BIO
EDINBURGH, Scotland
So unfortunately, my professional biographer is out sick, so this will be in the first person. Here's the story of my musical journey from DJing around the world, to producing & writing music, and having too much fun doing it all.
I started off like a lot of people. In high school, I was just the iPod guy at parties. Whenever the music got stale, I'd take over and turn the party around. I had all the hits, fun new music my friends hadn't heard, and anything that would get people dancing. I even bought a mixer that would let me mix between two iPods with effects. It was an early passion of mine, and I noticed what a great reward it was to be able to elevate people's experiences from the songs you'd choose. You get immediate feedback from the smiles on their faces.
At the time in America, in the 2000s, hip-hop & rap were the main pop music on the radio. While I would enjoy playing that, I personally always loved electronic music, ever since I was eight years old and heard Alice DeeJay's 'Better Off Alone' on the radio on the way to a baseball game. I remember, my teammate said the song was stupid because it only had like three words. I thought "who cares?!" From then on, my ear was always attracted to electronic music, even if my friends would laugh and jeer when I'd throw on Darude or Benny Benassi (through they would eventually give in and dance). That is why, for me, the experience that most dramatically changed my life, was going to university in Europe.
I miraculously got into a top level school in the United Kingdom, the University of Edinburgh. Without ever being outside America, I took a risk, packed my bags, and for four years I lived and went to school in Scotland's bustling capital city. What I soon realized was that in Europe, it wasn't Eminem or Jay Z that got played, but David Guetta, Tiesto, & Calvin Harris. The club scene was THE scene, busy seven days a week, and electronic music was what pumped through the airwaves and sound systems. To my amazement, I realized that my first musical tastes had found their home.
Edinburgh by day was beautiful, and by night was wild!
In Edinburgh, I developed a large friend group of great people who would have these big parties before going out (legal drinking age & nightclub age was 18). There'd be drinks, games, girls and guys, but as anyone who's ever been to a party will know, the music constantly gets switched, often to a song that kills the vibe. I wanted a way to keep the good music rolling so we could just enjoy ourselves so I downloaded some music software, routinely scoured the internet for the best music, and would record these 2-hour party mixes. I'd tell whoever was running the music “it's just one song,” but secretly, a fun non-stop party mix would come on, the party would liven up and no one wanted to switch the music anymore.
My mixes became a hit, and every couple of months, I'd make a new one with all the newest hits. Eventually, towards the end of my second year, I found myself at a party with one of the country's biggest nightclub & concert promoters. The mix that was on happened to be "House Party 1"."
He loved what he heard, asked whose mix it was, and we got introduced. He said the mixing and music was a step above the DJs he had at his clubs, and wanted to work with me as soon as possible. I was excited, and stunned, as I had never even thought about taking this hobby into venues as a job. Up until that point, all I was was a kid with an iPod, a laptop and a good taste in music. I didn't know anything about DJing in an actual club, how to use club DJ equipment & sound systems, etc. I knew I wasn't prepared so that summer break, I came home from Edinburgh determined to learn everything I could, so when I returned, I'd be able to walk into any venue and rock the place.
Luckily, I worked hard, and in my Third Year in Edinburgh, I started playing live gigs at some of the most popular and packed nightclubs. It was amazing, and I kept getting asked to play new events. Over my last two years in Edinburgh, I would play shows around Scotland, and be the main act at some of DJ Mag's Top 100 Clubs in the World. I'd get access to see some of the biggest touring DJs, and occasionally get to open for them! It was a truly amazing experience.
Graduation looks different in Scotland
Caves, Edinburgh, a DJ Mag Top 100 Nightclub
My last show in Scotland
Love Life ;)
Opening act for Goldfish!