October 6, 2025 • 43 mins
Queue Points welcomes DJ and producer Jeremy Avalon for a conversation about community, musicianship, and the power of building spaces where the music leads. Jeremy traces the influences that shaped him. He takes us on a journey from a childhood surrounded by records and instruments to the impact of Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley’s Exodus, and how those roots inform his sound and approach behind the decks.
The trio digs into the formation and intent of WERC Crew as a collective, why The Groove treats R&B as a headliner rather than a segment, and how High Key Disco channels the spirit of early NYC dance floors. They also tackle the realities of today’s DJ culture, Gen Z crowds, Boiler Room aesthetics, and why technology can make songs feel “less sacred.”
Follow Jeremy Avalon
Website: https://www.jeremyavalon.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeremyAvalonMusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyavalon/
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/jeremyavalon
Jeremy Avalon Biography
A member of the WERC Crew Collective, Jeremy is often described as “The Professor'“ for his vast musical knowledge in musical history, theory and innovation.
Jeremy has reached a global audience as a DJ & Music Producer, performing all over the United States. He has taken his talent overseas as well as to locations such as the UK, Croatia & Mexico. Jeremy has appeared on the Rock The Bells Cruise, & acclaimed festivals & traveling events like Art Beats & lyrics ,The Art of Cool & One Music Fest. He has opened for a diverse array of artists like the late DMX, Kaytranada, Rich Medina, Masego, Fishbone, Vikter Duplaix, Sángo, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Byran-Michael Cox and others. Jeremy’s first love has always been guitar & music production. He is a multi instrumentalist with production credits with a diverse list of artist like Jazz singer Chantae Cann, Hip Hop legends Nappy Roots & collaborations with Electronic Producer Treasure Fingers.
Already a world traveler by the age of 11, Jeremy incorporates many international influences into his DJing and music production. Uptempo Soul/R&B & futuristic funk permeate his sound as well as Caribbean/Latin rhythms, Indie Dance & Deep House. These are the tip of the iceberg as it concerns Jeremy's musical palette.
Chapter Markers
00:00 Intro Theme
00:16 Introduction and Excitement for the Guest
01:07 DJ Age and Party Dynamics
03:57 Introducing Jeremy Avalon
06:04 Jeremy's Musical Journey
12:10 WERC Crew and Community Impact
24:45 Memories of Record Shopping in New York
26:42 Reflecting on Musical Influences
32:21 The Evolution of DJ Culture and Social Media
39:23 Jeremy Avalon's Remix Project
41:41 Closing Thoughts and Upcoming Events
43:26 Outro Theme
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Sir Daniel (00:16):
Greetings and welcome to another episode of Queue Points podcast.
I am DJ Sir Daniel.
Jay Ray (00:21):
and my name is Jay Ray, sometimes known by my government,
says Johnnie Ray Kornegay III.
What's happening?
People,
Sir Daniel (00:28):
Jay Ray, we, we got a superstar in the building this episode,
Jay Ray (00:33):
a legend, a superstar in the building and that's super dope for us.
Sir Daniel (00:38):
and I'm excited to, to speak with him because we
get, we've had opportunities.
We both got to see him gig and we've hadopportunities to share space with him,
but we haven't, the two of us haven't hadan opportunity to like really chop it up
and to just, you know, talk shop and to,to go over some things that are happening
(01:00):
within, you know, the zeitgeist right now.
So, I'm excited, um, to hear from him.
But Jay, Ray, you know, I gotta, wegotta set it off with something that's
been in my burning in my soul recently.
Jay Ray (01:13):
What's been burning in your soul, sir Daniel?
Sir Daniel (01:17):
I really do believe, I'm starting to believe that people, the
party people of a certain age, ifthey can tell that you are older than
them, as far as the DJ is concerned,they're really not rocking with you
Jay Ray (01:35):
Oh, that is interesting.
Sir Daniel (01:39):
you're, you're much older than them, they're really not trying to stick
around and hear what you have to play.
Jay Ray (01:44):
You know, that's interesting to me because I've actually
always revered the older dj.
Sir Daniel (01:53):
Mm.
Jay Ray (01:53):
Um, growing up like that was, uh, and maybe 'cause
it, it was as a kid, right?
I was always just kind of hangingaround the DJ booth, like watching what
the DJ would play and the DJ wouldn'tlike kick me out when he was like
at like family functions and stuff.
Sir Daniel (02:06):
Right.
Jay Ray (02:08):
I never had that thing.
So when I see like.
And a DJ that's older than me, I'mcurious to know what the journey is
gonna be, because I know it's goingto be different than somebody who's
like a peer or near my peer group.
Like I just, I expect thejourney to be different.
So that's interesting, sir Daniel.
Yeah.
Sir Daniel (02:27):
Yeah, I mean, not for nothing.
I see a lot of, a lot of DJs for, firstof all, if I'm getting older, that
means they're getting younger and thereare certain things that I cannot do.
Like I cannot, I'm not gonnado a set with my shirt off.
That's just not happening.
Y'all don't wanna see that.
Jay Ray (02:47):
Daniel, you, y'all, sir Daniel, you're not going like,
Sir Daniel (02:51):
No, not at all.
No.
Nope.
There's just certain things that you,you all don't wanna see that, trust me.
And then, but then, you know,I can't do a shirtless set.
You know, I'm not, you know, thereare just certain things that I
think that if you're not, if you'repast beyond a certain age, you
cannot do or probably would not do.
(03:13):
So therefore, the party people are justlike, eh, that's really not my vibe.
This is way sexier over here.
I'm gonna go check that out.
So that's just a, that, that's just beena thought that's been brewing within me.
And it's so funny.
Our guest, uh, when we met him,well, when I met him, I know it's
been o like a decade now since,since the first time that I became
(03:35):
acquaint acquainted with him.
He's an elder al now.
Jay Ray (03:39):
Yeah.
Isn't that crazy?
Sir Daniel (03:41):
So he
Jay Ray (03:41):
talk about this.
Sir Daniel (03:43):
about what it's like to be the old guy, the head.
Jay Ray (03:47):
And, and you know what I mean?
Leading the people to to, to the,to the, to the promised land,
uh, you know, with the music.
But, uh, we're gonnaintroduce our guest now.
So who is this amazing person that weare talking about joining us tonight?
Y'all, we are so excited.
Uh, Jeremy Avalon is with us.
Uh, Jeremy has reached a globalaudience as a dj, DJ and music
(04:10):
producer performing all over the us.
He has taken his talents overseasas well to locations such as
the uk, Croatia, and Mexico.
His Pade Carmen setfrom last year, bang it.
Y'all need to go check it out.
Um.
has appeared on The Rock The Bells Cruiseand acclaimed festivals and traveling
(04:31):
events such as Art Beats and lyrics.
Shout out to Art Beats and lyrics, uh,the Art of Cool and The One Music Fest.
He is open for a diverse array ofartists like the late DMX Rinada,
rich Medina, Meego Fishbone, VictorDu Plays, Sango, uh, DJ Jazzy, Jeff,
Brian, Michael Cox, and others.
Shout out to all the Philly love in there.
(04:51):
Jeremy's first Love has always beenthe guitar and music production.
He is a multi-instrumentalist withproduction credits with a diverse list
of artists like Jazz Singer Shante CanHip Hop Legends, the Nat Pee Roots, and
collaborations with electronic producerTreasure Fingers already, already
a world traveler by the age of 11.
Jeremy incorporates manyinternational influences into his
(05:14):
DJing and music production, souland r and b and Futuristic Funk
permeate his sound as well as.
Caribbean and Latin rhythms,indie dance and deep house.
These are the tip of the iceberg as itconcerns Jeremy Avalon's musical palette.
Queue Points.
We are honored to have ourbrother Jeremy Avalon here
Sir Daniel (05:39):
is in the building.
Welcome, welcome, Jeremy.
Jeremy Avalon (05:42):
Hello.
Hello.
Hello.
It's great to be, it is, it is weird beingon this side 'cause I'm always listening
on the other side, so this is cool.
Yeah.
Sir Daniel (05:50):
We had to do it.
It's, it's about time.
We definitely, it's about time thatwe had you on the show For sure.
Jay Ray (05:56):
Absolutely.
Welcome.
Welcome.
You know, there's a lotto get into tonight, um,
that we definitely want to hit with you.
But first and foremost, howare you doing before we jump
into some questions for you?
Jeremy Avalon (06:08):
I'm, I'm cool man.
I've, I've had a, I've had agood little good little weekend.
Jay Ray (06:13):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (06:14):
to play with my man, sir Daniel over here.
That was fun.
Uh, that was my first time at thatparticular, well, at that space,
um, at, at that particular venue.
So that was cool.
So was, it was good to see.
And I saw a lot of people thatI haven't seen in years either.
So that was, I saw a, a kid I went tohigh school with and that was crazy,
Sir Daniel (06:33):
Oh, that's dope.
Jeremy Avalon (06:34):
Yeah.
Sir Daniel (06:36):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (06:39):
Yeah, so I had a great time.
That was a, that was a goodfinish to my busy, busy weekend.
Jay Ray (06:44):
Good deal.
Well listen, man, like one of thethings that have heard, so, um, being
blessed with cool parents, right?
You have an extremely interesting anddiverse history as it relates to just
your artistic palate, all of that.
What made your parents cool?
(07:07):
Um, I would say,
Jeremy Avalon (07:08):
the gift of travel, first of
all,
Jay Ray (07:11):
mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (07:12):
um, I. Having cable television in the eighties and nineties
if you were black, is a superpower.
Jay Ray (07:18):
It.
Jeremy Avalon (07:19):
were
Jay Ray (07:19):
I,
Jeremy Avalon (07:20):
yeah, yeah.
I'm
Sir Daniel (07:21):
The game.
Jay Ray (07:22):
it does.
Jeremy Avalon (07:23):
Yeah.
Yeah.
It just, it, yeah, it matters.
Like, um, I'd say that, but I, I woulddefinitely just say, um, a space to
like, kind of like discover music ina, in a space to do it alone sometimes,
Jay Ray (07:35):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (07:36):
And, um, I used to, you know, I was always
infatuated with the album
covers,
Jay Ray (07:41):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (07:41):
parents had a pretty decent, have a pretty decent collection,
you know, so, um, just being in aweof them and taking 'em all out and,
you know, we had one of those, youknow, console stereos, it look like
coffin with
the,
Sir Daniel (07:52):
Oh.
Jay Ray (07:53):
dropdown?
Jeremy Avalon (07:54):
Yeah.
Jay Ray (07:55):
Yes.
Jeremy Avalon (07:56):
track in
Jay Ray (07:57):
Yep.
Jeremy Avalon (07:57):
Yeah.
So, yeah, so I, I grew up takingall those out and just f spreading
'em around and, you know, my mom's,uh, who is, uh, Melba Moore and.
Jay Ray (08:08):
Legend.
Jeremy Avalon (08:09):
and all this, and then my dad having, you know, sly
Jay Ray (08:12):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (08:12):
and like those type of artists, you know, so that was,
I was just obsessed with these like,what are these big trading cards?
Or, you know, they were just so
that,
Sir Daniel (08:23):
You know,
Jeremy Avalon (08:23):
of sparked it off.
Sir Daniel (08:25):
there, there enough Can't be said about parents exposing their
children to culture at an early age.
Like I, I re that resonateswith me big time Jeremy.
'cause I was traveling at a early age.
Matter of fact, we werejust talking about that.
Jay Ray.
We were, we were interviewed on anothershow and we were talking about the fact.
(08:47):
I started traveling at the age of two.
Um, 'cause I'm an immigrant, so, youknow, came over here at the age of
two and mom exposed me to music at avery early age with the same console.
Um, learning how to put the recordon myself and at my, at the big
age of five, um, she was like,okay, these are your records.
