About

A complete history on Luvstep

Overview

Luvstep is an annual music mix, released between 2010 and 2017, created by Joey Massarueh (Dirty South Joe) and Michael Lasday (Flufftronix). Each mix contains music tracks covering a wide range of genres, predominately electronic dance music, exploring the themes of love, romance and heartache. The first YouTube teaser describes the purpose as '...illuminating the sensual side of dubstep'.0763 The term 'Luvstep' is the almagamation of 'Love' and 'Dubstep', Dubstep being a popular electronic dance music genre at the time of the first installment. The first installment on Mixcloud features the tags 'luvstep', 'dubstep', 'lovestep', 'mad decent' and 'sex'.2880

Each mix contains prominent quotes from motion picture, within the genres of drama, romance, and comedy. Audio has been sourced from movies such as Forrest Gump (1994), Before Sunrise (1995), The Notebook (2004), and Midnight in Paris (2011).

The first installment was released on February 14, 2010.2880 The final installment Luvstep 8 was released on the March 20, 2017.9368 Luvstep mixes were released yearly on Valentine's Day, with the exception of installment 5, 7, and 8.

Major Releases

Mix Release Date Composition Length Ref
Luvstep 1 February 14, 2010 24 Tracks / 3 Quotes 1:00:20 2880
Luvstep 1, Radio February 14, 2010 1 Interview / 24 Tracks / 3 Quotes 1:05:06 9355
Luvstep 2 February 14, 2011 31 Tracks / 3 Quotes 1:16:00 4787
Luvstep 3 February 14, 2012 30 Tracks / 3 Quotes 1:18:14 8989
Luvstep 4 February 14, 2013 30 Tracks / 3 Quotes 1:17:35 3154
Luvstep 5
Sunrise
Sunset
February 15, 2014
February 21, 2014		 2 Sets
25 Tracks / 1 Quote
26 Tracks / 2 Quotes		 2:08:55
1:00:00
1:09:12		 3857
3858
3859
Luvstep 6 February 14, 2015 31 Tracks / 4 Quotes 1:20:00 6812
Luvstep 7 February 29, 2016 39 Tracks / 3 Quotes 1:37:57 5560
Luvstep 8 March 20, 2017 28 Tracks / 3 Quotes 1:08:10 9368

Mad Decent Block Party

Mix Release Date Composition Length Ref
Luvstep 1.5 July 31, 2010 13 Tracks / 2 Quotes 0:32:14 0076
Luvstep 2.5 August 5, 2011 27 Tracks / 3 Quotes 1:04:07 6169

Live Streams

Mix Release Date Composition Length Ref
Luvstep 2020 April 28, 2020 26 Tracks 0:56:05
Luvstep 2021 February 14, 2021 92 Tracks 4:05:16 5828

History

Origins & Launch

A teaser for the first Luvstep installment was published to YouTube on January 11, 2010. On February 14, 2010 the first Luvstep installment was uploaded to Mixcloud and Mad Decent Worldwide Radio (Show #57). The radio release was preluded by a interview with Paul Geissinger (Starkey), hosted by Dirty South Joe. The track 'Miracles' by Starkey features on the first installment.

Mad Decent Live Sets

Dirty South Joe & Flufftronix performed a 'Luvstep' live set on July 31, 2010 at the Mad Decent Block Party in Philadelphia.0076 The was performed shortly after the release of the first installment in conjunction with Mad Decent. The live set has a different tracklist to Luvstep 1.

Similarly, Dirty South Joe & Flufftronix performed a 'Luvstep' live set on August 5, 2011 at the Mad Decent Block Party in Philadelphia.6169 The live set has a different tracklist to Luvstep 2.

front_cover

Dirty South Joe & Flufftronix performing live at Mad Decent Block Party in Philadelphia, 2010.9685

Tour

Following the release of Luvstep 3, Dirty South Joe & Flufftronix went on tour in the United States to promote and showcase the release of Luvstep 3, with special guest Clicks & Whistles. Footage from the tour, captured between February 14, 2012 and February 18, 2012, was released to YouTube on March 2, 2012.1569

Infinity

Fufftronix released a Teaser for Luvstep 8 on March 10, 2017, followed shortly after with release of the final Luvstep installment on March 20, 2017. Artwork for the release features an infinity sign.

