> 1. How long have you been spinning?

3 years.

> 2. How and when did you get start?

My first exprience DJing was at a party called The Goddess Party in Oakland at the Lighthouse in Oct. 1996. My very supportive and loving friends, Jody Radzick and Anna, asked Vanessa and Dave Able if I could come play a little bit in the beginning of the event, because I really wanted to try it out, and I had been buying records, and I was dying to play! They said absolutely, and this is where I first had the chance to use two decks and a mixer and spin records. I was instantly hooked, as I knew I would be. Before this though, I had been buying records and CDs since I was 13, and I started going to clubs when I was 14. I also studied piano and voice from 1984 to 1995, and I was a music major with an emphasis in voice performance for four of the seven years it took me to get through college.

> 3. Who taught you your skills?

I taught myself most of it by just practice, practice practice, and making tapes and listening to them and seeing how they could be better, but in the beginning several friends gave me mixing pointers. My friend Dave, Hiz Boy El Roy, gave me pointers on sound levels of the two channels. He told me to listen and watch the levels, so as to not bring the new track in a lot louder than the one already playing. My friend Mike Smith, DJ Wunjo, who was my roommate at the time, taught me about counting techno more precisely. The first techno tape I made, there where a few tracks where I had brought the track in on the wrong beat and he told me to watch this. Counting minimal techno, at first, was a lot harder than counting an aria, or a choral piece, because the changes in techno are often so subtle in comparison to other music, including house, which is what I played most when I first started DJing. My friend Jacob McCoy, DJ Stonie, also gave me many a pointer when we practiced together, before I got my own turntables

> 4. What inspired your decision to become a DJ?

Once again, Jody Radzick and Anna (my little inspirational angels) took me to my first "underground" event at Saint John's Rhythm Society here in S.F. in 1996. I had been to other events that Wicked had done, and such, before, and I liked them a lot, but this St. Johns event was special for me! I heard Ethan, of Friends and Family, spin at this event, and I danced, and danced, and danced for hours and hours! I had an epiphany at his event, and I started thinking after all the years of buying tons of music, and going out to clubs and events with dance music (one of my favorite things to do), and then all of the music schooling I had, and also the digital film and video editing that I was into at the time, I thought that this was what I was supposed to be doing with my life! I was so sure of it! And I have been at DJing constatnly ever since this day!!! DJing is my life's work and my love and passion!!! Other arts still play into this very much, but DJing is my main focus right now! The art of DJing is an art unto itself, that many people do not quite grasp. The DJ is not just playing records. The DJ is constructing a whole appropriated, non-linear art piece on the fly, right before your very ears!!! I can really go on and on about all this stuff, so I will stop for now!

I also wanted to start DJing, because music had always been a great healing force in my life, and I wanted to share this gift with everyone. I thought this would be a great way for me to share my love with so many and show them a way to cope, heal, love and feel! I feel very strongly that it is a great way to serve humanity and the world!

To quote Annie Di Franco form her CD Dialte and her song Joyful Girl... "The world owes me nothing, we owe each other the world."

Oh, one other inspiration I must site, before we move on, is many of the professors teaching in the Interdisciplinary Arts Department at San Francisco State University http://www.iac.sfsu.edu/ which is where I finally got my B.A. degree from in Inter-Arts with an emphasis in music, video, film, computer arts and theater. This program is/was exceptional. It is a shame that the SFSU, and the State System in general, cut the IAC undergraduate program there two years after I recieved my degree! If it weren't for this experimental program at SFSU, I honestly do not know if I would have been able to bare to finish my undergraduate degree, my brain and creativity cramed and forced into the traditional, one subject emphasis, that still runs rampant in institutions of higher learning across the world. Teachers of intense influence at SFSU where Christine Tamblin, and Jesse Drew of Paper Tiger Television http://www.papertiger.org/ as well as the influence of video art exploration supported by ATA http://www.sirius.com/~ata/ and BAVC, where I did an internship after college http://www.bavc.org/ in San Francisco. Thanks out to Jim Davis, the director of the program there at SFSU, for keeping the vibe alive!!! ;)

> 5. Do you get to travel a lot?

