Famous label/blog/event brand IHEARTCOMIX has recently started using Fairtilizer. It’s thus only right to have head honcho/iconic figure Franki Chan deliver the goods in a real way. An exclusive mix, a top 20, and an interview: iHeartcomix does it right!

Interview, top 20 tracks comments, and mix tracklisting below.

What’s your playlist about?
Since IHEARTCOMIX and myself are new to Fairtilizer. My mixtape is an introduction to IHEARTCOMIX and features a ton of new and unreleased tracks. I wanna give people a sense of who we are and where we are going. I’ve thrown in a few of my other faves as well.

When did you start IHC and what does it bring to the table?
I began IHEARTCOMIX at the end of 2003. We do a lot of stuff: shows, events & parties, we’re a record label, blog, marketing. Our main goal is to find new rad stuff (music, art, etc), make it cool and expose it to the world.

Would you say there is a IHC sound and image?
Most of the records we release fall somewhere between electronic and pop punk, but all share similar themes of being danceable and positive. There is a very clear pop sense that translate through all of our music. The style and overall branding for everyone is also very deliberate. we want it to feel cohesive and like a family, even though within there are definitely various styles of music.

How is the scene in Los Angeles, what artists should we check for?
The scene in LA is great and constantly changing. There has been a great build over the last few years. Artists to look out for include: No Age, Mika Miko, LA Riots, Abe Vigoda, Acid Girls, Classixx, The Mae Shi, Moonrats, Dgenetics.

What about cool spots, clubs, restaurants and so on?
Some of my favorite clubs are Dance Right @ La Cita, Bent @ The Bar, The Cha Cha Lounge, The Roosevelt, BIG at Temporary Spaces. M Cafe is such a good resturant…

Do you feel the era of cd’s is definitely over?
For the most part. I don’t believe any technology truly dies, but I do believe the era of cds being the main & profitable way of selling music is out the door.

Dream team line up for a party?
Diplo, Fake Blood, Toxic Avenger, Matt & Kim, Boys Noize, The Death Set, Hollywood Holt/Mano, Flosstradamus, Ocelot, Erol Alkan, Soulwax, Dan Deacon, Totally Michael, Late Of The Pier.

What’s gonna be the big thing for club music in 2009?
I’m not one to get too into making predictions. If life has taught me anything, it’s that we never know what is around the corner. But, I do think the dance music originating from the US will have a much larger impact on club music than ever before.

Top 5 Comics ever?
Spider-man, Blankets, Optic Nerve, Y The Last Man, New Avengers.

Best comic adaptation for the big screen?
Superman (the original).

Batman VS Jack Bauer?
Batman.

Ketchup or Mayonnaise?
Mayo.

How important is the internet for you and where do you see it going?
The internet is hugely important to us. It’s defined our business. Without it, I don’t believe we’d be anywhere near successful as we are now. It’s great being a small label and having a limited budget, but still being able to access and reach out to the entire world. It’s a very powerful thing.
Seems to me it’s only going to become even more integrated into our lives, but that’s if we don’t blow ourselves up first.

thanks!!

FRANKI CHAN’S TOP 20 DANCE TRACKS OF 2008 (in no particular order)

Virtualmismo – Mismoplastico (Serge Santiago Maxi Edit)
2008 was the year that I finally began to understand, appreciate and love minimal. This track in particular in one of my favorites of the year. It has a great slow build and when it finally hits, it’s such a release. It feels good and it’s sexy. I pray that I get the chance to be high on drugs and hear this song as loud as possible at 6am in a club someday.

HEARTSREVOLUTION – Switchblade (LA Riots Remix)
This was one of the remixes I had made for the IHEARTCOMIX / Scion mixtape that was released in the early part of 2008. It became an enormous hit throughout the year and LA Riots did an amazing job with it, but there’s a funny story behind this remix. Originally LA Riots were going to do a remix of The Toxic Avenger’s track ‘Escape’, and did, but we ended up not being able to use it because of a sample clearance issue. At this point we were already running behind and I needed them to do a new remix for us ASAP. HEARTSREVOLUTION volunteered an unfinished track they were working on, ‘Switcblade’, and I sent it to LA Riots. They sent me back the finished version in a couple days and it ended up being one of the best remixes of theirs all year!

NADASTROM – Pussy
Holy fuck this song is awesome! I’m so happy that Nadastrom became into existence in ‘08, because I have loved everything these guys have done. This song is the best they’ve done yet. The use of one of my fave 90’s jams as the hook combined with the final build up/release is soooo killer.

Kid Cudi – Day N’ Nite (Crookers Remix)
One of the all time jams of 2008! Fool’s Gold had an amazing year this year and released a lot of great material. This song put Kid Cudi and helped put Crookers on the mainstream map. I hear it on top 40 Hip Hop radio in Los Angeles now! It’s really wild and still works. I have a feeling we’ll be hearing this song in clubs for the rest of our lives.

Jokers Of The Scene – Baggy Bottom Boys
Again, Fool’s Gold killed it this year. Jokers Of The Scene have been cranking out quality material and remixes all year, but this song in particular is their signature. From the heavy bass into to the cheesy pop techno breakdown and ending. it’s epic and fun.

