I can’t even grow something slightly resembling a mustache.

Surrounded by blaring airhorns and incredibly quiet speakers due to a busted generator, I was lucky enough to be able to interview Paul Devro at Chicago’s Mad Decent party, with Orpheus doing his thang, recording the interview with his iPhone. While the prolonged speaker outage put a damper on the madness for an hour or so, it allowed us to speak ad nauseam with the self-proclaimed creative director of Mad Decent. Being able to interview someone I truly admire was cool enough in the first place, and my fascination only increased after the interview. Why was that? Read on and see.

Squeegie: If you had a job description what would you say it would be?

Paul Devro: I newly am calling myself creative director for Mad Decent, because I do a little bit of everything. I do graphics, release decisions, and I work for/do the website. I work on tracks for the label and stuff, so I do a little bit of everything. But I say creative director because I think I do some creative stuff for it, you know?

S: How did you start out with Mad Decent? And how did your position evolve to what it is now?

PD: First, Wes (Diplo) asked me to remix a track for the Bonde do Role for the first release on Mad Decent, and then I had a website and he asked me to move my website and bring it over to MadDecent.com. So I did that, and I just slowly started doing a little bit more and more here and there.

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The Detroit based, multi-talented Jimmy Edgar recently released his juicy album XXX on !K7 and has had support from tons of big players including Boys Noize, Dâm Funk, and the London based duo Instra:mental, a pair who will make my list for the best of the year without a doubt. Originally bred from the drum n’ bass scene, their futuristic vibes caught the ears of dBridge and dubstep spearhead Loefah, releasing on many labels including their own, Non+ (Nonplus). Before Jimmy Edgar releases his own 12″ on Non+ before the end of the year, Instra:mental were sure to return the favor with a blistering remix of “Hot, Raw, Sex” that went down rather well at Squeegie presents a few weeks ago. Stream or download as you please, and be sure to support XXX here.

Jimmy Edgar – Hot, Raw, Sex (Instra:mental Remix)

Second part of the Transmission remix pack dropping on Feb. 22 with remixes from Tiga, Untold, and James Rushkin.

Boys Noize – Transmission (Untold Remix) via lafriendly.

French duo Beataucue may be a one-trick pony, but they wield a wand most producers can only dream of having. Today was a big day for the group, as two new remixes finally dropped digitally after relentless exclusive play by top DJ’s. Check their top ten for the month at RA here and be sure to pick up the recent remix of French Fries they did. Actually, the whole EP is pretty nuts.

If you haven’t seen this yet, it’s great fun. Andrew WK vs. Chilly Gonzales in an epic piano battle. Mr. Gonzales has been working with both Erol and Boys Noize lately, and has done a rework of “Waves” that is simply outstanding. Buy it here here or here. Rumor is that Boys Noize is working on the new Gonzales album, so we’ll see how that turns out. As an mp3 bonus, here’s an old Boys Noize remix of Gonzales, such amazing melody work on this. If you don’t have this in your iTunes library by now, just right click and save as :). Be sure to support all three of these guys as well!

Gonzales – Working Together (Boys Noize Vocal Mix)

(artwork thanks to pejhy)

Sometimes, when two artists collaborate, it’s not the result you’d expect. Recently, it has worked out well for Erol & Boys Noize, Lee Mortimer & Laidback Luke and countless others. This combination has got me so excited about the full release; Kryptic Minds and Youngsta have created a big monster with ‘Cold Blooded’. Here’s a shotty set rip from one of N-Type‘s most recent shows, so check it out and sit tight for the release (tbd).

Youngsta & Kryptic Minds – Cold Blooded (rip)

P.S.: Please don’t play this out, not only will people be laughing at you, but at N-Type‘s hilarious interjections. If you forgot this existed, please check it out again.

Creepy artwork aside, Boris Dlugosch‘s release today on Erol Alkan‘s Phantasy Sound could not be more on point. Getting spins from Erol himself, Boys Noize, and Hey Today, this is one of the better “crazy pitch-bendy” tech-house tunes you’ll be able to find at the moment. On remix duties is none other than Squeegie favorite and UK house dominator Roska (interview here), who provides a bit more of a stripped down but no less effective vibe on the track. Point is, everything sounds pretty top notch with “Bangkok” and you should buy it here.

Mr. Scribbles was lucky enough to have seen Skream last weekend with Edline and he told me about Skream’s new remix of Chromeo‘s newest single ‘Night by Night’. Noting that he was actually shaken by the bass, I had to hear the track. Luckily it just dropped and god damn, it really is as strong as he said it was. Skream does it once again. Do yourself a favor and listen to this on real speakers, headphones of any kind will not do the trick.

P.S. If you dig Chromeo and good music in general, Chromeo, Boys Noize, Crystal Castles, and some local artists are playing in Chicago on Halloween eve. Check out tickets here.

Chromeo – Night by Night (Skream Remix)

I love tracks that are kind of a challenge on the dancefloor. Not always a 4/4 beat, “what were you thinking?” type of tracks. Felix da Housecat has had enough experience to know how to do those perfectly. Ever since Boys Noize (happy birthday!) dropped it in Chicago this spring, Orpheus and I were on the hunt to find out what “Kickdrum” was all about. Indeed, it is one of the coolest tracks around. Please check it out along with the rest of Felix’s album “He was King” which will be released in three days. Here’s a slimey re-groove of the tune by U.K.’ers T.E.D.D., which I have been in pursuit of ever since Youth Attack‘s Palms Out mix.

Felix da Housecat – Kickdrum (T.E.D.D. Remix)

Here are the top 3 tunes from all of us via this past weekend’s big music festival. If you’re thinking about coming in the years ahead, we all highly recommend it.

MacGregor

1. Bassnectar – Cozza Frenzy (Bassnectar’s Mega Bass Remix)

2. Untold – Anaconda

3. Blake – What I Like (Knuckles ‘Insomniac’ Remix)

Brookah

1. Deadmau5 – To Play Us Out (youtube)

2. Seductive – Underground Sound

3. DIM & TAI – Lyposuct

EDLine

1. B. Rich – Everyday Hustle (AC Slater Remix), probably sickest track ever.

2. The Bloody Beetroots – I Love the Bloody Beetroots

3. Rusko – Cockney Thug

Mr. Scribbles

1. Bassnectar – I Got Bass (???) mystery tune. (Youtube, go to about 4:20 in the video) A proper track id will not go unrewarded.

Edit: Busta Rhymes – I Got Bass (Stagga Remix) [Thanks to Nate from Chemical Jump!]

2. Modeselektor – Kill Bill vol. 4

3. Zero 7 – Everything Up (Joker & Ginz Remix)

Orpheus

1. Emalkay – When I Look at U (rip 1) (rip 2), direct mp3′s

2. Boys Noize – Kontakt Me (rip)

3. Product 01 – Ready 2 Rage (Bassnectar & Jansten Remix)

Poppa Glock

1. Jack Beats – UFO (K-Hole Riddim)

2. Snoop Dogg – The Next Episode

3. Dizzee Rascal – Bonkers (Doorly Remix) and Calvin Harris – I’m Not Alone (Doorly Remix)/ Emalkay – When I look at U (see above)

Rodan

1. Benga – One Million (rip)

2. From Monument to Masses – Beyond God and Elvis (Felix Cartal Remix)

3. Boys Noize – Jeffer

What?

1. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Runaway

2. Shimmer and Shine – Ben Harper (youtube)

3. Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody, as played by MSTRKRFT