A former resident of the beloved local queer party Houseboi, XMariposa (under their prior alias LUNAMARIPOSA) has long been a fixture in the Boston dance music scene, playing at hotspots like Middlesex Lounge, the Lower Level and even MassArt. They have since branched out into producing along with DJing, and adopted the new name along with another moniker called LUNÁTICA for their more “primal” and rave focused productions as well as for the DJ sets that fit into the ever-nebulous experimental club subhead. XMariposa says the differentiation comes down to the spirit of each project.

With that in mind, XMariposa presents us with a finely tuned hour of house vibes of every flavor, dipping into hits from the the 90s, the 00s, and today, without a single blend that feels out of place. And so we are pleased to be hosting this mix they’re calling “A la XMariposa Flow” here at Allston Pudding. Read on for a bit more about XMariposa’s favorite dancefloor epiphanies and then get to dancing at the link below.

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Allston Pudding: How would you title this mix? 

XMariposa: “A la XMariposa Flow“

AP: Tell us about some of your gigs and/or other mixes and releases.

X: I used to be part of a group called Houseboi who had a residency at Middlesex Lounge, but my favorite part was when they first started hosting Houseboi at club OBERON. The DJ booth hovers over the dance floor, letting whoever is DJing witness all the magic happening from above. Another one of my fave gigs was playing First Fridays at the ICA in 2019 with longtime collaborator and bestie Earthaclit. I had just turned 21 the week before and had celebrated it at the ICA for the DISCWOMAN showcase so it was really dope to get a turn behind the decks a week after getting to see BEARCAT, Br0nz3_ g0dd3ss and SHYBOI. I hope that maybe one day I get invited again when this pandemic is actually over just so I can get my hands on 4 CDJS and relive that dopamine of happiness I first experienced. In regards to mixes I really love my mix I named “IN A WORLD FULL OF EVES BE LILITH” this mix speaks for itself and is part of a series I call O.E. (Oracle Energy) you can find it on my Soundcloud page. I also have a joint EP with my friend FIFI coming out through JEROME mid spring, which is exciting since I’ve been a fan of this label for a while and get to show a leveled up version of my production as LUNÁTICA. 

AP: What’s the best setting/way to enjoy this mix?

X: I usually listen to mixes either when i’m cleaning or cooking in the house, or just when I simply wanna wiggle around in front of a mirror in my room. So my answer would be: wherever this mix finds you, if it moves you…let it move you. 

AP: Is there any sort of concept to this mix?

X: Nope! 

AP: Do you have a favorite moment in it?

X: I started off a little delicate and lush but from 27:30 – 29:50 and most of the blends after I favor cause I’m mixing into some more hard house. 

AP: If you could describe this mix with one adjective or emotion what would it be? Why?

X: The adjective would be uplifting, but also I’m choosing to go with a color ~mauve~ and my reason why? Well…the mix speaks for itself. 

AP: Is there a particular genre or label or tempo that you especially gravitate towards when mixing? Why or why not?

X: It depends on which project/persona I step into–anything from 100-150 for bpm–but for this mix it’s a good 125-130bpm since it’s mostly house music. 

AP: What makes a successful DJ mix for home listening to you? What makes one successful in a club type setting?

X: As XMariposa I’m more of a Response over Reaction type of person when it comes down to mixing in front of a crowd/at the club. That means to me that if you have a good selection of music,  people respond with the emotions those tracks make them feel as opposed to just reacting to some crazy percussion coming up or the bass leaving suddenly and coming back after a 4 bar count with a build up. I do think it’s a balance of both though. As LUNÁTICA I wanna have a reaction from people where they’re losing their minds and question what their ears are experiencing, but they’re still loving every second. However, every DJ knows about the “Flow” where you don’t train wreck from one track to another and land every blend cohesively or at least having a steady hypnotic rhythmic flow that won’t throw off the dancers/listeners. I do understand though as a performing DJ you have to have a clean mixing skill set that shows you know what you’re doing and you’re doing it well. I wouldn’t wanna perform for a festival of over 1000 people and trainwreck my entire set or blow up the sound system. That would be sooo bad and embarrassing omg!

AP: Do you have a favorite and/or formative dancefloor memory? What made it so memorable?

