Page 66 - DemoZone Magazine Summer Issue 2020

Your first clubbing experience?
Simon’s, Gainesville Florida around 1994-1995. Because the University of Florida town was home to some of the most talented academics in the world, it also brought in some of the most talented dance acts in the world to please them. I was lucky to be there to witness those acts. The place was ahead of its time for a bit in the mid and late 90s. This is where I was introduced to acts like Sasha, John Digweed, Deee-Light, and other world-famous acts.
How did you get into djing?
Funny story. What you need to know is that Florida as a whole was and still is a funky break beat state, especially in cities like Orlando and Tampa where it thrived. One night in late 1996 after a good night of clubbing at Simon’s, my friends and I left to an afterparty. We had just finished at Simon’s (not sure who played), where the music tended to be mostly intelligent straight beat materials on the main floor, along with jungle and tribal on the roof. Well, I wanted to hear progressive, so when the after-party DJ took a bathroom break (he was a good friend), I just got on the decks with no clue on how and started to play the records that I liked! When he got back, my DJ/friend was not impressed because I had left his records everywhere, but everyone at the afterpart was! That is when I started to see myself as a DJ and perhaps something more...I bought decks, records, practiced, went to more shows, and eventually started playing after parties. The rest is history.
Getting that first break - how did it
happen for you?
When I moved to Tampa, FL to finish college, I got a job at the local record store, Chakra Records. The owner of the record store also owned the Edge Nightclub in Ybor City, Florida, and he was impressed with my knowledge of the music. So, he let me play there...it was an awesome experience because the dance floor was enormous, and the sound was even bigger. The very first time I played there, I felt like I was commanding a spaceship for the first time because the sound was so
large lol. It was definitely something I felt I could get used to and I will never forget. I was also reliable in that I was there from before opening and after closing every night to work and make sure that the club ran well. So, it worked out well.
Tell us about the scene at the time.
In Tampa, FL, the scene was nothing but funky break beats and deep house. Real deep house. Chicago style deep house! I remember, it was very tough getting gigs at the time because I just did not have that funky flavor! I was only allowed to play from 9-10 or 11, and then the other DJs would take over. I guess allot of people at the time felt like progressive was more warm up music. I wanted to prove to them otherwise and my nature is not to give up, so I improvised, and I started to play more intelligent breaks like Hybrid, Adam Beyer etc and was able to force my sound into those venues. Eventually, I was accepted and started to get more residencies and late-night gigs, where I worked in more straight beat tracks. It was a great time for the music there because you really could go hear whatever you wanted if you planned the night right. I need to mention the late-night parties over there after the clubs closed. These places would open all night and I found a home playing for those people who had just gotten out of the club but did not want to go home yet after the club.
Tell us about the scene now.
I now reside in California, which is a different vibe completely. I am grateful to be able to go out in LA and San Francisco, where I can see and hear some of the best acts in the world, and then some. The scene in LA is thriving as always. Lately, Dance Spirit has done an excellent job representing Los Angeles with respect to our musical community. I have known those guys forever and have nothing but love for them, and it’s great to be label mates with them now.
66
ZONE-MAGAZINE.EU