Monster DJ Interview: DJ Yoshi
Monster, the same company that is responsible for making some of the strongest and best audio and video cables to date, now has a new Monster DJ Division where they sponsor many MAJOR DJ's who use and endorse their gear. We are set to run a mini-series of Monster DJ artist interviews and we will conclude with a cool Monster product gear giveaway.
The second famous DJ in the Lab to answer some questions is DJ Yoshi! DJ Yoshi has spun events for iconic brands and people such as: Nike, Donna Karen, Boost Mobile, Pepsi, Fox Sports, BET, NBC, P. Diddy, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige John Legend, Jamie Foxx and so much more. Check out his answers to our questions below.
1. What do you think of Panasonic Discontinuing the all-mighty Technics
1200 Turntables?
Considering that I was one of the last DJ's to switch to a digital system
(serato), I was disappointed. I really didn't believe it until I sat with
Panasonic/Technics marketing reps at their last showcase event. I firmly
believe that even though the world has gone digital, every DJ should learn
how to DJ on a turntable with real vinylŠ but then again, we came up in
the world when that's all that existed.
2. What was your very first Gig and How did it go?
My very 1st club gig came back in '97 at a club called Downtime (now Rebel
Night Club NY). Big Kap & Funk Flex were in the main room, and I was with
my crew (AST - Audio Spin Tribe) in the downstairs lounge. Even though
the club was packed, majority of the people stayed in the main room until
2:30 when they were ready to leave. I played a reggae set from 2 - 4:00
and only got the stragglers getting ready to leave, but by the time the
club was shutting down, we had the downstairs floor packed. I also got a
chance to hear how big radio DJ's did their thing. Overall it was a good
night.
3. What do you do to keep DJ-ing fresh? How do you stay motivated to get
to that next level?
I feel that it's a cyclical world. When I came in as a DJ, house music
and hip hop were the 2 biggest things in the club. Then open format
switched to hip hop and remixes/blends. That transitioned into mashupsŠ
and now it's back to electronic and house music. I try to hit different
venues and listen to different DJ's from around the globe whenever they're
in NY or I'm traveling. I listen to what works and what doesn't work.
I'm that guy that sits and takes notes of their playlists, transitions,
how they mix in or slam into the next track.
I try to come up with a fresh blend or remix for whatever track is bangin
at the time and incorporate all genres. I like to hit crowds with
throwback cuts that make them say "oh sh**." I also tend to play for the
women in the room. If you keep the women happy, chances are the entire
crowd will be.
Recently I got back into production. With the way that producers turned
dh's have taken the world by storm, I think that production is the next
step for me in my progression. I try to listen to all types of
productions and incorporate what I like from other tracks into what I do.
4. At what moment in time did you realize you are now a "professional" DJ?
I started in clubs when I was 16 and didn't consider myself a "real" DJ
until I was able to pay bills and live life the way that I wanted to.
DJ'ing has helped me thru college and into my 30's. The fact that we get
calls for all types of events from television & film events to tours and
sports events proves that the hard work that myself and business team have
put into my career has been worth every heart ache, heart break and curve
that's ever come
5. What is your greatest achievement to date?
There are a TON of things that I'm grateful for. I've been fortunate
enough to travel around the world as a touring DJ. I've received plaques
for breaking music and to me that's one of the most rewarding feelings:
being a part of an artist's career.
Personally DJ'ing has opened up the world to me, and it's even the reason
behind how I met my future wife.
Professionally, the greatest feeling is being behind a
microphone/turntable for every Rutgers Football. Controlling 55,000
people with a word or a song is an incredible rush. Further, being the DJ
for the 9/11 10 year anniversary game of NY Jets vs. Dallas Cowboys was
one of my greatest accomplishments ever. Hearing 84.500 chanting USA
during song breaks brought chills to my body and still gets me caught in
the emotion of that day whenever I think about it.
To Check out DJ Yoshi's website
.
Check out the new Monster DJ Website at
to see all the DJ's and their Monster DJ Gear!
