One of the reasons I tend to experience so much live music as a part of writing for this site is that in the live experience, you never know when something unexpected may come along and completely wow you as you haven't been "wowed" in quite some time. Thus and so was my experience at the HipsterOverkill.com/Steve's Bar Room party "The Fringe," when Delaware's DJ Bis played the room on March 3rd. Bis kept that room moving and grooving until far after pretty much everyone had left, and, also, when a heretofore unknown DJ in the DC scene can get local heavyweights like Will Eastman, Gavin Holland, Tittsworth, Jackie O and Dave Nada (whose personal cosign of his talents got me through the door) to come out and lend support, he's clearly a special brand of selector. It's an honor and a pleasure to do interviews with people who really appreciate the ability to live and exceed their wildest dreams. Thus and so is the case with Delaware's own DJ Bis, the most underrated DJ on the East Coast, and someone who, before the year is out, will be a much bigger force than he already is. I'm just glad to be in on the ground floor.
TGRI: You're easily one of the most energetic, constantly hustling, and genuinely happy DJs I know in the game. To what do you attribute your charisma and sheer excitement? The music itself, your ability and talent, or something else?
DJ BIS: MUSIC definitely. I have worked many jobs and nothing has kept me as upbeat and consistent as music and DJing. Second is the drive to bring people closer to DJ culture and the music that is being pushed hard by the DJ's/producers I like. Seeing a crowd react, it is a high unlike any other.
TGRI: You were born in Costa Rica, and later moved to the US. What about that diverse background stoked your initial interest in music?
DJ BIS: I believe that Latinos carry an innate love for music and rhythm within them. Costa Rica is a hotbed for all kinds of rhythms, from Caribbean stuff to Euro sounds, Costa Rica is one of the most diverse countries when it comes to music I believe. Growing up in C.R. as a kid was a huge blessing because of the variety of music I was exposed to in such a natural way. There were no "musical trends" for me at that age, I would just pick up on what one friend would be listening to and record it to tape. Then another friend would show me some weird shit, I would dub that too! LOL I was a real sponge, and to this day I don't think I have changed.
TGRI: You work out of the Delaware area. Do you consider this to be a help as it raises your profile as a big fish in a small pond, or do you like your proximity to hot spots on the East coast? What's the local scene like? I always hear amazing things about your parties, so is it as wild as I hear?
DJ BIS: Delaware is a funny place. The size of it for one does help (in certain ways) as you mentioned, but no matter what, in order to be recognized you must do something different or else you will be taken as "another fish in the pond" and nobody will care about what you are or what you stand for. The local scene is based around University of Delaware and college life, which can be good and bad at the same time. Apart from college kids wanting to party there is not much else around here worth sticking around, there aren't any nightclubs or spots worth being called "nightclubs".
Delaware's strict take on nightlife is the first impediment to a DJ trying to become established since all bars must stop serving alcohol at 1AM (and they usually close at that time as well). In other words, nightlife is handicapped which does make many of us wonder "why live/party in Delaware?". Being in the middle of major metropolitan areas IS a great advantage as I can get out to AC or Philly or Baltimore/DC rather often, unlike some people in other states who have to make day trips to enjoy a good show. As of recent, I have taken advantage of this proximity which has allowed me to network out of Delaware (something I never did before) and also lets me witness first hand the difference between scenes in those neighboring cities and my local area.
In all honesty sometimes I am pleasantly surprised with what we are doing in Delaware Vs. what is going on in other cities. The parties around here can be wild if you are a DJ willing to please a crowd and capable of doing some party rocking. Most party heads can be close-minded (and pop centered) but I try to set a strong presence at each party and take control of the crowd from the first track I drop. They are watching your every move from the moment you hop on, if you look weak then they are not going to respect you or what you play, etc... Commanding the room early and setting the tone from the first track is key if I want to take Delawareans for a ride and introduce them to new shit at some point, but that's when you realize that this last part is true in ANY place pretty much! So the rule applies in any city, with just about any crowd. Having some musical range can be very helpful. Delaware may not be so different than other cities in terms of what you can do at a party, the problem is that Delaware people aren't used to real DJ's working a room and real parties that have something entertaining to offer in terms of DJ/Music talents. Delaware has been known for its cover band scene for a while, but never for its DJ's, and its no wonder... The state is so small and the crowds are only tuning to a couple of radio stations that play the same constant line-up of pop music that its hard to break out from the trends that so easily take over. Through a lot of work and exposure in Delaware I recently began finding pockets of people who see eye to eye with my take on nightlife and music in Delaware and so slowly I am trying to build a small brand around it, its the start of something different for this small state and it comes by way of a party called REMIX DISCO[tech] every Wednesday night at a small venue that cares about the concept as well.
TGRI: Regarding your style and influences, I listen to a lot of your mixes, and I'm always impressed at how your versatility and talent are at the same rather high level. Does that come from your background and desire to open yourself to so many musical styles, or a deep desire to work, grind and develop your skills?