(09:07):
You could put them on yourself.
Those kinds of things.
They, they have an effect on you.
And, um, talk to us about the musicianshippart of your repertoire, because you
are, you are an accomplished musician.
You play guitar, I'm sure you play otherinstruments, but talk to us about that
and, um, being an accomplished musician,I want you to think about this and you
(09:32):
can answer it now, maybe later, butwhat's your, your goat jam session Like
if you were, you know, you got your axout and you playing with somebody who's
in that, that goat jam session with you?
Jeremy Avalon (09:43):
Oh, okay.
So I, I might, I might beable to tackle that one.
I
think
Sir Daniel (09:47):
Okay.
Jeremy Avalon (09:47):
so, okay.
So musicianship, I would say, um, I wasblessed to have a piano in the house
growing
Jay Ray (09:53):
that's dope.
Sir Daniel (09:55):
Yeah,
Jay Ray (09:55):
really plays for real.
Jeremy Avalon (09:57):
you know, everybody, it was just.
I dunno.
In the eighties it was just
cool if
Jay Ray (10:00):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (10:01):
in your
Jay Ray (10:02):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (10:02):
you know,
Sir Daniel (10:03):
same.
Jeremy Avalon (10:04):
having a piano in my house and just being able to, if I
wanted to touch music, I could touch
it,
Jay Ray (10:10):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (10:11):
outside of just these records and stuff like that.
It was, um, so I was alwaysinterested in guitar.
My, um, my dad's a big Hendrix fan,so like some of the first music I
heard in life is like machine gun and
Jay Ray (10:26):
That's dope.
Jeremy Avalon (10:27):
so
Jay Ray (10:27):
That kind explains.
Jeremy Avalon (10:28):
I ended up the way I did, you know?
So like that band of Gypsies album
is
Jay Ray (10:33):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (10:33):
that's the first music I like remember hearing
Jay Ray (10:37):
Wow.
Jeremy Avalon (10:37):
life, know?
So, um, but yeah, it is that Iremember, um, when, I remember when
we first got our, when we firstgot our, the first like CD player,
Jay Ray (10:47):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (10:48):
the single like disc.
Uh,
Jay Ray (10:50):
Like the Sony joint where it comes out and it's long.
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (10:53):
one.
Jay Ray (10:53):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (10:54):
So yeah, just, um.
Having like, you know, likejust listening to a lot of like,
uh, di more diverse things now.
'cause now you know, you have thiscompact disc and just go, the record
store experience is a lot different.
So just my, I remember the first nightwe got it and, you know, my parents
just getting all kind of different stuffreally just to show off the stereo,
Jay Ray (11:15):
Right.
Jeremy Avalon (11:16):
um, but in that, in that mix was, um, Exodus by Bob Marley and the
Whalers and that like, kindof, that really spoke to me
on that whole album a lot.
Um, I, I don't, I guess the,like Gen Z kids call it meta
Jay Ray (11:31):
Right.
Jeremy Avalon (11:31):
but like Bob Marley like, kind of wore this like exact
shirt
Jay Ray (11:35):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (11:36):
in the, in, in, um, in an interview one time.
So, yeah, it just, I don't know, it'sfunny, but Bob Marley, Exodus, um, album
really kind of like, just like reallyspoke to my like soul I guess, you know?
And I knew that I wanted to dothat, um, along with going to
a concert at a young age too.
So.
Sir Daniel (11:56):
What concert was that?
Jay Ray (11:57):
yeah.
What concert did you go to?
So
my first concert,
Jeremy Avalon (12:00):
was the Any Heartbreak Tour
Jay Ray (12:02):
whoa, that's a legendary tour.
Jeremy Avalon (12:05):
yes,
Jay Ray (12:06):
Dope.
So, Jeremy, we have.
Mentioned WERC Crew
Sir Daniel (12:11):
Mm-hmm.
Jay Ray (12:12):
bio.
I, okay, so I'm just gonnalove on WERC Crew for a minute.
There are one so many pictures ofme at WERC Crew events in like the
very early years of like WERC Crew.
I loved energy that y'all wereable to harness in all of us.
(12:37):
I feel like there was this, um, you helpedall of us creatives in Atlanta kind of
have a space where we could just landand be, but also build with one another.
Oh.
And dance and sweat our faces off at,at our bodies away at the same time.
So congratulations on y'allcontinuing to do this,
Jeremy Avalon (13:02):
Thank you.
Jay Ray (13:04):
because it, it mean it meant a. Ton to me, um, in Atlanta work, work,
crew events, I have so many fond memories.
Um, so to that point,
what makes you the most proudabout WERC Crew and what
y'all have done for the world?
Jeremy Avalon (13:27):
well, so I would say it is not an event really.
It's not a, a moment intime for real for me.
It is just that it is, it's a, itis a bunch of people who didn't
like really fit in anywhere, kind
of
Jay Ray (13:43):
We were the island of misfit toys.
Jeremy Avalon (13:45):
Yeah.
And like people from all walks oflife, people from all type of places.
Um, me and Xavier met at a, at abirthday party for, um, a artist that
he was DJing for, um, at the time.
He was a good friend of mine.
And, um, we just kind of, when wemet, uh, this is before WERC Crew,
(14:07):
when we, uh, were doing a party shade,
Jay Ray (14:09):
mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (14:10):
Space two when it
Jay Ray (14:11):
Space two.
Jeremy Avalon (14:13):
Yeah.
So this is like even before WERC Crew
time.
Jay Ray (14:16):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (14:17):
um, we just figured out, we just figured out we had a
lot of the same problems, you know.
Um, Atlanta, as you know, asouthern hospitality as it can be
is still very tribal a lot of times.
Um, you know, we didn't go to schoolwith any, I mean, we didn't go to college
with
Jay Ray (14:34):
Hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (14:35):
there.
Um, you know, even if we had friends andfamily and had been there a long time,
we didn't go to the same churches as
people.
We didn't go to, we weren't inthese, we weren't in fraternities.
Jay Ray (14:45):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (14:46):
not legacy,
Jay Ray (14:47):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (14:48):
mean?
So it's kind of hard to fit in a lotof, a lot of times, um, and kind of find
a space if you don't like, don't know.
Jay Ray (14:56):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (14:56):
The big homies,
Jay Ray (14:58):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (14:58):
as they would call it.
Right?
So we kind of figured out like, wehave a lot of the same problems.
We're from all these diverse placesand we want to like, um, we want
to express like this, this music.
Um, we wanna, it is actually twofold.
It's like we want to playa lot of futuristic music
Jay Ray (15:16):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (15:16):
that is next.
Um, I can say like even back then wewere playing, uh, disclosure, like
before
Jay Ray (15:23):
Oh, yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (15:24):
was
out
Jay Ray (15:24):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (15:25):
Like those type of
Jay Ray (15:27):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (15:27):
kind of previously.
Um, and I think a good, a big part ofthat was having younger people around us
too.
Jay Ray (15:34):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (15:34):
Um, kind of, you know, by that time I was in my late
twenties.
Um, so very disconnectedwith college age, anyone, you
Jay Ray (15:43):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (15:43):
but I would say the college age, uh, people at that
time, you know, they really kind ofhelped us, helped us stay kind of.
Cutting edge because we werekind of the middle children,
you
Jay Ray (15:54):
Right.
Jeremy Avalon (15:54):
of the scene.
You know, um, there's these, all thesepeople older than us who have done
all these like, incredible things,but this is kind of pre-internet
and like access to people.
So I remember like, and this is funny'cause we just shout out to Sala.
We just did a,
Jay Ray (16:11):
Shout out to S Salon now today.
Yes.
Jeremy Avalon (16:13):
we just did a, a, a joint together, um, at the Echo
Room,
Jay Ray (16:16):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (16:17):
which is a new spot over here.
Sir Daniel (16:19):
Yes,
Jeremy Avalon (16:19):
I remember first seeing him opening for common
and I'm like, oh, he is famous.
There's no way I, you know what I mean?
Like.
Jay Ray (16:25):
Yeah.
Sir Daniel (16:26):
true.
Jeremy Avalon (16:26):
we talk.
Yeah.
That's how we like our generation.
We were disconnected from our elders
Jay Ray (16:31):
Mm.
Jeremy Avalon (16:32):
of that 'cause of that, you know?
So we kind of, kind of led the youngerpeople, the people younger than us, we
kind of like, kind of held them tight.
Like, okay, so we're kind of losttoo, but we got y'all, so come on.
So there was a good, there was a youngergeneration that kind of grew up with
us
Jay Ray (16:50):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (16:50):
now, you know, now they have their own successful events.
Now they're their own artistsnow they're their own DJs.
Now they're own working for, um, youknow, whoever I think of, I think
of a time when, you know, speakingof that Shaa party, uh, Abra was
the bartender, you know what I'm
Jay Ray (17:07):
Wow.
Jeremy Avalon (17:09):
know, like India, Sean and
Marie.
Jay Ray (17:11):
Yeah,
Jeremy Avalon (17:11):
college kids, like, you know, hanging out at our party
Jay Ray (17:15):
yeah,
Jeremy Avalon (17:16):
the fathers and the Makos.
Like those people were
just,
Jay Ray (17:18):
yeah,
Jeremy Avalon (17:19):
James kind of era.
Like
Jay Ray (17:21):
yeah,
Jeremy Avalon (17:21):
just the weirdo.
No, we weren't though,
you
Jay Ray (17:24):
We weren't right.
Jeremy Avalon (17:26):
though.
We were just people from thatdidn't fit a, a single like,
you know, crowd necessarily.
We fit every crowd
almost, you know, so.
Jay Ray (17:36):
and I, y'all, I was like the old dude coming to the WERC Crew
parties, like having the best time likeI was, I promise you, I'm gonna put up
some of the pictures from the joints.
brought us all, like I was ableto get introduced to selection in
my thirties, you know what I mean?
(17:56):
And I'm like, ended up writing alltype and just like introduced and,
and reacquainted with this new soundof music, which ignited a whole
other part of my life, my life.
So, So yeah, y'all did that.
Sir Daniel (18:14):
Shout out to to that for sure, because I think
Jay Ray, the first time that.
I was with you.
You took me, it was on Auburn Avenueand yeah, it was on Auburn Avenue
and you guys were doing something.
It was a WERC Crew event.
That was my first timeever seeing you all.
Seeing Xavier.
Seeing Jeremy, and just, you know,realizing, I remember at that moment
(18:39):
realizing that I need to find my tribe.
So that resonates with me as well.
And speaking of which, I see, you know,shout out to everybody in the chat.
Um, I see, see my sister, uh,peppermint Gati is in the chat.
You know, we've had, um, ox all thepeople that are part of WAX Fundamentals
coming through and creating events,creating legacy, like what you're doing
(19:02):
is so important that I, we cannot goany further without shouting you out
and congratulating you on the ninthanniversary of the Groove Party, which
you gotta tell for, for the peoplethat are at home that don't know what
the Groove Party is, tell them, um,just tell us how you got started.
'cause nine years of doing, of doingconsistently an event that people
(19:26):
consistently come to and pack itout is nothing to shake a stick at.
Jeremy Avalon (19:31):
Yeah.
So thank you first of all,and I would, I just, for
Sir Daniel (19:37):
I.
Jeremy Avalon (19:37):
the groove is kind of like our, I don't know, it's like our
activism a little bit, you know, kindof our rebellion against like look like.
RB needs a space by itself,
you
Jay Ray (19:50):
Yes.
Jeremy Avalon (19:51):
there's a, there's other, you know, we didn't invent the RB party.
There's RB parties, uh, before and afterand plenty after, you know, but I, but
a lot of the times, you know, to appeasepeople, you know, they'll, they'll have a
hip hop segment or they'll have some kindof like rap infiltration kind of thing.
