,

Cubic Transportation Holiday Party - Hilton Torrey Pines Special Event

,
DJ Justin Kanoya with members of Pop Vinyl, Brian Hogan and Aaron Erlichmann

DJ Justin Kanoya with members of Pop Vinyl, Brian Hogan and Aaron Erlichmann

This was a fun gig for me for a couple of reasons. The first being is that I got to DJ with a band, more specifically, Pop Vinyl. Mostly I was DJing their breaks, but we jammed together on a few songs. It's nice to be able to warm up a crowd and then hand that over to the band to continue the party.

The other reason I was excited for this event, was it was a reunion with a couple of guys I went to high school with (both members of the band). This would not ordinarily be too unusual. But for us, high school was ummm, more than 20 years ago and it was in St. Louis. Not too often you reconnect after so many years and so many miles.

Here's my setlist from the two breaks I played. 

First Set

  • DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air (Le Boeuf Remix)
  • Marvin Gaye ft BJ The Chicago Kid - What’s Going On
  • Mariah Carey - Emotions
  • Ella Henderson - Ghost (Oliver Nelson Remix)
  • The Weeknd f./Daft Punk - I Feel It Coming
  • Felix Jaehn f./Jasmine Thompson - Ain't Nobody (Loves Me Better)
  • DJ Snake f./Bipolar Sunshine - Middle
  • Pentatonix - Can't Sleep Love
  • Tori Kelly - Nobody Love (Select Mix Remix)
  • Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)
  • Earth, Wind & Fire - Shining Star (Hot Classics Remix)
  • Joey Negro & Doug Willis - Crystal Lover
  • Christopher Cross - Ride Like The Wind
  • Kygo f./Maty Noyes - Stay
  • 99 Souls ft Destiny's Child & Brandy - The Girl Is Mine (DiscoTech Midnight Remix)
  • The Weeknd ft Daft Punk - Starboy (J Rythm BPM Supreme Remix)
  • Palm Trees - Casanova
  • Robbie Nevil - C'est La Vie (Select Mix Remix)
  • V.I.C. - Wobble
  • Usher - Yeah
  • Party Break - Montel Party Break
  • Beyonce - Crazy In Love
  • Drake f./Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance
  • Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza (SeeB Remix)
  • Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline
  • Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
  • House of Pain - Old School Jump Off

Second Set

  • Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On
  • Lionel Ritchie - All Night Long
  • Elvis Crespo - Suavemente
  • Selena - Bidi Bidi Bom Bom
  • Marcia Griffiths - Electric Boogie
  • Pitbull f./Flo Rida & LunchMoney Lewis - Greenlight
  • Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk (Select Mix Remix)
  • Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch - Good Vibrations (Select Mix Remix)
  • Andy Grammer - Honey, I'm Good (Select Mix Remix)
  • Cupid - Cupid Shuffle
     
,

Yoga Sculpt with Katie B and Amanda - Corepower Yoga

,

San Diego yoga DJ, Justin Kanoya, with Corepower Yoga teacher, Amanda Mays after a live DJ'd yoga workout. 

The year closed out with two final yoga workouts I DJ'd with Katie and Amanda at Corepower. I'm looking forward to more of these in 2016.

Here's a look at the setlists for both.

