Interview:
Where are you from? What brought you to Columbus, how long have you lived here?
A: i'm originally from cincinnati, i went to college in delaware, ohio at ohio wesleyan university. so, i was already familiar with a little bit of columbus thanks to those off campus trips! i just couldn't stay in cincinnati anymore. i needed a change, and somewhere away from my home to explore my life options. i've been here since the fall of '99,,and honestly, i didn't think i would be here this long! i really don't think anyone does though, Columbus is super comfortable.
Can you tell me about your involvement in the music scene in Columbus? Are you solely a DJ or do you have any other musical roles you play?
A: wow,,,that's a super tough question. i like to think of myself as a massively versatile dj. Locally, i produce shows for express fashion, dj special events for saks fifth ave. and united colors of benetton. i also dj special parties like, Columbus' SWEATIN', WORK at Bristol, Suicide Girls Parties at Havana, special charity events for stonewall, or for other benefits. i donate my time a lot 'cause ..it's the right thing to do ;> My original works have been performed by local as well as national/international acts. I have a track right now on Yo Majesty!'s new album called HoTT. we all recorded the track together when shon was still in the group, then had to to re-record when she left. i also dj supported them at the Trans Musicales festival in Rennes, France. crazy experience!!
so, within all of those angles,,i have formed a band with a friend of mine, gendala of queen mae and the bells,called titZ n milK about 5-6 months ago. in this band, i play the producer/musician role, gendala is the costumer/lyricist/ the "that doesn't -sound -right -lets try -this" person. we're premiering at the katie reider benefit at promowest on Feb14,09! i can't wait, i'm nervous to be on stage again. but this is exactly what i wanted. i wanted to be able to explore the different depths of my musical abilities. dj-ing has definitely been satisfying in so many ways. but, i wanted to be on the stage in a different capacity. i wanted to be behind a mic, or behind a guitar, or behind a kaossilator, making people look within because my music has made them feel something they've never felt before. and that's how i knew gendala would be a great fit. we wanted to do things no one has seen or heard or done before. thus: titZ n milK. we write and perform our own works and will eventually (hopefully this summer) start remixing other artists.
Tell me about how you got involved with Sweatin, how long have you been dj’ing at Sweatin. What events have you been involved with that have spawned from this scene?
A: how i got involved with SWEATIN' ...hmmm, well, my girlfriend managed east village, and Scotty Niemet, the promoter, was looking for another venue. we all have mutual friends and some of the kids that went to the first Sweatin's at Jack's (now The Summit) recognized a certain style in my sets that would really work. so, i was invited to play one of the first SWEATIN's held at East Village, and everything just accelerated from there. i've been on the SWEATIN' rotation for 2 years now. SWEATIN' really helped let other artists and performers and dance party goers recognize that, hey, you're not alone. WE ARE OUT THERE!
SWEATIN' has definitely been an inpiration for parties like DIG! at Circus and WORK! at Bristol, as well as the various house parties and afterparties that happen because everyone's so wound up from those dance parties. At this point, you can see the evolution of everyone "just going to Skully's" because that's where the indie rock/indie electro used to only be. it's awesome that it's skully's, carabar, circus, bristol, ruby tuesday, and now due amici.. so many places.
How often do you play out and what regular gigs do you have?
A: I play out and average of 3x a week at various venues and parties. I'm a resident of WORK! at Bristol, held every 2nd/4th wednesdays. I also resident at Union every other Saturday. Inbetween those residency spots, I spin everywhere from Paradise Garage, BoMa, Havana for Suicide Girls events, Puma store at Easton, Axis, Skully's Circus,,, pretty much everywhere. If the venue has a table and electric i'm all about it! ;)
To me Sweatin and the development of this community has been a positive force for non-conventional musicians and partiers to get together and have a good time, and has really propelled local djs allowing them to demonstrate their talents publicly.
I feel that Columbus Dj’s are underrated on a national and international level. We have some really talented musicians that are set apart from others based on, in my opinion, that mid-west work ethic. People are getting together and making it happen. What are your thoughts on this and what can be done to get these people recognition?
A:Wow, that's a toughy. i'm gonna hafta use our local RJD2. He worked and worked and worked and worked, and now he's national and international and is certainly a testament to what can happen with determination and talent. And I agree about the work ethic -we all work SUPER hard to get our voices, vision, and music heard. but, because we're not of the cut-throat NYC mentality, i feel like some outsiders get the perception that were happy just being in our Columbus Bubble and settling for just whatever. That's not the case at all. The exposure is only what the dj/performer makes of it. We are all sticking together because at one point or another, we've experienced some downright bullshit that makes the glue in dj community i'm in even stronger. We are all cross promoting each other and supporting each other's vision and movement toward creative freedom. The cross promotion is an excellent tool to expose the WORK! party goers to an edge from a SWEATIN' dj that they may have never experience before - but can walk away with a new idea of what can REALLY happen in this city.....which is A LOT. And the cross promotion is not just within the dj community. Artists like roeVy, and i perform with other bands and dance troupes to help cross-pollinate the art community here.
I read bulletins and hear people bitching about being bored, WTF is that?!?!??!?! How can you be bored with a city that has so much happening?!?! It's also a challenge for us dj's and for the promoters to get people interested in something they've never seen or heard before. Because we are in the Mid-west and not NYC or LA or SF, the exposure to non-mainstream entertainment is somewhat limited. So, sort of involuntarily, we've all taken on that challenge: get Columbus exposed and educated to the world and vice-versa.
Any thoughts on the future of the scene and community?
A: the dance music scene, over the past 2 years, keeps growing and exploding with new dj's and fans. pretty soon, word'll get out and we're gonna have a-list dj's and electro groups begging to play SWEATIN' and WORK! and DIG!. People are hungry, craving for different and exciting,,,we're bringin' it on a steady pace. and as long as everyone is willing to accept evolution and change, the scene will only get better and better.
What are some future plans you have for you and your music?
A: jeez,,,LOTS. write, produce, perform, tour, grammy(s).
On a personal level what do you do for fun, to relax when you aren’t gigging?
A: Well, when i'm not playing out, i relax by working. really, i swear. I learn new midi controllers, new ways to take the buzz out of a sample recording, or i'm chasing my cats around the house with a digital recorder so i can catch em on tape hissing at me! hahahaha!! i watch News Radio on hulu.com and read a shit ton of Discover, Remix, and Taboo magazines
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