And,
you know, of
Sir Daniel (20:10):
Hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (20:10):
I'm a, I'm as hip hop
as they
Jay Ray (20:12):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (20:12):
what I mean?
But I feel, and, uh, the, you know, usand the group just feel like, man, r
and b deserves its own move out the way.
You
know what I'm
Jay Ray (20:23):
Yes.
Jeremy Avalon (20:23):
deserves its own thing.
So it just, our like, kind of love letterto r and b, like, you know, and we, we
dig in the crates, you know, it's notjust surface level, um, r and b, you know.
We all have different, um,different influences and, you
know, and things like that.
So, uh, we all bring somethingdifferent to the table.
Um, there's song I, I'm, I'm nowthe, the OG in the group, I guess.
(20:47):
So I'm the oldest one.
So like their songs from my teenageyears, like, know, 7 0 2 and Subway,
Jay Ray (20:55):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (20:55):
little game like that, I
don't
Jay Ray (20:57):
Classic joy, right?
Jeremy Avalon (20:59):
And it's like, we need, we, I, that's what that's
for, but it's not just for like,you know, nineties r and b at all.
Um, we always like, definitely triedto like champion what's next and
like newer r and b too, because,you know, RI mean, you know, r and
b is is still around and there's
some of
Jay Ray (21:19):
Yes.
Jeremy Avalon (21:20):
some of the best music out now than there's ever
been, but you know, there's just.
too much music, period.
So it's hard to, it is hard to find
stuff.
Jay Ray (21:29):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (21:30):
I think when, when we were growing up, like we're the
last, like we're the internet puberty
generation, you know,
Sir Daniel (21:37):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (21:37):
we're the last,
Jay Ray (21:38):
Yep.
Jeremy Avalon (21:38):
the great science experiment.
Jay Ray (21:40):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (21:41):
people to like experience r and b, like for
real,
Jay Ray (21:45):
Yep.
Jeremy Avalon (21:45):
you know, like our teenage years are like the, the classic nineties
RB
Jay Ray (21:50):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (21:51):
know, that people are trying to emulate
now and
Jay Ray (21:53):
Yep.
Jeremy Avalon (21:54):
me being on the younger spectrum of
that,
Jay Ray (21:57):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (21:57):
but still a teenager through
that,
Jay Ray (21:59):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (22:00):
you know, like, um, it's kind of cool to see a lot of
that come back in style and I cancross and I can hit them with,
you know, four page letter and,
you
Jay Ray (22:10):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (22:10):
these, these, these records that I liked growing up.
But then, you know, I could, wecould always, you know, we, we
always play a lot of new stuff.
Um, I. That people couldconnect into today.
Um, so I know I rambled, but yeah,
it's
Jay Ray (22:23):
No, that was perfect.
No.
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (22:26):
a place for, um, you know, to hear ballads out loud.
You know what I mean?
Like
Jay Ray (22:30):
We
Sir Daniel (22:31):
So important.
It's so important.
Jeremy Avalon (22:33):
running man real
Jay Ray (22:34):
Yes.
Jeremy Avalon (22:35):
do that sometimes.
You know what I mean?
Sir Daniel (22:38):
Listen, I've been, you know, I've been screaming that for the longest
time and I'm so happy that you all are,are able to experience that and create
a space for that to live in and at.
So I've seen, okay.
Jay Ray and I went to one of thetimes that you were in town, we
went to one of the, um, I thinkit was a high key disco party.
Jay Ray (22:58):
key disco party.
Had a ball.
Sir Daniel (23:00):
And so what a lot of the younger people get a lot of flack
for not dancing at parties, fornot, um, going in and going up for
the music that the DJ is playing.
And, but that's not what we saw.
And so I'm interested to hear fromyou, Jeremy, like what surprises you
(23:21):
the most about spinning for a Gen Zor a, a Gen alpha crowd that you, what
surprises you when you spin for them?
Jeremy Avalon (23:31):
So, okay.
It is twofold, right?
Like they have all the information inthe world, but a lot of times they just
don't research sometimes or they'relike real surprised by things that I
think they should know, but they're,I then I realize how much time has
actually passed and I'm just like,well, it's just me for real, like.
Sir Daniel (23:50):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (23:51):
So, yeah, so that's, that's been the interesting thing.
Um, me doing, uh, the, my, myevent, high key disco, which
is kind of like another trip.
It is kind of like, my selfish, uh, earlyeighties version of the Groove if I,
if
Jay Ray (24:06):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (24:06):
were to do it,
you know
Jay Ray (24:07):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (24:08):
um, definitely a, a Latin Quarter 54, A Paradise Garage
Jay Ray (24:15):
Yes,
Jeremy Avalon (24:16):
you know, like kind of
Jay Ray (24:17):
yes.
Jeremy Avalon (24:18):
you know, you know, I come from a big family, you know, and all my,
my aunts and uncles, you know, had theirformative years in New York City and, you
know, I would just, you know, and, youknow, thinking of New York City in that,
in that time period, um, you know, I,we, was always kind of a desire to like,
just give, just, I wanted some of that.
(24:40):
I
Jay Ray (24:40):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (24:41):
like a fat rat out
loud,
Jay Ray (24:42):
Yes.
Over the loudspeaker, right?
Jeremy Avalon (24:45):
Yeah.
And experience it like howmy aunts and uncles did.
Um, I have an uncle that like, wasreally, I was, you know, really close
to that passed away when I was about 18.
And I remember the, the winter beforehe passed, I used to go back to
New York, uh, to go record shopping
Jay Ray (25:00):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (25:01):
in the winter time.
That was by records in avalex, just to, you know,
Sir Daniel (25:07):
Wow.
Jeremy Avalon (25:07):
nah, you know, it was, it was one of those, oh man.
Which, just crazy that all that is
style
again, you
Jay Ray (25:17):
Yeah,
Jeremy Avalon (25:19):
uh,
Jay Ray (25:19):
yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (25:20):
that's what I would do.
Like, and then just, you know, Iremember one, one time, um, I was at
his house and I was just showing himall the, these records that I had
gotten and, um, and he, you know, itwas just, you know, just these string
of records that really stuck to me, that
were on
Jay Ray (25:36):
Compilations
Jeremy Avalon (25:36):
you know, um.
so for Haki disco, uh, also, and this isjust in, in my DJing period, you know, I
try to play things that probably haven'tbeen played out loud in a long time.
I
Jay Ray (25:47):
Yeah,
yeah,
Jeremy Avalon (25:48):
songs have some kind of soul, you
know, and
Jay Ray (25:50):
yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (25:51):
been played out a long, out, out loud, a long
time,
Jay Ray (25:54):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (25:54):
they kind of, I don't know, they die or whatever.
But it is, I just love playing likeKashif and, and Howard Johnson and, and
like these type of records like out Loud.
And a lot of these kids, theyreally like 'em a lot, you know?
Um, to the point where like, they'll comeup to me and be like, oh man, you put me
on to, uh, well there's one particularjam in Lewis record, uh, by a group
(26:17):
called Reel To Real, you know, called.
And they had a song called Can,can You Treat Me Like She Does?
Right.
And it
Jay Ray (26:23):
Do I?
Jeremy Avalon (26:24):
it was like a one-off,
Jay Ray (26:25):
Okay, I have to find this.
I, I wonder if I probably know the song.
I'm dying to hear it
Sir Daniel (26:30):
now, yeah, now we have to.
Jay Ray (26:32):
Now we have to know.
real quick, so along these lines, Jeremy,this is how this conversation kind of
gestated too, because, um, we were, uh.
Chatting back and forth, and you hadplayed Davina's best of both worlds.
I don't know if it was a song or ifit was like the album and somebody's
mind, whoever you played it for, waslike blown, like mind blown by this.
(26:55):
And you were reflecting about like,oh, like these little pieces of magic
would happen, like all the time.
When
I remember just that album alone,how wild it was that it happened.
And then it was, that was it.
Like, it was
Sir Daniel (27:11):
Mm-hmm.
Jay Ray (27:12):
this is a thing that's going to enter the world and it's going
to not, and it's just gonna be here.
Right.
And we never hear fromher again in that way.
Right.
can you reflect on, 'cause you,you to this, like there's so
much music out there, it's hard.
To land stuff because itis so much coming at you.
(27:35):
Whereas when we were younger therewas like a process, like there was a a
process in the way that music came to us.
Right.
kind of knew what was comingand when it was coming at all.
These levels reflect from yourperspective on that a little bit.
As you are kind of navigating theworld now, it's kind of the elder,
(27:57):
millennial introducing the people toDavina and Loud records and all of that.
Jeremy Avalon (28:03):
Uh, man, you know, it, it is funny.
It's like, was I just hoarding thismusic all this time just to do this now?
You know, so that,
Jay Ray (28:12):
Yeah.
You get to be like the senseifor like the young people.
Jeremy Avalon (28:16):
Or like, there, there's like I was saying, um, there's things that
I think people should know already, andit calm, calm, my mind is kind of blown.
Uh, but I don't, I alsorealize how much time has
Jay Ray (28:25):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (28:25):
Um, I'm a youngest child.
I always say when uh, peoplemeet me, they think I'm 30, but
when they toss to me, I'm 80.
You know what I mean?
Just 'cause I've been aroundolder people my entire life,
You
know And it's always like, even mymusical taste, I, it was just trying
to impress some older girl, probably.
You know what I mean?
Like, that's, that's reallywhat it boils down to.
(28:47):
So I paid attention to what older girls
liked,
Jay Ray (28:49):
Yes.
Sir Daniel (28:51):
Hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (28:51):
Older
girls that I liked, they listened to,like, they listened to like the breeders.
Jay Ray (28:57):
Ah,
Jeremy Avalon (28:58):
to like Cree Summer and,
Jay Ray (29:00):
Shout out to Street Faërie That record is amazing.
Jeremy Avalon (29:03):
like I kind of peeped to like, okay, this is with the older girls,
I like, this is what they listened to.
And I, a, a lot of my like, taste kindof came from that, that kind of way too.
I ain't gonna lie, but like,that's how I discovered like tricky
and
Jay Ray (29:17):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (29:17):
you know what I
mean?
Jay Ray (29:18):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (29:19):
of groups that this is the type of music I like anyway, but like
that's, that really is kinda what did
it,
Jay Ray (29:26):
Hm.
Jeremy Avalon (29:26):
that kind of shaped my, um, shaped my taste and the, just the desire
to like dig more in that like kind of
vein.
Um, you know, I was in, I was in myearly college years, uh, doing that
kind of the me soul kind of explosion.
Jay Ray (29:40):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (29:41):
The, like the, the, the, you know, the mainstream
wave
Jay Ray (29:44):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (29:45):
Voodoo and I would say like two of my favorite albums came
out the year I graduated high school,which is Kid A by Radiohead and Voodoo.
Jay Ray (29:53):
Yes.
Jeremy Avalon (29:53):
know
Jay Ray (29:54):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (29:55):
so that was the kind of music that was out.
So that's, um, I was just on ahunt for anything like adjacent, a
Jay Ray (30:04):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (30:04):
like to this future soul, this new soul kind of thing.
And then going to a lot ofthe record stores in Atlanta.
Um, and just like like di lookingfor like off the wall things.
Um, I used to go to more dusty thandigital a lot, which was a spot that, um.
Used to be, uh, in the parking lot, uh,kind of where MJQ and Drunken Unicorn is
(30:29):
now.
Sir Daniel (30:30):
Okay.
Jeremy Avalon (30:31):
they moved to off Ele Avenue, but, um, shout
out to, uh, to, to DJ Rashida.
She used to work there.
Jay Ray (30:38):
Okay.
Jeremy Avalon (30:39):
and of course, you know, I'm, I'm a, I'm a young
kid
Jay Ray (30:42):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (30:42):
beautiful, this beautiful woman behind the
counter,
Jay Ray (30:45):
Yes.