Yoga Sculpt with Amanda

  • John Judd - Relax (Original Mix)
  • DJ Drez - Floating Sweetness
  • Annie Lennox - Why
  • Bakermat ft Chevrae & Dumang - Dreamreacher
  • Maroon 5 ft Kendrick Lamar - Don't Wanna Know (Mr. Collipark Remix)  
  • DMX - Party Up (Ruen & Mister Gray Remix)
  • Bruno Mars - 24K Magic (Mr. Collipark & DJ Kontrol & Mr. Jonz Remix)  
  • Young Gunz - Can't Stop Won't Stop
  • Ace Of Base - The Sign (Antoine Chambe Remix)
  • Babert - Boogie Oogie  
  • Major Lazer & DJ Snake ft MO - Lean On (FUTURE LINES Bootleg)  
  • Andrew Spencer & Ron Rockwell - Axel F (Rave Radio Remix)  
  • Flume ft Kai - Never Be Like You (Downlow'd Remix)  
  • Salt N Pepa - Push It (Mayeda Remix)
  • Afro Rican - Give It All You Got
  • DJ Snake ft Justin Bieber - Let Me Love You (Don Diablo Remix)  
  • Bingo Players - Cry (Just A Little) (A-Trak & DiscoTech Remix)  
  • Flo Rida - I Cry
  • Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch - Good Vibrations (Select Mix Remix)
  • Cassie - Me & U (Scott Forshaw & RAI Remix)  
  • Fifth Harmony ft Ty Dolla Sign - Work From Home (Ray Rhodes Remix)  
  • Drake ft Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance (DubRocca Remix)  
  • The Game - How We Do
  • Major Lazer f./Bruno Mars, 2 Chainz, Tyga & Mystic - Bubble Butt (Radio Edit - Remix)
  • Hailee Steinfeld & Grey f./Zedd - Starving (Promo Only Intro Edit)
  • Yuna f./Usher - Crush
  • Julian Scott - Fragments (Original Mix)
  • Kaoru Watanabe - Shinobu
  • Jess Glynne - Ain't Got Far To Go
yogaDJ_kanoya

Yoga Sculpt with Katie B

  • John Judd - Relax (Original Mix)
  • Alabama Shakes - Sound & Color
  • The Weeknd f./Daft Punk - I Feel It Coming (Promo Only Intro Edit)
  • Luniz - I Got 5 On It (J.Rabbit Remix)
  • Maroon 5 ft Kendrick Lamar - Don't Wanna Know (Mr. Collipark Remix)  
  • DMX - Party Up (Ruen & Mister Gray Remix)
  • Bruno Mars - 24K Magic (Mr. Collipark & DJ Kontrol & Mr. Jonz Remix)  
  • Young Gunz - Can't Stop Won't Stop
  • Ace Of Base - The Sign (Antoine Chambe Remix)
  • Babert - Boogie Oogie  
  • Major Lazer & DJ Snake ft MO - Lean On (FUTURE LINES Bootleg)  
  • Andrew Spencer & Ron Rockwell - Axel F (Rave Radio Remix)  
  • Flume ft Tove Lo - Say It (Bandit Remix)  
  • Flume ft Kai - Never Be Like You (Downlow'd Remix)  
  • Bingo Players - Cry (Just A Little) (A-Trak & DiscoTech Remix)  
  • Flo Rida - I Cry
  • DJ Snake ft Justin Bieber - Let Me Love You (Don Diablo Remix)  
  • Salt N Pepa - Push It (Mayeda Remix)
  • DJ Kool - Let Me Clear My Throatt (Ronnie Lopez Snake Bootleg)
  • Mariah Carey - Emotions [SmithAgentSmith Trio Bootleg]
  • The Chainsmokers ft Halsey - Closer (Kahikko & Jespr Remix)  
  • Latroit - Need You Tonight  
  • DJ Dan & WhiteNoize - Hey Ho  
  • Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream (Marc Stout & Scott Svejda Island Remix)  
  • Juvenile - Back That Azz Up (Fraze Remix)  
  • Major Lazer f./Bruno Mars, 2 Chainz, Tyga & Mystic - Bubble Butt (Radio Edit - Remix)
  • Beyonce ft Jay-Z - Crazy In Love (Mayeda Remix)  
  • Missy Elliott - Get Ur Freak On (Mayeda Remix)
  • Miley Cyrus f. Jay-Z - We Can't Stop (DJ Scooter Twerk Remix - Clean)
  • Hailee Steinfeld & Grey f./Zedd - Starving (Promo Only Quick Edit)
  • Andra Day - Rise Up
  • Sunlounger - Lounging By The Sea (Chill Mix)
,

Julia and Robert’s Dance Party - Grand Del Mar Wedding

,

Julia and Robert celebrate with guests at their wedding at the Grand Del Mar. 