HEARTSREVOLUTION – C.Y.O.A. (Brodinski Remix)
This was the crown jewel of IHEARTCOMIX’s first release of the year. HEARTSREVOLUTION’s original had become quite the internet sensation with the video and all. At the end of the video there was a promise of a Brodinski remix, but what was funny was that it hadn’t actually been made yet, so we needed to figure out a way to follow through with that promise. haha. Brodi finally finished it up and it was one of my faves of his all year.

Don Rimini – Let Me Back Up (Crookers Tetsujin Remix)
“Let me back up”… I got a little dance I made up to go along with this song. I absolutely love it. It’s a real ass shaker.

Fake Blood – Mars
I was obsessed with Fake Blood all year long (as was everyone else it seems like). I love, love, love his drum sounds. This song took all the elements that made his remixes so good and then upped the ante a bit. It could even be defined as a ’super-banger’, not sure. I love the cow/alien sounds in the song too, it’s just so weird…

PNAU feat Ladyhawke – Embrace (Fred Falke & Miami Horror Remix)
This could be one of the best pop songs of the year. It makes my heart sing when I hear it and it makes me very happy. I’m a huge fan of both Fred Falke and Miami Horror. This combo is one of the best on the books.

Proxy – Dance In The Dark
If the emperor in Star Wars made dance music it would sound like this, except the girl might be screaming instead of singing…

Tiga – Mind Dimension
What a fucking weirdo and yet, it makes so much sense. One chord all the way through, the vocals are almost non-sensical and it’s totally awesome. A very refreshing gem in a sea of a lot of the same.

Designer Drugs – ZOMBIES!
Another group that really began to come up in 2008. Designer Drugs had been cranking out amazing remixes all year long. We’d become friends since a couple of those remixes were for IHEARTCOMIX. They sent me some of their originals and I was totally blown away and knew that I had to sign them. This is the 1st single that we released, right in time for Halloween. It’s the spookiest song I’ve heard since thriller. 2009 is gonna be a huge year for these guys.

Mathhead x Passions – Turn The Music Up (AC Slater Remix)
Wow. So fucking good. This song really defines the brilliance that is the Trouble & Bass crew to me. Heavy bass, rad beats, great hooks, ultimate party. done.

Machines Don’t Care – Afro Jacker
Yessss. One of the best surprises of 2008 was the release of the Machines Don’t Care EP. Mad great songs, but this track in particular was the stand out. Right when you think you might start to get tired of it, they change it up and bring the song to a whole new level.

Surkin – White Knight Two
Surkin is one of my all time faves. This song has an amazing hook and an old school feel. It stands out, yet has a timeless feel. I can’t wait to hear the album that he’s working on.

Matt & Kim – It’s A Fact (Printed Stained) (Mano Remix feat Hollywood Holt)
This another remix that I had made for the IHEARTCOMIX /Scion Mixtape. It takes one of my favorite tracks from the Matt & Kim album we released and combines it with my faves from the Chicago Hip Hop scene, Mano and Hollywood Holt. They took what was already a really fun song and made it into a true dance anthem. Plus, Holy slays it with his verse.

Radioclit- Secousse
Big in ‘09. Radioclit are true pioneers. While everyone else if off playing with their laptops, these guys are exploring Africa and bringing back beats, sounds and inspirations that will give any of the others a run for their money. They have a truly original sound and this song showcases that thoroughly.

Gameboy/Gamegirl – Fruit Salad
Punk rock dance party jam from Australia. Duh.

MGMT – Kids (Soulwax Remix)
MGMT made one of the best records of 2007, which really had it’s moment this year. Soulwax are one of my favorites of all time. It’s not wonder that this was one of the best remixes of the year. The hook, the build, the hit. I am totally enthralled and on the dance floor every time.

Justice – Stress (Auto Remix)
Probably the most epic remix of the year. From the orchestral opening and build to the bombardment it brings when it finally kicks in, it has all the makings of a legendary track. The original is so terrifying and this remix takes the best elements of that and brings them out, then adds another layer of what i feel is religious guilt on top (i mean that in a good way). I feel like this is the song you would hear while being damned by god himself, if he did such things while on a dancefloor…

Exclusive mixtape tracklisting:

01. Intro
02. Virtualmismo – Mismoplastico (Serge Santiago Maxi Edit)
03. Designer Drugs – Back Up In This (Nadastrom Remix) *
04. HEARTSREVOLUTION – Switchblade (Designer Drugs Remix) *
05. Nadastrom – Pussy
06. AC Slater – Banger (Drop The Lime Remix) *
07. N.A.S.A. feat. Method Man, E40 & DJ Swamp – NASA Music (L.A. Riots Remix)
08. Joachim Garraud – Are U Ready (Roman Salzger Remix)
09. Totally Michael – Casual Satisfaction (Flosstradamus Remix feat. Gantman) *
10. Radioclit – Secousse (All Stars Mix feat. Afrikan Boy, Mimitah, Mo Laudi, BLK JKS, Marina, Kudaushe, Esau Mwamwaya, ISA GT & Jose Hendrix)
11. Mr. Oizo – Gay Dentists (JFK Edit)
12. DJ Mehdi – Pocket Piano (Brodinski Remix)
13. Apaloosa – The Day (Acid Girls Wept Remix) *
14. Futurecop! – Tonight’s Hero *
15. Kaos – Feelin’ Love
16. Outro

* indicates debuts

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