THE REMIX: A DIFFERENT KIND OF INTERVIEW
“I love showing people new music and sharing a connection through sound.”
Last week I talked about how PLAN is an opportunity to show the PNW just what this EDM scene...thing...community is all about. While the flight attendants and pilots are still answering tough questions about who we are and where we want to go, one thing rings true: we are a small stage for local DJs.
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| Wendy & Johnny |
He likes:
Music (and always has)
His girlfriend Wendy (me too).
Dogs!!
Favorite food is...food.
How much is DJing a part of your life?
I have been DJing since 2012-13 so about two and a half years. My interest in music has been continuous throughout most of my life. When I was younger I banged on pots and pans and as I grew older I played the flute in band. I have an eternally increasing collection of music from middle school that is more than ten thousand songs strong.
How did you start DJing? What kept you going?
When I first started DJing (First set ever recorded) to me it was more of a hobby between my friend Eddy Montes (Vitamin Eee) and me. At the time we were using Eddy's gear because I did not have any. After a year I started getting really into it and I finally purchased my first controller. I played my first show at my fraternity house for a party. That is where I played Humblecash Mix 7 live.
Currently I only DJ but eventually I would love to get into producing. I spend about 1/3 of my time DJing or doing things related to Djing. Every day I spend several hours reading through different sites for music and tutorials. I don't actually practice with my controller unless I am able to have a 4+ hour session and that happens about once or twice a week.
What do you usually start with when preparing for a set?
When I am preparing for a set it really depends on how I want to play it. There are times when I want to play on the spot so I choose a couple of songs that I know I want to play though out the night and “wing” the rest. When it is a set I want to be more thought out then I choose the songs I want to play but then I try to highlight them by using other songs.
The relationship with the audience is crucial for a DJ, and yet it seems to be a fragile one. How do you see the balance between giving the crowd what they want and treating them to something new?
I really try to think of how each song works with each other and how the audience might or will react to it. The audience/crowd is a very important part of Djing. It's what makes or breaks the set. When I play a set I always think what I love to hear in a set but I think about the audience more. When I think of how my set should go I always place myself in the crowd rather than in the booth because they are what is most important. I know I should play songs the crowd wants to hear because that IS what is going to get them excited and enjoy what I am playing. Those songs are what will make them feel connected to the DJ and the rest of the crowd. I really do not like just playing a song because everyone knows it, rather I love playing a song because I can give it a new feeling and add character to it. I will always play what will connect my music and myself to the crowd but often I will try to lead them down a different path where I can share “new” music or express how it could have sounded. Hear his first live set.
What makes a strong transition from one track to the next from your point of view and how do you see the relative importance of establishing a flow versus creating tension through suspenseful breaks in continuity?
Creating a flow or rhythm is very important. It's not only important for the DJ but the crowd as well. When you are playing your set you need to know the crowd is like a tide. It will come in and out mainly because people need rest. Not everyone can dance for hours on end. So by creating a rhythm in your set where people are “allowed” to rest and come back makes them feel like they did not miss much and they can still continue jamming out like nothing happened.
A strong set can be truly be more than the sum of its parts. How, do you feel, is the music transformed in the hands of a DJ? In which way are you actively trying to create an experience that is more than just stringing together a few excellent records?
Track transitions are also important because that is how you piece everything together. It's how you change the mood in the music. A good transition is when you can take the current “vibe” and change it so they want more of whatever is coming next. A DJ is good when they can influence the crowd at most points throughout the set. Music in the hands of a DJ is much like playing with Legos. There are so many different pieces and you can either recreate the object that is was meant for or build something new. I believe as I said before I like to create an experience that is both familiar yet feels new.
How do you see the relationship between music and the space it is performed at? What’s performing at PLAN like for you?
When I am playing at PLAN I still get really nervous. I am always nervous that I still might mess up and clear the floor. I want only the best for the crowd and myself. There is not much you can do before hand to hype yourself up because I think everyone gets excited. The key is to keep calm and be level headed.
What’s up next for you?
Currently I am planning to play for Unity Productions to gain more experience and eventually a residency at a club in town.
What is the best advice you ever got? Best DJ advice you ever got? Or maybe something you wish you had gotten?
The best advice given/learned/taken is take your time and work hard. Learn your faults and work on them. Don't force it, it's easier to try to listen, watch, and try to understand it. Be open to new or different ideas. Lastly, don't be quick to judge because everyone has beautiful aspects about them.
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| Photo credit: Heeroic Studios Photography |
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