The day I met Julia and Robert, was October 29, 2016. I know the exact date, because I just needed to look at my gig calendar for a wedding that I worked that day. It was Katie and Lawrence's, and Julia and Robert were at that wedding too. But not as guests, they were a vendor, just like me.

Photographer, florist, linens? None of the above. Julia and Robert were slinging, shaved snow, that silky smooth ice cream that comes from none other than Icekimo. During the wedding, Julia came up to me, hand dripping of ice cream, and quietly asked for my availability for her wedding, which was just over a month away on December 10. I was available and a few days later, it was set. I was DJing their wedding.

I suppose it was meant to be, that we were both working the same wedding. And despite only knowing them for a short time, I learned much about the two of them, notably that Robert is the creator and owner of Icekimo, which is one of San Diego's most popular dessert spots. 

Their wedding celebration was at the beautiful Grand Del Mar resort. It was my first time at this venue and it was a pleasure to be a part of their celebration.

Here's a look at their setlist, which of course include Sarah McLachlan's, Ice Cream.

First Dance
John Legend - You & I (Nobody In The World)

Dinner

  • Mindi Abair - The Joint
  • Adele - Send My Love (To Your New Lover)
  • Meghan Trainor f./Yo Gotti - Better
  • Magic! f./Sean Paul - Lay You Down Easy
  • Mike Perry f./Shy Martin - The Ocean
  • Frenship & Emily Warren - Capsize
  • Paul Hardcastle - Peace On Earth
  • 50 Cent - P.I.M.P.
  • Spyro Gyra - Sweet Baby James
  • Tupac - Tupac Tribute Medley
  • Busta Rhymes - I Know What You Want
  • Kygo f./Maty Noyes - Stay
  • Who Is Fancy f./Ariana Grande & Meghan Trainor - Boys Like You
  • Timeflies - Once In A While
  • Stevie Wonder - Sir Duke
  • Ella Henderson - Ghost (Oliver Nelson Remix)
  • Al Jarreau - We're In This Love Together
  • Bobby Caldwell - What You Wont Do For Love  (DJ Joey C Edit)
  • Smokey Robinson - I Second That Emotion  
  • Open Dancing First Set
  • Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight
  • Al Green - Let's Stay Together
  • Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
  • Usher - Yeah
  • Party Break - Montel Party Break
  • House of Pain - Old School Jump Off
  • Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza (SeeB Remix) (Select Mix Remix)
  • Justin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling (Select Mix Remix)
  • Kesha - Tik Tok
  • Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch - Good Vibrations (Select Mix Remix)
  • Drake f./Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance
  • DJ Snake f./Justin Bieber - Let Me Love You
  • Maroon 5 f./Kendrick Lamar - Don't Wanna Know
  • Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing

Cake Cutting
Marvin Gaye - How Sweet It Is

Open Dancing Second Set

  • Sarah McLachlan - Ice Cream
  • Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud
  • Michael Buble - Everything
  • Hailee Steinfeld & Grey f./Zedd - Starving
  • Kent Jones - Don't Mind
  • Natalie Cole - This Will Be an Everlasting Love
  • Iggy Azalea f./Charli XCX - Fancy
  • Flo Rida - Low
  • Kungs & Cookin' On 3 Burners - This Girl
  • The Chainsmokers ft Rozes - Roses (The Him Remix)  
  • Cupid - Cupid Shuffle
  • Fetty Wap f./Snoop Dogg - Westside
  • Rae Sremmurd f./Gucci Mane - Black Beatles
  • Sia f./Sean Paul - Cheap Thrills
  • 50 Cent - In Da Club
  • Dr. Dre ft Snoop Dogg - Nuthin' But A G Thang
  • Dr Dre ft Snoop Dogg, Kurup & Nate Dogg - The Next Episode
  • Deorro - Five Hours
  • Nicki Minaj - Super Bass
  • Britney Spears - Till The World Ends
  • DJ Sammy f. The Jackie Boyz - Shut Up And Kiss Me
  • Walk The Moon - Shut Up And Dance (Select Mix Remix)
  • Nelly - Ride Wit Me
  • Next - Too Close
  • Eastside Boyz - Get Low

