The powerhouse DVJ’s Synematix, created by Brian Prince and Blair Pierce, have been entertaining the masses in Kansas City with music and videos since 2008. The two remix and edit videos to the latest in mainstream, electro, alternative, and house music.
Prince and Pierce, who have worked with national record labels and artists through the years, are now showcasing their talents at KC’s newest club, Lux, with their weekly event called (re)Flex from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Fridays.
DVJ’s Synematix say on their Facebook page that they “pride themselves on being different and creating a total sensory experience for their crowd by creating ‘visual volume’ in every show.” Well, after witnessing their talents firsthand, I can, without a doubt, say that nothing in KC compares to the stimulating and energizing experience you will enjoy with them all night long.
Together, Pierce and Prince recently responded to a series of questions I emailed them about themselves and their work. Here’s what they had to say.
How were you approached to help with Lux? Why this venue?
David Codrington called us about the idea of opening a new dance club at the beginning of 2011. Dave and Blair have been friends throughout the years. So we jumped on board!
We decided to be a part of Lux since it is located in a space that is familiar to the gay community. A few years ago we both frequented the Grand Emporium (where Lux is now located) every Saturday night for their alternative lifestyle night. We have many great memories of our nights there in the past and we truly felt that Kansas City needed a gay dance club that provides a clean and cutting-edge atmosphere.
How would you describe Lux?
The venue has an incredible state-of-the-art sound, lighting, and video system, and is home to some of KC’s best talent.
What exactly is your role there?
Lots! We are the resident DJ’s on Friday nights as well as help out with promotion and planning of the events.
How would you describe what you do and what you give to Lux?
For every show, our show is edited live, bringing a completely unique experience every Friday night at Lux Nightclub.
Are you given much control or input in how you showcase your work?
We have been given a reasonable amount of control. However, the dance floor is always the deciding factor.
How would you describe your style?
We are multi-formatted, including mainstream, alternative, electro, progressive house, and hip hop.
How do you know what the gay community of KC wants to hear? How do you keep up with the times, so to speak?
We are constantly listening to feedback from the community to see what works best locally, but we always monitor the Billboard dance charts, music blogs, Facebook, etc., as well.
How is the scene in KC currently, and where do you see it going?
To be completely honest, over the past few years we have interpreted the gay nightlife scene to become somewhat stale. Together, we both hope to continue to breathe some new life into nightlife by shaking things up and doing things differently.
Tell me how your career got started. Why video?
It actually began as a hobby for the two of us back in early 2008. At the time, video DJ’s were few and far between in KC. So to add an extra element other than just sound, it allows you to tap into another sense of the human body and lets you see what you’re listening to!
What’s the oldest or first video or song that sticks in your head, which made you want to do this?
When first beginning this venture, a few come to mind from the dance/alternative rock format. Two that stand out most are the band Innerpartysystem and video DJ’s the Eclectic Method. Both of their artistic and creative styles played heavily into what we ultimately dreamed of doing. The way they manipulate audio and video together is absolutely MINDBLOWING!
What was the first event you ever played?
The grand opening of Flex Fridays at Crosstown Station, downtown. That was our home for over a year, and where we ultimately began fine-tuning the craft of live video and sound mixology.
What was your best event or venue you played in the past, and why?
Oh, hands down, it was getting to open up for the band Innerpartysystem this past February at The Riot Room. Not only were we getting to play in front of a sold-out crowd, but we also got to play in front of the group that inspired us.
What are your favorite songs or videos of all time?
Literally anything by Armin Van Buuren, BT, Tiesto, Deadmau5, Swedish House Mafia, or Avicii. As far as the newer, up and coming dj/producers, we like Porter Robinson, Skrillex, and Wolfgang Gartner.
Are there any other VJs that you follow?
Yes, Jay E from St. Louis, the Eclectic Method, Crooklyn Clan artists, and way too many more to list.
Do you still get nervous?
Absolutely! One time specifically was when we got the privilege to open for 96.5 The Buzz’s VD Party at The Midland this year in front of 3,000 people. Nothing on Earth could have possibly calmed my nerves after walking out on that stage.
When the party is over, what do you do to unwind?
Have a drink! We don’t usually partake much during live sets due to everything going on, so we’ve been known to get a little wild AFTER the party ends!
