INTERVIEW WITH REMIX RECORD SHOP
Orlando, Florida
Foreword:
On Wednesday I had the pleasure of interviewing the owners of Remix Record store in Orlando. Remix is the premier carrier of new and used Dance Music in Orlando at the moment, and they boast a truly expansive mix of 80’s, New Wave, Rock, Metal and pretty much anything else you can think of.
I sat down with Cliff Tangredi and Nathan Maners to discuss a variety of topics, the same topics I’m always compelled to discuss with record store owners.
Cliff and I go way back to the Golden Era of Dance Music and have an amusing history of debaucheries together. Many moons ago, he was one of the first people in Orlando to support my DJ career. I'd come into Vinyl Frontier (the record store he worked for from 1993-2002, eventually managing for the last 5 years), into the back office and order records directly on their computer. He’d also make fun of me when I’d show up at the shop, listen to 800 records, and then only leave with 2 of them. Yep, that’s how I roll, lol…
But my most memorable moment with Cliff, was the time he was there for me when the day finally came to grow up and leave Orlando. The 90’s were over, Late-Night had been shut down for a few years already, and I was in literal shambles over leaving behind what was once O-Town’s legendary Dance Music scene, the scene formerly written about in Rolling Stone magazine.
It’s clear as day in my mind. Somewhere around 2001, I was standing in his living room.. and if my memory serves us right we were listening to Furry Freaks - Soothe (Cyanide Mix - 1996). I had already been dealing with the emotional reality of leaving all my friends, non-stop parties, and dance floor memories behind, but when this song came on I became the proverbial puddle of tears, sobbing and mumbling for the days gone by... Cliff hugged and consoled me and gave me his elderly wisdom (he’s only like 6 years older than me by the way, lol), explaining that this was just life and that I had to keep moving on and growing, etc..
I never forgot that moment…
Soon after, I found the strength to leave Orlando on a quest to be a successful DJ/performer somewhere I wouldn’t be expected to play Top 40 or Open format, which was unfortunately taking over Orlando at that time…
Luckily, I ended up going on tour about 6 months after this, which made it easier for me to hide from the impending doom, i.e. “The end of an era” in the states. Then, a year or two later when I was exhausted from that lifestyle, I eventually made my way to NYC.
However, when I arrived to the Big Apple I was stricken with the reality that what was happening in NYC wasn’t much different than what was happening in Orlando. Record stores were beginning to close down everywhere, the mood was melancholy, and uncertainty reigned supreme. The only saving grace for me at that time was Halcyon, our beloved record store in Brooklyn where I met Shawn, Taimur and Connie.
But as it turns out, I was still undoubtedly in for a very long and challenging ride, to get to the place in my career where I am today.
And I’m just so happy and gracious to have even made it this far.
And, I'm even happier that Cliff and Nate opened REMIX!!!! :)
Take a sneak peak of their beautiful store HERE..
On Wednesday I had the pleasure of interviewing the owners of Remix Record store in Orlando. Remix is the premier carrier of new and used Dance Music in Orlando at the moment, and they boast a truly expansive mix of 80’s, New Wave, Rock, Metal and pretty much anything else you can think of.
I sat down with Cliff Tangredi and Nathan Maners to discuss a variety of topics, the same topics I’m always compelled to discuss with record store owners.
Cliff and I go way back to the Golden Era of Dance Music and have an amusing history of debaucheries together. Many moons ago, he was one of the first people in Orlando to support my DJ career. I'd come into Vinyl Frontier (the record store he worked for from 1993-2002, eventually managing for the last 5 years), into the back office and order records directly on their computer. He’d also make fun of me when I’d show up at the shop, listen to 800 records, and then only leave with 2 of them. Yep, that’s how I roll, lol…
But my most memorable moment with Cliff, was the time he was there for me when the day finally came to grow up and leave Orlando. The 90’s were over, Late-Night had been shut down for a few years already, and I was in literal shambles over leaving behind what was once O-Town’s legendary Dance Music scene, the scene formerly written about in Rolling Stone magazine.
It’s clear as day in my mind. Somewhere around 2001, I was standing in his living room.. and if my memory serves us right we were listening to Furry Freaks - Soothe (Cyanide Mix - 1996). I had already been dealing with the emotional reality of leaving all my friends, non-stop parties, and dance floor memories behind, but when this song came on I became the proverbial puddle of tears, sobbing and mumbling for the days gone by... Cliff hugged and consoled me and gave me his elderly wisdom (he’s only like 6 years older than me by the way, lol), explaining that this was just life and that I had to keep moving on and growing, etc..
I never forgot that moment…
Soon after, I found the strength to leave Orlando on a quest to be a successful DJ/performer somewhere I wouldn’t be expected to play Top 40 or Open format, which was unfortunately taking over Orlando at that time…
Luckily, I ended up going on tour about 6 months after this, which made it easier for me to hide from the impending doom, i.e. “The end of an era” in the states. Then, a year or two later when I was exhausted from that lifestyle, I eventually made my way to NYC.
However, when I arrived to the Big Apple I was stricken with the reality that what was happening in NYC wasn’t much different than what was happening in Orlando. Record stores were beginning to close down everywhere, the mood was melancholy, and uncertainty reigned supreme. The only saving grace for me at that time was Halcyon, our beloved record store in Brooklyn where I met Shawn, Taimur and Connie.
But as it turns out, I was still undoubtedly in for a very long and challenging ride, to get to the place in my career where I am today.
And I’m just so happy and gracious to have even made it this far.
And, I'm even happier that Cliff and Nate opened REMIX!!!! :)
Take a sneak peak of their beautiful store HERE..