I have just recently started traveling a lot. In October I played in Calgary the second weekend of the month, L.A. the third weekend, and Hamilton and Toronto the last weekend of this month. This is the most traveling I have done so far though. I would love to do more, but presently I am still trying to balance a full time job, as a digital video editor and technician with my various DJ projects and bookings. If I had more time to "expose" myself as a DJ, and also to take time off from work, I believe I would be traveling a lot more. I intend to continue to focus on traveling more, and I will push myself to make that transition to the total life as an artist in the next year or so. i want to get to the point where I just DJ and do art to live off of although I admit I have no idea how this is all going to actually go down. It may be quite hectic. I continue to do as much of everything as I can for now.

> 6. What cities have you played in?

USA: L.A., San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Eugene, Black Rock City (Buring Man), Tahoe, Willits and many an outdoor event in various parts too.

Canada: Calgary, Toronto, Kitchner, Vancouver, Victoria

May I add to this... collectives I have spun with or am a part of: Cloudfactory, Friends and Family, Sister, B-Side, techno.ca, Shrumtribe, technoWest, Tetractys

Internet radio stations I am involved with: Technostate, Technologix

> 7. What cities that you've DJ'd in do you find makes > an impression on > you as far as music and scene?

All of them!!! I am a product of my experiences! Every place I play, and everyone I meet has an influence on me in some way!

> 8. If you could play anywhere in the world where > would that be?

Oh boy... I cannot answer this question, because I want to play everywhere, and anywhere, and I cannot honestly pick one place over another.

> 9. Are you producing your own stuff?

Not yet. Soon though. I have bought some "gear". I have a Roland SH 101, and a Mackie 1202 mixer. There is a studio in the bassment of my house that I want to play with, but I just feel that if I start one more project right now, with my current lack of time situation, that I am going to pop something in my brain or my body. I used to write songs on the piano and I have all this digital video editing experience, so I feel that it is going to work out pretty groovy once I go for it! I want to put my studio together on my own though, and understand it all! What is hooked up to what, and what everyhting does. This is really the only way I am going to be able to feel good about making music. I already understand about the process of non-linear arrangements of pieces of media by video layering through editing with After Effects, but I know I have a lot to learn about actually making tracks. I very much look forward to the day when I start making music.

> 10. What style of music do you love to spin?

I am primarily focused on techno, house and electro presently. I like just about all genres though, as long as it is good music! I am very open minded about music. I aspire to be like Joe Rice of Justice League Sond System someday! He can spin anything, and it sounds awesome!!! Joe is one of my greatest heros!!!

> 11. What's on your turntables these days?

oh boy... so many things...

Stanney Frannsen aka G-Force Marco Carola The Advent Cari Lekebusch Gaetano Parisio Gaetek Joel Mull Percy X Daniel Lui DJ Roland Sutekh, Twerk and Saftey Scissors

I have a whole big list of artists and labels I am into, plus I am always listening to new stuff! Do you want the list???

> 12. How do your male counterparts respond to you?

Positive and supportive, even downright helpful!!! I have had nothing but positive interactions with "the boys". ;)

> 13. How does your family feel about you being a DJ?

hmmmmmmmmmm... I am not really sure how they feel presently. They always knew I was very creative with a big imagination. Sometimes I think they wonder why I cannot just be "normal" and lead a "secure" life, but generally I would have to say they have been very supportive of my creative ventures and projects. My parents always had me involved in the arts in many ways my whole life, be it dance, music, painting, ceramics, theater, drawing, puppets, you name it! My father is a painter, an illustrator, and a designer, and this continues to have a huge influence on me to this very day! He is also now a special events and festival coordinator for the California State Fair Grounds at the Dixon May Fair. My mom is also very creative, although she is more of a science and math whiz.

> 14. What are your thoughts on DJ's as superstars?

Oh boy... I have written so much about this to various lists and individuals. Let me see. I can see why the DJ superstar thing can happen very easily. People become very fixated on the DJ at events sometimes. The listener and/or dancer is feeling and working with so much, and the DJ is there mixing this amazing music and helping or opening them up to work through any number of emotions or feelings or whatever else, and this is a very powerful experience for everyone. I still see the DJ as someone who ultimately needs to remain grounded and focused, because they are doing some very powerful work, whether they akknowledge this or not. I still see the DJ as sort of a shaman and/or servant honestly. I know a lot of other people do not really think about it this way, but I still do. For one, the energy that flows from DJ to dancers and listeners to DJ to dancers and listeners is a tranforming and healing experience. It is a circle of energy that is created with all participating. Within this circle much work can be done. Which brings me to the part about the superstar I guess. I do believe that DJs can use some special care for the work that they take on. A DJs health is very important for them to be able to keep doing the work they do. In this respect perhaps a little pampering is in order to make sure channels are kept clear, etc. I also believe that the DJ needs to be able to make enough money to be able to afford their tools and equipment, and afford the time they need to work on their skills and collections. However the whole DJ as a "rockstar" thing is a little bit overboard at times for me. We are all just people after all, and we all have our functions. We are all ultimately equal, and we all have our gifts for one another that we must find and give. However, I must add that I truly believe to each their own here, and in all things, although I certainly have my own thoughts on how I intend to go about my personal DJing future.