Thanks... Versatility has always been my "signature" since I started in 98. Coming from Costa Rica and having crazy friends who listened to everything was a huge help in getting going the way I did at such of young age... I never thought I would end up being a DJ later on though, yet when I did all those influences actually helped. I am a huge perfectionist also, so when I was introduced to DJ's in other cities who were doing amazing things in ways I had only dreamed of (think DJ AM/SpinBad/Fashen) I knew that I had to set the bar high in order to ever be noticed in my own way. My desire to work hard was amplified 10-fold when I heard what some of these DJ's where doing. Delaware had kept me blind to that for so long! Hitting the near-by cities was a huge help.
TGRI: You often talk a lot about "soul," or the lack thereof in most mainstream commercial music. Do you feel that as a DJ, a lot of your work is based around injecting soul into the music, or do you more just want to play music that takes people to a time and/or place where the soul was and/or still is?
Its a bit of both for sure! As DJ's, the music we play represents who we are, or "our musical soul" let's call it. When a DJ gets to a point in his live work where he is able to create "a sound" in his sets which people can connect to, you are then infusing that room and the people in it with your soul. A room infected with "soul" moves and responds in incredible ways but it can be hard to find the cuts that make it do that, this is our job as DJ's, the constant selection, mixing and timing of music that will make the room's soul come alive. With time I come to realize that older music brought more soul to the dance floor because it communicated in deeper, more meaningful ways. But many songs today achieve the same too.
Additionally I feel that my interaction with the crowd and the process of soul-seeking for the evening is aided by positive stage presence and occasional use of the mic, of course. This is altogether an art in itself which I am just learning, but its important nevertheless if the DJ wants to inject that soul into the night. TGRI: Do you feel that there are any artists or DJs out in the present era that have that soul of which you so often seek?
Absolutely! Each genre has amazing artists who are very musical and present meaningful sounds with soul. I just wish that they would get more hype, and that people would be lead to them more often. As I've said in other interviews and what-not, people's ears are no longer being trained to listen for musical value in a song, instead music bigwigs have created other standards by which kids nowadays are attracted to music. I do hope this changes, and in fact I feel in some ways it already has started to change, I just hope it continues. Formal music education at a young age is an extremely important starting point IMO.
TGRI: Where can people come out and see you spin, and is there anything you'd like to advertise?
People can find me at a variety of spots every week, from PA down to MD. The best way to keep up is to see the schedule on http://www.myspace.com/djbis We try to keep it as current as possible. You can also hop on www.DJBIS.com I'd like to give a big thanks to my partner (Kristen), she is a huge part of what I do in my career and deserves much credit. Her long hours and creativity in helping me build a brand, and her patience while I am obsessively working with music make it possible for me to be the best I can be. She is not only a huge part of my career but also is an extremely talented musician and artist now doing her own thing as a make-up artist. Check her out: http://www.KristenLoberMakeup.com In the future we may end up doing some music together, so we'll see!
Thanks Marcus!
TGRI: You're easily one of the most energetic, constantly hustling, and genuinely happy DJs I know in the game. To what do you attribute your charisma and sheer excitement? The music itself, your ability and talent, or something else?
DJ BIS: MUSIC definitely. I have worked many jobs and nothing has kept me as upbeat and consistent as music and DJing. Second is the drive to bring people closer to DJ culture and the music that is being pushed hard by the DJ's/producers I like. Seeing a crowd react, it is a high unlike any other.
TGRI: You were born in Costa Rica, and later moved to the US. What about that diverse background stoked your initial interest in music?
DJ BIS: I believe that Latinos carry an innate love for music and rhythm within them. Costa Rica is a hotbed for all kinds of rhythms, from Caribbean stuff to Euro sounds, Costa Rica is one of the most diverse countries when it comes to music I believe. Growing up in C.R. as a kid was a huge blessing because of the variety of music I was exposed to in such a natural way. There were no "musical trends" for me at that age, I would just pick up on what one friend would be listening to and record it to tape. Then another friend would show me some weird shit, I would dub that too! LOL I was a real sponge, and to this day I don't think I have changed.
TGRI: You work out of the Delaware area. Do you consider this to be a help as it raises your profile as a big fish in a small pond, or do you like your proximity to hot spots on the East coast? What's the local scene like? I always hear amazing things about your parties, so is it as wild as I hear?
DJ BIS: Delaware is a funny place. The size of it for one does help (in certain ways) as you mentioned, but no matter what, in order to be recognized you must do something different or else you will be taken as "another fish in the pond" and nobody will care about what you are or what you stand for. The local scene is based around University of Delaware and college life, which can be good and bad at the same time. Apart from college kids wanting to party there is not much else around here worth sticking around, there aren't any nightclubs or spots worth being called "nightclubs".
