DJ VICE Unmixed
CD: You started DJing back in 1992, and then in 1997 you ended up on Power 106 FM in LA, how were you discovered?
VICE: One night at a nightclub in LA, I met a brother of the afternoon hosts called “The Baka Boyz”. They had the biggest show on Power and were not only hosts but DJ’s as well. I started interning for their company and would turn in mixtape after mixtape for them to listen to. Eventually, the tape fell into the hand of the music directors of the radio station and they liked what they heard. At that time I was 19 years old and I knew exactly what their listeners were into.
CD: You’ve been known to say “I’m not a celebrity, I’m a DJ to the celebrities”. But let’s admit, millions of people know you, when do you start becoming a “celebrity”?
VICE: I do say that a lot. I just feel that when I’m out doing my thing, I am there to make people party. Not to be noticed and have the attention on me for the night, but to let people enjoy themselves. Most of the time celebrities are in the crowd and I guess that is where the title “Celebrity DJ” comes from.
CD: You are a very down to earth guy; how have you managed to keep the success and fame from going to your head?
VICE: Surround yourself with people who know you for you. I constantly have my childhood friends around me. The guys that I use to have to beg to carry my crates or speakers into weddings, high school dances and house parties. They may be asking to come to my gigs now, but I always keep in mind what a true friendship means and not a social one.
CD: We know one of your pursuits is to break into the European club scene, how’s that going?
VICE: I recently played in London and had a blast. The scene in Europe has been predominately house music, which I am a big fan of, but I like to incorporate other types of music as well. When I played this past August in London at an exclusive club called Movida, the table in front of me was bought out by David Guetta. It was good to meet him and also see how much he enjoyed my style of DJ’n. He was dancing around his table in circles all night!
CD: Outside of your original influences back in 1992, do you have any influencers that have inspired you in a new way?
VICE: There are many producers who inspire me constantly. I have been lucky enough to sit in many sessions with Timbaland and he is a true genius. The way he works and hears things that other people can’t blows my mind. I have been working on my production more;other producer’s sound, as well as Timbalands, such as Pharrel, Eric Prydz, Deadmau5, & Kaskade continually push me to work harder.
CD: How many residencies do you have these days?
VICE: As of now I have 3 residences a week and 3 monthly residences as well. I play at Tao (Las Vegas) on Saturday nights and Lavo (Las Vegas) on Sunday nights. I’m in Hollywood every Thursday night at Playhouse Nightclub. Once a month I am the resident of Borgata Nightclub in Atlantic City and LIV Nightclub at Fontainebleau Hotel in South Beach. Inbetween all those nights, I am bouncing around the country.
CD: You have been a huge voice in the hip hop scene, but I’ve seen you mix some great house music sets. Are you cross genre, or do you prefer one over the other?
VICE: I have always been a fan of house music as well as many other types of formats. When I started DJ’n in ’92 labels such as “hip hop DJ” or “house DJ” didn’t exist for me. A DJ was a DJ. To this day I have never labeled myself as any particular style except open format. This means that when I play at a club, I have full range of playing anything I want to play. I feel that is a big part to the longevity of my career.
CD: Being a veteran of the airwaves in Los Angeles, what does it take for an unsigned band or producer to get their music on the radio?
VICE: Well it has been sometime since I have been involved in radio on a weekly basis so things have changed now. The way I see most new acts breaking is thru online mass marketing. Blogging and Social Media groups like Myspace, Facebook, & Twitter help new acts push their music to audiences at zero cost. It’s amazing how many people can catch on to a record now quicker then a radio station can even get a copy of it.
CD: As a SKAM Artist you are part of a roster of America’s best DJs. Your schedule is unbelievably busy, what do you do in your free time?
VICE: I have an 11 year old son, a 4 month old puppy and recently got engaged. I guess that explains to everyone that my time is fully occupied at every moment of the day! hahaha
CD: What can we expect from DJ Vice in 2010 and beyond?
VICE: I have a European and Asian tour that is in the works. I will also be dropping a new mix cd in the new year and a brand new production from myself. I am excited for this new year and what it has in store for me. I have been DJ’n for 18 years now and I get more excited each and every year. This scene changes so much and just like everyone else we gotta keep up with it.
CD: Any advice to those looking to mimic your success as a superstar DJ?
Click here to read the rest of the interview.
