Take Your Ass To Studio Ga Ga

The groove doesn't stop once you hit that pocket. Photo by Maxwell Young

Gillead Gaari, a house/garage DJ who spends half his year in London and the other half in D.C., was on Late Bloom Radio in January talking about the role criticism plays in club culture today.

“When I wanna go to a club, I wanna see people dancing.  I don’t wanna see people judging each other.  I’ve been to a couple clubs in D.C. over the years.  Before I found the places I really wanted to go to, I had to go to places...you go somewhere and there’s immediately someone staring at you as someone who doesn’t necessarily belong,” he explained.

There’s a high level of vanity in scenes all over the world.  People are being assessed for the clothes they wear, if they bought bottle service more than it’s actually about enjoying the vibrations of the night.

“We’re a city of ‘Very Important People,’ so it’s like, ‘Who is you?’” Jamal Gray, host of Late Bloom Radio outlined the District’s politics.  “Even on the street level it’s like, ‘Who is you?’”

Van Hillard has finessed Studio Ga Ga in two separate venues.

Gray prodded Gaari and asked him if he felt like there was a venue within Washington, D.C. where people could be free.

“I got a place.  Shout out Van Hillard--showed me so much love when I came back to D.C.  It’ll take you a two-minute walk from [Adams Morgan] to go to Studio Gaga.  That’s the most chill dive bar.  That’s the first directive I’m giving you,” GG said.

Studi Ga Ga is an exploratory space, though it is equipped with the essentials--a dance floor (with a disco ball!) and bar space. Some nights all you have to do is walk in and you’ll be transported to the underground, where Nappy Nappa is wearing blacked-out fighter-pilot goggles or this girl from Texas, Nicki Apostolow, is shrieking into vinyl records as she scratches them.

Asmara Lounge on 18th St. is the Ethiopian restaurant that hosts Studio Ga Ga on its second floor.  Over the last three months, Hillard has regularly hosted the program titled, ‘Tech Yes’ with the consistent trio Tony Kill, Ledroit, and Sir E.U.  Formerly known as “Delta 7,” the DMV natives project the perfect combination of house, experimental, and hip-hop sonics that you forget the name is Studio Ga Ga rather than Studio 54.  It’s not hard to stay in that groove for several hours--the drinks are cheap, too.

Unfortunately, last Wednesday’s Tech Yes popped off without Tony Kill, who recently landed a feature in The Fader for his slow bounce, chopped up Gogo redux of 24 Hours’ “What You Like.” However, it was a treat to see Rob Smokes return to his hip-hop roots in support of Ledroit and Sir E.U.

It’s a familial vibe at Ga Ga, you can feel the camaraderie.  A GW senior found herself amongst the scene for the first time a couple weeks back.  It was a paradigm-shifting moment for her to realize this type of movement happens in Adams Morgan--a place she frequents for brunch and coffee shop outings.  The scene deserves more love from the youth.  Save the shade for the clubs in Dupont and come lose your inhibitions.  Who knows, you might come back.

Studio Ga Ga has moved to a new location below:

1503 9th St. NW

Washington, D.C. 20001

Mars Jackson on Wax

Mars Jackson with his “Good Days Never Last Forever” vinyl record | Photographs by Alex Young

"It took seven years just to get something like this," Mars Jackson said as he held his forthcoming translucent, orange vinyl record, "Good Days Never Last Forever." He's finally ready to release an official album. 

Currently, Mars and his label, Misra Records, rollout "Good Days Never Last Forever" (GDNLF). He joined Misra in 2016 as their first-ever hip-hop signee. The first single, "Heart Dance," from the album gained traction in Australia first as a credit to Misra's distribution methods. To end January 2018, the single hit all streaming platforms and the rapper premiered its music video at the "Down & Derby" skate party. A Yung Mulatto illustration covers the "Heart Dance" song art.

"A label believed in me every step of the way. There weren't any nos. I learned how to expand myself as an artist during this," Mars said. "I don't like being put in a box. I make good music. It's wonderful to be a fan of all genres."