What’s the funniest thing that’s happened to you during a set?
There have been MANY great times, but one that stands out in particular was when a certain “adult” star was brought in for an event we were playing. During his go-go dancing performance, a patron grabbed him and started “performing” on him in front of the audience!
Tell me what you do to plan for a set. How long do you prepare? Is there a set list you come up with?
I usually try to come up with a general direction of the set for the night, depending on where and what type of crowd will be in attendance. There are hours of preparation that can go into a set, especially when you are incorporating video, but it’s best to just go with the flow of the room.
What other venues, events do you play throughout the year?
We’ve played some of the city’s best venues, including The Midland, The Jones Pool, Harrah’s Voodoo Lounge, Crosstown Station, Hamburger Mary’s, The Beaumont Club, and The Riot Room.
Do you like when people come and talk to you during a set, or is it a distraction?
While we do love to socialize, it can be very hard to pay attention to the details that come with live video mixing. It can be a challenge, especially if the person talking to you is wasted!
What do you want KC to come away with after your sets?
A fun and engaging club experience that they’ll want to come back and enjoy again and again.
What do you guys do in your downtime?
Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of downtime in either of our lives. With us both maintaining full-time jobs in radio and marketing, there’s nothing more fun on occasion than a nap!
For more on Prince and Pierce, DVJ’s Synematix, check them out on 96.5 The Buzz (www.965thebuzz.com) every Saturday night from 10 p.m. to 1a.m.
You can also find them on Facebook – search DVJ’s Synematix and join the fan page to see upcoming events and shows.
WhistlePig and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Wind Tunnel-Trialed Whiskey Is a Ryed You Don’t Want to Miss
SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.
The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.
Like Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s signature C43 racing vehicles, trial barrels were tested in the team’s wind tunnel in Switzerland before hitting the track. Select barrels then endured varying levels of G-Forces at the WhistlePig farm and distillery for the finishing touch, accelerating the interaction between the whiskey and the wood, staying true to the physical nature of Formula 1.
“Partnering with WhistlePig has been a very exciting experience. Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake is dedicated to being the best on the track, and the crew at WhistlePig is fearless in their pursuit to create the best whiskey out there,” said Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “We’re really looking forward to fans tasting our custom Rye Whiskey and raising a glass to the rookies, veterans, legends and the exhilarating sport of F1.”
"Joining forces with WhistlePig to release a Single Barrel Rye Whiskey that represents my culture and team has been an honor,” said Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “Formula 1 brings together fearless, thrill-seeking motorsports professionals, and WhistlePig has a shared passion for boundary-pushing innovation. Together, we’ve selected something alarmingly good for fans to enjoy this season when the cars are not on track.”
The Limited Edition Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel will be available for purchase online starting around September 13 for $49.99 MSRP per 750ml bottle and sold in select stores across the U.S. Consumers can win VIP merchandise by scanning the QR code on the back of each bottle.
"We're taking our third Legends Series release on a ryed like never before,” said Meghan Ireland, WhistlePig Head Blender. "Our experiments with dynamic aging went full throttle during finishing trials at the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake wind tunnel, in turn inspiring new ways to expose barrels to G-forces back at the WhistlePig Farm. The herbal and floral notes of the lychee and tea barrel selected with the team create a new, podium-topping experience for PiggyBack Rye."
Fans and collectors have followed WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series, celebrating those who give 100% in the name of greatness, since its launch in March 2022 with Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, David Ortiz (“Big Papi”), followed by Country Music Duo Brothers Osborne in November 2022.
To learn more about WhistlePig Whiskey, visit whistlepigwhiskey.com. You can also check out WhistlePig Whiskey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About WhistlePig Whiskey
Located off the grid on a 500-acre Vermont farm, WhistlePig Whiskey is crafted by a new generation of whiskey distillers and blenders driven to reinvent and unlock the flavor of Rye whiskey. Through their rebellious pursuit of experimenting and pushing boundaries in the industry, WhistlePig has become the leading independent craft whiskey brand for innovation. WhistlePig is committed to becoming the best whiskey on and for the planet, starting with its locally sourced ingredients and sustainable supply chain and distilling process. For more information, head to whistlepigwhiskey.com.