Jeremy Avalon (30:45):
try, I'm
buying
Jay Ray (30:46):
You are like whatever you suggest,
Sir Daniel (30:48):
Whatever you say, I'm doing it.
Jeremy Avalon (30:50):
Yeah.
$50 fertile ground
import.
Jay Ray (30:53):
Sure, sure.
Jeremy Avalon (30:54):
know what I mean?
So like,
Jay Ray (30:56):
The kids will never understand the need to import y'all.
We used to have to import things to
get
Sir Daniel (31:00):
My God,
Jeremy Avalon (31:02):
or imports, you know, so, oh man, this is ridiculous.
Sir Daniel (31:06):
you, you really unlocked the, you unlocked the memory just now.
When you said kid a, uh,shout out to Qua in the chat.
She and I, that was a squarely,an HV record store mainstay.
We would wear that TV out.
Jay Ray (31:20):
So good.
Sir Daniel (31:21):
Every time we would, uh, you know, like if you were opening, I
said this before, if you happen to be anopener at the store that day, you get to
select what's played, you know, what goeson the, um, the CD playlist for the day.
And Kidde was definitely a part of that.
I'm Aida said something very interestingin the chat as well about another, this is
another example of the power of feminineenergy and it's, this is very true.
(31:46):
Um,
along my DJ journey, I have, I rememberthis one guy just randomly told me, make
sure you look at what the women are doing.
If the women, if it's making them move,you keep doing that because as long as
the women are moving, then, then everybodyelse is gonna follow because the women are
(32:09):
going to draw people to the dance floor.
And that's just, that's just a, a truefact when it comes to the art of DJing.
And it takes me to this next,I'm kind of flipping the subject.
We're gonna go here a little bit
about crowds and about social mediaand including them in what we do
(32:33):
and how it's become glamorized andalso been used as a marketing tool.
So recently, um, I, I haven't seen anyin the past few months now, but recently
there were a lot of these videos poppingup of these boiler room type set sets,
DJ sets, and for the people listening athome or watching, we're talking about.
(32:56):
The DJ is in front of the cameraand there just happens to be, you
know, just some random people behindthem having a good time and dancing
and, you know, whatever they'replaying, whatever they're spinning.
Uh, it is just, it's going off andpeople are just having the best time.
So there, but then there's become thiscontroversy surrounding the video.
What's, what is your take on that whole,um, about those videos and the, the idea
(33:24):
that a lot of like publishing companiesor people who are, who are scouting,
um, and grabbing a people's publishingare actually funding those types of
videos to have people mash up recordsthat they want to make popular again.
Do you think that, do you thinkthat the days of it being organic
(33:45):
are gone or is it just, is itstrictly a marketing thing now?
Jeremy Avalon (33:50):
Um, nah, I don't think it's gone.
I think as long as there'speople, they're gonna be kids
like us, you know what I mean?
There's gonna be kids who desire more,who, um, who can kind of see through it.
I, I kind of feel two ways about it.
It's like, um, I, I admire thecreativity of a lot of these.
Um, we've done, we've done
(34:11):
boiler
Jay Ray (34:12):
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (34:14):
and um, when we hosted it in Atlanta, is.
You know, I, I get the, I getthe aesthetic, I get the idea,
and the videos are creative.
Like, I mean, it's something that,uh, I don't wanna sound too, too
yy and babe, but it's something Iwould clean my house to, you know?
Sir Daniel (34:32):
I and.
Jeremy Avalon (34:33):
Yeah.
Jay Ray (34:33):
That's fine.
Jeremy Avalon (34:34):
but no, but like, I, I appreciate good visuals,
you
Jay Ray (34:38):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (34:39):
I appreciate aesthetics and that's cool.
Um, just, I, I think what, what happensa lot of times, a lot of people who do
that and are booked off of that quicklyrealize, depending on the crowd, that.
know, it, it is a different animal,
you know,
Jay Ray (34:58):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (34:58):
it's not, a disrespect to people who do, to, you know, know,
if, if you have a fun DJing, like,you know, hitting two pots and pans
together, you know, by all means.
You know what I mean?
But, but, uh, but, but yeah, but Ijust, I just think that, um, you know,
it just in real life is different.
(35:19):
And if you want to, if you want, ifyou're like a corporation, like one
of your event or something to mirrorexactly what you saw in this video,
you just have to like, take the videowith a grain of salt that it, it is
a production, you know, in a way,
you know
Jay Ray (35:35):
That is, and I mean honestly, I've always found, um, I love the
production on the boiler room stuff.
Like it's always like, and they'vebeen, and it's consistent, right?
This is not like a new format, youknow, in terms of how it's set up.
I was surprised to that point,sir Daniel, of being, seeing
it in like these other ways.
(35:56):
Like I was like, oh, that, oh, okay.
That's the thing that people are doing.
Um, I think that to that,I agree with you Jeremy.
I think that there will always befolks that are craving kind of a
little more and we could see like,oh, this is like a marketing thing.
Okay, I get that.
You know what I mean?
Um, Uh,
(36:16):
I
Sir Daniel (36:16):
the mashups because remember there, there was, I reached out to you,
Jay Ray when, because there was uh, someDJs finally set what I was thinking.
I was like, I'm so happy for you,for you that you realize that this
BPM matches this BPM and you wereable to put these songs together.
It.
(36:38):
I not serene on anybody's parade, butit was like, okay, this, it's cute,
but it's, you know, it's kind of a mid,it's, it's mid, it's, you know, I've
heard, I've heard that done before,or I've heard, you know, something
similar and it, you know, I don't know.
It's just one of those things whereit's like you understand that people
are, are, are discovering things.
(36:59):
They're discovering music.
Like we discovered it every day.
And so what's old to us and what's oldhat to us is, is fairly new to them.
So that's, I had to kind of temper mycriticism of that with that thought.
Like, okay, I. Give, you know, you gottagive the kids some grace and space.
But then when I found out about thewhole, you know, these are ploys by
(37:22):
these people that these, um, publishingscouts out there trying to make, you
know, trying to shift the algorithm andtrying to get people to, to buy their old
catalog again because they bought it up.
I was like, oh, that,that kind of makes sense.
But yeah, I had to step back and stopand not be the old head, you know, the
old head in the room that's always gotsomething to say about the, the, you
(37:45):
know, the kids doing what they feeland what is making them happy and what
makes them, you know, makes them groove.
So thank you for that.
Thank you for that perspective,because I know I, I text Jay Ray
at least three to four times.
Like, you see this,
it.
Jeremy Avalon (38:00):
Yeah.
Yeah.
I, I, I think with technology,things become less sacred
a
Jay Ray (38:07):
Ooh.
Say that.
Jeremy Avalon (38:08):
uh, there's like, there's certain songs that like.
They're just, we're still from that.
We're like the last Li Mohicans,
Jay Ray (38:17):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (38:17):
that, that hold a lot of these, these songs sacred.
Like
when
Sir Daniel (38:21):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (38:21):
like mashups or smells like Teen Spirit or like, like stuff like that.
Like you can't touch, like I, I,I still have that feeling of like,
man, you can't mess with these rec.
Like there's certain recordsthat, oh, don't mash up Billie
Jean with Billie Eilish.
I don't want to hear
that.
Jay Ray (38:38):
Right?
Jeremy Avalon (38:38):
on.
know, it, there's certainthings that we hold
sacred, um, and there's just,
but technology just becomes less.
So
Sir Daniel (38:47):
Jeremy Avalon and everything that he's done in Atlanta
and beyond is something to be respected.
And so we're very grateful that you,um, took this time out to, to spend
it with us and to just chop it up.
But as we wrap this up, Jeremy,I want you to have the last word.
Please let the listeners and the viewersknow how they can consistently follow you.
(39:08):
Um, let us in on any upcomingprojects that you have.
I know you've done, you, you can't,you have, you dropped it already, but
I know you were working on something.
Um, a project, a remixproject, if I'm not mistaken.
Jeremy Avalon (39:22):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Jay Ray (39:23):
So,
Jeremy Avalon (39:23):
uh, I am working on a, a remix project.
Um, I've been just hoarding music toomuch and it is, it's, it is a, I'm, I'm
sick of doing that, you know what I mean?
Like, I just, I, I make it all thetime and I always, you know, we
overthink
Jay Ray (39:38):
mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (39:40):
and I, I've been just inspired by a lot of, a lot of music,
a lot of reggae, um, right now.
Um, and I just, I've been, uh, Ihaven't really heard any, like,
remixes of any of like the Marley kids
music
Jay Ray (39:54):
Yeah.
Sir Daniel (39:55):
Hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (39:55):
So I'm, I have a, a, a kind of a lo-fi like just guitar, bass
keys, kind of, um, you know, head nod
Jay Ray (40:03):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (40:03):
of versions of some of my favorite, uh, music of Bob's kids.
Jay Ray (40:07):
Nice.
Jeremy Avalon (40:08):
So, yeah, I got that.
I, I have my event, high
Key
Jay Ray (40:12):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (40:13):
um, at MJQ and sometimes monthly at El Malo.
Also,
Jay Ray (40:17):
Okay.
Jeremy Avalon (40:17):
we have a YouTube channel as well, uh, where you can see a set,
uh, at the, one of the very last onesat the, uh, 7 36 location at MJQ.
Jay Ray (40:27):
Yes,
Jeremy Avalon (40:28):
that's a legendary, uh, moment.
Um,
Jay Ray (40:31):
Knights.
Was Knights over Egypt the last song?
Is that what it was?
Jeremy Avalon (40:34):
Oh, so wasn't that night.
But yeah, the,
I,
Jay Ray (40:38):
Oh, okay.
Cool.
Jeremy Avalon (40:38):
play the last night and I played nice over
Egypt as the last song in there.
Um, I, I just, uh, released a, uh, a videowith control, uh, to, uh, Empress Rod
Jay Ray (40:48):
Yes.
Sir Daniel (40:49):
Yes.
Jeremy Avalon (40:50):
that is like full of, if you like, like.
nineties, uh, r and b, like alot of UK flavored loose ends,
Sir Daniel (40:59):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (41:00):
Tara Kemp
type
Jay Ray (41:02):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (41:03):
one's for you.
Um, you know, like I was saying earlier,um, you know, being like oldest millennial
around, um, I'm like one of the few peoplethat still like, plays a lot of that
Jay Ray (41:14):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (41:14):
I was probably old enough,
you know?
Jay Ray (41:16):
Right?
Jeremy Avalon (41:17):
it.
Sir Daniel (41:18):
Listen, Jay Ray, when he dropped Loose Ends, don't be a fool.
On Saturday,
me and Madison were singingat the top of our lungs.
I was.
Jay Ray (41:28):
Don't be a fool.
Jeremy Avalon (41:32):
Right.
Jay Ray (41:34):
song.
Jeremy Avalon (41:35):
And, and going to, going to England as a young
age, that really kind of sparked
all
Jay Ray (41:39):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (41:39):
For
sure.
Sir Daniel (41:40):
Absolutely.
But this has been a pleasure, Jeremy.
Um, appreciate you so much, somuch for doing this and for sitting
in with the Queue Points podcast.
Jay Ray, let's wrap this up.
Let the people know all the people thatJay Ray has, um, that Jeremy has brought
along with him to watch us tonight.
They need to know how to keep incontact with Queue Points while we got
(42:00):
'em here, so, so hit them to the game.
Jay Ray (42:02):
absolutely.
Thank y'all so much.
As we always say, if you can, uh, seeour faces or hear our voices, subscribe
wherever you are, share the show withyour friends, family, colleagues.
Chances are if you love Queue Points,they will love Queue Points as well.