Mars said GDNLF is "complete to show what kind of artist I am and just not one dimensional." Mars played the album for InTheRough in the comfort of his apartment back in September 2017. The lyrics encourage with lines like "we can live forever." The project is dreamy while acknowledging realistic aspects of life in the album title. 

During the album's recording, he wasn't "looking for a sound. We were having fun." Confident vocals show how Mars was "not being scared to use my voice," he said. Cool references throughout GDNLF like "JR Smith with my shirt off" or "That's So Raven" keep the tone uplifting. Instrumentation shines. "Good Days Never Last Forever" releases this summer.

“This was different for me like this whole process. Doing mixtapes and just throwing songs out there compared to actually telling yourself you can sell music it’s totally different. You have to go through some things first before you even have the cojones to say, ‘Yeah, you’re going to buy my music.’”

Photograph by Jordan Armstrong

A lot of outside input and feedback went into "Good Days Never Last Forever" and it relies on a local Pittsburgh cast's support. "Nice [Rec] took me under his wing and trusted me over his production," Mars said. The producer Nice Rec has "worked with the best" and has credits on albums like Wiz Khalifa's "O.N.I.F.C.," along with executive production on Mars' "Good Days Never Last Forever." Musician Benji "kills" his feature on the song called "Simple" on the album, and rapper Choo Jackson also features on the record. "Keep it local. If it's local, it means a lot," Mars said.

To that end, Ryan Brown of lifestyle label farESH Brand creative directed the project. "He saw the vision," Mars said of Brown. Additionally, graphic artists and photographers Brian of Frequently Fly, Generic Pieces, Keep Pittsburgh Dope, and Paizley helped create the album cover and insert booklet. "Pittsburgh everything," Mars called it.

"Anything that happens in Pittsburgh I see. I'm just a fly on the wall," Mars said. The 31-year-old New York born and Pittsburgh raised resident has been in the rap game for a while and a key part of Pittsburgh's creative scene. He told a story about Daily Bread clothiers utilizing Mac Miller and A$AP mob during their 2009 rise for brand promo, and then sitting in watching the filming of a Hardo and Jimmy Wopo rap video years later. "They were trap'd out."

“In the inner city, we make stuff pop and then you get bigger companies who look to see what’s going on in the scene and use some of the blueprints.”

Although don Mars still views himself as a "local artist" and people still "see me as their peer," he said. Overall, "it's always good to give people the love tap," explaining his encouragement for Steel City residents.

Mars will join local talents Benji and singer Sierra Sellers for a performance on Feb. 16 at the Club Cafe venue. Get tickets for the 10:20 p.m. show here. Also, Mars needs a tour DJ for shows like his April date in New Jersey. Email him at knowmarsinfo@gmail.com if you have interest and qualifications.

Before Mars releases "Good Days Never Last Forever," he wants people to know that "they've never heard me like this."

Club Cafe

54 S 12th Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15203

*UPDATE* Enjoy Mars Jackson's "Good Days Never Last Forever"

Commendations for Pittsburgh Winners

Familiarize yourself with those up for Commendation here. See who won the Commendation polls for best of Pittsburgh above or below.

Commendations show appreciation for the productive and progressive communities in Pittsburgh.

Specifically, these Commendations acknowledge people in the 'Burgh who produced consistent content and who was worth recognizing in particular lifestyles such as art, music, or products for the 2017 calendar year.

We received 26,922 total Commendation votes by InTheRough readers. The polls closed on January 2, 2018. However, many more votes were submitted up until the Review Party for Commendations on January 12, 2018. See where the best of the 'Burgh finished in the polls.

The nominees for Commendations were selected based upon the articles about Pittsburgh life that featured on InTheRough. Known achievements, creations, and events determined nominees too. Winners had the highest vote total shown in parentheses.

