"A Dream That Last Forever"

Chronically Online brings forward Sleepowder @sleepowder_ a Dj/Producer based in Dallas Texas. As spoken by Pwned what you'll experience January 23rd "isn't just music - she creates a space where dreams and movements merge, and the night never really ends."

This is Sleepowder from Dallas, TX!

Who is Sleepowder? Can you give us some insight on the sound and energy you bring to the dance floor? "It’s my job to make the hair flip and the waists drop extra, extra low. A sexy, fun time — keeping the bodies moving and the girls happy, of course. I’ve put something very special together for this show, and I’m really excited." I'll be whipping out my lee low rider jeans just for THIS! Ooooo something special? From the mixes I've listened to on soundcloud. I can only imagine what it could be.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/dab965_a963c399e40949efb5de95ad9153e7a0/360p/mp4/file.mp4

As someone who is learning through various DJs, I’m curious — what is Acid Techno? "Late ’80s, early ’90s techno perfection. In my opinion, it’s less serious and more of a fun party vibe. I love a sexy 303 and those squishy machine noises — it really hits a spot." I love the fact that you called em "squishy machine noises", because they absolutely hit.

You shared a mix with me called O-Face – Deluxe. What makes this one of your favorites? "It was really spontaneous — I put it together in a day. I had been listening to so much Church of Ecstasy at the time, and my DJ itch started to form, so I needed to create something. I was also really inspired by vintage pornography and discotheque culture." I'm very finicky about where I listen to mixes. Once I received the mix. It wasn't until I was in Austin. Alone - in my hotel room. I was just tired from that 5hr drive and lack of sleep. I decided there's no better moment for the mix than now. Listening to O - Face - Deluxe had the room spin for me. Had me so laid out comfortably, but in a trance. Before I knew it the mix had finished and what felt like ... a long lasting moment of ecstasy was actually encapsulated within 16min and 16 seconds. How wild is that! Especially created within one day.

How do you feel about coming down to McAllen, TX? Have you been here before?

"It’ll be my first time coming down to McAllen, and I’ve heard nothing but good things. I always see fierce lineups forming in South Texas. It’s also closer to the Gulf of Mexico, so I might make a stop by the coast.Shoutout to Chronically Online and DJ Pwned for bringing me out — much love." We're excited to have you here in Mcallen, Tx! So many fierce and sickening individuals from Austin, SA, Dallas, New York and Chicago have been here that there is always a new sound to explore. Always a new one night ONLY experience. It's always a treat.

Flyer by Anthony @ianthonybryan

What do you have prepared for those coming out the night of the event?

"Forever and always, a little bit of everything. Like a fish out of water — it’s fresh and still flopping around. I’ve tried to tie myself down to one electronic genre, but I feel more free mixing it all together to create something new."

Listening to the mix and reading the tags — “Trance,” “Acid Techno” — I let the room spin as mentioned earlier. What do you think this sound evokes on the dance floor? "It’s fun, classy, and sexy. To be honest though, I’m more of a trance girl. I really love an emotional, spacey vibe, especially tracks with vocals. I remember listening to Solarstone’s 'Day by Day (2k Dubs Remix)' for the first time — my brain grew a little bit." I'm also a fan of tracks with vocals. Especially the way Restless Dream begins - it scratches an itch. There's also another mix called Bailewave Mix for Thump Brazil by Dj Clone. The industrial like beginning with these vocals that say "If you could take my pulse right now/It would feel just like a sledgehammer." There's just something about these sounds - I guess in a sense the "emotion" behind and the lyricism from the song choices that really hit for me. Does that make sense? I also went along to listen to TTLG Nitrogen (Live MX) by Sleepowder. I know I'm really enjoying the mixes when I forgot I was working on a blog post and got really into what I was listening to.

What pulled you into creating mixes and becoming a DJ? Do you remember your first show? "Gosh, where to start. I was 17 with a fake ID getting into Funktion, experiencing raw hard techno for the first time. I made some amazing DJ/producer friends during those years, and eventually the scene moved to the Machina Warehouse.

My very first show was actually at Machina for Heavenly Bodies, a Theysta show (shoutout Theystas). I remember being so gagged — it was a huge deal for a little 19-year-old Sleepowder. The warehouse eventually shut down and the scene scattered, but I was fiery about making the DJ thing work, so I kept going.

I eventually landed in a group with my best friends, and we’ve been putting on shows and being city legends ever since. Shoutout to the Hoochies — I love y’all. Now, we’re finally at a place where we can give back to the community and throw our own shows. It’s always been about bringing people together and keeping PLUR alive." From the fake ID - being city legends - being a part of a collective - and giving back to your community. Being able to put together your own shows, but most importantly being able to create your own 3rd space, your own safe space, your own space where folks can come and LET GO. Amazing.

Do you have a message for those coming out to the show?

"I can’t wait to see y’all — omg. I need to see major grinding and hip shaking. There will be many flavors throughout the set, so let yourself loose and feel the beat. I want to see friend groups having dance battles and lots of body-to-body action."

Any final comments?

This is Espi, aka Sleepowder, coming to you straight from the Big D.Kisses, dahling.