> 15. Where do you see the DJ culture heading in the > next few years and > the music that drives it?

I see it continuing to divide and reconnect in so many places. I see it living, dying and being reborn. If any part of it is to continue to thrive it must change and grow. The playfulness and the child always present. Parts of it that become stagnant will eventually die, and then be sucked back up into the whole works of it. Cultures seem to have there own way of sorting themselves out. It all involves the same processes of life, death and rebirth. The parts of the cultures that always seem to interest me the most are the parts where pushing forth is happening, the cultural arts in a constant state of flux. It all changes very quickly. Those that seem to really make significant contributions are constantly looking at things from different ways and always thinking about the arts and the cultures and creating and teaching. This also brings me to some thoughts on pop culture and the way certain things or parts of many cultures are brought to this place called pop. Certain parts of our cultures are under quite a bit of strain from being appropriated into popular culture where often times the outer shells of our cultures are taken and worn, but the deeper reasons are left behind, unknown or untaught. I find it curious, and some what frustrating how our institutions and social structures are always so ready to point the finger at the underground cultures emerging into mainstream society as "the problem". This seam is exactly where all the neatly tucked under frayed edges of our modern society and cultures are pushed up and exposed and people scrammble about to point the finger somewhere else, as long as it is away from them and their family. The thing about this is, though the subcultures certainly do have there issues, the real problems that seems to come about happens mainly when the subcultures begin to come up into the mainstream without the deeper understanding and teachings around them, and then you have all the external subculture layered on top of our already poorly bandaged and weakend social structures, and yes, this is just the combination that allows our fragile social state to finally come to the surface and force us to look at it, for better for worse. Dj culture and "rave" culture are not the problem! Are current society, with its empty values, hidden fears, material worship, creative constipation and emotional voids are where we need to start doing some work!

> 16. Define Independence from an artist's > perspective.

The funds and freedom to do and be what the individual artist needs to do and be to express themselves and explore their ideas and thoughts completely, to all extremes, without limits!

When I hear this, I especially start thinking of limits that may be placed on an individual artist when an outside party invests or gives them funding, and then wants a say in the work, in an attempt try to direct the artist or their work in a way that will give them a return on their "investment".

Major labels are one type of entertainment corporation that come to mind right away. They get there hands on something, and exploit the hell out of it, suck the life from it for money, and then leave it once it is used up, and move on to the next "hot" thing. I do not really see money coming from large entertainment corporations as being an alternative for the artist, unless the artist has an amazing entertainment lawyer, and complete creative control over everything they do!!!

Independents seem to be the way to go, from what I can tell! I support independent labels and artists as much as I possibly can! I believe artists need to focus, be strong and work hard, to develop their own identity, skills, creative voice, resources and bodies of work. We need to do as much as we possibly can for ourselves, and each other with our own resources and networks. We need to take the power of the whole process back into our own hands. Conception, production, distribution, promotion, etc... for the people, by the people.

I personally intend to seek out ways to maintain creative control over all my projects as an artist. I feel it is critical part of an artists life and work! The more of us who do this, and support one another the stronger we will be.

One of my greatest heros in this type of commitment, as well in may other areas, is Jim Jarmusch, the film director and writer!!! Another of my greatest heros is Ani Di Franco. Both these artists have made great strides to find ways to keep creative control of their projects, and I am inspired greatly by them both!

> 17. What are you thoughts on underground vs. > mainstream?

The line is blurry at best, at least for me.