Thank you so much Jeremy Avalonfor coming and hanging out with us,
man, like I respect you so much.
And not only that, you have gottenme together on the dance floor.
(42:26):
I appreciate it.
So thank you so much.
Jeremy Avalon (42:28):
you dancing.
Thank you
Jay Ray (42:30):
Absolutely.
Sir Daniel (42:31):
Absolutely.
Jay Ray (42:32):
so y'all please visit our website Queue Points.com.
You can uh, watch the entirearchive of Queue Points.
are almost at 200 shows.
There's a lot of content over therethat you can lean into and you should
visit Queue Points Mag where wegive you some additional content.
We got all types of articlesover there where we give you some
additional flavor that you mightreally, really enjoy as well.
(42:54):
And if you wanna keep the lights onand Queue Points land, you can shop
our store@store.Queue Points.com.
We appreciate y'all, we love y'all.
Sir Daniel (43:05):
That'll do it.
All right.
What do I say?
Every week y'all, in thislife, you have a choice.
You can either pick up the needleor you could let the record play.
I'm DJ Sir Daniel,
Jay Ray (43:14):
my name is Jay Ray,
this
Sir Daniel (43:16):
that's Jeremy Avalon.
And this has been QueuePoints podcast, dropping the
needle on black music history.
We will see you on the next go round.
Peace.
Greetings and welcome to another episode of Queue Points podcast.
I am DJ Sir Daniel.
Jay Ray (00:21):
and my name is Jay Ray, sometimes known by my government,
says Johnnie Ray Kornegay III.
What's happening?
People,
Sir Daniel (00:28):
Jay Ray, we, we got a superstar in the building this episode,
Jay Ray (00:33):
a legend, a superstar in the building and that's super dope for us.
Sir Daniel (00:38):
and I'm excited to, to speak with him because we
get, we've had opportunities.
We both got to see him gig and we've hadopportunities to share space with him,
but we haven't, the two of us haven't hadan opportunity to like really chop it up
and to just, you know, talk shop and to,to go over some things that are happening
(01:00):
within, you know, the zeitgeist right now.
So, I'm excited, um, to hear from him.
But Jay, Ray, you know, I gotta, wegotta set it off with something that's
been in my burning in my soul recently.
Jay Ray (01:13):
What's been burning in your soul, sir Daniel?
Sir Daniel (01:17):
I really do believe, I'm starting to believe that people, the
party people of a certain age, ifthey can tell that you are older than
them, as far as the DJ is concerned,they're really not rocking with you
Jay Ray (01:35):
Oh, that is interesting.
Sir Daniel (01:39):
you're, you're much older than them, they're really not trying to stick
around and hear what you have to play.
Jay Ray (01:44):
You know, that's interesting to me because I've actually
always revered the older dj.
Sir Daniel (01:53):
Mm.
Jay Ray (01:53):
Um, growing up like that was, uh, and maybe 'cause
it, it was as a kid, right?
I was always just kind of hangingaround the DJ booth, like watching what
the DJ would play and the DJ wouldn'tlike kick me out when he was like
at like family functions and stuff.
Sir Daniel (02:06):
Right.
Jay Ray (02:08):
I never had that thing.
So when I see like.
And a DJ that's older than me, I'mcurious to know what the journey is
gonna be, because I know it's goingto be different than somebody who's
like a peer or near my peer group.
Like I just, I expect thejourney to be different.
So that's interesting, sir Daniel.
Yeah.
Sir Daniel (02:27):
Yeah, I mean, not for nothing.
I see a lot of, a lot of DJs for, firstof all, if I'm getting older, that
means they're getting younger and thereare certain things that I cannot do.
Like I cannot, I'm not gonnado a set with my shirt off.
That's just not happening.
Y'all don't wanna see that.
Jay Ray (02:47):
Daniel, you, y'all, sir Daniel, you're not going like,
Sir Daniel (02:51):
No, not at all.
No.
Nope.
There's just certain things that you,you all don't wanna see that, trust me.
And then, but then, you know,I can't do a shirtless set.
You know, I'm not, you know, thereare just certain things that I
think that if you're not, if you'repast beyond a certain age, you
cannot do or probably would not do.
(03:13):
So therefore, the party people are justlike, eh, that's really not my vibe.
This is way sexier over here.
I'm gonna go check that out.
So that's just a, that, that's just beena thought that's been brewing within me.
And it's so funny.
Our guest, uh, when we met him,well, when I met him, I know it's
been o like a decade now since,since the first time that I became
(03:35):
acquaint acquainted with him.
He's an elder al now.
Jay Ray (03:39):
Yeah.
Isn't that crazy?
Sir Daniel (03:41):
So he
Jay Ray (03:41):
talk about this.
Sir Daniel (03:43):
about what it's like to be the old guy, the head.
Jay Ray (03:47):
And, and you know what I mean?
Leading the people to to, to the,to the, to the promised land,
uh, you know, with the music.
But, uh, we're gonnaintroduce our guest now.
So who is this amazing person that weare talking about joining us tonight?
Y'all, we are so excited.
Uh, Jeremy Avalon is with us.
Uh, Jeremy has reached a globalaudience as a dj, DJ and music
(04:10):
producer performing all over the us.
He has taken his talents overseasas well to locations such as
the uk, Croatia, and Mexico.
His Pade Carmen setfrom last year, bang it.
Y'all need to go check it out.
Um.
has appeared on The Rock The Bells Cruiseand acclaimed festivals and traveling
(04:31):
events such as Art Beats and lyrics.
Shout out to Art Beats and lyrics, uh,the Art of Cool and The One Music Fest.
He is open for a diverse array ofartists like the late DMX Rinada,
rich Medina, Meego Fishbone, VictorDu Plays, Sango, uh, DJ Jazzy, Jeff,
Brian, Michael Cox, and others.
Shout out to all the Philly love in there.
(04:51):
Jeremy's first Love has always beenthe guitar and music production.
He is a multi-instrumentalist withproduction credits with a diverse list
of artists like Jazz Singer Shante CanHip Hop Legends, the Nat Pee Roots, and
collaborations with electronic producerTreasure Fingers already, already
a world traveler by the age of 11.
Jeremy incorporates manyinternational influences into his
(05:14):
DJing and music production, souland r and b and Futuristic Funk
permeate his sound as well as.
Caribbean and Latin rhythms,indie dance and deep house.
These are the tip of the iceberg as itconcerns Jeremy Avalon's musical palette.
Queue Points.
We are honored to have ourbrother Jeremy Avalon here
Sir Daniel (05:39):
is in the building.
Welcome, welcome, Jeremy.
Jeremy Avalon (05:42):
Hello.
Hello.
Hello.
It's great to be, it is, it is weird beingon this side 'cause I'm always listening
on the other side, so this is cool.
Yeah.
Sir Daniel (05:50):
We had to do it.
It's, it's about time.
We definitely, it's about time thatwe had you on the show For sure.
Jay Ray (05:56):
Absolutely.
Welcome.
Welcome.
You know, there's a lotto get into tonight, um,
that we definitely want to hit with you.
But first and foremost, howare you doing before we jump
into some questions for you?
Jeremy Avalon (06:08):
I'm, I'm cool man.
I've, I've had a, I've had agood little good little weekend.
Jay Ray (06:13):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (06:14):
to play with my man, sir Daniel over here.
That was fun.
Uh, that was my first time at thatparticular, well, at that space,
um, at, at that particular venue.
So that was cool.
So was, it was good to see.
And I saw a lot of people thatI haven't seen in years either.
So that was, I saw a, a kid I went tohigh school with and that was crazy,
Sir Daniel (06:33):
Oh, that's dope.
Jeremy Avalon (06:34):
Yeah.
Sir Daniel (06:36):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (06:39):
Yeah, so I had a great time.
That was a, that was a goodfinish to my busy, busy weekend.
Jay Ray (06:44):
Good deal.
Well listen, man, like one of thethings that have heard, so, um, being
blessed with cool parents, right?
You have an extremely interesting anddiverse history as it relates to just
your artistic palate, all of that.
What made your parents cool?
(07:07):
Um, I would say,
Jeremy Avalon (07:08):
the gift of travel, first of
all,
Jay Ray (07:11):
mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (07:12):
um, I. Having cable television in the eighties and nineties
if you were black, is a superpower.
Jay Ray (07:18):
It.
Jeremy Avalon (07:19):
were
Jay Ray (07:19):
I,
Jeremy Avalon (07:20):
yeah, yeah.
I'm
Sir Daniel (07:21):
The game.
Jay Ray (07:22):
it does.
Jeremy Avalon (07:23):
Yeah.
Yeah.
It just, it, yeah, it matters.
Like, um, I'd say that, but I, I woulddefinitely just say, um, a space to
like, kind of like discover music ina, in a space to do it alone sometimes,
Jay Ray (07:35):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (07:36):
And, um, I used to, you know, I was always
infatuated with the album
covers,
Jay Ray (07:41):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (07:41):
parents had a pretty decent, have a pretty decent collection,
you know, so, um, just being in aweof them and taking 'em all out and,
you know, we had one of those, youknow, console stereos, it look like
coffin with
the,
Sir Daniel (07:52):
Oh.
Jay Ray (07:53):
dropdown?
Jeremy Avalon (07:54):
Yeah.
Jay Ray (07:55):
Yes.
Jeremy Avalon (07:56):
track in
Jay Ray (07:57):
Yep.
Jeremy Avalon (07:57):
Yeah.
So, yeah, so I, I grew up takingall those out and just f spreading
'em around and, you know, my mom's,uh, who is, uh, Melba Moore and.
Jay Ray (08:08):
Legend.
Jeremy Avalon (08:09):
and all this, and then my dad having, you know, sly
Jay Ray (08:12):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (08:12):
and like those type of artists, you know, so that was,
I was just obsessed with these like,what are these big trading cards?
Or, you know, they were just so
that,
Sir Daniel (08:23):
You know,
Jeremy Avalon (08:23):
of sparked it off.
Sir Daniel (08:25):
there, there enough Can't be said about parents exposing their
children to culture at an early age.
Like I, I re that resonateswith me big time Jeremy.
'cause I was traveling at a early age.
Matter of fact, we werejust talking about that.
Jay Ray.
We were, we were interviewed on anothershow and we were talking about the fact.
(08:47):
I started traveling at the age of two.
Um, 'cause I'm an immigrant, so, youknow, came over here at the age of
two and mom exposed me to music at avery early age with the same console.
Um, learning how to put the recordon myself and at my, at the big
age of five, um, she was like,okay, these are your records.
(09:07):
You could put them on yourself.
Those kinds of things.
They, they have an effect on you.
And, um, talk to us about the musicianshippart of your repertoire, because you
are, you are an accomplished musician.
You play guitar, I'm sure you play otherinstruments, but talk to us about that
and, um, being an accomplished musician,I want you to think about this and you
(09:32):
can answer it now, maybe later, butwhat's your, your goat jam session Like
if you were, you know, you got your axout and you playing with somebody who's
in that, that goat jam session with you?
Jeremy Avalon (09:43):
Oh, okay.
So I, I might, I might beable to tackle that one.
I
think
Sir Daniel (09:47):
Okay.
Jeremy Avalon (09:47):
so, okay.
So musicianship, I would say, um, I wasblessed to have a piano in the house
growing
Jay Ray (09:53):
that's dope.
Sir Daniel (09:55):
Yeah,
Jay Ray (09:55):
really plays for real.
Jeremy Avalon (09:57):
you know, everybody, it was just.
I dunno.
In the eighties it was just
cool if
Jay Ray (10:00):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (10:01):
in your
Jay Ray (10:02):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (10:02):
you know,
Sir Daniel (10:03):
same.
Jeremy Avalon (10:04):
having a piano in my house and just being able to, if I
wanted to touch music, I could touch
it,
Jay Ray (10:10):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (10:11):
outside of just these records and stuff like that.
