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Sunshine in November

Ethos

November 20, 2012

Story by Spencer Russell
Photos and Multimedia by Kyle Mckee
Last Friday night, the EMU Ballroom filled with tank tops, swim gear, and hip Hawaiian button-ups as people gathered for the Endless Summer Tour. With winter on our doorstep, it has become easy to forget about the treasured warm season.
Remix artists Classixx, RAC, Cosmic Kids, and Jerome LOL, performed a last-ditch effort to bring it back with funky melodies that get all the winter shut-ins pumped to come out warm up to their jams.
The scene was set right with projections of palm trees and miniature potted palms bordering the DJ set up. Everyone seemed to know all the artists and the songs, proving it was a crowd of true fans.
The Endless Summer Tour was conceived by Classixx, their managers, and their record label, Drop Dead Vinyl. It was made with the intention of having a nostalgic summer feel, like the classic surf movie it was named after.
Students in the Cultural Forum coordinated with Drop Dead Vinyl and event production company, Techibeats, based out of San Francisco to make it happen.
RAC, the second to last act, are native Portlanders. They got a chance explain their remix-heavy music and the meaning behind the event.“The sounds we find to use often inspire what part they are used for. The sound informs the melody that goes with the song,” RAC says.
Unlike many remix artists out there that ruin a song, their goal with remixing is to keep the song true to the original. This is a great part of their drive to change the scene and inspire others to keep remixes authentic.
RAC got their first break when they got the opportunity to remix a song by The Shins. That first hit was the ball that got things rolling for the trio. Since then they have produced a multitude of remixes with artists such as Bloc Party, Toyko Police Club, Ra Ra Riot, Chromeo and many more.
These days, their style leans more towards the indie music scene, playing modern music with a disco twist for club settings. They have a preference for playing at smaller venues because it becomes a more personal experience with the audience. This rang true for their tour stop at the EMU. The night was groovy and had everyone wishing the summer never ended.