Spinner RPM: Ursula 1000

Posted on Apr 3rd 2008 7:30PM by Mike Spinella
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Brooklyn turntable wiz Ursula 1000 -- aka Alex Gimeno -- is earmarked as one of ESL's elite, known for his ability to drop a breakbeat set while maintaining the funk that brought the kids to the dance floor in the first place. Gimeno is a New York native who relocated to Miami at a young age, thus opening him up to exotica, world music, bossa nova and merengue influence, which ultimately became his differentiating musical factors in an overcrowded New York DJ market. Ursula can be found rockin' New York's most infamous spots on any night of the week, but has always managed to release five studio LPs.

"I grew up listening to everything from rock to big band to disco and funk," Gimeno tells Spinner. "[My sound] is just adventures in fun and cheeky retro and future sounds."

As a staple of the New York scene, Gimeno, along with top Spinners like Carl Craig and Tim Sweeney, can't get enough of APT -- the tiny DJ mecca that puts sound first and boasts a "no requests" sign from its basement booth. Gimeno is also quick to voice his appreciation for diverse venues and fanbases overseas, and in American cities like San Francisco. "I find myself playing venues in Europe and even other cities to over eight hundred people that just don't exist in New York," he says. "Maybe it's a space thing. I love my nights at APT."

Beyond his reach in the clubs and record stores, Ursula 1000's tunes are all over TV commercials and soundtracks. His song 'Kaboom' can be heard in AT&Ts Slider advert, while more of his grooves have been featured on 'Sex and the City, 'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Desperate Housewives.' "It's always super weird to me hearing your track on license," Gimeno says. "Many times, for whatever reason, my tunes are used in steamy sex scenes like in 'Sex and the City.' Those made me blush."

Ursula 1000 has also made a name with his remix work. He's reworked tunes ranging from the Faint to Mocean Worker, before getting his own tunes reworked. Most recently, Ursula unveiled his 'Undressed ... Remixed' album, which features remixes of his tracks by Ladytron and Fort Knox Five.

Snag an MP3 below and listen to a party-rockin' mix set chock-full of Ursula signature mashes, including Daft Punk and the Specials.

Download: 'Kaboom' [Red Foxxworth Mix] (MP3)

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Ursula 1000, 'Spinner RPM Mix'

01: Aiff-Afro Riddim feat Crucial T.
02: Mocean Worker, 'Shake Ya Boogie,' (Ursula 1000 Remix)
03: Kraak and Smaak, 'Funk Ass Rotator'
04: Axel Neville vs. Run DMC, 'It's Like That'
05: Daft Punk, 'Around the World' (Villians More Cowbell Edit)
06: Crookers vs. Salt-n-Pepper 'Love to Push it (Ursula 1000 Edit)
07:The Bulgarian, 'Jack it Like a Zombie' (Santiago and Bushido Remix)
08: Frew and Shopliftas, 'Bermuda Nights' (Twockers Remix)
09: Bodyrox, 'What Planet are You On?'
10: 2 Bad Mice, 'Bomb Scare'
11: Maurice, 'This is Acid' (K&T Mix)
12: DJ Kool. 'Let Me Clear My Throat' (Urban House Mix)
13: Mr. Strom / Prosper, 'Hollyboot Swinging'
14: The Specials,'Gangsters' (Mike B Skamore Edit)
15: Edgar Winter Group, 'Frankenstein'

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