by: Juan Porrata
This month's featured dj is none other than Nick Miranda, who at only 22 is a relative newcomer to the Dallas scene but is already making great strides with his Oscuro Entertainment and Diversity in House parties. Definitely sharing in the ethos of house music being the mood music for a good party, Nick's parties are as fun as they are broad in the tastes for the sounds that constitutes house. Having showcased our homegrown heroes like Demarkus Lewis, JV, Scott Pace, and Kelle Marie, he also isn't afraid to also bring in others regional talent not so often seen here with clearly different musical styles such as those of Derek Howell and most recently, Eddie Spettro. All are a much-needed break from the traditional deep house formula. He also makes a strong effort to self promote and as well as get new faces out to these events - something equally as admirable as well as great to see in clubland.
Of course growing up with Cuban and Argentinean parents with roots in Miami, Nick has always sought out the unusual from childhood and his first exposure to EDM came later in the form of the ever present sounds of Progressive House, and he quickly found refuge in the quality Global Underground series of compilations which led him straight to the percussive beats of artists such as Deep Dish, Hernan Cattaneo, and Danny Howells.
With his feet firmly planted in all forms of up tempo house music, he has paid his dues through years of practice and comes to the party firmly rooted in pushing future music with soul.
Check out an Oscuro show and you will see what I mean, I guarantee you will have a good time!
What are some of the diversities in (house) music you wish to promote through your events and why?
I understand that we have a relatively small EDM scene here in Dallas, that is why we started the Diversity in House shows. I am trying to break down genre barriers and I am really trying to get the whole community together under one roof. Personally as a DJ I don't really like people labeling my sound, I consider my sound very diverse and I try to keep it as fresh as possible. So, that is the approach we took with the Diversity shows. We showcase a wide spectrum of DJ's and sounds at our shows and try to include something for everyone. Also, we like to showcase the Texas locals and more importantly our own cities All-star DJ's.
What are 5 tracks that seem to define your sound?
1. Joshua Collins - Brass Science
2. JV & Granite- Confined
3. Spirit Catcher - Never Before
4. Francois Dubois I Try
5. Scope - Strung Out
Sadly, not many DJ's out there treat DJ'ing as an art anymore, and it seems that we see a lot of talent these days simply "playing records". Yes, the groove is all-important, but it's also about strategically selecting tracks that compliment each other like cheese and fine wine - for me that's lush sounds and big basslines. There is nothing like setting the mood and keeping the groove where it should be.
