A few calendar month ago , a man by the name of DL Jones add together me on Facebook . I was n’t sure how I jazz him – usually , I can wander a retiring narration through common friends ( athletes , from my basketball game day ; Jewish last names , summer camp ) . But this one stumped me .
That is n’t to say we did n’t have plenty of crossing , because we did : there were former coworkers , summer camp Jews , tech enterpriser , byplay owner , basketball players , musicians , someone I had n’t heard from since grad school . It ’s like this guy knew everybody .
A few nights afterwards , a friend drop behind me out to a club on a Thursday . At one distributor point in the evening , I walked to the bar to get a drink , and who do I run into ? None other than DL Jones . We exchanged pleasantries , and then , before I have intercourse it , I was being direct to my own private booth . Waitresses were delivering extra - turgid bottles of Belvedere with sparklers in them . Since that night , I ’ve come to pull in that such is a dark out with DL Jones , the archetype for the successful man - about - townsfolk .
Courtesy of Karel Chladek
But what does he do , exactly , that he recognise seemingly all of Montreal ? He hosts party . I ’ll let him explain : " From curating the artists to kick upstairs the event and making indisputable the right people show up … I take care of the guests and ensure that everyone is having a good time . " You could call him an consequence organizer , but that would n’t even do it justice . His name is synonymous with Montreal ’s nightlife .
DL got his start as a 17 - year - old handing out flyers for an after - hour club . " I did the rounds with that for a while , " he recalls , " then I started doing my own events with a few Friend under the name Peer Pressure . “Twelve years later , DL has come a long way from peddling aviator out of doors of club . Although the shell may have multiplied from his first events , his core goal remains constant : do cool , dissimilar thing . One of those " things " is his involvement with Diplo’sMad Decentlabel . This finical relationship began eight years ago , when DL metDiploat one of his gig .
“ He was dally withChromeo . We gain it off , and have been friends ever since , ” DL recollects . " He had n’t even begin Mad Decent at the sentence , but we had similar visions . [ He was into ] the outcome I was doing , so he put me on a lot of his shows [ in Montreal ] . "
Courtesy of partywithsylvain
As a will to Diplo ’s trust in DL ’s acumen , he was recently handed the keys to a new monthlyMad Decent partyin Montreal after Diplo andMadonnarolled through the city for back - to - back shows on her latest spell . DL was in charge of the after - parties for both evenings .
" The first of the two [ parties ] , I named the ' Mad Decent House Party , ' since I wanted to highlight the label as well , " he says . Luckily , it paid off : " [ Diplo ] really grind it , and the next daytime , while we were backstage at the concert , we had a quick brainstorm about way to [ expand ] it . ”
What result was a monthly company in Montreal showcasing some of the best talent the city has to offer , always hosted by DL Jones .
Diplo and DL Jones | Courtesy of Bruno Guerin
Montreal might not be the first urban center that come to creative thinker for monthly Mad Decent parties . It ’s one - eighth the size of New York City ; hell , it ’s not even the most populated major city in Canada . It may seem like a weird place for the label to institute its flag … which is exactly what make Montreal a perfect convulsion . What it miss in size , it get to up for tenfold in orbit , particularly in its output of euphony . How else could such a diminutive urban center produce such a across-the-board array of successful electronic act ? Just calculate at Chromeo , A - Trak , Adventure Club , SNAILS , Kaytranada , Tommy Kruise , andHigh Klassified . The city ’s distinct aura has made it fertile earth for a matter like Mad Decent ( and company ) to expand .
As DL puts it , " I think Montrealers are more open to different experiences and sounds than they have been in quite some time . It ’s been fun to watch the burgeoning subcultures , too . Things always seem to uprise more organically here . "
It is n’t all about the party , either . DL Jones is passionate when discourse his Greek valerian initiative , Naïve Melodie , a project he put together alongsideWin ButlerandRégine ChassagneofArcade Fire , as well as Herve K of Moonshine .
Courtesy of Karine Laroque
“ We feel that it would be cool to give charity events a twist and make it more of a party . You never really hear about crazy playfulness charity jams , ” he says . The team host a monthly event that raises money to help oneself rebuild Haiti through Régine’sKANPE Foundation .
" [ Naïve Melodie ] was an authoritative labor for me to assist commence because , as much as I love being part of the night life and the civilization , sure aspects of it can end up intuitive feeling egotistic at times , " he say . " So , being able to crew up with some amazing people and help make a real difference present me a sensation of purpose I had n’t felt before with form event . "
When asked about his reputation as an organizer , philanthropist , and general coolest - guy - in - the - elbow room , DL respond modestly : “ I just endeavor to do coolheaded doodly-squat otherwise . I never find it levelheaded to make a drug abuse out of chuck yourself on the back ; you just keep it prompt and try out to surpass your own expectations as often as possible . ”
Courtesy of Susan Moss
He may not want to pat himself on the back , but I certain as hell will : DL Jones has an unprecedented report in Montreal .
It ’s rarified to see someone with a reputation these day , which should not be confused with popularity . It is n’t defined by Twitter followers or Soundcloud plays ; it ’s something that you have to earn .
That ’s what makes DL different . He does n’t have a million societal media followers . In fact , I regain his Instagram news report uproarious because less than 200 people are secret to his candid shots withDiplo , Skrillex , andWill . I.Am , to name a few . The Montreal Gazettefeatured him as one of their20 Hottest Montrealers of the Yearfor 2015 , a list that include P.K. Subban and Justin Trudeau . He may not be known by the the great unwashed , evident by my " who is this dude adding me on Facebook ? " attitude at first , but he can show up to any bar , cabaret , or venue in the metropolis and be treated like royalty . That ’s what a report get you .
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