon as possible. And, regarding music, as you all know PRIME Distribution went down so right now ITURNEM is shopping for another distributor. Soon it will all be set and things will get moving again. I do hope that 2004 will be a year full of great new releases on the label. So far I can tell you that you can expect a new mix CD from me on the Spanish Territory which is coming out next week (after so much delay!) and for which I am doing the launch at FLORIDA 135 in Spain, with Jeff Mills (Sunday December 7th), and in the new year you can expect MB 03 on Trust The DJ. For the rest, I don’t want to mention more right now…
I wish you all very happy times for the holidays coming up. Be careful whatever you do. Go easy on substances. Take care of your health, mind and soul and be good as I want to see you all again soon around the world.
This is so great! I wouldn’t have chosen another life!
* * * THANK YOU * * *
Barbara x x x x x x x