When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.
I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.
If you don’t have a primary care physician who specializes in LGBTQ+ care in your community, you may need to educate yourself (and your provider). But, before you seek such therapy, here are five things you should know!
- Monitor closely. At Spectrum Medical Care Center, we screen patients for certain risks before starting anyone on hormones. We frequently monitor patients in the first year to ensure there are no adverse reactions and lab results are within safe ranges. Follow-up care is also important to assess your comfort with the transition as well as the social impact and social support you’re experiencing.
- Some changes are permanent, some temporary. For transmasculine individuals going on testosterone, they’ll experience these permanent changes: deepened voice, clitoral enlargement (also known as bottom growth), more body, facial hair, and male pattern baldness. Reversible changes include cessation of menses, increased muscle mass and strength, body fat redistribution, and skin oiliness or acne. For those going on estrogen therapy, the most permanent change is breast growth. Feminizing hormone therapy can also cause atrophy (shrinkage) of the genitals and loss of erectile function that may not be reversible. Estrogen will thin body hair, soften the skin, can increase scalp hair, and decrease muscle mass and strength, all of which are reversible.
- You can’t pick and choose results. Unfortunately, you can’t pick and choose the physical changes you want, which may feel challenging. Some of my patients will say, ‘Okay, ‘I’ve seen the permanent changes I want, and I don’t want it to go any further,’ and so at that point, we stop therapy. Low-dose hormone therapy can slow down the rate of changes, allowing for a more gradual physical transition. We counsel patients in advance about the common changes, and it’s up to the individual as to when they’d like to scale back and determine whether some benefits are worth the potential risks.
- Be aware of risks. Like any medical treatment, there are potential risks involved. Some risks with testosterone therapy include increased red blood cell mass, acne, hypertension, sleep apnea, weight gain, and dyslipidemia (increases the chance of clogged arteries). Cardiovascular disease is likely increased with additional risk factors for testosterone and estrogen therapy. Transfeminine patients going on estrogen therapy may experience weight gain, thromboembolic disease (when a blood clot breaks off and blocks another blood vessel), and a high level of triglycerides in the blood.
Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!
Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.
"Our entire team is honored to be named Best of the Best. To be the only gay men's resort recognized in the Top 1% is incredibly humbling," said Kent Taylor, General Manager at Descanso. "We appreciate Tripadvisor and we're grateful to all our guests who gave us such high marks and reviews to help us reach this achievement."
“Ranking among the Best of the Best demonstrates that you have provided exemplary experiences to those who maZer most: your guests,” said John Boris, Chief Growth Officer at Tripadvisor. “With changing expectations, continued labor shortages, and rising costs, this is no easy feat, and I am con6nually impressed with the hospitality industry’s resilience and ability to adapt.”
Santiago Resort was once again honored by Tripadvisor with a 2023 Travelers’ Choice award, placing it among the top 10% of travelers’ top reviewed des6na6ons. Twin Palms will become eligible for ranking in 2024.
Check out all the reviews, and discover more about Descanso Resort on Tripadvisor here. We have an excellent library of resort imagery available to accompany editorial and additional resources on our press page. Please contact Descanso Resort’s General Manager, Kent Taylor, at kent@descansoresort.com for further information.
About Descanso Resort
Inspired by Palm Springs’ history as a des6na6on for Hollywood stars to unwind in privacy, Descanso offers guests a casual yet modern take on the legendary style of that 6me. Created by the same hospitality team that revitalized Palm Springs’ much-loved San6ago Resort and recently launched the all-new Twin Palms Resort, the Descanso property opened in 2022 featuring 15 spacious guest rooms with custom-designed furniture, dreamy King-size beds, and luxe details. Ameni6es include continental breakfast, poolside lunch, welcome snack basket, and lots of special touches. For guests who need to stay connected, the entire property is equipped with blazing-fast Wi-Fi. Mul6-speed bikes are available for exploring the surrounding midcentury neighborhoods and public art installations. Like the Hollywood stars before them, guests at Descanso are encouraged to unwind, relax, and rest in style.
About Tripadvisor
Travelers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site and app to discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than 1 billion reviews and opinions of nearly 8 million businesses, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants and discover great places nearby.