X:  OKAY SO! I totally had to look up the flyer to get it right because I just had to: SUBLIMATE W/ BEIGE , silktits, Soul 2 Seoul and DEE DIGGS- FEB/21 IN a NYC warehouse. 

I was with my absolute fave Libra that is Dee Diggs ❤️. She was on her double booked tip that day and I remember after her first gig at SOUL IN THE HORN hosted and created by Natasha Diggs, we went for some hotdogs and recharged up a bit before her soul-shaking, love-lifting set that night at Sublimate. I recall toward the end of Dee’s set I sat on one of the 2 huge subwoofers they had in the space and just felt the vibrations and was smiling super hard.  I just remember how grateful I was that night (and still continue to be)  to have such a loving person in my life after a series of down moments where I felt abandoned. I have these kinds of moments often of love and communion when I find myself on dancefloors where l remember and recognize that love is the message. 

AP: How would you describe Boston’s dance music scene? What changes would you make (if any)?

X: How would I describe the dance music scene here, well I guess it has its magical pockets and what not but…

We need less DJs and venues where they only allow themselves to play top 40 songs. 

We need more GENUINE collaboration between organizers and less egos. 

We need better venues with efficient  rules that don’t tolerate any form of hate or ignorance  even within their own staff. 

We need sober friendly venues.

We need safe drug usage venues. 

We need sex positive and educational parties. 

We need to acknowledge the racism and abuse of power within clubs and organizers. 

We need more BLACK and NONwhite DJs to be booked. 

We need more NON CIS MEN HEADLINING. 

We need a law where we are allowed to dance and be loud till 4am or beyond. 

We need more people in it for the culture as well and not just the money. 

We need venues to pay more than $100 for a 4 hour DJ set.

We NEED to have more and substantial funding from the city. 

WE NEED more day time functions. 

We NEED more outdoor events. 

We NEED more non white organizers given the funds and access to curating parties where it’s not mostly white people.

Shall I go on? LMAO. 

AP: What inspires you as a DJ? And what do other DJs do that inspires you? 

X: Part of it is the selections and what those songs make me feel–if a DJ can invoke something in me–I really respect that and aim to do the same to others. Also, just being authentic and humble, I’m not into a Diva without some drop of grace anymore. 

AP: Are you someone that frequent(ed) clubs? Either way, how does that influence the way you DJ? 

X: Literally was just DM’ing my friend Matheus aka MATH3CA about how we miss nightlife and the clubs, but are hopeful about people growing and changing in order for things to not be the same once they open back up. I especially just miss dancing to a good sound system and being with friends, and of course that experience influences my sound, from my mood to the type of music I’ll play.

AP: When you play/create sets do you play with an idea in mind or do you cater to the audience’s energy? How so? 

X: Honestly I usually play whatever music I’ve been listening to and whatever makes me wanna dance. Yeah I might cater to the crowd but it’s not 100%. I like to remind  people that they are  paying to go see a performance, not put a quarter in a jukebox or attach their phone to an aux. 

AP: How does DJing inform the music you produce? Dance music or otherwise.

X: I recognize that through DJing I’ve trained my ear on how to layer sounds and what not. I wouldn’t be the producer I am becoming without the DJ to producer pipeline. For some it’s different, I’m just glad I locked down the nonlinear style of mixing.

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TRACKLIST

Chris Simmonds- Safe Mode 2

Uschi Classen-  Reach Out (Bump In The Night Mix)

Dirty Harry-  Rey De Majorca

Particle Ray- Just A Little Bit More

DMX Krew- Asylum Seekers 

Antonio Caballero- Dreams (Percussive Encouragement Mix)

Houseologist@wurk- Latinos Beat Mix

Larry Heard- And So I Dance (Anthony Nicholson Rhumba Mix)

Dawn Tallman- Be Encouraged (Wamdue Speakeasy Dub)

BoredLord- Open Doors

Vicky Rodriguez- Se Goza

Jammin Gerald- Pump That Shit

MDX-Spress- God Made me Phunky (HCCR Remix)

OSSX- TU MADRINA 

Vicky Rodriguez- Activo

Wax Master Maurice- Stop Screaming

Rupaul- Nothing Nice (feat. Vjuan Allure) 

Cristina la Veneno- El Rap de la Veneno (Remastered) 

Pat & Mick- Use It Up (Phil B’s Phaggotry In Motion Mix)

Fantastic Plastic Machine- Whistle Song