It was, um, so I was alwaysinterested in guitar.
My, um, my dad's a big Hendrix fan,so like some of the first music I
heard in life is like machine gun and
Jay Ray (10:26):
That's dope.
Jeremy Avalon (10:27):
so
Jay Ray (10:27):
That kind explains.
Jeremy Avalon (10:28):
I ended up the way I did, you know?
So like that band of Gypsies album
is
Jay Ray (10:33):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (10:33):
that's the first music I like remember hearing
Jay Ray (10:37):
Wow.
Jeremy Avalon (10:37):
life, know?
So, um, but yeah, it is that Iremember, um, when, I remember when
we first got our, when we firstgot our, the first like CD player,
Jay Ray (10:47):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (10:48):
the single like disc.
Uh,
Jay Ray (10:50):
Like the Sony joint where it comes out and it's long.
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (10:53):
one.
Jay Ray (10:53):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (10:54):
So yeah, just, um.
Having like, you know, likejust listening to a lot of like,
uh, di more diverse things now.
'cause now you know, you have thiscompact disc and just go, the record
store experience is a lot different.
So just my, I remember the first nightwe got it and, you know, my parents
just getting all kind of different stuffreally just to show off the stereo,
Jay Ray (11:15):
Right.
Jeremy Avalon (11:16):
um, but in that, in that mix was, um, Exodus by Bob Marley and the
Whalers and that like, kindof, that really spoke to me
on that whole album a lot.
Um, I, I don't, I guess the,like Gen Z kids call it meta
Jay Ray (11:31):
Right.
Jeremy Avalon (11:31):
but like Bob Marley like, kind of wore this like exact
shirt
Jay Ray (11:35):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (11:36):
in the, in, in, um, in an interview one time.
So, yeah, it just, I don't know, it'sfunny, but Bob Marley, Exodus, um, album
really kind of like, just like reallyspoke to my like soul I guess, you know?
And I knew that I wanted to dothat, um, along with going to
a concert at a young age too.
So.
Sir Daniel (11:56):
What concert was that?
Jay Ray (11:57):
yeah.
What concert did you go to?
So
my first concert,
Jeremy Avalon (12:00):
was the Any Heartbreak Tour
Jay Ray (12:02):
whoa, that's a legendary tour.
Jeremy Avalon (12:05):
yes,
Jay Ray (12:06):
Dope.
So, Jeremy, we have.
Mentioned WERC Crew
Sir Daniel (12:11):
Mm-hmm.
Jay Ray (12:12):
bio.
I, okay, so I'm just gonnalove on WERC Crew for a minute.
There are one so many pictures ofme at WERC Crew events in like the
very early years of like WERC Crew.
I loved energy that y'all wereable to harness in all of us.
(12:37):
I feel like there was this, um, you helpedall of us creatives in Atlanta kind of
have a space where we could just landand be, but also build with one another.
Oh.
And dance and sweat our faces off at,at our bodies away at the same time.
So congratulations on y'allcontinuing to do this,
Jeremy Avalon (13:02):
Thank you.
Jay Ray (13:04):
because it, it mean it meant a. Ton to me, um, in Atlanta work, work,
crew events, I have so many fond memories.
Um, so to that point,
what makes you the most proudabout WERC Crew and what
y'all have done for the world?
Jeremy Avalon (13:27):
well, so I would say it is not an event really.
It's not a, a moment intime for real for me.
It is just that it is, it's a, itis a bunch of people who didn't
like really fit in anywhere, kind
of
Jay Ray (13:43):
We were the island of misfit toys.
Jeremy Avalon (13:45):
Yeah.
And like people from all walks oflife, people from all type of places.
Um, me and Xavier met at a, at abirthday party for, um, a artist that
he was DJing for, um, at the time.
He was a good friend of mine.
And, um, we just kind of, when wemet, uh, this is before WERC Crew,
(14:07):
when we, uh, were doing a party shade,
Jay Ray (14:09):
mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (14:10):
Space two when it
Jay Ray (14:11):
Space two.
Jeremy Avalon (14:13):
Yeah.
So this is like even before WERC Crew
time.
Jay Ray (14:16):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (14:17):
um, we just figured out, we just figured out we had a
lot of the same problems, you know.
Um, Atlanta, as you know, asouthern hospitality as it can be
is still very tribal a lot of times.
Um, you know, we didn't go to schoolwith any, I mean, we didn't go to college
with
Jay Ray (14:34):
Hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (14:35):
there.
Um, you know, even if we had friends andfamily and had been there a long time,
we didn't go to the same churches as
people.
We didn't go to, we weren't inthese, we weren't in fraternities.
Jay Ray (14:45):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (14:46):
not legacy,
Jay Ray (14:47):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (14:48):
mean?
So it's kind of hard to fit in a lotof, a lot of times, um, and kind of find
a space if you don't like, don't know.
Jay Ray (14:56):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (14:56):
The big homies,
Jay Ray (14:58):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (14:58):
as they would call it.
Right?
So we kind of figured out like, wehave a lot of the same problems.
We're from all these diverse placesand we want to like, um, we want
to express like this, this music.
Um, we wanna, it is actually twofold.
It's like we want to playa lot of futuristic music
Jay Ray (15:16):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (15:16):
that is next.
Um, I can say like even back then wewere playing, uh, disclosure, like
before
Jay Ray (15:23):
Oh, yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (15:24):
was
out
Jay Ray (15:24):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (15:25):
Like those type of
Jay Ray (15:27):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (15:27):
kind of previously.
Um, and I think a good, a big part ofthat was having younger people around us
too.
Jay Ray (15:34):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (15:34):
Um, kind of, you know, by that time I was in my late
twenties.
Um, so very disconnectedwith college age, anyone, you
Jay Ray (15:43):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (15:43):
but I would say the college age, uh, people at that
time, you know, they really kind ofhelped us, helped us stay kind of.
Cutting edge because we werekind of the middle children,
you
Jay Ray (15:54):
Right.
Jeremy Avalon (15:54):
of the scene.
You know, um, there's these, all thesepeople older than us who have done
all these like, incredible things,but this is kind of pre-internet
and like access to people.
So I remember like, and this is funny'cause we just shout out to Sala.
We just did a,
Jay Ray (16:11):
Shout out to S Salon now today.
Yes.
Jeremy Avalon (16:13):
we just did a, a, a joint together, um, at the Echo
Room,
Jay Ray (16:16):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (16:17):
which is a new spot over here.
Sir Daniel (16:19):
Yes,
Jeremy Avalon (16:19):
I remember first seeing him opening for common
and I'm like, oh, he is famous.
There's no way I, you know what I mean?
Like.
Jay Ray (16:25):
Yeah.
Sir Daniel (16:26):
true.
Jeremy Avalon (16:26):
we talk.
Yeah.
That's how we like our generation.
We were disconnected from our elders
Jay Ray (16:31):
Mm.
Jeremy Avalon (16:32):
of that 'cause of that, you know?
So we kind of, kind of led the youngerpeople, the people younger than us, we
kind of like, kind of held them tight.
Like, okay, so we're kind of losttoo, but we got y'all, so come on.
So there was a good, there was a youngergeneration that kind of grew up with
us
Jay Ray (16:50):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (16:50):
now, you know, now they have their own successful events.
Now they're their own artistsnow they're their own DJs.
Now they're own working for, um, youknow, whoever I think of, I think
of a time when, you know, speakingof that Shaa party, uh, Abra was
the bartender, you know what I'm
Jay Ray (17:07):
Wow.
Jeremy Avalon (17:09):
know, like India, Sean and
Marie.
Jay Ray (17:11):
Yeah,
Jeremy Avalon (17:11):
college kids, like, you know, hanging out at our party
Jay Ray (17:15):
yeah,
Jeremy Avalon (17:16):
the fathers and the Makos.
Like those people were
just,
Jay Ray (17:18):
yeah,
Jeremy Avalon (17:19):
James kind of era.
Like
Jay Ray (17:21):
yeah,
Jeremy Avalon (17:21):
just the weirdo.
No, we weren't though,
you
Jay Ray (17:24):
We weren't right.
Jeremy Avalon (17:26):
though.
We were just people from thatdidn't fit a, a single like,
you know, crowd necessarily.
We fit every crowd
almost, you know, so.
Jay Ray (17:36):
and I, y'all, I was like the old dude coming to the WERC Crew
parties, like having the best time likeI was, I promise you, I'm gonna put up
some of the pictures from the joints.
brought us all, like I was ableto get introduced to selection in
my thirties, you know what I mean?
(17:56):
And I'm like, ended up writing alltype and just like introduced and,
and reacquainted with this new soundof music, which ignited a whole
other part of my life, my life.
So, So yeah, y'all did that.
Sir Daniel (18:14):
Shout out to to that for sure, because I think
Jay Ray, the first time that.
I was with you.
You took me, it was on Auburn Avenueand yeah, it was on Auburn Avenue
and you guys were doing something.
It was a WERC Crew event.
That was my first timeever seeing you all.
Seeing Xavier.
Seeing Jeremy, and just, you know,realizing, I remember at that moment
(18:39):
realizing that I need to find my tribe.
So that resonates with me as well.
And speaking of which, I see, you know,shout out to everybody in the chat.
Um, I see, see my sister, uh,peppermint Gati is in the chat.
You know, we've had, um, ox all thepeople that are part of WAX Fundamentals
coming through and creating events,creating legacy, like what you're doing
(19:02):
is so important that I, we cannot goany further without shouting you out
and congratulating you on the ninthanniversary of the Groove Party, which
you gotta tell for, for the peoplethat are at home that don't know what
the Groove Party is, tell them, um,just tell us how you got started.
'cause nine years of doing, of doingconsistently an event that people
(19:26):
consistently come to and pack itout is nothing to shake a stick at.
Jeremy Avalon (19:31):
Yeah.
So thank you first of all,and I would, I just, for
Sir Daniel (19:37):
I.
Jeremy Avalon (19:37):
the groove is kind of like our, I don't know, it's like our
activism a little bit, you know, kindof our rebellion against like look like.
RB needs a space by itself,
you
Jay Ray (19:50):
Yes.
Jeremy Avalon (19:51):
there's a, there's other, you know, we didn't invent the RB party.
There's RB parties, uh, before and afterand plenty after, you know, but I, but
a lot of the times, you know, to appeasepeople, you know, they'll, they'll have a
hip hop segment or they'll have some kindof like rap infiltration kind of thing.
And,
you know, of
Sir Daniel (20:10):
Hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (20:10):
I'm a, I'm as hip hop
as they
Jay Ray (20:12):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (20:12):
what I mean?
But I feel, and, uh, the, you know, usand the group just feel like, man, r
and b deserves its own move out the way.
You
know what I'm
Jay Ray (20:23):
Yes.
Jeremy Avalon (20:23):
deserves its own thing.
So it just, our like, kind of love letterto r and b, like, you know, and we, we
dig in the crates, you know, it's notjust surface level, um, r and b, you know.
We all have different, um,different influences and, you
know, and things like that.
So, uh, we all bring somethingdifferent to the table.
Um, there's song I, I'm, I'm nowthe, the OG in the group, I guess.
(20:47):
So I'm the oldest one.
So like their songs from my teenageyears, like, know, 7 0 2 and Subway,
Jay Ray (20:55):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (20:55):
little game like that, I
don't
Jay Ray (20:57):
Classic joy, right?
Jeremy Avalon (20:59):
And it's like, we need, we, I, that's what that's
for, but it's not just for like,you know, nineties r and b at all.
Um, we always like, definitely triedto like champion what's next and
like newer r and b too, because,you know, RI mean, you know, r and
b is is still around and there's
some of
Jay Ray (21:19):
Yes.
