Featured DJ: John Caffery
Hometown: Hamilton
Bio: John Caffery is one half of Mighty Real DJs, along with DJ The Robotic Kid, aka Michael Barry. Like many other young queer musicians and artists in Toronto, the two were brought together by activist and party promoter Will Munro, a galvanizing force in the city’s queer art and music scenes through his long-running Vazaleen and Peroxide parties. Caffery and Barry were founders of Toronto performance art/electronic act Kids on TV. Compelled to share their deep love of disco and house music, Caffery and Barry started their monthly dance party Mighty Real in January 2011. The two have added another monthly party to their roster, DFMO, which happens at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. You can also find Caffery as a guest DJ at Pitbull, Her, Cub Camp and House of Nuance Balls. Mighty Real DJs love cowbells, butt-grinding bass and out-of-control dance parties.
1. Duke Dumont, featuring AME – “Need U (100%)“
I think Duke Dumont is on a roll right now and delivering some of the hottest music to dance to. This song has incredible hooks and conjures up sounds of ’90s dance music in a completely fresh way.
2. Funky Fat – “Jealousy (Severino Remix)”
I love this song for its slinky, sexy, seductive sound. This is some hot, dirty disco I want to get down to.
3. Sugar Hill & Wasabi – “Sexy Eyes“
This track has an undeniable bounce and fun disco vibe. It is a joyous track that makes people’s hands go in the air.
4. Do You Believe – “Poolside (James Curd Vocal Mix)“
I’m amazed at all the different sounds James Curd can try his hands at and succeed. Here he remixes artist Poolside and delivers a sweet, smooth, fun nu-disco song with really fun percussion.
5. What I Might Do – “Ben Pearce (Kolombo Remix)“
This delicious track has such a seriously hot synth line and big dirty bass line it makes me freak out. Kolombo brings a serious funk to the beat and is rockin’ parties that I play it at.
6. Josh Butler – “Got a Feeling (Bontan Remix Pleasurekraft Edit)“
I’ve been loving this song since the summer; it has been anthemic for my sound right now. This is a peak-hour play and is a great example of how deep house can deliver and get everyone dancing.
7. Sono – “Keep Control (HOSH Remix)”
This song is a fresh remix of a classic track that goes into dark and strange territory before dropping the hot vocals that are so familiar to so many.
8. Green Velvet – “Bigger Than Prince”
House music legend Green Velvet emerged from the Chicago scene in the ’90s and delivers another classic track with a hilarious chorus that stays in your head for a long time after the song is over.
9. Laura Mvula – “Green Garden (Bondye & Lee Jo Remix)”
This British soul and R&B artist has a gorgeous voice and was recently nominated for a Mercury Prize. Here her song gets a hot house remix that I’ve been loving.
10. Loleatta Holloway – “Love Sensation (WhiteNoize Remix)“
Disco legend Loleatta Holloway has been gone for two years now, but her music lives on. She has been sampled in all sorts of ways, but the thing about this remix is that it lets a lot of her original vocals shine through. This was played at my wedding this year and so it has extra special meaning because of that.
Where you can catch DJ John Caffery
Fri, Nov 29: Mighty Real DJs & Father Nuance present The Mighty Real Ball at Wrongbar, 1279 Queen St W. mightyreal.net
Fri, Dec 20: DFMO at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St. buddiesinbadtimes.com
Tues, Dec 31: Pitbull, New Year’s Eve, at the Phoenix, 410 Sherbourne St. pitbullevents.com
mightyreal.net