Lets see now... I'm Italian, French, Irish, Puerto Rican and lil' bit Native American, I stand about 5'8" and 160lbs... a wrestlers build I guess. I've got brown eyes, shaved auburn hair and a goatee that seems to grow with the seasons. People seem to think that I'm a hard ass tough guy when they first meet me, but once you're on the [inside] you'll see that I'm a warm, friendly person. Ever since I was little boy, music has moved me. It's such a big part of my life now as an adult, being a Dj in the crazy city I Iive in. It all started when I was 14, by extending and editing songs I'd record off the radio [using the pause button]. By 15 or 16 I was mixing songs using 2 CD boomboxes, I was the kid to call when you were having a party and the parents were out of town. When I was 18 I got my 1st real DJ job in The Holly Rock Lounge @ The City Night club in Portland, Oregon... I was spinning Goth-Dance and Industrial, that was a fun and crazy time and went on for 2 years. The District of Columbia was my next stop in 1990 but I was mostly doing house parties and outdoor DJ events until sunrise. I changed music styles at the time to Techno, House and Pop. When I was 25 I got a DJ position at The Green Lantern [DC] amongst other places and purchased a CD mixing coffin by Pioneer [GOODTIMES]. In the mid '90s I needed a change, so I moved back to my hometown NYC... where I made my mark in the East Village and Chelsea by being one of the 1st CDJs, when everyone else was still playing vinyl and no bars had CD players at that time... Thanks Pioneer.
It's kind of funny... sometimes when I'm out talking to people, promoting myself or parties that I'm involved with, the subject of "what I do" will come up and inevitably the question, "What kind of music do you play?" I'm sure they're expecting a one word answer like "House" or "Rock"... as if I'm one of those "One Trick Pony" Djs who can only play one type of sound or genre of music. I love all genres and within each there's "good music" and "bad music", I listen to and spin the good stuff [wink].
To only be able to play one type or genre of music is to limit ones own ability to make everyone happy in the setting that you're are playing in. Lets face it, there's not just one type of person that comes out to a bar or club environment, [people like different things] so I mix it up as much as possible; within reason because there are bars and clubs that require you to only play from "this genre" or "that genre", depending on what kind of "scene" they're trying to create, so thats understandable.
Luckily I'm one of the more versatile Djs in NYC., this allows me to spin at more diverse places in the city... from dive bars to full on clubs with dance floors. Depending on where I might be spinning, you could hear me select from '60s Go-Go, '70s Rock, Soul & Disco classics, early '80s New Wave & Hip Hop, '90s Club hits, Classic House and today's Electro-Dance music. One would try to argue that spinning [in one night], from so many different genres would confuse people and that would be true if I Dj'd music like a "jukebox set on random mode"... without any flow or direction [like so many of these so called "Djs" I keep on being forced to listen to when I go out].
If I had to describe the way I Dj'd... I would have to say that its like going on a "Journey through Sound" [stereophonic sound], with a fun, driving, upbeat kitsch appeal that people can shake their asses to. Depending on if I'm the opening Dj or spinning the whole night, the music and the energy will start off gradually and build as the night progresses to a point during the "prime time" hours ['til closing] where the sound and energy has everyone pumping and writhing to the music.
So whether its a night of all the genres listed above or a night of nothing but Electro-Dance music, I make sure that what I play makes sense musically and is cohesive, so people can follow along easily and I achieve this without being predictable.
With that said, I would also like to add that despite the all the different sounds you might hear me spin, I stay true to a particular sound that is all my own [a kind of branding, if you will] but I still cater and thats not being a "SELLOUT". Oh yeah, just for the record... I'm not claiming in any way to be the best Dj in the city but I do know what I'm doing. I'd like to also add that I'm not an "ipod Dj" nor do I use a laptop to help me mix.. and yes, I beat mix....
I would like to wish you all the most amazing year of growth, happiness and hope that you will be always conscious of others in a kind way. We are all trying to find our place in this thing called LIFE but it helps if we can treat each other with kindness and respect. We are all connected, we are all one. I look at life as a gift and I am grateful that I'm here. I love my family and friends and try to be open to learn new things. It's been an amazing journey so far, though things may get rough.. I'm enjoying the ride. I love sharing space with good friends, music and the exchange of communication.
I feel very blessed to be in a medium where I can truely express myself and communicate an unspoken language with those who understand. I'm a "down to earth" kind of guy with good morals, and a twisted sence of humor, I tend to tell people exactly how I'm feeling at any particular moment, sometimes that gets me in trouble.
So anyway, if you really want to get to know someone, you should do just that...
I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V3.6 !