Last Dance
Backstreet Boys - I Want it That Way

Vendor Team
DJ/Master of Ceremonies: DJ Kanoya Productions
Coordinator: Luxe Events
Venue: Fairmount Grand Del Mar
Photographer: TBD

,

Shannon and Robert’s Dance Party - Vintana Wine and Dine Wedding

,

Shannon and Robert's first dance at their wedding, which took place at Vintana.

Shannon and Robert's big party took place at Vintana, a Cohn restaurant and event space in Escondido, California. The venue itself is one of the best in North San Diego County, and once transformed for a wedding party, it's pretty spectacular.

This particular wedding was a joy to be a part of, particularly because the families involved. I personally has a soft spot for speeches given by Shannon's father, as well as Robert's words for his young children. 

Here's a look at their setlist:

First Dance
Katie Melua - Just Like Heaven

Dinner

  • Chris Malinchak - Wonderful  
  • Starley - Call On Me (Ryan Riback Remix)  
  • Duke Dumont - Ocean Drive  
  • A Tribe Called Quest - Electric Relaxation
  • Karl Swix - Mister Mister (Original Mix)
  • Danced Til Midnight - More Of Love (Faze Action Remix)
  • Fourplay - Still The One
  • Mindi Abair - Salt and Lime
  • Mark Antoine - Funky Picante
  • Pamela Williams - Fly Away With Me
  • Steve Cole - Everday
  • Chris Botti - Indian Summer
  • Michael Jackson - Rock with You
  • Katie Melua - Just Like Heaven
  • Breau and Atkins - Polka Dots and Moonbeams
  • Wayne Newton - Danke Shoen
  • Norman Brown - Just Chillin'
  • Ingrid Michaelson - Boys Chase Girls
  • Colbie Caillat - Fallin For You
  • Fourplay - Sexual Healing
  • Busta Rhymes - I Know What You Want
  • Bryan Savage - Soul Temptation
  • A Tribe Called Quest - Bonita Applebum
  • Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up
  • Kygo f./Maty Noyes - Stay
  • Otis Redding - Sittin On The Dock Of The Bay (ReDrum)  
  • DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air (Le Boeuf Remix)  
  • Robbie Nevil - C'est La Vie (Select Mix Remix)
  • American Authors - Best Day Of My Life (Select Mix Remix)
  • DJ Snake, Justin Bieber - Let Me Love You (Select Mix Remix)
  • Maroon 5 f./Kendrick Lamar - Don't Wanna Know

Father/Daughter Dance
Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole - Unforgettable

Mother/Son Dance
Lynard Skynard - Freebird

Open Dancing First Set

  • Al Green - Let's Stay Together
  • Justin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling!
  • Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk (Select Mix Remix)
  • K.C. & the Sunshine Band - Get Down Tonight
  • Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch - Good Vibrations (Select Mix Remix)
  • DNCE - Cake By The Ocean (Riddler Remix)  
  • Andy Grammer - Honey, I'm Good (Select Mix Remix)
  • Flo Rida - Low
  • Britney Spears - Work Bitch
  • Drake f./Rihanna - Too Good
  • Michael Jackson - P.Y.T (remix)
  • Salt N Pepa - Push It (Mayeda Remix)
  • Walk The Moon - Shut Up And Dance (Select Mix Remix)

Cake Cutting
James Taylor - How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You