Delaware's strict take on nightlife is the first impediment to a DJ trying to become established since all bars must stop serving alcohol at 1AM (and they usually close at that time as well). In other words, nightlife is handicapped which does make many of us wonder "why live/party in Delaware?". Being in the middle of major metropolitan areas IS a great advantage as I can get out to AC or Philly or Baltimore/DC rather often, unlike some people in other states who have to make day trips to enjoy a good show. As of recent, I have taken advantage of this proximity which has allowed me to network out of Delaware (something I never did before) and also lets me witness first hand the difference between scenes in those neighboring cities and my local area.
In all honesty sometimes I am pleasantly surprised with what we are doing in Delaware Vs. what is going on in other cities. The parties around here can be wild if you are a DJ willing to please a crowd and capable of doing some party rocking. Most party heads can be close-minded (and pop centered) but I try to set a strong presence at each party and take control of the crowd from the first track I drop. They are watching your every move from the moment you hop on, if you look weak then they are not going to respect you or what you play, etc... Commanding the room early and setting the tone from the first track is key if I want to take Delawareans for a ride and introduce them to new shit at some point, but that's when you realize that this last part is true in ANY place pretty much! So the rule applies in any city, with just about any crowd. Having some musical range can be very helpful. Delaware may not be so different than other cities in terms of what you can do at a party, the problem is that Delaware people aren't used to real DJ's working a room and real parties that have something entertaining to offer in terms of DJ/Music talents. Delaware has been known for its cover band scene for a while, but never for its DJ's, and its no wonder... The state is so small and the crowds are only tuning to a couple of radio stations that play the same constant line-up of pop music that its hard to break out from the trends that so easily take over. Through a lot of work and exposure in Delaware I recently began finding pockets of people who see eye to eye with my take on nightlife and music in Delaware and so slowly I am trying to build a small brand around it, its the start of something different for this small state and it comes by way of a party called REMIX DISCO[tech] every Wednesday night at a small venue that cares about the concept as well.
TGRI: Regarding your style and influences, I listen to a lot of your mixes, and I'm always impressed at how your versatility and talent are at the same rather high level. Does that come from your background and desire to open yourself to so many musical styles, or a deep desire to work, grind and develop your skills?
Thanks... Versatility has always been my "signature" since I started in 98. Coming from Costa Rica and having crazy friends who listened to everything was a huge help in getting going the way I did at such of young age... I never thought I would end up being a DJ later on though, yet when I did all those influences actually helped. I am a huge perfectionist also, so when I was introduced to DJ's in other cities who were doing amazing things in ways I had only dreamed of (think DJ AM/SpinBad/Fashen) I knew that I had to set the bar high in order to ever be noticed in my own way. My desire to work hard was amplified 10-fold when I heard what some of these DJ's where doing. Delaware had kept me blind to that for so long! Hitting the near-by cities was a huge help.
TGRI: You often talk a lot about "soul," or the lack thereof in most mainstream commercial music. Do you feel that as a DJ, a lot of your work is based around injecting soul into the music, or do you more just want to play music that takes people to a time and/or place where the soul was and/or still is?
Its a bit of both for sure! As DJ's, the music we play represents who we are, or "our musical soul" let's call it. When a DJ gets to a point in his live work where he is able to create "a sound" in his sets which people can connect to, you are then infusing that room and the people in it with your soul. A room infected with "soul" moves and responds in incredible ways but it can be hard to find the cuts that make it do that, this is our job as DJ's, the constant selection, mixing and timing of music that will make the room's soul come alive. With time I come to realize that older music brought more soul to the dance floor because it communicated in deeper, more meaningful ways. But many songs today achieve the same too.
Additionally I feel that my interaction with the crowd and the process of soul-seeking for the evening is aided by positive stage presence and occasional use of the mic, of course. This is altogether an art in itself which I am just learning, but its important nevertheless if the DJ wants to inject that soul into the night. TGRI: Do you feel that there are any artists or DJs out in the present era that have that soul of which you so often seek?
Absolutely! Each genre has amazing artists who are very musical and present meaningful sounds with soul. I just wish that they would get more hype, and that people would be lead to them more often. As I've said in other interviews and what-not, people's ears are no longer being trained to listen for musical value in a song, instead music bigwigs have created other standards by which kids nowadays are attracted to music. I do hope this changes, and in fact I feel in some ways it already has started to change, I just hope it continues. Formal music education at a young age is an extremely important starting point IMO.
TGRI: Where can people come out and see you spin, and is there anything you'd like to advertise?
People can find me at a variety of spots every week, from PA down to MD. The best way to keep up is to see the schedule on http://www.myspace.com/djbis We try to keep it as current as possible. You can also hop on www.DJBIS.com I'd like to give a big thanks to my partner (Kristen), she is a huge part of what I do in my career and deserves much credit. Her long hours and creativity in helping me build a brand, and her patience while I am obsessively working with music make it possible for me to be the best I can be. She is not only a huge part of my career but also is an extremely talented musician and artist now doing her own thing as a make-up artist. Check her out: http://www.KristenLoberMakeup.
Thanks Marcus!
0 comments:
Post a Comment