Jeremy Avalon (21:20):
some of the best music out now than there's ever
been, but you know, there's just.
too much music, period.
So it's hard to, it is hard to find
stuff.
Jay Ray (21:29):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (21:30):
I think when, when we were growing up, like we're the
last, like we're the internet puberty
generation, you know,
Sir Daniel (21:37):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (21:37):
we're the last,
Jay Ray (21:38):
Yep.
Jeremy Avalon (21:38):
the great science experiment.
Jay Ray (21:40):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (21:41):
people to like experience r and b, like for
real,
Jay Ray (21:45):
Yep.
Jeremy Avalon (21:45):
you know, like our teenage years are like the, the classic nineties
RB
Jay Ray (21:50):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (21:51):
know, that people are trying to emulate
now and
Jay Ray (21:53):
Yep.
Jeremy Avalon (21:54):
me being on the younger spectrum of
that,
Jay Ray (21:57):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (21:57):
but still a teenager through
that,
Jay Ray (21:59):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (22:00):
you know, like, um, it's kind of cool to see a lot of
that come back in style and I cancross and I can hit them with,
you know, four page letter and,
you
Jay Ray (22:10):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (22:10):
these, these, these records that I liked growing up.
But then, you know, I could, wecould always, you know, we, we
always play a lot of new stuff.
Um, I. That people couldconnect into today.
Um, so I know I rambled, but yeah,
it's
Jay Ray (22:23):
No, that was perfect.
No.
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (22:26):
a place for, um, you know, to hear ballads out loud.
You know what I mean?
Like
Jay Ray (22:30):
We
Sir Daniel (22:31):
So important.
It's so important.
Jeremy Avalon (22:33):
running man real
Jay Ray (22:34):
Yes.
Jeremy Avalon (22:35):
do that sometimes.
You know what I mean?
Sir Daniel (22:38):
Listen, I've been, you know, I've been screaming that for the longest
time and I'm so happy that you all are,are able to experience that and create
a space for that to live in and at.
So I've seen, okay.
Jay Ray and I went to one of thetimes that you were in town, we
went to one of the, um, I thinkit was a high key disco party.
Jay Ray (22:58):
key disco party.
Had a ball.
Sir Daniel (23:00):
And so what a lot of the younger people get a lot of flack
for not dancing at parties, fornot, um, going in and going up for
the music that the DJ is playing.
And, but that's not what we saw.
And so I'm interested to hear fromyou, Jeremy, like what surprises you
(23:21):
the most about spinning for a Gen Zor a, a Gen alpha crowd that you, what
surprises you when you spin for them?
Jeremy Avalon (23:31):
So, okay.
It is twofold, right?
Like they have all the information inthe world, but a lot of times they just
don't research sometimes or they'relike real surprised by things that I
think they should know, but they're,I then I realize how much time has
actually passed and I'm just like,well, it's just me for real, like.
Sir Daniel (23:50):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (23:51):
So, yeah, so that's, that's been the interesting thing.
Um, me doing, uh, the, my, myevent, high key disco, which
is kind of like another trip.
It is kind of like, my selfish, uh, earlyeighties version of the Groove if I,
if
Jay Ray (24:06):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (24:06):
were to do it,
you know
Jay Ray (24:07):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (24:08):
um, definitely a, a Latin Quarter 54, A Paradise Garage
Jay Ray (24:15):
Yes,
Jeremy Avalon (24:16):
you know, like kind of
Jay Ray (24:17):
yes.
Jeremy Avalon (24:18):
you know, you know, I come from a big family, you know, and all my,
my aunts and uncles, you know, had theirformative years in New York City and, you
know, I would just, you know, and, youknow, thinking of New York City in that,
in that time period, um, you know, I,we, was always kind of a desire to like,
just give, just, I wanted some of that.
(24:40):
I
Jay Ray (24:40):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (24:41):
like a fat rat out
loud,
Jay Ray (24:42):
Yes.
Over the loudspeaker, right?
Jeremy Avalon (24:45):
Yeah.
And experience it like howmy aunts and uncles did.
Um, I have an uncle that like, wasreally, I was, you know, really close
to that passed away when I was about 18.
And I remember the, the winter beforehe passed, I used to go back to
New York, uh, to go record shopping
Jay Ray (25:00):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (25:01):
in the winter time.
That was by records in avalex, just to, you know,
Sir Daniel (25:07):
Wow.
Jeremy Avalon (25:07):
nah, you know, it was, it was one of those, oh man.
Which, just crazy that all that is
style
again, you
Jay Ray (25:17):
Yeah,
Jeremy Avalon (25:19):
uh,
Jay Ray (25:19):
yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (25:20):
that's what I would do.
Like, and then just, you know, Iremember one, one time, um, I was at
his house and I was just showing himall the, these records that I had
gotten and, um, and he, you know, itwas just, you know, just these string
of records that really stuck to me, that
were on
Jay Ray (25:36):
Compilations
Jeremy Avalon (25:36):
you know, um.
so for Haki disco, uh, also, and this isjust in, in my DJing period, you know, I
try to play things that probably haven'tbeen played out loud in a long time.
I
Jay Ray (25:47):
Yeah,
yeah,
Jeremy Avalon (25:48):
songs have some kind of soul, you
know, and
Jay Ray (25:50):
yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (25:51):
been played out a long, out, out loud, a long
time,
Jay Ray (25:54):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (25:54):
they kind of, I don't know, they die or whatever.
But it is, I just love playing likeKashif and, and Howard Johnson and, and
like these type of records like out Loud.
And a lot of these kids, theyreally like 'em a lot, you know?
Um, to the point where like, they'll comeup to me and be like, oh man, you put me
on to, uh, well there's one particularjam in Lewis record, uh, by a group
(26:17):
called Reel To Real, you know, called.
And they had a song called Can,can You Treat Me Like She Does?
Right.
And it
Jay Ray (26:23):
Do I?
Jeremy Avalon (26:24):
it was like a one-off,
Jay Ray (26:25):
Okay, I have to find this.
I, I wonder if I probably know the song.
I'm dying to hear it
Sir Daniel (26:30):
now, yeah, now we have to.
Jay Ray (26:32):
Now we have to know.
real quick, so along these lines, Jeremy,this is how this conversation kind of
gestated too, because, um, we were, uh.
Chatting back and forth, and you hadplayed Davina's best of both worlds.
I don't know if it was a song or ifit was like the album and somebody's
mind, whoever you played it for, waslike blown, like mind blown by this.
(26:55):
And you were reflecting about like,oh, like these little pieces of magic
would happen, like all the time.
When
I remember just that album alone,how wild it was that it happened.
And then it was, that was it.
Like, it was
Sir Daniel (27:11):
Mm-hmm.
Jay Ray (27:12):
this is a thing that's going to enter the world and it's going
to not, and it's just gonna be here.
Right.
And we never hear fromher again in that way.
Right.
can you reflect on, 'cause you,you to this, like there's so
much music out there, it's hard.
To land stuff because itis so much coming at you.
(27:35):
Whereas when we were younger therewas like a process, like there was a a
process in the way that music came to us.
Right.
kind of knew what was comingand when it was coming at all.
These levels reflect from yourperspective on that a little bit.
As you are kind of navigating theworld now, it's kind of the elder,
(27:57):
millennial introducing the people toDavina and Loud records and all of that.
Jeremy Avalon (28:03):
Uh, man, you know, it, it is funny.
It's like, was I just hoarding thismusic all this time just to do this now?
You know, so that,
Jay Ray (28:12):
Yeah.
You get to be like the senseifor like the young people.
Jeremy Avalon (28:16):
Or like, there, there's like I was saying, um, there's things that
I think people should know already, andit calm, calm, my mind is kind of blown.
Uh, but I don't, I alsorealize how much time has
Jay Ray (28:25):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (28:25):
Um, I'm a youngest child.
I always say when uh, peoplemeet me, they think I'm 30, but
when they toss to me, I'm 80.
You know what I mean?
Just 'cause I've been aroundolder people my entire life,
You
know And it's always like, even mymusical taste, I, it was just trying
to impress some older girl, probably.
You know what I mean?
Like, that's, that's reallywhat it boils down to.
(28:47):
So I paid attention to what older girls
liked,
Jay Ray (28:49):
Yes.
Sir Daniel (28:51):
Hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (28:51):
Older
girls that I liked, they listened to,like, they listened to like the breeders.
Jay Ray (28:57):
Ah,
Jeremy Avalon (28:58):
to like Cree Summer and,
Jay Ray (29:00):
Shout out to Street Faërie That record is amazing.
Jeremy Avalon (29:03):
like I kind of peeped to like, okay, this is with the older girls,
I like, this is what they listened to.
And I, a, a lot of my like, taste kindof came from that, that kind of way too.
I ain't gonna lie, but like,that's how I discovered like tricky
and
Jay Ray (29:17):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (29:17):
you know what I
mean?
Jay Ray (29:18):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (29:19):
of groups that this is the type of music I like anyway, but like
that's, that really is kinda what did
it,
Jay Ray (29:26):
Hm.
Jeremy Avalon (29:26):
that kind of shaped my, um, shaped my taste and the, just the desire
to like dig more in that like kind of
vein.
Um, you know, I was in, I was in myearly college years, uh, doing that
kind of the me soul kind of explosion.
Jay Ray (29:40):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (29:41):
The, like the, the, the, you know, the mainstream
wave
Jay Ray (29:44):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (29:45):
Voodoo and I would say like two of my favorite albums came
out the year I graduated high school,which is Kid A by Radiohead and Voodoo.
Jay Ray (29:53):
Yes.
Jeremy Avalon (29:53):
know
Jay Ray (29:54):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (29:55):
so that was the kind of music that was out.
So that's, um, I was just on ahunt for anything like adjacent, a
Jay Ray (30:04):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (30:04):
like to this future soul, this new soul kind of thing.
And then going to a lot ofthe record stores in Atlanta.
Um, and just like like di lookingfor like off the wall things.
Um, I used to go to more dusty thandigital a lot, which was a spot that, um.
Used to be, uh, in the parking lot, uh,kind of where MJQ and Drunken Unicorn is
(30:29):
now.
Sir Daniel (30:30):
Okay.
Jeremy Avalon (30:31):
they moved to off Ele Avenue, but, um, shout
out to, uh, to, to DJ Rashida.
She used to work there.
Jay Ray (30:38):
Okay.
Jeremy Avalon (30:39):
and of course, you know, I'm, I'm a, I'm a young
kid
Jay Ray (30:42):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (30:42):
beautiful, this beautiful woman behind the
counter,
Jay Ray (30:45):
Yes.
Jeremy Avalon (30:45):
try, I'm
buying
Jay Ray (30:46):
You are like whatever you suggest,
Sir Daniel (30:48):
Whatever you say, I'm doing it.
Jeremy Avalon (30:50):
Yeah.
$50 fertile ground
import.
Jay Ray (30:53):
Sure, sure.
Jeremy Avalon (30:54):
know what I mean?
So like,
Jay Ray (30:56):
The kids will never understand the need to import y'all.
We used to have to import things to
get
Sir Daniel (31:00):
My God,
Jeremy Avalon (31:02):
or imports, you know, so, oh man, this is ridiculous.
Sir Daniel (31:06):
you, you really unlocked the, you unlocked the memory just now.
When you said kid a, uh,shout out to Qua in the chat.
She and I, that was a squarely,an HV record store mainstay.
We would wear that TV out.
Jay Ray (31:20):
So good.
Sir Daniel (31:21):
Every time we would, uh, you know, like if you were opening, I
said this before, if you happen to be anopener at the store that day, you get to
select what's played, you know, what goeson the, um, the CD playlist for the day.
And Kidde was definitely a part of that.
I'm Aida said something very interestingin the chat as well about another, this is
another example of the power of feminineenergy and it's, this is very true.