I suppose the underground, from my perspective, is where ideas often hatch and grow. There is an amazing amount of nurishment and good will here. The underground is a home where support is great, and creativity flows free. The underground also seems to be a place where the emphasis isn't always on money, and often times is on other things like community, love, creativity, respect, support, freedom, pure expression and exploration. It is a fabulous environment in which to explore, play and create with like minded individuals. There are undergrounds for everything you can think of, and then things you never even would think of! If you seek an underground family then you shall find them! You just have to start to try to figure out what and who you are, and they will be there. My underground families primarily consist of people from Cloudfactory, Friends and Family, Technostate, Sister, XLR8R, Spiral, Gateway, Pre-Dawn, Static, Hyperreal, Justice League, Context, Cytrax, Drop Beat, Open Mind, Viberation, Epiphany, Tetractys, RhythMethod, Vector 9, Urban Development, Nub Chai and Harmony. The Bay Area has one of the most extensive undergrounds I have personally ever been lucky enough to be a part of! I wish the same amazing communities for all people though, and I always encourage underground growth and community where ever I go. The only other cities undergrounds I have been lucky enough to be significantly involved with so far are the undergrounds in Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria and Eugene: Technologix, techno.ca, technoWest, ShrumTribe, B-Side, Two Little Devils, Blue, Speed, Revolver, Chair and the Joy Scouts.

From the underground of which these groups are part of to varying degrees, comes the integration into mainstream society and media. I went into this some in question 15. This is where things really get spread out and taken in by the masses, for better or for worse. This is where the underground gets sucked up and distributed through out the society on a large scale. One of the main things that is interesting and often times disturbing to observe is the way the underground is crudely picked apart, explioted, and brought up to the mainstream as a means of making money. Much the way the entertainment corporations suck up artist's work, and then market and sell it to make money. The question remains, can the underground come up to the mainstream, some what in tact, and continue to grow positively once in the hands of the society at large, with all of the strains of any given society. The answers to this question are in process daily as the underground rave culture continues to be introduced to the masses in a number of ways. I, for one, am working on and certainly hoping that this time even more change for the positive will be facilitated through this extremely powerful and profound social movement of the late 21st century.

Here below are some more thoughts I wrote back to a mailing list I am part of about rave culture growing up into the mainstream.

----------------------------------------------------- I totally understand your expression of frustration with the commercialization, profitering and greed that have crept into "raves" and our culture in general, but you know what... this seems to happen with eveything that is worth while eventually, because people who are out to make money, see the magic and they see how it gets into and influences people at their very core, and they want to exploit this very special place and tap money out of it!!! And then you get into the grey areas where it isn't as simple as this... with every varying degree of a person just doing something for the sheer joy and love of it and a person doing it just for the money and power.

If you truly believe in something, for example "raves", and you have seen the magic and you have a vision... you shouldn't just abandon it once it gets messy with society and commercialization, because then you will forever be abandoning your loves and your projects, because of what I just said above... anything that is worth while and touches us deeply is a target for commercialization and consumerism. So you gotta figure out what you, personally, really believe in and want to do and then GO FOR IT with all your love and passion, no matter what!!! Don't let anyone or anything stop you!!!

One final idea... One aspect of raving, from what I understand about them, grew out of a desire for an improved existance... PLUR... peace, love, unity and respect for all. People can make fun, sneer and laugh about this all they want, but some of our strongest roots of raving where founded on this idea of PLUR. At first raves were small and more focused with a lot of "preaching to the choir going on". Many raves were allowed to grow slower... with new people coming into a community that took a certain responsibilty to be sure to introduce the new people to ideas, the community and such. This is how I was personally introduced to raves, and I am very greatful that my introduction was so warm and in depth and the community was so supportive and yet completely open. I feel a deep need to help nurture the community growth in the same way as I was lucky enough to be introduced to it. I feel a certain responsibilty.

Anyways... back on track... so Raves, in particular, were founded on a desire to nurture positive change in areas of society that could use a little growth and improvement. So now that raves are being put to the test on these foundations... what will the outcome be? Raves have grown up and now are dealing with society at large. It is hard work dealing with society, especially if you want for something to change, but Raves foundation set out to do exactly that, and now that the hard work is starting to hit how are we going to handle it, knowing that what each one of us does will determine whether our dreams and wishes for something better than what we have today will be realized, will be given love, will be given life!!!

------------------------------------------------------- > 18. How do you define women in today's society?

On one side women are very lucky these days for all the hard work that our ancestors have put in for us, and it is easier for us to get places and do things than in the past, but I think we still have a lot of work as humanity to realize each others full potential and continue to work through the stereotypes and negative ideas that we have about one another. There are several things that we need to understand about each other and ourselves firstly. Women have been pitted against each other in a number of ways and it is totally detrimental to us. We need to work through this and work together with each other. We need to love each other and ourselves and we need to love and listen to men too.