Question and Answer

When did you decide to DJ?

I look back at the parties I used to go with my friends. There was one party where Misstress Barbara got on the decks after Bad Boy Bill. I really enjoyed her techno set and sound in 2000. I remember her hair swaying back and forth as she dropped the low's and high's from her mixer with some funky techno mixes from her CD "Relentless Beats."

Who mentored you when you started out?

It would have to be my friend Gabriel from Chicago. He used to DJ in his dorm with Freestyle records. From him I learned the concept behind blending two records with bars and phrases. Beat matching was essential but the timing with delivery mattered the most in a DJ. These are some of the things I learned from my mentor.

Describe a perfect setting for playing your favorite music?

If I had to play some favorite tunes I would play progressive trance in a dark cold room with no distractions on a phone

or neighbors.

Any pet peeves when playing?

There has to be some foreplay on the dance floor before there's some hard core action. I don't like playing fast at the beginning when people are arriving and one person is trying to set a peak hour tone because they are early and want to party.

Describe a good night?

A good night has a combination of good dancers and tracks. Diverse crowds make a good night go well since they rotate on the dance floor. If I play a single genre then they get tired so multiple dancers and songs keeps a fresh vibe during the party.

What about a bad night?

Crowds not taking risks to dance or listen to different music. Also people who aren't open minded to hear a DJ play or judge me for not being a good DJ?