Luvstep 8 social media banner with the infinity sign.2880

After Luvstep

On April 28, 2020 Flufftronix performed a 2hr live music set on Twitch. The first half of the stream focused on French House, the second half on Luvstep. The stream was performed during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

On February 14, 2021 a 4 hour Luvstep live music stream was performed by Flufftronix on Twitch. The mix was subsequently uploaded to Mixcloud.5828

Format

Each Luvstep mix contains approximately 30 tracks, with most mixes over 1 hour in length. Installment 5 is uniquely made up of two 1 hour sessions, while installment 7 is longer than average with 39 tracks.

Luvstep installments are audio only. They do not have accompanying video.

Tracks

Tracklists have been composed and mixed by Dirty South Joe & Flufftronix. Each installment has been constructed to explore specific topics and themes. Earlier mixes focused on the dubstep genre and contained a large number of remixed tracks. Later installments expanded into drum & bass, pop, indie, R&B, and hip hop.

Fade in/fade out is a common transition technique used within the mixes. Echo, reverb and hard cut transitions are also utlised.

Quotes

Audio extracts of well known movie quotes are used to open and close the mix, summarising the feeling of the music being played. Quotes are also used in the middle of the mix, to transition from one feeling or theme to another. Movies are within the genres of drama, romance, and comedy. Luvstep 8 uniquely features a quote from a television series. Black Mirror: San Junipero (2016) is the fourth episode of the third series, exploring love, death and technology.

Mix Track Name Movie
Luvstep 1 Jenny Forrest Gump (1994)
Luvstep 1 Dorothy Jerry Maguire (1996)
Luvstep 1 Molly Ghost (1990)
Luvstep 1, Radio Jenny Forrest Gump (1994)
Luvstep 1, Radio Dorothy Jerry Maguire (1996)
Luvstep 1, Radio Molly Ghost (1990)
Luvstep 1.5 Katarina 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Luvstep 1.5 Don Juan Don Juan DeMarco (1994)
Luvstep 2 Allie The Notebook (2004)
Luvstep 2 Summer 500 Days of Summer (2009)
Luvstep 2 Clementine Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Luvstep 2.5 Baby Dirty Dancing (1987)
Luvstep 2.5 Lena Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
Luvstep 2.5 Celine Before Sunrise (1995)
Luvstep 3 Mary Jane Spider-Man (2002)
Luvstep 3 Katie Kick-Ass (2010)
Luvstep 3 Ramona Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
Luvstep 4 Adriana Midnight in Paris (2011)
Luvstep 4 Holly Die Hard (1988)
Luvstep 4 Tiffany Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Luvstep 5 Frances Frances Ha (2012)
Luvstep 5 Natalia Before Midnight (2013)
Luvstep 5 Samantha Her (2013)
Luvstep 6 Annie Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
Luvstep 6 Diane Say Anything... (1989)
Luvstep 6 Rita Pt.1 Groundhog Day (1993)
Luvstep 6 Rita Pt.2 Groundhog Day (1993)
Luvstep 7 Hazel The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
Luvstep 7 Allie The Notebook (2004)
Luvstep 7 Sam The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
Luvstep 8 Kelly Black Mirror: San Junipero (2016)
Luvstep 8 Kevin Moonlight (2016)
Luvstep 8 Graham But I'm a Cheerleader (1999)

Advertising

Dirty South Joe & Flufftronix have developed unique branding for each installment, primarily used for publishing and publicity. Branding includes naming, artwork and teaser videos.