While the nominees and winners of the Commendations receive praise from intheroughstyle.com, those who attended the Review Party at Senseless on January 12 also received a physical award. Geechi P attended the event to receive his Most Stylish Commendation. Art Like Us walked away with the "Teenie" Award for Best photographer, and the Lokal Foreners accepted the award for Best Music Artist on behalf of the late Yung Mulatto. Additionally, DJ Femi braved the severe ice storm and proudly took home Best DJ. By the time the Review Party had ended, Senseless placed their Commendation for Best Shop on their top shelf. It was fitting to have Art Like Us photograph pieces of the night after his second ‘best photographer’ award for 2017.

Ultimately, understand that ITR still grows and works to push an honest commentary about an authentic scene. The Commendations for peoples' best work of 2017 represent research and appreciation of contemporary culture in Pittsburgh. There's always more to learn from the communities in the Steel City and elsewhere, so 2018 is about broadening our horizons and exposing a new cast of heroes. It matters to be thorough and accept all feedback to improve the 2018 Commendations.

Familiarize yourself with those up for Commendation here. See who won the Commendation polls for best of Pittsburgh above or below.

Review Party for Commendations

Press Party for the progressive and youth people of Pittsburgh

Review Party Photos via Rieko Copeland and Charles "Teenie" Harris

InTheRough writes to cover news stories regarding lifestyles like apparel and music. Topics include culture so the ITR articles speak to more than just art and creativity. Life is in the text, and all that life hits the pavement on January 12, 2018.

A post shared by InTheRough (@intheroughstyle) on Jan 2, 2018 at 7:53pm PST

At Senseless's spacious showroom, InTheRough, along with Jenesis Magazine, will Commend a community of people in Pittsburgh who move and shake, create and incubate. The Review Party for Commendations 2017 celebrates the energetic, different, and young voices of the city with drinks and new music you have fun with (sample the crazy playlist below for a taste of who we play). Allow the party and Commendations to stand for a culture based on fair representation and an enjoyment of creations and practicality.

5124 Penn Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15224

10 p.m. - 2 a.m.

free entry | drinks provided

DIY Arts Scene, Uptown Art House on NPR's Kojo Nnamdi Show

Uptown Art House founder Jamal Gray joins The Kojo Nnamdi Show. 

Photograph by Mark Williams Hoelscher

In the arts community, DIY ('Do-It-Yourself') spaces are integral to the prosperity of the artists and sustainability of the collective conscious. Homes, warehouses, breweries and repurposed restaurants along with their dedicated collectives support the advancement of creatives and organizations in the spheres of activism, art, and music.  These aren’t new refuges.  There was Club 57 in New York City--a haven for Keith Haring and other starving underground artists.  And we can't forget about Warhol's Factory either; the scene was just higher profile given the benefactor. These cultural hubs where people appreciate art and music, uninhibited by society’s parameters are alternatives to the traditional gallery spaces and concert halls where consumerism, popular/mainstream culture, and big business take precedent.

On Tuesday, musician Janel Leppin, Arts Editor of the Washington City Paper Matt Cohen, and Jamal Gray, founder of Uptown Art House joined The Kojo Nnamdi Show on NPR to discuss the DIY arts scene in Washington, D.C.

The independent arts scene in the nation’s capital has been nurtured by DIY venues including Rhizome, Paperhaus, Electric Maid--a legendary punk rock venue--Uptown Art House, and many others.  The problem due to gentrification and rising rent prices, though is that these venues struggle to stay open for a sustained period of time.  You may have heard of, or better yet, been to Art Under Pressure, Bohemian Caverns or Union Arts where District culture flourished.  Unfortunately, however, these historic landmarks no longer exist--extinguished for swanky redevelopment projects.

Listen to the perspectives of Janel, Matt, and Jamal as they speak with Kojo about the impact of the DIY community preserving Washington's heritage, and how it’s changing nationally.

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Hot Takes

+  "Art spaces reflect whatever we're going through at the time." -Jamal Gray

+ "Money is speaking louder than art in D.C." -Matt Cohen

+ "DIY is about cultivating and incubating artists to be able to take their work to the next level." -Jamal Gray

+ "If we could have some sort of rent stabilization, so we could have a place that stays put for more than five years..." -Janel Leppin