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Bringing House Heads to island

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Event organiser: Michael Dill has attracted top Toronto DJs to island (Photograph supplied)

House music and Bermuda is a match made in heaven.

Party organiser Michael Dill says the genre lends itself to the “chill vibes” of the island’s beaches and patios.

He is bringing his take on the movement to the lower level of the Pier 6 Complex on Saturday.

Two Toronto DJs, Sean “Tricky” Moreira and Dave Rankin, will feature on the decks alongside resident DJs Mike Shawr and Fozzy.

The event has earned a loyal following since the first party at Blue Waters Anglers Club three years ago.

“There’s a range of different people — locals, expats, lawyers, insurance brokers, landscapers, just people who want to come out and have a good time,” he said.

“House music doesn’t discriminate. They just want to party and dance.”

The 38-year-old inherited the night after Shannon Coddington (DJ Siid James) moved to England.

The pair formed Näkternl entertainment; Mr Cunningham left him “in charge to build it”

“He said, ‘I need you to keep it going’. So I kept it going,” laughed Mr Dill, who works in IT and bartends at Pickled Onion

The music lover was introduced to the genre when he lived in Toronto.

“I had a cousin who used to go to a lot of house music parties and would take me.

“As I got older, I started going to a lot more lounges, a lot more chill spots and the music that was playing was mainly jazzy house music — they liked to call it lounge music back then.

“Then I went to my first rave five years ago — Swedish House Mafia, it was their final tour.”

That party was the turning point.

“It was crazy. I thought this could really work in Bermuda — just this vibe.

“I started researching different DJs and genres. It became an obsession. I moved back to Bermuda and said to Shannon, ‘We could make this like Ibiza’.”

The pair started throwing parties. This will be their fourteenth.

“It’s definitely a lot more diverse and the venues have gotten cooler,” Michael said.

From The Grand to Red Steakhouse, Horseshoe Bay and cruises on Zara — a particularly memorable night was at Bungalow 56.

“The crowd was loving it. I was doing a live remix and I messed up but no one noticed. It still went off and they went off. It was just a good time.”

Tricky Moreira has played shows worldwide, including India, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Italy, England and Mexico.

He said Bermuda should expect “good beats with an infusion of soul music, Afro and tribal drums”.

“I mix-match everything,” he said. “If it moves me and I have the idea that it will move you, then I’ll play it.

“I always like to see people move. I anticipate a good body-soul feel with hard beats that make you want to dance.”

Dave Rankin was booked after searching for promoters “in the islands”.

“Mostly hip-hop, reggae, R&B, soul — it wasn’t until October of last year that I started to spin house music more,” the Toronto-born Jamaican said.

“House music has always had a secret place in my heart.

“I like the vibe. I like the energy it provides but, more importantly, I like to see people dance and house music makes people dance.”

Fozzy has been into house since its beginning.

“It spoke in a way that other music just didn’t at the time,” he said.

“The track that did it was D Mob’s We Call It Acieed. From there, it progressed to Frankie Knuckles’s Whistle Song, Raze Break for Love [and] Do it Properly by 2 Puerto Ricans, A Blackman And A Dominican.

“To be able to share this house music thing with those who love it and those who don’t know it is amazing.

“Being involved with a group of people who are so dedicated to spreading the inclusive message that house music brings is a true blessing.

“This is the first step in making Bermuda a place for House Heads all over the globe to come vacation, groove to some righteous beats and chill on our beautiful beaches.”

House Style Takeover starts 10pm at Pier 6. Tickets, $45, are available at www.ptix.bm For more information go to www.nakternlentertainment.com

Playing on island: DJ Sean “Tricky” Moreira arrives from Toronto (Photograph supplied)