I love spinning records. Now I produce tracks, and there's nothing like watching a dance floor go nutz over a song you produced.
VS23 started Djing in the Pittsburgh party scene back in '98, affiliated with Candy Gang Productions as well as Rise Up!. Later he moved to Puerto Rico, and was the scratch dj for the group, Slimy Nuggetz (Tenet Records). While in Puerto Rico, he performed on several television shows, including "Tarde en la Noche con Luis Gonzales"(The Late Show), "Frente Sonico" (Sonic Front), and the "Sprite Spring Break TV Tour". Over the years, he's played shows in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Philadelphia, State College, Baltimore, Virginia, Puerto Rico, London, UK and on Drum n Bass TV's radio show on the worldwide web. Also his original productions have been played on the Mixdown FM Radio show in Nashville, TN, as well as a several online radio stations.
After taking a six year break from public performances, he came back in 2007 performing at Play 3.0 and Play Breaks Edition, and as a result gained a slew of other bookings, and a new crew affiliation- Bad Moral Character. Already in 2008 he's played on Drum n Bass TV several times, as well Twisted Production's "Heaven On Earth", BMC's "Dance Out Loud" in March, and "Wardance" on May 3rd, as well as a headlining slot at Rehab Records' "Tantric" in Virginia on May 2nd. Since May, VS23 has rocked out in the main room at two Tru Skool parties (one of them opening for the legendary Dj Dara), as well as one of the headlining slots at Pulsar Productions' "Pulse" in Baltimore.
Though Breaks are his specialty, VS23 is known for his diversity in genres, so don't be surprised to hear some Drum n Bass, UK garage, Electro, House, Techno, Trance, Hip Hop and even Ghettotech. Look for big things in 2009 from this "up-and-comer" who's no stranger to the spotlight.
Absolutely. See band history. As for special moments... opening for the Crystal Method and Faith in Chaos (Dylan and Robyn Chaos) at the Tito Puente Amphitheater was my favorite show i've played to date. Or maybe it was headlining the back room of the Intergalactic Toga Party, or was it the party out in the woods in NJ, or my first big event, "Shake" (your booty) back in 1998 by Kandy Gang productions in Pittsburgh.
For electronic music, there's the people I came up listening to like Sasha and Digweed, Oakenfold, Dj Icey, Danny the Wildchild, J-Smooth, Paul Van Dyke. Also I am influenced by music that sounds nothing like what I produce. I could hear a beat or chord progression from Sublime or Radiohead and think, "hey if I changed that patch a little and added .... that could be a cool groove." I've also learned a lot from fellow artists, and would be lying if I said I wasn't influenced by people like Mark Sandstorm, A23P, Vaerna, Cereal Killaz (or whatever Alan's calling himself nowadays), Metachemical, Vapah, Frankie Bones, Decibel Flekx.... the list is too long to mention them all.
Since I play so many different styles, I'm influenced by just about anything electronic, be it acid, breaks, trance, techno, house, drum n bass, hip hop, dubstep, UK garage, etc.
Ableton Live 7, Audacity, Switch, Korg Electribe, Oxygen 8, Shure KSM27, Samson C-valve preamp, 2 tech 12's, Propellerhead's Rebirth, Sennheiser headphones, and a ton of VSTi's.
My other music sites include:
myspace.com/videoslave23
gotchabitchez.com/VS23
plurlife.com/VS23
reverbnation.com/VS23