Open Dancing Second Set

  • Bee Gees - How Deep Is Your Love
  • Lionel Ritchie - All Night Long
  • V.I.C. - Wobble
  • Montel Jordan - This Is How We Do It
  • House of Pain - Old School Jump Off
  • Usher - Yeah (Wedding Crasherz Break)
  • Coolio - Fantastic Voyage (Select Mix Remix)
  • Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza (SeeB Remix)  
  • Fifth Harmony - Work From Home (Select Mix Remix)
  • Bruno Mars - 24K Magic (Promo Only Intro Edit)
  • Zay Hilfigerrr & Zayion McCall - JuJu On That Beat (TZ Anthem)
  • Michael Buble - Everything
  • Meghan Trainor f./John Legend - Like I'm Gonna Lose You
  • Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
  • Earth, Wind & Fire - Let's Groove
  • OMI - Cheerleader

Last Dance
Cure - Just Like Heaven

Vendor Team
DJ/Master of Ceremonies/Uplighting: DJ Kanoya Productions
Venue/Catering: Vintana Wine and Dine
Coordinator: Lindsay Dean Events
Photographer: Clove and Kin

Other weddings hosted by DJ Kanoya Productions

,

Pure Pop Perfection - Mariah Carey’s 1995 Madison Square Garden Concert

,

My productivity slows down immensely as soon as I type in "youtube.com" in my web browser. Can you relate? It's a vortex I easily get sucked into. Whether it’s music videos, personal VLOGs or cat videos I seriously need help.

But today I felt it was time well spent, since I was indeed watching music videos -- it’s for work right? More specifically, Mariah Carey music videos. More specifically Mariah Carey concert videos. And more specifically Mariah Carey’s October 1995 concert at Madison Square Garden.

Bruh.

This was Mariah in her prime. Mariah before she Mimi needed to be emancipated. She was five albums into her career, had 10 No. 1 singles (six of which she performs in this show) and two Grammy awards. She was an icon of beauty.

And it was 1995, literally the mid 90s. A decade that brought us baggy jeans, Must See TV Thursdays, big hair, smooth R&B and dance pop perfection.

Notably though, the 90s brought us Mariah.

With all the aforementioned attributes, this concert, in her hometown of New York City, epitomizes the pop music scene of the time. Her background dancers had those robotic 90s dance moves (while wearing said baggy jeans). Mariah had her perfectly flowing, curly locks of hair. Her wardrobe was perfect, consisting of that half button down sweater look that every 16-year old 90s girl had. The one that slightly, yet tastefully exposed a bare navel when raising ones arms. She had perfectly hemmed pants that flared at the bottom, making room for her chunky heeled black booties. I’m pretty sure every girl I knew was wearing these in the Fall of 1995. And she also defined formal style of the day, wearing an off the shoulder number that hugged her body and fell straight to the floor, the direction in which I’m sure everyone’s mouth went when she walked on stage wearing that dark blue dress.

But most of all it’s the music and her voice. Mariah singing a dance tune instantly brings the mood from nothing to happy. Mariah singing a ballad is an introspective and moving experience. There are women who have voices and there are women who have instruments.

Mariah is of course in that company -- which includes Whitney, Celine and Christina just to name a few -- of vocal instruments. Here are five of my favorites from this show where her instrument shines.

Dreamlover

I swear, when I play this song, anyone born between 1965 and 1989 gets moving. I’ve had more looks over to the DJ booth in approval on this one than probably any other by her.

Forever

The only non- No. 1 on this list. Casual MC fans may have forgotten about it, which just cracked the Billboard Top 10 in 1996. It was a performance debut, so likely unknown to the NYC audience. But what a great performance it was.

Vision of Love

There has not been a better R&B Ballad released in the past 20 years than this. The run she does with her voice at the 2:40 mark is magical.

Hero

Oh hey Mariah .. are you singing actual words? All I’m hearing is pitch perfect melodies coming through my headphones from you and your choir. And why am I crying?

One Sweet Day

Wait a minute. So you’re telling me Boyz II Men are going to sing live with Mariah? BOYS TO FREAKING MEN!!

FYI, this performance was essentially a debut for the song. It would not be released commercially for another month. I imagine Boyz II Men strolling on the stage was just a teeny bit of a surprise.

I can’t even finish writing this … literally dead.