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ONE

Nicki Escudero

Valley DJ Joe DiPadova doesn't just play dance music. He doesn't just spin records.

He sets himself apart by integrating house music tracks, visual art and live, improvised music to create his signature, dynamic club night ONE, which comes to Cream Stereo Lounge on Wednesday, July 22.

For four years, ONE, which used to be called Straight No Chaser, has been hosted everywhere from house parties to Phoenix hipster venues and now it takes on Old Town, with three DJs, video visuals, live paintings and trumpet and saxophone players.

"The more culture you bring into an event, the more it opens up people's minds," said ONE fan Gaeliel Apostolou of Phoenix. "Not only is it a recreational event, it's also an educational event."

DiPadova, a veteran DJ who's played around the U.S. and Canada for more than 15 years, said he hopes ONE brings together a diverse crowd interested in the house scene.

"ONE, at its core, is a collective group of people that all come together as one," DiPadova said. "We're all the same in our differences. It doesn't matter who anybody is, or who they have sex with, we just don't care."

The typical ONE night starts out with patrons being greeted at the door by a man named Seven, nicknamed "the love ambassador," who welcomes guests and encourages them to have a good time.

Meanwhile, DiPadova and his DJ team, JohnnY Rogers and DJ Brazilia, play deep house and techno music, showcasing their own tracks along with new material. Artist Banding Hendrix (Jimi's second cousin) paints pop or surreal art, and artist Chad Jordan uses video software to mix images to match the music, which includes live instrument improvisation over the DJ tracks.

"We try to put together the best show that we can and make it so people get their money's worth," Jordan said. "I think the biggest thing about Joe's event is that the overall vibe is feel-good. Everyone's there to have a good time, and that's a big deal, especially in Scottsdale."

This is ONE's first time in an upscale Scottsdale nightclub. In the past, the events were weekly and then monthly, but nowthey are on a special-event basis.

DiPadova said he decided to spin at Cream because he wants to reach a wider audience. And even if house music isn't your thing, DiPadova insists he can feel the crowd's energy without even looking at the people and adjusts the music accordingly. Still, expect the selection to stand out from most of what you've heard before.

Banding said that while DiPadova has his own taste in music, he's able to package it in a way the public can identify with and be curious about. He achieves this by letting the energy of the crowd dictate his playlist, as he goes in without a set one.

"It's all about my communication with the crowd, my feeling of what that perfect song will be at that moment and just flowing with it moment- by-moment," DiPadova said.

Those involved with ONE agreed the multidimensional night creates an energy rarely found in clubs.

"People should come out because it's a community of love and consciousness," Apostolou said. "It's not just about the music; it's about the emotion the music elicits from you."

DiPadova said he hopes the ONE event at Cream turns more people onto his style of DJing, which can also be heard Wednesday nights at Hanny's and Sunday nights at Merc Bar. He wouldn't go into specifics, but he said he hopes to expand ONE into larger venues and events, such as music festivals, though he will always continue to play underground spots.