NOWADAYSMIX SERIES 51DARONE SASSOUNIAN
We’re back with another deep digger. Los Angeles-based DJ, producer, and Rocky Hill label head Darone Sassounian is a selector whose work feels as intimate as it is expansive, bridging past and future through his soul-driven rhythm. His sound feels like a conversation across time and place. This mix sounds like no other, it honors where he's from and where he's heading. A journey through heritage, groove, and global resonance. What’s in this mixtape? It's a collection of boogie, electro, house, and gospel records I've recently been playing out in the last few months. Some stuff I recently picked up and some cuts I dusted off from the collection. I wanted to showcase as much of a range sonically within an hour. Keeping the energy as raw as possible in one go. A blend of music from different places and eras. Old and new, near and far. Starting things off with more of an uptempo and lifting boogie selections. Moving into the house and garage mood. Turning into an electro alley. Cutting out with jazz and boogie. Ending things off with some gospel and spiritual tones for the soul. A light at the end of the road with different twists and turns. There's an unreleased cut in there that will be released on my label (Rocky Hill) from an exceptional producer based in the United States. Favorite food and where? This is tough. As much as I love records, I love food just as much. I'm spoiled in my hometown of Los Angeles, as it's a melting pot of many different cultures and cuisines, blocks away from one another. I'll try to keep it concise. Sonoratown in DTLA has the best tacos and (Sonora-style) Mexican food over charcoal. Hama has my favorite sushi in the city. Carousel in Little Armenia holding it down! Flavorful Lebanese restaurant with an Armenian twist. Cafe Triste with the best selections of natural wine and a seasonal-revolving menu. It's a real treat for the city. In-N-Out is my guilty pleasure and the greatest fast food hamburger chain on the planet. I laugh with amusement when people try to compare other spots to this superior establishment that we're truly blessed to have on the West Coast. Top tier, undefeated, unstoppable. Who do you look up to? (In personal life) In my personal life, my Dad. He always encouraged me to do what I love and be myself. He's always motivated me to better myself each day of my life. Whether it's on a personal or professional trajectory. Do it with love and the right intentions. Never stop and be wiser as each day passes. He's the true definition of a hard-working and caring man. For family and community. He came to the States while fleeing the Lebanese Civil War in pursuit of a better life, not for himself, but for his family. A real inspiration. He also has incredible taste in music. He would play boogie, soul, zouk and Brazilian records at home while I was growing up. That classic music album we all need to know about? Larry Young - Lawrence of Newark. I stumbled upon this record in New Orleans a couple of months before the COVID-19 pandemic. There are many incredible and genius-level spiritual "jazz" records out there. For some reason, this is the one that I always turn to and just lose my mind over each time I play it. Larry Young was 31 or 32 when he recorded this record and sadly passed at the age of 37 in 1978, I believe. I think of this record as though he discovered his high spiritual plane and just leveled the field with this album. I could write a book about this record. I'm lucky to have an original copy of the record. The album also credits a "mystery guest" for "vocals and saxophone". Pretty sure it's Pharoah Sanders. In my opinion, he's probably one of the best organists to ever record music. The whole record is slept on as it's a free jazz, space, and spiritual marvel. Somewhere you would like to live and get old? Growing up in a big city, I've always wondered if I'd spend the latter days or second half of my life in a smaller, more remote environment. It's always incredibly refreshing when I'm in a smaller city or town that's quite removed from a metropolitan surrounding. I've recently been thinking of some places that have a mix of green and nature within a small city environment. Bozeman, Montana is my current favorite in the States. Oslo, Norway in Europe is up there (but a bit pricey). Dilijan, Armenia is simply breathtaking. Thank you, Darone, for sharing. Dig in and enjoy his dope selection!
