Derrick Carter, Justin Cudmore, Cosmo

Who they are

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  Derrick Carter

  Chicago · 16 bookings since Sep 2023

  “One of the pinnacles of Chicago house music's '90s wave, Derrick Carter began DJ’ing at the age of nine, spinning disco records at family reunions.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  One of the pinnacles of Chicago house music's '90s wave, Derrick Carter began DJ’ing at the age of nine, spinning disco records at family reunions. Born and raised in the western suburbs, Carter was into music from a young age, but during his teens Chicago's house scene sucked him in for good. Before long Carter became a strong presence in the city's underground dance scene. "When I got my driver's license at 16 my sneak ability was validated," he laughs. "I was a fierce bedroom jock for a long time. After you mix for the love of it for six or seven years, you get it pretty tight and you can take it on the road." He got by working at dance-music specialty stores like Gramaphone and gigging at parties. Later he landed regular DJ stints at Shelter, Foxy's, and Smart Bar. Though he doesn't spin much locally anymore, when he does he attracts large crowds. Most of the time he works in Europe, where he's become a minor celebrity among dance-music aficionados : “Its hard not to laugh on the occaisions when you’ll make 20 times what you make in Chicago on a Saturday night, but back home there are also times when you just do it for fun… So many people come up to me and say ‘Man, I had the worst day, My girlfriend left me, I locked my keys in my car, but you turned it around for two hours, and that made me able to get up in the morning’ That’s the best thing going.” Derrick’s sets are rooted in house, but he freely travels outside club tastes, seamlessly incorporating old-school disco, soul, jazz and whatever catches his fancy. His debut single "Love Me Right" appeared in 1987, just after he graduated from college. Another single ("Symbols and Instruments" as Mood) appeared in 1989, but the Chicago house scene faded soon after, leaving Carter and other artists with few to play for except themselves. Thanks in part to Cajmere's and Felix Da Housecat's respective labels (Relief, Radikal Fear), Chicago house made a comeback during the mid-'90s and began to offer impressive newcomers in addition to the old guard. Carter, recording for the Organico label, returned with several singles, and an album as Sound Patrol. In 1995, he began working with a live band as the Sound Patrol Orchestra. Several mix albums have appeared, including Cosmic Disco on MixMag and Pagan Offering on Pagan. Carter has also founded two labels (Blue Cucaracha and Classic) and remixed tracks from Chicago's own post-rock heroes Tortoise. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide Since then pioneering, innovative tracks and consequent critical acclaim have repeatedly marked Derrick out as once of the most important players in Dance music. Carter says that due to his growing notoriety his production talents have been requested by pop-oriented acts. But he prefers to remain underground. Although enthused about his own Blue Cucaracha label and a new UK-based imprint he runs called Classic, he's reluctant to offer much explanation of either label's MO-other than each releases records when the mood strikes him: "I like to keep myself pretty invisible. You may think I'm somewhere, but I've already left."
  SoundCloud ↗Discography ↗
  Their RA profile lists Classic, Cajual Records, Slip n Slide, EMI Records and 6 more.

  Recently at The Chocolate Factory, Nowadays, Signal · often with Luke Solomon, night, Anastazja, none of them here that night

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  Justin Cudmore

  New York City · 74 bookings since Aug 2023

  “Justin's coming-of-age as a fan and creator of dance music took place amidst the wide expanses of central Illinois.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  Justin's coming-of-age as a fan and creator of dance music took place amidst the wide expanses of central Illinois. As a kid growing up in the state’s tucked-away capital of Springfield, he played drums as a jazz percussionist in school. While most of his peers were tuned into pop music, Justin was wearing out self-made mixes and classic disco compilations, workshopping new-wave influenced beats in bands and DJing college parties. A post-graduation move to Chicago led him to work for the influential dance music blog Little White Earbuds, opening him up to fully experience the city’s thriving underground house and techno scene. A Midwest-born and raised DJ, Justin has played at queer parties such as Wrecked, The Carry Nation, Horse Meat Disco, Honcho, and Club Toilet, and has gained a following all over the world with appearances at clubs like Smartbar Chicago, Panorama Bar, Is Burning Amsterdam, Razzmatazz Barcelona, DC10 and Lux Fragil. His bold, acid-flecked distillation of house and techno has found a home on the labels that are helping to shape the current landscape of transgressive body music, including The Bunker New York, Detroit’s Interdimensional Transmissions, and Honey Soundsystem Records. Justin's sound is defined by snaking acid lines, whip smart drums and offbeat rave melodies that have resonated with DJs and dancers from Detroit to Berlin. He has been featured in mixes for series such as Beats In Space, Truants, MixMag, Phantasy and The Bunker New York’s long-running podcast.
  SoundCloud ↗Bandcamp ↗Discography ↗
  Techno on 23, House on 20, Tech House on 10 and Acid on 9. styles on their catalogued releases

  Released on Acid For Trans Health (1), Spotlight Records (1) and The Night Institute (1); their RA profile also lists Turbo Recordings, Hotflush Recordings, Interdimensional Transmissions, Phonica White and 6 more. labels on their catalogued releases and on their RA profile

  Recently at Paragon, Refuge, public records · often with Mike Servito, Jeffrey Sfire, Kim Anh, none of them here that night

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  Cosmo

  New York City · 127 bookings since Aug 2023

  “Born in Ohio and raised by New York clubs, Cosmo is a shining modern representative of the city’s Golden Age of DJing, in skill, in spirit, and in sensibility.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  Born in Ohio and raised by New York clubs, Cosmo is a shining modern representative of the city’s Golden Age of DJing, in skill, in spirit, and in sensibility. A forever student of 90s subcultures, Cosmo is now an authority in connecting those dots, decompartmentalizing genres during her sets and revitalizing the club as a much needed space for expression and joy. Cosmo may open a night with her early entry points to dance music, gospel and funk and vocal-heavy RnB, and proceed to blend break beats with new jack swing or old-school house with tribal—all delivered with remarkable clarity of voice and a sense of self that fueled her fated teenage move to New York to DJ over a decade ago. Being from the Midwest, her house music literacy circles its epicenters and favors groovy records, warm basslines, playful vocals, and elating instrumentals that stir the spirit. Her deep knowledge, cultural curiosity, and refreshing authenticity make Cosmo one of New York’s most in-demand DJs, a regular at the most iconic clubs and a Fashion Week party go-to. She is a resident at Public Records, where she can explore every inch of her collection and join forces with legends like Sandy Rivera as well as other torchbearing peers. She’s represented the city sharing the decks with her heroes like Honey Dijon and Mike Dunn, and on esteemed platforms such as Benji B’s BBC Radio 1 show and Luke Solomon’s Classic Music Company show. As a longtime resident at The Lot Radio, Cosmo gets the opportunity to share everything she cherishes and often includes parts of her CD and magazine archives. Music has soundtracked Cosmo’s every move. Her gratitude for her practice is apparent, and her effervescence behind the decks reaches the crowd no matter the size of the room—a musical hug that holds dancers through times good and bad.
  SoundCloud ↗

  Recently at public records, Refuge, 99 Scott Ave · often with Eli Escobar, Donis, Hidden Spheres, none of them here that night