(31:46):
Um,
along my DJ journey, I have, I rememberthis one guy just randomly told me, make
sure you look at what the women are doing.
If the women, if it's making them move,you keep doing that because as long as
the women are moving, then, then everybodyelse is gonna follow because the women are
(32:09):
going to draw people to the dance floor.
And that's just, that's just a, a truefact when it comes to the art of DJing.
And it takes me to this next,I'm kind of flipping the subject.
We're gonna go here a little bit
about crowds and about social mediaand including them in what we do
(32:33):
and how it's become glamorized andalso been used as a marketing tool.
So recently, um, I, I haven't seen anyin the past few months now, but recently
there were a lot of these videos poppingup of these boiler room type set sets,
DJ sets, and for the people listening athome or watching, we're talking about.
(32:56):
The DJ is in front of the cameraand there just happens to be, you
know, just some random people behindthem having a good time and dancing
and, you know, whatever they'replaying, whatever they're spinning.
Uh, it is just, it's going off andpeople are just having the best time.
So there, but then there's become thiscontroversy surrounding the video.
What's, what is your take on that whole,um, about those videos and the, the idea
(33:24):
that a lot of like publishing companiesor people who are, who are scouting,
um, and grabbing a people's publishingare actually funding those types of
videos to have people mash up recordsthat they want to make popular again.
Do you think that, do you thinkthat the days of it being organic
(33:45):
are gone or is it just, is itstrictly a marketing thing now?
Jeremy Avalon (33:50):
Um, nah, I don't think it's gone.
I think as long as there'speople, they're gonna be kids
like us, you know what I mean?
There's gonna be kids who desire more,who, um, who can kind of see through it.
I, I kind of feel two ways about it.
It's like, um, I, I admire thecreativity of a lot of these.
Um, we've done, we've done
(34:11):
boiler
Jay Ray (34:12):
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (34:14):
and um, when we hosted it in Atlanta, is.
You know, I, I get the, I getthe aesthetic, I get the idea,
and the videos are creative.
Like, I mean, it's something that,uh, I don't wanna sound too, too
yy and babe, but it's something Iwould clean my house to, you know?
Sir Daniel (34:32):
I and.
Jeremy Avalon (34:33):
Yeah.
Jay Ray (34:33):
That's fine.
Jeremy Avalon (34:34):
but no, but like, I, I appreciate good visuals,
you
Jay Ray (34:38):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (34:39):
I appreciate aesthetics and that's cool.
Um, just, I, I think what, what happensa lot of times, a lot of people who do
that and are booked off of that quicklyrealize, depending on the crowd, that.
know, it, it is a different animal,
you know,
Jay Ray (34:58):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (34:58):
it's not, a disrespect to people who do, to, you know, know,
if, if you have a fun DJing, like,you know, hitting two pots and pans
together, you know, by all means.
You know what I mean?
But, but, uh, but, but yeah, but Ijust, I just think that, um, you know,
it just in real life is different.
(35:19):
And if you want to, if you want, ifyou're like a corporation, like one
of your event or something to mirrorexactly what you saw in this video,
you just have to like, take the videowith a grain of salt that it, it is
a production, you know, in a way,
you know
Jay Ray (35:35):
That is, and I mean honestly, I've always found, um, I love the
production on the boiler room stuff.
Like it's always like, and they'vebeen, and it's consistent, right?
This is not like a new format, youknow, in terms of how it's set up.
I was surprised to that point,sir Daniel, of being, seeing
it in like these other ways.
(35:56):
Like I was like, oh, that, oh, okay.
That's the thing that people are doing.
Um, I think that to that,I agree with you Jeremy.
I think that there will always befolks that are craving kind of a
little more and we could see like,oh, this is like a marketing thing.
Okay, I get that.
You know what I mean?
Um, Uh,
(36:16):
I
Sir Daniel (36:16):
the mashups because remember there, there was, I reached out to you,
Jay Ray when, because there was uh, someDJs finally set what I was thinking.
I was like, I'm so happy for you,for you that you realize that this
BPM matches this BPM and you wereable to put these songs together.
It.
(36:38):
I not serene on anybody's parade, butit was like, okay, this, it's cute,
but it's, you know, it's kind of a mid,it's, it's mid, it's, you know, I've
heard, I've heard that done before,or I've heard, you know, something
similar and it, you know, I don't know.
It's just one of those things whereit's like you understand that people
are, are, are discovering things.
(36:59):
They're discovering music.
Like we discovered it every day.
And so what's old to us and what's oldhat to us is, is fairly new to them.
So that's, I had to kind of temper mycriticism of that with that thought.
Like, okay, I. Give, you know, you gottagive the kids some grace and space.
But then when I found out about thewhole, you know, these are ploys by
(37:22):
these people that these, um, publishingscouts out there trying to make, you
know, trying to shift the algorithm andtrying to get people to, to buy their old
catalog again because they bought it up.
I was like, oh, that,that kind of makes sense.
But yeah, I had to step back and stopand not be the old head, you know, the
old head in the room that's always gotsomething to say about the, the, you
(37:45):
know, the kids doing what they feeland what is making them happy and what
makes them, you know, makes them groove.
So thank you for that.
Thank you for that perspective,because I know I, I text Jay Ray
at least three to four times.
Like, you see this,
it.
Jeremy Avalon (38:00):
Yeah.
Yeah.
I, I, I think with technology,things become less sacred
a
Jay Ray (38:07):
Ooh.
Say that.
Jeremy Avalon (38:08):
uh, there's like, there's certain songs that like.
They're just, we're still from that.
We're like the last Li Mohicans,
Jay Ray (38:17):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (38:17):
that, that hold a lot of these, these songs sacred.
Like
when
Sir Daniel (38:21):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (38:21):
like mashups or smells like Teen Spirit or like, like stuff like that.
Like you can't touch, like I, I,I still have that feeling of like,
man, you can't mess with these rec.
Like there's certain recordsthat, oh, don't mash up Billie
Jean with Billie Eilish.
I don't want to hear
that.
Jay Ray (38:38):
Right?
Jeremy Avalon (38:38):
on.
know, it, there's certainthings that we hold
sacred, um, and there's just,
but technology just becomes less.
So
Sir Daniel (38:47):
Jeremy Avalon and everything that he's done in Atlanta
and beyond is something to be respected.
And so we're very grateful that you,um, took this time out to, to spend
it with us and to just chop it up.
But as we wrap this up, Jeremy,I want you to have the last word.
Please let the listeners and the viewersknow how they can consistently follow you.
(39:08):
Um, let us in on any upcomingprojects that you have.
I know you've done, you, you can't,you have, you dropped it already, but
I know you were working on something.
Um, a project, a remixproject, if I'm not mistaken.
Jeremy Avalon (39:22):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Jay Ray (39:23):
So,
Jeremy Avalon (39:23):
uh, I am working on a, a remix project.
Um, I've been just hoarding music toomuch and it is, it's, it is a, I'm, I'm
sick of doing that, you know what I mean?
Like, I just, I, I make it all thetime and I always, you know, we
overthink
Jay Ray (39:38):
mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (39:40):
and I, I've been just inspired by a lot of, a lot of music,
a lot of reggae, um, right now.
Um, and I just, I've been, uh, Ihaven't really heard any, like,
remixes of any of like the Marley kids
music
Jay Ray (39:54):
Yeah.
Sir Daniel (39:55):
Hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (39:55):
So I'm, I have a, a, a kind of a lo-fi like just guitar, bass
keys, kind of, um, you know, head nod
Jay Ray (40:03):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (40:03):
of versions of some of my favorite, uh, music of Bob's kids.
Jay Ray (40:07):
Nice.
Jeremy Avalon (40:08):
So, yeah, I got that.
I, I have my event, high
Key
Jay Ray (40:12):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (40:13):
um, at MJQ and sometimes monthly at El Malo.
Also,
Jay Ray (40:17):
Okay.
Jeremy Avalon (40:17):
we have a YouTube channel as well, uh, where you can see a set,
uh, at the, one of the very last onesat the, uh, 7 36 location at MJQ.
Jay Ray (40:27):
Yes,
Jeremy Avalon (40:28):
that's a legendary, uh, moment.
Um,
Jay Ray (40:31):
Knights.
Was Knights over Egypt the last song?
Is that what it was?
Jeremy Avalon (40:34):
Oh, so wasn't that night.
But yeah, the,
I,
Jay Ray (40:38):
Oh, okay.
Cool.
Jeremy Avalon (40:38):
play the last night and I played nice over
Egypt as the last song in there.
Um, I, I just, uh, released a, uh, a videowith control, uh, to, uh, Empress Rod
Jay Ray (40:48):
Yes.
Sir Daniel (40:49):
Yes.
Jeremy Avalon (40:50):
that is like full of, if you like, like.
nineties, uh, r and b, like alot of UK flavored loose ends,
Sir Daniel (40:59):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (41:00):
Tara Kemp
type
Jay Ray (41:02):
Yeah.
Jeremy Avalon (41:03):
one's for you.
Um, you know, like I was saying earlier,um, you know, being like oldest millennial
around, um, I'm like one of the few peoplethat still like, plays a lot of that
Jay Ray (41:14):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (41:14):
I was probably old enough,
you know?
Jay Ray (41:16):
Right?
Jeremy Avalon (41:17):
it.
Sir Daniel (41:18):
Listen, Jay Ray, when he dropped Loose Ends, don't be a fool.
On Saturday,
me and Madison were singingat the top of our lungs.
I was.
Jay Ray (41:28):
Don't be a fool.
Jeremy Avalon (41:32):
Right.
Jay Ray (41:34):
song.
Jeremy Avalon (41:35):
And, and going to, going to England as a young
age, that really kind of sparked
all
Jay Ray (41:39):
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Avalon (41:39):
For
sure.
Sir Daniel (41:40):
Absolutely.
But this has been a pleasure, Jeremy.
Um, appreciate you so much, somuch for doing this and for sitting
in with the Queue Points podcast.
Jay Ray, let's wrap this up.
Let the people know all the people thatJay Ray has, um, that Jeremy has brought
along with him to watch us tonight.
They need to know how to keep incontact with Queue Points while we got
(42:00):
'em here, so, so hit them to the game.
Jay Ray (42:02):
absolutely.
Thank y'all so much.
As we always say, if you can, uh, seeour faces or hear our voices, subscribe
wherever you are, share the show withyour friends, family, colleagues.
Chances are if you love Queue Points,they will love Queue Points as well.
Thank you so much Jeremy Avalonfor coming and hanging out with us,
man, like I respect you so much.
And not only that, you have gottenme together on the dance floor.
(42:26):
I appreciate it.
So thank you so much.
Jeremy Avalon (42:28):
you dancing.
Thank you
Jay Ray (42:30):
Absolutely.
Sir Daniel (42:31):
Absolutely.
Jay Ray (42:32):
so y'all please visit our website Queue Points.com.
You can uh, watch the entirearchive of Queue Points.
are almost at 200 shows.
There's a lot of content over therethat you can lean into and you should
visit Queue Points Mag where wegive you some additional content.
We got all types of articlesover there where we give you some
additional flavor that you mightreally, really enjoy as well.
(42:54):
And if you wanna keep the lights onand Queue Points land, you can shop
our store@store.Queue Points.com.
We appreciate y'all, we love y'all.
Sir Daniel (43:05):
That'll do it.
All right.
What do I say?
Every week y'all, in thislife, you have a choice.
You can either pick up the needleor you could let the record play.
I'm DJ Sir Daniel,
Jay Ray (43:14):
my name is Jay Ray,
this
Sir Daniel (43:16):
that's Jeremy Avalon.
And this has been QueuePoints podcast, dropping the
needle on black music history.
We will see you on the next go round.
Peace.
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