Name

Unique names were given to the installments, visible on Mixcloud and advertising artwork.

Mix Advertising Name Ref
Luvstep 1 Luvstep, vol. I 2880
Luvstep 1, Radio Mad Decent Worldwide Radio #57 - Luvstep 9355
Luvstep 1.5 Luvstep: Live from the Mad Decent Block Party 0076
Luvstep 2 Luvstep 2 4787
Luvstep 2.5 Luvstep 2.5 (Mad Decent Block Party 2011 - Director's Cut) 6169
Luvstep 3 Luvstep <3 8989
Luvstep 4 Luvstep IV: A New Hope 3154
Luvstep 5 Luvstep V: Sunrise/Sunset 3857
Luvstep 6 Luvstep 6 6812
Luvstep 7 LUVS7EP 5560
Luvstep 8 Luvstep ∞ 9368

Artwork

Each Luvstep installment has its own unique artwork & branding. The primary cover art generally has the the term 'LUVSTEP' central to the image, accompanied by the wording 'A mix by Dirty South Joe & Flufftronix' or 'Dirty South Joe & Flufftronix'. The backgrounds come in range of colours and textures, different for each installment. Some installments have back cover art available, listing each track within the mix.

Alternative images and banners have been released for some installments, posted to social media platforms.

Cover art for Luvstep 1.2880

Banner art for Luvstep 6.

Teaser

In the months leading up to each major release teaser videos were uploaded to YouTube & Vimeo. A total of 8 teasers have been released, corresponding to the 8 major installments.

Mix Release Date Track Movie Ref
Luvstep 1 January 11, 2010 deadmau5, Kaskade - I Remember (Caspa Remix) Say Anything... (1989) 0763
Luvstep 2 December 22, 2010 Magnetic Man, Katy B - Crossover feat. Katy B Garden State (2004) 1592
Luvstep 3 December 14, 2011 Blackmill, Veela - Let It Be feat. Veela Ghost (1990) 4058
Luvstep 4 December 20, 2012 M83, BeatauCue - Steve McQueen (BeatauCue Remix) Moonrise Kingdom (2012) 9575
Luvstep 5 January 30, 2014 iamamiwhoami, ionnalee - fountain Before Sunrise (1995) 5419
Luvstep 6 February 9, 2015 The Glitch Mob, Sister Crayon - Beauty of the Unhidden Heart feat. Sister Crayon Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) 6781
Luvstep 7 10 February 2016 Maribou State - Colours In Sea A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) 8579
Luvstep 8 10 March 2017 Hotel Garuda, Violet Days, Aire Atlantica - Fixed on You (Aire Atlantica Remix) Moonlight (2016) 9730

References

  1. Mixcloud: Luvstep 1
  2. Mixcloud: Luvstep 1, Radio
  3. Mixcloud: Luvstep 1.5
  4. Mixcloud: Luvstep 2
  5. Mixcloud: Luvstep 2.5
  6. Mixcloud: Luvstep 3
  7. Mixcloud: Luvstep 4
  8. Mixcloud: Luvstep 5
  9. Mixcloud: Luvstep 5, Sunrise
  10. Mixcloud: Luvstep 5, Sunset
  11. Mixcloud: Luvstep 6
  12. Mixcloud: Luvstep 7
  13. Mixcloud: Luvstep 8
  14. Mixcloud: Luvstep 2021
  15. YouTube: Luvstep 1 Teaser
  16. YouTube: Luvstep 2 Teaser
  17. YouTube: Luvstep 3 Teaser
  18. YouTube: Luvstep 4 Teaser
  19. YouTube: Luvstep 5 Teaser
  20. YouTube: Luvstep 6 Teaser
  21. YouTube: Luvstep 7 Teaser
  22. YouTube: Luvstep 8 Teaser
  23. Luvstep Tour Recap
  24. Mad Decent Block Party 2011 Philadelphia